Bad news for Maroons as Cowboys flyer still sidelined
Queensland have suffered a blow in their bid to level the State of Origin series after Murray Taulagi failed to recover from injury for the last round before teams are picked for game two.
North Queensland winger Taulagi had been expected to overcome a calf issue in time to face Melbourne and make a late charge for selection calculations for Origin II in Perth on June 18.
Instead, coach Todd Payten has omitted the six-time Maroon from his extended squad altogether, with Jaxson Paulo to hold a starting spot on the wing for Friday's away trip.
AAP has been told Taulagi is a chance for selection in round 15 but is rated as unlikely to be brought into the Maroons' set-up given he has not played since round 11.
It means Queensland coach Billy Slater will need to look elsewhere if he wants to replace Valentine Holmes following an underwhelming series opener from the veteran.
Reece Walsh is set for one last chance to push his own selection case.
Brisbane have named Walsh at fullback to face Gold Coast and will give him until captain's run to prove he has completely recovered from the knee injury that sidelined him for six weeks.
Walsh is considered the leading alternative to Queensland fullback Kalyn Ponga, who disappointed in last week's game-one loss.
It comes as Broncos coach Michael Maguire axed Deine Mariner to allow Jesse Arthars and Selwyn Cobbo to line up on the wings against the Titans on Saturday night.
South Sydney's injury woes are finally beginning to ease as Jack Wighton and Cody Walker return from calf injuries to face Canberra.
As a result the Rabbitohs dropped Jye Gray from the 17 despite a superb start to the season, with Jayden Sullivan pushing to the bench in his place.
The Raiders have Jamal Fogarty back from the groin issue that ruled the halfback out of the win over the Sydney Roosters.
A strong NRL debut from rugby sevens convert Nathan Lawson encouraged St George Illawarra to drop Tyrell Sloan, with Christian Tuipulotu back from his hamstring injury to line up on the other wing.
The Dolphins could welcome Jeremy Marshall-King back from a leg injury, naming the hooker in their extended squad.
Cronulla winger Sione Katoa will play his first game of the season against the Warriors after undergoing shoulder surgery, with second-rower Teig Wilton back from his own shoulder issue too.
Elsewhere, Canterbury have named Lachlan Galvin on their extended bench as he hopes to make his Bulldogs debut against Parramatta following a mid-season move from Wests Tigers.
Tom Trbojevic will need another week to recover from his corked quad so Lehi Hopoate will hold the fullback spot for Manly's game against Newcastle.
Gold Coast have lost Jojo Fifita and Sam Verrills to broken hands ahead of the clash with the Broncos, but are hoping AJ Brimson will return from a head knock.
The Titans are applying for an exemption to allow Brimson to face the Broncos, given Saturday's clash comes before the utility clears the usual 11-day return-to-play window.
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The Advertiser
6 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Star duo return for Dolphins, but Stone ruled out
The Dolphins welcome back two key forwards as they take on St George Illawarra with the chance to enter the NRL top eight for the first time. Starting hooker Jeremy Marshall-King returns from a thigh laceration and infection that led to him spending time in hospital, while lock Max Plath is back from a foot injury and is likely to start on the bench in Friday night's clash at Suncorp Stadium. Tough-as-teak forward Ray Stone has bravely carried a shoulder injury into battle with the team down on troops, but he has been rested to give the issue more time to heal. Marshall-King suffered a deep gash to his leg in round six and took the field in round nine, but the wound became aggravated. "He's ready to go," coach Kristian Woolf said. "It's been a long time, but I don't think people realised how serious it was and how big the cut was. "It was just the seriousness of the infection as well. He did a couple of stints in hospital on the IV drip and getting it flushed out. "It's great to have him back. If you look at the last couple of years we haven't won a lot of games without Jeremy. "I've been happy with the group over the last couple of weeks because we've started to learn how to do that." Plath, last season's player of the year, injured a foot in round seven against Melbourne, which has also taken longer to heal than first thought. The 23-year-old was in the frame to make his Queensland debut in game one of the State of Origin series before injury struck. That would appear unlikely in the short term until he gets some footy under his belt, but Woolf said a Maroons jersey was within Plath's grasp. "(The injury) ended up being a lot more serious that we thought it was," the coach said. "He is coming into this having not done a hell of a lot until the last couple of weeks. "We're very confident in what he's going to be able to do for the team. He'll be on limited minutes. "I've got no doubt he's a guy that will feature in the Origin frame at some stage. "It's probably too early to be talking about that now. He needs to get a couple of games under his belt." The Dolphins lost their opening four matches of the season but have recovered well to be on 12 points, just two behind the Dragons, who are in the eight. "We're under no illusions at all," Woolf said. "I know guys like (centre) Moses Suli really well and how dangerous he is. He's a strike player on the edge. "(Second-rower) Luciano Leilua is the same. They have a physical pack and experience with guys like Clint Gutherson and Damien Cook. "They're as dangerous as any team in the comp and we have to bring our best game." The Dolphins welcome back two key forwards as they take on St George Illawarra with the chance to enter the NRL top eight for the first time. Starting hooker Jeremy Marshall-King returns from a thigh laceration and infection that led to him spending time in hospital, while lock Max Plath is back from a foot injury and is likely to start on the bench in Friday night's clash at Suncorp Stadium. Tough-as-teak forward Ray Stone has bravely carried a shoulder injury into battle with the team down on troops, but he has been rested to give the issue more time to heal. Marshall-King suffered a deep gash to his leg in round six and took the field in round nine, but the wound became aggravated. "He's ready to go," coach Kristian Woolf said. "It's been a long time, but I don't think people realised how serious it was and how big the cut was. "It was just the seriousness of the infection as well. He did a couple of stints in hospital on the IV drip and getting it flushed out. "It's great to have him back. If you look at the last couple of years we haven't won a lot of games without Jeremy. "I've been happy with the group over the last couple of weeks because we've started to learn how to do that." Plath, last season's player of the year, injured a foot in round seven against Melbourne, which has also taken longer to heal than first thought. The 23-year-old was in the frame to make his Queensland debut in game one of the State of Origin series before injury struck. That would appear unlikely in the short term until he gets some footy under his belt, but Woolf said a Maroons jersey was within Plath's grasp. "(The injury) ended up being a lot more serious that we thought it was," the coach said. "He is coming into this having not done a hell of a lot until the last couple of weeks. "We're very confident in what he's going to be able to do for the team. He'll be on limited minutes. "I've got no doubt he's a guy that will feature in the Origin frame at some stage. "It's probably too early to be talking about that now. He needs to get a couple of games under his belt." The Dolphins lost their opening four matches of the season but have recovered well to be on 12 points, just two behind the Dragons, who are in the eight. "We're under no illusions at all," Woolf said. "I know guys like (centre) Moses Suli really well and how dangerous he is. He's a strike player on the edge. "(Second-rower) Luciano Leilua is the same. They have a physical pack and experience with guys like Clint Gutherson and Damien Cook. "They're as dangerous as any team in the comp and we have to bring our best game." The Dolphins welcome back two key forwards as they take on St George Illawarra with the chance to enter the NRL top eight for the first time. Starting hooker Jeremy Marshall-King returns from a thigh laceration and infection that led to him spending time in hospital, while lock Max Plath is back from a foot injury and is likely to start on the bench in Friday night's clash at Suncorp Stadium. Tough-as-teak forward Ray Stone has bravely carried a shoulder injury into battle with the team down on troops, but he has been rested to give the issue more time to heal. Marshall-King suffered a deep gash to his leg in round six and took the field in round nine, but the wound became aggravated. "He's ready to go," coach Kristian Woolf said. "It's been a long time, but I don't think people realised how serious it was and how big the cut was. "It was just the seriousness of the infection as well. He did a couple of stints in hospital on the IV drip and getting it flushed out. "It's great to have him back. If you look at the last couple of years we haven't won a lot of games without Jeremy. "I've been happy with the group over the last couple of weeks because we've started to learn how to do that." Plath, last season's player of the year, injured a foot in round seven against Melbourne, which has also taken longer to heal than first thought. The 23-year-old was in the frame to make his Queensland debut in game one of the State of Origin series before injury struck. That would appear unlikely in the short term until he gets some footy under his belt, but Woolf said a Maroons jersey was within Plath's grasp. "(The injury) ended up being a lot more serious that we thought it was," the coach said. "He is coming into this having not done a hell of a lot until the last couple of weeks. "We're very confident in what he's going to be able to do for the team. He'll be on limited minutes. "I've got no doubt he's a guy that will feature in the Origin frame at some stage. "It's probably too early to be talking about that now. He needs to get a couple of games under his belt." The Dolphins lost their opening four matches of the season but have recovered well to be on 12 points, just two behind the Dragons, who are in the eight. "We're under no illusions at all," Woolf said. "I know guys like (centre) Moses Suli really well and how dangerous he is. He's a strike player on the edge. "(Second-rower) Luciano Leilua is the same. They have a physical pack and experience with guys like Clint Gutherson and Damien Cook. "They're as dangerous as any team in the comp and we have to bring our best game."
