Latest news with #IvanCleary
News.com.au
11 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘I don't think it's too serious': Panthers provide Nathan Cleary update ahead of rare match in New Zealand
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary doesn't think his son's groin issue is 'too serious', with the champion halfback expected to be fine to take his place in the side for next Thursday's showdown with the Bulldogs. Nathan Cleary battled a groin complaint in Wednesday's second Origin clash, with the NSW No.7 forced to wear a compression sleeve on his right leg. Cleary didn't kick goals and was kept quiet in the first half, only for the four-time premiership winner to take control as the Blues chased points in a dramatic final 40 minutes. The injury caught everyone off guard, but it's not considered serious at this stage. Cleary was always going to miss Penrith's trip to New Zealand for Saturday's game against the Warriors, with all five of their Origin stars rested, including hat-trick hero Brian To'o, who overcame a hamstring injury to dominate in Perth. 'Nathan had that little groin injury. I'm not too sure how he's going at the moment, but I don't think it's too serious,' Ivan Cleary said in Auckland. 'Bizza (To'o) went into the game with a bit of a hamstring issue but he's come out pretty good.' The undermanned Panthers can jump back inside the top eight with an upset win across the ditch in what will be their first match in Auckland since 2019. Isaah Yeo was still playing in the centres back then, James Maloney was halfback and James Fisher-Harris was still at the club as they overcame two sin bins to win 19-18. Cleary, who used to coach the Warriors, voiced his frustrations recently at the timing of this away trip after Origin that forced him to rest his Blues players given the hectic travel schedule. But he's moved on ahead of two massive matches in five days against a couple of top-four teams coached by two of his former assistants. 'It's disappointing for the New Zealand fans because we haven't played here for six years, so they haven't seen any of our team through that pretty good period,' he said. 'That's a little unfortunate, but I know it must be difficult trying to work out the draw, and everyone has their own hardluck stories.'
RNZ News
14 hours ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
NRL: Wounded Penrith Panthers still dangerous proposition for NZ Warriors
Penrith celebrate their fourth NRL crown last season. Photo: Photosport Warriors v Panthers Kickoff: 5pm Sunday 21 June Go Media Stadium, Auckland Live blog updates on RNZ Sport NZ Warriors fans should not be fooled by the prospect of a depleted and seemingly out-of-form Penrith Panthers side arriving at Go Media Stadium on Saturday. The four-time defending NRL champions have not played in Auckland since 2019 - before their premiership run began - but have so far struggled in their bid for a fifth straight crown, currently languishing one point outside the playoff picture in ninth with five wins, seven losses and a rare draw. A five-game losing streak set them on their heels early and, as recently as four weeks ago, they sat bottom of the table, but back-to-back wins and a bye week have considerably boosted their hopes. "Obviously, it's not where they want it to be, that's pretty clear," Warriors coach Andrew Webster observed. "They normally have more wins on the board, but you can see they're building to something. "They know when to put the foot down and compete at a high level when it matters. I think you'll definitely see them challenge in this competition. "They're a strong club that are very proud and they'll find a way to get back to where they want to be." Coach Ivan Cleary has ruled out his five State of Origin stars for this fixture, lamenting a shortage of flights available to bring son Nathan, captain Isaah Yeo, fullback Dylan Edwards, winger Brian To'o and second-rower Liam Martin from Perth to Auckland with time to sufficiently recover. "The Origin players won't be playing because they can't," Cleary said. "I don't think it's fair that we can't play... we should be able to make that decision. Through flights, we just can't get them there." The Origin window has often been a difficult period for Penrith, but if the Warriors needed a reminder to never underestimate their rivals, it came in July 2017, when they travelled to the foot of the Blue Mountains to face a seemingly impotent line-up without its star-studded halves combination of Nathan Cleary and James Maloney. Instead, the visitors were shredded 36-4 by rookie Jarome Luai, who scored a try double and kicking 6/8 off