Latest news with #Daley
7NEWS
a day ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Nathan Cleary reveals ‘frustrating' truth of last-minute State of Origin injury dramas
Penrith and NSW are confident Nathan Cleary's groin problem is not a serious one, after the Panthers superstar played through tightness in the Blues' Perth loss. Cleary's upper right leg emerged as one of the key talking points of State of Origin II, after he did not kick goals and had his thigh bandaged. The issue prevented Cleary from goal-kicking and putting up long kicks in general play during the first half on Wednesday. It proved pivotal with the wayward boot of replacement goal-kicker Zac Lomax ultimately proving the difference between the sides in a 26-24 loss for NSW. On Thursday morning, Cleary revealed he had injured himself while goal-kicking at Tuesday's captain's run but never felt the issue was serious enough to sideline him. 'I always thought it would be fine, it was just sort of the kicking load which was up in the air,' he said. 'I don't actually know the exact thing (injury) but I essentially did it goal-kicking in captain's run. It's a little bit frustrating. 'I can't commend the physios enough, they put a lot of time into me at captain's run and the morning of the game.' Cleary is already set to be rested from Penrith's clash against the Warriors in Auckland due to travel, with the Panthers not backing up any of their five Origin stars. But his fitness after that is crucial with Penrith attempting to revive their season and an Origin decider just three weeks away. NSW have already lost first-choice five-eighth Mitch Moses to a calf injury, with Jarome Luai called in to wear the No.6 jersey on Wednesday night. If Cleary was to be in some doubt, Matt Burton would loom as the most likely option to come into the Blues' side for the July 9 decider at Accor Stadium. AAP has been told Cleary did not require scans in the lead-up to Wednesday's match and had been in close contact with Penrith and his father Ivan. The halfback is not expected to undergo scans when he flies home to Sydney, and not scheduled to return to the Panthers until Monday. 'Obviously he is a massive part of both teams,' Penrith and NSW second-rower Liam Martin said. 'I am sure he will be fine. He will do everything he can to be sweet and I'm sure he will be.' At full-time, NSW coach Laurie Daley took the blame for the Blues' first-half flop and indicated he'd remain loyal to his players for the series decider in Sydney. The Blues gave away eight penalties in the first half alone, completed at 56 per cent and had their defence pulled apart with 22 missed tackles. NSW scored four unanswered tries in the second half as they threatened to pull off the greatest comeback in Origin history. But Lomax's three missed conversions and the team's horrific first half was left to haunt them. 'I've got to take responsibility, because we started well (with the first try), but the first half wasn't great,' Daley said. 'So I've got to look at what I've done, because something isn't right.' Daley was protective of his players when asked if he was confident in his current squad or would need to make changes for game three. 'Well, I was confident at half-time,' Daley said. 'I know what this group is capable of, and that's the thing you get disappointed with, because they never gave themselves that opportunity. 'You can't play a half of football like that against quality opposition and expect to be close. 'So for us, it's a good lesson. We'll go back to the drawing board. 'It's one-all. That's what Origin is all about, and it creates theatre and it creates headlines. 'I'm sure everyone wants a decider, and they've got it now.'
