New Penrith prodigy being likened to Spencer Leniu
It took one training session with Penrith's top squad for powerhouse prop Luron Patea to knock back a Japanese rugby deal and pursue a contract in the NRL.
Patea has emerged as Penrith's next big thing in the past month, with the 20-year-old providing the Panthers much needed power and impact off the bench.
The Panthers junior has already been compared to Spencer Leniu, after announcing himself as a genuine talent with a barnstorming performance in Magic Round.
But while he has been a breakout star in the NRL for the past month, Patea's talent has been known on the global stage for some time.
The son of a rugby union coach who also played overseas, Patea played both codes as a teen and represented Australian schoolboys in the 15-man game in 2022.
He also had an offer to move to a top-tier Japanese rugby club in 2023, which would have brought with it his first professional contract.
But the front-rower instead opted to stick with Penrith, taking a punt on trying to crack into a squad that had already won two straight premierships.
"There was nothing really promised of training full time," Patea told AAP.
"I had the opportunity to go to Japan and play rugby overseas. But I spoke to my manager and family and decided I wanted to try and stick with rugby league.
"It was just go in and try and play my best footy and try and get that opportunity. And fortunately I did after that year.
"Now when I get the chance to sit back after games, I think about doing my family proud.
"But I'm also proud of myself for making the decision to stay and backing it."
Patea said his main motivation had come from training one day with Penrith's squad in 2022, as part of their Pearls program.
There, the top picks of talent from U19s and U17s experience a full day training with the NRL squad, and are handed the same kit and schedule as full-time players.
"I spent that day with Moses (Leota) and Spencer," Patea said.
"Talking to them, they were telling me about the club and how they came through. I wanted to experience that for myself.
"It made me just want to stay."
More of a rugby union watcher growing up, Leota and Leniu are now the men Patea look up to for their work ethic and aggression respectively.
It's also the kind of player the Panthers need right now, after losing Leniu and his bench impact after 2023.
"I hear a lot of people say I am like another, Spencer," Patea said.
"That's a good thing for me. Spencer's obviously a really good player and what he did for the club when he was here, I want to do as well.
"There are similarities in the way we run ... But I'm just trying to build confidence to play my game and not be compared to anyone else."
It took one training session with Penrith's top squad for powerhouse prop Luron Patea to knock back a Japanese rugby deal and pursue a contract in the NRL.
Patea has emerged as Penrith's next big thing in the past month, with the 20-year-old providing the Panthers much needed power and impact off the bench.
The Panthers junior has already been compared to Spencer Leniu, after announcing himself as a genuine talent with a barnstorming performance in Magic Round.
But while he has been a breakout star in the NRL for the past month, Patea's talent has been known on the global stage for some time.
The son of a rugby union coach who also played overseas, Patea played both codes as a teen and represented Australian schoolboys in the 15-man game in 2022.
He also had an offer to move to a top-tier Japanese rugby club in 2023, which would have brought with it his first professional contract.
But the front-rower instead opted to stick with Penrith, taking a punt on trying to crack into a squad that had already won two straight premierships.
"There was nothing really promised of training full time," Patea told AAP.
"I had the opportunity to go to Japan and play rugby overseas. But I spoke to my manager and family and decided I wanted to try and stick with rugby league.
"It was just go in and try and play my best footy and try and get that opportunity. And fortunately I did after that year.
"Now when I get the chance to sit back after games, I think about doing my family proud.
"But I'm also proud of myself for making the decision to stay and backing it."
Patea said his main motivation had come from training one day with Penrith's squad in 2022, as part of their Pearls program.
There, the top picks of talent from U19s and U17s experience a full day training with the NRL squad, and are handed the same kit and schedule as full-time players.
"I spent that day with Moses (Leota) and Spencer," Patea said.
"Talking to them, they were telling me about the club and how they came through. I wanted to experience that for myself.
"It made me just want to stay."
More of a rugby union watcher growing up, Leota and Leniu are now the men Patea look up to for their work ethic and aggression respectively.
It's also the kind of player the Panthers need right now, after losing Leniu and his bench impact after 2023.
"I hear a lot of people say I am like another, Spencer," Patea said.
"That's a good thing for me. Spencer's obviously a really good player and what he did for the club when he was here, I want to do as well.
"There are similarities in the way we run ... But I'm just trying to build confidence to play my game and not be compared to anyone else."