the tee, for a personal haul of 20 points in just his second first-grade appearance. These days, Luai is also an Origin veteran, but has taken his talents to Wests Tigers. Only Roger Tuivasa-Sheck remains of that Warriors side, but ironically, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, James Fisher-Harris and Wayde Egan of the current squad turned out for Penrith that night. That encounter also somehow fell between the gaps in Webster's career, somewhere between his first stint at Mt Smart and his move to the Panthers, as Ivan Cleary's assistant. "That's a long time ago, I wasn't at either club - I was at the Tigers probably," he recalled. "I was living in Penrith and probably went to the game." Ivan Cleary (right) won't have son Nathan to steer the ship on Saturday. Photo: AAP/ Webster and Cleary have forged a strong relationship over the years, from the time they first hooked up at Wests, then a two-year period together at Penrith. Webster helped the Panthers to the first two titles of their dynasty, before returning across the Tasman to the Warriors with Cleary's recommendation for the top job. This will be their fourth head-to-head meeting, with Cleary ahead 2-1, but the Warriors took the most recent victory at 'Magic Round' in Brisbane last year, when their own revamped line-up shocked the titleholders with a late converted try to fullback Taine Tuaupiki. Webster admitted the significance of meeting his old club and mentor probably wasn't as strong as it once was. "Early on, the first couple of times you do it, you look into it a bit," he said. "Still got some fond memories and some people there I've got a lot of respect for, particularly Ivan, but that's kind of dwindled now. "They're the ex team, and you've got to go out and win. There are two points up for grabs and we're motivated to get better at what we want to do. "I'm just glad that the fans get the champions at our stadium." Ivan Cleary. Photo: Photosport Both teams are coming off a bye week and both have lost coming off their previous byes this season. The Warriors barely fired a shot in the first 40 minutes of a 42-14 defeat to Melbourne Storm in April, while the Panthers dropped a real headscratcher 25-6 against Newcastle Knights three weeks ago. Sitting third on the table, the Warriors produced probably their best performance of the season to vanquish Cronulla Sharks 40-10 two weeks ago, but lost an opportunity to build on any momentum from that outing. "We've got a chance to build on it now," Webster insisted. "It only seems like the other day we played, not like a month ago or six weeks ago. "We've still got an opportunity to build on what we did." The Warriors focused on themselves to start the week, but likely turned their attention towards their opponents nearer to gametime. "Their defence is very aggressive," Webster said. "Their line speed, they go after you, so you've got to make sure you earn your way out of trouble - we've got to have a hard edge about us there. "You have to make sure you have your own backyard in order, earning plenty of momentum with the ball and defending well. "If you start watching everyone and wondering what to do, you start losing focus on yourselves." Meanwhile, Webster has resisted the temptation to name Cleary's youngest son, Jett - born in Auckland during his dad's tenure with the Warriors and now back playing for the club's U21 side - for a surprise NRL debut against his father's team. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
ABC News
a day ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Coach Ricky Stuart's son Jed to make first-grade debut with Canberra Raiders
First it was Martin and John Lang in the early 2000s. Then Jake and Brad Arthur. Billy and Kevin Walters in Brisbane. Maybe most famously, Nathan and Ivan Cleary. Now, it's Jed and Ricky Stuart. The NRL's most demonstratively passionate and self-proclaimed "emotional" coach, Ricky Stuart, will have an extra reason to reach for the tissues this week, as he watches his son make his first-grade debut. Jed Stuart will become Raider #404 on Friday night, after being given his NRL call-up for the Round 16 match against the Wests Tigers. It will mark the first time a Raiders NRL coach has coached his own son in a first-grade capacity, and is only the fourth father-son player legacy for the club. "I often say, I hate having to deliver bad news to players because I know how hard they work to get into such an elite position. "I'm no different this week, as a father." The call-up comes after talented rookie Savelio Tamale sustained a knee injury and is expected to miss an extended period. It also comes