GWS to ‘hold faith' in Stringer move
AFL: Jake Stringer has suffered his second hamstring in as many months, as questions begin to grow over the veteran's fitness following his move from Essendon to the Giants.
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News.com.au
4 hours ago
- News.com.au
Lewis Bishop swims the lows and highs of life on his way into Aussie Dolphins team set for the World Para Swimming Championships
Aussie World Para Swimming Championship selection, Queensland's Lewis Bishop, knows the highs and lows of life like few others. Why? Because he saw rock bottom, a near-death experience 10 years ago which motivated him to strive for one of his proudest moments - winning at bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games 'There were so many years building up to that moment, and the fact that my parents were there was special,'' said Lewis, a butterfly ace. 'It was my first team and I did not have the expectation of winning a medal so the bronze medal was almost unbelievable at the time.'' To think it was just 10 years ago when Bishop, aged nine, went to hell and back. Bishop, now 19, was living in PNG with his mum and dad, Clare and Damon, where his dad worked in the mines and his mother ran a swimming squad for locals. One day he was out on the water knee boarding with family friends when he jumped into the water and got his leg caught in the propeller. The injuries were so horrific, he was at death's door. 'I almost died,'' 19-year-old Bishop said. He was in a critical condition, flown to Townsville hospital that night, and after a week transported to Brisbane. Bishop had his leg amputated below the knee, but the wound became infected and had to be amputated higher up. That, ladies and gentlemen, is what the bottom of the barrel looks like and Bishop saw it. He then continued to push through more adversity before, 12 operations later, Bishop's life started to swing around. 'Within a few months (after the accident) I was walking again, and a few months after that I was active again back in the pool.'' A bit of tough love from mum helped him get back into the pool. 'I'd like to say mum basically tipped me out of my (wheel) chair and into the pool. 'She said 'you are not going to be sitting around because of your disability'. You are going to be active,'' Bishop recalled. 'I learned to do that (swim) before I learned to walk again.'' First stop in the rebirth of his sporting journey was the Somerville House school pool, not far from the hospital where he was staying. 'I don't remember swimming being too difficult. Obviously the kick was not as strong, but I could float and I made it to the other end, so I was happy.'' Joining Bishop in the water was his mum, Clare. 'As soon as his wounds were healed, I took him in a wheelchair up to Somerville House pool and tipped him in and it was the first time he had probably smiled since the accident,'' Clare said. 'We knew the only way forward was to keep him active the best way we could,'' said his mother Clare. 'It was hard. You want to wrap him up in cotton wool, but we also knew the only way forward was to be mentally engaged. And being a sporting boy, we needed to follow his natural inclination (of being involved in sport). 'He loved the water as a baby. I think he swam before he walked,'' Clare recalled. 'He loves a challenge and he took it.'' Bishop's love of the water came from his time in coastal Gove, the Northern Territory, when his father was working in the mines. 'It was amazing fishing,'' Bishop recalled. From there the family moved to PNG where Bishop's love affair with the water continued. So when he was looking to resume a sporting life following his accident, it was only natural that this water baby hit the pool. Bishop, who attended St Bernard's Primary School and then Clairvaux MacKillop College, trains under Josh Smith at Rackley Swimming Hibiscus. Last week his progression continued when he made the world championship squad headed to Singapore in September. Bishop is a part of the Paralympics Australia's Imagine Education Program which educates students about the Paralympic movement, the Games and Para sports. Paralympians like Bishop from the Queensland Academy of Sport visit primary schools to help break down stigma around disability. Currently, only 25 percent of people with a disability participate in sport and Bishop would like to help that to change. Having once looked up to Olympians and paralympians, Bishop is now one of those young men educating the youth of today about disability in sport. 'I hope to inspire the future generation,'' Bishop said. 'When I was in primary school (at St Bernard's School) and a Paralympian had visited, that would have been pretty special. And now I do that. It is an honour to be able to give back.'' For Bishop, he is only in the middle of his sporting dream. It all started in that Somerville House pool when he entered the water from a wheelchair 10 years ago, it continued in Paris at the Games, and it could end in Brisbane at the 2023 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 'I feel like I am just getting started. Brisbane (2032) is coming up on the horizon so I want to stay around for that.'' Bishop dares to dream because he knows dreams do come true. After all, he is alive, isn't he, he can walk and he can swim - very, very well.
