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BRISBANE coach Wayne Bennett seems to have let slip who he voted for to be the next Immortal while Matt Gillett will miss the remainder of the season — rolling rugby league coverage.
DON’T miss any breaking news in our blog, NRL Daily.
There is news breaking at every club throughout the day and our rolling coverage will keep you posted on everything you need to know. So far today, Wayne Bennett seems to have let slip who he voted for to become the next Immortal while his back-rower Matt Gillett has been ruled out for the rest of the season. Meanwhile, Cooper Cronk is crowing about the Roosters attack and Aaron Woods is welcoming back the return of Josh Dugan at the Sharks.
Live Updates
He could be named as the game’s next Immortal in a few hours, so bask in the glory of big Mal Meninga.
SCOTT READY TO HELP LIFT COWBOYS PACK
His neck may require more surgery but veteran prop Matt Scott is finally ready to help Jason Taumalolo carry the North Queensland pack in the NRL, coach Paul Green says.
Scott returns to the Cowboys’ starting front-row, pushing John Asiata back to the bench for Saturday night’s clash with third-placed Sydney Roosters at Allianz Stadium.
Scott – off contract next season – has confirmed this week that he will need a second neck operation in three years for an ongoing bulging disc complaint.
Concerns for his neck ensured Green started Scott on the bench in last round’s last gasp win over Newcastle – only the Cowboys’ fifth of the year.
It was a triumphant return for Scott who had missed the last four games with the long term neck complaint which also required surgery after North Queensland’s 2015 premiership win.
Green was convinced Scott could help shoulder the load with hard-working lock Taumalolo after the ex-Test prop amassed 96m off the bench against the Knights – 50m more than starting front-rower Asiata.
“We weren’t sure how his neck would handle all the contact …but he seemed to handle it pretty well in the game and pulled up reasonably well,” Green said of Scott’s last round bench start.
Green was excited by the prospect of Scott – who turned 33 this week – starting in the front-row alongside Melbourne recruit Jordan McLean, in his second game back from a long term foot injury.
Especially after Tongan international Taumalolo copped criticism this year for not producing his trademark 200m-plus games in the Cowboys’ season from hell.
“I don’t know whether Jason feels he is under pressure but I suppose he feels he has had to do a fair bit of work for us this year,” Green said.
“But having those two guys (Scott, McLean) as back up is pretty handy.”
Green defended Taumalolo’s 2018 form as second-last North Queensland looked to avoid the NRL wooden spoon in a huge fall from grace for the early season title favourites.
“It is a little bit like the whole team, people expect so much of him,” Green said.
“He is still probably running for more than 150m a game. But people look at stat sheets and say ‘Jason hasn’t run 200m, he mustn’t be playing very well’.
“The expectations on him are probably higher and so when he doesn’t live up to that expectation people are critical.
“But I don’t think he is playing that bad. He’s just not as good as what people expect.”
Scott’s return to the starting line-up sets the stage for an epic front row battle with the fiery Dylan Napa who returns from a knee injury for the Roosters.
– Laine Clark
FARAH EYES ANOTHER SEASON WITH TIGERS
Wests Tigers veteran Robbie Farah has hinted at being offered another contract by the club to play what would be a 17th season in the NRL.
Whether or not he has the desire to run around again at 35 years of age remains to be seen.
After gaining a mid-year release from South Sydney to make an emotional return to the Tigers, Farah comes off contract at the end of the year and is considering retirement.
But the 2005 premiership-winning hooker on Tuesday suggested the club is open to keeping him around next season and that the final call would up to him.
“There haven’t been formal discussions but informally I think there’s a possibility,” Farah said.
“It’s not set in stone either way. I’ve got to decide whether I want to.
“Once I do that, I think we can work out a plan moving forward.”
Farah admits the prospect of another pre-season was “scary” while he would also be swayed by the decision of long-time teammate Benji Marshall to go on in 2019.
“I’m sure we’ll pick each other’s brains about it in the coming weeks,” Farah said.
While he has returned to playing 80 minutes since moving back to Concord, the former Kangaroos and NSW representative has given thought to playing a dual role next year.
The Tigers have Jacob Liddle on their books, however, the 21-year-old has battled to rediscover his best form since undergoing twin shoulder surgeries last summer.
“Part of the reason the club would want to keep me here next year, if I stay, would be to help that transition for Jacob,” Farah said.
“He probably struggled a bit this year with the physicality, the body, and the shoulder injuries.
“I think if I was to stay next year it allows the club not to rush Jacob back.
“But at the same time I can work with him, maybe share a game. “I could have a couple of weeks off if he’s going really well or things like that.
“They’re all the discussions that need to take place.”
With five games remaining this year, Farah and the ninth-placed Tigers will look to keep their finals ambitions alive with a win over Newcastle on Friday. They are four points behind the eighth-placed Warriors.
– Matt Encarnacion
Awful news for Raiders winger Michael Oldfield who made the most of his call up to the top grade midway through the season.
Confirmation of a moderate grade MCL injury for Michael Oldfield, the Raiders expect him to miss between 4-8 weeks. His season may be over
— NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) 1 August 2018
GORDON OPEN TO POSITIONAL SHIFT AT TITANS
Michael Gordon will play on for Gold Coast in next season’s NRL but says his No.1 jersey is up for grabs in a possible spine shake-up.
The 34-year-old has been one of the rare consistent performers in his first season at the Titans and confirmed on Wednesday he would honour the second year of his contract before a likely retirement.
But he says he isn’t fussed if he loses his spot at the back, given Penrith utility Tyrone Peachey will join the Titans next season and playmakers Tyrone Roberts and Corey Norman have both been linked with moves to the club.
