Unwanted Wallabies forward makes case for selection
Salakaia-Loto was a stand-out as the First Nations and Pasifika XV almost caused a massive boilover at Marvel Stadium before falling to a 24-19 defeat.
It was the lock/back-rower's third meeting with the Lions and he again proved he has the skills, physicality and aggressive mindset to unsettle the highly fancied tourists.
His First Nations and Pasifika coach Kefu, an integral part of the Wallabies team that downed the Lions in 2001, said Salakaia-Loto had been "outstanding", while Test centurion and former captain Hooper said the 28-year-old should be in the starting side.
But Salakaia-Loto wasn't convinced he would be recalled to the Wallabies squad ahead of their must-win match at the MCG on Saturday night, when they need a victory to keep the series alive after a loss in Brisbane.
Told by Schmidt he needed more minutes after an injury-affected Super season, Salakaia-Loto said he'd done what he could.
"I've had three chances, three cracks at these guys, so I don't have any more chances to sort of try and push my case forward," the Reds veteran said.
"I've got my flight details to go home, back to Brissie to see my two girls and my partner, so that's all I'm worried about."
Salakaia-Loto said his performance had been inspired by the emotion of representing his Samoan culture and family, as well as "a bit of frustration".
He said he also took the attitude that he didn't care about the celebrated status of the Lions players.
"I'll be honest, I just don't care," said the 30-cap forward.
"I got a taste of them up against the Reds and I just knew that what they're about means nothing to me, I just go out there and play.
"You mix that with a bit of frustration, a bit of emotion, and I guess the passion that I've been playing (with), especially for this week."
While the Wallabies team for the second Test will be revealed on Thursday, the Lions appear set to rule out lock Joe McCarthy and winger Mack Hansen, with the star Irish pair both battling foot injuries.
"Joe hasn't trained so far, but with the nature of the week, which is a bit different, we will see how he is for Thursday," said coach Andy Farrell.
"Mack's progressing. Whether he's progressing quick enough, we'll see towards the end of the week."
Owen Farrell captained the Lions for the first time and completed 80 minutes against the First Nations and Pasifika outfit to put his hand up for a midfield bench role.
Farrell described the MCG clash, where more than 90,000 fans are expected, as the "biggest game of our lives" and said his team would need to improve to beat a desperate Wallabies side.
"There will have to be plenty of improvement to get to the point where there's a win on the cards, because we know that Australia are going to be a lot better," Farrell said.
"If you can't get up for what's coming, we're all in the wrong place. To me, this is the biggest game of our lives for every one of us who is part of our squad."
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The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Sleapy's Day: the man, the charity and Souths' 115-year first
The South Newcastle Lions have been around since 1910, but they're about to achieve a 115-year first. The Lions will wear a blue jersey for the first time when they play the Maitland Pickers on Saturday, a rare deviation from their traditional red and white. The players will don a specially-designed kit for Sleapy's Day, the annual match-day fundraiser run by Souths legend Peter Sleap and his foundation of the same name. The jerseys feature photos of three late cancer sufferers. "Blue is a calming colour, so it's something we thought of to support people in cancer adversity," Sleap said. "We've got three people on the jerseys this year; Ash Smith, Stephen Gee and Hayden Moth. "Blue is a colour that we sat down and went through, and thought 'it's a little bit crazy [for Souths]', but they look great. "We try to change the colours every year. One year we had yellow, another pink for breast cancer and this year is blue. "Each year we try and change the colour so it's a special jersey for the players, and then we go back and auction them at the club. "Hopefully we get forty-to-fifty thousand [dollars] when we auction the Souths and Maitland jerseys." Since 2010, Sleapy's Day has raised tens of thousands of dollars each year to support those battling cancer. It's grown from a one-off event Sleap launched a year after battling throat cancer himself, to a foundation on track to help more than 