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NRL Live round 17: Storm v Sharks, Titans v Cowboys, Stefano Utoikamanu benched

NRL Live round 17: Storm v Sharks, Titans v Cowboys, Stefano Utoikamanu benched

News.com.au6 hours ago

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NRL star to comes out of Origin retirement for Qld Maroons in Game 3
NRL star to comes out of Origin retirement for Qld Maroons in Game 3

News.com.au

time27 minutes ago

  • News.com.au

NRL star to comes out of Origin retirement for Qld Maroons in Game 3

Queensland are reportedly set to make a stunning selection call for the State of Origin decider, with veteran prop Josh Papalii set to be a shock inclusion for Game 3. According to Code Sports, Papalii is expected to come out of Origin retirement and be named on Maroons coach Billy Slater's team sheet on Monday morning. 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. The 33-year-old played 23 games for Queensland from 2013 to 2022 and was seen as Queensland's most intimidating enforcers. Papalii, who has also played 11 Tests for Australia and 10 Tests for Samoa, announced his retirement from representative football in 2023 when he knew he was going to be overlooked for Origin selection. The beloved prop is enjoying a fairytale season, having recently scored in his 300th NRL game for Canberra as the Raiders chase their first premiership in 31 years. His strong form at club level has put him back on Slater's radar and Papalii is tipped to start for Queensland in Game 3 in Sydney on July 9. Papalii is being backed to start the game with a 25-minute burst at prop alongside Tino Fa'asuamaleaui. Code Sports reports Titans prop Mo Fotuaika is set to be dropped to make way for Papalii's unlikely return to Queensland's starting side. The shock selection call will add grunt and fear factor to the Maroons, who are aiming to clinch an unlikely series win and claim a third Origin shield in four years. An injury to Kalyn Ponga has also opened the door for Reece Walsh to return for Queensland, while Hamiso Tabui-Fidow has pressed his case for the No. 1 jersey with a four-try outing for the Dolphins. The surprise selection news is in stark contrast to NSW, who have named an unchanged 17 for Game 3. NSW's forward pack came under scrutiny in Perth, with Max King's position at starting prop under question following the injury to Mitch Barnett that left a hole in the team. Stefano Utoikamanu's spot in the team was also seen as under threat, but Daley has stuck to his guns, ignoring calls to bring Rabbitohs gun Keaon Koloamatangi or Tigers recruit Terrell May in to do a job at prop. Fox League commentator Andrew Voss said on SEN after Game 2: 'Stefano Utoikamanu is gone. I'm rubbing him out for Game 3. Max King is not a starting Origin front rower. So there's a starting front rower spot up for grabs for NSW. 'I don't think you can go with the same starting 13 again. You can't go with Max King if you're only giving him that many minutes.' Daley has reportedly added Sharks second rower Teig Wilton and Parramatta forward Jack Williams to the extended squad for the 10-day camp before the decider at Sydney's Accor Stadium. Gold Coast's Brian Kelly has also been added to the squad. That trio aren't expected to be included in the final 20-man squad but will come into camp as experience and to run opposition at NSW training. On top of those two additions, Dolphins halfback Isaiya Katoa has been brought into NSW's squad as insurance for Nathan Cleary, who is managing a thigh/groin injury. Katoa, 21, has been in blistering form for the Dolphins and has been given the nod over Broncos veteran Adam Reynolds as the back-up halfback. Brian To'o, Jarome Luai and Payne Haas have all been cleared to play. PREDICTED QUEENSLAND TEAM — to be named Monday 9am AEST 1. Reece Walsh 2. Xavier Coates 3. Robert Toia 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 6. Cameron Munster (c) 7. Tom Dearden 8. Moeaki Fotuaika/Josh Papalii/Lindsay Collins 9. Harry Grant 10. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 11. Reuben Cotter 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Trent Loiero 14. Kurt Mann 15. Lindsay Collins/Moeaki Fotuaika 16. Jeremiah Nanai 17. Patrick Carrigan

Richmond's Tom Lynch takes ‘big swing' at opponent with old school haymaker
Richmond's Tom Lynch takes ‘big swing' at opponent with old school haymaker

