Innholdsfortegnelse for 2019 - Round 12 i Big League Weekly Edition

STORM back-rower Joe Stimson admits he’s met with the Bulldogs as he looks to secure his playing future beyond 2019. The off-contract workhorse is coming off his first NRL game of the season, ironically against the blue and whites at Belmore Sports Ground. Stimson has been a regular in Melbourne’s 17, but missed the start of the season due to a back injury and was forced to bide his time with the high-flying Sunshine Coast Falcons in the Intrust Super Cup, with Kenny Bromwich doing enough to hold down the left back-row spot. “Injuries happen, and Kenny took his opportunity,” Stimson told Big League. “It’s obviously frustrating, but he’s been fantastic so there’s not much I could do. I’m just glad to be back out there.” Stimson’s time at the…

WITH South Sydney missing a number of key players this Friday against Parramatta, prop George Burgess has called on his fellow experienced players to step up. The Rabbitohs will be without State of Origin representatives Cody Walker, Damien Cook, Cameron Murray and Dane Gagai, as well as injured players Alex Johnston, Kyle Turner and Braidon Burns. The Rabbitohs are having their most successful start to a season in three decades, and Burgess doesn’t want to let the representative period affect them. “It’s really important for us experienced players to step up,” he told Big League. “We have a number of key players out to Origin and there are a lot of players out with injuries, so it’s important we all step up collectively and not let our good start slide.”…

8 Olsen Filipaina The long-standing friendship of Arthur Beetson and Jack Gibson, rival coaches of Easts and Cronulla respectively, became strained in late-1984 over New Zealand five-eighth Olsen Filipaina. The engimatic Balmain back signed a one-year deal with the Roosters, but the Sharks claimed they had a handshake agreement with Filipaina and his manager. Beetson won out, but the move wasn’t a success: Filipaina played just eight games for the Roosters – starring for the Kiwis from reserve grade – before heading to Norths. 7 Greg Inglis A casualty of Melbourne’s salary cap scandal in 2010, Inglis announced he would be joining Brisbane the following season. But confirmation of the deal was delayed due to the Storm’s refusal to release Inglis over legal fees he owed. Inglis then skipped the…

IN his sixth season at Parramatta and having recently re-signed for a further two, this is Brad Arthur’s is in prime position to deliver success to the Eels. Off-field issues throughout his tenure at the club have affected results, but now the club has come out the other side he knows it’s time to make Parramatta great again. Since Arthur took over in 2014, the Eels have qualified for the finals just once and they were bundled out in straight sets on that occasion. Prop Daniel Alvaro, who won the club’s Player of the Year award last season, joined in 2015 and has played his whole career under Arthur. He’s seen what his coach has been through over the years – from salary cap dramas to last season’s wooden spoon…

Curtis Sironen has enjoyed th final season of Game of Thrones, and sees plenty of parallels with the game of footy Jake Trbojevic looks a bit like the gentle giant Hodor… Nah, I’d say Addin Fonua-Blake for him. Jake’s too good of a bloke, he’s too smart. He’d be Sam. Is there a Prince Joffrey in the NRL? Oh, Daly Cherry-Evans! He’s a little weasel, ‘Chez’! Daly Joffrey Baratheon! Definitely [laughs]. Maybe Kane Elgey could play handsome Jaime Lannister? No chance, he’s probably closer to Joffrey. Jaime Lannister? Maybe Reuben [Garrick] or Jack Gosiewski, they think they’re pretty good sorts. What about Des Hasler? Maybe the Night King! [laughs] Who would you be? I’d probably be one of the dragons, they’re the best. I was going to suggest you look…

THEY’RE here, Fantasy coaches – the dreaded bye rounds. If you’re targeting overall glory and have been shrewdly managing your trades, Rounds 12 and 16 are a golden chance to charge your way up the ladder. Many others who’ve been flying high will check their team this week and realise they only have three or four players available. Of course, if you’re just in it to win your head-to-head league then this is the week to rest up and keep those valuable trades in your back pocket. If you’re hoping to make up some ground this week, your number one trade target is Jason Taumalolo. The North Queensland wrecking ball is coming off back-to-back 70-plus scores and will again be looking at big minutes, with Josh McGuire on Origin duty.…

