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Cox weighs in on All-Australian blazer for Swans star

Cox weighs in on All-Australian blazer for Swans star

The Advertiser3 days ago
Sydney coach Dean Cox reckons ruck Brodie Grundy would be a no-brainer for All-Australian selection.
Grundy pushed his case for a third All-Australian blazer even further with a rucking masterclass in their 14-point win over Essendon last time out.
The Swans star mastered slippery conditions best against Bombers counterpart Todd Goldstein to win 32 hitouts, 13 clearances and 39 disposals.
Grundy's wet-weather clinic earned him nine votes in the coaches' poll.
So impressive has the 31-year-old been in recent months that he was the only Swan to poll coaches' votes in their round-20 loss to GWS, netting three.
In their round-19 thrashing of North Melbourne, Grundy gathered a monster 62 hitouts, 11 clearances and 22 disposals.
He has a season average of 36.5 hitouts, 20.1 disposals and 6.2 clearances.
Former West Coast great Cox, a six-time All-Australian ruck, can see Grundy in a blazer already.
"I'd be surprised if he doesn't get one," Cox said on Thursday.
But Grundy will have to beat out former Melbourne teammate Max Gawn for a spot in the 22-man squad.
The Demons skipper also polled nine votes for his role in their 83-point drubbing of West Coast, finishing with 29 hitouts and 14 contested possessions.
Should Gawn earn his eighth blazer, the Demons ruck will equal the most All-Australian selections of all-time.
Fremantle star and 2021 Melbourne premiership player Luke Jackson is also in the mix as a second ruckman.
Cox wouldn't be drawn on the off-field ruck battle despite his expertise.
"I don't look too deeply into where they start," Cox said.
"I just think the season he (Grundy) has had he has had a massive impact on certainly our turnaround in the back half of the year.
"He was playing extremely well when we weren't."
The Swans will be joined by another Western Australian boasting six All-Australian nods with former Fremantle champion Matthew Pavlich taking over from Tom Harley as chief executive.
Cox and Pavlich will reunite on the east coast after a strong on-field rivalry in WA.
"Yeah, that's ... he's my boss," Cox joked.
While Pavlich will officially take over at the end of this season, Cox said he expects his involvement to begin "virtually from today" as the Swans cast their eye over their playing list.
Veteran defender Dane Rampe, 35, and Jake Lloyd, 31, are both out of contract at season's end.
Rampe is keen to play a 14th season but Cox wasn't concrete when asked about the defender's future ahead of last week's clash against Essendon.
Asked about Lloyd's future at the club on Monday, Cox said: "We see him as part of our future.
"That'll be just a constant discussion. Same as Dane.
"We're in constant dialogue with all our senior players and players that are out of contract about what the situation looks like.
"The ability to still be able to play footy and to a level that's required - he's (Lloyd) doing that, which is good."
Sydney coach Dean Cox reckons ruck Brodie Grundy would be a no-brainer for All-Australian selection.
Grundy pushed his case for a third All-Australian blazer even further with a rucking masterclass in their 14-point win over Essendon last time out.
The Swans star mastered slippery conditions best against Bombers counterpart Todd Goldstein to win 32 hitouts, 13 clearances and 39 disposals.
Grundy's wet-weather clinic earned him nine votes in the coaches' poll.
So impressive has the 31-year-old been in recent months that he was the only Swan to poll coaches' votes in their round-20 loss to GWS, netting three.
In their round-19 thrashing of North Melbourne, Grundy gathered a monster 62 hitouts, 11 clearances and 22 disposals.
He has a season average of 36.5 hitouts, 20.1 disposals and 6.2 clearances.
Former West Coast great Cox, a six-time All-Australian ruck, can see Grundy in a blazer already.
"I'd be surprised if he doesn't get one," Cox said on Thursday.
But Grundy will have to beat out former Melbourne teammate Max Gawn for a spot in the 22-man squad.
The Demons skipper also polled nine votes for his role in their 83-point drubbing of West Coast, finishing with 29 hitouts and 14 contested possessions.
Should Gawn earn his eighth blazer, the Demons ruck will equal the most All-Australian selections of all-time.
Fremantle star and 2021 Melbourne premiership player Luke Jackson is also in the mix as a second ruckman.