It took one training session with Penrith's top squad for powerhouse prop Luron Patea to knock back a Japanese rugby deal and pursue a contract in the NRL.
Patea has emerged as Penrith's next big thing in the past month, with the 20-year-old providing the Panthers much needed power and impact off the bench.
The Panthers junior has already been compared to Spencer Leniu, after announcing himself as a genuine talent with a barnstorming performance in Magic Round.
But while he has been a breakout star in the NRL for the past month, Patea's talent has been known on the global stage for some time.
The son of a rugby union coach who also played overseas, Patea played both codes as a teen and represented Australian schoolboys in the 15-man game in 2022.
He also had an offer to move to a top-tier Japanese rugby club in 2023, which would have brought with it his first professional contract.
But the front-rower instead opted to stick with Penrith, taking a punt on trying to crack into a squad that had already won two straight premierships.
"There was nothing really promised of training full time," Patea told AAP.
"I had the opportunity to go to Japan and play rugby overseas. But I spoke to my manager and family and decided I wanted to try and stick with rugby league.
"It was just go in and try and play my best footy and try and get that opportunity. And fortunately I did after that year.
"Now when I get the chance to sit back after games, I think about doing my family proud.
"But I'm also proud of myself for making the decision to stay and backing it."
Patea said his main motivation had come from training one day with Penrith's squad in 2022, as part of their Pearls program.
There, the top picks of talent from U19s and U17s experience a full day training with the NRL squad, and are handed the same kit and schedule as full-time players.
"I spent that day with Moses (Leota) and Spencer," Patea said.
"Talking to them, they were telling me about the club and how they came through. I wanted to experience that for myself.
"It made me just want to stay."
More of a rugby union watcher growing up, Leota and Leniu are now the men Patea look up to for their work ethic and aggression respectively.
It's also the kind of player the Panthers need right now, after losing Leniu and his bench impact after 2023.
"I hear a lot of people say I am like another, Spencer," Patea said.
"That's a good thing for me. Spencer's obviously a really good player and what he did for the club when he was here, I want to do as well.
"There are similarities in the way we run ... But I'm just trying to build confidence to play my game and not be compared to anyone else."
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The Advertiser
24 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Aussie Leishman on right track for US Open date
Marc Leishman appears to be finding form at the right time with his US Open date on the horizon. The Australian shot a four-under 67 at LIV Golf Virginia in Gainesville on Friday to trail leaders Bryson DeChambeau and Germany's Martin Kaymer by one stroke after the opening round. Leishman is in good knick after coming through qualifying at nearby Rockville by obtaining one of four slots available for next week's Open at Oakmont Country Club. Tied for third, Leishman went on a birdie blitz on the sixth, seventh and eighth holes before making another on the 10th at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. Bogeys on the 12th and 15th stymied his progress before he rebounded with closing birdies on 17 and 18. Like Leishman, DeChambeau is also in good shape before the defence of his US Open title. He chipped in for an eagle and a birdie on his way to his 66 and shot up the leaderboard after a brief weather delay, eagling the par-5 14th and birdieing each of the next two holes. His chip at No.14 was a soft placement next to a slope, and his ball rolled from right to left right into the cup. At the par-4 16th, he missed the green and chopped his third shot out of some thick rough, only to watch his ball head straight to the pin and disappear again. "Man, what's nice is coming out into some soft conditions," DeChambeau said. "That little chip shot became a hell of a lot easier for me. So I just chipped it out to the right exactly what I saw. I don't know if you saw, but I was studying it before I left. "I was like this looks perfect, came out, still looks perfect, hit it exactly where I wanted it to land, and it went right in the frickin' hole." Leishman is tied for third with Phil Mickelson, who may play in his final US Open next week. Also on the same number are Spain's Jon Rahm, searching for his third career major win, Chilean Joaquin Niemann, who received the USGA's first special invite based on LIV performance, Indian Anirban Lahiri and Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell. RangeGoats GC teammates Bubba Watson and Peter Uihlein are tied at three under with Patrick Reed and Belgium's Thomas Pieters, both of 4Aces. Australian Cameron Smith is at one under while compatriots Lucas Herbert and Matt Jones are both at four over. RangeGoats lead the team competition at nine under par, two shots better than 4Aces and DeChambeau's team, Crushers GC. Marc Leishman appears to be finding form at