Cowboys axe halfback to take chance on gun teen
North Queensland have sensationally axed halfback Jake Clifford to give impressive young gun Jaxon Purdue his first chance in his position of choice.
Mackay product Purdue will start at five-eighth against Manly on Saturday night in place of Clifford, who missed two shots at a game-winning field goal in the 30-30 draw with Penrith last weekend.
Purdue, 19, has been a revelation in the centres for the Cowboys this season, but played in the halves as a junior.
He could remain there for another week if co-captain Tom Dearden is selected for Queensland in the State of Origin series opener on May 28.
Purdue's promotion means Dearden shifts to halfback and Zac Laybutt comes into the outside backs for his first game of the season.
Clifford has been solid this year after impressing on return to the first-grade side late last season, but lines up as replacement player.
Out-of-sorts Brisbane have made a halves change of their own, recalling Ezra Mam for his first game of the year in place of the injured Ben Hunt.
Mam, who served a nine-game ban for drug-driving, made his return to the field through reserve grade last week and will partner Adam Reynolds against St George Illawarra.
Elsewhere, incumbent NSW winger Zac Lomax will have one last chance to push his Origin case provided he can clear a final fitness test for Parramatta's trip to Newcastle.
The clash would be the gun recruit's first alongside Eels halfback Mitch Moses, who missed the start of the season with his own foot issue.
A knee injury to Greg Marzhew has left the Knights to name debutant Fletcher Hunt on the wing as they look to recover from a demoralising loss to Gold Coast.
Kieran Foran is in line to play his first game of the season, with the Titans naming their veteran playmaker to return from a biceps injury against Canberra.
Alex Johnston will resume his push for the all-time try-scoring record when he returns from a hamstring injury for South Sydney's clash with Wests Tigers.
Tigers coach Benji Marshall resisted the urge to make mass changes after his side's humiliating 64-0 loss to Melbourne.
But Fonua Pole's knee injury has forced a reshuffle that leaves Tallyn Da Silva in the reserves.
Storm hooker Harry Grant is listed in the reserves, so may have one last chance to return from a hamstring injury and push his Origin case against Cronulla.
James Fisher-Harris and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck have both been named to return for the Warriors in their clash against the Dolphins.
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7NEWS
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- 7NEWS
Explosive NRL scenes as fan grabs Daly Cherry-Evans after Manly's shock loss to Gold Coast
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Courier-Mail
5 hours ago
- Courier-Mail
GALLERY: 50+ photos as Tino and the Maroons storm Albert Park
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'That's the big thing my parents always told me was to work hard no matter what I'm doing, and always having fun with it, that's a big one.' Our reporter was there to capture all the excitement from the day. Internet stars Those Carter Boys with a young fan at Qld Maroons Fan Day 2025. L-R: Logan Flack and Mackenzie Pilkington at Qld Maroons Fan Day 2025. L-R: Linkin Peacock, Beau Peacock and Black Miller at Qld Maroons Fan Day 2025. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui signing for fans at Qld Maroons Fan Day 2025. L-R: April Sik, Emily Collyer, Annabelle Morgan and Jahz Alexander at Qld Maroons Fan Day 2025. L-R: Davis and Keannan at Maroons Qld Maroons Fan Day 2025. Fans in front of Maroons bus at Qld Maroons Fan day 2025, including one youngster who couldn't believe his luck. L-R: Turi Maher and Trista Morley at Qld Maroons Fan Day 2025. L-R: Daniel Cobbo and Richard at Qld Maroons Fan Day 2025. L-R: Lacy and Sadira at Maroons Qld Maroons Fan Day 2025. 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The Advertiser
7 hours ago
- The Advertiser
'No shootout' between Bulldogs teammates: coach Ciraldo
Cameron Ciraldo insists he won't look at Canterbury's clash with South Sydney as a shootout between Lachlan Galvin and Toby Sexton for the Bulldogs' coveted halfback spot. Mid-season signing Galvin has been promoted to the starting line-up for his second Bulldogs game amid the State of Origin-enforced absence of five-eighth Matt Burton. But when he returns for round 17, coach Ciraldo will need to choose between superstar teen Galvin and Sexton as first-choice halfback to partner five-eighth Burton. Sexton was shifted to hooker to accommodate former Wests Tigers star Galvin coming on from the bench at halfback during Monday's defeat of Parramatta. And for all the speculation that the versatile Galvin could play in the back-line or back row at the Bulldogs, Ciraldo admitted after the match that the teenager's position of choice was in the halves. Sexton, meanwhile, has been a steady and reliable presence at halfback for the resurgent Bulldogs on their charge into premiership calculations this season. But even as a difficult call looms, Ciraldo said his two options would not be pitted against one another this Sunday. "There's no shootout, there's an opportunity to get two points against a really hard-working South Sydney team," Ciraldo said. "I feel like we've created a really good environment here where we're developing better people and better players every day. "The only thing we ask is that they put the team first, and that's what 17 players will do this week." Ciraldo also insisted off-contract Sexton remained content at the Bulldogs, despite the mid-season arrival of Galvin appearing to threaten his future at the club. "You wouldn't have found a happier guy than Toby Sexton after that win. There is a lot of bullcrap (speculation) that goes on out there," Ciraldo said. "But we just have a laugh about it and get on with it." Along with Manly and the Sydney Roosters, the Bulldogs are among three teams without any byes before any of the Origin fixtures. Kurt Mann, Max King, Stephen Crichton and Burton are all missing against the Rabbitohs, the Bulldogs' second of three games without their Origin