How Magic Round cured and created these huge State of Origin headaches
Dolphins enforcer Felise Kaufusi has declared his skipper Tom Gilbert should 'absolutely' be brought back into the Queensland Maroons' fold, potentially setting up an enthralling clash with Blues counterpart Liam Martin.
It has taken time for the two-time State of Origin star to work back towards his best football, having missed the best part of 18 months while he recovered from a dislocated shoulder suffered in his last Maroons appearance in 2023, before rupturing his ACL upon his comeback.
The 24-year-old has endured a rollercoaster introduction to the captaincy, overseeing four-straight defeats to launch their campaign, before a three-game winning run was following by back-to-back losses once again.
Returning to his favoured position of lock in the injury absence of Max Plath (foot), Gilbert finished with 91 running metres and 43 tackles – however, he did miss seven – in the Dolphins' 36-26 Magic Round defeat to the Roosters.
He partook minimally in Monday's opposed session at Redcliffe due to sternum pain, however is not expected to be in any doubt for Thursday night's clash with the Eels.
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Despite Gilbert's indifferent start – running for more than 100 metres just once this year, while averaging 42 tackles a game – Kaufusi was adamant Gilbert needed to be ushered into the fray when Queensland coach Billy Slater names his squad for the series opener on May 28.
Incumbent Maroons lock and Cowboys co-captain Reuben Cotter will miss the next two games through suspension, but would still be free to come into consideration, but Gilbert could still garner a chance on the left edge against New South Wales champion, Martin.
'Absolutely, he's one of those players you would pick no doubt, and he would go out and give it his all,' Kaufusi, who played in all three Origin games last year, said.
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7NEWS
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6 hours ago
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'It's personal': Maroons enforcer will rip into Haas
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NSW wrecking ball Payne Haas beware, because Queensland prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui has vowed to "take it personal" in Perth and fire up the underperforming Maroons pack. The Maroons have been baited by NSW forward Angus Crichton, who said the Queenslanders had been told not to kick off to Haas or Blues bench enforcer Spencer Leniu. Leniu called the Maroons "pussies" for not kicking to him in game one of the State of Origin series in Brisbane, won 18-6 by NSW, but Fa'asuamaleaui said he would "not take a backward step" against Leniu. Fa'asuamaleaui was not happy with his start in Brisbane, where his ill-discipline gave away an early penalty. The Gold Coast skipper has wrangled with Haas since they had a classic Origin confrontation in game two of 2020 when both were sin-binned after throwing punches at each other. Fa'asuamaleaui isn't interested in replicating that set-to, but in 2020 he announced himself as a dominant Origin force and outplayed Haas in the Maroons' 2-1 series win. Series wins over a Haas-led NSW pack in 2022 and 2023 followed. Haas was man of the match in Brisbane, and now it is Fa'asuamaleaui's turn to lead the Maroons to victory and save the series. The Maroons were slammed for being out-muscled and ill-disciplined in game one and must find a balance. "I take it personal, every game I play," Fa'asuamaleaui said. "Every time I put that Queensland jersey on, it means so much to me. "There were obviously a lot of emotions that first game, but any game I get to put this jersey on, I take it personal and hopefully I can do a job for my teammates. "I think we have just got to be smart. We've got to treat the ball like gold and make sure that we don't hand it over and give silly opportunities, but the fire's there definitely. "There's a lot of little discipline things that we did (wrong in game one) and we've identified that." The 25-year-old prop brushed aside claims the Maroons were too scared of Leniu to kick to him. "We'll find out our game plan this week," he said. "Whoever's in front of us, we're not taking a backward step and we're excited to play." Fa'asuamaleaui played 12 Origin games in a row and won three series out of four until an ACL tear rubbed him out of last year's 2-1 loss to the Blues. His joy at being back for game one spilled over when there were tears during the anthems in Brisbane. "Putting that Queensland jersey on after watching it as a fan last year, then obviously finding my way back in the team this year ... all the emotions came out," he said. Big Tino must get down to business and channel his emotions in Perth after coach Billy Slater conducted a brutal review of game one on Monday night in camp. "We've had a real honest conversation between players and coaches about what we need to do," Fa'asuamaleaui said. "I'm excited to get into training, practise good habits and find our (best) game." NSW wrecking ball Payne Haas beware, because Queensland prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui has vowed to "take it personal" in Perth and fire up the underperforming Maroons pack. The Maroons have been baited by NSW forward Angus Crichton, who said the Queenslanders had