the right time with his US Open date on the horizon. The Australian shot a four-under 67 at LIV Golf Virginia in Gainesville on Friday to trail leaders Bryson DeChambeau and Germany's Martin Kaymer by one stroke after the opening round. Leishman is in good knick after coming through qualifying at nearby Rockville by obtaining one of four slots available for next week's Open at Oakmont Country Club. Tied for third, Leishman went on a birdie blitz on the sixth, seventh and eighth holes before making another on the 10th at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. Bogeys on the 12th and 15th stymied his progress before he rebounded with closing birdies on 17 and 18. Like Leishman, DeChambeau is also in good shape before the defence of his US Open title. He chipped in for an eagle and a birdie on his way to his 66 and shot up the leaderboard after a brief weather delay, eagling the par-5 14th and birdieing each of the next two holes. His chip at No.14 was a soft placement next to a slope, and his ball rolled from right to left right into the cup. At the par-4 16th, he missed the green and chopped his third shot out of some thick rough, only to watch his ball head straight to the pin and disappear again. "Man, what's nice is coming out into some soft conditions," DeChambeau said. "That little chip shot became a hell of a lot easier for me. So I just chipped it out to the right exactly what I saw. I don't know if you saw, but I was studying it before I left. "I was like this looks perfect, came out, still looks perfect, hit it exactly where I wanted it to land, and it went right in the frickin' hole." Leishman is tied for third with Phil Mickelson, who may play in his final US Open next week. Also on the same number are Spain's Jon Rahm, searching for his third career major win, Chilean Joaquin Niemann, who received the USGA's first special invite based on LIV performance, Indian Anirban Lahiri and Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell. RangeGoats GC teammates Bubba Watson and Peter Uihlein are tied at three under with Patrick Reed and Belgium's Thomas Pieters, both of 4Aces. Australian Cameron Smith is at one under while compatriots Lucas Herbert and Matt Jones are both at four over. RangeGoats lead the team competition at nine under par, two shots better than 4Aces and DeChambeau's team, Crushers GC. Marc Leishman appears to be finding form at the right time with his US Open date on the horizon. The Australian shot a four-under 67 at LIV Golf Virginia in Gainesville on Friday to trail leaders Bryson DeChambeau and Germany's Martin Kaymer by one stroke after the opening round. Leishman is in good knick after coming through qualifying at nearby Rockville by obtaining one of four slots available for next week's Open at Oakmont Country Club. Tied for third, Leishman went on a birdie blitz on the sixth, seventh and eighth holes before making another on the 10th at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. Bogeys on the 12th and 15th stymied his progress before he rebounded with closing birdies on 17 and 18. Like Leishman, DeChambeau is also in good shape before the defence of his US Open title. He chipped in for an eagle and a birdie on his way to his 66 and shot up the leaderboard after a brief weather delay, eagling the par-5 14th and birdieing each of the next two holes. His chip at No.14 was a soft placement next to a slope, and his ball rolled from right to left right into the cup. At the par-4 16th, he missed the green and chopped his third shot out of some thick rough, only to watch his ball head straight to the pin and disappear again. "Man, what's nice is coming out into some soft conditions," DeChambeau said. "That little chip shot became a hell of a lot easier for me. So I just chipped it out to the right exactly what I saw. I don't know if you saw, but I was studying it before I left. "I was like this looks perfect, came out, still looks perfect, hit it exactly where I wanted it to land, and it went right in the frickin' hole." Leishman is tied for third with Phil Mickelson, who may play in his final US Open next week. Also on the same number are Spain's Jon Rahm, searching for his third career major win, Chilean Joaquin Niemann, who received the USGA's first special invite based on LIV performance, Indian Anirban Lahiri and Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell. RangeGoats GC teammates Bubba Watson and Peter Uihlein are tied at three under with Patrick Reed and Belgium's Thomas Pieters, both of 4Aces. Australian Cameron Smith is at one under while compatriots Lucas Herbert and Matt Jones are both at four over. RangeGoats lead the team competition at nine under par, two shots better than 4Aces and DeChambeau's team, Crushers GC. Marc Leishman appears to be finding form at the right time with his US Open date on the horizon. The Australian shot a four-under 67 at LIV Golf Virginia in Gainesville on Friday to trail leaders Bryson DeChambeau and Germany's Martin Kaymer by one stroke after the opening round. Leishman is in good knick after coming through qualifying at nearby Rockville by obtaining one of four slots available for next week's Open at Oakmont Country Club. Tied for third, Leishman went on a birdie blitz on the sixth, seventh