contingent. Canterbury suffered a 36-point thrashing from a Dolphins side missing only one representative player in the first of their Origin-affected games last month. But Ciraldo shrugged at the fixturing quirk, pointing out the Bulldogs had it easier in other ways. Canterbury are spared a trip to Auckland this year, and leave Sydney only twice after the Origin period. "The scheduling ends up working itself out in the end,'' Ciraldo said. "We've had less travel, but we miss guys for those games and that's all right. "By the end of the year, you play 24 games, you play all the opposition. To be in the finals series, you've got to deal with all these things." Cameron Ciraldo insists he won't look at Canterbury's clash with South Sydney as a shootout between Lachlan Galvin and Toby Sexton for the Bulldogs' coveted halfback spot. Mid-season signing Galvin has been promoted to the starting line-up for his second Bulldogs game amid the State of Origin-enforced absence of five-eighth Matt Burton. But when he returns for round 17, coach Ciraldo will need to choose between superstar teen Galvin and Sexton as first-choice halfback to partner five-eighth Burton. Sexton was shifted to hooker to accommodate former Wests Tigers star Galvin coming on from the bench at halfback during Monday's defeat of Parramatta. And for all the speculation that the versatile Galvin could play in the back-line or back row at the Bulldogs, Ciraldo admitted after the match that the teenager's position of choice was in the halves. Sexton, meanwhile, has been a steady and reliable presence at halfback for the resurgent Bulldogs on their charge into premiership calculations this season. But even as a difficult call looms, Ciraldo said his two options would not be pitted against one another this Sunday. "There's no shootout, there's an opportunity to get two points against a really hard-working South Sydney team," Ciraldo said. "I feel like we've created a really good environment here where we're developing better people and better players every day. "The only thing we ask is that they put the team first, and that's what 17 players will do this week." Ciraldo also insisted off-contract Sexton remained content at the Bulldogs, despite the mid-season arrival of Galvin appearing to threaten his future at the club. "You wouldn't have found a happier guy than Toby Sexton after that win. There is a lot of bullcrap (speculation) that goes on out there," Ciraldo said. "But we just have a laugh about it and get on with it." Along with Manly and the Sydney Roosters, the Bulldogs are among three teams without any byes before any of the Origin fixtures. Kurt Mann, Max King, Stephen Crichton and Burton are all missing against the Rabbitohs, the Bulldogs' second of three games without their Origin contingent. Canterbury suffered a 36-point thrashing from a Dolphins side missing only one representative player in the first of their Origin-affected games last month. But Ciraldo shrugged at the fixturing quirk, pointing out the Bulldogs had it easier in other ways. Canterbury are spared a trip to Auckland this year, and leave Sydney only twice after the Origin period. "The scheduling ends up working itself out in the end,'' Ciraldo said. "We've had less travel, but we miss guys for those games and that's all right. "By the end of the year, you play 24 games, you play all the opposition. To be in the finals series, you've got to deal with all these things." Cameron Ciraldo insists he won't look at Canterbury's clash with South Sydney as a shootout between Lachlan Galvin and Toby Sexton for the Bulldogs' coveted halfback spot. Mid-season signing Galvin has been promoted to the starting line-up for his second Bulldogs game amid the State of Origin-enforced absence of five-eighth Matt Burton. But when he returns for round 17, coach Ciraldo will need to choose between superstar teen Galvin and Sexton as first-choice halfback to partner five-eighth Burton. Sexton was shifted to hooker to accommodate former Wests Tigers star Galvin coming on from the bench at halfback during Monday's defeat of Parramatta. And for all the speculation that the versatile Galvin could play in the back-line or back row at the Bulldogs, Ciraldo admitted after the match that the teenager's position of choice was in the halves. Sexton, meanwhile, has been a steady and reliable presence at halfback for the resurgent Bulldogs on their charge into premiership calculations this season. But even as a difficult call looms, Ciraldo said his two options would not be pitted against one another this Sunday. "There's no shootout, there's an opportunity to get two points against a really hard-working South Sydney team," Ciraldo said. "I feel like we've created a really good environment here where we're developing better people and better players every day. "The only thing we ask is that they put the team first, and that's what 17 players will do this week." Ciraldo also insisted off-contract Sexton remained content at the Bulldogs, despite the mid-season arrival of Galvin appearing to threaten his future at the club. "You wouldn't have found a happier guy than Toby Sexton after that win. There is a lot of bullcrap (speculation) that goes on out there," Ciraldo said. "But we just have a laugh about it and get on with it." Along with Manly and the Sydney Roosters, the Bulldogs are among three teams without any byes before any of the Origin fixtures. Kurt Mann, Max King, Stephen Crichton and Burton are all missing against the Rabbitohs, the Bulldogs' second of three games without their Origin contingent. Canterbury suffered a 36-point thrashing from a Dolphins side missing only one representative player in the first of their Origin-affected games last month. But Ciraldo shrugged at the fixturing quirk, pointing out the Bulldogs had it easier in other ways. Canterbury are spared a trip to Auckland this year, and leave Sydney only twice after the Origin period. "The scheduling ends up working itself out in the end,'' Ciraldo said. "We've had less travel, but we miss guys for those games and that's all right. "By the end of the year, you play 24 games, you play all the opposition. To be in the finals series, you've got to deal with all these things."