The Advertiser
a day ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Cleary downplays groin issue as Origin decider looms
Penrith and NSW are confident Nathan Cleary's groin problem is not a serious one, after the Panthers superstar played through tightness in the Blues' Perth loss. Cleary's upper right leg emerged as one of the key talking points of State of Origin II, after he did not kick goals and had his thigh bandaged. The issue prevented Cleary from goal-kicking and putting up long kicks in general play during the first half on Wednesday. It proved pivotal with the wayward boot of replacement goal-kicker Zac Lomax ultimately proving the difference between the sides in a 26-24 loss for NSW. On Thursday morning, Cleary revealed he had injured himself while goal-kicking at Tuesday's captain's run but never felt the issue was serious enough to sideline him. "I always thought it would be fine, it was just sort of the kicking load which was up in the air," he said. "I don't actually know the exact thing (injury) but I essentially did it goal-kicking in captain's run. It's a little bit frustrating. "I can't commend the physios enough, they put a lot of time into me at captain's run and the morning of the game." Cleary is already set to be rested from Penrith's clash against the Warriors in Auckland due to travel, with the Panthers not backing up any of their five Origin stars. But his fitness after that is crucial with Penrith attempting to revive their season and an Origin decider just three weeks away. NSW have already lost first-choice five-eighth Mitch Moses to a calf injury, with Jarome Luai called in to wear the No.6 jersey on Wednesday night. If Cleary was to be in some doubt, Matt Burton would loom as the most likely option to come into the Blues' side for the July 9 decider at Accor Stadium. AAP has been told Cleary did not require scans in the lead up to Wednesday's match and had been in close contact with Penrith and his father Ivan. The halfback is not expected to undergo scans when he flies home to Sydney, and not scheduled to return to the Panthers until Monday. "Obviously he is a massive part of both teams," Penrith and NSW second-rower Liam Martin said. "I am sure he will be fine. He will do everything he can to be sweet and I'm sure he will be." At full-time, NSW coach Laurie Daley took the blame for the Blues' first-half flop and indicated he'd remain loyal to his players for the series decider in Sydney. The Blues gave away eight penalties in the first half alone, completed at 56 per cent and had their defence pulled apart with 22 missed tackles. NSW scored four unanswered tries in the second half as they threatened to pull off the greatest comeback in Origin history. But Lomax's three missed conversions and the team's horrific first half was left to haunt them. "I've got to take responsibility, because we started well (with the first try), but the first half wasn't great," Daley said. "So I've got to look at what I've done, because something isn't right." Daley was protective of his players when asked if he was confident in his current squad or would need to make changes for game three. "Well, I was confident at half-time," Daley said. "I know what this group is capable of, and that's the thing you get disappointed with, because they never gave themselves that opportunity. "You can't play a half of football like that against quality opposition and expect to be close. "So for us, it's a good lesson. We'll go back to the drawing board. "It's one-all. That's what Origin is all about, and it creates theatre and it creates headlines. "I'm sure everyone wants a decider, and they've got it now." Penrith and NSW are confident Nathan Cleary's groin problem is not a serious one, after the Panthers superstar played through tightness in the Blues' Perth loss. Cleary's upper right leg emerged as one of the key talking points of State of Origin II, after he did not kick goals and had his thigh bandaged. The issue prevented Cleary from goal-kicking and putting up long kicks in general play during the first half on Wednesday. It proved pivotal with the wayward boot of replacement goal-kicker Zac Lomax ultimately proving the difference between the sides in a 26-24 loss for NSW. On Thursday morning, Cleary revealed he had injured himself while goal-kicking at Tuesday's captain's run but never felt the issue was serious enough to sideline him. "I always thought it would be fine, it was just sort of the kicking load which was up in the air," he said. "I don't actually know the exact thing (injury) but I essentially did it goal-kicking in captain's run. It's a little bit frustrating. "I can't commend the physios enough, they put a lot of time into me at captain's run and the morning of the game." Cleary is already set to be rested from Penrith's clash against the Warriors in Auckland due to travel, with the Panthers not backing up any of their five Origin stars. But his fitness after that is crucial with Penrith attempting to revive their season and an Origin decider just three weeks away. NSW have already lost first-choice five-eighth Mitch Moses to a calf injury, with Jarome Luai called in to wear the No.6 jersey on Wednesday night. If Cleary was to be in some doubt, Matt Burton would loom as the most likely option to come into the Blues' side for the July 9 decider at Accor Stadium. AAP