The Advertiser
7 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Deja vu for GWS coach after Giants come from the clouds
Fourth-quarter comebacks on home turf are shaping as a familiar tale for GWS coach Adam Kingsley after a comeback win over Gold Coast. The Suns slammed through the first four goals at Engie Stadium on Sunday, but Kingsley wasn't overly worried. A fortnight ago the Giants overcame a 28-point deficit against Richmond to win by three points. A third-quarter time message by Callan Ward, who had ruptured his ACL, proved pivotal. Staring down a 22-point difference on Sunday, Giants young gun Aaron Cadman kicked his second goal to spark another comeback. Cadman's goal was followed by seven more, with substitute Jake Stringer kicking the match-winner in their 16.10 (106) to 14.15 (99) victory. "I didn't have Wardy this time, that was the only difference," Kingsley said. "To be down at three-quarter time, our guys know that we've been able to do that in the past and so we built great confidence out of being able to do it. "But you've then got to go and do it against what was and is a really good team. "That doesn't mean we always do it, and we're going to make mistakes, of course, but when we put it together, I think we're a pretty good team." Sunday's clash was dubbed the biggest yet of the so-called Expansion Cup, given both of the AFL's youngest franchises were in the top eight. The match was played in front of 10,504 fans - the largest GWS home crowd against Gold Coast. The Giants are seventh (9-6) on the ladder heading into their round-16 bye, but the Suns dropped to ninth (8-5) after the Western Bulldogs thrashed Richmond on Sunday. "That naturally builds a little bit more emotion in the game," Kingsley said. "We understood this was an important game. We're playing against another top-eight team who are a really strong team. "We had a massive crowd, which suggests there's a sense that both of these teams are good teams. Kingsley praised Stringer, who was the perfect foil to young key forward Cadman. Stringer was playing his first game since round nine after overcoming his second hamstring injury of the year. The 31-year-old kicked the match-winner, dribbling the ball in from the right pocket. Cadman tallied three goals in his 50th game. "Both those guys finished the work from the guys up the field, but it wasn't just the goals," Kingsley said. "Aaron had some really important contests he needed to have and he did that. "I thought Jake had some really important decisions up the field that needed to be made. "And certainly that last one, where he booted the ball deep inside-50 and it turned at right angles and rolled out of bounds for a stoppage, was an incredible decision to make." Fourth-quarter comebacks on home turf are shaping as a familiar tale for GWS coach Adam Kingsley after a comeback win over Gold Coast. The Suns slammed through the first four goals at Engie Stadium on Sunday, but Kingsley wasn't overly worried. A fortnight ago the Giants overcame a 28-point deficit against Richmond to win by three points. A third-quarter time message by Callan Ward, who had ruptured his ACL, proved pivotal. Staring down a 22-point difference on Sunday, Giants young gun Aaron Cadman kicked his second goal to spark another comeback. Cadman's goal was followed by seven more, with substitute Jake Stringer kicking the match-winner in their 16.10 (106) to 14.15 (99) victory. "I didn't have Wardy this time, that was the only difference," Kingsley said. "To be down at three-quarter time, our guys know that we've been able to do that in the past and so we built great confidence out of being able to do it. "But you've then got to go and do it against what was and is a really good team. "That doesn't mean we always do it, and we're going to make mistakes, of course, but when we put it together, I think we're a pretty good team." Sunday's clash was dubbed the biggest yet of the so-called Expansion Cup, given both of the AFL's youngest franchises were in the top eight. The match was played in front of 10,504 fans - the largest GWS home crowd against Gold Coast. The Giants are seventh (9-6) on the ladder heading into their round-16 bye, but the Suns dropped to ninth (8-5) after the Western Bulldogs thrashed Richmond on Sunday. "That naturally builds a little bit more emotion in the game," Kingsley said. "We understood this was an important game. We're playing against another top-eight team who are a really strong team. "We had a massive crowd, which suggests there's a sense that both of these teams are good teams. Kingsley praised Stringer, who was the perfect foil to young key forward Cadman. Stringer was playing his first game since round nine after overcoming his second hamstring injury of the year. The 31-year-old kicked the match-winner, dribbling the ball in from the right pocket. Cadman tallied three goals in his 50th game. "Both those guys finished the work from the guys up the field, but it wasn't just the goals," Kingsley said. "Aaron had some really important contests he needed to have and he did that. "I thought Jake had some really important decisions up the field that needed to be made. "And certainly that last one, where he booted the ball deep inside-50 and it turned at right angles and rolled out of bounds for a stoppage, was an incredible decision to make." Fourth-quarter comebacks on home turf are shaping as a familiar tale for GWS coach Adam Kingsley after a comeback win over Gold Coast. The Suns slammed through the first four goals at Engie Stadium on Sunday, but Kingsley wasn't overly worried. A