been told not to kick off to Haas or Blues bench enforcer Spencer Leniu. Leniu called the Maroons "pussies" for not kicking to him in game one of the State of Origin series in Brisbane, won 18-6 by NSW, but Fa'asuamaleaui said he would "not take a backward step" against Leniu. Fa'asuamaleaui was not happy with his start in Brisbane, where his ill-discipline gave away an early penalty. The Gold Coast skipper has wrangled with Haas since they had a classic Origin confrontation in game two of 2020 when both were sin-binned after throwing punches at each other. Fa'asuamaleaui isn't interested in replicating that set-to, but in 2020 he announced himself as a dominant Origin force and outplayed Haas in the Maroons' 2-1 series win. Series wins over a Haas-led NSW pack in 2022 and 2023 followed. Haas was man of the match in Brisbane, and now it is Fa'asuamaleaui's turn to lead the Maroons to victory and save the series. The Maroons were slammed for being out-muscled and ill-disciplined in game one and must find a balance. "I take it personal, every game I play," Fa'asuamaleaui said. "Every time I put that Queensland jersey on, it means so much to me. "There were obviously a lot of emotions that first game, but any game I get to put this jersey on, I take it personal and hopefully I can do a job for my teammates. "I think we have just got to be smart. We've got to treat the ball like gold and make sure that we don't hand it over and give silly opportunities, but the fire's there definitely. "There's a lot of little discipline things that we did (wrong in game one) and we've identified that." The 25-year-old prop brushed aside claims the Maroons were too scared of Leniu to kick to him. "We'll find out our game plan this week," he said. "Whoever's in front of us, we're not taking a backward step and we're excited to play." Fa'asuamaleaui played 12 Origin games in a row and won three series out of four until an ACL tear rubbed him out of last year's 2-1 loss to the Blues. His joy at being back for game one spilled over when there were tears during the anthems in Brisbane. "Putting that Queensland jersey on after watching it as a fan last year, then obviously finding my way back in the team this year ... all the emotions came out," he said. Big Tino must get down to business and channel his emotions in Perth after coach Billy Slater conducted a brutal review of game one on Monday night in camp. "We've had a real honest conversation between players and coaches about what we need to do," Fa'asuamaleaui said. "I'm excited to get into training, practise good habits and find our (best) game."
The Advertiser
6 hours ago
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Former NBA star Cousins booted from Puerto Rico league
Former NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins was suspended by a Puerto Rico basketball league and had his contract rescinded after igniting a brawl. The Baloncesto Superior Nacional League also fined Cousins $US4250 ($A6530), and he could be subject to another fine of $5570 ($A8560), according to the league. The incident occurred on Monday when Cousins was playing on the road for the Guaynabo Mets. "As an organisation, we strongly condemn any form of violence or provocation, whether on or off the field. Safety, respect and sportsmanship are non-negotiable values for this franchise," the Mets said in a news release. The situation began with Cousins exchanging words with a fan, before he grabbed his crotch while walking towards the courtside seats. Cousins then grabbed the fan's arm as things quickly escalated. Teammates tried to pull Cousins away and other fans began to hurl insults at the American. After being ejected, Cousins was doused by liquids as he left the floor. Security tackled him at one point to hold him back from trying to get into the stands. Cousins, 34, was averaging 18.2 points and 9.0 rebounds while playing in the top pro basketball league in Puerto Rico for the second time. He also played in the league in 2023. He hasn't played in the NBA since the 2021-22 season. Cousins was a four-time All-Star in 11 seasons, but his career was derailed by two major injuries. In January 2018, he sustained an achilles tendon injury while playing with the New Orleans Pelicans. After returning to play 30 games for the Golden State Warriors the following season, he tore the ACL in his left knee in August 2019 as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers and missed the entire season. Cousins played for seven NBA teams, his longest tenure with the Sacramento Kings from 2010-17. He finished third in Rookie of the Year balloting in 2011 after being the fifth overall pick out of Kentucky. Overall, Cousins averaged 19.6 points and 10.2 rebounds in 654 NBA games (561 starts). Former NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins was suspended by a Puerto Rico basketball league and had his contract rescinded after igniting a brawl. The Baloncesto Superior Nacional League also fined Cousins $US4250 ($A6530), and he could be subject to another fine of $5570 ($A8560), according to the league. The incident occurred on Monday when Cousins was playing on the road for the Guaynabo Mets. "As an organisation, we strongly condemn any form of violence or provocation, whether on or off the field. Safety, respect and sportsmanship are non-negotiable values for this franchise," the Mets said in a news