Cox wouldn't be drawn on the off-field ruck battle despite his expertise.
"I don't look too deeply into where they start," Cox said.
"I just think the season he (Grundy) has had he has had a massive impact on certainly our turnaround in the back half of the year.
"He was playing extremely well when we weren't."
The Swans will be joined by another Western Australian boasting six All-Australian nods with former Fremantle champion Matthew Pavlich taking over from Tom Harley as chief executive.
Cox and Pavlich will reunite on the east coast after a strong on-field rivalry in WA.
"Yeah, that's ... he's my boss," Cox joked.
While Pavlich will officially take over at the end of this season, Cox said he expects his involvement to begin "virtually from today" as the Swans cast their eye over their playing list.
Veteran defender Dane Rampe, 35, and Jake Lloyd, 31, are both out of contract at season's end.
Rampe is keen to play a 14th season but Cox wasn't concrete when asked about the defender's future ahead of last week's clash against Essendon.
Asked about Lloyd's future at the club on Monday, Cox said: "We see him as part of our future.
"That'll be just a constant discussion. Same as Dane.
"We're in constant dialogue with all our senior players and players that are out of contract about what the situation looks like.
"The ability to still be able to play footy and to a level that's required - he's (Lloyd) doing that, which is good."
Sydney coach Dean Cox reckons ruck Brodie Grundy would be a no-brainer for All-Australian selection.
Grundy pushed his case for a third All-Australian blazer even further with a rucking masterclass in their 14-point win over Essendon last time out.
The Swans star mastered slippery conditions best against Bombers counterpart Todd Goldstein to win 32 hitouts, 13 clearances and 39 disposals.
Grundy's wet-weather clinic earned him nine votes in the coaches' poll.
So impressive has the 31-year-old been in recent months that he was the only Swan to poll coaches' votes in their round-20 loss to GWS, netting three.
In their round-19 thrashing of North Melbourne, Grundy gathered a monster 62 hitouts, 11 clearances and 22 disposals.
He has a season average of 36.5 hitouts, 20.1 disposals and 6.2 clearances.
Former West Coast great Cox, a six-time All-Australian ruck, can see Grundy in a blazer already.
"I'd be surprised if he doesn't get one," Cox said on Thursday.
But Grundy will have to beat out former Melbourne teammate Max Gawn for a spot in the 22-man squad.
The Demons skipper also polled nine votes for his role in their 83-point drubbing of West Coast, finishing with 29 hitouts and 14 contested possessions.
Should Gawn earn his eighth blazer, the Demons ruck will equal the most All-Australian selections of all-time.
Fremantle star and 2021 Melbourne premiership player Luke Jackson is also in the mix as a second ruckman.
Cox wouldn't be drawn on the off-field ruck battle despite his expertise.
"I don't look too deeply into where they start," Cox said.
"I just think the season he (Grundy) has had he has had a massive impact on certainly our turnaround in the back half of the year.
"He was playing extremely well when we weren't."
The Swans will be joined by another Western Australian boasting six All-Australian nods with former Fremantle champion Matthew Pavlich taking over from Tom Harley as chief executive.
Cox and Pavlich will reunite on the east coast after a strong on-field rivalry in WA.
"Yeah, that's ... he's my boss," Cox joked.
While Pavlich will officially take over at the end of this season, Cox said he expects his involvement to begin "virtually from today" as the Swans cast their eye over their playing list.
Veteran defender Dane Rampe, 35, and Jake Lloyd, 31, are both out of contract at season's end.
Rampe is keen to play a 14th season but Cox wasn't concrete when asked about the defender's future ahead of last week's clash against Essendon.
Asked about Lloyd's future at the club on Monday, Cox said: "We see him as part of our future.
"That'll be just a constant discussion. Same as Dane.
"We're in constant dialogue with all our senior players and players that are out of contract about what the situation looks like.
"The ability to still be able to play footy and to a level that's required - he's (Lloyd) doing that, which is good."
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Aussie Steve Erceg saves UFC career with first victory in 17 months
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  • 7NEWS

