SuperCoach NRL: Buy, Hold, Sell Round 12
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ABC News
15 minutes ago
- ABC News
Tongan international Keaon Koloamatangi reveals dream to represent Australia after Payne Haas switch
Australia coach Kevin Walters may have found his replacement for Payne Haas as South Sydney beast Keaon Koloamatangi considers switching international allegiances from Tonga. Days after ex-Kangaroos prop Haas became the latest player to flag intentions of honouring their Pasifika heritage, Koloamatangi revealed his dream to wear the green-and-gold. The versatile 27-year-old forward was born in Sydney to an Australian mother and Tongan father, so is eligible to play for either country in Test matches. But after honouring his father across 10 matches for Tonga, Koloamatangi is enthusiastic about the prospect of representing his mother's nation at the international level. "My mum's Australian and my dad's Tongan, so playing for the Kangaroos is a dream of mine as well, as was Tonga. If I was able to get the chance sooner or later, I'd obviously give it a thought," he said. "I'm just taking it a week at a time. Obviously, I've got to get picked first." Koloamatangi has been the shining light in a dismal season for the Rabbitohs, proving particularly effective as a middle forward. Souths faced the top four sides in consecutive weeks midway through the year and Koloamatangi emerged from the tough stretch as the league's form front-rower. Koloamatangi is yet to address his Test future with Walters, who will preside over the Kangaroos' first Ashes tour since 2003 after the NRL season finishes. "I haven't spoken to anyone, but whatever happens, happens," Koloamatangi said. "I live day by day. Everything happens for a reason, so I'm sure the right thing will come." Koloamatangi made an early return from an ankle injury on Thursday night to help Souths claim their biggest win of the season, a 40-0 thrashing of lacklustre St George Illawarra. He ran for 199 metres in a 70-metre stint in the middle, with rival coach Shane Flanagan terming the big man's performance "outstanding". Koloamatangi had been expected to miss the remainder of the year with his ankle issue, but said the chance to be part of Alex Johnston's try-scoring milestone had motivated his speedy recovery. After scoring once against the Dragons with his 210th career try, Souths veteran Johnston is now only three four-pointers from passing Ken Irvine to become the leading tryscorer in premiership history. Johnston needs three tries from the Rabbitohs' final game to enter rarefied air this season. "I want to be part of history, so hopefully he gets it done this year. It was a credit to the physios as well. They helped me a lot," Koloamatangi said. AAP
SBS Australia
15 minutes ago
- SBS Australia
Izak Rankine's suspension for 'highly offensive homophobic slur' reduced over medical concerns
Adelaide star Izak Rankine is "deeply sorry" for a homophobic slur, as officials keep secret the medical reason that reduced his ban to four matches. Rankine is the sixth AFL-listed player banned for a homophobic slur against an opponent in the past 16 months. The AFL initially delivered a five-game suspension, which was reduced when the Crows made a "compelling medical submission", AFL chief Andrew Dillon said. Dillon and Adelaide CEO Tim Silvers refused to detail the nature of the medical submission. But Silvers admitted he was "nervous" for Rankine's mental health. "He put himself into this position and he's deeply remorseful and regrets what he said," Silvers told reporters in Adelaide. "But he's doing it pretty tough. He basically hasn't left his house for the last few days." Rankine will only play again this season if ladder-leading Adelaide lose a qualifying final but then advance to the grand final, when the 25-year-old would be available for selection. Adelaide play North Melbourne on Saturday in the last home-and-away round and will then host two finals. AFL boss Dillon defended the reduction of the league's initial proposed ban. "It was a compelling medical submission but I will not go into the detail," Dillon told reporters in Melbourne. Describing the suspension as "significant", Dillon denied it was designed to give Rankine hope of playing in the grand final. "A game is a game," he said. But Crows chief Silvers said the fact Rankine had a glimmer of grand final hope was important. "It's nice that there's a carrot for him and that it means his season, potentially, is not over ... that is good for his mental health," Silvers said. Rankine directed a homophobic slur to an unnamed Collingwood opponent in Adelaide's three-point win last Saturday night. "I regret using the word and I am deeply sorry for doing so," Rankine said in a