
Titans in more pain with skipper out for a month
Captain and prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui will miss Saturday's away clash against the Warriors with a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury suffered in the 21-20 loss to Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.
The last-placed Titans are looking down the barrel of a third wooden spoon in their 18-year history and the loss of the Test and Queensland forward is the last thing they needed.
Prop Moeaki Fotuaika said it was up to his teammates to lift in Hasler's milestone game.
"I spoke to Tino this morning and he is in high spirits but obviously disappointed," Fotuaika said on Tuesday.
"He is our captain and he is a massive loss. A few of us are going to have to step up."
The Titans lost to the Tigers with 17 seconds remaining courtesy of an Adam Doueihi field goal after they led 20-16 in the 77th minute.
They played what Hasler called "dumb football" and paid the price.
"It was a tough one to take after we got so close. I thought we defended our tryline well but ill-discipline got us in the end," Fotuaika said.
"We take confidence out of it. We have just got to stick together. We are going to New Zealand where we will spend a couple of days together so it is a good time to regroup against the Warriors."
Video has circulated of Hasler giving his players a vitriolic dressing down in the sheds after the game, displeased with their attitude after throwing away the win.
Fotuaika was asked about the coach's spray and said it was understandable.
"Obviously it was disappointing getting so close," he said. "You can imagine what the feeling is in the sheds after a game like that."
Fotuaika was dropped from the Queensland side for the State of Origin decider, won 24-12 by the Maroons, after playing the opening two games of the series. It has been a roller coaster ride for the front-rower over the past six weeks.
"As much as it was disappointing missing out on game three it was probably a blessing in disguise for me," he said.
"I had a newborn a week before game one and that Origin period takes a lot out of you, travelling and being away from family.
"That week (of game three) was our bye week so I caught up with family and friends. I did go down to Sydney on the Wednesday night and to see them get the result was pleasing for me and added motivation for me to get back in that arena."
Gold Coast's quest to win coach Des Hasler's 500th NRL match as a mentor just got much harder.
Captain and prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui will miss Saturday's away clash against the Warriors with a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury suffered in the 21-20 loss to Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.
The last-placed Titans are looking down the barrel of a third wooden spoon in their 18-year history and the loss of the Test and Queensland forward is the last thing they needed.
Prop Moeaki Fotuaika said it was up to his teammates to lift in Hasler's milestone game.
"I spoke to Tino this morning and he is in high spirits but obviously disappointed," Fotuaika said on Tuesday.
"He is our captain and he is a massive loss. A few of us are going to have to step up."
The Titans lost to the Tigers with 17 seconds remaining courtesy of an Adam Doueihi field goal after they led 20-16 in the 77th minute.
They played what Hasler called "dumb football" and paid the price.
"It was a tough one to take after we got so close. I thought we defended our tryline well but ill-discipline got us in the end," Fotuaika said.
"We take confidence out of it. We have just got to stick together. We are going to New Zealand where we will spend a couple of days together so it is a good time to regroup against the Warriors."
Video has circulated of Hasler giving his players a vitriolic dressing down in the sheds after the game, displeased with their attitude after throwing away the win.
Fotuaika was asked about the coach's spray and said it was understandable.
"Obviously it was disappointing getting so close," he said. "You can imagine what the feeling is in the sheds after a game like that."
Fotuaika was dropped from the Queensland side for the State of Origin decider, won 24-12 by the Maroons, after playing the opening two games of the series. It has been a roller coaster ride for the front-rower over the past six weeks.
"As much as it was disappointing missing out on game three it was probably a blessing in disguise for me," he said.
"I had a newborn a week before game one and that Origin period takes a lot out of you, travelling and being away from family.
"That week (of game three) was our bye week so I caught up with family and friends. I did go down to Sydney on the Wednesday night and to see them get the result was pleasing for me and added motivation for me to get back in that arena."
Gold Coast's quest to win coach Des Hasler's 500th NRL match as a mentor just got much harder.
