Raider's contract boost in wake of bitter injury blow as Manly shop Schoupp
With Origin II on Wednesday night, the pair are set to head straight to Sydney on the day after the game - meaning they will miss the captain's run next Thursday - to have the best preparation for the Raiders' Friday night clash against the Wests Tigers at Campbelltown.
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The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Refs have inherent bias against lower teams: Tigers CEO
Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson has made the sensational claim that referees have an inherent bias against teams that are lower on the NRL ladder. Richardson doubled down on coach Benji Marshall's post-match critique that the Tigers were hard done by the match officials in Sunday's 18-14 loss to Penrith. In particular, Marshall said a kick-pressure penalty against Jarome Luai was "outrageous" and that another offside call against the halfback was "bad". On Friday, Richardson ventured that rebuilding teams such as the 13th-placed Tigers, wooden spooners the past three seasons, were likelier to be penalised than more successful sides. "I thought there were some pretty ordinary refereeing decisions (in the Panthers game) that certainly had an effect on us," he said on the Tigers' Behind The Roar podcast. "I've learned over the years, though, that refereeing decisions never really go your way when you're battling up the ladder. "For some reason referees - and they're humans - they feel that the better teams are going to make better mistakes, less mistakes, when really that's not the case. But it is what it is." The Tigers have been penalised on average more than any team this season, conceding eight penalties per game across the opening 14 rounds. But ladder-leading Canberra, the biggest success story of the season, have conceded the second-most behind the Tigers, with 7.6 per game. Second-placed Canterbury are not far behind in fifth spot with 7.0 per game, only one fewer than the 13th-placed Tigers. Former Penrith, Cronulla and South Sydney chief executive Richardson claimed becoming a good team would help the Tigers receive more penalties. "You've got to become one of the better teams to get some more of the rub of the green," he said. Richardson confirmed new train-and-trial signing Taylan May would need at least three weeks before making a possible return to rugby league via NSW Cup. May's domestic violence charges were dropped in March when his wife, whom he was accused of punching, did not turn up to court. It was the latest in a number of off-field indiscretions for the 23-year-old outside back, who was released by Penrith last year. "Taylan's been through a few battles in recent times. We're more than happy to give him the opportunity to re-establish himself in rugby league," Richardson said. "He's got a long row to hoe. He'll be at least three or four weeks training before he plays, then obviously he'll come back through second grade and then we'll see what happens from there. "If he finds his best again, and he's only young, he's certainly one of the best centres in the game." The Tigers hit their round-15 bye on a four-game losing streak, but three of those defeats have come by 10 points or fewer. Richardson was happy with the club's progress. "I'm very, very comfortable, not with 5-8 (their record), neither would you be as fans and members, but the reality is that, as a team, we're improving all the time," he said. Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson has made the sensational claim that referees have an inherent bias against teams that are lower on the NRL ladder. Richardson doubled down on coach Benji Marshall's post-match critique that the Tigers were hard done by the match officials in Sunday's 18-14 loss to Penrith. In particular, Marshall said a kick-pressure penalty against Jarome Luai was "outrageous" and that another offside call against the halfback was "bad". On Friday, Richardson ventured that rebuilding teams such as the 13th-placed Tigers, wooden spooners the past three seasons, were likelier to be penalised than more successful sides. "I thought there were some pretty ordinary refereeing decisions (in the Panthers game) that certainly had an effect on us," he said on the Tigers' Behind The Roar podcast. "I've learned over the years, though, that refereeing decisions never really go your way when you're battling up the ladder. "For some reason referees - and they're humans - they feel that the better teams are going to make better mistakes, less mistakes, when really that's not the case. But it is what it is." The Tigers have been penalised on average more than any team this season, conceding eight penalties per game across the opening 14 rounds. But ladder-leading Canberra, the biggest success story of the season, have conceded the second-most behind the Tigers, with 7.6 per game. Second-placed Canterbury are not far behind in fifth spot with 7.0 per game, only one fewer than the 13th-placed Tigers. Former Penrith, Cronulla and South Sydney chief executive Richardson claimed becoming a good team would help the Tigers receive more penalties. "You've got to become one of the better teams to get some more of the rub of the green," he said. Richardson confirmed new train-and-trial signing Taylan May would need at least three weeks before making a possible return to rugby league via NSW Cup. May's domestic violence charges were dropped in March when his wife, whom he was accused of punching, did not turn up to court. It was the latest in a number of off-field