'Panic' – Slater faces biggest challenge
NRL: The NRL 360 panel debate Billy Slater's position as the head coach of the Queensland Maroons after his huge selection calls.
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Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
I've seen this movie before – it's a slasher flick and the Blues are the victim
NSW risk being the man standing on a street corner, watching a giant truck hurtle towards him, yet can't hop out of the way in time to stop the vehicle from flattening him. How many times has the Sydney media ridiculed the Maroons' chances of winning a State of Origin series, including describing the 2020 team as 'the worst ever Queensland team', only for them to roll the Blues? As former Maroons player and coach, Kevvy Walters, says ahead to the second game in Perth, following NSW's triumph in the opening match in Brisbane, 'Beware the wounded Queenslander.' Walters insists the sacking of Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans and the so-called abandonment of the northern state's time-honoured 'pick and stick' philosophy will have little impact on Billy Slater's team. He cites the earlier sacking of captain Trevor Gillmeister following the first game in 1996, after the tough forward led the Maroons to an unexpected clean sweep the previous year, trading off the Queensland underdog psyche of being underrated and overlooked. 'It didn't rock us,' said Walters who was a member of the 1996 team, captained by Allan 'Alf' Langer. 'We were disappointed for 'Gilly' but he was replaced by one of the greats as captain. The Queensland players will still love DCE. 'The show goes on and goes on pretty quickly.'
The Age
an hour ago
- The Age
No time for a hose down: NRL double-header poses logistical challenge bigger than Magic Round
It is shaping up as one of the biggest logistical challenges in Suncorp Stadium's history, but organisers are confident they can pull off this month's NRL double-header. The Dolphins' cyclone-affected fixture against South Sydney has been rescheduled for 7.50pm on Saturday, June 28 – just a few hours after the Broncos v Warriors match, with its 3pm kick-off, is due to end. Given they will be two distinct crowds, as many as 100,000 could pass through the stadium precinct on the day – almost double an Origin crowd. That could make it Caxton Street's biggest day in years. Traders are at the same time salivating at the potential revenue, and apprehensive about the challenge ahead. 'I think Castlemaine Brewery better start pumping some beer quickly, because they're going to be cleaned out again after they got wiped out over the Magic Round,' Caxton Street Development Association president Sarosh Mehta said. Mehta, who ran the erstwhile Casablanca club on the famous strip for years, said Caxton Street's reputation would be 'on the line' as it heaved under the weight of two Suncorp Stadium crowds. 'We'll just have to take a deep breath and just try our best,' he said. 'I will try my best to get across to every single trader on the street to say please, please, please, be prepared – get sure you have enough stock, staff, whatever it takes, because there's no way you're going to run up to the market to get more ice or whatever else. 'You better be damn prepared.'
Sydney Morning Herald
an hour ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
No time for a hose down: NRL double-header poses logistical challenge bigger than Magic Round
It is shaping up as one of the biggest logistical challenges in Suncorp Stadium's history, but organisers are confident they can pull off this month's NRL double-header. The Dolphins' cyclone-affected fixture against South Sydney has been rescheduled for 7.50pm on Saturday, June 28 – just a few hours after the Broncos v Warriors match, with its 3pm kick-off, is due to end. Given they will be two distinct crowds, as many as 100,000 could pass through the stadium precinct on the day – almost double an Origin crowd. That could make it Caxton Street's biggest day in years. Traders are at the same time salivating at the potential revenue, and apprehensive about the challenge ahead. 'I think Castlemaine Brewery better start pumping some beer quickly, because they're going to be cleaned out again after they got wiped out over the Magic Round,' Caxton Street Development Association president Sarosh Mehta said. Mehta, who ran the erstwhile Casablanca club on the famous strip for years, said Caxton Street's reputation would be 'on the line' as it heaved under the weight of two Suncorp Stadium crowds. 'We'll just have to take a deep breath and just try our best,' he said. 'I will try my best to get across to every single trader on the street to say please, please, please, be prepared – get sure you have enough stock, staff, whatever it takes, because there's no way you're going to run up to the market to get more ice or whatever else. 'You better be damn prepared.'