200 people this year. "Fifteen years ago we used to help one or two people," Sleap said. "It's come a long way. "A lot of hard work, but very rewarding ... who'd have thought we'd still be doing it 15 years later." Sleap and his wife Robynn, who has battled cancer herself in the past year, got the fundraising day up and running but in 2019 the Sleapy's Foundation was formed to formalise the charity work. Several events are held throughout the year, but Sleapy's Day at Souths' home ground of Townson Oval in Merewether remains the main fundraiser. "We're in the process of building a peadiatric-care unit courtyard up at the new hospital," Sleap said. "That's been a significant job for us, raising separate funds for that. "The funds on Sleapy's Day goes back to our core business, which is helping people in the community doing it tough with cancer adversity. "It's been really busy. At the moment we're getting an applicant every second day. "We're on target to help over 200 families this year alone, in the Newcastle and Hunter Valley community. "And that's the great thing about the charity, the money stays local." The foundation offers support in a range of ways, sometimes as simple funding travel costs for medical appointments. Requests for help can be made via the website. Tickets to the popular Newcastle Rugby League match day cost $100, the same price they were in 2010, and include food and drinks. "We're the only organisation in the world that never changes the price," Sleap said. "Just think, we helped a family from the country that couldn't put fuel in the car to get down to the hospital. If you can't be here, buy a virtual ticket or some raffle tickets online." Placed sixth in the men's first-grade competition, level on 18 points with fifth-placed Wests, Souths have plenty to play for against league leaders Maitland, who meet Northern Hawks on Wednesday night. Souths only have three games left to play, and may need to win all of them to ensure a spot in the top five. Wests and Central, who are sixth and also on 18 points, have a game in hand on Souths. "A very hard run home, but 'Bobcat' will definitely have them up for the game," Sleap said, referring to Souths coach Andrew Ryan. "We haven't beaten Maitland on a Sleapy's Day, but to be the best, you have to beat the best ... and we just have to match their intensity." The first of four matches kicks off at 10.15am. First grade is at 3pm. Inspecting Townson Oval on Tuesday, Sleap was confident the ground would be in reasonable shape. "The rain scared us a bit but sunshine for the next few days ... we're definitely going ahead," he said. In other men's first-grade games this weekend, all at 3pm on Sunday, Lakes host Wests, Central travel to The Entrance, Macquarie welcome Kurri Kurri and Wyong are at home to Cessnock. POINTS TABLE: Maitland (23), Wyong (21), Cessnock, The Entrance (20), Wests, Souths, Central (18), Kurri (16), Macquarie (12), Lakes (10), Northern (2). The South Newcastle Lions have been around since 1910, but they're about to achieve a 115-year first. The Lions will wear a blue jersey for the first time when they play the Maitland Pickers on Saturday, a rare deviation from their traditional red and white. The players will don a specially-designed kit for Sleapy's Day, the annual match-day fundraiser run by Souths legend Peter Sleap and his foundation of the same name. The jerseys feature photos of three late cancer sufferers. "Blue is a calming colour, so it's something we thought of to support people in cancer adversity," Sleap said. "We've got three people on the jerseys this year; Ash Smith, Stephen Gee and Hayden Moth. "Blue is a colour that we sat down and went through, and thought 'it's a little bit crazy [for Souths]', but they look great. "We try to change the colours every year. One year we had yellow, another pink for breast cancer and this year is blue. "Each year we try and change the colour so it's a special jersey for the players, and then we go back and auction them at the club. "Hopefully we get forty-to-fifty thousand [dollars] when we auction the Souths and Maitland jerseys." Since 2010, Sleapy's Day has raised tens of thousands of dollars each year to support those battling cancer. It's grown from a one-off event Sleap launched a year after battling throat cancer himself, to a foundation on track to help more than 200 people this year. "Fifteen years ago we used to help one or two people," Sleap said. "It's come a long way. "A lot of hard work, but very rewarding ... who'd have thought