That’ll be all from us today, make sure to check back from 7:00 Friday. The shot from Timmins, it’s got the height, it’s got the length and the crowd goes up.
LIVE
NRL Daily: Live rolling rugby league coverage from around Australia
ANDREW Johns’ State of Origin role with NSW, Shaun Johnson’s comeback from injury confirmed for the Warriors and more — rolling rugby league coverage.
DON’T miss any breaking news in our blog, NRL Daily.
There is news breaking at every club - and both Origin camps - throughout the day and our rolling coverage will keep you posted on everything you need to know.
Live Updates
KLEMMER SAYS BLUES ARE READY TO HATE
David Klemmer says close friend Aaron Woods can emerge better for his State of Origin axing but insists those replacing him will have no trouble embracing the Queensland hate.
Klemmer will lead a new-look forward pack into battle with the Maroons next Wednesday night at the MCG, starting for the first time in his Origin career. But he will do so without Canterbury teammate Aaron Woods and Cronulla powerhouse Andrew Fifita, both mainstays of the Blues’ middle over the past three years.
Fifita made himself virtually unavailable for selection when he preferred a Tongan Test match over Origin on the weekend of Game II but Woods’ demotion came as a far bigger hit.
The 27-year-old has fallen out of form since his arrival at the Bulldogs earlier this year and learned of his fate while with Klemmer following their’ loss to former team Wests Tigers on Sunday.
“It’s disappointing but it’s how things work,” Klemmer said of Woods being dropped.
“He’s got to get away from footy for a bit and come back bigger and stronger. “I caught up with him and we had a coffee. He’s a bit relieved. He knows he can just worry about getting back to footy and playing his best.” The absence of the pair has left Klemmer as the biggest remaining player in the Blues’ pack.
Fellow middle players Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Jack de Belin are yet to play Origin football but they’ve already promised plenty of aggression. The former turned eyes when he declared on stage at Monday’s True Blues dinner he was excited to put the Blues jersey on and “start killing people”. As for de Belin, he’s been in the business of folding attackers in half for fun at St George Illawarra this year.
And with the likes of former Blues hard men like Steve Roach and Paul Sironen in camp, Klemmer said they and the rest of the Blues rookies wouldn’t have any problem learning to hate Queensland.
“We get told about it every day,” Klemmer said.
“We’ve got Block (Roach) in my ear walking over here and he reminded you of where you are at. You know how much hatred there is.” Klemmer is also relishing the prospect of being involved in the opening stages of Origin after coming off the bench in his first nine appearances. “It’ll be very quick and physical, I’ve got to get my head around that and get ready to do some running,” he said.
“If they do kick (off) my way I will definitely be trying to get the ball early to inject myself into the game.” The Blues continued their preparations for the series opener on Thursday, emerging from a rest day to train at Sydney Olympic Park with the assistance of a returning Andrew Johns.
Injured centre James Roberts continued to be on track to run out in Melbourne despite an ongoing Achilles complaint, after he trained for the majority of the session and ran freely before being rested late.
-AAP
WARRIORS BOOST AS JOHNSON RETURNS
Halfback Shaun Johnson will make a welcome return from injury for the Warriors when they host Manly next week.
The NRL club announced key playmaker Johnson has recovered from the ankle problem which had ruled him out of the club’s last three games.
The Warriors look set to have both of their halfbacks available for the match in Christchurch, with Mason Lino having recovered from a leg injury. Lino was to play for the reserve grade team this weekend, while the first grade team has a bye.
Johnson and Lino were sorely missed in the club’s 30-10 hammering from South Sydney on Saturday, pushing them two places down the table to fifth. Blake Green was forced to play halfback and Peta Hiku out of position at five- eighth.
– AAP
JOHNS RETURNS TO BLUES BRAINS TRUST
Andrew Johns has made good on NSW coach Brad Fittler’s promise to return to the State of Origin fold, assisting with Blues’ training.
Johns ran attacking drills with the team at Sydney Olympic Park on Thursday morning, and set up structures for some plays.
He was also spotted in conversation with Blues’ five-eighth James Maloney and debutant Nathan Cleary, as NSW continue to try and turn a new page in Origin history.
The rugby league Immortal’s return comes after Fittler pledged to bring the NSW legend back into the fold if he got the job last year.
Fittler remained in close contact with former NSW coach Phil Gould in the lead up to the series, and also has Danny Buderus with him in camp with Greg Alexander acting as an advisor.
Paul Sironen, Steve Roach and others are also there, but it was Johns’ return which attracted the most interest on Thursday as the Blues attempt to turn the Origin tide.
“Obviously he (Johns) is a very smart footballer and knows a lot about the game,” Maloney said.
“It’s always nice to have a bloke like that to bounce ideas off and learn little bits and pieces off.”
Maloney has worked with Johns previously during his stint with the Warriors between 2010 and 2012, but has not trained with him since.