Form: The Bulldogs struggled to make inroads into the Melbourne defence last Sunday and managed a single try when Sauaso Sue powered through the middle. The Dogs worked hard to stay in the contest until the final 10 minutes, but two late Storm tries blew the margin out to 22 points. Canberra have lost ground in recent weeks after being hit hard by injuries. The loss of Joey Leilua and Jordan Rapana on the right side and Englishman John Bateman on the left has weighed heavily and contributed to consecutive losses to the Roosters, Rabbitohs and Cowboys. History: Canterbury downed the Raiders 13 times from the first 15 meetings after Canberra joined the competition in 1982 to establish an historical dominance in this fixture, but their winning record has been…

THE Jersey Flegg Cup returns this week after a two-week break. It’s been a tight tussle at the top, with just four points separating first from seventh. The Sharks have been leading the way, with seven wins from eight games. They won three in a row before the bye period to move into outright first. However, the Panthers are breathing down their neck, and the Raiders are another team to watch after scoring 30 points or more in their past five games. The under-20s competition serves as a pathway into the Canterbury Cup and eventually the NRL. That has been evident over the past two seasons, as the likes of Bronson Xerri, Cade Cust, Dylan Brown, Lachlan Lam and Brian To’o have made NRL debuts. This year’s crop of promising…

WESTERN SUBURBS 38 (I Rabuatoka 3, E Carter, S Kimi-Ioane, J Daley, K McQuiggin tries; K Coakes 5 goals) D. HILLS DISTRICT 26 (E Gibson, J Bradford, M Siale, T Robinson, M Gardner tries; M Hyde 2, N Holliday goals). MOUNTIES 70 (V Rennie 3, D Matterson 2, M Kennedy J Williams, R King, J Payne, E Aiono, M Cahalane, R Ioelu tries; S Duggan 6, Ioelu 5 goals) D. BROTHERS 10 (M FIdow, Q Ma’aelopa tries; R Foaese goal). ASQUITH 24 (N O’Meley, M Pearsall, J Ramfrey, S Kiel, K Koro tries; T Brown 2 goals) D. CABRAMATTA 0. WENTWORTHVILLE 24 (L Mulvihill 2, C Schaafhausen, B Henry tries; Henry 3, R Smith goals) D. GUILDFORD 10 (R Longbottom, B Judd tries; M Woods goal). ST MARYS 40 (M…

IDON’T know about everyone else, but the only way I can make sense of any NRL season is in thirds. We’ve now hit what I call the bumpy bit – a 10-week period where you see the true mettle of teams dealing with injury, Origin selection and just plain figuring out how to arrest poor form (or keep the momentum going). Byes throw another spanner in the works and literally anything can happen. It’s also a good time to shake up each club and work out how their season is progressing and where it looks like it’s heading. Our mid-season report card breaks down the pros for each club and where they can improve, plus how likely they are to be impacted by the Origin period. Like a nervous parent…

The Panthers have won seven of their past nine games against Manly. Blues trio Cody Walker, Damien Cook and Cameron Murray have contributed a total of 40 tries and assists for South Sydney in 2019. The NSW Blues have won Game One in Brisbane in their last two attempts (2014 and 2017). Queensland have won five of the past six games at Suncorp Stadium. The Gold Coast’s left-side attack is ranked second in the NRL. The Bulldogs have won just one from five home games in 2019. Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler has won 13 from 19 games against Ivan Cleary-coached teams.…

IN an era when we’ve been told to ‘talk the game up’, I find it quite sad that the Maroons have adopted a strategy to deflect any questions about the Blues leading into the State of Origin series opener. Given the amount of money Origin generates and the spectacle it is, I think it’s unfair to rob the public of a sense of drama in the days before a game. This is a contest that dominates the rugby league world when you consider the merchandising and TV rights that go into it, so to have one team deliberately avoid questions is disappointing. If Kevin Walters thinks this is the best strategy for his players then who am I to question his tactics? Personally, I’ve never had a coach tell me…

Rabbitohs (1st, 20 points) What’s working: Just about everything has gone to plan for the Bunnies under Wayne Bennett. They boast the best attack in the competition, Cody Walker leads the league in tries, Adam Reynolds has kicked the most goals and Damien Cook has an NRL-high 14 try assists. Their only loss was a golden-point thriller at Lottoland. What needs to improve: The sudden retirement of Greg Inglis coupled with setbacks for Braidon Burns, Alex Johnston, Cory Denniss and Kyle Turner has left them thin in the outside backs, although everyone has stepped up. Origin impact: The Rabbitohs have been hit hard with key-position players Cook and Walker picked for the Blues, while Cameron Murray and Dane Gagai will also be missing. Adam Reynolds’ non-selection helps, as does the…