we'd still be doing it 15 years later." Sleap and his wife Robynn, who has battled cancer herself in the past year, got the fundraising day up and running but in 2019 the Sleapy's Foundation was formed to formalise the charity work. Several events are held throughout the year, but Sleapy's Day at Souths' home ground of Townson Oval in Merewether remains the main fundraiser. "We're in the process of building a peadiatric-care unit courtyard up at the new hospital," Sleap said. "That's been a significant job for us, raising separate funds for that. "The funds on Sleapy's Day goes back to our core business, which is helping people in the community doing it tough with cancer adversity. "It's been really busy. At the moment we're getting an applicant every second day. "We're on target to help over 200 families this year alone, in the Newcastle and Hunter Valley community. "And that's the great thing about the charity, the money stays local." The foundation offers support in a range of ways, sometimes as simple funding travel costs for medical appointments. Requests for help can be made via the website. Tickets to the popular Newcastle Rugby League match day cost $100, the same price they were in 2010, and include food and drinks. "We're the only organisation in the world that never changes the price," Sleap said. "Just think, we helped a family from the country that couldn't put fuel in the car to get down to the hospital. If you can't be here, buy a virtual ticket or some raffle tickets online." Placed sixth in the men's first-grade competition, level on 18 points with fifth-placed Wests, Souths have plenty to play for against league leaders Maitland, who meet Northern Hawks on Wednesday night. Souths only have three games left to play, and may need to win all of them to ensure a spot in the top five. Wests and Central, who are sixth and also on 18 points, have a game in hand on Souths. "A very hard run home, but 'Bobcat' will definitely have them up for the game," Sleap said, referring to Souths coach Andrew Ryan. "We haven't beaten Maitland on a Sleapy's Day, but to be the best, you have to beat the best ... and we just have to match their intensity." The first of four matches kicks off at 10.15am. First grade is at 3pm. Inspecting Townson Oval on Tuesday, Sleap was confident the ground would be in reasonable shape. "The rain scared us a bit but sunshine for the next few days ... we're definitely going ahead," he said. In other men's first-grade games this weekend, all at 3pm on Sunday, Lakes host Wests, Central travel to The Entrance, Macquarie welcome Kurri Kurri and Wyong are at home to Cessnock. POINTS TABLE: Maitland (23), Wyong (21), Cessnock, The Entrance (20), Wests, Souths, Central (18), Kurri (16), Macquarie (12), Lakes (10), Northern (2). The South Newcastle Lions have been around since 1910, but they're about to achieve a 115-year first. The Lions will wear a blue jersey for the first time when they play the Maitland Pickers on Saturday, a rare deviation from their traditional red and white. The players will don a specially-designed kit for Sleapy's Day, the annual match-day fundraiser run by Souths legend Peter Sleap and his foundation of the same name. The jerseys feature photos of three late cancer sufferers. "Blue is a calming colour, so it's something we thought of to support people in cancer adversity," Sleap said. "We've got three people on the jerseys this year; Ash Smith, Stephen Gee and Hayden Moth. "Blue is a colour that we sat down and went through, and thought 'it's a little bit crazy [for Souths]', but they look great. "We try to change the colours every year. One year we had yellow, another pink for breast cancer and this year is blue. "Each year we try and change the colour so it's a special jersey for the players, and then we go back and auction them at the club. "Hopefully we get forty-to-fifty thousand [dollars] when we auction the Souths and Maitland jerseys." Since 2010, Sleapy's Day has raised tens of thousands of dollars each year to support those battling cancer. It's grown from a one-off event Sleap launched a year after battling throat cancer himself, to a foundation on track to help more than 200 people this year. "Fifteen years ago we used to help one or two people," Sleap said. "It's come a long way. "A lot of hard work, but very rewarding ... who'd have thought we'd still be doing it 15 years later." Sleap and his wife Robynn, who has battled cancer herself in the past year, got the fundraising day up and running but in 2019 the Sleapy's