Dragons defy wind and rain to topple ladder-leading Raiders
Coach Shane Flanagan nearly put a hole through the glass separating the coaching and media box when the Raiders were given a repeat set in the final minute while camped on the Red V's line – but in the end he had nothing to worry about.
Kyle Flanagan's kicking game was terrific, especially a sideline conversion from the south-eastern corner that was directly into the wind.
The conditions were so bad, club officials had to close the hill before kick-off for safety reasons because of lightning, rain and wind. The empty grass evoked memories of the competition when it was played behind closed doors during COVID in 2020.
The Dragons will still need a miracle to make the eight, but the two points moves them clear of the pack of teams still slugging it out for the wooden spoon. They don't deserve the dreaded gong when you consider how many of their losses have been by six points or less.
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Raiders forward Hudson Young was placed on report for a shoulder charge on Hame Sele – the contact was minimal – while David Klemmer was also cited for a tackle on Ata Mariota, which forced the prop off the field for a head injury assessment.
Feagai opened the scoring for the Dragons, Matt Timoko hit back for the visitors, before the Dragons slotted a couple of penalty goals on offer, including one for a late Joe Tapine hit on Kyle Flanagan.
The Dragons will be up for their local derby against Cronulla next week. The Raiders are still knee-deep in this title race, and the quicker they can forget the trip to Wollongong, the better. Stuart will try to ignore it, a bit like he tried to do with the miserable weather on the sideline.
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Courier-Mail
an hour ago
- Courier-Mail
Sam Backo dies aged 64, Maroons, Raiders legend
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Sam Backo – a larger-than-life front-rower who represented Queensland and Australia in the 1980s – has died. Backo, 64, had been in intensive care at Cairns Hospital after being diagnosed with melioidosis – a bacterial infection – in April. Recent media reports stated Backo may have contracted the soil-borne tropical disease while swimming in Freshwater Creek at Goomboora Park in Cairns. Backo had been transferred to a Brisbane hospital but returned to Cairns where he passed on Sunday afternoon surrounded by family and friends. 'Sam was a wonderful player and a wonderful man. He was immensely powerful and a real character. He will be sadly missed,' said Raiders coach and ex-teammate Ricky Stuart. Nicknamed Slammin' Sam, Backo played 114 games for Canberra between 1983 and 1988 before playing a further 20 games for Brisbane in 1989 and 1990. A renowned character, Backo played seven State of Origin games for Queensland and six Tests for Australia. He also represented a Rest of World team in 1988. Sam Backo has died aged 64. Sam Backo played 114 games for the Raiders. Remarkably, Backo scored tries all three Tests against Great Britain in 1988 and also claimed two man-of-the-match honours for Queensland. Former Raiders teammate Brent Todd posted an emotional message to Facebook, writing: 'Goodbye my dear friend, may you now rest in peace. 'During our time at the Raiders we became bloody great mates. I'm going to miss you, Sammy.' Ex-Maroons teammate Martin Bella posted a photo of himself, Backo and the late Peter Jackson after a State of Origin win. 'Late man standing. The years are cruel,' Bella wrote. Canberra Raiders also paid tribute, posting: 'VALE Canberra Raiders great Sam Backo. #Raider43. Our condolences to his family and friends.' Backo enjoyed a stint with Leeds in England in 1988. Leeds Rhinos took to social media to post: 'Deeply sad news in Australia that '80s fan favourite, Slammin' Sam Backo has passed away aged 64.' Known as a gentle giant, Backo, who suffered a heart attack in 2023, watched the recent State of Origin decider from his hospital bed. At the time of his heart attack, former teammate and Immortal Wally Lewis said: 'He was such a dominant prop. 'When he came on, Sam just destroyed everyone that was in front of him. Sam was the size of a cement truck and he made the most of it. 'That dominating period for Sam, in the late 1980s, probably gave Queensland dominance in size for the first time.' At the time, Queensland legend Trevor Gillmeister added: 'They talk about big blokes these days with footwork but Sam was one of the first that was god on his feet for a big man.' Backo, who started his top-level footy career with Brisbane club Fortitude Valley, was known for his work in indigenous health. He was awarded the Australian Sports Medal in 2000 for his contribution to rugby league in Australia.
