Blindside: The latest gossip and inside info from the NRL
HE’S been rated as the next Shane Webcke, so it’s no wonder EVERY club in the NRL is lining up to raid the Broncos for this young prop sensation. Peter Badel and Travis Meyn have the latest inside info from the NRL.
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- Bennett unveils another Broncos bolter
- Titans on full Ponga alert
- Coote not ready to leave Cowboys
- Retirement decision shows Smith’s influence
THE raid on the Broncos’ ranks continues with all 15 NRL rivals lining up to sign prop sensation Tom Flegler — rated the club’s next Shane Webcke.
Blindside can reveal every club in the league has expressed interest in Queensland under-20s star Flegler, a tough-as-nails prop who is highly-rated by former Broncos star Justin Hodges.
Now Queensland’s under-20s coach, Hodges has worked with Flegler in junior Maroons camps and believes it is only a matter of time before he plays NRL.
The 18-year-old, who was raised on a banana farm in Tully, has been playing with Souths Logan this season in the Intrust Super Cup. He was forced to sit out the second half of 2017 with two shoulder reconstructions.
The teenager is off-contract next year but that hasn’t stopped NRL rivals lining up to have a crack at a time when Brisbane is fighting to retain Jaydn Su’A and Payne Haas.
MAROONS DOOR OPENS FOR DCE
HAS Queensland’s exodus of senior Maroons players opened the door for Daly Cherry-Evans to return to the Origin arena?
Captain Cameron Smith called time on his representative career this week following a record 42 games for Queensland.
Johnathan Thurston, a 37-game legend, has also hung up his Maroons headgear and Cooper Cronk has played the last of his 22 Origins.
Smith once labelled Cherry-Evans the next Queensland captain, so impressive was the start to his NRL career.
But the Manly halfback has been left in the Origin wilderness since playing the last of his six matches for Queensland in Game Two of 2015.
Cherry-Evans fell out of favour with Queensland’s senior contingent after failing to click with Thurston in his few appearances at halfback.
The duo did not strike up the same chemistry that Thurston and Cronk possessed, and Cherry-Evans’ personality was also questioned by some within Queensland ranks.
No one within the Queensland set up will ever admit it publicly, but Cherry-Evans was facing a near impossible task to fight his way back into the Maroons fold.
However, there has now been a seismic changing of the guard and he should be back in contention to wear Queensland’s No. 7 jersey.
A PAYNE IN THE HAAS FOR BENNETT
THE Broncos have suffered another shattering injury blow.
Teenage prop sensation Payne Haas requires surgery on his dislocated shoulder and could miss the rest of the season.
Brisbane have been tight-lipped about the severity of Haas’ injury but Blindside can exclusively reveal the boom 18-year-old must go under the knife.
Haas, who partially dislocated his shoulder against Manly last Saturday night, visited a specialist yesterday.
The 117kg hulk faces up to four months on the sideline, a crushing setback for a teenager who has played just three first-grade games.
Broncos coach Wayne Bennett is bitterly disappointed with the situation. Bennett was reluctant to blood Haas so early in his career given the brutality of life in the NRL front row.
After a superb debut against Souths, Haas has had a luckless fortnight. He injured his ankle after just eight minutes against Canterbury before his Manly mishap.
MCGUIRE ON TRACK
THE Maroons could receive a massive boost for this year’s series with reigning Ron McAuliffe Medallist, Broncos lock Josh McGuire, rocketing into contention for Origin I.
McGuire was rated no hope of being fit for Game One after injuring ankle ligaments against Souths three weeks ago, but his recovery has gone smoothly.
McGuire is out of his moon boot and has been walking around training at Red Hill. He is unlikely to play another game for the Broncos before Origin I on June 6 but given his experience, the Maroons are sure to give McGuire every chance of playing.
“I think he can make it back for Origin,” Broncos high-performance chief Jeremy Hickmans said.
“Depending on his recovery, he could be on track.
“Josh was expected to miss six weeks and Origin I will be about six-and-a-half weeks into his recovery, so Josh could be a chance of playing for Queensland.”
LEGENDS ON SHOW
PETERO Civoniceva is coming out of retirement.
Well, sort of.
