NSW in CRISIS 'How did Queensland win?'
NRL: Braith Anasta, Gorden Tallis, Buzz Rothfield and James Hooper broke down the Maroons incredible win in Origin game two.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Age
2 hours ago
- The Age
‘I'm proper sorry': Spencer breaks silence on apology to Mam
It's time to let him be the beast he is on the field, and it's worth taking the time to know him off the field. He is a young man making the most of his ability to help his team and set his family up. He will make mistakes on and off the field, but there is much more good than bad with Leniu. Origin strain starting to tell on Slater Billy Slater was a couple of ignored offside penalties or missed conversions away from finding himself in a position where serious questions would have been asked about his future as Queensland coach. Instead, he has been saved by his team and his brave selections after the Maroons held off a fast-finishing Blues side 26-24 to square the series in Perth. The most telling part of Slater's apology to the family of Paul Green on game day was that he had to make it in the first place. It revealed he hadn't cleared his comments the previous day – when he referenced the late former Maroons coach in a response to being called a 'grub' by Aaron Woods – with Green's wife, Amanda. It also laid bare the pressure he was under. At a press conference designed to promote the Origin blockbuster in Perth, Slater's emotional reaction instead took it to a dark place which did no one any good. Slater's apology showed considerable character. Those close to Green in his last months weeks and days have said he felt terribly isolated and neglected by the game he loved so much. Losing big jobs can do that to even the toughest men, of which Green was one. He fought demons throughout his post-football career due to the effects of undiagnosed CTE. Slater's over-reaction at the pre-match presser again proved State of Origin coaching is not for the faint-hearted, and it makes you marvel at the achievements of greats of the game like Wayne Bennett and Phil Gould. Those hardened coaches knew how to absorb pressure, handle media, handle players and handle setbacks. Champions like Slater have dealt with difficulties on the field but not in the coaches box. It would appear the two are mutually exclusive. Slater is a polished media performer, but at the end of the day, he was schooled by a person in Woods who has been lampooned as a reserve-grade front-rower. Some of the things said about Woods have been highly insulting. It was Gorden Tallis who first misrepresented a story about Woods, his Triple M colleague, asking Slater for a photo with his son. Tallis got it wrong. He should never have brought Woods's son into the equation. He had the chance to bag Woods face to face on TV, but instead unloaded on radio where Woods had no immediate right of reply. His death stares seem to intimidate some, but wouldn't have had any effect on Woods. Woods did introduce his son to Slater and asked him to shake Billy's hand as they got out of a lift at a game. He did it as part of an education process most fathers do with their sons when meeting someone of note. There is also more to Woods' branding of Slater as a 'grub' than just Slater's at-times questionable actions as a player. The worst was not his physical actions on the field but his take-down of former Knights forward Cory Paterson, who had suffered from depression, during a game in 2010. His on-field comments at the time showed zero empathy towards those battling mental health issues. Woods was also defending Spencer Leniu, the NSW prop branded a 'grub' on the front page the Courier-Mail. That didn't sit well with Woods as people don't realise Leniu and Woods became friendly on a promotional trip to the United States. Woods, Leniu, Campbell Graham and Billy Walters were sent by the NRL in late 2023 to whip up interest in the Las Vegas experiment before the first matches at Allegiant Stadium. Woods didn't know Leniu before the trip but got to know and respect him over the week they spent in the States. He had Leniu's back and while not everyone liked the attack on Slater, at least he owned it. In the end, Slater's side won game two and that's what matters to him as a coach. Zero chill: To'o's pocket rocket fuel If you want hard proof of Brian To'o 's incredible game-day formula for success, here it is. At a Perth cafe on the morning of the game, To'o's Blue buddies Jarome Luai, Stephen Crichton and Leniu were waiting for him – with five cans of Coke Zero. 'And that's his caramel latte, too,' said Luai. This was at about 9.30am on game day. The unusual pre-match fuelling routine certainly works a treat. To'o is an absolute machine and was the Blues' best player, scoring three tries and running for more than 200m despite pre-match injury concerns. Afterwards, he could barely walk. He had ice on his hamstring and foot. 