Fitzy's big declaration after Storm win
NRL: Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon spoke to the media after they beat the Melbourne Storm at Shark Park in round eleven.
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News.com.au
15 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Cummins can't resist sly sledge as Aussies booted from Lord's
Pat Cummins has taken a sly dig at the Poms on a bizarre day where the Aussie team was booted from Lord's just days before the World Test Championship final. The Australian captain was in fine form as he fronted TV cameras ahead of Australia's one-off Test against South Africa at the home of cricket, beginning Wednesday night. Australia's preparations hit a bump on Saturday with revelations players were forced to make a three-hour trip to find an appropriate training venue after being informed the famed Lord's ground was not available for training sessions. However, Code Sports reports the Australian camp was told the ground was not available, despite Indian players being given permission by Lord's authorities to use the venue for a training session. Watch England vs India Test Series LIVE & EXCLUSIVE on Fox Cricket, available on Kayo Sports| New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. The Indian team was given the permission at Australia's expense, despite India's Test series against England not beginning until June 20. The two teams do not face off at Lords until July 10 — the third Test of the series. Aussie players were finally given access to the venue on Sunday. The snub didn't appear to ruffle Cummins' feathers when he spoke on Network 10's The Project on Sunday night from inside the stadium. The fast-bowler was asked about the shocking scenes of Australian players being verbally abused the most recent time the Test side played at the venue, during the fiery 2023 Ashes series. Usman Khawaja was pulled by one MCC member as the Australian team returned to the dressing room following the session of play where Alex Carey dismissed Jonny Bairstow via a run out. Cummins' response said it all. You can watch the clip in the video player above 'I think this is the best version of the stadium this morning,' he said. 'There's no one around, which is great. I'm sure it will be much more civil this time around. 'Things got pretty heated in the middle of that Ashes series, but I think a lot of them will have learned their lesson and I'm sure they'll be very polite.' One MCC member was expelled from the club and two more members of the exclusive club were handed lengthy suspensions for the verbal abuse directed at Cummins and his team. The 32-year-old said he hopes he crowd will be cheering in Australia's favour this time because of the population of Aussie ex-pats living in London. Cummins will lead the Aussie attack against South Africa, surrounded by the usual suspects of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon. Code Sports reports, Hazlewood's selection means Scott Boland will miss out. According to the report, Aussie selectors are planning to promote Marnus Labuschagne to open the batting with Usman Khawaja — meaning Sam Konstas will be dropped from the XI. Selectors have made the move in order to squeeze all-rounder Cameron Green into the batting line-up. The selection of Beau Webster will take the pressure of Green, who appears likely to plat at Lord's as a specialist batsman. Aussie coach Andrew McDonald said last month Green was even being considered as an option to open the batting with Khawaja. 'He could bat anywhere,' McDonald said of Green, not hiding his excitement at the boom batter's brilliant return from career-saving back surgery. 'He could be three, he could be five, he could be six, he could open. 'I think he's got the temperament, the skillset, the defensive play as well. The higher up you go defensive skills are a priority, and he's got all bases covered. He plays the short ball well. 'You're not going to get a negative word from the coach about Cameron Green.' Meanwhile, Cummins has enjoyed a slightly different build-up to Test duties with the popular captain spotted chin-wagging with star presenter Jeremy Clarkson. Cummins last week spent time with the former Top Gear host at his picturesque farm property in the Cotswolds, a popular English holiday destination. The 1000-acre farm property is the scene of the TV presenter's Clarkson's Farm reality TV series. Cummins has told The Herald Sun, he is a fan of the show, which shows Clarkson attempting to turn a small property into a successful farming business.
