Maroons star's damning stat that NSW 'don't care about'

West Australian

a day ago

Recalled Queensland second-rower Kurt Capewell has the most missed tackles in the NRL this year but neither he nor NSW counterpart Angus Crichton is reading anything into it.
NRL statistics reveal that the 31-year-old has missed 75 tackles in his 13 games for the Warriors this season, 20 more than Wests Tigers hooker Api Koroisau (55) who is next on the list.
Capewell has played nine games in the back-row and four at centre this year but was not fazed by those defensive numbers ahead of game two of the State of Origin series in Perth.
"I am not aware of that stat but we are winning games at the Warriors so it obviously doesn't mean too much," he said.
Missed tackle stats can be somewhat misleading, given players who make an effort to stop an opponent are negatively marked as opposed to those who make no contact and no effort.
"Probably a lot of them are effort plays where you are pushing someone across field or trying to make a cover tackle," Capewell said.
"I don't read too much into the stats and I just do what I can for the team to win."
Crichton, who does not believe the Maroons will run out as their team list suggests, has no interest in Capewell's defensive statistics.
"I just don't care about their stats," Crichton said.
"I don't care about their team. I don't care about their changes.
"All I care about is our team and how we're going to get a better performance out of this side that I know we can produce."
Capewell was overlooked for the 18-6 loss in game one of this year's series but played the last two matches of 2024 that the Maroons lost.
He was a key man in 2020 and 2022 series wins for the Maroons and is highly regarded for his leadership, attacking instincts and push supports.
Capewell has helped the Warriors surge into the top four this season after missing the finals in 2024. He was asked if he thought his Origin career had passed him by before getting the call-up for Perth.
"Obviously it crosses your mind but I just worry about my form at club level and luckily the club has done really good and that has helped me play better," he said.
"It has been a highlight of my career to come into these camps and I'm honoured to be back again.
"Something about my game that I pride myself on is that I will do whatever the team needs.
"I will come in and try and do what I do well and try and get our game on. I feel like in game one (Queensland) probably missed the mark at getting our game on so we will work on that this week.
"There is a lot of feeling and emotion in this game so that's something we have to be ready for and we can't miss the start."