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Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
NRL world says same thing about Reece Walsh as teammate spotted in worrying scenes
NRL great Cooper Cronk summed it up perfectly after describing Reece Walsh's display in Brisbane's shock 22-20 loss to Parramatta as 'rocks or diamonds'. While a worrying late-game development for Payne Haas compounded the Broncos' woes as Michael Maguire's side saw their top-four hopes take a crushing blow on Friday night at Suncorp Stadium. Walsh thought he'd won an absorbing but scrappy encounter against the lowly Eels when he pounced on an error from Joash Papalii after a grubber kick from Gehamat Shibasaki in the final minute. But replays showed Walsh was in front of his teammate when the ball was kicked and the match-winning try was chalked off to leave Brisbane and their home fans shattered. It summed up a night to forget for Walsh, who put in another error-riddled display that also included some flashes of brilliance. Brisbane's superstar fullback was at fault for Parramatta's opening try to Sean Russell when he failed to diffuse a towering bomb from Mitchell Moses, who was outstanding in his return from injury and also set up a first half try to Zac Lomax with a pinpoint cross-field kick. Veteran Brisbane halfback Adam Reynolds ensured the home side took a slender lead into halftime though after taking an intercept and running some 80 metres to score. The Broncos captain also put Kobe Hetherington over the tryline with a crafty inside pass to give Brisbane a two-point lead at the break. Reece Walsh shattered after game to forget for Broncos Walsh had a second half to forget for the Broncos though and it was his sloppy pass that gifted the Eels possession and led to Lomax's second try. Moses - who returned from a calf injury he picked up in NSW camp before Game 2 game two of the Origin series - was again at the heart of it as his pass put Will Penisini into space to set up Lomax to cross out wide. RELATED: Jahrome Hughes forced to miss funeral for Storm teammate's father Unused camera angle that shows NRL world fooled by optical illusion With Brisbane chasing the game, Walsh took several poor options in attack that included a forward pass and an attempted 40/20 kick that went out on the full. But the superstar No.1 gave a stunning reminder of what he's capable of in an electric last-tackle player that saw him step through Parramatta's defensive line and set up Billy Walters for a go-ahead try. The Eels hit the lead again a short time later though when Josh Addo-Carr found space out wide and raced over for a milestone 150th try in the NRL. It set the stage for a grandstand finish but Walsh and the Broncos were ultimately left frustrated after the fullback strayed into an offside position off Shibasaki's grubber to cap off a rollercoaster game for the erratic No.1. Hobbling Payne Haas adds to Brisbane's pain To make matters worse for Brisbane, NSW Origin prop Haas could be seen limping badly at the end of the match. Maguire left Haas on the bench for 30 minutes in the middle of the match as he battled a lingering lower back complaint. But he came back on for the final stint, before suffering another possible injury that could have serious implications for Brisbane at the back-end of the season. "Payne is OK," Maguire said in his post-match press conference. But he suggested the superstar prop is feeling the effects of a long and gruelling season that saw him battling the back issue during the State of Origin series for NSW. "That's just his challenge at the moment to get himself right," the Broncos coach added. Reece Walsh ALMOST won it for the Broncos! 📺 Watch #NRLBroncosEels on ch.502 or stream on Kayo: BLOG MATCH CENTRE — Fox League (@FOXNRL) July 25, 2025 Only justice that Walsh was offside. After the game he had he didn't deserve to be the hero. The kid is good but needs to work on basic skills instead of the flashy things #NRLBroncosEels — Living The Dream (@DMiddy78) July 25, 2025 What are they paying Walsh again? He's a brilliant footballer but he is a mirror of what is everything wrong with the BroncoThey want to play pretty ball. They don't want to get in the grind and do it dirtyIt's why they'll remain disappointed every year #NRLbroncoseels — 91 03 21 22 23 24 PREMIERS 🐾🏆 (@SnoogThe) July 25, 2025 The whole gunslinger gimmick really isn't working out for Reece Walsh. The Broncos need a consistent, disciplined fullback, not someone who goes for the Hail Mary play 5 times a game. He needs to rein it in. #NRLBroncosEels — Adam Hayward (@adamkhayward) July 25, 2025 Was that 6+ mistakes by Walsh tonight. #NRLBroncosEels — Ghost of wawrence (@whereswawrence) July 25, 2025 with AAP
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Steve Sarkisian makes fun of Colin Cowherd's Nick Saban theories
Now that Nick Saban has announced his intentions about his coaching career, Fox Sports' Colin Cowherd now has to eat his words. Cowherd has been spreading the rumor that he thought the Cleveland Browns were going to pursue Saban for their head coaching position next year and would draft Arch Manning from Texas as their QB. When Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian appeared on 'The Herd,' he couldn't help but take a few jabs at Cowherd's wild theories about Saban. 'You already have him in Cleveland!' Sarkisian said. 'I heard you yesterday, you already have him in Cleveland, he's coaching Arch. I only have Arch for one year? Shoot, I thought I was going to have him for two.' When asked if he thought Saban would eventually return, Sark said he didn't think so. 'I don't know. Hey, he is a great coach and I loved my time working for Nick,' Sarkisian said of Saban returning to coaching. 'I mean, he really is a fantastic coach. I think he feels really comfortable to me. He's really good on TV, I think he enjoys what he gets to do. He's playing a ton of golf, which he loves doing. I'm sure Miss Terry loves having him at home. So I don't know. That's obviously a personal thing as he grows.' Cowherd's theory was based on nothing but his own thoughts about the situation. There was no proof or officials from the Browns telling Cowherd that they even had interest in Saban or Manning. It just looks like Cowherd was throwing theories out there and seeing what would stick, and with all the rumors out there about Saban, this one had to be the wildest and the furthest from the truth. The only thing going in Cowherd's favor is that Saban hasn't completely ruled out returning, but the odds at this point may be slim.
Fox News
an hour ago
- Fox News
Nick Saban all but shuts down rumors of his return to coaching: 'I enjoy what I am doing'
Rumors about Nick Saban potentially returning to the sideline ran rampant last week, but the seven-time national champion does not appear to be in a rush to get back. Former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy said on his radio show he was told by a source Saban may return in the future, although McElroy didn't believe it himself. In any case, college football fans got their hopes up, and Saban poured cold water on it all in an appearance with "Fox & Friends." "You know, it is amazing to me that that came up in the media, and the media speaks for you and thinks for you," Saban said. Then, he cracked a joke. "I never really had a thought into getting back into coaching until, two days ago, Miss Terry said I had to run the sweeper in the entire downstairs. So, while I was running the sweeper, the thought occurred to me, you know, 'When you were coaching, you had a heck of a lot better job than this.' So, that is the only time I considered it," he said. "I am really happy with what I am doing right now. You know, it is exciting to still be involved in the game. It's exciting for me to work with athletic directors, conference commissioners, people in Congress to preserve the integrity of our game and continue to be able to create opportunities to help young people value for their future that will help them be successful in their life, which is what we always tried to do as a coach." Saban didn't seem to rule it out entirely, but he simply said there is "no opportunity" that appeals to him right now. "I enjoy what I am doing. I did it for 50 years. I loved it. I loved the relationships with the players. I love the competition. But you know it is another station of life now, and I enjoy what I am doing right now and want to continue to do it," he added. "Spend more time with my family, my grandchildren, my children, and it has been really, really good." Saban left the game in 2024, shortly after a loss in the Rose Bowl to eventual national champion Michigan, citing the changing landscape of college athletics.
