Bellamy 'won't expect miracles' from weakened Storm
The Storm and North Queensland will be without a combined total of nine State of Origin representatives for Saturday's clash, the most for any game this weekend.
Covering for the absences and injuries in the outside backs, Melbourne have been forced to name Joe Chan to play centre for the first time in his NRL career.
Elsewhere, Penrith junior Ativalu Lisati has been named for only his third game, while journeyman winger Kane Bradley comes in for his second game of the year.
"You don't expect miracles from them," Bellamy said of the reinforcements.
"But they've been training with us all year, we haven't got anyone in over the last few weeks.
"It (the Origin period) is always tough but it's tough for a lot of teams."
But there is a silver lining in the NRL comeback of Pezet, who had been earmarked as the Storm's next halfback before enduring more than a year of knee injury hell.
The playmaker was last seen in the NRL in round three last year, rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament playing reserve grade a month later.
Some 336 days later in March, Gosford-born Pezet returned to the field for feeder side North Sydney, only to injure the same knee and book in for more surgery.
But Pezet has since made it through two games of NSW Cup and will start on Bellamy's bench after making it through captain's run in Townsville.
"There's some guys that are going to get a chance tomorrow, a chance to impress and a chance to play a bit of first grade," Bellamy said.
"Hopefully they'll grab that with both hands."
The Cowboys will need to forge on without Murray Taulagi, who has failed to pull up from a minor knee injury suffered in last week's win over Gold Coast.
Braidon Burns will replace Taulagi on the wing but the club expects to have the former Queensland representative back for next week's clash with Canterbury.
"We named him this week in the thought he might improve but he tried to get some running done on Thursday and was no good," said North Queensland coach Todd Payten.
Craig Bellamy is not expecting miracles from an understrength Melbourne, but luckless Jonah Pezet could be forgiven for thinking his NRL comeback is one.
The Storm and North Queensland will be without a combined total of nine State of Origin representatives for Saturday's clash, the most for any game this weekend.
Covering for the absences and injuries in the outside backs, Melbourne have been forced to name Joe Chan to play centre for the first time in his NRL career.
Elsewhere, Penrith junior Ativalu Lisati has been named for only his third game, while journeyman winger Kane Bradley comes in for his second game of the year.
"You don't expect miracles from them," Bellamy said of the reinforcements.
"But they've been training with us all year, we haven't got anyone in over the last few weeks.
"It (the Origin period) is always tough but it's tough for a lot of teams."
But there is a silver lining in the NRL comeback of Pezet, who had been earmarked as the Storm's next halfback before enduring more than a year of knee injury hell.
The playmaker was last seen in the NRL in round three last year, rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament playing reserve grade a month later.
Some 336 days later in March, Gosford-born Pezet returned to the field for feeder side North Sydney, only to injure the same knee and book in for more surgery.
But Pezet has since made it through two games of NSW Cup and will start on Bellamy's bench after making it through captain's run in Townsville.
"There's some guys that are going to get a chance tomorrow, a chance to impress and a chance to play a bit of first grade," Bellamy said.
"Hopefully they'll grab that with both hands."
The Cowboys will need to forge on without Murray Taulagi, who has failed to pull up from a minor knee injury suffered in last week's win over Gold Coast.
Braidon Burns will replace Taulagi on the wing but the club expects to have the former Queensland representative back for next week's clash with Canterbury.
"We named him this week in the thought he might improve but he tried to get some running done on Thursday and was no good," said North Queensland coach Todd Payten.
Craig Bellamy is not expecting miracles from an understrength Melbourne, but luckless Jonah Pezet could be forgiven for thinking his NRL comeback is one.
The Storm and North Queensland will be without a combined total of nine State of Origin representatives for Saturday's clash, the most for any game this weekend.
Covering for the absences and injuries in the outside backs, Melbourne have been forced to name Joe Chan to play centre for the first time in his NRL career.
Elsewhere, Penrith junior Ativalu Lisati has been named for only his third game, while journeyman winger Kane Bradley comes in for his second game of the year.
"You don't expect miracles from them," Bellamy said of the reinforcements.
"But they've been training with us all year, we haven't got anyone in over the last few weeks.
"It (the Origin period) is always tough but it's tough for a lot of teams."