'It's just gout,' he joked. Sly Fox: Reason behind Origin-bashing The annual bash-up of State of Origin by News Corp is looking a tad embarrassing after historic ratings and full houses in Perth and Brisbane. We regularly hear about how terrible the club football is during the Origin period, how unfair it is on fans and how the schedule has to change. Meanwhile, the TV ratings are reaching new heights. But just think for a moment about why journalists employed by Fox Sports would want to kick Origin. The reason is because it does impact on Fox's product. Their 'every game, every week' slogan falls flat when it doesn't include four of the four biggest games of the year: State of Origin and the NRL grand final. If Fox had the rights to Origin, we'd hear how great it is, how under-strength teams just have to suck it up and how it's the greatest money-maker in the code. We all know the quality of club football does suffer as the biggest stars are cherry-picked for the interstate series, but it allows us to see some young talent in first grade that would otherwise take years to break through. As well, every team knows that to win a competition, you need four or five Origin players in your team. Players improve in the environment and come back to their clubs as improved individuals. Yes, it's taxing. Yes, we will see upsets. But we've been dealing with the same issue for years and no one has come up with a better solution. Rarely will a Fox Sports/News Corp journalist admit they are pushing the anti-Origin line on behalf of their company, but there was a slip-up before game one when it was mentioned in dispatches that Fox would prefer a different set-up. So next time you read something criticising State of Origin, just remember why it's been pushed. This column thinks we should embrace Origin as the showpiece it has been for the last 45 years. It's the game that actually generates money for those who pay for the free-to-air rights, and also something the AFL is extremely envious of. The passion and the quality of football at Origin level is mind-boggling. We are lucky to have it and should appreciate the concept. New Blue's jersey drama Jacob Preston 's late call-up to the Blues side as 20th man was a huge honour for the young Bulldog, but it meant a scramble to get a jumper for game day – and more immediately for the jumper presentation evening. The Blues had to ring the local Rebel Sports to see if they could purchase a replica jersey to hand him symbolically on the presentation evening. Fortunately, a store at Joondalup had one in stock to make do until Preston received his official jersey pre-game. Longley goes from Bulls to Blues The Blues did everything possible to prepare their team for Origin II, including bringing Boomers legend Luc Longley into camp. He blew the Blues players away with his stories of his time in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls. Isaah Yeo asked what made a good teammate. Longley told how Scottie Pippen would often notice if someone was having a rough day on the court, and put on a play to make them look good to raise their confidence. Loading I had the pleasure of sitting with Longley for 20 minutes or so, and he was keen to gain an Origin insight before he spoke to the team. He was very open about his life in our chat. Cricket fan Zac Lomax had the pleasure of picking Michael Hussey 's brain at the team dinner, while Nathan Cleary was placed next to Justin Langer. The pair might well have bonded over their superior mindwork and resilience. Maroons miffed at NSW late show Queensland were nonplussed when the Blues were 10 minutes late for their joint media conference. But they changed the time to suit them a few days prior. They were warned the Blues may struggle with punctuality, as they trained that morning and had to eat at a certain time, given the game was the next day.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘I'm proper sorry': Spencer breaks silence on apology to Mam
