Payten backs Dearden as QLD�s next No.7
NRL: North Queensland Cowboys coach Todd Payten spoke to the media following their round 14 defeat to the Melbourne Storm.
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Perth Now
29 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Daley has shot at long-term Origin stability with Blues
Laurie Daley has the chance to lead NSW through a period of near unprecedented stability, with the NRL schedule providing the biggest headache for Blues selectors. Daley will announce his side for State of Origin II in Perth on Monday night, after the final game of the round between Canterbury and Parramatta. The main question for NSW selectors is how to replace Mitchell Barnett, the Warriors prop who laid the foundation for the Blues in game one, following his ruptured ACL. Stefano Utoikamanu remains the most likely option, after acting as back up for Payne Haas and his problematic quad ahead of the series opener. Keaon Koloamatangi is the other candidate, considered a more like-for-like option after being the form prop of the NRL at South Sydney for the past month. Regardless, Daley will have the luxury of calling in a player with Origin experience, with both Utoikamanu and Koloamatangi debuting for NSW in 2023. The Blues are expected to name an otherwise unchanged side for Origin II, unless other players go down in the final matches of round 14. That will mean Daley picked just one debutant across the first two matches of a series, with Max King the sole rookie for game one in Brisbane. NSW have only once gone through the first two games of a series with one or less debutants, in 1991 when there were still mass changes across the team. This situation is already in direct contrast to last year, when the Blues axed four players and Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii was suspended after their series-opening loss. Queensland are also in a state of flux, with Daly Cherry-Evans, the Maroons' captain and most experienced player in their squad, set to be dropped. Daley is, by his nature, a loyal selector. In his last stint as NSW coach he routinely opted against mass changes, and stuck with the same 17 for his entire last series in 2017. Playing into his hands this time is he has walked back into a team set up for success, after they roared back to life to win last year's series-decider in Brisbane. The age of the Blues' squad also gives Daley a chance to set up for long-term stability, with Barnett the oldest player in the game-one squad at age 31. Isaah Yeo and Mitch Moses are the only other members to have celebrated their 30th birthday. The main immediate hurdle to all of that for Daley is the NRL's round-14 schedule. Four Blues players are slated to feature for the Bulldogs and Eels, with Stephen Crichton, Zac Lomax, Moses and King to all feature. Another seven of Daley's players from the series-opening win at Suncorp Stadium were also playing on Sunday afternoon.

ABC News
36 minutes ago
- ABC News
NRL live: Canberra Raiders vs South Sydney Rabbitohs, Wests Tigers vs Penrith Panthers
Canberra can take top spot on the NRL ladder with a win over the Rabbitohs this afternoon. Later, Jarome Luai faces the Panthers for the first time as a Tiger. Follow all the action in our live blog below, check out all the stats in the full ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.

News.com.au
43 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Jai Opetaia v Claudio Squeo: Live coverage from world title fight on the Gold Coast
Jai Opetaia defends his IBF and Ring Magazine cruiserweight world titles against Claudio Squeo tonight at the Gold Coast Convention Centre. Italy's Squeo has a perfect 17-0 record with nine wins by knockout, but came in four kilograms under the cruiserweight limit of 90.7kg. Opetaia also holds a 10cm height and reach advantage for his third world title defence. What time is Jai Opetaia fighting? Expect Opetaia and Squeo to step into the ring at 11pm. Yes, you read that right. Jai Opetaia fight card Pay-per-view (7:00pm AEST) Jai Opetaia v Claudio Squeo – Cruiserweight Conor Wallace v Dylan Colin – Light heavyweight Tyler Blizzard v Rocky Ogden – Featherweight Danny Keating v Blake Minto – Welterweight Max McIntyre v Ricaia Warren – Super middleweight Prelims (4:30pm AEST) Austin Aokuso v Ike from Pluto – Light heavyweight Mariah Turner v Leah Reuban – Featherweight Xavier Fletcher v Alivereti Dodomo – Super middleweight Matt Floyd v Jack Gregory How to watch Jai Opetaia vs Claudio Squeo fight? The fight is being streamed on DAZN. It is NOT on Main Event or Kayo Sports in Australia. Jai Opetaia next fight If he beats Squeo, Jai Opetaia will be angling for a unification bout against WBC and WBO titleholder Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez. There has even been talk that fight could take place on the Terence Crawford vs Canelo Alvarez undercard. Opetaia vs Squeo undercard fights scrapped Two scheduled bouts have been scrapped from the card. Rising heavyweight star Teremoana Jr's opponent pulled out in fight week, and the Paris Olympian will now fight on the Madison Square Garden undercard of Richardson Hitchins and George Kambosos. Meanwhile, Queensland's Ben Mahoney fell sick during fight camp and couldn't make weight for his fight with dangerous Venezuelan Eddy Colmenares. That fight has been scrapped altogether.