TWO days before Manly’s Round 3 clash with the Warriors in Christchurch, Quentin Pongia was the guest of honour at a special dinner. It’s an event no one in attendance will forget – in particular, the Kiwis legend’s onstage interview with his close mate, Sir Peter Leitch. The physical effects of Pongia’s battle with cancer were apparent. The hulking frame that terrorised opponents on the fields of New Zealand, Australia, France and Britain from the late-1980s until his retirement in 2004 had been stripped down. But Pongia’s presence, humility and, perhaps most remarkably, his disarming sense of humour remained intact. You could hear a pin drop inbetween the laughter and tears as he regaled the crowd with stories of his career, before laying bare the toughest fight of his life.…

Form: It might not have been attractive or convincing, but the Panthers found winning form after six-straight losses when they overcame Parramatta at Bankwest Stadium last Thursday. The Panthers rediscovered some defensive steel to limit the Eels to a single try and for the first time in 2019 they held an opposition scoreless in the second half. After a period of impressive progress, the Sea Eagles found the going tough against the Titans last Friday and were handed a 36-18 hiding. Manly led at the break but their right side defence was repeatedly exposed in the second half. History: The Sea Eagles barely allowed Penrith a look-in for the first 14 years of this fixture and by 1980, they boasted an 89 per cent winning record in head-to-head clashes. Penrith…

Form: After talk of recriminations following a disastrous start to the season, the Titans roared back to form last Friday with a seven-try blitz of Manly at Lottoland. It rated as one of the club’s best away performances in years as they tore through the Sea Eagles’ right side in a 26-point second-half onslaught. The Cowboys claimed their fifth win of the year in Canberra, turning a 14-10 half-time lead into a 22-16 victory. Lock Jason Taumalolo has been a key to the improvement; since his return from a knee injury, the Cowboys have won three from four. History: It’s been a long time between drinks for the Titans in their clashes with the Cowboys and a 28-14 victory to North Queensland back in Round 8 stretched their losing run…

JAYDEN Batchelor was the hero as Mackay sunk the Dolphins 16-12 in a thriller. The Cutters trailed with two minutes remaining before Batchelor crossed for his third try of the afternoon, handing Mackay a late victory. The unbeaten Falcons held their spot at the top of the tree, running 11 tries past Ipswich in a 62-8 thrashing. However, Burleigh and Wynnum Manly are keeping the pressure on; the Bears made it seven in a row by brushing aside the Capras, while Broncos centre James Roberts was on the scoresheet as a strong first half helped Wynnum Manly to a 38-28 win over Norths Devils. Tweed Heads survived a late scare from Northern Pride to enter the top four, while Townsville also moved up the ladder with a 30-6 win over…

Panthers winger Josh Mansour has scored eight tries in his past nine games against Manly. Titans winger Dale Copley has scored six tries in his past three games. Canberra’s Jarrod Croker has scored six tries in his past five games against the Bulldogs. NSW have won the past two series openers. The Maroons have lost the penalty count only once in the past eight Origin games at Suncorp. Bulldogs second-rower Corey Harawira-Naera has won all four games against the Raiders. South Sydney coach Wayne Bennett has won six from eight games against Brad Arthur-coached teams.…

BLUES coach Brad Fittler knows one series win can’t erase years of Queensland dominance. “We definitely have to win the series. We’ve got a lot of ground to catch up so anything other than a win will be failure,” he said following Sunday’s squad announcement. His first year at the helm saw a changing of the guard, with a stack of rookies blooded on the game’s biggest stage. The likes of Josh Addo-Carr, Latrell Mitchell and Damien Cook took to Origin like ducks to water, with Fittler’s first-year crew steering the state to a rare series win. But 12 months later, the laidback leader was hit with plenty of selection headaches. Jack de Belin was unavailable, James Roberts has been playing reserve grade, James Maloney’s form has been questioned and…

YOUNG playmaker Jarome Luai says he’s happy waiting in the wings for his opportunity at the Panthers. Touted as the club’s future five-eighth to play alongside Nathan Cleary, Luai is waiting patiently behind James Maloney, who is contracted with Penrith until the end of next season. However there have been reports Maloney could be granted an early release to join the English Super League, which would open the door for Luai. “I’m happy to be patient,” Luai told Big League. “Waiting behind [Maloney] is good for me. It’s a good opportunity to learn from an experienced half. He’s been there and done it all – won premierships and played Origin – he’s got a great footy mind and knows the game really well.” When Luai signed a three-year deal with…