The Advertiser
6 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Bears' huge task revealed as coach announcement looms
Mal Meninga has a mighty task to make the Perth Bears competitive from the outset as history paints a bleak picture of the NRL's expansion teams in their early years. The NRL is poised to unveil Meninga as the Bears' head coach this week, with the rugby league legend expected to relinquish his post in charge of the Australian national team to take the helm in 2027. The nine-time State of Origin series-winning coach is understood to have beaten South Sydney great Sam Burgess and former Parramatta boss Brad Arthur to the role, his first in charge of a club since 2001. The appointment of household name Meninga is expected to help generate big interest in the AFL-mad city, which has not had a team since the Western Reds folded in 1997. But a tough task looms for Meninga amid the excitement of the Bears' return to the NRL, 25 years after their Northern Eagles merger with Manly collapsed. Some 14 expansion teams have joined the NRL and its predecessors since 1982, when the league first began to expand out of Sydney. Only two of those teams, the Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm, played finals in their first two seasons. Even then, the Broncos only made it to a play-off game to reach the official post-season in 1989, losing that match to Cronulla. Among the 12 remaining teams, only one - the Auckland Warriors of 1995 - had a winning record in either of their first two seasons, while three picked up the wooden spoon in the same time-frame. Only six of the 12 remaining are still in the league in their current format, the vast majority of others folding in the aftermath of the 1997 Super League War. The last Perth expansion team, the Reds, did not play finals in any of their three seasons, the best of those an 11th-placed finish in 1995 that ended with a respectable 50 per cent winning record. The statistics come after Wayne Bennett told AAP last month coaching an expansion team was one of rugby league's bigger challenges. NRL HQ considers the Dolphins expansion project a big success for its nationwide fan community and ability to challenge the Broncos for airtime in rugby league heartland Brisbane. But even then, master coach Bennett did not lead the team to finals in their first two years, and the team sits outside the top eight at the halfway mark of their third campaign. "(Coaching an expansion team) sounds like a lot of fun but it can be a journey to nowhere," South Sydney coach Bennett told AAP last month. "It's an extremely tough gig and it's not something I would recommend for anyone to take up." EXPANSION TEAMS THAT PLAYED FINALS IN THEIR FIRST TWO SEASONS:- Brisbane Broncos: 7th (1988), 6th^ (1989) Melbourne Storm: 3rd^ (1998), 3rd^ (1999) EXPANSION TEAMS THAT MISSED FINALS IN THEIR FIRST TWO SEASONS Canberra Raiders: 14th* (1982), 10th (1983) Illawarra Steelers: 13th (1982), 12th (1983) Newcastle Knights: 14th (1988), 7th (1989) Gold Coast/Tweed Heads Giants: 15th (1988), 13th (1989) South Queensland Crushers: 16th (1995), 20th* (1996) Western Reds: 11th (1995), 16th (1996) North Queensland Cowboys: 20th* (1995), 17th (1996) The Warriors: 10th (1995), 11th (1996) Adelaide Rams: 9th (1997, Super League), 17th (1998) Hunter Mariners: 6th (1997, Super League), N/A (1998) Gold Coast Titans: 12th (2007), 13th (2008) The Dolphins: 13th (2023), 10th (2024) ^denotes the team played finals *denotes the team finished last Mal Meninga has a mighty task to make the Perth Bears competitive from the outset as history paints a bleak picture of the NRL's expansion teams in their early years. The NRL is poised to unveil Meninga as the Bears' head coach this week, with the rugby league legend expected to relinquish his post in charge of the Australian national team to take the helm in 2027. The nine-time State of Origin series-winning coach is understood to have beaten South Sydney great Sam Burgess and former Parramatta boss Brad Arthur to the role, his first in charge of a club since 2001. The appointment of household name Meninga is expected to help generate big interest in the AFL-mad city, which has not had a team since the Western Reds folded in 