Aussie Steve Erceg saves UFC career with first victory in 17 months

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Titans respond as captain Tino prepares to test market
Titans respond as captain Tino prepares to test market

The Advertiser

time2 hours ago

  • The Advertiser

Titans respond as captain Tino prepares to test market

Gold Coast captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui will speak with the Perth Bears in the off-season as he prepares to test the market. Fa'asuamaleaui has a clause in his contract that allows him to speak to other clubs from November 1 for the 2027 season. Titans chairman Dennis Watt has told AAP the club is determined to keep the inspirational Test and Queensland prop. The 25-year-old's manager Simon Mammino told AAP that ideally he wants to stay at the Titans and help take the club to a premiership, but the uncertainty over the coaching future of Des Hasler and overall club direction has led to him deciding to explore other options. Perth Bears coach Mal Meninga, formerly the Titans' head of performance and culture, was a major factor in the 2020 premiership winner joining the club from Melbourne in 2021. Former Titans recruitment boss Ezra Howe, now in the same role at Perth, was also influential. 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"Tino is very much part of our future plans. He is an inspiring leader and we want to keep him here." Fa'asuamaleaui's parents live in Gympie and his in-laws live on the Gold Coast, so he is settled off-field, but the Meninga factor at Perth has them in prime position to make him an offer for their 2027 entry. "With Perth it is about being part of a new franchise that has history with the North Sydney Bears, which is attractive to any player," Mammino said."Mal being part of a new franchise is attractive like it was to players going to the Dolphins (under Wayne Bennett). "It's not all about money, but at some stage in the off-season we will speak to Perth, who will have a full salary cap to spend. The Dolphins targeted Tino, but he stayed at the Titans after (former coach) Justin Holbrook was sacked." Meninga was previously a magnet for Fa'asuamaleaui. "Mal and Ezra are the two that got him there to the Titans," Mammino said. "Mal was the Australian coach and has a fair aura about him. He was there to improve the culture at the Titans, and the words Mal had with Tino and his family gave him confidence the club was rebuilding and heading in the right direction. "Tino was a key figure in that and was confident to go to the Titans with Mal there." Gold Coast captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui will speak with the Perth Bears in the off-season as he prepares to test the market. Fa'asuamaleaui has a clause in his contract that allows him to speak to other clubs from November 1 for the 2027 season. Titans chairman Dennis Watt has told AAP the club is determined to keep the inspirational Test and Queensland prop. The 25-year-old's manager Simon Mammino told AAP that ideally he wants to stay at the Titans and help take the club to a premiership, but the uncertainty over the coaching future of Des Hasler and overall club direction has led to him deciding to explore other options. Perth Bears coach Mal Meninga, formerly the Titans' head of performance and culture, was a major factor in the 2020 premiership winner joining the club from Melbourne in 2021. Former Titans recruitment boss Ezra Howe, now in the same role at Perth, was also influential. "We will have a look around (on November 1), but that's because we don't really know what's going on at the club at the moment," Mammino said. "Tino would probably prefer to stay. We just want to see some decisions made that the club is stable."He has got time to make a decision, so hopefully they will resolve where the club is at with the coaching situation for 2027. "That's not to say he doesn't want Des there. He gets on well with Des. It's also about where the club is heading with the re-signing of a couple of players."It gives us time to look at what the club is doing. I have got confidence