release. The situation began with Cousins exchanging words with a fan, before he grabbed his crotch while walking towards the courtside seats. Cousins then grabbed the fan's arm as things quickly escalated. Teammates tried to pull Cousins away and other fans began to hurl insults at the American. After being ejected, Cousins was doused by liquids as he left the floor. Security tackled him at one point to hold him back from trying to get into the stands. Cousins, 34, was averaging 18.2 points and 9.0 rebounds while playing in the top pro basketball league in Puerto Rico for the second time. He also played in the league in 2023. He hasn't played in the NBA since the 2021-22 season. Cousins was a four-time All-Star in 11 seasons, but his career was derailed by two major injuries. In January 2018, he sustained an achilles tendon injury while playing with the New Orleans Pelicans. After returning to play 30 games for the Golden State Warriors the following season, he tore the ACL in his left knee in August 2019 as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers and missed the entire season. Cousins played for seven NBA teams, his longest tenure with the Sacramento Kings from 2010-17. He finished third in Rookie of the Year balloting in 2011 after being the fifth overall pick out of Kentucky. Overall, Cousins averaged 19.6 points and 10.2 rebounds in 654 NBA games (561 starts). Former NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins was suspended by a Puerto Rico basketball league and had his contract rescinded after igniting a brawl. The Baloncesto Superior Nacional League also fined Cousins $US4250 ($A6530), and he could be subject to another fine of $5570 ($A8560), according to the league. The incident occurred on Monday when Cousins was playing on the road for the Guaynabo Mets. "As an organisation, we strongly condemn any form of violence or provocation, whether on or off the field. Safety, respect and sportsmanship are non-negotiable values for this franchise," the Mets said in a news release. The situation began with Cousins exchanging words with a fan, before he grabbed his crotch while walking towards the courtside seats. Cousins then grabbed the fan's arm as things quickly escalated. Teammates tried to pull Cousins away and other fans began to hurl insults at the American. After being ejected, Cousins was doused by liquids as he left the floor. Security tackled him at one point to hold him back from trying to get into the stands. Cousins, 34, was averaging 18.2 points and 9.0 rebounds while playing in the top pro basketball league in Puerto Rico for the second time. He also played in the league in 2023. He hasn't played in the NBA since the 2021-22 season. Cousins was a four-time All-Star in 11 seasons, but his career was derailed by two major injuries. In January 2018, he sustained an achilles tendon injury while playing with the New Orleans Pelicans. After returning to play 30 games for the Golden State Warriors the following season, he tore the ACL in his left knee in August 2019 as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers and missed the entire season. Cousins played for seven NBA teams, his longest tenure with the Sacramento Kings from 2010-17. He finished third in Rookie of the Year balloting in 2011 after being the fifth overall pick out of Kentucky. Overall, Cousins averaged 19.6 points and 10.2 rebounds in 654 NBA games (561 starts). Former NBA All-Star DeMarcus Cousins was suspended by a Puerto Rico basketball league and had his contract rescinded after igniting a brawl. The Baloncesto Superior Nacional League also fined Cousins $US4250 ($A6530), and he could be subject to another fine of $5570 ($A8560), according to the league. The incident occurred on Monday when Cousins was playing on the road for the Guaynabo Mets. "As an organisation, we strongly condemn any form of violence or provocation, whether on or off the field. Safety, respect and sportsmanship are non-negotiable values for this franchise," the Mets said in a news release. The situation began with Cousins exchanging words with a fan, before he grabbed his crotch while walking towards the courtside seats. Cousins then grabbed the fan's arm as things quickly escalated. Teammates tried to pull Cousins away and other fans began to hurl insults at the American. After being ejected, Cousins was doused by liquids as he left the floor. Security tackled him at one point to hold him back from trying to get into the stands. Cousins, 34, was averaging 18.2 points and 9.0 rebounds while playing in the top pro basketball league in Puerto Rico for the second time. He also played in the league in 2023. He hasn't played in the NBA since the 2021-22 season. Cousins was a four-time All-Star in 11 seasons, but his career was derailed by two major injuries. In January 2018, he sustained an achilles tendon injury while playing with the New Orleans Pelicans. After returning to play 30 games for the Golden State Warriors the following season, he tore the ACL in his left knee in August 2019 as a member of the Los Angeles Lakers and missed the entire season. Cousins played for seven NBA teams, his longest tenure with the Sacramento Kings from 2010-17. He finished third in Rookie of the Year balloting in 2011 after being the fifth overall pick out of Kentucky. Overall, Cousins averaged 19.6 points and 10.2 rebounds in 654 NBA games (561 starts).
