Origin appearances make Moses Mbye game’s newest millionaire
The honour of playing for Queensland has been clear for Moses Mbye — but the Wests Tigers star will also get a significant bonus for his Origin debut. PLUS, Maroons to do right by Jai Arrow.
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Maroons supersub Moses Mbye has become the NRL’s latest millionaire.
Blindside can reveal Mbye will officially become a $1 million player when he runs on to Perth’s Optus Stadium for Origin II on Sunday night.
The 25-year-old’s current deal with the Wests Tigers is worth $950,000 annually, part of which is subsidised by the Bulldogs, who allowed Mbye to sign a four-year contract with the joint-venture club due to salary cap pressures.
NSW and Queensland players are paid an additional $30,000 for each Origin game they play. Mbye plays his second Origin game this week, meaning he has already pocketed an extra $60,000 this season on top of his current salary — catapulting him into the elite $1 million club.
Despite not being in the starting side, that makes Mbye one of the Queensland team’s richest players.
Four other Maroons are on at least $1 million — centre Michael Morgan, five-eighth Cameron Munster, halfback Daly Cherry-Evans and hooker Ben Hunt.
A fortnight ago, Mbye was buffeted by speculation that he was on the outer at the Wests Tigers and could join the Cowboys.
But Mbye insists he is happy as Tigers captain and has set his sights on becoming Queensland’s long-term Mr Fixit in the No.14 jumper.
“Yeah, I’d love to be that super sub,” Mbye said.
“You’ve just got to be prepared to cover as many roles as you can. If you get called on you’ve got to do a job. That is what I will do.”
Asked about escaping Origin’s one-game wonder club, Mbye laughed and said: “It’s good to get a second game. I love being a part of this Queensland team and I’m in a position now to make this utility role my own spot.”
LISTEN! The crew try to get their heads around the Blues selection policy for Origin II and ask if it’s a version of The Simpsons’ “Homermobile”, plus Latrell Mitchell’s future and Matty goes to the movies.
KEVIE WON’T STOP AT WHISPERING
THE Coach Whisperer, Bradley Charles Stubbs, is not the only secret weapon helping the Maroons.
Leaving no stone unturned, Queensland coach Kevin Walters has also turned to one of Australia’s most respected high-performance experts to give the Maroons an edge.
Australian Catholic University researcher Dr Shona Halson is a performance recovery expert with decades of experience in high performance sport.
Before working for ACU’s School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, she was a senior physiologist at the AIS specialising in sleep, recovery, fatigue and travel.
Halson was director of the Australian Olympic Committee’s Recovery Centre at the 2008, 2012 and 2016 Olympic Games and is a consultant to Nike and the Australian Open tennis tournament.
“Shona has been outstanding,” Walters said.
“Our medical staff have been in regular dialogue with Shona and her knowledge has been invaluable for our players and their preparations for this series.”
MAROONS DO IT FOR JAI
QUEENSLAND stars have vowed to channel the spirit of their injured ironman Jai Arrow to finish off the Blues in Origin II on Sunday night.
Arrow was so committed to the cause in Origin, the Maroons prop coughed up blood at one stage of Queensland’s epic 18-14 win in Game One.
He was a shoo-in for Game Two before suffering an ankle injury last week playing for the Titans, which has sidelined him for the rest of the series.
While Arrow is a shattered man, he will receive plenty of TLC from his two dogs and devoted partner Taylah Cannon, a former Miss World Australia beauty queen.
Arrow’s injury opened the door for the recall of his good mate at the Titans Jarrod Wallace, who says the Maroons are determined not to let their injured colleague down.
“I’m gutted for Jai,” he said. “He is one of my best mates and he’s been doing such a great job for the Titans. He was phenomenal in Game One.
“I know he will be getting stuck into the rehab after his surgery but that’s football.”
Front-row partner Josh Papalii added: “Jai is going to be a huge loss so it’s important I step up without him.”
WA THE NEXT FONTIER
QUEENSLAND Origin players have added a compelling take on rugby league’s expansion debate, with their time in Perth convincing them the state of Western Australia is ready for an NRL licence.
Maroons stars were blown away on Wednesday night when more than 2000 locals flocked to HBF Park to watch their first training session.
It was easily the biggest turnout to a Queensland training session in recent years.
In Brisbane before Origin I, no more than 500 people turned up to watch the Maroons train at Davies Park in West End. And in recent trips to Melbourne, barely 100 people would show up to a Maroons session.