Captain and prop Tino Fa'asuamaleaui will miss Saturday's away clash against the Warriors with a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury suffered in the 21-20 loss to Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.
The last-placed Titans are looking down the barrel of a third wooden spoon in their 18-year history and the loss of the Test and Queensland forward is the last thing they needed.
Prop Moeaki Fotuaika said it was up to his teammates to lift in Hasler's milestone game.
"I spoke to Tino this morning and he is in high spirits but obviously disappointed," Fotuaika said on Tuesday.
"He is our captain and he is a massive loss. A few of us are going to have to step up."
The Titans lost to the Tigers with 17 seconds remaining courtesy of an Adam Doueihi field goal after they led 20-16 in the 77th minute.
They played what Hasler called "dumb football" and paid the price.
"It was a tough one to take after we got so close. I thought we defended our tryline well but ill-discipline got us in the end," Fotuaika said.
"We take confidence out of it. We have just got to stick together. We are going to New Zealand where we will spend a couple of days together so it is a good time to regroup against the Warriors."
Video has circulated of Hasler giving his players a vitriolic dressing down in the sheds after the game, displeased with their attitude after throwing away the win.
Fotuaika was asked about the coach's spray and said it was understandable.
"Obviously it was disappointing getting so close," he said. "You can imagine what the feeling is in the sheds after a game like that."
Fotuaika was dropped from the Queensland side for the State of Origin decider, won 24-12 by the Maroons, after playing the opening two games of the series. It has been a roller coaster ride for the front-rower over the past six weeks.
"As much as it was disappointing missing out on game three it was probably a blessing in disguise for me," he said.
"I had a newborn a week before game one and that Origin period takes a lot out of you, travelling and being away from family.
"That week (of game three) was our bye week so I caught up with family and friends. I did go down to Sydney on the Wednesday night and to see them get the result was pleasing for me and added motivation for me to get back in that arena."

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Sydney Morning Herald
a day ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Coaching may be next as Townsend bids farewell to 15-year career
'To be honest, there were aspects of it where it was hard and not hard,' he said. 'I feel like when you know, you know, and I feel like that my time is now. 'I've given this game everything I've had for the last 15 years, and I feel like I don't want to play any more next season, and that's a really comforting thought for me. 'I got told by an ex-teammate of mine that when you know, you know, and I'm very grateful that I'm in that position that I know.' Townsend said his plan is 'definitely to stay involved in the game', either in the media or as a coach. He had many fond memories and career highlights, but winning a premiership with the Sharks was the pinnacle. 'I grew up in the Shire,' he said. 'I was a Sharks fan. I had my Sharks flag on the hill. I got a photo of ET [Sharks legend Andrew Ettingshausen] signing a shirt of mine in the sheds.' Fonua-Blake had given up on Origin. Now there's a glimmer of hope He resigned himself long ago to never being able to play State of Origin, but if the goalposts were to shift suddenly, Addin Fonua-Blake would love to have a shot. Fonua-Blake, the Cronulla and Tongan international front-rower, is one of a handful of players likely to be impacted by a landmark ARL Commission proposal to change Origin eligibility rules. ARLC chairman Peter V'landys confirmed last week that he was considering an overhaul of Origin qualification criteria, specifically so that NSW and Queensland players have an opportunity to represent tier-one nations other than Australia. Under the current rules, players such as Jarome Luai, Stephen Crichton and Brian To'o are able to represent their states as well as playing internationally for a tier-two nation, in their case Samoa. Players are not permitted to play Origin if they align themselves with tier-one nations New Zealand and England. Fonua-Blake, who was born in Sydney and played his junior football with Mascot Jets, cost himself any chance of Origin selection when he accepted a position in New Zealand's 2017 World Cup squad, playing one game off the bench in a 74-6 hammering of Scotland. He has since changed his allegiance from the Kiwis to tier-two Tonga, whom he captained at the Pacific Championships last year. And while Fonua-Blake insists he has no regrets about the momentous decision he made as a 21-year-old, he would be open to the prospect of pulling on a sky-blue jersey. 