Why James Maloney is on the outer for State of Origin I
THE real reason James Maloney is on the outer for Origin I, the Roosters plans for 2019 and a big win for the RLIF — it’s all here in this week’s edition of Sports Confidential.
Blues
Don't miss out on the headlines from Blues. Followed categories will be added to My News.
CONFUSION has hit the Origin conversation with revelations one of the few players considered a certainty to be selected for NSW, James Maloney, was on the outer.
Was it true, or simply a smoky to put a rocket under Maloney, or even force Queensland selectors to second guess themselves in the chaos of Cameron Smith’s shock announcement?
BOLTER: Crichton in the Origin frame
MATTY JOHNS: How Seibold built a contender
The fuse was lit Monday night when coach Brad Fittler’s mentor and trusted adviser Phil Gould said, among other things, “Jimmy Maloney or any other player will be expected to be picked, and Jimmy Maloney’s been outstanding for Penrith this year.
“It won’t be on form this year that stops him from getting picked, but the coach has got an attitude of ‘what are we holding onto?’
“We’ve lost 12 years in 13 (sic), the culture is not right, we’re going to change it.”
Maloney has played nine games for NSW and won three. He was not a part of NSW’s only series win in the past 12 years in 2014. So he had a little work to do to convince Fittler he was not part of the problem.
The one quality Fittler is looking for from his players is attitude. Everybody at Origin level has the talent. Not everybody has had the attitude.
This is where Maloney has forced Fittler to question whether he can pick him.
They have spoken several times this year and Fittler has let it be known what he wants to see from Maloney, particularly in defence.
Let’s just say Fittler noticed Maloney’s lack of enthusiasm for it.
***
TRENT Merrin was walking into McDonald Jones Stadium to play Newcastle last week when he noticed Alex McKinnon in conversation.
In a show of extraordinary toughness, Merrin was making his return to the team after undergoing surgery earlier in the week for a compound fracture of his index finger. He was unable to catch a ball earlier in the week such was the pain.
Merrin walked over to McKinnon to say hi and, when he was introduced to his friend, he stuck out his hand to shake it.
McKinnon grimaced, knowing the state of his finger which his friend clearly did not.
Once they shook hands McKinnon brought up the finger.
Merrin said simply that if he couldn’t get through a handshake he was no chance of getting through a game.
***
IT is not exactly the first priority when it comes to bringing down Queensland but it shows the level of detail Brad Fittler is going to.
Fittler has asked the NSW Rugby League board if he can have a coffee truck at training so the players can get a quality coffee after training.
The board meets today but the deal is as good as done.
***
THE Sydney Roosters have knocked on the head the NRL’s plan to turn them into travelling nomads next season when Allianz Stadium comes down for its rebuild.
The NRL was hoping the Roosters would basically surrender their home ground for a year and play in their opposition’s backyard.
The Roosters rejected the proposal in a meeting with the NRL yesterday, believing it was a bid to boost crowd figures which would come to their detriment.
They will play at the SCG instead, a move that will provide great pictures for the game.
***
ROBBIE Farah has achieved everything in his rugby league career. From wining a premiership, captaining his state and playing for Australia and Lebanon, there is an extensive list of highlights. But it was a whirlwind tribute to Lebanon last week which the 34-year-old proudly lists as his greatest feat.
Farah was just one of five people to speak at a ceremony in Beirut honouring Lebanese people abroad in front of 2500 guests, including Lebanon’s president Michel Aoun, who presented Farah with his medal at the Lebanese Diaspora Energy annual meeting.
The event paid tribute to his achievements on and off the rugby league field.
“It was bringing all these people abroad of Lebanese heritage into one place to celebrate their achievements,” Farah said. “I wrote a speech and was pretty nervous. My speech was about my connection to Lebanon. Even though I was born in Australia and raised here, I still do have a strong connection with the motherland that was instilled in me through my parents at a young age. I spoke about what it means to have Lebanese heritage and the characters and traits that have helped me have a successful career. I spoke about how proud I was to captain my country out at the World Cup and what we achieved through that tournament.