and eighth holes before making another on the 10th at Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. Bogeys on the 12th and 15th stymied his progress before he rebounded with closing birdies on 17 and 18. Like Leishman, DeChambeau is also in good shape before the defence of his US Open title. He chipped in for an eagle and a birdie on his way to his 66 and shot up the leaderboard after a brief weather delay, eagling the par-5 14th and birdieing each of the next two holes. His chip at No.14 was a soft placement next to a slope, and his ball rolled from right to left right into the cup. At the par-4 16th, he missed the green and chopped his third shot out of some thick rough, only to watch his ball head straight to the pin and disappear again. "Man, what's nice is coming out into some soft conditions," DeChambeau said. "That little chip shot became a hell of a lot easier for me. So I just chipped it out to the right exactly what I saw. I don't know if you saw, but I was studying it before I left. "I was like this looks perfect, came out, still looks perfect, hit it exactly where I wanted it to land, and it went right in the frickin' hole." Leishman is tied for third with Phil Mickelson, who may play in his final US Open next week. Also on the same number are Spain's Jon Rahm, searching for his third career major win, Chilean Joaquin Niemann, who received the USGA's first special invite based on LIV performance, Indian Anirban Lahiri and Northern Irishman Graeme McDowell. RangeGoats GC teammates Bubba Watson and Peter Uihlein are tied at three under with Patrick Reed and Belgium's Thomas Pieters, both of 4Aces. Australian Cameron Smith is at one under while compatriots Lucas Herbert and Matt Jones are both at four over. RangeGoats lead the team competition at nine under par, two shots better than 4Aces and DeChambeau's team, Crushers GC.
The Advertiser
24 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Postecoglou loses Tottenham job but keeps his pride
Ange Postecoglou will walk away from Tottenham Hotspur with his pride and his reputation intact and his place in the club's heritage assured after an eventful two-year stint in north London. Ending the club's 17-year trophy drought by winning the Europa League made sure of that. The Australian delivered on his claim of always winning a trophy in his second season at a club, but few could have envisaged the circumstances in which it happened. From the ruins of a nightmarish Premier League season, Tottenham ground out a backs-to-the-wall victory against one of the worst Manchester United sides in decades with a display at odds with the club's 'to dare is to do' motto. Earlier in the season, after Tottenham beat United 4-3 in a rollercoaster League Cup quarter-final, Postecoglou railed against studio pundits who criticised his expansive style. "Are you not entertained?! What do you want? Do you want a scrambly 1-0? The studio's probably going into meltdown over my lack of tactics but I love the fact we go out there and take it to opposition," he bristled. A few months later, Tottenham did just that, beating United 1-0 with a messy goal and a second half display in which they had 19 per cent of the ball and barely crossed the halfway line. Postecoglou had only to point to the euphoric scenes in the stadium to answer those who sneered at Tottenham's glory night. In a parallel universe it could have heralded the ignition point for a Postecoglou dynasty at Tottenham, just as Manchester United's 1989 FA Cup win did for Alex Ferguson. Instead, it just marked the end of another brief chapter in the club's history, albeit a memorable one, as he became the fifth full-time manager to be sacked in little over five years. When Postecoglou arrived in 2023 with his swashbuckling 'Ange-Ball' style he seemed the perfect fit for a club worn down by the joyless reigns of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte. Twenty six points from his opening 10 Premier League games in the 2023-24 season was more than any other manager in his first season in the competition, eclipsing the likes of serial title winners like Mourinho and Pep Guardiola. It was Tottenham's best start to a top-flight season since their last title-winning campaign in 1960-61. Then the wheels fell off. His 11th game, at home to Chelsea, offered an early clue as to what would become his eventual downfall. The mood was ecstatic as Spurs scored early but then they suffered two big injuries and were reduced to nine men by the 55th minute when Destiny Udogie joined Cristian Romero in receiving a rash red card. Even two players down, and with the score at 1-1, Postecoglou insisted his team play a high defensive line and go for goals and, while it was compelling viewing, they eventually subsided to a chaotic 4-1 defeat. That loyalty to his attacking philosophy was admirable and earned him staunch support amongst the club's fans, but it also exposed a lack of tactical pragmatism. Tottenham limped to fifth in Postecoglou's first term, securing continental football in the Europa League, and there were high hopes that his second season would see him mould a team capable of mounting a title challenge. Instead, Tottenham endured their worst top-flight season since they were relegated in 1977, ending