has been told Cleary did not require scans in the lead up to Wednesday's match and had been in close contact with Penrith and his father Ivan. The halfback is not expected to undergo scans when he flies home to Sydney, and not scheduled to return to the Panthers until Monday. "Obviously he is a massive part of both teams," Penrith and NSW second-rower Liam Martin said. "I am sure he will be fine. He will do everything he can to be sweet and I'm sure he will be." At full-time, NSW coach Laurie Daley took the blame for the Blues' first-half flop and indicated he'd remain loyal to his players for the series decider in Sydney. The Blues gave away eight penalties in the first half alone, completed at 56 per cent and had their defence pulled apart with 22 missed tackles. NSW scored four unanswered tries in the second half as they threatened to pull off the greatest comeback in Origin history. But Lomax's three missed conversions and the team's horrific first half was left to haunt them. "I've got to take responsibility, because we started well (with the first try), but the first half wasn't great," Daley said. "So I've got to look at what I've done, because something isn't right." Daley was protective of his players when asked if he was confident in his current squad or would need to make changes for game three. "Well, I was confident at half-time," Daley said. "I know what this group is capable of, and that's the thing you get disappointed with, because they never gave themselves that opportunity. "You can't play a half of football like that against quality opposition and expect to be close. "So for us, it's a good lesson. We'll go back to the drawing board. "It's one-all. That's what Origin is all about, and it creates theatre and it creates headlines. "I'm sure everyone wants a decider, and they've got it now." Penrith and NSW are confident Nathan Cleary's groin problem is not a serious one, after the Panthers superstar played through tightness in the Blues' Perth loss. Cleary's upper right leg emerged as one of the key talking points of State of Origin II, after he did not kick goals and had his thigh bandaged. The issue prevented Cleary from goal-kicking and putting up long kicks in general play during the first half on Wednesday. It proved pivotal with the wayward boot of replacement goal-kicker Zac Lomax ultimately proving the difference between the sides in a 26-24 loss for NSW. On Thursday morning, Cleary revealed he had injured himself while goal-kicking at Tuesday's captain's run but never felt the issue was serious enough to sideline him. "I always thought it would be fine, it was just sort of the kicking load which was up in the air," he said. "I don't actually know the exact thing (injury) but I essentially did it goal-kicking in captain's run. It's a little bit frustrating. "I can't commend the physios enough, they put a lot of time into me at captain's run and the morning of the game." Cleary is already set to be rested from Penrith's clash against the Warriors in Auckland due to travel, with the Panthers not backing up any of their five Origin stars. But his fitness after that is crucial with Penrith attempting to revive their season and an Origin decider just three weeks away. NSW have already lost first-choice five-eighth Mitch Moses to a calf injury, with Jarome Luai called in to wear the No.6 jersey on Wednesday night. If Cleary was to be in some doubt, Matt Burton would loom as the most likely option to come into the Blues' side for the July 9 decider at Accor Stadium. AAP has been told Cleary did not require scans in the lead up to Wednesday's match and had been in close contact with Penrith and his father Ivan. The halfback is not expected to undergo scans when he flies home to Sydney, and not scheduled to return to the Panthers until Monday. "Obviously he is a massive part of both teams," Penrith and NSW second-rower Liam Martin said. "I am sure he will be fine. He will do everything he can to be sweet and I'm sure he will be." At full-time, NSW coach Laurie Daley took the blame for the Blues' first-half flop and indicated he'd remain loyal to his players for the series decider in Sydney. The Blues gave away eight penalties in the first half alone, completed at 56 per cent and had their defence pulled apart with 22 missed tackles. NSW scored four unanswered tries in the second half as they threatened to pull off the greatest comeback in Origin history. But Lomax's three missed conversions and the team's horrific first half was left to haunt them. "I've got to take responsibility, because we started well (with the first try), but the first half wasn't great," Daley said. "So I've got to look at what I've done, because something isn't right." Daley was protective of his players when asked if he was confident in his current squad or would need to make changes for game three. "Well, I was confident at half-time," Daley said. "I know what this group is capable of, and that's the thing you get disappointed with, because they never gave themselves that opportunity. "You can't play a half of football like that against quality opposition and expect to be close. "So for us, it's a good lesson. We'll go back to the drawing board. "It's one-all. That's what Origin is all about, and it creates theatre and it creates headlines. "I'm sure everyone wants a decider, and they've got it now."