1997. But a tough task looms for Meninga amid the excitement of the Bears' return to the NRL, 25 years after their Northern Eagles merger with Manly collapsed. Some 14 expansion teams have joined the NRL and its predecessors since 1982, when the league first began to expand out of Sydney. Only two of those teams, the Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm, played finals in their first two seasons. Even then, the Broncos only made it to a play-off game to reach the official post-season in 1989, losing that match to Cronulla. Among the 12 remaining teams, only one - the Auckland Warriors of 1995 - had a winning record in either of their first two seasons, while three picked up the wooden spoon in the same time-frame. Only six of the 12 remaining are still in the league in their current format, the vast majority of others folding in the aftermath of the 1997 Super League War. The last Perth expansion team, the Reds, did not play finals in any of their three seasons, the best of those an 11th-placed finish in 1995 that ended with a respectable 50 per cent winning record. The statistics come after Wayne Bennett told AAP last month coaching an expansion team was one of rugby league's bigger challenges. NRL HQ considers the Dolphins expansion project a big success for its nationwide fan community and ability to challenge the Broncos for airtime in rugby league heartland Brisbane. But even then, master coach Bennett did not lead the team to finals in their first two years, and the team sits outside the top eight at the halfway mark of their third campaign. "(Coaching an expansion team) sounds like a lot of fun but it can be a journey to nowhere," South Sydney coach Bennett told AAP last month. "It's an extremely tough gig and it's not something I would recommend for anyone to take up." EXPANSION TEAMS THAT PLAYED FINALS IN THEIR FIRST TWO SEASONS:- Brisbane Broncos: 7th (1988), 6th^ (1989) Melbourne Storm: 3rd^ (1998), 3rd^ (1999) EXPANSION TEAMS THAT MISSED FINALS IN THEIR FIRST TWO SEASONS Canberra Raiders: 14th* (1982), 10th (1983) Illawarra Steelers: 13th (1982), 12th (1983) Newcastle Knights: 14th (1988), 7th (1989) Gold Coast/Tweed Heads Giants: 15th (1988), 13th (1989) South Queensland Crushers: 16th (1995), 20th* (1996) Western Reds: 11th (1995), 16th (1996) North Queensland Cowboys: 20th* (1995), 17th (1996) The Warriors: 10th (1995), 11th (1996) Adelaide Rams: 9th (1997, Super League), 17th (1998) Hunter Mariners: 6th (1997, Super League), N/A (1998) Gold Coast Titans: 12th (2007), 13th (2008) The Dolphins: 13th (2023), 10th (2024) ^denotes the team played finals *denotes the team finished last Mal Meninga has a mighty task to make the Perth Bears competitive from the outset as history paints a bleak picture of the NRL's expansion teams in their early years. The NRL is poised to unveil Meninga as the Bears' head coach this week, with the rugby league legend expected to relinquish his post in charge of the Australian national team to take the helm in 2027. The nine-time State of Origin series-winning coach is understood to have beaten South Sydney great Sam Burgess and former Parramatta boss Brad Arthur to the role, his first in charge of a club since 2001. The appointment of household name Meninga is expected to help generate big interest in the AFL-mad city, which has not had a team since the Western Reds folded in 1997. But a tough task looms for Meninga amid the excitement of the Bears' return to the NRL, 25 years after their Northern Eagles merger with Manly collapsed. Some 14 expansion teams have joined the NRL and its predecessors since 1982, when the league first began to expand out of Sydney. Only two of those teams, the Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm, played finals in their first two seasons. Even then, the Broncos only made it to a play-off game to reach the official post-season in 1989, losing that match to Cronulla. Among the 12 remaining teams, only one - the Auckland Warriors of 1995 - had a winning record in either of their first two seasons, while three picked up the wooden spoon in the same time-frame. Only six of the 12 remaining are still in the league in their current format, the vast majority of others folding in the