in the chairman Dennis Watt, (CEO) Steve Mitchell and the owner Rebecca Frizelle. "It's just a recheck clause that we put in there to see where the club is at and where he is at and what options are there to consider." Watt said the Titans had stability on the coaching front and wanted Fa'asuamaleaui to stay. "The owners put out a statement recently saying Des is here for 2026," Watt told AAP. "Tino is very much part of our future plans. He is an inspiring leader and we want to keep him here." Fa'asuamaleaui's parents live in Gympie and his in-laws live on the Gold Coast, so he is settled off-field, but the Meninga factor at Perth has them in prime position to make him an offer for their 2027 entry. "With Perth it is about being part of a new franchise that has history with the North Sydney Bears, which is attractive to any player," Mammino said."Mal being part of a new franchise is attractive like it was to players going to the Dolphins (under Wayne Bennett). "It's not all about money, but at some stage in the off-season we will speak to Perth, who will have a full salary cap to spend. The Dolphins targeted Tino, but he stayed at the Titans after (former coach) Justin Holbrook was sacked." Meninga was previously a magnet for Fa'asuamaleaui. "Mal and Ezra are the two that got him there to the Titans," Mammino said. "Mal was the Australian coach and has a fair aura about him. He was there to improve the culture at the Titans, and the words Mal had with Tino and his family gave him confidence the club was rebuilding and heading in the right direction. "Tino was a key figure in that and was confident to go to the Titans with Mal there." Gold Coast captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui will speak with the Perth Bears in the off-season as he prepares to test the market. Fa'asuamaleaui has a clause in his contract that allows him to speak to other clubs from November 1 for the 2027 season. Titans chairman Dennis Watt has told AAP the club is determined to keep the inspirational Test and Queensland prop. The 25-year-old's manager Simon Mammino told AAP that ideally he wants to stay at the Titans and help take the club to a premiership, but the uncertainty over the coaching future of Des Hasler and overall club direction has led to him deciding to explore other options. Perth Bears coach Mal Meninga, formerly the Titans' head of performance and culture, was a major factor in the 2020 premiership winner joining the club from Melbourne in 2021. Former Titans recruitment boss Ezra Howe, now in the same role at Perth, was also influential. "We will have a look around (on November 1), but that's because we don't really know what's going on at the club at the moment," Mammino said. "Tino would probably prefer to stay. We just want to see some decisions made that the club is stable."He has got time to make a decision, so hopefully they will resolve where the club is at with the coaching situation for 2027. "That's not to say he doesn't want Des there. He gets on well with Des. It's also about where the club is heading with the re-signing of a couple of players."It gives us time to look at what the club is doing. I have got confidence in the chairman Dennis Watt, (CEO) Steve Mitchell and the owner Rebecca Frizelle. "It's just a recheck clause that we put in there to see where the club is at and where he is at and what options are there to consider." Watt said the Titans had stability on the coaching front and wanted Fa'asuamaleaui to stay. "The owners put out a statement recently saying Des is here for 2026," Watt told AAP. "Tino is very much part of our future plans. He is an inspiring leader and we want to keep him here." 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He was there to improve the culture at the Titans, and the words Mal had with Tino and his family gave him confidence the club was rebuilding and heading in the right direction. "Tino was a key figure in that and was confident to go to the Titans with Mal there."

Aussie coach warns Hull to lift for clash with Wigan
Aussie coach warns Hull to lift for clash with Wigan