The Advertiser
8 hours ago
- The Advertiser
From mancave to masterpiece: writer honours cricket's golden age
Everyone remembers Bodyline. But fewer people remember the man who caught Harold Larwood's short-pitched delivery right in the skull: Bert Oldfield. But, a former journalist and police officer from Surf Beach on the NSW south coast, Gavin Gleeson, thinks his name should ring out. "A lot of lesser cricketers, with all respect to them, have books written about them, but I found that Oldfield's story was quite exceptional and it had never really been touched," he said. Taking up that challenge, Gavin wrote Bodyline Casualty, a new book from Ginninderra that uncovers the almost-forgotten history of an extraordinary wicket-keeper. Gavin's fascination with the Bodyline saga during Britain's 1932-33 Ashes tour of Australia was triggered by the ABC's series of the same name. "It really captured my imagination," he said. "It sparked an off-field conflict and even diplomatic issues between Australia and England, but what interested me was the dramatic flashpoint of what happened, and I just wanted to focus in on the individual." When the COVID pandemic hit in 2020, Gavin retreated to his man-cave, where, surrounded by stacks of cricket memorabilia, he began typing. "When you've got that Microsoft Word document open and there's nothing there, you can do anything from that point on," Gavin said. "I was writing a thousand words a day, for 12 hours a day, listening to Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli, and I was back in the 1930s." Besides his sterling cricket career (Oldfield still retains the record for most stumpings), Oldfield also served in both World Wars. "He only played two first-grade matches and then the First World War happened, so he, as soon as he was able to at the age of 21, enlisted and was deployed overseas," Gavin said. "After he retired from cricket, he re-enlisted for the Second World War and was in it for the entirety." Part of Gavin's appreciation of Oldfield comes down to his reverence for what he sees as the golden age of cricket. "If you love current cricket, the worst thing you can do is write a historical book on cricket," he said. "I still watch cricket, but my love for the modern game is not like it was because you can see how much we've lost." With Bodyline Casualty out now, Gavin's already thinking about his next project. "Jack Gregory retired to Narooma, and he was a very interesting guy. He didn't wear gloves, didn't wear a groin protector, and he was a modern-style all-rounder," he said. "I'm thinking because I'm down the South Coast and I love it, I might do that because, you know, I'm in the right spot." Everyone remembers Bodyline. But fewer people remember the man who caught Harold Larwood's short-pitched delivery right in the skull: Bert Oldfield. But, a former journalist and police officer from Surf Beach on the NSW south coast, Gavin Gleeson, thinks his name should ring out. "A lot of lesser cricketers, with all respect to them, have books written about them, but I found that Oldfield's story was quite exceptional and it had never really been touched," he said. Taking up that challenge, Gavin wrote Bodyline Casualty, a new book from Ginninderra that uncovers the almost-forgotten history of an extraordinary wicket-keeper. Gavin's fascination with the Bodyline saga during Britain's 1932-33 Ashes tour of Australia was triggered by the ABC's series of the same name. "It really captured my imagination," he said. "It sparked an off-field conflict and even diplomatic issues between Australia and England, but what interested me was the dramatic flashpoint of what happened, and I just wanted to focus in on the individual." When the COVID pandemic hit in 2020, Gavin retreated to his man-cave, where, surrounded by stacks of cricket memorabilia, he began typing. "When you've got that Microsoft Word document open and there's nothing there, you can do anything from that point on," Gavin said. "I was writing a thousand words a day, for 12 hours a day, listening to Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli, and I was back in the 1930s." Besides his sterling cricket career (Oldfield still retains the record for most stumpings), Oldfield also served in both World Wars. "He only played two first-grade matches and then the First World War happened, so he, as soon as he was able to at the age of 21, enlisted and was deployed overseas," Gavin said. "After he retired from cricket, he re-enlisted for the Second World War and was in it for the entirety." Part of Gavin's appreciation of Oldfield comes down to his reverence for what he sees as the golden age of cricket. "If you love current cricket, the worst thing you can do is write a historical book on cricket," he said. "I still watch cricket, but my love for the modern game is not like it was because you can see how much we've lost." With Bodyline Casualty out now, Gavin's already thinking about his next project. "Jack Gregory retired to Narooma, and he was a very interesting guy. He didn't wear gloves, didn't wear a groin protector, and he was a modern-style all-rounder," he said. "I'm thinking because I'm down the South Coast and I love it, I