club-issued statement. "That type of language has no place in football or in the community. "It was a mistake and I have apologised to the Collingwood player. And what happened does not reflect my values or those of the club. "I'm committed to educating myself and being better." Silvers said his club was "frustrated and disappointed" in Rankine, who will now likely spend time away from the city of Adelaide. "He might need some time out ... we're looking at some options to potentially just get him away and get him out of the Adelaide environment for a week or so," he said. Silvers was upset the AFL integrity unit's investigation, launched last Sunday, was leaked to media. "I'm disappointed that we had to deal with leaks throughout this process because it's supposed to be confidential," he said. "There was some information that was right and some misinformation as well." Silvers said his club didn't use claims of AFL hypocrisy for hiring Snoop Dogg for grand final entertainment as part of its submission. The rapper has released songs using the same homophobic slur - f****t - that Rankine directed at the Collingwood player. "That wasn't part of our submission," Silvers said. "We're striving to be in the grand final, there's no doubt about it. I don't think we're too focused on the grand final entertainment." Last month, West Coast's Jack Graham was banned four games for a homophobic remark to a GWS player. In April last year, Port Adelaide's Jeremy Finlayson was suspended for three games and, the following month, Gold Coast's Wil Powell was suspended five matches, both for directing homophobic slurs at opponents. Two VFL players - Sydney's Riak Andrew (five games) and St Kilda's Lance Collard (six matches) have also been banned for on-field homophobic comments. Fullstop Australia 1800 385 578
News.com.au
15 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Andrew Mallyon on Sydney mission with Yellow Brick after Stradbroke Handicap near miss
For a fleeting moment, jockey Andrew Mallyon thought he was about to score his first Group 1 when Queensland hero horse Yellow Brick launched late in the Stradbroke Handicap. After only being denied by the brilliant winner War Machine, Mallyon is looking forward to reuniting with Yellow Brick as the galloper's Sydney spring carnival campaign kicks off at Randwick on Saturday. The former Victorian jockey turned Queenslander hasn't ridden much in Sydney, having one win at Randwick from the five rides he has had there. He wants to make it count when Tony and Maddy Sears -trained Yellow Brick lines up in the Group 3 Show County Quality (1200m) on Saturday. There are uncontrollables such as the Sydney weather, but one thing Mallyon is sure of is Yellow Brick is heading to Sydney in fabulous form after finishing runner-up at $41 in the Stradbroke. 'Late in the Stradbroke, when I went past Private Eye, I thought we were a chance of winning,' Mallyon said. 'Some horses made their runs earlier than me and my horse had fresh legs to launch late. 'It wasn't to be, but he ran so well and backed up everything we had thought going into the race. 'The horse was flying on the track before the Stradbroke, he was working so well, but he didn't run as well as what we thought he would first-up at Doomben in the BRC Sprint. 'His trial also looked really plain, but in every bit of work he did in between I thought he was still on song. 'If you didn't have anything to do with the horse, you might have thought why would you bother running him in the Stradbroke? 'But I knew he was going well, it took me a month to get down to 53.5kg to ride him in the Stradbroke. 'Every time I galloped him, I didn't want to eat, I just wanted to ride him.' • Maloney aiming to turn back time at The Valley On Friday, Yellow Brick was rated an $8.50 chance to score in Sydney on Saturday. It is the first plank of a Sydney campaign which will hopefully culminate in a shot at the Group 1 Epsom Handicap over the famous Randwick mile on October 4. 'The weather and the track conditions are the only concern, as the horse is going really well,' Mallyon said. Mallyon is still searching for his first Group 1 win but said he has found a nice niche in the Queensland riding ranks after admitting it took him a while to get widespread support from trainers after he moved up from Victoria. Last season, Mallyon rode 97 winners nationally and finished equal fourth in the Brisbane jockeys' title with 46 winners. 'I am wanting to better that this season,' he said. 'It has taken a while to break through in Queensland, I have ridden for Kris Lees a lot but the wheel is starting to turn in terms of other trainers giving me more support. 'Matthew Dunn has been great to me and has really cemented my position riding in the city.'
