The Inside Mail: Home of all the hottest NRL news and gossip
WHAT Cooper Cronk did with his game jersey, Cam Smith’s change room secret and more. Welcome to The Inside Mail, bringing you all the latest NRL news and gossip.
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THE NSW Police’s probe into alleged match-fixing in the NRL has uncovered some disturbing betting habits among leading players.
One former player has a $130,000 gambling debt and was known to be a mad punter among associates.
It is understood police are examining whether the betting habits of players looking for ways to settle heavy debts could be part of the motivation to dabble in match-fixing activity.
SUPER COOPER ALSO A GREAT BLOKE
COOPER Cronk was so unlikely to play Origin I, he gave his game jersey to the Maroons doctor Matt Hislop to say thank you for getting the ankle right.
Cronk worked around the clock to get himself fit and he didn’t stop after the final whistle.
While most of his teammates were enjoying a cold XXXX in the dressing rooms, Cronk was undergoing treatment on his ankle for an hour after the Maroons claimed a 6-4 win on Wednesday night.
Cronk tore ligaments in his right ankle in a training accident last Friday and was in danger of missing the series opener.
He underwent intensive rehabilitation with Maroons medical staff and carried a bruised ankle into the game.
Cronk wasn’t at his scheming best but his kicking game was good enough to get the Maroons home.
He is regarded as the ultimate professional and was desperate to prove his fitness for Melbourne’s game against Penrith on Saturday even though coach Craig Bellamy was planning to rest him.
MAROONS SKIPPER’S SECRET TO SUCCESS
WHY did Queensland captain Cameron Smith come into the post-match press conference with a can of WD-40?
Smith made a joke it was to grease up his old joints, but there is some science behind the canned lubricant.
Smith sprayed the stinky stuff on to the sticky tape residue he had all over his body, then wiped it off with a towel.
It makes getting it off a lot easier.
TAYLOR’S ORIGIN DREAM TO RISE FROM ASHES
BOOM halfback Ashley Taylor was left to rue his battered body after his invitation to join the Queensland Origin team was blocked by the Titans.
Taylor was poised to celebrate the biggest moment of his career last week when the Titans playmaker was asked to join Camp Maroon by Queensland coach Kevin Walters.
Walters, who mentored Taylor at the Broncos, wanted the Junior Kangaroos ace to run an opposed session against Maroons scrumbase superstars Johnathan Thurston and Cooper Cronk.
But Titans coach Neil Henry, formerly a Maroons assistant, instructed Taylor to take a week off amid concerns over a spate of recent injuries to hit the rookie playmaker.
Taylor said the Camp Maroon experience would have been a career highlight as the Titans prepare for back-to-back trips to Perth and Darwin for clashes against Souths and Parramatta.
“Kevvie invited me to come into camp but the coaching staff at the Titans said it would be better if I had the weekend off,” he said.
“Kevvie gave me a ring. He said it would be a good experience to do what a few of the other younger boys have done and run some opposed work against the team.
“It would have been great to have been a part of it with guys like Thurston and Cooper (Cronk) in the team.
“But everything was building up on my body so the Titans felt I needed a rest.”
Walters assured Taylor it would not be the last time he is called up as he looks to groom the next generation of Queensland playmakers.
“I wanted to give Ash a look at how things were done,” he said.
“The Titans felt he needed a spell which I fully respected, but there’ll be other opportunities for Ash down the track.”
COWBOYS CONCERN FOR TAMOU
NORTH Queensland are privately worried about James Tamou’s health. The prop’s protracted contract saga has taken such a toll on Tamou that he has lost weight, has shed tears at training and is stressing about the biggest decision of his career.
The Inside Mail has been told Tamou has verbally agreed to a $3 million deal with Penrith but can’t bring himself to physically sign the deal.
Tamou is looking to Sydney for family reasons but if the decision was strictly based on football, the NSW Origin enforcer would stay at the Cowboys.
The Cowboys say they will hold no grudges towards Tamou if he accepts the Penrith deal but they want him to make a call immediately for his own welfare.
RAPANA SIGNALS MAROON WARNING
CANBERRA sensation Jordan Rapana has not turned his back on Queensland despite speculation linking him with the Kiwis.