might do that because, you know, I'm in the right spot." Everyone remembers Bodyline. But fewer people remember the man who caught Harold Larwood's short-pitched delivery right in the skull: Bert Oldfield. But, a former journalist and police officer from Surf Beach on the NSW south coast, Gavin Gleeson, thinks his name should ring out. "A lot of lesser cricketers, with all respect to them, have books written about them, but I found that Oldfield's story was quite exceptional and it had never really been touched," he said. Taking up that challenge, Gavin wrote Bodyline Casualty, a new book from Ginninderra that uncovers the almost-forgotten history of an extraordinary wicket-keeper. Gavin's fascination with the Bodyline saga during Britain's 1932-33 Ashes tour of Australia was triggered by the ABC's series of the same name. "It really captured my imagination," he said. "It sparked an off-field conflict and even diplomatic issues between Australia and England, but what interested me was the dramatic flashpoint of what happened, and I just wanted to focus in on the individual." When the COVID pandemic hit in 2020, Gavin retreated to his man-cave, where, surrounded by stacks of cricket memorabilia, he began typing. "When you've got that Microsoft Word document open and there's nothing there, you can do anything from that point on," Gavin said. "I was writing a thousand words a day, for 12 hours a day, listening to Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli, and I was back in the 1930s." Besides his sterling cricket career (Oldfield still retains the record for most stumpings), Oldfield also served in both World Wars. "He only played two first-grade matches and then the First World War happened, so he, as soon as he was able to at the age of 21, enlisted and was deployed overseas," Gavin said. "After he retired from cricket, he re-enlisted for the Second World War and was in it for the entirety." Part of Gavin's appreciation of Oldfield comes down to his reverence for what he sees as the golden age of cricket. "If you love current cricket, the worst thing you can do is write a historical book on cricket," he said. "I still watch cricket, but my love for the modern game is not like it was because you can see how much we've lost." With Bodyline Casualty out now, Gavin's already thinking about his next project. "Jack Gregory retired to Narooma, and he was a very interesting guy. He didn't wear gloves, didn't wear a groin protector, and he was a modern-style all-rounder," he said. "I'm thinking because I'm down the South Coast and I love it, I might do that because, you know, I'm in the right spot." Everyone remembers Bodyline. But fewer people remember the man who caught Harold Larwood's short-pitched delivery right in the skull: Bert Oldfield. But, a former journalist and police officer from Surf Beach on the NSW south coast, Gavin Gleeson, thinks his name should ring out. "A lot of lesser cricketers, with all respect to them, have books written about them, but I found that Oldfield's story was quite exceptional and it had never really been touched," he said. Taking up that challenge, Gavin wrote Bodyline Casualty, a new book from Ginninderra that uncovers the almost-forgotten history of an extraordinary wicket-keeper. Gavin's fascination with the Bodyline saga during Britain's 1932-33 Ashes tour of Australia was triggered by the ABC's series of the same name. "It really captured my imagination," he said. "It sparked an off-field conflict and even diplomatic issues between Australia and England, but what interested me was the dramatic flashpoint of what happened, and I just wanted to focus in on the individual." When the COVID pandemic hit in 2020, Gavin retreated to his man-cave, where, surrounded by stacks of cricket memorabilia, he began typing. "When you've got that Microsoft Word document open and there's nothing there, you can do anything from that point on," Gavin said. "I was writing a thousand words a day, for 12 hours a day, listening to Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli, and I was back in the 1930s." Besides his sterling cricket career (Oldfield still retains the record for most stumpings), Oldfield also served in both World Wars. "He only played two first-grade matches and then the First World War happened, so he, as soon as he was able to at the age of 21, enlisted and was deployed overseas," Gavin said. "After he retired from cricket, he re-enlisted for the Second World War and was in it for the entirety." Part of Gavin's appreciation of Oldfield comes down to his reverence for what he sees as the golden age of cricket. "If you love current cricket, the worst thing you can do is write a historical book on cricket," he said. "I still watch cricket, but my love for the modern game is not like it was because you can see how much we've lost." With Bodyline Casualty out now, Gavin's already thinking about his next project. "Jack Gregory retired to Narooma, and he was a very interesting guy. He didn't wear gloves, didn't wear a groin protector, and he was a modern-style all-rounder," he said. "I'm thinking because I'm down the South Coast and I love it, I might do that because, you know, I'm in the right spot."