Herald Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- Herald Sun
‘Something's not right': Laurie Daley's blunt admission as NSW rage over brutal penalty count
Blues coach Laurie Daley and captain Isaah Yeo have expressed frustration at a lopsided penalty count in NSW's 26-24 loss to Queensland in Perth. NSW were on the wrong end of a 10-2 penalty count that was eight to nil in the first half. It sparked a furious reaction from pundits who criticised referee Ashley Klein's officiating of the match. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Daley was blunt when asked what he thought of the penalty count. 'I can't tell you what I honestly think, so I'm not going to,' Daley said. Yeo, meanwhile, admitted the Blues were at fault for a number of penalties but believed they were on the wrong end of a host of 50/50 calls. 'There's certainly a few that we were shooting ourselves in the foot with and they were just penalties,' Yeo said. 'Other ones are 50-50. Some nights you get them, some nights you don't. So what you can't do is you can't go drop the ball early in the next set early in the tackle count when you've got the ball. 'So obviously I'd like that to be a bit more even, but we were our own worst enemy at times as well.' The Blues also disagreed with the decision to place Blues half Jarome Luai on report for a suspected eye-gouge. 'I thought it was a facial, I didn't see it up in the footage,' Yeo said. 'They put him on the report, but he didn't say why. I thought it was a face shot, so I thought there was a fair few of those in the game.' 'We saw a fair few of them in game one too,' Daley added. Yeo, however, admitted the Blues were their own worst enemy in a performance littered with ill-discipline. 'We just couldn't get out of our own way at the time, and they had all momentum,' he said. 'We probably had momentum through the middle of the field in that second half, but you can't do that to a pack like that. 'We just compounded too much. We would finally get the ball back, and we'd drop the ball early. You just can't miss the jump like this.' Isaah Yeo and Laurie Daley didn't say much, but said it all. Daley said ultimately the Blues did not deserve to win. 'It certainly was a rollercoaster, we just let ourselves down in the first half,' Daley said. 'I just think we just missed the jump with just like completion. 'Like, it really was just errors and penalties, and just compounded, and we just made it really hard for ourselves. 'We showed what we are capable of doing in the second half, but you can't play a half like that against a quality opposition and expect to be close. 'It was a good lesson. Go back to the drawing board, prepare well and go back to Sydney. It's one-all, so we will see how we go in game three. 'I think when we look at the video we will see opportunities, but I think we created, I think five tries to four, but I just get back to discipline, completions. 'We were nowhere near the mark in the first 40, so that was disappointing, but I was proud of them, obviously in the second half. 'They dug deep and showed everyone what they're capable of doing, but you've got to go two halves. You know, it's an old cliche, but it's true.' Daley also paid tribute to the Maroons and said the criticism of Queensland went too far during the week 'We knew what we were going to come against and they delivered,' Daley said. 'And the amount of criticism that they received, which was way over the top, we just knew that they were going to be better. So, we got to be better, and we will be better.' We're off to a decider. Photo byDaley, however, refused to be drawn on Billy Slater's turbulent 24 hours prior to the match. 'I'm not dodging the question, but I've just been focused on the group,' Daley said. 'I really have. I haven't really discussed anything. I just know that my energy's been channelled into the players 'I don't really know. And to be fair, when I'm in camp, I don't read papers. I don't go near them, because I just don't want to know what's going on in the world. And I don't know what's going on in rugby league as well. I wouldn't be able to tell you what's happening.' Daley also revealed Nathan Cleary was battling a groin injury which prevented him from goalkicking duties. 'He just felt a bit tight in his groin, so we wanted to limit the amount of force that he put through there,' Daley said of Cleary. 'So he's a tough kid, Nathan. We know what a quality player he is, but he's tough and his groin was tight, but he got through okay.' 'And as I said, I have got to take responsibility because we started well, but the first half wasn't great. So, I got to look at what I've done, because something's not right.' Originally published as 'Something's not right': Laurie Daley's blunt admission as NSW rage over brutal penalty count
The Age
a day ago
- Sport
- The Age
State of Origin III: All you need to know about the game of the year
