Sports Confidential: McGuire’s disgusting Fergo sledge; Maroons turn to Fat?
Blues officials have responded following the revelation NSW’s public enemy No.1 Josh McGuire launched a vile tirade at star winger Blake Ferguson.
Maroons bad guy Josh McGuire launched a verbal tirade at NSW winger Blake Ferguson that was considered so vile that David Klemmer confronted him in a fiery push-and-shove in the tunnel at halftime of Wednesday night’s State of Origin decider.
Blues players and officials are filthy at McGuire over the vicious sledge but remained tight-lipped about its content for fears of upsetting Ferguson if it became public.
Chief executive David Trodden said the NSWRL would back Ferguson if he wanted to lodge a complaint.
“If Blake feels strongly enough to take it further, than naturally we would support that request,” Trodden said.
“But at the moment we haven’t heard anything from him.’’
Ferguson tried to play it down after the match, but take it as read that they won’t soon forget McGuire’s antics.
“I didn’t really hear it to be honest,” Ferguson said.
“It was a little bit of yapping in my ear.”
MORE STATE OF ORIGIN COVERAGE
Snap lesson: How I captured Blues’ State of Origin history
Making of a miracle: Moment Blues fans will never forget
The pair came together close to halftime as NSW winger Tom Trbojevic got in the middle of it and kept McGuire at arm’s length. But that didn’t stop the Maroons’ lock continuing with his spray as Ferguson showed great restraint by refusing to bite as the players walked from the field.
But Klemmer, wasn’t having a bar of it, even though he was on the interchange bench when the halftime siren sounded.
He made a beeline for McGuire and the pair walked shoulder to shoulder well into the tunnel as the players made their way into their respective dressing sheds.
It is understood Klemmer told McGuire to back off in no uncertain terms as he continued to rip into Ferguson.
McGuire has long been public enemy No.1 for Blues players.
He looked like might have got the last laugh when he scored an important late try but Ferguson came up with the big play to send James Tedesco over for the matchwinner in the final minute.
Ferguson and McGuire exchanged barbs again at full-time. This time, though, the Blues winger didn’t hold back, telling the Cowboys forward words to the effect of “don’t you ever say that shit again or I will f...ing drop ya.”
North Queensland don’t play Parramatta again this season, but book a spot in front of the TV for round 22 when Klemmer’s Knights host McGuire’s Cowboys in Newcastle on August 17.
BLUES ENTER THE SANDMAN
Heavy metal band Metallica inspired the Blues as they made the long walk into ANZ Stadium using the old Olympic tunnel for the first time on Wednesday night.
Firebrand prop David Klemmer described it as the best feeling he has ever had entering a field.
The Blues made the 50 metre walk from their headquarters at the nearby centre of excellence to the ground, retracing the steps Cathy Freeman made on her way to gold at the 2000 Olympics.
The Metallica song “Enter Sandman” was blasted through the speakers as Blues players walked a straight line behind skipper Boyd Cordner.
“It’s the best feeling I’ve ever felt running out,” Klemmer said. “I just embraced the moment. All the Blatchys were there and then I looked up and saw the crowd. Nothing in my life besides having kid will beat it.
“It was the highest of highs.”
Cordner described it as “awesome”.
Winger Blake Ferguson said “he enjoyed it”.
“I just gathered my own thoughts,” Ferguson said. “Then I stood at the end and took a few breaths and gathered my own thoughts. I soaked in the energy.”
Klemmer, meanwhile, got through the game unscathed after rushing back from a broken wrist.
“The wrist is all good,” Klemmer said. “I pulled through all right. It was good to be part of. I’m that happy. To see everyone smile. You have to appreciate the moments.
“The biggest thing for me is seeing Pearcey (Mitchell Pearce) with a smile.
“I’m very lucky to be part of it.”
MAROONS AND THE FAT MAN
Could Paul Vautin be the next coach of the Maroons? Vautin has put his hand up to again lead Queensland should Kevin Walters stand down from his role and link with the Gold Coast Titans.
The Queensland legend made the comments on ABC Grandstand last week but we touched based with him again this week to see if he would be keen to return as Maroons coach.
“If I’m needed I would do it,” Vautin told us. “There are plenty more-credentialed coaches than me.
“It’s been a long time for me. If they are desperate I’d come to the fore.”
