'Really positive' vibes as Tigers begin post-Galvin era
Benji Marshall says the energy is "really positive" around Wests Tigers as the rebuilding NRL club finally forges into its post-Lachlan Galvin era.
On Friday, Marshall sidestepped questions on whether he was disappointed to lose Galvin, whose immediate move to Canterbury is expected to be confirmed this week.
The teen star was excused from Tigers training for Round 13 and omitted from the team to face North Queensland on Saturday while the Bulldogs and Tigers finalise a transfer fee for his mid-season switch.
Social media footage appeared to show Galvin already on the field at the Bulldogs' Belmore headquarters on Friday, signalling the culmination of a saga that began when he rejected the Tigers' offer of a contract extension last month.
Since then, Galvin has been subject to social media ridicule from teammates Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva, served the Tigers with a legal letter over bullying claims, and dominated rugby league headlines amid the State of Origin period.
Marshall is eager to move on from the soap opera.
"I guess everyone's probably a little bit sick of talking about it and it being reported," the coach said.
"But we're just focused on the game. I know it's a cliched thing to say, but we have to be.
"It's been a great week at training. Everyone's looking forward to just playing. We had a week off last week with the bye. The energy around the place has been really good, really positive."
Marshall shrugged off questions from the Townsville press as to whether he was disappointed to be losing the young gun around whom the Tigers had planned to continue their rebuild.
"I don't know if disappointment's the word," Marshall said.
"We like the players we've got, we love the squad we've got, we're excited about some of the young players coming through and for us.
"We want to try and make a mark on the competition this year. The squad we've got, we're confident we can do that."
Marshall has named Heath Mason for his first start in the halves at NRL, with the 19-year-old to replace Galvin in the halves next to co-captain Luai.
The Tigers coach has given Mason a simple game plan as the three-time reigning wooden spooners hope to continue good signs on a 5-6 start to the new season.
"We just need our halves to do their job and control the field position," Marshall said.
"We've seen some great glimpses of play from some of our players this year, and we're coming up against a pretty good Cowboys team that have got a lot of great attacking players."
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The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Three years ago, Clint did not run. He's just completed an epic 100km trail event.
Clint Reynolds-Smith does not have a sporting background, and only took up running three years ago. Now, the Kotara South 33-year-old is looking forward to enjoying what will almost be a sprint-like 25-kilometre trail-running event in Newcastle on Sunday after completing the gruelling 100km Ultra Trail Australia (UTA) in the Blue Mountains three weeks ago. "It's going to sound silly, but I'm honestly looking forward to this 25 kilometres being a quarter of the 100," Reynolds-Smith said ahead of the Coastal Ascent this Sunday. The remedial massage therapist had never contemplated entering a small running event, let alone an ultra one until getting caught up in the post-race buzz of some of his clients, including leading local runner Vlad Shatrov. "It was around 2022, when UTA was moved to October, that I started seeing an influx of runners who were preparing for it, and I kind of got convinced to do it through making a connection with Vlad," Reynolds-Smith said. "I didn't actually do small runs. I bought a ticket for the 50km race in May 2023 and figured I've got the ticket for the race so now I have to train, and that was the motivator." The decision to take up running came post-COVID lockdowns and around a milestone birthday. "The way the world was with COVID, it was very uncertain as to what we could do, and turning 30 was definitely a part of it," Reynolds-Smith said. "Just almost turning my life upside-down, I guess. A little of bit of a mid-life crisis. "It was more of a mental health thing as well. Running is not really conducive to going out on the beers with the boys. "And, I used to believe it was professional runners who did these races, not the average guy who's never really ran before, so it was kind of a, 'Can I do it?, as well." It turned out he could. After completing his first 50km in 11 hours, Reynolds-Smith went back last year and did it again in just under eight hours. Next came the 100km. "I was definitely looking for that next level of overcoming something a little bit bigger ... it was going back to, 'Can I do it?'," he said. After a two-hour hold-up 15km into the 100km race due to an incident on course, Reynolds-Smith crossed the finish line in 22 hours. "It was surreal, and it felt unbelievable," he said. "I absolutely got emotional. To do 100 kilometres when three years removed I had never ran, really, I can't really explain it. "It's like a euphoric feeling that you get, and to be honest, I'm still on a high from it ... I do advocate for people to run these events now for mental health, to prove to yourself that you can overcome hard things." Reynolds-Smith is now planning to take on