NRL 2025 LIVE: Cowboys v Tigers, Sea Eagles v Broncos
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Who wins in Townsville tonight?
4.59pm
The King delivers as Dragons' new faces step up against clunky Knights
By Adrian Proszenko
Moments before kick-off, in a bid to rev up the faithful and celebrate St George Illawarra's invitation to Vegas, an Elvis impersonator did his thing.
When Elvis left the building, the real 'King' strutted onto Nestrata Jubilee Stadium.
Clint Gutherson may only be 11 games into his Dragons stint, but already he has given the Red V a slew of hits and memories. Against a form fullback – Fletcher Sharpe again deputised for Kalyn Ponga, whose ankle pulled up sore after State of Origin – Gutherson again left his mark.
The former Parramatta captain scored a try and led from the front as the Red V climbed into sixth spot on the ladder with a 20-6 win over Newcastle.
4.50pm
Who wins in Townsville tonight?
4.46pm
Welcome
Good afternoon footy fans.
Billie Eder here to take you through tonight's matches, starting with the Cowboys and Tigers at 5:30pm in Townsville, followed by the Sea Eagles and Broncos from 7:35pm.
North Queensland are the favourites for this match, but they have a couple of Origin players who are backing up after Wednesday night and could be feeling the fatigue.
Meanwhile, the Tigers are playing their first match since Lachlan Galvin's exit, with the young playmaker no officially a Bulldogs player.
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The Advertiser
6 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Star duo return for Dolphins, but Stone ruled out
The Dolphins welcome back two key forwards as they take on St George Illawarra with the chance to enter the NRL top eight for the first time. Starting hooker Jeremy Marshall-King returns from a thigh laceration and infection that led to him spending time in hospital, while lock Max Plath is back from a foot injury and is likely to start on the bench in Friday night's clash at Suncorp Stadium. Tough-as-teak forward Ray Stone has bravely carried a shoulder injury into battle with the team down on troops, but he has been rested to give the issue more time to heal. Marshall-King suffered a deep gash to his leg in round six and took the field in round nine, but the wound became aggravated. "He's ready to go," coach Kristian Woolf said. "It's been a long time, but I don't think people realised how serious it was and how big the cut was. "It was just the seriousness of the infection as well. He did a couple of stints in hospital on the IV drip and getting it flushed out. "It's great to have him back. If you look at the last couple of years we haven't won a lot of games without Jeremy. "I've been happy with the group over the last couple of weeks because we've started to learn how to do that." Plath, last season's player of the year, injured a foot in round seven against Melbourne, which has also taken longer to heal than first thought. The 23-year-old was in the frame to make his Queensland debut in game one of the State of Origin series before injury struck. That would appear unlikely in the short term until he gets some footy under his belt, but Woolf said a Maroons jersey was within Plath's grasp. "(The injury) ended up being a lot more serious that we thought it was," the coach said. "He is coming into this having not done a hell of a lot until the last couple of weeks. "We're very confident in what he's going to be able to do for the team. He'll be on limited minutes. "I've got no doubt he's a guy that will feature in the Origin frame at some stage. "It's probably too early to be talking about that now. He needs to get a couple of games under his belt." The Dolphins lost their opening four matches of the season but have recovered well to be on 12 points, just two behind the Dragons, who are in the eight. "We're under no illusions at all," Woolf said. "I know guys like (centre) Moses Suli really well and how dangerous he is. He's a strike player on the edge. "(Second-rower) Luciano Leilua is the same. They have a physical pack and experience with guys like Clint Gutherson and Damien Cook. "They're as dangerous as any team in the comp and we have to bring our best game." The Dolphins welcome back two key forwards as they take on St George Illawarra with the chance to enter the NRL top eight for the first time. Starting hooker Jeremy Marshall-King returns from a thigh laceration and infection that led to him spending time in hospital, while lock Max Plath is back from a foot injury and is likely to start on the bench in Friday night's clash at Suncorp Stadium. Tough-as-teak forward Ray Stone has bravely carried a shoulder injury into battle with the team down on troops, but he has been rested to give the issue more time to heal. Marshall-King suffered a deep gash to his leg in round six and took the field in round