Former Kiwi Test winger Daryl Halligan declared Rapana would not look out of place in a black-and-white jumper after his incredible four-try haul against the Tigers in April.
But Rapana wants Maroons hierarchy to know he bleeds Maroon.
The 26-year-old holds dual eligibility as he was born in Wellington before moving to the Gold Coast as a five-year-old.
The Maroons blooded a Generation Next winger in Corey Oates in Origin I on Wednesday night but Rapana is making a strong bid for Queensland’s Emerging Origin squad.
“Jordan is certainly passionate about Queensland, he would love to play for them,” his manager Sam Ayoub said.
“Jordan’s situation is like James Tamou’s, he has dual eligibility, but he has spent most of his life in Queensland and would love to wear the Maroon jumper.”
NIKORIMA COMING OR GOING? OR BOTH?
KODI Nikorima’s latest bid to get a pay rise at the Broncos has failed.
The Kiwi Test utility’s management met with the club on Monday in a last-ditch bid to request a beefed-up offer from the Broncos.
The Nikorima camp was told in no uncertain terms there is no more money in the Broncos kitty. So Nikorima must either accept the deal on the table or chase a more lucrative offer from the Storm.
The rumour doing the rounds in Brisbane is that the Broncos are trying to lure Jayden Nikorima back home to replace his brother Kodi.
The Inside Mail has spoken to several sources in Queensland who are adamant that is not happening but the word out of Sydney is the opposite with Jayden wanting out of the Sydney life.
Still, Jayden is on good money at the Roosters and more money than Kodi. It would be unlikely the Broncos could afford him.
CHURCHILL CLAN SNUBS ORIGIN
RUGBY league’s most iconic family, the Churchill clan, snubbed Wednesday night’s series opener, saying ANZ Stadium is killing the magic of State of Origin.
Rod Churchill, the son of league icon Clive and the godson of former QRL boss Ron McAuliffe, said the family declined to attend the clash because of the “nightmare” experience in getting to Homebush.
Churchill also revealed his 90-year-old mother Joyce, the widow of Clive Churchill, was unable to present Paul Gallen with his NSW jersey two years ago at ANZ Stadium because she was stuck in traffic.
Churchill said the NRL had generously offered to chauffeur his family to the event, but says he was scarred by his previous attempt to travel to ANZ Stadium for an Origin game.
“As far as I’m concerned, Origin has lost its appeal being played at ANZ Stadium,” Churchill said.
“Who wants to drive all the way out to Homebush on a Wednesday night? It’s a nightmare of a ground to get to and none of our family were keen to go.
“This is not a criticism of the NRL, they have been wonderful to our family and always respect my father’s legacy. My mum is still interested in Origin, but she is 90 years old now and it’s hard to expect her to go all the way out to Homebush on a cold, windy night.
“I’ve been there, done that and it’s not an enjoyable experience trying to get to ANZ Stadium.”
GOOD KNIGHT BIRDY?
NEWCASTLE are again sniffing around Titans enforcer Greg Bird.
Despite repeated denials, the Titans investigated ways to release Bird to another club last year but mediation eventually saw him stay.
Bird was again frustrated when he was ruled out of captaincy contention early this year despite the playing group all saying they wanted him to be their leader.
Bird is contracted until the end of next year but a serious offer from Newcastle could lure him away from the glitter strip.
SECRET BLACKHAWK OPERATION
THERE was a lot of secrecy around Matt Bowen’s return to rugby league last week and it is understood it was all because of the man himself.
Bowen has won Origin matches, played in grand finals and represented his country, but apparently that did not stop him from getting nervous ahead of his first appearance for the Townsville Blackhawks in the Intrust Super Cup.
While those at the QRL and Easts wanted his return promoted to get more fans through the gates, it is understood he did not want more hype than necessary as it would have made his nerves worse.
The Blackhawks respected his wishes and played dumb until game day.
THAT’S GOLD FOR PEATS
NATHAN Peats has started to get into the swing of living on the Gold Coast and even did some sightseeing earlier this week.
In his first advertised adventure around his new home city, Peats took his family for a day out at Sea World.
Konrad Hurrell meanwhile is just working on getting his beloved dog Naala across the ditch to live with him.
Originally published as The Inside Mail: Home of all the hottest NRL news and gossip
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