logo
How 'diving on concrete' shaped latest Maroons rookie

How 'diving on concrete' shaped latest Maroons rookie

West Australian19-05-2025

Trent Loiero counts Queensland hardman Michael Crocker among his muses.
But the Melbourne forward feels he's struck the balance between fire and finesse ahead of his own State of Origin debut.
Loiero, 24, will return home to the Sunshine Coast this week for the Maroons' camp - moved from their traditional Sanctuary Cove base - ahead of next Wednesday's opener in Brisbane.
The fiery Storm forward admitted he went too far at this month's Magic Round when he conceded a pair of costly penalties in a golden-point loss to Canberra.
Invited into the Maroons' camp last year, Loiero has worked on his ball-playing and opposition scouting to become a more complete player.
But the hot streak built during a childhood "playing rain, hail and shine, diving on the concrete, diving on the road" remains.
"It's always been there. It might just have come out a bit more in the past few weeks," he said.
"I've learnt my lesson. Aggression's good, as long as it's controlled aggression."
Loiero has been named on Billy Slater's bench and says he hasn't given any thought to the Blues' pack and if he'll be targeted as a rookie.
Not that he'd mind it, given Loiero cited two of the Maroons' great competitors when asked who he had modelled his game on.
"If you're talking about people who like to bring the heat, Mick Crocker was one," he said of the tough-as-nails forward.
"Also Matt Gillett. I loved watching Matt Gillett."
Reuben Cotter has seen enough of Loiero to know he'll fit right into a pack keen to turn the tables on the Blues.
"Mick Crocker, the sort of player he was in this jersey, all us middle forwards aspire to play similarly," he told AAP.
"He's (Loiero) a handy player; been watching him for a couple of years now.
"And he's played in some big games now too and it's good to have him in camp."

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

John Kanga to serve as executive chairman of the Melbourne Racing Club following the departure of CEO Tom Reilly
John Kanga to serve as executive chairman of the Melbourne Racing Club following the departure of CEO Tom Reilly

News.com.au

time2 hours ago

  • News.com.au

John Kanga to serve as executive chairman of the Melbourne Racing Club following the departure of CEO Tom Reilly

Chairman John Kanga will again spearhead a new-look Melbourne Racing Club administration. Kanga has assumed the honorary role of executive chairman and confirmed the club would not seek to fill its chief executive officer vacancy. The MRC last Monday terminated former chief executive Tom Reilly. Tanya Fullerton, the newly-appointed chief operating officer, is slated to start on Thursday. 'The club will not be recruiting for a CEO,' Kanga told this masthead. 'Tanya is the chief operating officer and we're also going to bolster our racing operations.' Kanga served as executive chairman from October last year to February, until Reilly started. He backed Fullerton to do 'an excellent job'. Fullerton, vice-chairman of the Thoroughbred Racehorse Owners' Association, has worked closely with Kanga the past six months in particular on the 'Save Our Sandown' campaign. Kanga refused to comment on the reasons behind a 'unanimous' MRC board decision to remove Reilly last Monday. He would also not be drawn on the resignation of long-time MRC committee member Barb Saunders. As revealed by the Herald Sun on Tuesday, Saunders resigned in protest of the Reilly termination, the Fullerton appointment and MRC governance. Kanga has deferred any discussions on a potential casual vacancy replacement for Saunders to the next MRC committee meeting in two weeks. The MRC could proceed with nine on the committee through to its September election. Kanga is one of three committee members, including Alison Saville and Frank Pollio, up for election this year. Kanga said the MRC has a strong management structure in place. 'The team is working hard to deliver a fantastic Spring Carnival at Caulfield,' Kanga said. In a letter to members, following the Reilly termination, Kanga said the current administration has 'turned the club around' and restored member and industry confidence 'making common sense decisions'. Kanga sighted key milestones, including the saving of racing at Sandown, relocating the Caulfield racecourse mounting yard to its original position and reversing the proposal to build a 'wasteful' new grandstand at The Heath. The MRC last year under Kanga's watch also entered into an agreement to sell a parcel of land next to Caulfield racecourse for $195m. 'That does not mean that we cannot improve,' Kanga said. 'Tanya and I and the MRC management team will work hard, on an ongoing basis, to deliver better services and results for members.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store