“I’m very proud of my heritage and it does mean a lot to me. It means a lot to my parents and would’ve meant a lot to my mum. It means a lot to my dad.”
A highlight clip of Farah’s career was shown with the ceremony shown live on Arabic TV. He said they had a fundamental knowledge of the game.
“A lot of the people at the conference were from abroad,” Farah said. “A lot of Australian’s who knew me but there were also people from South America.
“When they sent me an invitation I didn’t think much of it because it was in the middle of the footy season. It was good of Souths to let me go — they saw how big of an honour it was for me.”
***
DREW Mitchell struggled with the undercooked nature of meat during his time in France. But the former Wallaby will have no problem digesting what Fox Sports are above to serve up from the land of wine and cheese.
“A lot of people talk about the French food,” said Mitchell, who spent fives years with Toulon. “Their desserts are amazing but they undercook a lot with their steaks. They get it on and get it off and pass it off as if it’s delicious. I don’t mind medium (cooked meat). We went to a BBQ at one of my French teammates house and he just seared everything. I was like ‘mate cook it, what’s the point of turning the BBQ on if the meat is just going to get a bit of tanning’?
“You get right into the cheese and wine. I jumped into that.”
‘A French Banquet starts today on Fox Sports with the French MotoGP, followed by the
Monaco Grand Prix and Roland Garros later this month.
Next month’s highlights include the All Blacks’ three Test series against France, the HSBC Paris Sevens, Pirelli French Grand Prix and the Euro PGA France.
***
HE has been dubbed “the coach whisperer” and has worked with some of Australia’s most successful mentors. Now Bradley Charles Stubbs is working alongside Roosters coach Trent Robinson.
Stubbs has a long list of testimonials on his website. From incoming Socceroos boss Graham Arnold to recently appointed Kiwis coach Michael Maguire. Respective England and Australian rugby counterparts Eddie Jones and Michael Cheika also sing the praises of Stubbs. So who is he?
Stubbs says he has been dubbed the coach whisperer for good reason.
“My programs have turned teams struggling for success into world beaters,” he writes on his website. “Coaches that have worked with me have gone on to unprecedented success.
“National teams with tarnished reputations have once again been able to delight their fans.
The consultancy services that I provide are bespoke and tailored to the specific client and their goals. “They are applicable to all sports and all competitions. I work with the coaching staff and/or individual team members to restore and maintain that winning mentality and precious results.
“For those organisations where success or failure can be valued in millions of dollars, I can help achieve that success and provide the cutting-edge that teams often require.
“If you are serious at securing results and expect to win, consider it done”
***
THE Rugby League International Federation has a had a big courtroom win after successfully pursing the media company who bought the rights to broadcast the tournament.
The RLIF sued IMG Media, who bought the rights for the 2013 and 2017 tournaments. It is understood the RLIF received more than a million dollars after IMG disputing matches being played outside of Australia. Three matches were played in PNG which came with a hefty price tag for the host broadcaster.
A series of matches were also played in New Zealand.
***
WITH the State of Origin fast approaching, lets take a time to reminisce on one of the most bizarre chapters in the game’s history.
Today marks 19 years to the day since Bradley Clyde and Robbie Kearns were injured horse riding as the Blues opted for a nondrinking bonding session under coach Wayne Pearce with Kearns’s breaking his collarbone.
We’re tipping a much more traditional bonding session under new Blues coach Brad Fittler.
***
FORMER referee Steve Clark continues to do great things in his role as the NRL’s referee development programs lead. Fresh from overseeing a program in a Dubbo juvenile justice centre, Clark conducted referee courses for indigenous youth in Weipa — in far North Queensland — and also at the Western Cape College.
The course — run by Northern Queensland’s game development officer Michael Inman — will last eight weeks and will provide the local competition with more referees than they have ever had.
***
The first NRL Touch Premiership games — men’s and women’s — will be played at ANZ Stadium on Friday. The first of these elite touch football games will be played between the touch Parramatta Eels and the touch Wests Tigers.
A 30-minute men’s game and a 30-minute women’s game will be played as curtain-raisers to the Eels and Warriors NRL match from 3.55pm.