18th Mann: Bulldogs frustrated to lose another player to 18th man duties, but club thrilled to have so many players in the Origin teams
Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo is frustrated that his side will be without Kurt Mann for Thursday night's game against the Dolphins, but he can't begrudge the veteran utility who will be 18th man for the Maroons in the State of Origin opener.
It's not the first time the Bulldogs have lost a key player who has been a part of the Origin squad but hasn't actually played, with star five-eighth Matt Burton picked as NSW 18th man several times over the past couple of years.
'Considering we play Thursday night and Origin isn't until next Wednesday (it is a bit frustrating) but in saying that, we want our players in and around that arena, especially someone like Kurt, who has worked so hard for a long time,' Ciraldo said.
'We would never begrudge him of that, but it is quite frustrating to lose a player to 18th man.
'I haven't spoken to the Maroons, that's not for us. We're just really happy that he's there. We hope he has a great week and comes back to us a better player.'
Mann, 32, has been in the Queensland squad before, with his latest selection capping an 11-year journey that started at the Storm where he scored the winning try on debut in a team featuring Maroons coach Billy Slater.
Mann has been a key cog in the middle for the Bulldogs, with his speed and ball-playing perfectly complementing their style of attack.
'I think he was 18th man early in his career, and he's been behind some really good guys in that Queensland team,' Ciraldo said.
'To get picked again, to be in that scene at 32 years old shows the type of character he is.
'He probably makes out that he's a lot younger than he is, but the experience he's brought to our club and the impact he's had on our younger players is immeasurable.'
Meanwhile, Ciraldo has praised Max King for his perseverance over the years to overcome injuries that threatened to end his career, with the prop forward set to make his Origin debut for the Blues next week.
Canterbury's pack has been criticised for its lack of size in recent years, but King has stepped up time and time again to help his side punch above its weight.
'Just knowing his journey and what he's been through and how hard he's worked over the last three years was awesome for us as a club and for Max himself,' he said.
'He's just so reliable. In my time here, he's been someone I can rely on every game. When we need big minutes or when we need someone to go above and beyond, Max is the guy I turn to.
'I think his game has got better and better over the last three years. This year he came in day one of the pre-season and told us what he wanted to do, and he's gone and done it.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Daily Telegraph
‘Doesn't want to play for them': Bombshell racism report rocks AFL club
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Adelaide veteran Taylor Walker's racism incident several years ago is playing a role in star trade target Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera refusing to consider joining the Crows, according to veteran journalist Caroline Wilson. However the Saints gun's manager has firmly denied he has ruled out joining the club. In 2021, Walker was handed a six-week suspension and $20,000 fine for racially abusing an Indigenous SANFL player while addressing the Crows reserves players in a non-playing capacity. 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. The incident rocked both Walker, who was 'an emotional wreck' in the aftermath, and the team with coach Matthew Nicks emotionally calling it 'completely unacceptable and something that we won't stand for as a football club'. Wanganeen-Milera was drafted by St Kilda later that year and the South Australian, who has emerged as a young superstar halfback, is now weighing up whether to return to his home state or remain at the Saints with lucrative offers looming either way. Will Faulkner has reported Port Adelaide feels well-placed in the race for Wanganeen-Milera due to his close ties with Power players Jason Horne-Francis and Jase Burgoyne, while he also has family links to the club due to his uncle Gavin Wanganeen. Wilson reported on Monday night the 22-year-old will not consider the Crows partially due to the Walker incident, and particularly the way it was discussed on Channel Nine earlier this year. 'I'm making no comment about the club's handling of that incident, because my memory is that Matthew Nicks, the coach, was shattered by that incident, and the club did everything they could to get around Robbie Young (the player abused),' she said on Seven. Tex Walker and Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera. 'But Wanganeen-Milera has clarified that Matthew Nicks was the coach at the time and has indicated that he doesn't want to go to the Adelaide Football Club. 'One thing that happened over Gather Round, and I'm not talking so much about Wanganeen-Milera here, but a lot of his friends and the South Australian Indigenous community, was the Gather Round special that was aired on the Nine Network, hosted by Eddie McGuire.' A clip from the TV show was then aired in which McGuire described the incident as 'tough times' for Walker and framed him as dealing with adversity. Walker hit back at that framing somewhat, saying he 'made a mistake, one that I've got to live with for the rest of my life. But I suppose when you make mistakes, you get a choice, whether you can dwell on it, or you can learn about it.' While Wilson did not want to minimise any work Walker has done to make amends for the incident, and did not blame him for the framing of the interview, she explained there was 'a view from Indigenous leaders across footy that it portrayed Taylor Walker as more of a victim than Robbie Young. 