Foundation was formed to formalise the charity work. Several events are held throughout the year, but Sleapy's Day at Souths' home ground of Townson Oval in Merewether remains the main fundraiser. "We're in the process of building a peadiatric-care unit courtyard up at the new hospital," Sleap said. "That's been a significant job for us, raising separate funds for that. "The funds on Sleapy's Day goes back to our core business, which is helping people in the community doing it tough with cancer adversity. "It's been really busy. At the moment we're getting an applicant every second day. "We're on target to help over 200 families this year alone, in the Newcastle and Hunter Valley community. "And that's the great thing about the charity, the money stays local." The foundation offers support in a range of ways, sometimes as simple funding travel costs for medical appointments. Requests for help can be made via the website. Tickets to the popular Newcastle Rugby League match day cost $100, the same price they were in 2010, and include food and drinks. "We're the only organisation in the world that never changes the price," Sleap said. "Just think, we helped a family from the country that couldn't put fuel in the car to get down to the hospital. If you can't be here, buy a virtual ticket or some raffle tickets online." Placed sixth in the men's first-grade competition, level on 18 points with fifth-placed Wests, Souths have plenty to play for against league leaders Maitland, who meet Northern Hawks on Wednesday night. Souths only have three games left to play, and may need to win all of them to ensure a spot in the top five. Wests and Central, who are sixth and also on 18 points, have a game in hand on Souths. "A very hard run home, but 'Bobcat' will definitely have them up for the game," Sleap said, referring to Souths coach Andrew Ryan. "We haven't beaten Maitland on a Sleapy's Day, but to be the best, you have to beat the best ... and we just have to match their intensity." The first of four matches kicks off at 10.15am. First grade is at 3pm. Inspecting Townson Oval on Tuesday, Sleap was confident the ground would be in reasonable shape. "The rain scared us a bit but sunshine for the next few days ... we're definitely going ahead," he said. In other men's first-grade games this weekend, all at 3pm on Sunday, Lakes host Wests, Central travel to The Entrance, Macquarie welcome Kurri Kurri and Wyong are at home to Cessnock. POINTS TABLE: Maitland (23), Wyong (21), Cessnock, The Entrance (20), Wests, Souths, Central (18), Kurri (16), Macquarie (12), Lakes (10), Northern (2). The South Newcastle Lions have been around since 1910, but they're about to achieve a 115-year first. The Lions will wear a blue jersey for the first time when they play the Maitland Pickers on Saturday, a rare deviation from their traditional red and white. The players will don a specially-designed kit for Sleapy's Day, the annual match-day fundraiser run by Souths legend Peter Sleap and his foundation of the same name. The jerseys feature photos of three late cancer sufferers. "Blue is a calming colour, so it's something we thought of to support people in cancer adversity," Sleap said. "We've got three people on the jerseys this year; Ash Smith, Stephen Gee and Hayden Moth. "Blue is a colour that we sat down and went through, and thought 'it's a little bit crazy [for Souths]', but they look great. "We try to change the colours every year. One year we had yellow, another pink for breast cancer and this year is blue. "Each year we try and change the colour so it's a special jersey for the players, and then we go back and auction them at the club. "Hopefully we get forty-to-fifty thousand [dollars] when we auction the Souths and Maitland jerseys." Since 2010, Sleapy's Day has raised tens of thousands of dollars each year to support those battling cancer. It's grown from a one-off event Sleap launched a year after battling throat cancer himself, to a foundation on track to help more than 200 people this year. "Fifteen years ago we used to help one or two people," Sleap said. "It's come a long way. "A lot of hard work, but very rewarding ... who'd have thought we'd still be doing it 15 years later." Sleap and his wife Robynn, who has battled cancer herself in the past year, got the fundraising day up and running but in 2019 the Sleapy's Foundation was formed to formalise the charity work. Several events are held throughout the year, but Sleapy's Day at Souths' home ground of Townson Oval in Merewether remains the