indiscretions for the 23-year-old outside back, who was released by Penrith last year. "Taylan's been through a few battles in recent times. We're more than happy to give him the opportunity to re-establish himself in rugby league," Richardson said. "He's got a long row to hoe. He'll be at least three or four weeks training before he plays, then obviously he'll come back through second grade and then we'll see what happens from there. "If he finds his best again, and he's only young, he's certainly one of the best centres in the game." The Tigers hit their round-15 bye on a four-game losing streak, but three of those defeats have come by 10 points or fewer. Richardson was happy with the club's progress. "I'm very, very comfortable, not with 5-8 (their record), neither would you be as fans and members, but the reality is that, as a team, we're improving all the time," he said. Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson has made the sensational claim that referees have an inherent bias against teams that are lower on the NRL ladder. Richardson doubled down on coach Benji Marshall's post-match critique that the Tigers were hard done by the match officials in Sunday's 18-14 loss to Penrith. In particular, Marshall said a kick-pressure penalty against Jarome Luai was "outrageous" and that another offside call against the halfback was "bad". On Friday, Richardson ventured that rebuilding teams such as the 13th-placed Tigers, wooden spooners the past three seasons, were likelier to be penalised than more successful sides. "I thought there were some pretty ordinary refereeing decisions (in the Panthers game) that certainly had an effect on us," he said on the Tigers' Behind The Roar podcast. "I've learned over the years, though, that refereeing decisions never really go your way when you're battling up the ladder. "For some reason referees - and they're humans - they feel that the better teams are going to make better mistakes, less mistakes, when really that's not the case. But it is what it is." The Tigers have been penalised on average more than any team this season, conceding eight penalties per game across the opening 14 rounds. But ladder-leading Canberra, the biggest success story of the season, have conceded the second-most behind the Tigers, with 7.6 per game. Second-placed Canterbury are not far behind in fifth spot with 7.0 per game, only one fewer than the 13th-placed Tigers. Former Penrith, Cronulla and South Sydney chief executive Richardson claimed becoming a good team would help the Tigers receive more penalties. "You've got to become one of the better teams to get some more of the rub of the green," he said. Richardson confirmed new train-and-trial signing Taylan May would need at least three weeks before making a possible return to rugby league via NSW Cup. May's domestic violence charges were dropped in March when his wife, whom he was accused of punching, did not turn up to court. It was the latest in a number of off-field indiscretions for the 23-year-old outside back, who was released by Penrith last year. "Taylan's been through a few battles in recent times. We're more than happy to give him the opportunity to re-establish himself in rugby league," Richardson said. "He's got a long row to hoe. He'll be at least three or four weeks training before he plays, then obviously he'll come back through second grade and then we'll see what happens from there. "If he finds his best again, and he's only young, he's certainly one of the best centres in the game." The Tigers hit their round-15 bye on a four-game losing streak, but three of those defeats have come by 10 points or fewer. Richardson was happy with the club's progress. "I'm very, very comfortable, not with 5-8 (their record), neither would you be as fans and members, but the reality is that, as a team, we're improving all the time," he said.
The Advertiser
19 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Luai answers Blues' SOS call for State of Origin II
History has repeated itself with NSW forced to call upon a player they had initially dumped as the Blues hunt a series victory in Perth. Jarome Luai answered coach Laurie Daley's SOS call on Thursday after Moses was rubbed out of game 2 because of a calf strain suffered in camp. The Wests Tigers co-captain, who had been overlooked for Moses in the game one win, was contacted by Daley and team performance manager Frank Ponissi. Five-eighth for last year's series win, Luai heeded the call and will reunite with former Penrith teammate Nathan Cleary in the halves for his 11th Origin cap. "I've done the work, I've been here before. I know what it takes," Luai said on arrival at the team hotel in Leura on Thursday night. "We've got a good squad so I just need to do my job and give the other boys confidence as well." It marks the second time in as many series NSW have been forced to lean on a key player they initially rejected, having called fullback James Tedesco in at similarly late notice for last year's series opener. Tedesco was dropped from the team once Dylan Edwards recovered from injury for Origin II last year. But Luai said he was not yet considering his selection prospects should Moses be fit in time for Origin III. "I'm not worried about what's next. I'm worried about the present moment," he said. "I'm really excited and I'm grateful for the opportunity. I know there were a few options they could've went with but I'll make sure I repay that faith." The NRL has already granted the Blues an exemption to bring Luai into the team from outside the 20-man squad Daley had named on