It would set up a remarkable return for Vautin, who famously led the Maroons to a 3-0 series win in 1995. He last coached them in 1997 but did make an inquiry about returning to the role before Walters was appointed. Vautin told Queensland hierarchy he was keen, only to be informed they were going to announce Walters within hours.
Wayne Bennett has also put himself in the frame for a Maroons return while Walters indicated on Wednesday night he was keen to go see out the final year of his Queensland deal.
SKIPPER BOYD BY WIN
Blues skipper Boyd Cordner knows what it is like to let a series slip. He is still burnt by the 2017 loss and sat a dejected, teary figure after the Blues surrendered a lead in Origin I.
This is why Wednesday’s win makes it so special for him.
“It feels pretty surreal to piece together that little bit of the game,” Cordner said. “It’s an outstanding effort.
“Coming in here I’ve been on the other end of those games and they hurt. We have to soak it up the next few nights. It’s amazing.”
Cordner said he drew inspiration from the Blues last series loss.
“2017 was still in my mind,” Cordner said. “I learnt a lot of lessons from that series. It’s never easy losing Origin. We knew we didn’t play our best and we still could’ve won game one. We didn’t want to let an opportunity be wasted.
“The attitude we showed and character was there the whole game (on Wednesday).
Cordner has been battling an ankle injury but has played on. He won’t play for the Roosters against North Queensland on Sunday but is in no doubt for the back end of the season.
“The body is feeling really good,” Cordner said. “This time of year is tiring but it’s all worth it when you bring the shield back in the sheds you want to do it all again.”
VICTOR THE INFLICTOR
Who says the Roosters can’t produce a junior? Take a look at these two young guns Victor Radley and Lachlan Lam, who were king of the crocodiles. The Roosters duo spent time back at their junior club the Clovelly Crocodiles reliving past glories.
NRL/ORIGIN WHISPERS
SHOOSH: Which NRL player left a team’s WhatsApp group after being upset by a teammate’s comments?
SHOOSH II: Which representative player is set to make his mark on a reality TV show?
SHOOSH III: Which player’s representative bonus has caused his club some headaches for next year’s salary cap? The club weren’t budgeting for his Origin selection.
SPOTTED: Australian cricketer Chris Lynn in the Maroons sheds.
LEEDS LEGEND’S WAIT
Englishman Kallum Watkins has arrived on the Gold Coast but his debut for the Titans has been delayed by at least one week. The Leeds veteran has an ongoing knee problem but it isn’t expected to keep him sideline for too long. He also needs to obtain the correct visa before he can play.
FOXX’S THORPEADO
Ian Thorpe gave the Blues a stirring talking to last week. He spoke about his experiences in dealing with the spotlight and talked to the players about the landmark 4x100m freestyle relay win against the US at the 2000 Olympics. He then opened it up to the floor for questions prompting winger Josh Addo-Carr to ask: “How about the techie, bra?”
As far as we know Addo-Carr wanted Thorpe to explain his swimming technique.
Thorpe also got the full James Maloney experience when Maloney quipped, “You only won because of that suit.”
Thorpe pointed out that he was still winning gold medals when everybody was wearing the suits.
Welcome to first grade.
ORIGIN CRASH
State of Origin ratings were down one per cent on last year’s series, an alarming fact considering the game’s income is so heavily tied into the broadcast deal.
While the difference looks minimal at first - the three games this season averaged 2,060,000, compared to 2,081,000 last year - this year’s series benefited with a Game III decider absent from last year’s series.
Game III was up 13 per cent on last year’s dead rubber, helping overall figures.
It is not just an NRL problem. Television numbers are down across the board as viewers are quickly changing their viewing habits.
It is too early to tell what it means for the next broadcast deal, which affects the salary cap.
CAPTION THIS
There are some things on a rugby league field that just cannot be explained — and this is one of them.
Queensland’s Ethan Lowecame together with NSW centre Jack Wightonduring the heat of battle at ANZ Stadium on Wednesday night to share this tender moment.
Kooky caption suggestions are welcome.
Candidates confirmed: NRL coaches ruled out of Blues job
The NSWRL board will meet to discuss contenders for the vacant NSW State of Origin job after a number of formal applications, however no current NRL coaches will be among the conversation.
Blues coach search: Retired mentor joins list of candidates
As the NSWRL board prepared to discuss Michael Maguire’s replacement this week, a shock contender has been discussed as an option to take over the coveted role.