Now aged 42, Broncos legend Civoniceva will be among the headline acts when he leads an Australian team into battle with Easts Tigers golden oldies in the annual International Legends of League contest.
The clash will kick-off tomorrow night at 6.30pm at Langlands Park. The Aussie team will also include former Maroons props Ben Hannant and Andrew Gee,as well as ex-NSW enforcer, big Willie Mason.
Easts will be coached by the great John Lang and feature former Test utility Darren Smith, who will celebrate his 100th game for the Tigers after retiring on 99.
“I’m looking forward to once again pulling on an Easts Tigers jersey,” Smith said. “It will be great to line up with former teammates from the 1980s and 2000s plus other players I have coached over the various years.
“The Australian Legends have plenty of depth, especially in the middle with Petero, Hannant, ‘Gee Gee’ and Big Willie providing plenty of experience.
“It should be a good game and will hopefully raise plenty of money for charity.”
GULLS GET $1.8M OF CRUMBS
THE Gold Coast Titans could have $1.8 million of underperforming talent sitting on the sidelines this weekend.
Bryce Cartwright became the latest player to cop Garth Brennan’s selection axe when he was demoted to 18th man for tomorrow’s clash against Newcastle at Cbus Super Stadium.
Cartwright joins Konrad Hurrell, Kane Elgey and Leilani Latu as the big-name Titans players who are occupying plenty of salary cap space while playing reserve grade.
Cartwright could yet earn a reprieve, with the Titans battling some injury and concussion concerns heading into the Knights game and he is unlikely to feature in the Intrust Super Cup this weekend.
Brennan has been brave to axe Cartwright and Latu given he went out on a limb to sign them from Penrith.
They are yet to repay his faith and the first-year coach could have persisted, but he has shown he is not afraid to drop players.
The big winners from the Titans’ form struggles has been the Tweed Heads Seagulls.
Hurrell, Latu and Elgey are collectively paid around $1.3 million by the Titans, making the Seagulls one of the most stacked teams in the competition.
TITANS SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS
WHAT do you do when you lose five games in a row? Go skydiving.
Titans coach Garth Brennan has taken a left-field approach in a bid to snap the Gold Coast’s losing streak.
After a tough loss to Melbourne, Brennan took the Titans to an indoor skydiving session on Tuesday to lighten the mood
“Everyone had a go, it was a good bonding session,” young prop Moeaki Fotuaika said.
“Everyone was happy and enjoyed their time. The last few weeks we’ve been a bit down, but the bonding session has lifted the energy of the boys and our happiness.
“We really needed it to lift up the boys’ spirits.”
Brennan has some interesting coaching philosophies, including blasting music at the completion of training sessions.
PLAYING STOCKS
RISING
Daly Cherry-Evans
What a performance against the Broncos last week. Given his goalkicking ability, DCE must be a serious contender for the Queensland No. 7 jumper.
Dale Finucane
The unsung hero of Melbourne’s pack. As tough as nails in defence and runs with gusto in attack. A low-maintenance dream for Storm coach Craig Bellamy.
Cameron Munster
The Storm five-eighth has been sensational in the first half of the season to lock up the Queensland No. 6 jersey.
Ryan James
After a month of average form, the Titans skipper punched out 80 minutes in the front row against Melbourne, racking up 48 tackles.
FALLING
Jack Bird
Rivalling Bryce Cartwright as the worst buy of 2018. Now sidelined with a sternum injury. Bird needs a massive second-half of the season or risks being pilloried by Brisbane fans.
Bryce Cartwright
The big-money Titans recruit has been woeful since joining the Gold Coast and needs a rocket put up him by someone close if he thinks he isn’t going that badly.
Justin O’Neill
It’s hard to believe O’Neill was playing Origin just 12 months ago. Horrendously out of form in a struggling North Queensland side. Has lost all zip and confidence.
Mahe Fonua
It was a rollercoaster few days for the mullet-haired Wests Tigers cult hero. He was man-of-the-match in the Tigers’ defeat of North Queensland then turned up late to training and was dropped.
NRL NEVILLES
Steele Retchless
Great name. Made his debut for the Broncos in 1995 as a hard-running back-rower before moving to the mighty Crushers in 1997. Played 33 NRL games before moving to England with the London Broncos.
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