after a lot of hard work and dedication. Stuart, who will celebrate his 24th birthday on Sunday, has played 57 NSW Cup games for the Raiders, after previously being involved in the Australian rugby sevens. The younger Stuart has been named at 18th man four times this season, before finally getting the chance to take the field this week. Working as an apprentice while chasing his dream of being an NRL player "hasn't always been easy for Jed", Canberra Raiders Wellbeing Manager Andrew Bishop said. Named on the wing, where he has played most of his games in NSW Cup, he'll team up with Sebastian Kris, who is marking a milestone of his own this week, notching up 100 NRL games. Ricky played 203 NRL games between 1988 and 2000, and won three premierships for the Raiders, and joined the Canberra side as coach in 2014. Shutting down any whispers of nepotism before they could begin, Ricky said it was hard to select his own flesh and blood, and he looked to senior members of the playing group for their input on the situation. It wasn't a surprise for Ricky when the team backed his son to debut, as the Raiders NRL squad has been behind Jed for a while. The team was so passionate about Jed's ability, they even twisted their coaches' arm to bring the youngster along to the Raiders match in Las Vegas in Round 1. "He's worked really hard to get there, he's actually had to work doubly hard — I've made it very hard on him. "He's earned his spot, let's put it that way." The Raiders are currently placed 2nd in the NRL, trailing only two points behind the ladder-leading Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. Named on the wing, where he's played most of his games in NSW Cup, he'll team up with Sebastian Kris, who is marking a milestone of his own this week, notching up 100 NRL games. Despite the senior Stuart's light-hearted claim that his son is only marginally taller than him, the winger's imposing height will be a useful addition for the Green Machine at both ends of the field. Standing at an imposing 193cm (six feet four inches), Stuart adds an exciting element to the side, able to be targeted with lofting kicks on the wing in attack and diffusing the oppositions bombs in defence. The Raiders will take on the 13th placed Wests Tigers in Campbelltown on Friday night.
RNZ News
3 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Origin logistics rule Capewell out for Warriors against Panthers
Kurt Capewell has often been deployed in a Warriors midfield hampered by injury. Photo: David Neilson/Photosport Unfavourable travel logistics may have saved NZ Warriors some heartache over the availability of veteran Kurt Capewell, as they prepare to host four-time defending NRL champions Penrith Panthers at Go Media Stadium this weekend. Capewell - along with five Panthers stars - will take the field for State of Origin II in Perth on Wednesday and faced just a three-day turnaround, if they hoped to back up for their clubs on Saturday. Penrith and former Warriors coach Ivan Cleary had already ruled out his New South Wales players - son Nathan Cleary, captain Isaah Yeo, fullback Dylan Edwards, winger Brian To'o and second-rower Liam Martin - complaining there are no flights that would allow them to arrive in Auckland in timely fashion. "The Origin players won't be playing, because they can't," Cleary said. "I don't think it's fair that we can't play... we should be able to make that decision. "Through flights, we just can't get them there." The Warriors faced a similar dilemma over Capewell, who had been called into the second row for Queensland . "It's going to be pretty hard with those flights, the way it's scheduled," coach Andrew Webster admitted. "The next flight is the redeye the next night, which means he'd arrive home here on Friday morning - it's not looking good. "In the NRL, Origin is the showcase during this period and the club takes a backward seat. Players have always been available if not selected [for Origin] or, if they play, they're available to back up - then it's up to the clubs to decide. "They could say they will physically arrive here on time, but it's very dangerous crossing on a seven-hour flight throughout the night, across a four-hour time difference. It becomes unsafe and people might say, 'Harden up', but there are just too many injuries. "The game is too fast and we just can't afford to lose them." Capewell, who helped the Panthers to the 2021 NRL championship, has subsequently been ommitted from the Warriors gameday squad to face his old club. The Warriors are already reeling from the loss of co-captain Mitch Barnett, who suffered a season-ending knee injury backing up from