Tuesday. Daley defended the Blues' call to pick Luai ahead of Canterbury five-eighth Matt Burton, who was already in camp as replacement player. The coach said the chance to reignite Luai and Cleary's combination, which won four premierships at the Panthers, was too good to refuse. "Back playing together, there'd be an energy and a synergy there," Daley said. "(Luai) played there last year, has got a good combination with Nathan and he's that left-side player. "He'll do a fine job." Burton's ability to cover the outside backs and halves has made him a favoured choice for NSW's replacement role, which he is filling for the fifth time in eight Origin games. "(Burton) would be disappointed, you'd want him to be disappointed, but he gives us a bit more versatility in that 18th-man role," Daley said. "He can play a few more positions. I just think Jarome and Nathan's combination, they've had so much success." Queensland are wary of the dangers posed by the Cleary-Luai combination, first forged a decade ago in Penrith's junior system. "They've played all their footy together at the Panthers. When it comes to Origin football they'll be a dangerous threat," said winger Xavier Coates. Daley was impressed by Luai's attitude after he was overlooked for game one and felt he would respond to the pressures of a last-minute call-up with similar positivity. "Luai handled it (the initial rejection) with such class and he said if I needed him, he'd be ready to go," Daley said. "So when I rang him, he said, 'Sweet, I'm ready to go'. That filled me with confidence. "I don't think anything fazes Jarome. He's always up for a challenge and the bigger the challenge, the better he goes." History has repeated itself with NSW forced to call upon a player they had initially dumped as the Blues hunt a series victory in Perth. Jarome Luai answered coach Laurie Daley's SOS call on Thursday after Moses was rubbed out of game 2 because of a calf strain suffered in camp. The Wests Tigers co-captain, who had been overlooked for Moses in the game one win, was contacted by Daley and team performance manager Frank Ponissi. Five-eighth for last year's series win, Luai heeded the call and will reunite with former Penrith teammate Nathan Cleary in the halves for his 11th Origin cap. "I've done the work, I've been here before. I know what it takes," Luai said on arrival at the team hotel in Leura on Thursday night. "We've got a good squad so I just need to do my job and give the other boys confidence as well." It marks the second time in as many series NSW have been forced to lean on a key player they initially rejected, having called fullback James Tedesco in at similarly late notice for last year's series opener. Tedesco was dropped from the team once Dylan Edwards recovered from injury for Origin II last year. But Luai said he was not yet considering his selection prospects should Moses be fit in time for Origin III. "I'm not worried about what's next. I'm worried about the present moment," he said. "I'm really excited and I'm grateful for the opportunity. I know there were a few options they could've went with but I'll make sure I repay that faith." The NRL has already granted the Blues an exemption to bring Luai into the team from outside the 20-man squad Daley had named on Tuesday. Daley defended the Blues' call to pick Luai ahead of Canterbury five-eighth Matt Burton, who was already in camp as replacement player. The coach said the chance to reignite Luai and Cleary's combination, which won four premierships at the Panthers, was too good to refuse. "Back playing together, there'd be an energy and a synergy there," Daley said. "(Luai) played there last year, has got a good combination with Nathan and he's that left-side player. "He'll do a fine job." Burton's ability to cover the outside backs and halves has made him a favoured choice for NSW's replacement role, which he is filling for the fifth time in eight Origin games. "(Burton) would be disappointed, you'd want him to be disappointed, but he gives us a bit more versatility in that 18th-man role," Daley said. "He can play a few more positions. I just think Jarome and Nathan's combination, they've had so much success." Queensland are wary of the dangers posed by the Cleary-Luai combination, first forged a decade ago in Penrith's junior system. "They've played all their footy together at the Panthers. When it comes to Origin football they'll be a dangerous threat," said winger Xavier Coates. Daley was impressed by Luai's attitude after he was overlooked for game one and felt he would respond to the pressures of a last-minute call-up with similar positivity. "Luai handled it (the initial rejection) with such class and he said if I needed him, he'd be ready to go," Daley said. "So when I rang him, he said, 'Sweet, I'm ready to go'. That filled me with confidence. "I don't think anything fazes Jarome. He's always up for a challenge and the bigger the challenge, the better he goes." History has repeated itself with NSW forced to call upon a player they had initially dumped as the Blues hunt a series victory in Perth. Jarome Luai answered coach Laurie Daley's SOS call on Thursday after Moses was rubbed out of game 2 because of a calf strain suffered in camp. The Wests Tigers co-captain, who had been overlooked for Moses in the game one win, was contacted by Daley and team performance manager Frank Ponissi. Five-eighth for last year's series win, Luai heeded the call and will reunite with former Penrith teammate Nathan Cleary in the halves for his 11th Origin cap. "I've done the work, I've been here before. I