It's time to let him be the beast he is on the field, and it's worth taking the time to know him off the field. He is a young man making the most of his ability to help his team and set his family up. He will make mistakes on and off the field, but there is much more good than bad with Leniu. Origin strain starting to tell on Slater Billy Slater was a couple of ignored offside penalties or missed conversions away from finding himself in a position where serious questions would have been asked about his future as Queensland coach. Instead, he has been saved by his team and his brave selections after the Maroons held off a fast-finishing Blues side 26-24 to square the series in Perth. The most telling part of Slater's apology to the family of Paul Green on game day was that he had to make it in the first place. It revealed he hadn't cleared his comments the previous day – when he referenced the late former Maroons coach in a response to being called a 'grub' by Aaron Woods – with Green's wife, Amanda. It also laid bare the pressure he was under. At a press conference designed to promote the Origin blockbuster in Perth, Slater's emotional reaction instead took it to a dark place which did no one any good. Slater's apology showed considerable character. Those close to Green in his last months weeks and days have said he felt terribly isolated and neglected by the game he loved so much. Losing big jobs can do that to even the toughest men, of which Green was one. He fought demons throughout his post-football career due to the effects of undiagnosed CTE. Slater's over-reaction at the pre-match presser again proved State of Origin coaching is not for the faint-hearted, and it makes you marvel at the achievements of greats of the game like Wayne Bennett and Phil Gould. Those hardened coaches knew how to absorb pressure, handle media, handle players and handle setbacks. Champions like Slater have dealt with difficulties on the field but not in the coaches box. It would appear the two are mutually exclusive. Slater is a polished media performer, but at the end of the day, he was schooled by a person in Woods who has been lampooned as a reserve-grade front-rower. Some of the things said about Woods have been highly insulting. It was Gorden Tallis who first misrepresented a story about Woods, his Triple M colleague, asking Slater for a photo with his son. Tallis got it wrong. He should never have brought Woods's son into the equation. He had the chance to bag Woods face to face on TV, but instead unloaded on radio where Woods had no immediate right of reply. His death stares seem to intimidate some, but wouldn't have had any effect on Woods. Woods did introduce his son to Slater and asked him to shake Billy's hand as they got out of a lift at a game. He did it as part of an education process most fathers do with their sons when meeting someone of note. There is also more to Woods' branding of Slater as a 'grub' than just Slater's at-times questionable actions as a player. The worst was not his physical actions on the field but his take-down of former Knights forward Cory Paterson, who had suffered from depression, during a game in 2010. His on-field comments at the time showed zero empathy towards those battling mental health issues. Woods was also defending Spencer Leniu, the NSW prop branded a 'grub' on the front page the Courier-Mail. That didn't sit well with Woods as people don't realise Leniu and Woods became friendly on a promotional trip to the United States. Woods, Leniu, Campbell Graham and Billy Walters were sent by the NRL in late 2023 to whip up interest in the Las Vegas experiment before the first matches at Allegiant Stadium. Woods didn't know Leniu before the trip but got to know and respect him over the week they spent in the States. He had Leniu's back and while not everyone liked the attack on Slater, at least he owned it. In the end, Slater's side won game two and that's what matters to him as a coach. Zero chill: To'o's pocket rocket fuel If you want hard proof of Brian To'o 's incredible game-day formula for success, here it is. At a Perth cafe on the morning of the game, To'o's Blue buddies Jarome Luai, Stephen Crichton and Leniu were waiting for him – with five cans of Coke Zero. 'And that's his caramel latte, too,' said Luai. This was at about 9.30am on game day. The unusual pre-match fuelling routine certainly works a treat. To'o is an absolute machine and was the Blues' best player, scoring three tries and running for more than 200m despite pre-match injury concerns. Afterwards, he could barely walk. He had ice on his hamstring and foot. 'It's just gout,' he joked. Sly Fox: Reason behind Origin-bashing The annual bash-up of State of Origin by News Corp is looking a tad embarrassing after historic ratings and full houses in Perth and Brisbane. We regularly hear about how terrible the club football is during the Origin period, how unfair it is on fans and how the schedule has to change. Meanwhile, the TV ratings are reaching new heights. But just think for a moment about why journalists employed by Fox Sports would want to kick Origin. The reason is because it does impact on Fox's product. Their 'every game, every week' slogan falls flat when it doesn't include four of the four biggest games of the year: State of Origin and the NRL grand final. If Fox had the rights to Origin, we'd hear how great it is, how under-strength teams just have to suck it up and how it's the