The Age
18 hours ago
- The Age
Why the Voss call is easier for Carlton than the Goodwin call for Melbourne
They have gun players who've either flirted with the idea of leaving (Charlie Curnow) or made plain their unhappiness and wish to get out (Christian Petracca). In Oliver's case, it was the club that first raised the prospect of trading him, only to baulk when he was ready to join Geelong; it is a non-deal that the Demons should regret. Despite the shared problems and superficially similar situations, there's a clear difference in the nature of the coach calls that Carlton and Melbourne confront. Carlton are in a better position to judge Voss – and to remove him, if that's deemed necessary – even though he's only in his fourth season with the Blues. How so? The Blues have had their new CEO in the building for the entire 2025 season, even though Wright has been the understudy – the dauphin, if you like – to exiting chief executive Brian Cook. Their president, Rob Priestley, assumed the role early this year ahead of schedule following the scandal that saw off his predecessor Luke Sayers. Priestley, the chairman of J.P. Morgan, had been tapped as Sayers' successor for some time, and is more than familiar with the football department's workings and worries. Loading The Demons, conversely, have had only an interim CEO this year, David Chippindall, and the new CEO Paul Guerra won't be installed until next month. The presidency, too, is in transition. Brad Green holds the role now, but is slated to hand over to a former player (and lawyer) from an earlier generation, ex-MCC chairman Steven Smith, later this year. Carlton's shot callers – Wright, in particular – have had a front-row seat to observe Voss during 2025. Further, Wright's had a full season to assess the playing list, list management, high performance and culture. Oh, and a detailed understanding of their salary cap and contracts (another unfortunate parallel – the Blues and Dees have paid a huge amount to stars, and have accordingly tight player payments). Guerra, when he arrives, will be on a steeper learning curve than health ministers during COVID. Unlike Wright, he is not a football expert, and will have to defer to the judgment of others, such as Smith, Green and ex-All Blacks manager Darren Shand, who did the recent review of the Demons' football operations. Carlton have the more stable leadership. Their CEO, board and president have been in place and should know the score. This column is not venturing a view on whether Voss should be sacked. Not now. The point is that the Blues have a better vantage to judge their coach's suitability than Melbourne, despite Goodwin's nine years in the job. It is debatable which of these coaches has encountered more turbulence, if you count matters such as supporter unrest (Goodwin grateful for added security at Marvel Stadium on Saturday), and frenzied media intrusion – Carlton, as the bigger prey, will always draw heavier fire. Goodwin, however, has had more obstacles in his path when factoring in board instability, the questions over player behaviour – dating back to the Entrecote dust-up and peaking around the drug suspension of Joel Smith – and the separate but equally damaging circuses around Petracca and Oliver. Loading Did Goodwin's methods or management contribute to these problems that made his coaching life difficult after 2022? Possibly. But there were also factors outside his domain, which made it harder to have a singular focus on coaching. Goodwin appeared to have done enough mid-season, on the back of a victory at the Gabba, to hold his position next year, as I suggested. Results since, 'have not necessarily been to [his] advantage', to borrow from the Japanese emperor Hirohito's surrender speech. The Demons have gone south. Voss' curse has been injury, both in 2024 and this year. This must be considered when judgment day comes. The Wright call, however, will be predicated on whether the coach has the right stuff for 2026 and beyond. Most crucial to Carlton and Melbourne's self-examinations will be their understanding of their position – ie, if they are undertaking mini-rebuilds or refreshing of their lists (the Demons have put their toe in those waters already), or if either believe they can re-jig, find some mature players from rivals and scale the mountain quickly. The Blues are committed to father-son Harry Dean and to Andrew Walker's gun son Cody, and will regain Jagga Smith, a top-three pick in 2024, over the next two post-seasons. This necessarily gives them signposts for the future. How quickly can those kids come on alongside Curnow, Jacob Weitering and Sam Walsh? Knowing precisely where you're situated in the premiership cycle is paramount. Once you're sorted on that front, the calls on players, coaches and recruiting follow.
