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NRL DAILY: Wayne Bennett says Kevin Walters must discover Queensland’s new breed of stars, why Gold Coast could regret splashing the cash and more — ROLLING COVERAGE.
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RTS OUT FOR WARRIORS
NEW Zealand can’t take a trick with injuries this season and their inspirational skipper Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is the latest to go down.
The Kiwi custodian has been ruled out of New Zealand’s clash with Parramatta on Friday night with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad to come into the team.
It remains to be seen if Nicoll-Klokstad slots straight in at fullback or if Peta Hiku, who has played plenty of fullback in the past, switches from centre.
However, Mason Lino and Issac Luke will both play.
QUEENSLAND’S SUCCESS CYCLE OVER: BENNETT
Wayne Bennett says Queensland coach Kevin Walters must discover the state’s new breed of stars to ensure the next cycle of Maroons dominance.
In an era-defining selection call, Bennett handed a raw Smith an Origin debut in the final game of the 2003 series before quitting as Queensland coach.
The Maroons have gone on to win 11 of the 12 past series, with Smith playing in all but one of those games.
His shock representative retirement this week to join good mates Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston on the sidelines has installed NSW as firm favourites when the series begins in Melbourne on June 6.
While conceding Walters had a mountain to climb, Bennett said it was nothing he hadn’t seen before.
“It’ll be a real challenge for Kev, a challenge for the whole team,” the Brisbane coach said.
“Of all the great (Origin) teams ever picked they’ll (Thurston, Smith and Cronk) be in the grand final of the selection group …. but it does go in cycles, we had a wonderful cycle and it’s finished now.
“It’s just a challenge to find the players and make it happen again.”
Endorsing Broncos hooker Andrew McCullough as Smith’s replacement, Bennett recalled the assurity of the young Smith that earned him an Origin cap.
“I saw it when I tried to recruit him to come here as a young fella; he had a disposition, calmness and confidence and I had no hesitation bringing him into the team,” Bennett said.
“We’d lost those two games (in the series); everyone was calling for a lot of change, but I just made one to bring him in and we won that game.
“He’s (McCullough) very, very good, been a wonderful player at this club and I hope he gets his opportunity.”
LATE MAIL: DRAGONS DUO GET GREEN LIGHT
St George Illawarra’s record run of an unchanged starting side looks set to continue with Jack de Belin and Ben Hunt both fit to face Canberra on Sunday.
Hunt (cork) and de Belin (hip) both struggled through Sunday’s loss to South Sydney, but the star pair returned to training with the Dragons on Wednesday after fulfilling light duties earlier in the week.
Their fitness is likely to keep the first-placed Dragons record run alive, given they last week became the first team of the NRL-era to go through the opening 10 rounds without a starting change.
– AAP
ROUND 11 LATE MAIL: https://goo.gl/dqcsJY
BOYD SIGNING COULD BACKFIRE FOR TITANS
Queensland great Billy Moore thinks Gold Coast will regret the splash for cash on hulking forward Shannon Boyd as the NRL considers a game-changing interchange reduction.
The Canberra and Australian prop will join the Titans in 2019 on a four-year deal reportedly worth $2.4 million.
The 25-year-old will join Jai Arrow, Jarrod Wallace and Ryan James in a youthful but intimidating four-pronged pack that many have tipped to do significant damage.
But former Queensland and Australian second-rower Moore thinks it may prove to be a smart offload by Raiders coach Ricky Stuart as the NRL considers a move from eight to six interchanges.
“They’ve got too many middles (front-row forwards) and if there is any changes in the interchange, Boyd is the type of player that impacts because he’ll need to play more minutes than he does right now,” Moore said.
“They could’ve spent that money elsewhere; they need a strike outside back or backrower.”
Titans coach Garth Brennan lured veteran fullback Michael Gordon on a one-year deal to replace Parramatta-bound Jarryd Hayne this season and while being solid isn’t a long-term option.
Brennan has stated his desire to retain centre Dale Copley, while fellow centre Konrad Hurrell has been dropped after a mistake-riddled 2018 campaign.
One area that doesn’t need touching is the halves though, according to Moore.
“There is a shard of light and that’s (Alexander) Brimson; he is red-hot and a perfect sidekick to (halfback Ashley) Taylor,” he said of the five-eighth who debuted against the Melbourne Storm last weekend.
“I’ve only seen 80 minutes of him but you can see something in him, he has an underlying confidence.
“If I was the Titans I’d be raiding the Bulldogs, who have salary cap pressure … (Moses) Mbye grew up on the Sunshine Coast, might like to come home and would be a perfect fit in the backline.”
The Titans will aim to halt a five-game losing streak when they meet the Newcastle Knights on Saturday in Robina.
– AAP
DALEY: I WOULDN’T PICK FIFITA FOR BLUES
Former NSW coach Laurie Daley says there’s no way he’d pick Andrew Fifita for State of Origin this year, regardless of his thunderous NRL form.
