Locky explains the Maroons Game II changes: QLDER
QLD legends Wally Lewis and Darren Lockyer discuss the massive changes for State of Origin game 2 and how they think this could be the change that Queensland needs. Wally and Locky reminisce on what it means to be a Queensland captain in light of Cameron Munsters appointment, and how will Tom Dearden rise to the occasion as he takes over a star role on the starting side?
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The Age
7 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
7 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.
News.com.au
16 hours ago
- News.com.au
West Australia left seeing red in State of Origin blunder
Oh WA media, give it a rest will you? Like it or not, rugby league is here to stay. The state's paper The West Australian did its best this week to try to make citizens forget one of the country's biggest sporting spectacles was happening in the heart of their city, State of Origin. That didn't exactly work out how they'd hoped. The paper virtually refused to promote the game at all in the lead-up, with only a small story at the back-end of the sport section on Monday, and not a single mention of it at all one day out. The event was also missing from Channel 7's news bulletin. The 'State of Origin's back' header finally appeared on the front page on Wednesday, which at first glance was a nod to the game. But on closer look it appeared to poke fun at the event, promoting WA's Fremantle Dockers against Victoria's Essendon Bombers clash on Thursday night instead. Not to mention the strategic placement of their only game day story beside the ads for escort services. But not even The West Australian's blatant disregard and mockery of rugby league was enough to deter its state from churning out in numbers for Wednesday night's blockbuster. Of the 57,000 crowd in the downpour of rain at Optus stadium — which was almost a 62,000 sellout — around 47,000 were Perth locals. Ironically the next night, for The West's 'state of origin' battle between Fremantle and Essendon, the AFL could only manage 37,570 fans at the same venue. The best the paper could do? A salty response the next morning: 'One bunch of East Coasters beat another at rugby in Perth last night.' That's got to feel like a bit of egg on your face. But it seems not much will change as the state media continues to virtually deny the code exists despite growing admiration for it among fans and the announcement of new NRL franchise the Perth Bears coming in 2027. The angst is possibly the ugly ramification of a rift between Seven West media boss Kerry Stokes and the NRL's Peter V'landys, as well as the media organisation's bid to reduce any threats to stay atop the code war in an AFL dominated region. V'landys recently appointed former West editor Anthony De Ceglie as the inaugural Bears chief executive to overlook the new franchise's success in the state. That may not be as difficult a job as the newspaper wants the country to believe, with Wednesday's game bringing in almost 200,000 Perth TV viewers atop the crowd, proving broadcast interest is all on the rise. The paper's editor Chris Dore was adamant when he told The Sydney Morning Herald the appetite for rugby league was non-existent in WA. 'No one outside of rugby league writers in Sydney cares. The point is rugby league is simply not a mainstream sport in this town,' Dore said. 'Just the facts. Good on them for having a crack here. We have nothing against the game despite the carry-on from [Peter] V'landys' acolytes in the Sydney media about our coverage. 'It's just not remotely main game and never will be.' But the numbers say otherwise Chris. Don't fight it, this is happening It's time to accept WA craves rugby league.