in 17th place with 22 defeats and 65 goals conceded. There were mitigating circumstances. A chronic injury list took out central defenders Romero and Micky van de Ven, strikers Dominic Solanke and Richarlison and keeper Guglielmo Vicario for long periods and with no danger of relegation he put all his eggs in the Europa League basket. He will also argue that the likes of Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and Mikey Moore promise a bright future. He will not, however be the one to benefit with chairman Daniel Levy deciding that the Europa League triumph was the anomaly, rather than the 22 league defeats. The biggest criticism of Postecoglou was that his insistence on high defensive lines and playing out from the back, even when the players obviously could not execute it, exposed the team's soft underbelly and made them easy to beat. Relegated clubs Leicester City and Ipswich Town both beat Tottenham whose only league win in their last 12 games was against woeful bottom club Southampton. Yet set against their Premier League slide, Postecoglou conjured a parting gift for the long-suffering fans and they do not care how it was achieved. He leaves having changed the narrative around the club but whether the it can seize the moment and build a sustained challenge for regular silverware remains to be seen. Ange Postecoglou will walk away from Tottenham Hotspur with his pride and his reputation intact and his place in the club's heritage assured after an eventful two-year stint in north London. Ending the club's 17-year trophy drought by winning the Europa League made sure of that. The Australian delivered on his claim of always winning a trophy in his second season at a club, but few could have envisaged the circumstances in which it happened. From the ruins of a nightmarish Premier League season, Tottenham ground out a backs-to-the-wall victory against one of the worst Manchester United sides in decades with a display at odds with the club's 'to dare is to do' motto. Earlier in the season, after Tottenham beat United 4-3 in a rollercoaster League Cup quarter-final, Postecoglou railed against studio pundits who criticised his expansive style. "Are you not entertained?! What do you want? Do you want a scrambly 1-0? The studio's probably going into meltdown over my lack of tactics but I love the fact we go out there and take it to opposition," he bristled. A few months later, Tottenham did just that, beating United 1-0 with a messy goal and a second half display in which they had 19 per cent of the ball and barely crossed the halfway line. Postecoglou had only to point to the euphoric scenes in the stadium to answer those who sneered at Tottenham's glory night. In a parallel universe it could have heralded the ignition point for a Postecoglou dynasty at Tottenham, just as Manchester United's 1989 FA Cup win did for Alex Ferguson. Instead, it just marked the end of another brief chapter in the club's history, albeit a memorable one, as he became the fifth full-time manager to be sacked in little over five years. When Postecoglou arrived in 2023 with his swashbuckling 'Ange-Ball' style he seemed the perfect fit for a club worn down by the joyless reigns of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte. Twenty six points from his opening 10 Premier League games in the 2023-24 season was more than any other manager in his first season in the competition, eclipsing the likes of serial title winners like Mourinho and Pep Guardiola. It was Tottenham's best start to a top-flight season since their last title-winning campaign in 1960-61. Then the wheels fell off. His 11th game, at home to Chelsea, offered an early clue as to what would become his eventual downfall. The mood was ecstatic as Spurs scored early but then they suffered two big injuries and were reduced to nine men by the 55th minute when Destiny Udogie joined Cristian Romero in receiving a rash red card. Even two players down, and with the score at 1-1, Postecoglou insisted his team play a high defensive line and go for goals and, while it was compelling viewing, they eventually subsided to a chaotic 4-1 defeat. That loyalty to his attacking philosophy was admirable and earned him staunch support amongst the club's fans, but it also exposed a lack of tactical pragmatism. Tottenham limped to fifth in Postecoglou's first term, securing continental football in the Europa League, and there were high hopes that his second season would see him mould a team capable of mounting a title challenge. Instead, Tottenham endured their worst top-flight season since they were relegated in 1977, ending in 17th place with 22 defeats and 65 goals conceded. There were mitigating circumstances. A chronic injury list took out central defenders Romero and Micky van de Ven, strikers Dominic Solanke and Richarlison and keeper Guglielmo Vicario for long periods and with no danger of relegation he put all his eggs in the Europa League basket. He will also argue that the likes of Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and Mikey Moore promise a bright future. He will not, however be the one to benefit with chairman Daniel Levy deciding that the Europa League triumph was the anomaly, rather than the 22 league defeats. The biggest criticism of