But they didn't, and so instead of a dead rubber in game three, we're all set for a winner-takes-all blockbuster. WHERE WILL ORIGIN III BE PLAYED? NSW will have home-ground advantage for the series decider, to be played at Sydney's Accor Stadium on Wednesday, July 9. It cops a bum rap, at times, the Olympic stadium. Deservedly so when it's hosting a 6pm Friday NRL fixture – also known as the graveyard shift – and 90 per cent of the stadium's 83,500 seats are unoccupied. But when it's packed to the rafters, as it is for any Origin series decider, it is a special place, where magic frequently happens – Sydney's very own theatre of dreams. If you're a genuine rugby league fan and you're not in the crowd on July 9, you'll be jealous of those who are. WHY WAS GAME II PLAYED IN PERTH? Origin matches have regularly been played in states other than NSW and Queensland, dating back to the early 1990s. Taking Origin on the road each year is commercially lucrative, because state governments will pay handsomely for hosting rights, and it also provides an opportunity to showcase the greatest game of all in AFL strongholds. This was especially timely in the Western Australian capital, after the recent announcement that the Perth Bears will be admitted into the NRL competition in 2027. Optus Stadium has now hosted three Origins and attracted crowds of 59,721, 59,358 and 57,203. That suggests there is healthy interest in the 13-man code across the Nullarbor. The challenge for the Bears will be to tap into that supporter base and convince them to attend games on a regular basis. WILL TEAMS CHANGE FOR THE DECIDER? It's hard to imagine Queensland coach Billy Slater changing a single thing. He wielded the axe after game one, basically 'retiring' veteran skipper Daly Cherry-Evans as a representative player, and his new-look squad produced the desired result. So barring injuries, Slater will almost certainly pick and stick. NSW coach Laurie Daley, in contrast, faces some tough decisions. Although the Blues came close to snatching a famous comeback win, they were dreadful in the first half, and some of their stars of Origin I experienced a harsh reality check. Daley is unlikely to make wholesale changes. He probably doesn't have a heap of alternatives, to be brutally honest. In-form forwards Keaon Koloamatangi and Terrell May might come into the mix, although the former is nursing a fractured eye socket. Daley's troops were good enough to win game one convincingly, and they nearly produced a second-half miracle in Perth. An Origin-series decider is no time to be blooding rookies. To borrow a grand old rugby league cliche, dance with the one who brung ya. IS NATHAN CLEARY INJURED? The game's best player was not firing on all cylinders in Perth, and it emerged on Thursday morning he had been carrying a groin injury that very nearly ruled him out of the match. The NSW halfback ran out with a compression bandage around his upper right thigh, having strained his adductor during Tuesday's captain's run, and was clearly operating under duress. He handed the goalkicking duties to Zac Lomax, and while he shared the general-play kicking with Jarome Luai and Latrell Mitchell, he did most of it and gained more ground with the boot (349 metres) than any other player. Blues doctor Nathan Gibbs said Cleary had avoided aggravating the injury during Wednesday night's match, and should not be in doubt for Penrith's clash against Canterbury next week. Providing he comes through that match, Cleary will be straight in as NSW's No.7 for game III. Loading HOW CAN I GET TICKETS FOR ORIGIN III? There are still tickets available, but they are not cheap, starting at $194 for adults, $184 for juniors (aged four to 15) or $549 for families. Nonetheless, even in a cost-of-living crisis, the game is almost certain to be a sell-out. or are the best bet for anyone who wants to attend what shapes as one of the great Origin encounters.
7NEWS
a day ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
NSW coach Laurie Daley makes ominous admission after State of Origin defeat to Queensland
NSW coach Laurie Daley has taken the blame for the Blues' first-half flop in Origin II, indicating he'll stick fat with his players for the series decider in Sydney. Queensland levelled the series 1-1 in Perth on Wednesday night after holding off a fast-finishing Blues outfit to post a thrilling 26-24 win. Although NSW scored the first try of the match, they were blown off the park for the rest of the first half, with Queensland entering the break with a dominant 26-6 lead. The Blues gave away eight penalties in the first half alone, completed at 56 percent and had their defence pulled apart with 22 missed tackles. NSW scored four unanswered tries in the second half as they threatened to pull off the greatest comeback in Origin history. But, ultimately, Zac Lomax's three missed conversions and the team's horrific first half was left to haunt them with a decider now looming on July 9 at Accor Stadium. 'I've got to take responsibility, because we started well (with the first try), but the first half wasn't great,' Daley said. 'So I've got to look at what I've done, because something isn't right.' Daley was protective of his players when asked if he was confident in his current squad or would need to make changes for game three. 'Well, I was confident at half-time,' Daley said. 'I know what this group is capable of, and that's the thing you get disappointed with, because they never gave themselves that opportunity. 'You can't play a half of football like that against quality opposition and expect to be close. 'So for us, it's a good lesson. We'll go back to the drawing board. 'It's one-all. That's what Origin is all about, and it creates theatre and it creates headlines. 'I'm sure everyone wants a decider, and they've got it now.' The other issue for NSW is Nathan Cleary's fitness. The halfback did not take shots at goals, and only took up general-play kicking in the second half as the Blues attempted to fight their way back into the match. With Mitch Moses out for six weeks with a calf tear, the Blues desperately need Cleary back fit for Origin III and firing on all cylinders. Daley confirmed after Wednesday's loss that his No.7 had experienced groin tightness, but insisted he was never in any doubt for the match. 'He just felt a bit tight in his groin, so we wanted to limit the amount of force he put in there,' Daley said. 'He is a tough kid, Nathan. We know what a quality player he is, but he is tough. His groin was tight but he got through OK.'