fortnight ago the Giants overcame a 28-point deficit against Richmond to win by three points. A third-quarter time message by Callan Ward, who had ruptured his ACL, proved pivotal. Staring down a 22-point difference on Sunday, Giants young gun Aaron Cadman kicked his second goal to spark another comeback. Cadman's goal was followed by seven more, with substitute Jake Stringer kicking the match-winner in their 16.10 (106) to 14.15 (99) victory. "I didn't have Wardy this time, that was the only difference," Kingsley said. "To be down at three-quarter time, our guys know that we've been able to do that in the past and so we built great confidence out of being able to do it. "But you've then got to go and do it against what was and is a really good team. "That doesn't mean we always do it, and we're going to make mistakes, of course, but when we put it together, I think we're a pretty good team." Sunday's clash was dubbed the biggest yet of the so-called Expansion Cup, given both of the AFL's youngest franchises were in the top eight. The match was played in front of 10,504 fans - the largest GWS home crowd against Gold Coast. The Giants are seventh (9-6) on the ladder heading into their round-16 bye, but the Suns dropped to ninth (8-5) after the Western Bulldogs thrashed Richmond on Sunday. "That naturally builds a little bit more emotion in the game," Kingsley said. "We understood this was an important game. We're playing against another top-eight team who are a really strong team. "We had a massive crowd, which suggests there's a sense that both of these teams are good teams. Kingsley praised Stringer, who was the perfect foil to young key forward Cadman. Stringer was playing his first game since round nine after overcoming his second hamstring injury of the year. The 31-year-old kicked the match-winner, dribbling the ball in from the right pocket. Cadman tallied three goals in his 50th game. "Both those guys finished the work from the guys up the field, but it wasn't just the goals," Kingsley said. "Aaron had some really important contests he needed to have and he did that. "I thought Jake had some really important decisions up the field that needed to be made. "And certainly that last one, where he booted the ball deep inside-50 and it turned at right angles and rolled out of bounds for a stoppage, was an incredible decision to make."
News.com.au
7 hours ago
- News.com.au
‘Outrageous': State of Origin move sparks furore as Ashley Klein set to be named for series decider
Ashley Klein is set to be handed the officiating reins for the State of Origin decider despite his controversial performance in Perth which left New South Wales fans and players outraged. The Blues were on the wrong end of an 8-0 first half penalty count in Game 2, which turned into 9-0 after 45 minutes. By that stage, Queensland were up 26-6. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. In the end, Queensland won 26-24, but the NSW camp felt they were officiated out of the game and scheduled a meeting with NRL management to seek an explanation for several of Klein's controversial calls. The Blues' main gripe was why Klein chose to ignore numerous clear indiscretions by Maroons players while penalising the Blues for similar offences. However, despite the Blues' protests, Code Sports reports Klein will again be in charge of the series decider. That is because the NRL referees are rated under a KPI system by the league and by the numbers Klein is at the top of the list. Categories measured include play-the-ball speed, decision-making, communication, game understanding, accuracy, communication with other officials, consistency, identifying infringements, positioning, game management, ruck communication, positioning, fitness and endurance. His appointment in Sydney will be under heavy scrutiny and will undoubtedly be met with fierce backlash. Speaking about his Game 2 performance earlier this week Buzz Rothfield tore into the veteran ref, saying his calls cost the Blues the game and series win in Perth. 'I think NSW were ill-disciplined and I don't have too many problems with the nine penalties they conceded. The problem I do have is that anyone can look at a replay of that first half and find 4-5 areas of the game where Queensland could quite easily have been penalised as well,' Rothfield said. 'In my eyes, he was refereeing one side for the majority of the first half. 'I know we were ill-disciplined and I'm not blaming it for the loss … but Gordie you cannot be perfect in Origin for 45 minutes. Impossible.' 'It's outrageous that Queensland can play 45 minutes in State of Origin and that intensity, mistakes are made, high speed, high intensity and not one penalty. That cannot happen.' He also went on to say NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley – who refused to answer any question on the officiating after the Game 2 defeat – was privately furious at Klein. 'Laurie will look at the video and find out what he wants to talk to the NRL about and then take it to adjudication,' Rothfield continued. 'He was furious after the game. Privately furious, but he knows he can't come out and say anything. Not just for the fine, but because it'll look like poor sportsmanship.' And as news of Klein's Game 3 appointment spread NSW fans were unsurprisingly annoyed. 'You've got to be kidding,' one fan wrote. 'What an absolute joke!' another added. While a third commented: 'Surely he's not the best ref we have.' NSW will have a home-ground advantage for the series decider, which will take place at Sydney's Accor Stadium on Wednesday, July 9.