the 100km at UTA Kosciuszko in November then back in the Blue Mountains next May. "I'm not competitive with anyone but myself, and whenever anyone asks me, 'If you're not competitive, what are you doing?', I say, 'I'm all about completing not competing'," he said. "I want to prove that I can complete something." This weekend, he plans to soak up the scenic course of the Coastal Ascent, which starts and finishes at Dixon Park and takes in trails throughout Glenrock State Conservation Area. Distances include 5km, 10km, 25km and 50km with action from 6am on Sunday. The event, supported by City of Newcastle, is part of the Australian Golden Trail Series and has attracted some of the nation's leading trail runners. Clint Reynolds-Smith does not have a sporting background, and only took up running three years ago. Now, the Kotara South 33-year-old is looking forward to enjoying what will almost be a sprint-like 25-kilometre trail-running event in Newcastle on Sunday after completing the gruelling 100km Ultra Trail Australia (UTA) in the Blue Mountains three weeks ago. "It's going to sound silly, but I'm honestly looking forward to this 25 kilometres being a quarter of the 100," Reynolds-Smith said ahead of the Coastal Ascent this Sunday. The remedial massage therapist had never contemplated entering a small running event, let alone an ultra one until getting caught up in the post-race buzz of some of his clients, including leading local runner Vlad Shatrov. "It was around 2022, when UTA was moved to October, that I started seeing an influx of runners who were preparing for it, and I kind of got convinced to do it through making a connection with Vlad," Reynolds-Smith said. "I didn't actually do small runs. I bought a ticket for the 50km race in May 2023 and figured I've got the ticket for the race so now I have to train, and that was the motivator." The decision to take up running came post-COVID lockdowns and around a milestone birthday. "The way the world was with COVID, it was very uncertain as to what we could do, and turning 30 was definitely a part of it," Reynolds-Smith said. "Just almost turning my life upside-down, I guess. A little of bit of a mid-life crisis. "It was more of a mental health thing as well. Running is not really conducive to going out on the beers with the boys. "And, I used to believe it was professional runners who did these races, not the average guy who's never really ran before, so it was kind of a, 'Can I do it?, as well." It turned out he could. After completing his first 50km in 11 hours, Reynolds-Smith went back last year and did it again in just under eight hours. Next came the 100km. "I was definitely looking for that next level of overcoming something a little bit bigger ... it was going back to, 'Can I do it?'," he said. After a two-hour hold-up 15km into the 100km race due to an incident on course, Reynolds-Smith crossed the finish line in 22 hours. "It was surreal, and it felt unbelievable," he said. "I absolutely got emotional. To do 100 kilometres when three years removed I had never ran, really, I can't really explain it. "It's like a euphoric feeling that you get, and to be honest, I'm still on a high from it ... I do advocate for people to run these events now for mental health, to prove to yourself that you can overcome hard things." Reynolds-Smith is now planning to take on the 100km at UTA Kosciuszko in November then back in the Blue Mountains next May. "I'm not competitive with anyone but myself, and whenever anyone asks me, 'If you're not competitive, what are you doing?', I say, 'I'm all about completing not competing'," he said. "I want to prove that I can complete something." This weekend, he plans to soak up the scenic course of the Coastal Ascent, which starts and finishes at Dixon Park and takes in trails throughout Glenrock State Conservation Area. Distances include 5km, 10km, 25km and 50km with action from 6am on Sunday. The event, supported by City of Newcastle, is part of the Australian Golden Trail Series and has attracted some of the nation's leading trail runners. Clint Reynolds-Smith does not have a sporting background, and only took up running three years ago. Now, the Kotara South 33-year-old is looking forward to enjoying what will almost be a sprint-like 25-kilometre trail-running event in Newcastle on Sunday after completing the gruelling 100km Ultra Trail Australia (UTA) in the Blue Mountains three weeks ago. "It's going to sound silly, but I'm honestly looking forward to this 25 kilometres being a quarter of the 100," Reynolds-Smith said ahead of the Coastal Ascent this Sunday. The remedial massage therapist had never contemplated entering a small running event, let alone an ultra one until getting caught up in the post-race buzz of some of his clients, including leading local runner Vlad Shatrov. "It was around 2022, when UTA was moved to October, that I started seeing an influx of runners who were preparing for it, and I kind of got convinced to do it through making a connection with Vlad," Reynolds-Smith said. "I didn't actually do small runs. I bought a ticket for the 50km race in May 2023 and figured I've got the ticket for the race so now I have to train, and that was the motivator." The decision to take up running came post-COVID lockdowns and around a milestone birthday. "The way the world was with COVID, it was very uncertain as to what we could do, and