aftermath of the 1997 Super League War. The last Perth expansion team, the Reds, did not play finals in any of their three seasons, the best of those an 11th-placed finish in 1995 that ended with a respectable 50 per cent winning record. The statistics come after Wayne Bennett told AAP last month coaching an expansion team was one of rugby league's bigger challenges. NRL HQ considers the Dolphins expansion project a big success for its nationwide fan community and ability to challenge the Broncos for airtime in rugby league heartland Brisbane. But even then, master coach Bennett did not lead the team to finals in their first two years, and the team sits outside the top eight at the halfway mark of their third campaign. "(Coaching an expansion team) sounds like a lot of fun but it can be a journey to nowhere," South Sydney coach Bennett told AAP last month. "It's an extremely tough gig and it's not something I would recommend for anyone to take up." EXPANSION TEAMS THAT PLAYED FINALS IN THEIR FIRST TWO SEASONS:- Brisbane Broncos: 7th (1988), 6th^ (1989) Melbourne Storm: 3rd^ (1998), 3rd^ (1999) EXPANSION TEAMS THAT MISSED FINALS IN THEIR FIRST TWO SEASONS Canberra Raiders: 14th* (1982), 10th (1983) Illawarra Steelers: 13th (1982), 12th (1983) Newcastle Knights: 14th (1988), 7th (1989) Gold Coast/Tweed Heads Giants: 15th (1988), 13th (1989) South Queensland Crushers: 16th (1995), 20th* (1996) Western Reds: 11th (1995), 16th (1996) North Queensland Cowboys: 20th* (1995), 17th (1996) The Warriors: 10th (1995), 11th (1996) Adelaide Rams: 9th (1997, Super League), 17th (1998) Hunter Mariners: 6th (1997, Super League), N/A (1998) Gold Coast Titans: 12th (2007), 13th (2008) The Dolphins: 13th (2023), 10th (2024) ^denotes the team played finals *denotes the team finished last
News.com.au
9 hours ago
- News.com.au
Queensland Reds searching for key to Super Rugby Pacific finals success in New Zealand
The Reds must beat one of Super Rugby Pacific's top-four teams for the first time this season on Friday night in Christchurch if they are to avoid being knocked out in the first week of the finals series for the fourth successive year. A Queensland team that finished fifth on the ladder meets the second-placed Crusaders, who will end the Reds' season with a win at Apollo Projects Stadium. The two teams met at the same venue at the same stage of the finals series in 2022, with the Crusaders winning 37-15. Queensland's trend of losing in New Zealand in week one of the finals was to continue in 2023 and 2024, with successive losses to the Chiefs. 'We've had a number of quarter-finals here in the last couple years ago, so we know what it's going to be like,' Reds captain Tate McDermott said on Thursday. 'We know that the crowd and weather might not be on our side, but it's a really exciting challenge for this group, particularly after the disappointment of last year's quarter-final.' Tomorrow, we go ðŸ�¨ — Queensland Reds (@Reds_Rugby) June 5, 2025 The Reds were beaten 43-21 by the Chiefs in Hamilton at the same stage last season, with the game as good as over in less than 25 minutes after the hosts scored four unanswered tries. 'You've obviously got to start fast and if you don't start fast, you've got to stay in the grind which we didn't and found ourselves down four tries,' McDermott said. 'It's all about momentum (on Friday) night. We've got to make sure that first of all, we try to get that momentum, and you can do that through a number of ways, but then if we don't have the momentum, we use our defence to get the momentum back. 'We haven't iced those big moments when we've been in the lead in a couple of quarter-finals, just taking our foot off a little bit. and we can't do that.' The Reds announced on Thursday that McDermott's fellow halfback Kalani Thomas had signed a new two-year deal with Queensland. 'Being around home in a good environment and playing for a team I love, I didn't want to leave,' said 23-year-old Thomas, who will come off the bench on Friday night. 'I had a couple of options to consider but I want to commit in Australia, especially with the World Cup coming up in 2027. 'My ultimate goal is to play for the Wallabies. I may or may not. but I'll know I've given it my all.'