News.com.au

timean hour ago

  • News.com.au

Richmond's Tom Lynch takes ‘big swing' at opponent with old school haymaker

Richmond forward Tom Lynch can expect a lengthy stint on the sidelines after he unleashed an old fashioned haymaker on an Adelaide Crows player on Sunday. Adelaide defeated the Tigers by 68 points at the MCG to consolidate their position in the top four. Lynch was not enjoying the close attention of Crows defender Jordan Butts, giving away five free kicks to have an AFL Fantasy score of -15 at one stage. FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Late in the first quarter, Lynch lashed out at Butts after a marking contest, turning and whacking Butts across the face/head area, prompting him to fall to the turf in pain. The umpire blew a free kick and Lynch engaged in some further argy bargy with Crows players. Watch Tom Lynch's strike in the video above The strike on Butts immediately caught the attention of Fox Footy's commentators, especially given the turn-and-strike nature of the incident looked similar to Barry Hall's infamous punch on Brent Staker. Brad Johnson said in commentary: 'Lynch is in a lot of trouble here. I've just see a big whack. It's frustration. 'He actually got reported for the second punch – that first one was a free kick against. 'He gets in the scuffle again. He punches again. That's where the umpire comes in and reports him on the spot.' Dermott Brereton said: 'He's taken a big swing.' Footy reporter Jon Ralph said on Fox Footy: 'He's in plenty of trouble. 'I asked Tom Lynch a month ago about his reputation as a tribunal regular. 'He said 'I've been suspended for two weeks across my whole career' – I think he's likely to double that. 'He does make contact there with Butts. You'd hate to think he could have followed through and really got him hard. 'It's clearly intentional, behind the play. Maybe it's high impact. 'The look of that strike is something (MRO's) Michael Christian factors in too. 'He's had scuffles with other players as well – I don't think there's a lot in those. 'It goes without saying, he's got to be better than that. His coach would be shattered – sometimes when it's not going your way you've got to suck it up.' Lynch told Seven post-game: 'I didn't want to cause harm or anything like that, I was just trying to get free and the frustration came out. 'I gave away too many free kicks and was not good enough as a leader; said at halftime sorry boys, thought we were playing pretty well in that second quarter and it pretty much stopped the momentum. 'I was just more frustrated with how he was defending me, I thought. And clearly it was within the rules because there were no free kicks awarded to me and I went outside the rules. I've got to be better.'

Souths lacking belief as Bennett faces unwanted career first
Souths lacking belief as Bennett faces unwanted career first

Sydney Morning Herald

timean hour ago

  • Sydney Morning Herald

Souths lacking belief as Bennett faces unwanted career first

At Suncorp on Saturday, Souths fielded what appeared to be a full-strength line-up, other than skipper Cameron Murray, who hasn't played this year after rupturing his Achilles, and new recruit Brandon Smith, who is still awaiting a clearance to return from a knee reconstruction. By half-time, the scoreline was 30-6 in the Dolphins' favour, and while Bennett seemed to take some solace from 'winning' the second half 22-20, the bottom line is his team have now lost five games in a row and sit second last on the competition ladder, ahead of only hapless Gold Coast Titans. The top four, at this point, is pie in the sky. Souths will need a minor miracle - probably six wins from their remaining eight games - just to scrape into the play-offs. If they miss out, Bennett will find himself as a finals spectator for the third straight year, which would be a career first. In his two previous seasons, as foundation coach of the Dolphins, he steered the NRL's newest franchise to 13th and 10th - respectable but hardly a cause for celebration for a man who has been involved in the post-season 30 times, winning a record seven premierships in the process. Adding to the challenge Bennett is facing, primary playmaker Cody Walker suffered a hamstring injury on Saturday that is expected to sideline him indefinitely. The 35-year-old was returning from a groin issue that had caused him to miss two games, having also spent six weeks out with a torn calf earlier in the year. Walker, who has been negotiating a one-year contract extension with Souths, created two tries in quick succession for back-rower Tallis Duncan on Saturday before limping from the field in the 65th minute. His likely absence for next Sunday's crucial clash with Manly at Brookvale raises the question of whether English import Lewis Dodd will receive another top-grade opportunity. Dodd, who joined Souths from Super League heavyweights St Helens on a lucrative three-year deal, has made only three NRL appearances since arriving, including two off the bench. He was named in the starting line-up to tackle Melbourne two weeks ago, only for Bennett to belatedly shuffle his squad, moving Jack Wighton to five-eighth and Euan Aitken into the centres. Loading That could again be an option for Bennett this week, or he might consider a recall for Jayden Sullivan, who was named to play alongside Dodd in Souths' NSW Cup team to play Newtown on Sunday. Bennett said Walker's prognosis was unclear, adding: 'We'll get someone else next week to do the job.'

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