Origin I . In that instance, he had an extra day's rest before facing South Sydney Rabbitohs and a far more favourable travel schedule from Brisbane. "We'd look at every situation," Webster reflected. "We made the decision on Mitch after the game, not before. "He texted me 20 minutes after Origin and said, 'I'm ready to go', so you've always got to look at that situation. If Mitch had played 80 [minutes] that night, and had some bumps and bruises, we probably would have said no. "You have to look at it ball by ball and make a decision afterwards. "We'll have a meeting today around Kurt, get our heads together and make sure we're all on the same page as a staff, but it looks unlikely with the flights." Origin stars often front up for their clubs on just a few days' rest, and Barnett may or may not have been a casualty of his own determination not to let his team down - but sometimes coaches must step in to save their players from themselves. With injuries hitting the Warriors midfield, Capewell has often been deployed at centre, where he made his 2020 Origin debut. With regulars Ali Leiataua and Rocco Berry still sidelined, Moala Graham-Taufa has been promoted from the reserves to his first NRL appearance of the season. Warriors: 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3 Adam Pompey, 4 Moala Graham Taufa, 5 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7 Luke Metcalf, 8 James Fisher-Harris, 9 Wayde Eagan, 10 Marata Niukore, 11 Leka Halasima, 12 Jacob Laban, 13 Erin Clark Interchange: 14 Te Maire Martin, 15 Jackson Ford, 16 Demitric Vaimauga, 17 Tanner Stowers-Smith Reserves: 18 Sam Healey, 20 Bunty Afoa, 21 Tanah Boyd, 22 Ed Kosi, 23 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava Panthers: 1 Daine Laurie, 2 Thomas Jenkins, 3 Izack Tago, 4 Casey McLean, 5 Paul Alamoti, 6 Blaize Talagi, 7 Brad Schneider, 8 Moses Leota, 9 Mitch Kenney, 10 Lindsay Smith, 11 Scott Sorenson, 12 Isaiah Papali'i, 13, Matt Eisenhuth Interchange: 14 Trent Toelau, 15 Liam Henry, 16 Luron Patea, 17 Luke Garner Reserves: 18 Luke Sommerton, 19 Jack Cole, 20 Mavrik Geyer, 21 Preston Riki, 22 Austin Dias, 23 Harrison Hassett, 24 Jaxen Edgar Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Round 16 team lists: Panthers rest their five Origin stars as Souths receive triple boost for crucial Storm clash
Penrith will be missing more than 850 games of experience on Saturday evening after Panthers coach Ivan Cleary decided to rest his State of Origin quintet for the trip to New Zealand to take on the Warriors. While NSW squad member Lindsay Smith will make the trip from Perth to Auckland, Dylan Edwards, Brian To'o, Nathan Cleary, Liam Martin and Isaah Yeo won't be asked to make the gruelling trip just days after the Origin clash. It's a massive blow for the four-time defending premiers, but Cleary has still managed to name a strong side with Daine Laurie to start at fullback, Paul Alamoti on the wing, Brad Schneider at halfback, with Matt Eisenhuth at lock. The Knights are in a much more enviable position given their game against the Dolphins is in Perth, which means Kalyn Ponga will likely suit up this time along with the returning Bradman Best and Dom Young who rejoined the club this week. South Sydney could receive a triple boost with Latrell Mitchell picked to play on Saturday, while veterans Cody Walker and Campbell Graham have been named on the extended bench as they eye early returns from injury. They face the Storm who have named all of their Origin stars, although coach Craig Bellamy will make a final call later in the week depending on how they pull up. Broncos coach Michael Maguire has left Selwyn Cobbo in the reserves with Josiah Karapani keeping his spot on the wing for the showdown with the Sharks who have named Siosifa Talakai at left centre as they deal with a shortage of outside backs. Jason Ryles has been forced to name another new halves pairing with experienced duo Mitch Moses (injury) and Dylan Brown (suspended) both unavailable for Sunday's game against the Titans. Joash Papalii and Dean Hawkins will combine in the halves against a Titans side that features its Queensland forwards as well as David Fifita who has been named 18th man and could be a late inclusion. Benji Marshall welcomes back a couple of key forwards at the Tigers with Fonua Pole and Alex Twal to start against a Raiders side that features Jed Stuart on debut. And the Roosters have had to make a few changes to the pack with Victor Radley and Egan Butcher both unavailable. Salesi Foketi starts at lock, with their five Origin players all set to back up against the Cowboys who have also named their rep stars.