'And it's just a small thing, but it wasn't a small thing to others who were still badly injured by what happened back in 2021. 'And so for a variety of reasons, but specifically Wanganeen-Milera's issues with Taylor Walker and what happened back then, the view from Port Adelaide and others in the footy community is if he does leave, he'll be going to Port Adelaide.' Wanganeen-Milera's manager Ben Williams denied a decision had been reached. In a statement to Nine Adelaide, he said: 'Reports made in the media suggesting that Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera has ruled out joining the Adelaide Crows due to comments made by Taylor Walker in 2021 are false. 'Nasiah is currently considering his future and at this stage, no decisions have been made, and any speculation suggesting otherwise is inaccurate.' Wanganeen-Milera is expected to receive long-term offers nearing $10 million but must be traded if he wants to leave, as he is several years away from reaching free agency. Originally published as 'Doesn't want to play for them': Bombshell racism report rocks AFL club
The Australian
3 hours ago
- The Australian
West Australia could realign its public holidays with eastern states
West Australians could be treated to an additional public holiday next year as the state looks at aligning its system with the east coast. WA currently has the lowest number of public holidays in the nation, and usually has a day off one week earlier than its eastern state counterparts. The state celebrates WA Day on the fist Monday in June, then celebrates the Kings Birthday on the fourth weekend in September. Most other states and territories celebrate the Kings Birthday on the second weekend in June. Premier Roger Cook said it was ridiculous to have a situation where Western Australia closes its doors when the east coast was open for business. Picture: NewsWire/ Sharon Smith Premier Roger Cook said his department was looking at realigning West Australian public holidays with the east coast so they were better synched. 'It is ridiculous you have a situation where Western Australia closes its doors or shuts the shop when the east coast is open for business,' he said. 'Today of course, you'll have frustrated members of the Western Australian business community that can't access their colleagues on the east coast. 'I'm reviewing the whole range of public holidays we have in Western Australia and where they land to make sure that we've got better alignment and that they work better for the WA community 'We are part of a national economy, and we should be working together much better to ensure better alignment around these days. ' Premier Roger Cook said his department was looking at realigning WA's public holidays with the east coast. Picture: NewsWire/Philip Gostelow CCIWA chief economist Aaron Morey said it was a good call from the premier but he did not support an additional public holiday. 'I think it's a good call from the Premier and lining up holidays definitely has public merit, how many birthdays does the king need?' he said. 'We're going to see some distraction today, the Melbourne Collingwood game on, I think people would rather be at home watching that.' But Mr Morey said he did not support having an additional public holiday in WA, which were huge headache for small businesses doing it tough. 'Someone might see a public holiday as a benefit, but for a small business, they just see another day when they have to pay $65 an hour for someone to wash dishes,' he said. 'It's really difficult for small business to navigate and to plan around public holidays, and so certainly not supportive of that concept.'
Daily Telegraph
4 hours ago
- Daily Telegraph
NRL SuperCoach live scores and analysis: Viliame Kikau sin bin divides experts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Bulldogs. Followed categories will be added to My News. Lachlan Galvin is coming down to a lovely price. But Matt Burton won't give up the five-eighth spot after a stunning display, so where does Galvin fit in? Tom Sangster analyses King's Birthday action. SUPERCOACH WINNERS * Matt Burton (91) – Clearly doesn't want his five-eighth spot taken by Lachlan Galvin. Best player on the field with a try and try assist. * Harry Hayes (88) – We pumped him up in Draft a while back and he's produced big-time. * Jacob Kiraz (68) – With KL Iro and Savelio Tamale injured, Kiraz will be one of the most popular buys of the upcoming round. To think this is his floor – 20 runs and six offloads. * Lachlan Galvin (36) – Putting him on the winner's list is a bit loose after just 24 minutes. But he scored a try and looked strong in the pressure moments. He'll dip below $500K soon, hopefully at the same time he earns a starting spot. Bargain. SUPERCOACH LOSERS * Isaiah Iongi (32) – Thanks for the good times. Iongi will be one of the most popular sells of the upcoming round after making only $300K, plus upcoming tough schedule. * Jordan Samrani (10) – Barely any game time off the bench. Has made over $200K and has aforementioned poor draw. Sell. Originally published as NRL SuperCoach live scores and analysis: Lachlan Galvin debut, Viliame Kikau sin bin divides experts