The Cronulla enforcer sent a selection teaser to new Blues coach Brad Fittler after charging to the top of the Dally M leaderboard with another man-of-the match display in the Sharks’ comeback win over Canberra on Sunday.
“If they let me play (games) one and three,” Fifita said cheekily when asked if he would reconsider his non-availability for the Blues.
But a selection loophole has highlighted the fact that the tearaway prop is, in fact, available for both Tonga and NSW.
The only trouble is, Tonga play Samoa in the Pacific Test 24 hours before NSW take on Queensland in Origin II in Sydney on June 24.
While he isn’t actively pushing for Blues selection, Fifita’s throwaway line has raised concerns for Daley.
“Fifita is only making himself available for games one and three. You can’t have a player just making himself available for one and three. You’re either in or you are out,” Daley told Sky Sports Radio on Thursday.
“I’m not disappointed with Andrew Fifita deciding to play for Tonga. I thought that was terrific for the game. It created plenty of interest and I’d like to see more players pledge their allegiance to those second-tier nations.”
But if they do, under current scheduling and eligibility rules, the Origin spectacle will continue to lose star players.
Former Blues prop Glenn Lazarus said the Fifita case rang “alarm bells” to him.
“That’s great that he’s really passionate about playing for Tonga and let me tell you Andrew Fifita is probably first picked in my side if his head is on right and he’s playing footy,” Lazarus told Macquarie Sports Radio.
“(But) if he starts his distractions and so forth, well, I don’t want him in the side. He can’t be in the NSW side.
“These people who take it for granted that they’re playing for NSW, we need 17 men to go out on that field who are just absolutely bursting with pride and bursting with enthusiasm because they’ve got a Blues jersey on and they just want to rip and tear into those Queenslanders.”
Lazarus said the scheduling of the Pacific Test while the Origin series was on was “ridiculous”.
“When the Origin series is on it’s all people want to know about, read about and want to watch and want to talk about,” he said.
A Test match in the middle of that … a lot of people aren’t going to be too concerned about it, which is a shame because we do need to develop the game.”
– AAP
JUST IN: PAY COPS $15K FINE FOR REFS SPRAY
Canterbury coach Dean Pay’s fine for his spray at the referees has been reduced to $15,000 by the NRL.
Pay was initially slugged with a $25,000 reprimand for his post-match comments following his side’s controversial loss to Brisbane earlier this month.
The NRL agreed to suspend $10,000 of the fine because Pay was a first-year coach and he had since acknowledged he had over-stepped the boundaries.
Official media release from the NRL:
The NRL today finalised the Breach Notice against the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs for comments about match officials following their match against the Brisbane Broncos.
The club will be fined $15,000 with a further $10,000 suspended for comments made by coach Dean Pay.
The suspended portion of the fine will be imposed if there is a repeat of the criticism against match officials.
The NRL suspended part of the penalty based on the fact that Pay is in his first season as a head coach in the NRL and has no prior breaches. He has also acknowledged publicly that he needs to moderate his language when commenting about match officials.
A spokesman for the NRL said there had been a significant increase in club funding this year and the higher level of fines was aimed at ensuring there is an adequate deterrent against criticism of match officials.
Confirmation Kotoni Staggs will make his #NRL debut tomorrow night, as he scores the traditional try at the end of captain’s run. Brought in over Gehamat Shibasaki. @cmail_sport @couriermail pic.twitter.com/gpiYt8HUAD
— Rikki-Lee Arnold (@RikkiLeeA) May 17, 2018
CONFIRMED: KNIGHTS NAB STORM ORIGIN FORWARD
Just in from Newcastle – Tim Glasby will join the Knights next season.
Full media release from the Knights:
The nib Newcastle Knights are pleased to announce the signing of prop Tim Glasby on a three-year contract, commencing in 2019.
The 29-year-old, who has been a key part of the Melbourne Storm’s front row rotation, enjoyed a standout 2017, helping Queensland win the Origin series and was part of the Storm side that claimed another premiership.
Since 2013, Glasby has recorded 94 NRL appearances.
Coach Nathan Brown maintains the 106kg prop will be a great addition to the Club and provide key leadership for the squad.
“He is with the leadership group in Melbourne now and will also provide valuable leadership here at the Knights,” said Brown.
“His form is consistent in the small parts of the game and he’s very efficient in both his defensive and attacking areas.
“Probably the best compliment we can give him is that teammate Cameron Smith pushes him to not only be in the Melbourne team, but also pushes him to be in the Queensland team and you probably can’t get any bigger endorsement than that from the Australian captain and one of our games greatest ever players.
“Tim being an Origin player and grand final winner is important for our squad, with his quality and experience set to add a lot to our forward pack.”
LEAGUE CENTRAL TV: ROUND 11 NRL TIPS
The Daily Telegraph’s Fatima Kdouh and Matt Logue run us through their hot tips for NRL Round 11.