But there is a silver lining in the NRL comeback of Pezet, who had been earmarked as the Storm's next halfback before enduring more than a year of knee injury hell.
The playmaker was last seen in the NRL in round three last year, rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament playing reserve grade a month later.
Some 336 days later in March, Gosford-born Pezet returned to the field for feeder side North Sydney, only to injure the same knee and book in for more surgery.
But Pezet has since made it through two games of NSW Cup and will start on Bellamy's bench after making it through captain's run in Townsville.
"There's some guys that are going to get a chance tomorrow, a chance to impress and a chance to play a bit of first grade," Bellamy said.
"Hopefully they'll grab that with both hands."
The Cowboys will need to forge on without Murray Taulagi, who has failed to pull up from a minor knee injury suffered in last week's win over Gold Coast.
Braidon Burns will replace Taulagi on the wing but the club expects to have the former Queensland representative back for next week's clash with Canterbury.
"We named him this week in the thought he might improve but he tried to get some running done on Thursday and was no good," said North Queensland coach Todd Payten.
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The Advertiser
43 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Novocastrian dreaming of shot at NRL glory he missed out on at Penrith
Zac Hosking is finding it hard not to dream of achieving what he missed out on at Penrith - playing in a grand final. The back-rower is part of a Canberra side who were top of the table prior to Canterbury's clash with Brisbane on Friday night. It's a familiar place on the ladder for Hosking from his time at Penrith, when the Panthers led the 2023 competition for much of the year, before claiming a minor-major premiership double. After making his NRL debut and playing four games with Brisbane the season prior, Hosking was a key part of Penrith's 2023 campaign, playing in all but four games of the regular season, and in a qualifying final. But he was dropped for Penrith's last two games - a preliminary final and the grand final. "Absolutely," Hosking said of whether he was dreaming of a run to this year's decider. "It really hurt that year. "I feel like this year I've got another crack at it, hopefully." The Raiders, who host the Dragons on Saturday night, led the NRL after 17 rounds - winning 13 of their first 16 games. With a favourable draw on the run home, they are a genuine chance of winning their first minor premiership since 1990. If they do finish first, or even in the top four, history says they will have a much better chance of claiming the title than if they ran fifth to eighth. No team has won the competition from outside the top four in the NRL era, nor since 1995. "It's been a great season so far," Hosking said, speaking to the Newcastle Herald after Canberra's 22-18 win over the Knights. "We're a different side to what we were last year. "Those sorts of games, we probably end up losing those ones [last year], but we keep finding a way to win. "Sticky [Canberra coach Ricky Stuart] instilled a lot of stuff into us in the pre-season over summer, and that's really carried into the season so far. Everyone who has come in has done a really good job. "Everyone is just pulling their weight at the moment, we're not relying on one person, and I think that is the difference." A Central Newcastle junior, Hosking was a two-time NSW Cup player of the year at the Knights before departing in late 2021 for a train-and-trial opportunity with Brisbane. He joined the Raiders after only one year at Penrith, who reluctantly let him go, and has had a mixed couple of campaigns in the nation's capital. Last season, he started the year so well he was considered one of, if not the, form players in the NRL. But a shoulder injury ruled him out for most of the year, Hosking returning late in the campaign to make eight appearances overall. This year, the 28-year-old has played in 12 of Canberra's 13 games, finding his feet again after a string of injuries. "I had never really missed two or three weeks of footy ... before I got to Canberra, and then it was just one thing after the next. I was really unlucky," he said. "After the shoulder, it was the calf just before [round one in] Vegas, and then I broke my hand in round two ... After that third one, I got told they come in threes, so no more after that. But since then, I've been really healthy and loving playing week-to-week." Hosking may have only made 45 NRL appearances, but he is in Canberra's leadership group and relishes being a senior player. "I took a while to get to the NRL, but once I got there I haven't really left," he said. "What I lack in NRL experience, I make up for in life experience in other ways. I feel like I've moved into that leadership space, and I love that sort of role. It will be one I'll have to keep working on next year when we lose guys like Jamal [Fogarty]." Hosking could be forgiven for pondering his Penrith departure after they went on to win a fourth consecutive premiership last season, but he now finds himself in a side that looks a genuine title contender. When he signed with Canberra, whilst they were a solid team - finishing eighth in 2023 - they looked well away from where they are now. Some pundits even tipped them for the wooden-spoon this season. "I