CODE NRL Show: Unmagic draw and sin bin predictions
Adam Mobbs, David Riccio, and Michael Carayannis explain why the NRL fixture needs fixing, look at the teams (and officiating) under the microcope at Magic Round, and debate who should be the Blues' fullback. Plus, find out Mick's unexpected passion!
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Herald Sun
an hour ago
- Herald Sun
State of Origin Billy Slater cops heat over odd Hammer move for Queensland Maroons Game 2 against NSW Blues
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Billy Slater, who is in a battle to retain his place in charge of Queensland, has had one of his key moves questioned by an NRL coach. After a comprehensive 18-6 NSW victory in Game 1 in Brisbane, the Maroons need a win in Perth on Wednesday to keep the State of Origin series alive. 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. Coming off last year's 2-1 defeat, when Slater's Queensland outfit lost the deciding game at Suncorp Stadium, the 41-year-old would be unlikely to survive a second successive failure against their arch enemy. The former fullback has reacted by making a number of changes to his side for Game 2, including dumping captain Daly Cherry-Evans, recalling Kurt Capewell and naming Patrick Carrigan and Jeremiah Nanai on the bench. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has starred in the centres for Queensland. Picture NRL photos But his positional switch for tryscoring beast Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has been questioned by his coach at the Dolphins, Kristian Woolf. Tabuai-Fidow plays fullback for the NRL club, but has enjoyed great success in the centres for the Maroons, scoring nine tries across his eight appearances, including a hat-trick in last year's opening 38-10 win. So Slater's decision to move the 'Hammer' to the wing, an apparent bid to combat NSW gun Zac Lomax, caught Woolf by surprise. 'It's certainly not a position we'll look at playing him here,' Woolf told reporters. 'I think he's a fullback and that's his best position, I think he's done a great job in the rep arena as a centre. Billy Slater (right) with his new Maroons skipper, Cameron Munster. Picture Lachie Millard Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf was surprised by the move. Picture: NRL Images 'Look I'm not in those camps so I'm not going to talk about selections and things like that. 'But he's a talented footy player, we all know that, and playing for Queensland means a lot so I'm sure he'll make that sacrifice.' Meanwhile, Cherry-Evans broke his silence on his Queensland axing after the Sea Eagles lost to the Titans on Friday night. Cherry-Evans put in a poor display in Manly's horror 28-8 defeat, capping a disappointing week for the Sea Eagles skipper after being dumped by Slater. 'The start of the week was tough, Sunday got the news, Monday had to go to training and face the boys,' Cherry-Evans said after the game. 'After that it honestly started to feel normal. This is not the first time that I've been dropped from the Queensland side. 'So I guess I've had experience to take it on board and like I said pre-game, you can't just worry about the things you can't control and the initial news was tough but yeah I moved on and thought we were going to come here tonight and play some really good footy. 'Based on our preparation, it looked like all the signs were there and unfortunately the most important part of the week is showing up on game day and we didn't do that.' Cherry-Evans was pressed on whether he saw his Origin axing coming but dodged the question. 'No, I just got the call on Sunday and then just, yeah, moved on from there,' Cherry-Evans said. 'I think I got the call on Sunday which was tough and processed it pretty quickly during the week and moved on and yeah as I said the focus has been on Manly all this week so it's again disappointing to lose back-to-back games.' – With Fox Sports Originally published as Billy Slater cops heat over odd Hammer move for Queensland
Daily Telegraph
5 hours ago
- Daily Telegraph
NRL news, updates: Fans up in arms over ugly ‘dog shot' on exciting Warriors talent Taine Tuaupiki, New Zealand, Parramatta Eels
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Former Manly Eagles centre Alfred Smalley is facing an extended stint on the sidelines after a sickening dog shot on exciting Warriors talent Taine Tuaupiki in the NSW Cup on Saturday. In the closing seconds of the Warriors' 46-22 win a frustrated Smalley lost his head, charging out of the line and flooring the young fullback. 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. Video of the incident appears to show the 26-year-old strike the New Zealand fullback with his shoulder or forearm, sending him flying backwards. If that wasn't enough Smalley then flopped on top of Tuaupiki who was out cold. Smalley was unsurprisingly sent off, while Tuaupiki was helped to his feet. You can watch the ugly incident in the player above. Former Manly Eagles centre Alfred Smalley is facing an extended stint on the sidelines after a sickening dog shot on exciting Warriors talent Taine Tuaupiki. Image: Getty/X Incredibly with the help of the trainer the 25-year-old managed to walk off the field and informed fans hours later that he was doing okay on social media. But rugby league commentator Sam Hewat was disgusted by what he witnessed. 