You made your NRL debut in Round 3 Who did you tell first when you found out the news? I rang nan and pop first and then mum and dad after that. It was a very special moment for me to make my debut at this club. It has a very rich history and it’s something I’m very proud of. Have your family had a big impact on your footy? Yeah, 100 per cent. My grandparents come to most games when they can and so do mum and dad, so I get to see them nearly every weekend. I try to get home once a month to see my extended family and mates too. Do they support the Raiders? Well, now they do. I’m from Greta so our closest team…

IT was a day that, as a journalist, I’ll never forget. Being at Henson Park on May 28, 1978 when a scrum collapsed innocuously at Henson Park in inner-Sydney and all players but Penrith prop John Farragher rose from the ground after referee Richie Humphreys blew a penalty. Farragher was in just his seventh first grade match. Fear and pandemonium broke out as the trainers, St John ambulance officers and finally Australian team doctor Bill Monaghan entered the field, followed by an ambulance. Days later Farragher was told he would never walk again. Yet he’s remained an inspiring figure who has never wallowed in pity and loves rugby league. He’s received an Order of Australia Medal, been Penrith’s ‘Citizen of the Year’, had a boardroom at Panthers named after him…

JAI Arrow doesn’t mind rolling up his sleeves, digging deep and getting on the front foot. That sounds like a list of footy clichés, but in this case it has nothing to do with rugby league. Away from the footy field and in his spare time, Arrow is renovating his house. This Titans enforcer doesn’t mind doing the gritty work – from running hard for the Gold Coast to ripping out the kitchen sink. He’s currently finishing his plumbing trade, but in the meantime he’s upgrading his house – and we’re not talking small projects, either. “Footy and plumbing are both hands-on jobs, so I’m a bit of a hands-on sort of guy,” Arrow tells Big League. “I’ve got a lot of renovations going on at home. I’m doing that…

BRONCOS NEW South Wales bolter Payne Haas has credited his experienced Broncos team-mates for his meteoric rise to the Origin arena. “They’ve been tremendous and I can’t thank them enough,” the 19-year-old said. “‘Lodgey’ (Matt Lodge), Tevita (Pangai) ‘Joffa’ (Joe Ofahengaue) and all the boys have helped me a lot.” A Blues call-up seemed a long way off when a club-imposed suspension saw Haas miss the first four rounds of the year. But the 118kg powerhouse rocketed into contention by averaging 174 metres and 34 tackles since his return. “I had good people around me who helped me and made me feel comfortable straight off the bat,” he said. A standout showing in the Broncos’ 8-2 slugfest win over the Warriors – earning three Dally M votes – sealed Haas’…

Form: The Eels slumped to a third-straight loss when they went down to Penrith last Thursday but it was also their first defeat at Bankwest Stadium. The home side contributed to one of the poorest spectacles of the season with a diabolical error rate. The Eels continue to cling to a place in the top eight, but they’re in for a sudden fall if they can’t turn things around. The Rabbitohs made it seven consecutive wins when they overpowered the Wests Tigers at ANZ Stadium last Saturday to maintain their place on top of the ladder. History: The first meeting of these teams at the old Parramatta Stadium in 1986 remains one of the most famous of the 126 games played between these clubs. With the minor premiership at stake,…

IT was all about upsets this week as the top five sides tasted defeat. The Bulldogs stunned ladder-leading Mounties 52-22. Lachlan Lewis had a hand in four tries and scored one, while Kerrod Holland bagged a double and kicked six goals. The Panthers wasted a golden opportunity to jump into top spot, going down to Wentworthville. North Sydney also missed a chance to climb the ladder against Newcastle after Phoenix Crossland scored a hat-trick for the Knights. The inclusion of NRL talent was’t enough to help the Dragons against Newtown, who were led by Braydon Trindall’s 22-point haul. Wests’ win over the Rabbitohs saw them take fifth spot, while the Warriors moved four points clear of the last-placed Sea Eagles, inspired by strong performances from Chanel Harris-Tavita and Chris Satae.…

BURLEIGH and Wynnum’s battle at the top of the table is heating up after they both had big wins in Round 11. Burleigh beat the Capras 28-10, while the Seagulls came from behind against the Devils. Northern Pride’s nosedive has continued after their third loss in a row, dropping to fifth after leading the competition just two weeks ago. Ty Everett scored late to elevate Townsville into third, while the Falcons scored four tries in the opening 15 minutes on their way to a 38-6 smashing of Ipswich. Mackay moved into the top eight after their demolition of the Dolphins, who are still winless in 2019. There was another hat-trick scored as Edward Downing-Brown crossed for three tries in South Logan’s 47-10 win against the Mustangs. BURLEIGH 28 (C Brown,…