didn't know what to expect, but I knew the opportunity was really good, and the group was really good," Hosking said. "If we got it right, we could do something like this. "We've had those conversations that we're brave enough to think we can go all the way, but as cliche as it sounds, we really are taking it one game at a time. "We've set ourselves up for a good end of season, it's just about winning the games that people expect us to win." Zac Hosking is finding it hard not to dream of achieving what he missed out on at Penrith - playing in a grand final. The back-rower is part of a Canberra side who were top of the table prior to Canterbury's clash with Brisbane on Friday night. It's a familiar place on the ladder for Hosking from his time at Penrith, when the Panthers led the 2023 competition for much of the year, before claiming a minor-major premiership double. After making his NRL debut and playing four games with Brisbane the season prior, Hosking was a key part of Penrith's 2023 campaign, playing in all but four games of the regular season, and in a qualifying final. But he was dropped for Penrith's last two games - a preliminary final and the grand final. "Absolutely," Hosking said of whether he was dreaming of a run to this year's decider. "It really hurt that year. "I feel like this year I've got another crack at it, hopefully." The Raiders, who host the Dragons on Saturday night, led the NRL after 17 rounds - winning 13 of their first 16 games. With a favourable draw on the run home, they are a genuine chance of winning their first minor premiership since 1990. If they do finish first, or even in the top four, history says they will have a much better chance of claiming the title than if they ran fifth to eighth. No team has won the competition from outside the top four in the NRL era, nor since 1995. "It's been a great season so far," Hosking said, speaking to the Newcastle Herald after Canberra's 22-18 win over the Knights. "We're a different side to what we were last year. "Those sorts of games, we probably end up losing those ones [last year], but we keep finding a way to win. "Sticky [Canberra coach Ricky Stuart] instilled a lot of stuff into us in the pre-season over summer, and that's really carried into the season so far. Everyone who has come in has done a really good job. "Everyone is just pulling their weight at the moment, we're not relying on one person, and I think that is the difference." A Central Newcastle junior, Hosking was a two-time NSW Cup player of the year at the Knights before departing in late 2021 for a train-and-trial opportunity with Brisbane. He joined the Raiders after only one year at Penrith, who reluctantly let him go, and has had a mixed couple of campaigns in the nation's capital. Last season, he started the year so well he was considered one of, if not the, form players in the NRL. But a shoulder injury ruled him out for most of the year, Hosking returning late in the campaign to make eight appearances overall. This year, the 28-year-old has played in 12 of Canberra's 13 games, finding his feet again after a string of injuries. "I had never really missed two or three weeks of footy ... before I got to Canberra, and then it was just one thing after the next. I was really unlucky," he said. "After the shoulder, it was the calf just before [round one in] Vegas, and then I broke my hand in round two ... After that third one, I got told they come in threes, so no more after that. But since then, I've been really healthy and loving playing week-to-week." Hosking may have only made 45 NRL appearances, but he is in Canberra's leadership group and relishes being a senior player. "I took a while to get to the NRL, but once I got there I haven't really left," he said. "What I lack in NRL experience, I make up for in life experience in other ways. I feel like I've moved into that leadership space, and I love that sort of role. It will be one I'll have to keep working on next year when we lose guys like Jamal [Fogarty]." Hosking could be forgiven for pondering his Penrith departure after they went on to win a fourth consecutive premiership last season, but he now finds himself in a side that looks a genuine title contender. When he signed with Canberra, whilst they were a solid team - finishing eighth in 2023 - they looked well away from where they are now. Some pundits even tipped them for the wooden-spoon this season. "I didn't know what to expect, but I knew the opportunity was really good, and the group was really good," Hosking said. "If we got it right, we could do something like this. "We've had those conversations that we're brave enough to think we can go all the way, but as cliche as it sounds, we really are taking it one game at a time. "We've set ourselves up for a good end of season, it's just about winning the games that people expect us to win." Zac Hosking is finding it hard not to dream of achieving what he missed out on at Penrith - playing in a grand final. The back-rower is part of a Canberra side who were top of the table prior to Canterbury's clash with Brisbane on Friday night. It's a familiar place on the ladder for Hosking from his time at Penrith, when the Panthers led the 2023 competition for much of the year, before claiming a minor-major premiership double. After making his NRL debut and playing four games with Brisbane the season prior, Hosking was a key part of Penrith's 2023 campaign, playing in all but four games