'Absolute dog shot here to the head of Taine Tuaupiki in NSW Cup. ZERO leeway for this in our game. 10 seconds to go in the match, down by 22 points, and you fly inside two of your own defenders to try and take a guy's head off,' he wrote on X. 'Justifiably sent off in the game but should get more.' And fans were equally outraged. 'That's beyond disgraceful. He should have the book thrown at him,' one fan wrote. 'That's a total disgrace,' another added. 'That's disgusting,' a third wrote. Fortunately, Tuaupiki recovered enough from the incident to be cleared to board the plane home to Auckland on Saturday night. Originally published as Footy world outraged over former NRL player's ugly 'dog shot'
The Advertiser
7 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Facial injury denies NSW reserve spot at Origin II
Keaon Koloamatangi has been ruled out of NSW's extended squad for State of Origin II after suffering a suspected fractured eye socket for South Sydney. Koloamatangi left the field late after copping a high hit in the Rabbitohs' loss to Canterbury on Sunday night. He subsequently passed his concussion test, but Souths staff fear he may have suffered bone damage and the forward therefore won't fly to Perth as planned. NSW officials have since confirmed Koloamatangi has been ruled out of the Blues' squad, with Canterbury second-rower Jacob Preston brought in. Koloamatangi had only been listed as 19th man after losing out to Stefano Utoikamanu in the race to replace the injured Mitch Barnett. It means he only would have featured in Wednesday night's game if the Blues suffered an injury in the final two days of preparation. NSW have already lost Haumole Olakau'atu as a reserve for game two, after he requested not to fly west with his partner due to give birth. The Manly second-rower then suffered a shoulder dislocation in the Sea Eagles' loss to Gold Coast on Friday night. The Blues already have Penrith prop Lindsay Smith in their 20-man squad as cover. It was initially thought he would fly back to Sydney on Tuesday in order to play for Penrith in Auckland on Saturday, but that is now likely to be delayed. Keaon Koloamatangi has been ruled out of NSW's extended squad for State of Origin II after suffering a suspected fractured eye socket for South Sydney. Koloamatangi left the field late after copping a high hit in the Rabbitohs' loss to Canterbury on Sunday night. He subsequently passed his concussion test, but Souths staff fear he may have suffered bone damage and the forward therefore won't fly to Perth as planned. NSW officials have since confirmed Koloamatangi has been ruled out of the Blues' squad, with Canterbury second-rower Jacob Preston brought in. Koloamatangi had only been listed as 19th man after losing out to Stefano Utoikamanu in the race to replace the injured Mitch Barnett. It means he only would have featured in Wednesday night's game if the Blues suffered an injury in the final two days of preparation. NSW have already lost Haumole Olakau'atu as a reserve for game two, after he requested not to fly west with his partner due to give birth. The Manly second-rower then suffered a shoulder dislocation in the Sea Eagles' loss to Gold Coast on Friday night. The Blues already have Penrith prop Lindsay Smith in their 20-man squad as cover. It was initially thought he would fly back to Sydney on Tuesday in order to play for Penrith in Auckland on Saturday, but that is now likely to be delayed. Keaon Koloamatangi has been ruled out of NSW's extended squad for State of Origin II after suffering a suspected fractured eye socket for South Sydney. Koloamatangi left the field late after copping a high hit in the Rabbitohs' loss to Canterbury on Sunday night. He subsequently passed his concussion test, but Souths staff fear he may have suffered bone damage and the forward therefore won't fly to Perth as planned. NSW officials have since confirmed Koloamatangi has been ruled out of the Blues' squad, with Canterbury second-rower Jacob Preston brought in. Koloamatangi had only been listed as 19th man after losing out to Stefano Utoikamanu in the race to replace the injured Mitch Barnett. It means he only would have featured in Wednesday night's game if the Blues suffered an injury in the final two days of preparation. NSW have already lost Haumole Olakau'atu as a reserve for game two, after he requested not to fly west with his partner due to give birth. The Manly second-rower then suffered a shoulder dislocation in the Sea Eagles' loss to Gold Coast on Friday night. The Blues already have Penrith prop Lindsay Smith in their 20-man squad as cover. It was initially thought he would fly back to Sydney on Tuesday in order to play for Penrith in Auckland on Saturday, but that is now likely to be delayed.
