Mal Meninga wants another age group for Kangaroos rep footy
Mal Meninga wants Kayln Ponga in the green and gold – but not quite in the way we expected. Check out the great man’s new plan for international footy in today’s Blindside.
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KANGAROOS coach Mal Meninga has lobbied the Rugby League International Federation in a move that could see Queensland young gun Kalyn Ponga wearing green and gold sooner rather than later.
Blindside can exclusively reveal Meninga is keen to introduce an under-23s format at international level to bolster the health of Test football and bring further prestige to the Australian jumper.
The Junior Kangaroos and Junior Kiwis currently field teams at under-20s level, but Meninga wants to extend the age limit to 23 to recognise the standard of talent coming through at NRL level.
Under Meninga’s plan, an Australian under-23 team would be a virtual feeder team to the senior Kangaroos side.
If ratified by the RLIF, the likes of Ponga, Penrith’s Nathan Cleary, Roosters hitman Victor Radley, Titans young gun AJ Brimson and Broncos duo David Fifita and Payne Haas – if not selected for the senior team – would wear the green-and-gold for the under-23s side.
The Australian under-23s side would play internationals against New Zealand, England and Pacific Nations such as Tonga, Samoa and Fiji – possibly as curtain-raisers to senior Test matches.
“We’re asking the RLIF the question at the moment, I’m keen for an under-23s format. I think it could it work,” Meninga said.
“Ideally, I would like to try to play it this year, but we need to see what the
“We’ll try and play it this year, we’ll see what the appetite is. If there is commercial value and it works within the game’s budgets, hopefully they will look at it.
“The under-20s is a great concept but a lot of those 20s kids don’t come through into first grade.
“If you have an under-23s side, they would be mainly first-graders and genuine emerging NRL talents. I’d love to see young guys such as Kalyn Ponga, Nathan Cleary, Cameron Murray and AJ Brimson wearing green and gold ... it would be a fair side.
“We have been talking about with the Kiwis and the under-23s concept could be brilliant particularly for developing the Pacific nations to improve their depth of talent.”
Sattler backs McGuire for captain
FORMER Maroons lock Scott Sattler has thrown up a surprise contender for the Queensland captaincy – Josh McGuire.
The Cowboys hardman was outstanding in his 200th NRL game last week against the Warriors. McGuire has played 11 State of Origin matches since his debut in 2015 and Sattler believes he would go to another level replacing Greg Inglis as Queensland captain.
Sattler points to the evolution of his father John, the Rabbitohs forward legend. Sattler senior was considered a “lunatic” with his tackling style before his appointment as Souths captain in 1967. He ended up skippering the Rabbitohs to four premierships.
“The Maroons don’t have a heap of leadership options, so I’d consider McGuire,” Sattler said.
“When my father was given the Souths captaincy, at the time people thought it was madness. Dad had been sent-off numerous times in his career, but the captaincy brought out his leadership qualities and helped him mature.
“I believe the same thing can happen to Josh. He’s one of Queensland’s most experienced forwards and he would have the instant respect of the group.”
WHO DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE CAPTAIN? VOTE HERE
Boss turns white at Tevita prank
BRONCOS boss Paul White is still recovering from the worst April Fool’s joke of his life – star prop Tevita Pangai Jr telling him he is ‘quitting’ Brisbane to join the Sydney Roosters on a mega five-year deal.
The Broncos are desperate to retain Pangai Jr, who is off-contract at season’s end. But all hope appeared lost when Pangai Jr walked into White’s office last month to drop a contract bombshell.
American President Donald Trump would prefer to call it fake news.
“Tevita walked in and sat down and said, ‘I’m sorry boss, I’m leaving’,” White recalled.
“He said, ‘I’ve just had this massive five-year offer from the Roosters. It’s too good to refuse.’
“My initial thought was, ‘Oh god, here we go ... how on earth do we tell the media and fans we’ve lost Tevita’.
“He walked out and left me brooding on it.
“Then he walked back into the office an hour later in front of the whole office staff and screamed out, ‘April Fool’s Whitey’.
“I must admit he got me a beauty ... I was on my knees.”
Holmes of the brave
VALENTINE Holmes has touched down in New York ready to rumble. The former Queensland Origin star has stacked on 7kg of muscle working 14-hour days at the IMG Academy to keep his NFL dream alive.
After a two-week break in Australia, during which he married long-term partner Natalia, Holmes has hit the Big Apple primed for the most critical phase of his American Football odyssey.
Holmes will turn 24 in July, midway through pre-season training in the New York Jets’ practice squad. He will remain in America until at least January and admits learning the nuances of American Football has been gruelling.
“It’s been tough, really challenging in every aspect,” he said.