greatest money-maker in the code. We all know the quality of club football does suffer as the biggest stars are cherry-picked for the interstate series, but it allows us to see some young talent in first grade that would otherwise take years to break through. As well, every team knows that to win a competition, you need four or five Origin players in your team. Players improve in the environment and come back to their clubs as improved individuals. Yes, it's taxing. Yes, we will see upsets. But we've been dealing with the same issue for years and no one has come up with a better solution. Rarely will a Fox Sports/News Corp journalist admit they are pushing the anti-Origin line on behalf of their company, but there was a slip-up before game one when it was mentioned in dispatches that Fox would prefer a different set-up. So next time you read something criticising State of Origin, just remember why it's been pushed. This column thinks we should embrace Origin as the showpiece it has been for the last 45 years. It's the game that actually generates money for those who pay for the free-to-air rights, and also something the AFL is extremely envious of. The passion and the quality of football at Origin level is mind-boggling. We are lucky to have it and should appreciate the concept. New Blue's jersey drama Jacob Preston 's late call-up to the Blues side as 20th man was a huge honour for the young Bulldog, but it meant a scramble to get a jumper for game day – and more immediately for the jumper presentation evening. The Blues had to ring the local Rebel Sports to see if they could purchase a replica jersey to hand him symbolically on the presentation evening. Fortunately, a store at Joondalup had one in stock to make do until Preston received his official jersey pre-game. Longley goes from Bulls to Blues The Blues did everything possible to prepare their team for Origin II, including bringing Boomers legend Luc Longley into camp. He blew the Blues players away with his stories of his time in the NBA with the Chicago Bulls. Isaah Yeo asked what made a good teammate. Longley told how Scottie Pippen would often notice if someone was having a rough day on the court, and put on a play to make them look good to raise their confidence. Loading I had the pleasure of sitting with Longley for 20 minutes or so, and he was keen to gain an Origin insight before he spoke to the team. He was very open about his life in our chat. Cricket fan Zac Lomax had the pleasure of picking Michael Hussey 's brain at the team dinner, while Nathan Cleary was placed next to Justin Langer. The pair might well have bonded over their superior mindwork and resilience. Maroons miffed at NSW late show Queensland were nonplussed when the Blues were 10 minutes late for their joint media conference. But they changed the time to suit them a few days prior. They were warned the Blues may struggle with punctuality, as they trained that morning and had to eat at a certain time, given the game was the next day.
Sydney Morning Herald
2 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘I shouldn't have driven': Ezra Mam reflects on that crash, Leniu, and the lessons learned
'Definitely. We've had a chat, and we're comfortable with each other now,' Mam says. 'The biggest thing is that we addressed it. I feel for Spencer, too, it would not have been an easy thing to deal with, either. 'I really respect him for coming up to me and we can move on from that. If we are ever in the same team, I wouldn't have a problem.' Footage of that Leniu embrace sparked a fresh slew of headlines. Mam has been no stranger to them in his young career. Not all of them have been positive. Few figures in Australian sport have ridden a rollercoaster quite like Mam's past 24 months. In the 2023 grand final, for all but the last 20 minutes, the Brisbane playmaker was the best on ground. However, a late Nathan Cleary masterclass wrenched away not only a premiership ring, but also a Clive Churchill medal. Then there was the Leniu incident, and the media storm that ensued. Yet nothing could prepare him for what was to come. On October 18, 2024, Mam was behind the wheel of his ute when it collided with an Uber at Bardon. A child and a woman suffered minor injuries and while Mam tested positive to cocaine at a roadside drug test, he passed the breathalyser test with no alcohol involved in the incident. The 22-year-old pleaded guilty in Brisbane Magistrates Court to one count of driving while relevant drug is present in blood, and driving without a licence. He left court with a suspended license and $850 lighter, but without a conviction. The NRL and the Broncos then applied sanctions of their own, totalling fines of $120,000, as well as a nine-game ban. When asked about what he has learnt from the incident, he offered: 'In hindsight, I didn't think about how my actions can impact others. 