turning 30 was definitely a part of it," Reynolds-Smith said. "Just almost turning my life upside-down, I guess. A little of bit of a mid-life crisis. "It was more of a mental health thing as well. Running is not really conducive to going out on the beers with the boys. "And, I used to believe it was professional runners who did these races, not the average guy who's never really ran before, so it was kind of a, 'Can I do it?, as well." It turned out he could. After completing his first 50km in 11 hours, Reynolds-Smith went back last year and did it again in just under eight hours. Next came the 100km. "I was definitely looking for that next level of overcoming something a little bit bigger ... it was going back to, 'Can I do it?'," he said. After a two-hour hold-up 15km into the 100km race due to an incident on course, Reynolds-Smith crossed the finish line in 22 hours. "It was surreal, and it felt unbelievable," he said. "I absolutely got emotional. To do 100 kilometres when three years removed I had never ran, really, I can't really explain it. "It's like a euphoric feeling that you get, and to be honest, I'm still on a high from it ... I do advocate for people to run these events now for mental health, to prove to yourself that you can overcome hard things." Reynolds-Smith is now planning to take on the 100km at UTA Kosciuszko in November then back in the Blue Mountains next May. "I'm not competitive with anyone but myself, and whenever anyone asks me, 'If you're not competitive, what are you doing?', I say, 'I'm all about completing not competing'," he said. "I want to prove that I can complete something." This weekend, he plans to soak up the scenic course of the Coastal Ascent, which starts and finishes at Dixon Park and takes in trails throughout Glenrock State Conservation Area. Distances include 5km, 10km, 25km and 50km with action from 6am on Sunday. The event, supported by City of Newcastle, is part of the Australian Golden Trail Series and has attracted some of the nation's leading trail runners. Clint Reynolds-Smith does not have a sporting background, and only took up running three years ago. Now, the Kotara South 33-year-old is looking forward to enjoying what will almost be a sprint-like 25-kilometre trail-running event in Newcastle on Sunday after completing the gruelling 100km Ultra Trail Australia (UTA) in the Blue Mountains three weeks ago. "It's going to sound silly, but I'm honestly looking forward to this 25 kilometres being a quarter of the 100," Reynolds-Smith said ahead of the Coastal Ascent this Sunday. The remedial massage therapist had never contemplated entering a small running event, let alone an ultra one until getting caught up in the post-race buzz of some of his clients, including leading local runner Vlad Shatrov. "It was around 2022, when UTA was moved to October, that I started seeing an influx of runners who were preparing for it, and I kind of got convinced to do it through making a connection with Vlad," Reynolds-Smith said. "I didn't actually do small runs. I bought a ticket for the 50km race in May 2023 and figured I've got the ticket for the race so now I have to train, and that was the motivator." The decision to take up running came post-COVID lockdowns and around a milestone birthday. "The way the world was with COVID, it was very uncertain as to what we could do, and turning 30 was definitely a part of it," Reynolds-Smith said. "Just almost turning my life upside-down, I guess. A little of bit of a mid-life crisis. "It was more of a mental health thing as well. Running is not really conducive to going out on the beers with the boys. "And, I used to believe it was professional runners who did these races, not the average guy who's never really ran before, so it was kind of a, 'Can I do it?, as well." It turned out he could. After completing his first 50km in 11 hours, Reynolds-Smith went back last year and did it again in just under eight hours. Next came the 100km. "I was definitely looking for that next level of overcoming something a little bit bigger ... it was going back to, 'Can I do it?'," he said. After a two-hour hold-up 15km into the 100km race due to an incident on course, Reynolds-Smith crossed the finish line in 22 hours. "It was surreal, and it felt unbelievable," he said. "I absolutely got emotional. To do 100 kilometres when three years removed I had never ran, really, I can't really explain it. "It's like a euphoric feeling that you get, and to be honest, I'm still on a high from it ... I do advocate for people to run these events now for mental health, to prove to yourself that you can overcome hard things." Reynolds-Smith is now planning to take on the 100km at UTA Kosciuszko in November then back in the Blue Mountains next May. "I'm not competitive with anyone but myself, and whenever anyone asks me, 'If you're not competitive, what are you doing?', I say, 'I'm all about completing not competing'," he said. "I want to prove that I can complete something." This weekend, he plans to soak up the scenic course of the Coastal Ascent, which starts and finishes at Dixon Park and takes in trails throughout Glenrock State Conservation Area. Distances include 5km, 10km, 25km and 50km with action from 6am on Sunday. The event, supported by City of Newcastle, is part of the Australian Golden Trail Series and has attracted some of the nation's leading trail runners.