“The training was completely new to me. We would start at 7am and close the books at 9pm every day for 11 weeks. It was broken up into gym work, rehab, classroom study, on-the-field training and then back to the video room for analysis. The guys at the IMG facility and the coaches within the NFL International Program were the best. I couldn’t have asked for better people to prepare me.
“To get the call from the Jets ... the relief and excitement hit me all at once. It felt the same way when I was selected for the Queensland Origin side.
“The athlete’s mindset is to always push new limits. I hope my fans in rugby league will continue to support me with my NFL journey.
“It’s time to test myself again. I don’t plan to fail. I’m committed to giving this everything I’ve got.”
Kevvie suspected GI retirement
QUEENSLAND Origin coach Kevin Walters was not entirely shocked with the premature retirement of his skipper Greg Inglis.
Blindside understands alarm bells began to ring for Queensland Rugby League hierarchy last month when Inglis baulked at doing some promotional work for this year’s State of Origin series. It was a clear sign Inglis was wrestling with the prospect of never playing for Queensland again.
Since his retirement bombshell last week, Inglis is said to be in good spirits with Souths insiders saying a weight has been lifted off GI’s shoulders.
NRL player lucky to be alive
WHICH NRL player is lucky to be alive after losing control of his car on a major freeway and smashing into the railguards at approximately 100km/h? Thankfully, the player in question escaped major injury but was understandably shaken up by the ordeal. He was not under the influence of any substance. Club welfare officers are assisting the player.
Johns: Stick with your halves
BRONCOS halves consultant Matthew Johns has urged Brisbane not to wield the axe with misfiring duo Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima.
Johns is an interested observer in the Milford-Nikoirma alliance. In pre-season, Broncos coach Anthony Seibold reached out to Johns, flying Milford and Nikorima to Sydney for playmaking sessions with the former NSW Origin pivot.
Johns concedes the Broncos scrumbase pair have had their challenges but says they are victims of a struggling forward pack.
“Dropping them would be hitting the panic button,” Johns said.
“Only the greatest playmakers can operate behind a losing pack. For a halfback to play well when his forwards aren’t playing well, that’s the domain of someone like Allan Langer, Andrew Johns and Ricky Stuart.
“The challenge for ‘Milf’ and Nikorima has been game management with the game on the line. The criticism isn’t nice and they will realise they need to play better.
“I worked with them and from what I saw, there was great potential in the combination. Now they have to do it in the heat of battle. That’s a confidence thing.
“I have no doubt things will happen when the forward pack finds its rhythm.”
Haas puts Idris in his place
PAYNE Haas is being tagged as the NRL’s next front-row superstar but the Broncos rookie could have been an Olympic shot-putter.
The 118kg monster revealed that while rugby league has always been his first love, he briefly dabbled in shot put and was so talented he once set the Australian record at under-11s level.
“I did a bit of shot put when I was younger,” he said.
“My grandfather used to coach me and I actually beat the under-11s record of Jamal Idris (former NSW and Test centre).
“I threw 14.48 metres as an 11-year-old, but I didn’t do it for too long because I was committed to making it in rugby league.
“I’m not sure how good I could have been ... those Olympian shot-put dudes are massive.”
READ PAYNE HAAS’ EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW HERE
PLAYER STOCKS
RISING
JOSH McGUIRE: Produced his best game for the Cowboys in his 200th NRL game last week. The former Bronco terrorised the Warriors and will be one of the first players picked for the Maroons.
MITCHELL MOSES: Talk about a slice of history. Scoring the first try, goal and field goal at Parramatta’s new home at Bankwest Stadium in the Eels’ 51-6 drubbing of his former club the Tigers.
LATRELL MITCHELL: Looked every bit a young Greg Inglis as he scorched down the flanks against Melbourne last week swatting defenders aside like flies. Then lands a 40-metre field goal in extra time. What a freak.
PAYNE HAAS: How many 19-year-olds could play the full 80 minutes in just their fifth game in the NRL engine room. Ran for 175 metres in a tireless effort against the Green Machine. A future NSW Origin star.
FALLING
JAYDN SU’A: Started the season as one of Brisbane’s forward young guns but has been axed after six rounds. Missed a bad tackle against the Roosters in round four and needs to get back to his best.
JOSH REYNOLDS: No man is more passionate but the Tigers pivot had a horror afternoon against the Eels. Missed seven tackles in Parramatta’s 51-6 rout.
PHIL GOULD: What a fall from grace for the Penrith supremo. Seemed untouchable just 12 month ago but the painful Anthony Griffin saga ultimately played a role in his departure from the Panthers.
MITCHELL PEARCE: Was hailed as the halfback who could turn the Knights into a finals force but is now having to hit back at suggestions a party culture has infected the club.
DCE makes call on NRL, Origin future as rivals circle
Queensland Maroons and Manly Sea Eagles captain Daly Cherry-Evans has made a call on his State of Origin future, and revealed he has spoken with rival clubs about playing on in 2026.
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