NRL gossip and inside info: Wayne Bennett rules out Jarrod Wallace return
THE Broncos have closed the door on the signing of Jarrod Wallace after the Titans prop contacted Wayne Bennett to sound out the possibility of a coming back to Brisbane. PETER BADEL and TRAVIS MEYN have the latest inside info from the NRL.
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IT’s official — the Broncos have closed the door on the prospect of Titans prop Jarrod Wallace returning to Red Hill.
Blindside can reveal Wallace recently contacted Wayne Bennett to sound out the possibility of a second coming at Brisbane but the supercoach made it clear there is no room in the salary cap for the Maroons bookend.
Wallace has a 12-month option in his favour to remain at the Titans next year but has interest from Sydney-based rivals and stands to attracts offers of $700,000 a season.
LOYALTY CARD FOR BOYD
BRONCOS skipper Darius Boyd has emerged as the frontrunner for the Maroons left-wing spot.
Boyd is set to unseat Test flyer Valentine Holmes for the State of Origin series opener at the MCG on June 6.
The Queensland selectors remain fiercely loyal and are leaning towards reuniting Boyd with returning centre Greg Inglis.
Boyd has played 28 Origins for Queensland, with the bulk of those appearances on the left wing.
Holmes was sensational in his debut series last year but it may not have been enough for Queensland to overlook its loyalty policy for senior players.
The policy didn’t work in Game One last year and led to mass changes.
TITANS STAYING PUT
THE Gold Coast Titans will remain at Cbus Super Stadium — for now.
The Titans have signed a one-game agreement to play their next home match against Newcastle at the Robina stadium on May 19.
Blindside understands the Titans have made some progress at the negotiating table as they chase a better long-term arrangement following the recent controversy.
They are still a long way off inking a better deal, but it is hard to see the Titans playing anywhere else in 2018.
The club still hasn’t ruled out anything for 2019 as they attempt to secure a significant discount on their current $1.3 million-a-season fee to play at the venue.
BRENNAN MAKING FRIENDS
NRL boss Todd Greenberg deserves to hear about Titans coach Garth Brennan’s media relations.
While other selfish, ego-driven coaches shield players from the media, Brennan went the extra yard last week in Canberra.
Titans rookie Moeaki Fotuaika made his debut against the Raiders and received a request for a media interview. The only problem was the entire Titans squad had already showered and boarded the team bus.
Incredibly, Brennan stopped the bus and asked Fotuaika to hop off to conduct the interview. The code needs more good people like Brennan.
DRAGGING THE CHAIN
WHICH Broncos first-grader was seen languishing dead last, 20 metres behind, as the squad did some fitness drills at Red Hill on Wednesday?
No wonder the talented top-liner is struggling to produce his best form this season.
TOP PROP MAY MISS SEASON
NORTH Queensland’s year threatens to go from bad to worse with big-name recruit Jordan McLean in danger of missing the entire season.
McLean was initially expected to miss 12 weeks after injuring his foot against Penrith in round four.
That time frame would have seen McLean return for round 16, but Blindside understands the monster prop’s recovery will be longer than three months. There is no guarantee he will return this season.
It would be a blow not just for the Cowboys but the NSW Origin team.
The Test bookend was hopeful of being fit for Origin III but at this rate McLean’s hopes of a NSW debut are extremely slim.
CAMP FIRE STILL BLAZING
COWBOYS coach Paul Green has produced a contender for Jinx of the Year.
The Cowboys went into camp in Sydney on Saturday after beating the Panthers in Bathurst last Friday.
The camp was designed to bring them together following a shocking start to the year and help rescue their season.
Instead, it turned out to be a nightmare after prop Scott Bolton was charged with indecent assault following an alleged incident at a Bondi bar on Saturday night.
The Cowboys were hoping to have a low-key week in the Harbour City before facing the Tigers at Leichhardt Oval last night.
“It could be a blessing in disguise being away,” Green said before the camp.
It turned out to be far from that as the Cowboys became the centre of controversy.
SEAGULL FLYING HIGH
THE raid on Brisbane’s young guns continues.
Jaydn Su’A and Payne Haas are in the sights of NRL rivals and rookie prop Pat Carrigan is also attracting attention.
Three clubs are watching Carrigan closely.
The Wynnum bookend is off-contract next year and was outstanding for the Seagulls last weekend, amassing 160 metres, 32 tackles and eight tackle busts against the Capras.
JT’S FAREWELL AWAY FROM HOME
HAS the NRL accidentally sold Johnathan Thurston short?
It is hard to believe the North Queensland Cowboys could miss the finals and if they do, it will be a sad way for Thurston to end his glittering career.
What would be an even harder pill to swallow is the fact Thurston’s last regular season match will not be in Townsville.
The Cowboys will face the Titans at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast on September 1 in the final round.
Ideally, the Cowboys could have played at 1300 SMILES Stadium in Round 25 to ensure Thurston got a Townsville farewell in his final regular game.
Perhaps the scheduling oversight was a result of most assuming the Cowboys would be top four certainties and guaranteed a home final.
EXTRA MILES TO IMPRESS
THERE is a reason why Corey Oates remains off-contract — the Brisbane winger is set to quit his long-time management team.
Blindside understands Oates is seeking a new agent in Queensland Origin selection boss Gene Miles, who just happens to be his father-in-law.
Oates is married to Miles’ daughter Tegan and admits he is doing his best to spruik his Origin claims at the family dinner table.
“I keep pushing myself every now and then,” Oates joked. “But he’s a selector, so we keep things professional.”
HARD WORK BEARS FRUIT
THE Intrust Super Cup has delivered another player to the NRL.
Burleigh five-eighth Dylan Kelly is headed for Manly after a strong start to the season.
Kelly has previously been part of the Sea Eagles under-20s system before linking with the Bears.
He has featured in Burleigh’s great start to 2018, which sees the Bears sit on top of the ladder with seven wins from nine rounds.
Kelly will head to Lottoland immediately as Manly looks to beef-up its playmaking stocks.
It is likely he will start at Blacktown but has been given the opportunity to push for an NRL debut.
PLAYING STOCKS
RISING
COREY OATES
The Broncos winger is arguably in the best form of his career. Ran for 171 metres against the Bulldogs last week and has to be in serious contention for an Origin recall.
JOSH PAPALII
Outpointed Jai Arrow in last week’s battle for Origin jumpers in Canberra. Axed to reserve grade a month ago but Papalii is now back in the mix for a Maroons jumper.
BEN HUNT
His rise at St George Illawarra has been remarkable and he thoroughly deserves to succeed Cooper Cronk in the Maroons’ No. 7 jersey.
MOEAKI FOTUAIKA
The teenage Titan was his team’s best forward on debut against the Raiders last weekend. Has huge potential.
FALLING
ASH TAYLOR
The Titans ace was barely sighted in last week’s drubbing against the Raiders. As the club’s highest paid player, it’s time for Taylor to step up as a dominant force.
DYLAN NAPA
The Roosters giant has gone off the boil big time. The Maroons should consider axing him for Origin I unless he lifts quickly.
BRYCE CARTWRIGHT
Has not fired a shot on the Gold Coast and can consider himself very lucky to still be playing in the NRL.
JACK BIRD
Continues to struggle at the Broncos and it is hard to see him delivering anything special this season in what could be a year to forget.
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SHANNON WALKER
The Gold Coast Titans flyer had the potential to be the NRL’s fastest player when he made his debut in 2008. He played four matches across three seasons before trying his hand at rugby sevens. Walker returned to the Titans in 2016, forgoing a shot at the Rio Olympics, but quit the club suddenly.
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