of the regular season, and in a qualifying final. But he was dropped for Penrith's last two games - a preliminary final and the grand final. "Absolutely," Hosking said of whether he was dreaming of a run to this year's decider. "It really hurt that year. "I feel like this year I've got another crack at it, hopefully." The Raiders, who host the Dragons on Saturday night, led the NRL after 17 rounds - winning 13 of their first 16 games. With a favourable draw on the run home, they are a genuine chance of winning their first minor premiership since 1990. If they do finish first, or even in the top four, history says they will have a much better chance of claiming the title than if they ran fifth to eighth. No team has won the competition from outside the top four in the NRL era, nor since 1995. "It's been a great season so far," Hosking said, speaking to the Newcastle Herald after Canberra's 22-18 win over the Knights. "We're a different side to what we were last year. "Those sorts of games, we probably end up losing those ones [last year], but we keep finding a way to win. "Sticky [Canberra coach Ricky Stuart] instilled a lot of stuff into us in the pre-season over summer, and that's really carried into the season so far. Everyone who has come in has done a really good job. "Everyone is just pulling their weight at the moment, we're not relying on one person, and I think that is the difference." A Central Newcastle junior, Hosking was a two-time NSW Cup player of the year at the Knights before departing in late 2021 for a train-and-trial opportunity with Brisbane. He joined the Raiders after only one year at Penrith, who reluctantly let him go, and has had a mixed couple of campaigns in the nation's capital. Last season, he started the year so well he was considered one of, if not the, form players in the NRL. But a shoulder injury ruled him out for most of the year, Hosking returning late in the campaign to make eight appearances overall. This year, the 28-year-old has played in 12 of Canberra's 13 games, finding his feet again after a string of injuries. "I had never really missed two or three weeks of footy ... before I got to Canberra, and then it was just one thing after the next. I was really unlucky," he said. "After the shoulder, it was the calf just before [round one in] Vegas, and then I broke my hand in round two ... After that third one, I got told they come in threes, so no more after that. But since then, I've been really healthy and loving playing week-to-week." Hosking may have only made 45 NRL appearances, but he is in Canberra's leadership group and relishes being a senior player. "I took a while to get to the NRL, but once I got there I haven't really left," he said. "What I lack in NRL experience, I make up for in life experience in other ways. I feel like I've moved into that leadership space, and I love that sort of role. It will be one I'll have to keep working on next year when we lose guys like Jamal [Fogarty]." Hosking could be forgiven for pondering his Penrith departure after they went on to win a fourth consecutive premiership last season, but he now finds himself in a side that looks a genuine title contender. When he signed with Canberra, whilst they were a solid team - finishing eighth in 2023 - they looked well away from where they are now. Some pundits even tipped them for the wooden-spoon this season. "I didn't know what to expect, but I knew the opportunity was really good, and the group was really good," Hosking said. "If we got it right, we could do something like this. "We've had those conversations that we're brave enough to think we can go all the way, but as cliche as it sounds, we really are taking it one game at a time. "We've set ourselves up for a good end of season, it's just about winning the games that people expect us to win." Zac Hosking is finding it hard not to dream of achieving what he missed out on at Penrith - playing in a grand final. The back-rower is part of a Canberra side who were top of the table prior to Canterbury's clash with Brisbane on Friday night. It's a familiar place on the ladder for Hosking from his time at Penrith, when the Panthers led the 2023 competition for much of the year, before claiming a minor-major premiership double. After making his NRL debut and playing four games with Brisbane the season prior, Hosking was a key part of Penrith's 2023 campaign, playing in all but four games of the regular season, and in a qualifying final. But he was dropped for Penrith's last two games - a preliminary final and the grand final. "Absolutely," Hosking said of whether he was dreaming of a run to this year's decider. "It really hurt that year. "I feel like this year I've got another crack at it, hopefully." The Raiders, who host the Dragons on Saturday night, led the NRL after 17 rounds - winning 13 of their first 16 games. With a favourable draw on the run home, they are a genuine chance of winning their first minor premiership since 1990. If they do finish first, or even in the top four, history says they will have a much better chance of claiming the title than if they ran fifth to eighth. No team has won the competition from outside the top four in the NRL era, nor since 1995. "It's been a great season so far," Hosking said, speaking to the Newcastle Herald after Canberra's 22-18 win over the Knights. "We're a different side to what we were last year. "Those sorts of games, we probably end up losing those ones [last year], but we keep finding a way to win. "Sticky [Canberra coach Ricky Stuart] instilled a lot of stuff into us in the pre-season over summer, and that's really carried into the season so far. Everyone who has come in has done a really good job. "Everyone is just pulling their weight at the moment, we're not relying on one person, and I think that is the difference." A Central Newcastle junior, Hosking was a two-time NSW Cup player of the year at the Knights before departing in late 2021 for a train-and-trial opportunity with Brisbane. He joined the Raiders after only one year at Penrith, who reluctantly let him go, and has had a mixed couple of campaigns in the nation's capital. Last season, he started the year so well he was considered one of, if not the, form players in the NRL. But a shoulder injury ruled him out for most of the year, Hosking returning late in the campaign to make eight appearances overall. This year, the 28-year-old has played in 12 of Canberra's 13 games, finding his feet again after a string of injuries. "I had never really missed two or three weeks of footy ... before I got to Canberra, and then it was just one thing after the next. I was really unlucky," he said. "After the shoulder, it was the calf just before [round one in] Vegas, and then I broke my hand in round two ... After that third one, I got told they come in threes, so no more after that. But since then, I've been really healthy and loving playing week-to-week." Hosking may have only made 45 NRL appearances, but he is in Canberra's leadership group and relishes being a senior player. "I took a while to get to the NRL, but once I got there I haven't really left," he said. "What I lack in NRL experience, I make up for in life experience in other ways. I feel like I've moved into that leadership space, and I love that sort of role. It will be one I'll have to keep working on next year when we lose guys like Jamal [Fogarty]." Hosking could be forgiven for pondering his Penrith departure after they went on to win a fourth consecutive premiership last season, but he now finds himself in a side that looks a genuine title contender. When he signed with Canberra, whilst they were a solid team - finishing eighth in 2023 - they looked well away from where they are now. Some pundits even tipped them for the wooden-spoon this season. "I didn't know what to expect, but I knew the opportunity was really good, and the group was really good," Hosking said. "If we got it right, we could do something like this. "We've had those conversations that we're brave enough to think we can go all the way, but as cliche as it sounds, we really are taking it one game at a time. "We've set ourselves up for a good end of season, it's just about winning the games that people expect us to win."
The Advertiser
44 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
How a 6am bus ride changed Hugo Savala's career path
It's the 80 minutes of football on four hours of sleep that turned Hugo Savala from a bench utility into the Sydney Roosters' in-form starting half. Fresh off a 15-minute spell against Gold Coast in March that netted two touches for one error, Savala was told a bus was leaving for Canberra at 6am the next morning. On it, there was a spot for him if he wanted it. And a chance to play a second game in the space of 18 hours for the Roosters while playing halfback in reserve grade. "I reckon I had about four hours sleep," Savala told AAP. "That did play in the back of my mind, but that hunger inside me just wanted to play another game. "At that time I had only played a handful of NRL games on 10-15 minute spells "And there is nothing worse than waiting a whole week when you come off a bad game. It was really good, it tested me a little bit." Savala passed with flying colours. The 23-year-old took the chance, set up two tries in a Roosters win and was called up to replace Chad Townsend at halfback in the NRL a fortnight later. "From that moment I went (to Canberra), I put my foot down and really concentrated on my football and being a halfback," Savala said. "Because I know I am a halfback, I've been a halfback all through my juniors and growing up. "No.7 for the Roosters has been my dream. "So it really boosted my confidence when the next week I was starting halfback in the NRL. And it's been good since." With Savala starting the Roosters have won six from nine, going from near the bottom of the ladder to in the top eight ahead of Sunday's clash with Wests Tigers. His kicking has given them much-needed control, while a new-look free-flowing next generation of Roosters have averaged 31.8 points per match since Anzac Day. "There has always been a Roosters type of football, the way they have played for the past 10 years," Savala said. "We've got a young group coming through, we do play our style of football. It's still the Roosters brand, we're just trying to mould it into the way we play. "We're certainly starting to find our rhythm. It's not even expansive football, it's just moving and playing for each other." Coach Trent Robinson showed his hand last month by naming Savala to partner Sam Walker on the latter's aborted return from injury, ahead of Sandon Smith. The obvious sideshow remains the expected signing of veteran half Daly Cherry-Evans for next year, something Savala insists he has not let cloud his mind. "There is obviously all that talk in the media, but I really am just focusing on my football this year," he