'Oh look, at the moment if the opportunity comes along and I'm good enough to make the team, then yeah, obviously I'd welcome the idea,' he said. 'But right now, I'm just focused on the Sharks. Either way, if they keep the rules, change the rules, they'll do as they see fit. All that is outside my control.' Fonua-Blake is at peace with his Origin exclusion, saying: 'That ship sailed a long time ago for me, and I'm happy representing Tonga and playing for the Sharks.' But he admitted to being 'a bit jealous' every year when the interstate series kicked off. 'They're probably the biggest games on the calendar and you'd love to be a part of it,' he said. 'So yeah, like I said, if the opportunity came along, I wouldn't mind having to go in that arena and see how I go. We'll see what happens, I guess.' Loading Meanwhile, Fonua-Blake was confident an Achilles issue that hindered him during Cronulla's 14-12 win against South Sydney on Saturday was nothing to worry about. He still managed to carry the ball 162 metres and make 20 tackles in his 47 minutes on the field, helping Cronulla to post their third consecutive victory. 'It was an ugly win, but sometimes you've got to win ugly,' Fonua-Blake said. Dragons boss locked in for three more years as recruitment guru arrives Dan Walsh, Michael Chammas Dragons chairman Andrew Lancaster will continue in the role for another three years following changes to the St George Illawarra constitution aimed at providing further off-field stability at the joint-venture club. Lancaster's lengthy extension comes at a critical juncture for the club given last Friday's gallant loss to North Queensland has coach Shane Flanagan staring down a second successive bottom-eight finish, which would extend the Dragons' finals drought to seven seasons. Daniel Anderson starts as recruitment manager at St George Illawarra this week, having been lured from the Roosters, while chief executive Tim Watsford took charge of the club only in June. Lancaster's current three-year tenure was due to expire at the end of this season under terms agreed to following WIN Corporation's purchase of the Steelers' 50 per cent share in the club in 2018. The initial privatisation agreement stipulated a new chair every 12 months on a rotational basis. Between 2018 and 2022, Andrew Gordon, Brian Johnston, Craig Young and Lancaster served in the role, before club policy was changed to guarantee a minimum three-year term for each chair. A similar agreement has now been signed off by the St George Illawarra board. As a result, Lancaster – a member of the board at Nine Entertainment, publisher of this masthead, and WIN chief executive – is now set to remain at the Dragons helm until at least the end of 2028. On the field, Friday's defeat to the Cowboys was St George Illawarra's ninth by eight points or less this season. Had the Red V won half of those tight losses, they would be among the five-team log jam scrambling for a finals spot. Anderson will lead a revamped recruitment department at the club from Monday, with the Dragons in the market for star power up front and in the halves to complement a promising batch of emerging local juniors. NRL is Live and Free on Channel 9 & 9Now


The Advertiser
a day ago
- The Advertiser
Rogue AFL fixture looms as finals-deciding clash
With Gold Coast's postponed match against Essendon looming as an increasingly pivotal part of the AFL top-four race, an announcement on the timing of the rogue fixture is imminent. The opening-round clash on the Gold Coast was postponed because of Tropical Cyclone Alfred and rescheduled to the end of the season, rather than for either club's bye week. There have been reports the stray game could be played on the Wednesday between round 24 and the pre-finals bye. Now at the pointy end of the season, the Suns' and Bombers' vastly contrasting fortunes means the game could play a crucial role leading into what looms as Gold Coast's first finals series. The eighth-placed Suns (48 points) are four points ahead of the Western Bulldogs but four behind fourth-placed Geelong, who are on 52 points along with Hawthorn, GWS and Fremantle, but Gold Coast have a game in hand. The injury-ravaged 15th-placed Bombers are on an eight-game losing streak, and up against it to win another game this year. It means a likely - and potentially percentage-boosting - win for Gold Coast could be what launches the Suns into the top four. "That's the last fixture, so that's the final part of flexing the