Postecoglou was that his insistence on high defensive lines and playing out from the back, even when the players obviously could not execute it, exposed the team's soft underbelly and made them easy to beat. Relegated clubs Leicester City and Ipswich Town both beat Tottenham whose only league win in their last 12 games was against woeful bottom club Southampton. Yet set against their Premier League slide, Postecoglou conjured a parting gift for the long-suffering fans and they do not care how it was achieved. He leaves having changed the narrative around the club but whether the it can seize the moment and build a sustained challenge for regular silverware remains to be seen. Ange Postecoglou will walk away from Tottenham Hotspur with his pride and his reputation intact and his place in the club's heritage assured after an eventful two-year stint in north London. Ending the club's 17-year trophy drought by winning the Europa League made sure of that. The Australian delivered on his claim of always winning a trophy in his second season at a club, but few could have envisaged the circumstances in which it happened. From the ruins of a nightmarish Premier League season, Tottenham ground out a backs-to-the-wall victory against one of the worst Manchester United sides in decades with a display at odds with the club's 'to dare is to do' motto. Earlier in the season, after Tottenham beat United 4-3 in a rollercoaster League Cup quarter-final, Postecoglou railed against studio pundits who criticised his expansive style. "Are you not entertained?! What do you want? Do you want a scrambly 1-0? The studio's probably going into meltdown over my lack of tactics but I love the fact we go out there and take it to opposition," he bristled. A few months later, Tottenham did just that, beating United 1-0 with a messy goal and a second half display in which they had 19 per cent of the ball and barely crossed the halfway line. Postecoglou had only to point to the euphoric scenes in the stadium to answer those who sneered at Tottenham's glory night. In a parallel universe it could have heralded the ignition point for a Postecoglou dynasty at Tottenham, just as Manchester United's 1989 FA Cup win did for Alex Ferguson. Instead, it just marked the end of another brief chapter in the club's history, albeit a memorable one, as he became the fifth full-time manager to be sacked in little over five years. When Postecoglou arrived in 2023 with his swashbuckling 'Ange-Ball' style he seemed the perfect fit for a club worn down by the joyless reigns of Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte. Twenty six points from his opening 10 Premier League games in the 2023-24 season was more than any other manager in his first season in the competition, eclipsing the likes of serial title winners like Mourinho and Pep Guardiola. It was Tottenham's best start to a top-flight season since their last title-winning campaign in 1960-61. Then the wheels fell off. His 11th game, at home to Chelsea, offered an early clue as to what would become his eventual downfall. The mood was ecstatic as Spurs scored early but then they suffered two big injuries and were reduced to nine men by the 55th minute when Destiny Udogie joined Cristian Romero in receiving a rash red card. Even two players down, and with the score at 1-1, Postecoglou insisted his team play a high defensive line and go for goals and, while it was compelling viewing, they eventually subsided to a chaotic 4-1 defeat. That loyalty to his attacking philosophy was admirable and earned him staunch support amongst the club's fans, but it also exposed a lack of tactical pragmatism. Tottenham limped to fifth in Postecoglou's first term, securing continental football in the Europa League, and there were high hopes that his second season would see him mould a team capable of mounting a title challenge. Instead, Tottenham endured their worst top-flight season since they were relegated in 1977, ending in 17th place with 22 defeats and 65 goals conceded. There were mitigating circumstances. A chronic injury list took out central defenders Romero and Micky van de Ven, strikers Dominic Solanke and Richarlison and keeper Guglielmo Vicario for long periods and with no danger of relegation he put all his eggs in the Europa League basket. He will also argue that the likes of Lucas Bergvall, Archie Gray and Mikey Moore promise a bright future. He will not, however be the one to benefit with chairman Daniel Levy deciding that the Europa League triumph was the anomaly, rather than the 22 league defeats. The biggest criticism of Postecoglou was that his insistence on high defensive lines and playing out from the back, even when the players obviously could not execute it, exposed the team's soft underbelly and made them easy to beat. Relegated clubs Leicester City and Ipswich Town both beat Tottenham whose only league win in their last 12 games was against woeful bottom club Southampton. Yet set against their Premier League slide, Postecoglou conjured a parting gift for the long-suffering fans and they do not care how it was achieved. He leaves having changed the narrative around the club but whether the it can seize the moment and build a sustained challenge for regular silverware remains to be seen.