said. "Play my best football with the team and win as many games as we can going into the finals. That's all I can do." It's the 80 minutes of football on four hours of sleep that turned Hugo Savala from a bench utility into the Sydney Roosters' in-form starting half. Fresh off a 15-minute spell against Gold Coast in March that netted two touches for one error, Savala was told a bus was leaving for Canberra at 6am the next morning. On it, there was a spot for him if he wanted it. And a chance to play a second game in the space of 18 hours for the Roosters while playing halfback in reserve grade. "I reckon I had about four hours sleep," Savala told AAP. "That did play in the back of my mind, but that hunger inside me just wanted to play another game. "At that time I had only played a handful of NRL games on 10-15 minute spells "And there is nothing worse than waiting a whole week when you come off a bad game. It was really good, it tested me a little bit." Savala passed with flying colours. The 23-year-old took the chance, set up two tries in a Roosters win and was called up to replace Chad Townsend at halfback in the NRL a fortnight later. "From that moment I went (to Canberra), I put my foot down and really concentrated on my football and being a halfback," Savala said. "Because I know I am a halfback, I've been a halfback all through my juniors and growing up. "No.7 for the Roosters has been my dream. "So it really boosted my confidence when the next week I was starting halfback in the NRL. And it's been good since." With Savala starting the Roosters have won six from nine, going from near the bottom of the ladder to in the top eight ahead of Sunday's clash with Wests Tigers. His kicking has given them much-needed control, while a new-look free-flowing next generation of Roosters have averaged 31.8 points per match since Anzac Day. "There has always been a Roosters type of football, the way they have played for the past 10 years," Savala said. "We've got a young group coming through, we do play our style of football. It's still the Roosters brand, we're just trying to mould it into the way we play. "We're certainly starting to find our rhythm. It's not even expansive football, it's just moving and playing for each other." Coach Trent Robinson showed his hand last month by naming Savala to partner Sam Walker on the latter's aborted return from injury, ahead of Sandon Smith. The obvious sideshow remains the expected signing of veteran half Daly Cherry-Evans for next year, something Savala insists he has not let cloud his mind. "There is obviously all that talk in the media, but I really am just focusing on my football this year," he said. "Play my best football with the team and win as many games as we can going into the finals. That's all I can do." It's the 80 minutes of football on four hours of sleep that turned Hugo Savala from a bench utility into the Sydney Roosters' in-form starting half. Fresh off a 15-minute spell against Gold Coast in March that netted two touches for one error, Savala was told a bus was leaving for Canberra at 6am the next morning. On it, there was a spot for him if he wanted it. And a chance to play a second game in the space of 18 hours for the Roosters while playing halfback in reserve grade. "I reckon I had about four hours sleep," Savala told AAP. "That did play in the back of my mind, but that hunger inside me just wanted to play another game. "At that time I had only played a handful of NRL games on 10-15 minute spells "And there is nothing worse than waiting a whole week when you come off a bad game. It was really good, it tested me a little bit." Savala passed with flying colours. The 23-year-old took the chance, set up two tries in a Roosters win and was called up to replace Chad Townsend at halfback in the NRL a fortnight later. "From that moment I went (to Canberra), I put my foot down and really concentrated on my football and being a halfback," Savala said. "Because I know I am a halfback, I've been a halfback all through my juniors and growing up. "No.7 for the Roosters has been my dream. "So it really boosted my confidence when the next week I was starting halfback in the NRL. And it's been good since." With Savala starting the Roosters have won six from nine, going from near the bottom of the ladder to in the top eight ahead of Sunday's clash with Wests Tigers. His kicking has given them much-needed control, while a new-look free-flowing next generation of Roosters have averaged 31.8 points per match since Anzac Day. "There has always been a Roosters type of football, the way they have played for the past 10 years," Savala said. "We've got a young group coming through, we do play our style of football. It's still the Roosters brand, we're just trying to mould it into the way we play. "We're certainly starting to find our rhythm. It's not even expansive football, it's just moving and playing for each other." Coach Trent Robinson showed his hand last month by naming Savala to partner Sam Walker on the latter's aborted return from injury, ahead of Sandon Smith. The obvious sideshow remains the expected signing of veteran half Daly Cherry-Evans for next year, something Savala insists he has not let cloud his mind. "There is obviously all that talk in the media, but I really am just focusing on my football this year," he said. "Play my best football with the team and win as many games as we can going into the finals. That's all I can do."