fixture," AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said on Tuesday. "So we're working through that at the moment, "I reckon we'll be making an announcement on that in the next week or so." Dillon was speaking ahead of the AFL's industry summit, which included representatives from all clubs, including Tasmania. He acknowledged the gulf in quality between the AFL's top nine and bottom nine this season, but considered it an anomaly. "There is a bit of a gap," he said. "But I think what's really pleasing for some is you look at the top eight or nine this year with four teams that have come from outside to inside. "You often get anomalous seasons. Last year, we were at 13 or 14 teams in it right to the end. This year's a little bit different "What we do have is an incredibly tight competition at the pointy end." The league has come under criticism for Essendon and Carlton continuing to play in prime timeslots despite their decline in fortunes. "Maybe this year's just a bit of an outlier in terms of the teams that were selected earlier on, some big Victorian teams who were in pretty solid form at the time the floating fixture was put in, that hasn't come to fruition," Dillon said. "But again, the games are still rating pretty well, they're still pretty well attended, but we'll take on board feedback from fans and broadcasters and our clubs as we look to the 2026 fixture." Dillon said the league needed to strike a balance between ensuring the fixture was flexible, while also looking after the fans. He was "really confident" the Tasmanian expansion club would be ready for the 2028 season, but stressed their licence was dependent on the building of the roofed 23,000-capacity stadium at Macquarie Point. With Gold Coast's postponed match against Essendon looming as an increasingly pivotal part of the AFL top-four race, an announcement on the timing of the rogue fixture is imminent. The opening-round clash on the Gold Coast was postponed because of Tropical Cyclone Alfred and rescheduled to the end of the season, rather than for either club's bye week. There have been reports the stray game could be played on the Wednesday between round 24 and the pre-finals bye. Now at the pointy end of the season, the Suns' and Bombers' vastly contrasting fortunes means the game could play a crucial role leading into what looms as Gold Coast's first finals series. The eighth-placed Suns (48 points) are four points ahead of the Western Bulldogs but four behind fourth-placed Geelong, who are on 52 points along with Hawthorn, GWS and Fremantle, but Gold Coast have a game in hand. The injury-ravaged 15th-placed Bombers are on an eight-game losing streak, and up against it to win another game this year. It means a likely - and potentially percentage-boosting - win for Gold Coast could be what launches the Suns into the top four. "That's the last fixture, so that's the final part of flexing the fixture," AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said on Tuesday. "So we're working through that at the moment, "I reckon we'll be making an announcement on that in the next week or so." Dillon was speaking ahead of the AFL's industry summit, which included representatives from all clubs, including Tasmania. He acknowledged the gulf in quality between the AFL's top nine and bottom nine this season, but considered it an anomaly. "There is a bit of a gap," he said. "But I think what's really pleasing for some is you look at the top eight or nine this year with four teams that have come from outside to inside. "You often get anomalous seasons. Last year, we were at 13 or 14 teams in it right to the end. This year's a little bit different "What we do have is an incredibly tight competition at the pointy end." The league has come under criticism for Essendon and Carlton continuing to play in prime timeslots despite their decline in fortunes. "Maybe this year's just a bit of an outlier in terms of the teams that were selected earlier on, some big Victorian teams who were in pretty solid form at the time the floating fixture was put in, that hasn't come to fruition," Dillon said. "But again, the games are still rating pretty well, they're still pretty well attended, but we'll take on board feedback from fans and broadcasters and our clubs as we look to the 2026 fixture." Dillon said the league needed to strike a balance between ensuring the fixture was flexible, while also looking after the fans. He was "really confident" the Tasmanian expansion club would be ready for the 2028 season, but stressed their licence was dependent on the building of the roofed 23,000-capacity stadium at Macquarie Point. With Gold Coast's postponed match against Essendon looming as an increasingly