The Advertiser
24 minutes ago
- The Advertiser
Raiders eye winning send-off for record-breaker Papalii
Ahead of becoming Canberra's most-capped NRL player, Josh Papalii has been heralded as the key to a long-awaited title for his beloved Raiders. Sia Soliola, Papalii's former Raiders teammate on the field and long-term friend off it, says the young Raiders squad have what it takes to win the club's first premiership in more than three decades. And Big Papa's experience will be crucial. "We always relied on him, and a lot was put on Paps' shoulders," Soliola told AAP. "He has always stepped up in crucial times when we've needed someone. He's the guy that still produces the moments in a game where you need something special. That's where Paps' presence really comes to life, and I think that'll play a big part for the Raiders this year." His second-half spell to help inspire the Raiders' comeback win against the Sydney Roosters was a case in point. Papalii will be the first to admit his athleticism isn't where it once was, but even at 33 the copious Queenslander is still a vital cog for coach Ricky Stuart's side. Sunday's clash against South Sydney will be another crucial one for the Green Machine, who could go top with a win, before a much-needed first bye of the season. His comrades will be even more determined to get the two points to celebrate Papalii notching 319 games with the Raiders to surpass fellow one-club man Jason Croker as the most-capped player in Canberra's history. But it's the "off-field stuff" the boy from Logan will look back on most fondly. "The club's been so loyal to me. If you sort of think about what I've been through off-field, I probably should have been sacked 12 years ago, so the club's been such a loyal base for myself and my family," said Papalii, who has admitted this season will be his last for the Raiders. "I hope I've repaid that with love and sacrifice and in the way I've gone about my craft." Despite the inexperienced roster, Stuart has his squad firing on all cylinders, and there is a sense among the Raiders faithful - with GIO Stadium set for another sold-out crowd - that this season could be a special one. It would be a fairytale ending at the club for Papalii after missing out on a title in an agonising grand-final loss to the Roosters in 2019. "You see all these really great players that never really get to lift it, but the Raiders have got a really good opportunity this year," Soliola said. "If they keep going the way they're going they're definitely going to give themselves a shot at the business end. I think everyone in rugby league would want that to happen for someone like Paps." The Raiders would also dearly love to send off Jamal Fogarty on a high note. A part of club folklore even before he joined - Papalii's 2020 Dally M tackle of the year-winning ankle tap on the then-Titans halfback was immortalised on commemorative Budgy Smugglers - Fogarty has become a fan favourite since, but is bound for Manly next season. The playmaker has been one of the league's outstanding halves this season and is a welcome boost to the Raiders' starting line-up after a one-week lay-off with a groin injury. Fellow Queenslander Corey Horsburgh will also hit a milestone on Sunday, playing his 100th NRL game. It's the last audition for "Big Red'' ahead of selection for State of Origin II, with the hulking prop's red-hot form making him a favourite for inclusion in Billy Slater's Maroons squad. Ahead of becoming Canberra's most-capped NRL player, Josh Papalii has been heralded as the key to a long-awaited title for his beloved Raiders. Sia Soliola, Papalii's former Raiders teammate on the field and long-term friend off it, says the young Raiders squad have what it takes to win the club's first premiership in more than three decades. And Big Papa's experience will be crucial. "We always relied on him, and a lot was put on Paps' shoulders," Soliola told AAP. "He has always stepped up in crucial times when we've needed someone. He's the guy that still produces the moments in a game where you need something special. That's where Paps' presence really comes to life, and I think that'll play a big part for the Raiders this year." His second-half spell to help inspire the Raiders' comeback win against the Sydney Roosters was a case in point. Papalii will be the first to admit his athleticism isn't where it once was, but even at 33 the copious Queenslander is still a vital cog for coach Ricky Stuart's side. Sunday's clash against South Sydney will be another crucial one for the Green Machine, who could go top with a win, before a much-needed first bye of the season. His comrades will be even more determined to get the two points to celebrate Papalii notching 319 games with the Raiders to surpass fellow one-club man Jason Croker as the most-capped player in Canberra's history. But it's the "off-field stuff" the boy from Logan will look back on most fondly. "The club's been so loyal to me. If you sort of think about what I've been through off-field, I probably should have been sacked 12 years ago, so the club's