The Advertiser

time2 hours ago

  • The Advertiser

Aussie coach warns Hull to lift for clash with Wigan

Willie Peters has warned his Hull KR players the error-strewn performance they produced in the 36-6 win over Castleford at Craven Park would not cut it against reigning grand final winners Wigan next weekend. Rovers travel to face the Warriors on Friday (local time), with Australian coach Peters admitting his Super League side need to focus against Matt Peet's team. Former South Sydney star Joe Burgess led the way for Peters' side against Castleford with a hat-trick as Rovers also crossed through Australian-born PNG representative Rhyse Martin, Jez Litten, Mikey Lewis and Arthur Mourgue, the latter also kicking four conversions. Castleford's first-half try came courtesy of Alex Mellor. Daejarn Asi added the extras. Win No.18 in Super League this season saw Rovers lift the Roger Millward Trophy to add to the Challenge Cup, but it is the League Leaders' Shield and a grand final triumph they covet most. "Will that performance cut it next week? It won't. We will have two teams going at it next week," Peters said. He admitted it was too early to call a win at Wigan a decider in the race for the League Leaders' Shield. "I think there's too long to go,'' Peters said. "When you've got Leigh playing the way they are, you've got St Helens and Leeds. Next week's important, it's Wigan and it's a big game." He said his side had not hit top gear against Castleford. "It was a weird game,'' Peters said. "I thought we did a lot of good things. We put a lot of pressure on them. Our defence was good for the majority of the game. "What I did like there were a lot of good things which we did do. The points came at the back end because of what we did. I thought overall we defended well" Willie Peters has warned his Hull KR players the error-strewn performance they produced in the 36-6 win over Castleford at Craven Park would not cut it against reigning grand final winners Wigan next weekend. Rovers travel to face the Warriors on Friday (local time), with Australian coach Peters admitting his Super League side need to focus against Matt Peet's team. Former South Sydney star Joe Burgess led the way for Peters' side against Castleford with a hat-trick as Rovers also crossed through Australian-born PNG representative Rhyse Martin, Jez Litten, Mikey Lewis and Arthur Mourgue, the latter also kicking four conversions. Castleford's first-half try came courtesy of Alex Mellor. Daejarn Asi added the extras. Win No.18 in Super League this season saw Rovers lift the Roger Millward Trophy to add to the Challenge Cup, but it is the League Leaders' Shield and a grand final triumph they covet most. "Will that performance cut it next week? It won't. We will have two teams going at it next week," Peters said. He admitted it was too early to call a win at Wigan a decider in the race for the League Leaders' Shield. "I think there's too long to go,'' Peters said. "When you've got Leigh playing the way they are, you've got St Helens and Leeds. Next week's important, it's Wigan and it's a big game." He said his side had not hit top gear against Castleford. "It was a weird game,'' Peters said. "I thought we did a lot of good things. We put a lot of pressure on them. Our defence was good for the majority of the game. "What I did like there were a lot of good things which we did do. The points came at the back end because of what we did. I thought overall we defended well" Willie Peters has warned his Hull KR players the error-strewn performance they produced in the 36-6 win over Castleford at Craven Park would not cut it against reigning grand final winners Wigan next weekend. Rovers travel to face the Warriors on Friday (local time), with Australian coach Peters admitting his Super League side need to focus against Matt Peet's team. Former South Sydney star Joe Burgess led the way for Peters' side against Castleford with a hat-trick as Rovers also crossed through Australian-born PNG representative Rhyse Martin, Jez Litten, Mikey Lewis and Arthur Mourgue, the latter also kicking four conversions. Castleford's first-half try came courtesy of Alex Mellor. Daejarn Asi added the extras. Win No.18 in Super League this season saw Rovers lift the Roger Millward Trophy to add to the Challenge Cup, but it is the League Leaders' Shield and a grand final triumph they covet most. "Will that performance cut it next week? It won't. We will have two teams going at it next week," Peters said. He admitted it was too early to call a win at Wigan a decider in the race for the League Leaders' Shield. "I think there's too long to go,'' Peters said. "When you've got Leigh playing the way they are, you've got St Helens and Leeds. Next week's important, it's Wigan and it's a big game." He said his side had not hit top gear against Castleford. "It was a weird game,'' Peters said. "I thought we did a lot of good things. We put a lot of pressure on them. Our defence was good for the majority of the game. "What I did like there were a lot of good things which we did do. The points came at the back end because of what we did. I thought overall we defended well"

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