main fundraiser. "We're in the process of building a peadiatric-care unit courtyard up at the new hospital," Sleap said. "That's been a significant job for us, raising separate funds for that. "The funds on Sleapy's Day goes back to our core business, which is helping people in the community doing it tough with cancer adversity. "It's been really busy. At the moment we're getting an applicant every second day. "We're on target to help over 200 families this year alone, in the Newcastle and Hunter Valley community. "And that's the great thing about the charity, the money stays local." The foundation offers support in a range of ways, sometimes as simple funding travel costs for medical appointments. Requests for help can be made via the website. Tickets to the popular Newcastle Rugby League match day cost $100, the same price they were in 2010, and include food and drinks. "We're the only organisation in the world that never changes the price," Sleap said. "Just think, we helped a family from the country that couldn't put fuel in the car to get down to the hospital. If you can't be here, buy a virtual ticket or some raffle tickets online." Placed sixth in the men's first-grade competition, level on 18 points with fifth-placed Wests, Souths have plenty to play for against league leaders Maitland, who meet Northern Hawks on Wednesday night. Souths only have three games left to play, and may need to win all of them to ensure a spot in the top five. Wests and Central, who are sixth and also on 18 points, have a game in hand on Souths. "A very hard run home, but 'Bobcat' will definitely have them up for the game," Sleap said, referring to Souths coach Andrew Ryan. "We haven't beaten Maitland on a Sleapy's Day, but to be the best, you have to beat the best ... and we just have to match their intensity." The first of four matches kicks off at 10.15am. First grade is at 3pm. Inspecting Townson Oval on Tuesday, Sleap was confident the ground would be in reasonable shape. "The rain scared us a bit but sunshine for the next few days ... we're definitely going ahead," he said. In other men's first-grade games this weekend, all at 3pm on Sunday, Lakes host Wests, Central travel to The Entrance, Macquarie welcome Kurri Kurri and Wyong are at home to Cessnock. POINTS TABLE: Maitland (23), Wyong (21), Cessnock, The Entrance (20), Wests, Souths, Central (18), Kurri (16), Macquarie (12), Lakes (10), Northern (2).
SBS Australia
2 hours ago
- SBS Australia
NITV Radio - News 6/8/2025
Organisers are raising the alarm on the rising rate of homelessness for First Nations families with children. Indigneous group launches legal action to prevent construction of stadium that would be used for the 2032 Olympics in Brisbane. And in sport, Melbourne Storm formally apologise to First Nations communities over cancellation of Welcome to Country ceremony on ANZAC Day.
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
Rugby Australia relaxes 'redundant' limit on foreign-based players
Rugby Australia has signalled that more overseas-based players will be allowed to represent the Wallabies, shifting away from a strict policy that has heavily favoured domestic players. The so-called "Giteau Law" -- named after former fly-half Matt Giteau -- has for years put restrictions on overseas-based players being selected for the Wallabies. But with Test stars such as lock Will Skelton, flanker Tom Hooper and prop Taniela Tupou all joining an exodus to Europe, Rugby Australia has indicated the Giteau Law has been dropped. That gives head coach Joe Schmidt a free selection hand when he names his squad for the Rugby Championship this week. "Joe's got no impediment to select whoever he wants," Rugby Australia head of high performance Peter Horne said. "The Giteau Law, it's kind of redundant right," Horne added in comments reported by Schmidt is due to name his squad Thursday for the Rugby Championship which begins this month. Scrapping the rule would also benefit incoming head coach Les Kiss, who takes over the Wallabies next year tasked with preparing for the Rugby World Cup on home soil in 2027. The Giteau Law was adopted by the Wallabies in 2015, allowing overseas-based players to represent the side only if they had played 60 Tests for Australia and seven seasons of Super Rugby. It enabled players such as Matt Giteau, who was then starring for Toulon, to be picked for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. Before then, Australia had a blanket ban on overseas-based players representing the Wallabies. sft/dh