been such a loyal base for myself and my family," said Papalii, who has admitted this season will be his last for the Raiders. "I hope I've repaid that with love and sacrifice and in the way I've gone about my craft." Despite the inexperienced roster, Stuart has his squad firing on all cylinders, and there is a sense among the Raiders faithful - with GIO Stadium set for another sold-out crowd - that this season could be a special one. It would be a fairytale ending at the club for Papalii after missing out on a title in an agonising grand-final loss to the Roosters in 2019. "You see all these really great players that never really get to lift it, but the Raiders have got a really good opportunity this year," Soliola said. "If they keep going the way they're going they're definitely going to give themselves a shot at the business end. I think everyone in rugby league would want that to happen for someone like Paps." The Raiders would also dearly love to send off Jamal Fogarty on a high note. A part of club folklore even before he joined - Papalii's 2020 Dally M tackle of the year-winning ankle tap on the then-Titans halfback was immortalised on commemorative Budgy Smugglers - Fogarty has become a fan favourite since, but is bound for Manly next season. The playmaker has been one of the league's outstanding halves this season and is a welcome boost to the Raiders' starting line-up after a one-week lay-off with a groin injury. Fellow Queenslander Corey Horsburgh will also hit a milestone on Sunday, playing his 100th NRL game. It's the last audition for "Big Red'' ahead of selection for State of Origin II, with the hulking prop's red-hot form making him a favourite for inclusion in Billy Slater's Maroons squad. Ahead of becoming Canberra's most-capped NRL player, Josh Papalii has been heralded as the key to a long-awaited title for his beloved Raiders. Sia Soliola, Papalii's former Raiders teammate on the field and long-term friend off it, says the young Raiders squad have what it takes to win the club's first premiership in more than three decades. And Big Papa's experience will be crucial. "We always relied on him, and a lot was put on Paps' shoulders," Soliola told AAP. "He has always stepped up in crucial times when we've needed someone. He's the guy that still produces the moments in a game where you need something special. That's where Paps' presence really comes to life, and I think that'll play a big part for the Raiders this year." His second-half spell to help inspire the Raiders' comeback win against the Sydney Roosters was a case in point. Papalii will be the first to admit his athleticism isn't where it once was, but even at 33 the copious Queenslander is still a vital cog for coach Ricky Stuart's side. Sunday's clash against South Sydney will be another crucial one for the Green Machine, who could go top with a win, before a much-needed first bye of the season. His comrades will be even more determined to get the two points to celebrate Papalii notching 319 games with the Raiders to surpass fellow one-club man Jason Croker as the most-capped player in Canberra's history. But it's the "off-field stuff" the boy from Logan will look back on most fondly. "The club's been so loyal to me. If you sort of think about what I've been through off-field, I probably should have been sacked 12 years ago, so the club's been such a loyal base for myself and my family," said Papalii, who has admitted this season will be his last for the Raiders. "I hope I've repaid that with love and sacrifice and in the way I've gone about my craft." Despite the inexperienced roster, Stuart has his squad firing on all cylinders, and there is a sense among the Raiders faithful - with GIO Stadium set for another sold-out crowd - that this season could be a special one. It would be a fairytale ending at the club for Papalii after missing out on a title in an agonising grand-final loss to the Roosters in 2019. "You see all these really great players that never really get to lift it, but the Raiders have got a really good opportunity this year," Soliola said. "If they keep going the way they're going they're definitely going to give themselves a shot at the business end. I think everyone in rugby league would want that to happen for someone like Paps." The Raiders would also dearly love to send off Jamal Fogarty on a high note. A part of club folklore even before he joined - Papalii's 2020 Dally M tackle of the year-winning ankle tap on the then-Titans halfback was immortalised on commemorative Budgy Smugglers - Fogarty has become a fan favourite since, but is bound for Manly next season. The playmaker has been one of the league's outstanding halves this season and is a welcome boost to the Raiders' starting line-up after a one-week lay-off with a groin injury. Fellow Queenslander Corey Horsburgh will also hit a milestone on Sunday, playing his 100th NRL game. It's the last audition for "Big Red'' ahead of selection for State of Origin II, with the hulking prop's red-hot form making him a favourite for inclusion in Billy Slater's Maroons squad.