News.com.au
4 hours ago
- News.com.au
Dolphins put huge score on the Dragons
NRL: The Dolphins have recorded the biggest win in their short history with a 56-6 smashing of the Dragons.
7NEWS
5 hours ago
- 7NEWS
North Queensland coach Todd Payten says Queensland must start Tom Dearden in the halves
Melbourne's Jahrome Hughes has stolen the spotlight from his North Queensland opposite Tom Dearden with the Storm halfback orchestrating a commanding 38-14 victory at AAMI Park. All eyes were on Dearden, who is favoured to usurp Daly Cherry-Evans as Queensland's State of Origin No.7 when teams for game two in Perth are announced. But reigning Dally M Medallist Hughes was the stand-out from both teams, scoring two tries and setting up two more as well as nine tackle-busts in one of his best performances of the season. Despite the loss, North Queensland coach Todd Payten says if Queensland want to win the second State of Origin match to level the series, they need to start Dearden in the halves. Cherry-Evans, 36, failed to ignite the Queensland attack in game one in Brisbane, which NSW dominated to win 18-6. And Payten was firm in his belief that the 24-year-old was ready to be picked to wear the No.7 jersey rather than have a bench role for the June 18 match. Dearden has already done the job for the Kangaroos, steering Australia to victory over Tonga in the Pacific Cup final last November, while he also impressed in the Maroons No.6 jumper in the absence of Cameron Munster last year. 'You're asking the wrong person, I know he's ready, it's just not my decision,' Payten said after the Storm match. 'Selfishly, I'd love him to come off the bench, but if they want to win, I'd be putting him in the halves.' Dearden downplayed the selection quandary for Queensland coach Billy Slater, saying he was only focused on the Cowboys. 'I wasn't really looking at it as an audition,' he said. 'I thought like I probably could have been a lot better with helping us with direction and then handing the ball over in the right area, so there's probably a few areas I need to look at from that performance.' Melbourne skipper Harry Grant, who had an uncharacteristically poor Origin outing after being hobbled by a hamstring injury, looked back to his best against North Queensland. 'I had a pretty clear focus of what I needed to work on from that (Origin) game it sort of hurt not being able to play after that, against the Titans, and that was just precautionary with the hamstring,' the hooker said. 'I had a pretty narrow focus and it was pleasing to just get a win for the team and everyone sort of played their role within our game plan.' His Storm teammate Stefano Utoikamanu also put his hand up to replace Mitch Barnett in the NSW squad, with the Warriors prop ruled out for the season with an ACL rupture. Utoikamanu and Keaon Koloamatangi are the favourites to take Barnett's spot with the Melbourne forward named 19th man in the Blues squad for game one when he was on stand-by for an injured Payne Haas. Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy, who is an advisor to the NSW coach Laurie Daley and will join the squad in Perth, said Utoikamanu had pushed his case for selection. 'You think he'd be right up there in the firing line, I think he's a real big chance,' Bellamy said. 'He was really solid, and some of his runs really stood out and I'm sure Laurie will be looking at his defence as well and hopefully for Stef, he'll line up in the next game.'