'Obviously I'm trying my best to learn from that now, I'm here to make better decisions for myself. 'There's no excuse for my actions, I've got to own that now. I'm still learning to deal with everything. I feel very remorseful for everything that happened. 'For me, I was dealing with stuff in the wrong way. I need to learn from that. That's how I grow as a person. Experiences like this, you can take a lot away from it and I feel like I've taken a lot away from this situation to improve myself in many different ways.' In handing down his sentence, Magistrate Mark Nolan chided Mam for taking 'a cocktail of cocaine and other matters that were found in your blood'. It is a comment that has been seized upon in much of the subsequent reporting, and prompted some commentators to conclude the penalties were insufficient. While Mam makes no excuses for his behaviour, he clarified that the only substances detected in his blood outside of cocaine were 'Paracetamol and Ibuprofen', which were administered to him at the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. 'I shouldn't have driven,' he says. 'There was cocaine in my system, 0.01mg in my blood, which was from days earlier. That's my biggest regret, I wish I had not done that in the first place.' 'There's no excuse for my actions, I've got to own that now. I'm still learning to deal with everything.' Ezra Mam on the crash incident On legal advice, Mam has not been able to reach out directly to the victims of the accident. 'To be honest, I was more worried about everyone else than myself,' he says when asked if he feared his Broncos contract would be torn up. 'I just wanted to care for others in the accident, how they were first and foremost … 'For me now it's about getting back to who the real Ezra is. Doing the little things on and off the field the right way, continually working on myself to be a better person on and off the field. 'For me, I want that final goal, which is the grand final premiership. And to be a role model, for kids to look up to.' The last comment resonates. The personal growth Mam has undertaken since the incident hasn't been lost on Michael Maguire. The Brisbane coach believes a leader is emerging after witnessing the transformation Mam has undertaken after stints in rehab and on a job site. 'He's found a higher appreciation of what he does, what he's fortunate to do,' Maguire says. 'That's where I've seen him grow, he's actually a really good fella. 'As he goes through this period, he will learn how to lead, not just through the organisation, but also his own people of the Torres Strait Island. 'And then there's the community of young men navigating life. He will be able to tell the story of how he has had to deal with adversity in a big way. 'The way he communicates and does things, he has an opportunity to influence many. Influence is the big word I always talk about.' During his sabbatical, Mam undertook labouring work. The experience of concreting, carpentry and Queensland Cup – Mam initially returned to football via Souths Logan – was a humbling one. 'It was a really good experience for myself,' he says. 'I'd wake up at 4:30am to train at 5am and then shoot over to work. I'd work from 6:30-7am to about 3:30-4pm and then be back to the gym. 'For me it was a big couple of months. A bit of carpentry, concreting, bit of everything. I learnt a lot of skills on the way. Coming back into Q Cup, working every day, I'm privileged to be doing what I love doing. 'As he goes through this period, he will learn how to lead, not just through the organisation, but also his own people of the Torres Strait Island.' Broncos coach Michael Maguire 'That's what I've been doing since I was a young kid, I'm very fortunate to be back playing and doing what I love to do.' Just four NRL games into Mam's return, Queensland coach Billy Slater called him into his wider squad for Origin II. The decision hasn't gone down well with everyone, particularly those who believe he should have paid a greater penance. Loading 'I'm really self-focused on the moment, looking to better myself,' he says. 'I appreciate that others may be upset. I can't control other people's thoughts, all I can do is hopefully start to rebuild some integrity over time with my actions. If I'm allowed to play, obviously I'll play. 'I was very surprised and grateful for the [Maroons] opportunity and took it with both hands. 'When [Slater] calls, it's hard to deny a chance to go into the Origin squad, you always say yes. It was a good experience for me.' During a career that has spanned just 60 games, Mam has already endured a bumpy ride. The destination remains unknown, but he is excited about what comes next.