No doubt there is a novelty factor but Maroons players were genuinely taken aback by the show of support.
For winger Corey Oates, it is proof Perth is ready for an NRL team as the game’s boss Todd Greenberg prepares to deliver his report on the future of the code later this year.
“It was unbelievable. I’ve never seen a turnout like that,” Oates said. “Perth could definitely have an NRL side, the support is here for sure.”
SANDGROPERS GET A HIT OF LEAGUE
IT’s been fascinating to read coverage of State of Origin in Perth’s leading newspaper, The West Australian.
As NSW and Queensland players hit town, the paper ran a poll asking: “C’mon Perth, tell us who we should cheer for?”.
Optus Stadium has been bathed in neon blue lights at night, which is an interesting sign.
The paper also revelled in the backstories of Origin’s players, with one headline screaming “Scandals, stars, sex. The best show in Australia”.
That’s a reference to off-field incidents involving Maroons prop Dylan Napa and Blues duo Blake Ferguson and Jack Wighton.
“From the epic hits and nailbiting finishes to the off-field scandals and fan fervour, WA has never seen anything like that,” the paper wrote.
Well said.
RUGBY KEEPING AN EYE ON KALYN
AT a time when Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has been linked with trying to poach NRL superstar Kalyn Ponga, it is interesting to note Rugby Australia has a presence in the Queensland team hotel.
Blindside can reveal Rugby Australia chief executive Raelene Castle, formerly the boss of the Canterbury Bulldogs, is staying at the same hotel as Ponga and the Maroons.
Is a poaching bid about to take place? Castle is close enough to hold talks with Ponga at any time, but there is a genuine reason for the RA boss’ visit to Perth.
Castle is in town to hold talks with Rugby WA as it battles to repay a $1 million government loan.
TRUE MEN OF LEAGUE
QUEENSLAND coach Kevin Walters’ contribution to the game as an ambassador cannot be questioned.
The Maroons mentor will be a headline act as the Men of League’s State of Origin “series wrap-up” luncheon at Norths Leagues and Services Club, Kallangur on Friday, July 12.
The event will be held less than 48 hours after Origin III in Sydney, but Walters will fly back in time to be there whether Queensland win or lose the series.
Other guest speakers alongside Walters are Chris Johns, Ben Ikin and Roy Masters, the former Wests and St George coach and now acclaimed journalist.
CAM KEEPS HIS DISTANCE
ONE notable absentee from Camp Maroon has been Queensland champion Cameron Smith.
The Storm skipper was supposed to arrive in camp for Origin I to help Ben Hunt with hooking duties, but did not appear.
And while the likes of Johnathan Thurston, Billy Slater and Justin Hodges have been regularly sighted mentoring Maroons stars, Smith has not been seen again for preparations for Game Two.
Smith has great respect for coach Kevin Walters but doesn’t want too many voices in camp.
He is so confident in Hunt’s ability he has urged him to play his own way without the former Maroons skipper getting in his ear.
SEIBS SUPPORTING FORMER BRONCS
BRONCOS coach Anthony Seibold is doing everything possible to support Brisbane’s Old Boys.
There has been talk of simmering tensions between the Old Boys and the Broncos but Brisbane hierarchy have made a significant statement.
Seibold, chief executive Paul White and chairman Karl Morris turned up to Gambaro’s a fortnight ago for a 30-year reunion of Brisbane’s historic Panasonic Cup-winning side of 1989.
Joe Kilroy, the first tryscorer in Brisbane’s epic 22-20 win, came over from Stradbroke Island for the event.
ICE TO SEE YOU, MAROONS
THE Maroons are so determined to wrap up the series in Perth they have summoned Australia’s first mobile cryotherapy machine to have their stars in peak shape.
John Barker, whose company Kryofix supplies the recovery chamber to NRL clubs, drove 3290km and for three-and-a-half days from Sydney to Perth to provide his service to the Maroons ahead of Origin II.
Barker’s ute, with the $80,000 device in tow, pulled into the Queensland team hotel at 10pm on Sunday night, just hours after the arrival of Maroons stars.
In recent days, Queensland players have been standing for three minutes in a liquid nitrogen chamber that falls to a temperature of -150C.
It’s the same technology used by basketball superstar LeBron James, boxing legend Floyd Mayweather and soccer great Cristiano Ronaldo to overcome injuries and extend their careers.
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