Former Titan Roberts is eyeing a return to Australia from the Super League next season while NRL.com reported on Wednesday that head coach Garth Brennan had recently met with Norman.
Having played alongside Roberts already at the Titans, halfback Ash Taylor admitted he’d love to see him back on the Gold Coast.
“He’s like a brother to me; you miss that banter and it’d be great to see him back … it’d be massive,” he said.
NSW utility Peachey’s arrival will push someone out and with five-eighth AJ Brimson viewed as a long-term option at fullback it will create a log-jam of contenders in the Titans’ backline.
Gordon said he was feeling more than ready for another season but didn’t view his position at the back as a non-negotiable in what will likely to be his NRL swan song.
“(British sprinter) Linford Christie won a gold medal at 32 … the body’s fine and there’s no issue for me, (but playing in 2020) I think we’re pushing it there,” he said.
“If they told me I was playing off the bench, front row I wouldn’t care … competition is only a good thing, it pushes you harder.
“He’s (Peachey) a great player, wherever you put him he performs well.”
– Murray Wenzel
Have your say on who you think should be named as rugby league’s next Immortal.
BENNETT LETS SLIP IMMORTALS VOTE
Never usually one to give anything away to the media, Wayne Bennett appears to have let slip his vote for rugby league’s next Immortal ahead of Wednesday night’s official unveiling.
Bennett was one of eight judges who faced the difficult task of choosing up to two new Immortals from a 10-strong short-list on Tuesday.
And he tried to keep his cards close to his chest when quizzed by media in Brisbane on Wednesday.
But the traditionally tight-lipped Bennett hinted that two Immortals would be named and admitted he vouched for Dragons great Norm Provan during the lively judges debate on Tuesday.
Dally Messenger and Mal Meninga are considered favourites to become the ninth and possibly 10th Immortal at the special SCG ceremony.
The other nominees are Provan, Darren Lockyer, Ken Irvine, Brian Bevan, Ron Coote, Dave Brown, Frank Burge and Duncan Hall.
Bennett admitted he had “no idea” who got the Immortal nod under the new secret ballot voting system and his opinion on different nominees changed “three times” during the debate.
But Bennett appeared momentarily thrown when reminded he had vouched for Provan as the next Immortal in an interview at the start of the season and whether his opinion had changed.
“You’ve put me on the spot now. You could say that (voted for Provan),” Bennett said coyly.
“(But) I felt very privileged to be there yesterday. It was conducted in great spirit.
“I think there were some really good decisions there that will play out tonight.” A rule tweak ensured it was even more gruelling for judges to select the next Immortal.
When the concept was first started in 1981 by the now defunct Rugby League Week (RLW) publication, judges refused to consider anyone they had not seen play so only looked at post-World War II careers.
But that has been ditched since the NRL took over the concept last year when RLW folded.
All eras are now considered but players are only eligible for Immortal status if they are among the 100 NRL Hall of Fame members.
“They are all on the same level. It is such a fine line,” Bennett said of the nominees.
“And some we never saw play which won’t be an issue in the future with video but Dally Messenger played back in 1908 – that’s the difficult part. “It’s a tough job to do but one I enjoyed being a part of.” Messenger is favourite to be the first pre-war player inducted more than 100 years after his fateful decision to turn his back on rugby and join the newly formed NSWRL in 1907.
Andrew Johns was the last Immortal inducted six years ago, joining Clive Churchill (1981), Bob Fulton (1981), Reg Gasnier (1981), Johnny Raper (1981), Graeme Langlands (1999), Wally Lewis (1999) and Arthur Beetson (2003).
– aap
Reports Raiders reserve hooker Craig Garvey has left the club due to family reasons. Garvey has been in immense form for Canberra’s feeder club Mount Pritchard Mounties in 2018, earning nine selections in the NSWRL Team of the Week.
.@RaidersCanberra have granted Craig Garvey’s request for a release and he’s returned to Sydney for family reasons #nrl
— David Polkinghorne (@Super_Couch) 1 August 2018
WOODS: DUGAN’S RETURN A MAJOR BOOST FOR SHARKS
Cronulla star Josh Dugan is set to finally make his return from a two-month layoff with a broken foot in time for the Sharks’ NRL finals push.
Dugan was named on an extended bench for Sunday’s match against Manly but is primed to play after completing his first full training run with the team on Tuesday.
It will be Dugan’s first appearance since fracturing his foot in late May, continuing an injury-riddled maiden season that has limited him to just eight games in his maiden season for Cronulla.
Teammate Aaron Woods said Dugan is keen to string some matches together.
“He’s had a bit of an up-and-down start of the season with injury,” Woods said on Sky Sports’ Big Sports Breakfast on Wednesday.
“He’s just stinging to get out on the field and play some footy and get a couple of weeks together.
“If he gets through he’ll be a massive bonus for us.”
Another Sharks star to have battled various injuries this year is second-rower Wade Graham, who is slated to return from a nagging groin issue.
Graham has missed six games so far this year due to hamstring and cheekbone problems, and suspension.
He was sidelined for last week’s loss in Brisbane.
But the Kangaroos Test forward will add further impetus – particularly in attack – for a Sharks side in sixth spot and within sight of a crucial top-four finish.
“Sometimes teams do come up and put pressure on (playmakers Matt Moylan and Chad Townsend) with the kick pressure,” Woods said.
“But then they’ll hit Wade short and then he’ll either have a play set up with his edge or a short kicking or long kicking game which creates another dimension to our attack.
“He’s a real focal point in our attack as well. He used to be a five-eighth.
“We did miss him a lot but there’s times where he’s not going to be there in games so we need to be better without him sometimes.”
– Matt Encarnacion