know what it takes," Luai said on arrival at the team hotel in Leura on Thursday night. "We've got a good squad so I just need to do my job and give the other boys confidence as well." It marks the second time in as many series NSW have been forced to lean on a key player they initially rejected, having called fullback James Tedesco in at similarly late notice for last year's series opener. Tedesco was dropped from the team once Dylan Edwards recovered from injury for Origin II last year. But Luai said he was not yet considering his selection prospects should Moses be fit in time for Origin III. "I'm not worried about what's next. I'm worried about the present moment," he said. "I'm really excited and I'm grateful for the opportunity. I know there were a few options they could've went with but I'll make sure I repay that faith." The NRL has already granted the Blues an exemption to bring Luai into the team from outside the 20-man squad Daley had named on Tuesday. Daley defended the Blues' call to pick Luai ahead of Canterbury five-eighth Matt Burton, who was already in camp as replacement player. The coach said the chance to reignite Luai and Cleary's combination, which won four premierships at the Panthers, was too good to refuse. "Back playing together, there'd be an energy and a synergy there," Daley said. "(Luai) played there last year, has got a good combination with Nathan and he's that left-side player. "He'll do a fine job." Burton's ability to cover the outside backs and halves has made him a favoured choice for NSW's replacement role, which he is filling for the fifth time in eight Origin games. "(Burton) would be disappointed, you'd want him to be disappointed, but he gives us a bit more versatility in that 18th-man role," Daley said. "He can play a few more positions. I just think Jarome and Nathan's combination, they've had so much success." Queensland are wary of the dangers posed by the Cleary-Luai combination, first forged a decade ago in Penrith's junior system. "They've played all their footy together at the Panthers. When it comes to Origin football they'll be a dangerous threat," said winger Xavier Coates. Daley was impressed by Luai's attitude after he was overlooked for game one and felt he would respond to the pressures of a last-minute call-up with similar positivity. "Luai handled it (the initial rejection) with such class and he said if I needed him, he'd be ready to go," Daley said. "So when I rang him, he said, 'Sweet, I'm ready to go'. That filled me with confidence. "I don't think anything fazes Jarome. He's always up for a challenge and the bigger the challenge, the better he goes."
Sydney Morning Herald
20 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘I do pinch myself': From Ron Massey Cup to NSW Origin camp in half a season
Since then, he hasn't missed a game for the champions, stringing together 11 appearances, culminating in a career-best performance in Penrith's 18-14 win against Wests Tigers last week. Jenkins scored a hat-trick of tries, made five line-breaks, 12 tackle-breaks and carried the ball 253 metres in attack. Just when he thought life could not get much better, he was called into the NSW squad this week as a development/shadow player to help the Blues prepare for Origin II in Perth on Wednesday. 'Oh, I think we've just enjoyed his enthusiasm,' NSW coach Daley Laurie said, explaining the decision to invite Jenkins into camp. 'He seems like he's gotten better and better ... he was a guy that we sort of had down the middle of last week that we wanted to bring him into camp, and to see him play the way he did [against the Tigers], yeah, it was tremendous. 'So to come from where he has and just to come up here for a couple of days and mingle in around the squad, I think it's a great opportunity for him.' Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said the 'humility' Jenkins showed during the pre-season convinced him he was worth another chance. 'He went down to Massey and did his time, trained hard - in our afternoon squad, as well,' Cleary said. 'And then when he got a chance in [NSW] Cup, he was too good for Cup as well. So he just did everything we asked, and he's still doing it.' Whatever he achieves this season and beyond, Jenkins said he will always be grateful to St Mary's. 'I was so happy to go back there and play for them,' he said. 'They're such a good club. I knew I'd enjoy my footy there. I've got a lot of mates there, and that's what it was about. 'It was about enjoying footy. It wasn't about how high I was playing or what I was doing. It was about enjoying it. But yeah, things have worked out, and I ended up enjoying it here.' Jenkins' train-and-trial deal has since been upgraded into a full-time contract until the end of next season. 'The goal was always to come and play in NRL, but like I said, it was about coming back and enjoying my footy,' he said. Loading 'I feel like at St Mary's, it was a step in the right direction. 'I knew a pathway back to the Panthers was there. Nothing was promised, nothing was guaranteed, but I was happy to take that chance. I wake up every day feeling blessed, being grateful. I'm lucky for the position I'm in and the things that have fallen my way. 'I do pinch myself. I find myself lucky, but in saying that, like I said, I've got to keep my feet on ground and take it week by week. 'Like I said, nothing's guaranteed. There's so many good players that are coming up underneath, so I can't take my position for granted. 'Nothing's secure ever, so it's about playing good week to week. It's up to me to keep doing that job.'