7NEWS
20 minutes ago
- 7NEWS
Billy Slater defends Ezra Mam selection call weeks after returning from drug-driving ban
Billy Slater has defended picking Ezra Mam for State of Origin just three games after his return from a drug-driving ban, adamant the Brisbane star will add to Queensland's squad. Mam is expected to be rolled out as 18th man for next Wednesday's must-win clash at Optus Stadium in Perth, after being named in Slater's 20-man squad. The uncapped Maroon will undergo scans on his knee before entering camp on Monday, after copping a knock in the Broncos' win over Gold Coast on Saturday night. Queensland are confident he will be fit to line up, with Slater describing the injury as a 'bump' when he unveiled his squad on Monday morning. It was always going to be contentious, with Slater dropping captain Daly Cherry-Evans and picking Tom Dearden to wear the No.7 jersey. But Mam's selection has added to the headlines. The Brisbane five-eighth copped a nine-match ban for crashing a car while driving unlicensed and with drugs in his system last October. Three occupants of the Uber he collided with were injured, including a woman and her young daughter. Mam was fined $120,000 by the NRL and subsequently attended a rehabilitation facility and worked on a job site before returning to pre-season training in January. Slater said he had not had a chance to sense how remorseful Mam was, having only spoken to the 22-year-old on Sunday night to inform him of his selection. 'He's the right person for that position right now,' Slater said. 'I am sure people will have their speculation around all the people selected. That is OK, everyone is entitled to their opinion. 'He has been doing a great job since he returned. We feel the squad will benefit from him being here.' Mam has played three NRL games since his return to the playing arena and was booed repeatedly by the Brookvale Oval crowd in the recent 34-6 loss to Manly. But Slater said there was no doubt the Indigenous star had done enough to prove his worth to the Maroons squad, and put one question back on critics. 'Have you watched the couple of games back? He has been pretty good, I don't think he has skipped a beat,' Slater said. 'By all reports he has been doing a lot of training through the first half of the year while he was sitting out. 'He has been in this position before and been part of this squad before. I am sure he will take his opportunity if presented.' On one level Mam's inclusion should come as no surprise. After his three-try display in the 2023 grand final he was brought into his first pre-season Maroons camp in February of 2024. Slater then invited him into camp ahead of game one of the 2024 Origin series as a player identified as a potential long-term in Queensland player.
West Australian
31 minutes ago
- West Australian
Have you watched him? Maroons defend Mam's selection
Billy Slater has defended picking Ezra Mam for State of Origin just three games after his return from a drug-driving ban, adamant the Brisbane star will add to Queensland's squad. Mam is expected to be rolled out as 18th man for next Wednesday's must-win clash at Optus Stadium in Perth, after being named in Slater's 20-man squad. The uncapped Maroon will undergo scans on his knee before entering camp on Monday, after copping a knock in the Broncos' win over Gold Coast on Saturday night. Queensland are confident he will be fit to line up, with Slater describing the injury as a "bump" when he unveiled his squad on Monday morning. It was always going to be contentious, with Slater dropping captain Daly Cherry-Evans and picking Tom Dearden to wear the No.7 jersey. But Mam's selection has added to the headlines. The Brisbane five-eighth copped a nine-match ban for crashing a car while driving unlicensed and with drugs in his system last October. Three occupants of the Uber he collided with were injured, including a woman and her young daughter. Mam was fined $120,000 by the NRL and subsequently attended a rehabilitation facility and worked on a job site before returning to pre-season training in January. Slater said he had not had a chance to sense how remorseful Mam was, having only spoken to the 22-year-old on Sunday night to inform him of his selection. "He's the right person for that position right now," Slater said. "I am sure people will have their speculation around all the people selected. That is OK, everyone is entitled to their opinion. "He has been doing a great job since he returned. We feel the squad will benefit from him being here." Mam has played three NRL games since his return to the playing arena and was booed repeatedly by the Brookvale Oval crowd in the recent 34-6 loss to Manly. But Slater said there was no question over whether the Indigenous star had done enough to prove his worth to the Maroons squad. "Have you watched the couple of games back? He has been pretty good, I don't think he has skipped a beat," Slater said. "By all reports he has been doing a lot of training through the first half of the year while he was sitting out. "He has been in this position before and been part of this squad before. I am sure he will take his opportunity if presented." On one level Mam's inclusion should come as no surprise. After his three-try display in the 2023 grand final he was brought into his first pre-season Maroons camp in February of 2024. Slater then invited him into camp ahead of game one of the 2024 Origin series as a player identified as a potential long-term in Queensland player.