pivotal part of the AFL top-four race, an announcement on the timing of the rogue fixture is imminent. The opening-round clash on the Gold Coast was postponed because of Tropical Cyclone Alfred and rescheduled to the end of the season, rather than for either club's bye week. There have been reports the stray game could be played on the Wednesday between round 24 and the pre-finals bye. Now at the pointy end of the season, the Suns' and Bombers' vastly contrasting fortunes means the game could play a crucial role leading into what looms as Gold Coast's first finals series. The eighth-placed Suns (48 points) are four points ahead of the Western Bulldogs but four behind fourth-placed Geelong, who are on 52 points along with Hawthorn, GWS and Fremantle, but Gold Coast have a game in hand. The injury-ravaged 15th-placed Bombers are on an eight-game losing streak, and up against it to win another game this year. It means a likely - and potentially percentage-boosting - win for Gold Coast could be what launches the Suns into the top four. "That's the last fixture, so that's the final part of flexing the fixture," AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said on Tuesday. "So we're working through that at the moment, "I reckon we'll be making an announcement on that in the next week or so." Dillon was speaking ahead of the AFL's industry summit, which included representatives from all clubs, including Tasmania. He acknowledged the gulf in quality between the AFL's top nine and bottom nine this season, but considered it an anomaly. "There is a bit of a gap," he said. "But I think what's really pleasing for some is you look at the top eight or nine this year with four teams that have come from outside to inside. "You often get anomalous seasons. Last year, we were at 13 or 14 teams in it right to the end. This year's a little bit different "What we do have is an incredibly tight competition at the pointy end." The league has come under criticism for Essendon and Carlton continuing to play in prime timeslots despite their decline in fortunes. "Maybe this year's just a bit of an outlier in terms of the teams that were selected earlier on, some big Victorian teams who were in pretty solid form at the time the floating fixture was put in, that hasn't come to fruition," Dillon said. "But again, the games are still rating pretty well, they're still pretty well attended, but we'll take on board feedback from fans and broadcasters and our clubs as we look to the 2026 fixture." Dillon said the league needed to strike a balance between ensuring the fixture was flexible, while also looking after the fans. He was "really confident" the Tasmanian expansion club would be ready for the 2028 season, but stressed their licence was dependent on the building of the roofed 23,000-capacity stadium at Macquarie Point.


The Advertiser
a day ago
- The Advertiser
Lions forced to 'face the music' before Magpies clash
Lachie Neale reckons it's sometimes best to quickly forget a bad performance. The Brisbane Lions' historic 66-point QClash loss to Gold Coast on Saturday was not one of those times. "We had to face the music," the co-captain and midfield general said on Monday of their match review. "Hard to watch ... embarrassing clips that's not usual for us. "It's good to see some of that … sometimes you can brush over it but, at this time of year, a performance like that wasn't acceptable." Having won 12 of their last 13 encounters, Neale and his midfield group had the tables turned on them by Gold Coast's engine room. Matt Rowell had a career-high 37 touches, only one more than Neale. But the Suns' ball-winner had 15 clearances to Neale's three, a statistic summing up what was the Suns' biggest defeat of the Lions. The two-time Brownlow Medal-winner said "something mentally wasn't quite right" but insisted that wouldn't be the case against Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday. "Hard to put your finger on it; perhaps we got a bit comfortable ... maybe not prepared to go to footy war, roll up your sleeves," Neale said of a loss that snapped a four-game winning streak. "A bit of a kick in the teeth an as a midfield group certainly lowered our colours. "It's a great time for us to play (Collingwood); if we can bounce back and play our best it's going to be a great game. "I wish we were playing Thursday, rather than Saturday." The Lions dipped to third with the loss and have a tricky finish to the regular season with games against the top-placed Magpies, Sydney, Fremantle and Hawthorn. A draw with North Melbourne leaves Brisbane one-and-a-half wins clear of the eighth-placed Dockers in a crowded ladder. "It's very cliche but if you do look