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
Michael Voss makes ‘unusual' coaches box move, ‘horrible' Carlton leaves him on the brink
Michael Voss appeared to vacate his coaching duties in unusual scenes during Carlton's dismal 56-point loss to Collingwood at the MCG on Friday night. Collingwood were several classes above the Blues as the Pies claimed a 17.13 (115) to 8.11 (59) victory, their eighth win in a row. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. With Carlton's final hopes over, the question is now whether Voss can keep his job or if he will be sacked before he can even see out the season. Early in the first quarter when Collingwood had kicked the first two goals of the game, Voss was spotted sitting on the stairs in Carlton's coaching box, away from the head coach's usual position at the row of desks. 'Michael Voss sitting in the aisle is an unusual choice,' Fox Footy commentator Gerard Whateley said. Brownlow Medallist Dane Swan wrote on X: 'Voss surely can't see the whole ground sitting back row on the stairs against the wall. That is one strange spot for the head coach to be sitting.' Former St Kilda coach Grant Thomas said: 'Why is Vossy hiding in the back corner of the coaches box sitting on steps?' ABC Radio commentator Ben Cameron said the scenes in the coaches box made Voss look 'impotent'. Voss resumed his position in the coach's chair in the first half, but he could do little to stem the bleeding as Collingwood ran riot over Carlton. From an optics point of view, coaching from the stairs suggested Voss might have already checked out Carlton's horror season. Buddy Franklin claimed Voss wouldn't see out the season and he may well be proven right, depending on the decision of Carlton boss Graham Wright. Voss is contracted until the end of 2026 but after taking Carlton to a preliminary final in 2023, his side has stuttered and struggled to have a game plan. 'There was a sense of resignation, I thought, about this,' former Demons captain Garry Lyon said post-game on Fox Footy before vision was shown of incoming chief executive Wright in discussion with Blues powerbrokers in the rooms. 'They're in a situation where for the past three, four weeks they were the front-and-back-page story, and there was a stage there when Collingwood kicked eight goals in that third quarter and it looked like it was arguably going to be a 100-point (loss) and they were going to be (the story) again,' added Lyon. 'But in the end, I think it's kind of the result we expected coming in.' It was Carlton's 10th loss from 16 games this year as the Blues sit 11th on the ladder and 16 points behind eighth spot. Carlton's skill level was particularly poor — nine Blues players had kicking efficiency of less than 50 per cent. 'They are what they are, and they are a horrible kicking football side. Horrible. And that goes from the top down,' Lyon said. 'Adam Cerra was butchering the footy today … if you want to be an A-grade footballer, or you want to survive long enough to have a career in footy, you can't kick in the manner that they kick. 'And that becomes a list analysis decision that they're going to have to make.' Jordan Lewis added: 'It's a flow-on effect — how do you predict further afield if the kicks aren't hitting the target? You can't then make the next decision, so the flow-on effect is huge,' he said. 'I think the damning thing — the thing that we've shown time after time — is their midfield mix. They were just wiped off the park in terms of post-clearance stuff. 'They just can't spread, they can't link up, they can't kick, so there's so many parts of their game, at the moment, that aren't where they need to be to be a (good) AFL side.' Voss was circumspect post-game, saying: 'It's pretty clear we need to have come pretty important conversations. 'We let our club down tonight. We want our supporters to be proud of us and we didn't do that tonight … we can't tolerate that. That was a really poor performance.' For Collingwood, Nick Daicos had 36 disposals and a goal, and likely another three Brownlow votes, performance, as Collingwood boasted nine individual goalkickers. for the game. The Magpies are 14 points clear on top of the AFL ladder midway through round 17.