Johns was last year critical of the Blues’ attack, labelling it “dumb” as they let a 16-6 series-winning lead slip to a wounded Queensland in Game II.
It prompted calls for him to return as a Blues coach after NSW lost the series in Game III, but Johns said he didn’t need the stress of the role and instead backed Fittler for the job.
– AAP
Legendary NSW halfback Andrew Johns was on hand to give the Blues some pointers at training today pic.twitter.com/6eMFmuVnX3
— Telegraph Sport (@telegraph_sport) May 31, 2018
MILFORD TRAINS AS MAROONS SWEAT ON HUNT
Fringe player Anthony Milford has run Queensland’s attacking plays at training as the Maroons sweat on halfback Ben Hunt’s fitness ahead of next week’s State of Origin opener at the MCG.
Hunt has been restricted to light duties due to a thigh problem and will be given until the weekend to prove himself along with Josh McGuire (ankle) and Billy Slater (hamstring).
Brisbane Broncos half Milford was one of six development players brought into the Queensland camp on Thursday to assist them through their fitness concerns.
– AAP
I’ll happily run the water, tie the boys’ boots and hand wash these deadly jerseys for the team. Holy Smokes! Origin is the best! Great job @QLDmaroons and both Indigenous Artists #QLDER #CampMaroon #Origin #RugbyLeague pic.twitter.com/o3ajtCkDKc
— Patrick Mills (@Patty_Mills) May 30, 2018
NORMAN: ‘IT WASN’T JUST ONE DRINK’
Corey Norman says he will cop a $20,000 fine on the chin for drinking while on Parramatta’s injured list and admits it “wasn’t just one drink”.
The 27-year-old says he wants to stay at the club and takes full responsibility for the incident, which occurred several weeks ago on a night out.
“It wasn’t just one drink, I was out,” he told Big Sports Breakfast on Thursday.
“I’m disappointed that it happened, I’ve worked pretty hard over the last couple of years to get that stuff out of my game.
“I take full responsibility … I’ll cop it on the chin.”
The Eels on Wednesday confirmed Norman had been issued a breach notice but would not comment on the circumstances.
The talented playmaker was reprimanded after posting pictures of himself consuming alcohol on social media.
He downplayed suggestions the hefty fine was an indication the club is running out of patience with him.
“They’re doing what they think is best and there’s no rules around what you can get fined for,” Norman said.
“I’ve still got another year here, I’m worried about getting back on the field next week and playing this year out.”
Norman said Eels management haven’t given him the go-ahead to speak with other clubs, should he seek a release before his contract expires at the end of next year.
“If I can (stay), that would be good,” he said.
The five-eighth was suspended for the final eight weeks of the 2016 season for a string of offences, including pleading guilty to drug possession, although his conviction was overturned on appeal.
He was also reprimanded for filming a lewd sexual act and drug use as well as consorting with criminals.
– AAP
Ben Hunt doing light shuttle runs as Maroons train with Anthony Milford in the halves. Hunt still in doubt for Origin I. pic.twitter.com/fx3p9Uo9dU
— pete badel (@badel_cmail) May 31, 2018
BLUES ROOKIES READY TO HATE
NSW’s latest batch of State of Origin rookies will have no problem developing a hate for Queensland, according to prop David Klemmer.
The Blues returned to training on Thursday morning fresh from a day off, with coach Brad Fittler bringing a number of ex-players to the session at Sydney Olympic Park.
Andrew Johns ran drills and set up plays, while Steve Roach was there to tell stories from the old days ands remind 11 youngsters who have never felt the pain of Origin defeat how much hate there is for the Maroon jersey.
Former referee Luke Phillips was there again too, holding the whistle to officiate a game that has become more and more dictated to by penalties in recent months.
“We get told about it every day,” Klemmer said.
“We’ve got Block (Roach) in my ear walking over here and he reminded you of where you are at. You know how much hatred there is.”
Klemmer, renowned for his hard-running style, will have his first chance to create instant chaos in an Origin match next Wednesday.
After coming off the bench in each of his nine previous appearances, Klemmer has earned his maiden starting jersey and is already salivating at the prospect of potentially taking the first hit up.
“If they do kick it my way I will definitely be trying to get the ball early to inject myself into the game,” he said.
“It’s going to be a big arena. I’ve just got to get myself involved really early. I can’t wait.
“It’ll be very quick and physical. I’ve got to get my head around that and get ready to do some running.”
ICYMI: STORM ACE QUITS CLUB FOR MORMON MISSION
By Michael Carayannis
MELBOURNE Storm utility back Young Tonumaipea has sensationally quit the club to take up a two-year Mormon mission in Berlin.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal the 25-year-old fronted coach Craig Bellamy on Monday asking to be released from the final year and a half of his contract as he wanted to follow his faith.
Tonumaipea will forfeit more than $200,000 when he cuts short his Storm deal.
READ MORE: https://goo.gl/6T9w3f