at the ladder you can get in your own head and think, we might win this one and lost that one, or win that one," Neale said of his decision not to over-analyse the scenario. "We finished fifth last year and were able to make a run. "We'll try and win out from here. Go into every week with a plan to win. "We'll keep doing that and where we end up we probably deserve and we'll have earned our spot." Lachie Neale reckons it's sometimes best to quickly forget a bad performance. The Brisbane Lions' historic 66-point QClash loss to Gold Coast on Saturday was not one of those times. "We had to face the music," the co-captain and midfield general said on Monday of their match review. "Hard to watch ... embarrassing clips that's not usual for us. "It's good to see some of that … sometimes you can brush over it but, at this time of year, a performance like that wasn't acceptable." Having won 12 of their last 13 encounters, Neale and his midfield group had the tables turned on them by Gold Coast's engine room. Matt Rowell had a career-high 37 touches, only one more than Neale. But the Suns' ball-winner had 15 clearances to Neale's three, a statistic summing up what was the Suns' biggest defeat of the Lions. The two-time Brownlow Medal-winner said "something mentally wasn't quite right" but insisted that wouldn't be the case against Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday. "Hard to put your finger on it; perhaps we got a bit comfortable ... maybe not prepared to go to footy war, roll up your sleeves," Neale said of a loss that snapped a four-game winning streak. "A bit of a kick in the teeth an as a midfield group certainly lowered our colours. "It's a great time for us to play (Collingwood); if we can bounce back and play our best it's going to be a great game. "I wish we were playing Thursday, rather than Saturday." The Lions dipped to third with the loss and have a tricky finish to the regular season with games against the top-placed Magpies, Sydney, Fremantle and Hawthorn. A draw with North Melbourne leaves Brisbane one-and-a-half wins clear of the eighth-placed Dockers in a crowded ladder. "It's very cliche but if you do look at the ladder you can get in your own head and think, we might win this one and lost that one, or win that one," Neale said of his decision not to over-analyse the scenario. "We finished fifth last year and were able to make a run. "We'll try and win out from here. Go into every week with a plan to win. "We'll keep doing that and where we end up we probably deserve and we'll have earned our spot." Lachie Neale reckons it's sometimes best to quickly forget a bad performance. The Brisbane Lions' historic 66-point QClash loss to Gold Coast on Saturday was not one of those times. "We had to face the music," the co-captain and midfield general said on Monday of their match review. "Hard to watch ... embarrassing clips that's not usual for us. "It's good to see some of that … sometimes you can brush over it but, at this time of year, a performance like that wasn't acceptable." Having won 12 of their last 13 encounters, Neale and his midfield group had the tables turned on them by Gold Coast's engine room. Matt Rowell had a career-high 37 touches, only one more than Neale. But the Suns' ball-winner had 15 clearances to Neale's three, a statistic summing up what was the Suns' biggest defeat of the Lions. The two-time Brownlow Medal-winner said "something mentally wasn't quite right" but insisted that wouldn't be the case against Collingwood at the MCG on Saturday. "Hard to put your finger on it; perhaps we got a bit comfortable ... maybe not prepared to go to footy war, roll up your sleeves," Neale said of a loss that snapped a four-game winning streak. "A bit of a kick in the teeth an as a midfield group certainly lowered our colours. "It's a great time for us to play (Collingwood); if we can bounce back and play our best it's going to be a great game. "I wish we were playing Thursday, rather than Saturday." The Lions dipped to third with the loss and have a tricky finish to the regular season with games against the top-placed Magpies, Sydney, Fremantle and Hawthorn. A draw with North Melbourne leaves Brisbane one-and-a-half wins clear of the eighth-placed Dockers in a crowded ladder. "It's very cliche but if you do look at the ladder you can get in your own head and think, we might win this one and lost that one, or win that one," Neale said of his decision not to over-analyse the scenario. "We finished fifth last year and were able to make a run. "We'll try and win out from here. Go into every week with a plan to win. "We'll keep doing that and where we end up we probably deserve and we'll have earned our spot."