nine, but the wound became aggravated. "He's ready to go," coach Kristian Woolf said. "It's been a long time, but I don't think people realised how serious it was and how big the cut was. "It was just the seriousness of the infection as well. He did a couple of stints in hospital on the IV drip and getting it flushed out. "It's great to have him back. If you look at the last couple of years we haven't won a lot of games without Jeremy. "I've been happy with the group over the last couple of weeks because we've started to learn how to do that." Plath, last season's player of the year, injured a foot in round seven against Melbourne, which has also taken longer to heal than first thought. The 23-year-old was in the frame to make his Queensland debut in game one of the State of Origin series before injury struck. That would appear unlikely in the short term until he gets some footy under his belt, but Woolf said a Maroons jersey was within Plath's grasp. "(The injury) ended up being a lot more serious that we thought it was," the coach said. "He is coming into this having not done a hell of a lot until the last couple of weeks. "We're very confident in what he's going to be able to do for the team. He'll be on limited minutes. "I've got no doubt he's a guy that will feature in the Origin frame at some stage. "It's probably too early to be talking about that now. He needs to get a couple of games under his belt." The Dolphins lost their opening four matches of the season but have recovered well to be on 12 points, just two behind the Dragons, who are in the eight. "We're under no illusions at all," Woolf said. "I know guys like (centre) Moses Suli really well and how dangerous he is. He's a strike player on the edge. "(Second-rower) Luciano Leilua is the same. They have a physical pack and experience with guys like Clint Gutherson and Damien Cook. "They're as dangerous as any team in the comp and we have to bring our best game." The Dolphins welcome back two key forwards as they take on St George Illawarra with the chance to enter the NRL top eight for the first time. Starting hooker Jeremy Marshall-King returns from a thigh laceration and infection that led to him spending time in hospital, while lock Max Plath is back from a foot injury and is likely to start on the bench in Friday night's clash at Suncorp Stadium. Tough-as-teak forward Ray Stone has bravely carried a shoulder injury into battle with the team down on troops, but he has been rested to give the issue more time to heal. Marshall-King suffered a deep gash to his leg in round six and took the field in round nine, but the wound became aggravated. "He's ready to go," coach Kristian Woolf said. "It's been a long time, but I don't think people realised how serious it was and how big the cut was. "It was just the seriousness of the infection as well. He did a couple of stints in hospital on the IV drip and getting it flushed out. "It's great to have him back. If you look at the last couple of years we haven't won a lot of games without Jeremy. "I've been happy with the group over the last couple of weeks because we've started to learn how to do that." Plath, last season's player of the year, injured a foot in round seven against Melbourne, which has also taken longer to heal than first thought. The 23-year-old was in the frame to make his Queensland debut in game one of the State of Origin series before injury struck. That would appear unlikely in the short term until he gets some footy under his belt, but Woolf said a Maroons jersey was within Plath's grasp. "(The injury) ended up being a lot more serious that we thought it was," the coach said. "He is coming into this having not done a hell of a lot until the last couple of weeks. "We're very confident in what he's going to be able to do for the team. He'll be on limited minutes. "I've got no doubt he's a guy that will feature in the Origin frame at some stage. "It's probably too early to be talking about that now. He needs to get a couple of games under his belt." The Dolphins lost their opening four matches of the season but have recovered well to be on 12 points, just two behind the Dragons, who are in the eight. "We're under no illusions at all," Woolf said. "I know guys like (centre) Moses Suli really well and how dangerous he is. He's a strike player on the edge. "(Second-rower) Luciano Leilua is the same. They have a physical pack and experience with guys like Clint Gutherson and Damien Cook. "They're as dangerous as any team in the comp and we have to bring our best game."
The Advertiser
6 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Bears' huge task revealed as coach announcement looms
Mal Meninga has a mighty task to make the Perth Bears competitive from the outset as history paints a bleak picture of the NRL's expansion teams in their early years. The NRL is poised to unveil Meninga as the Bears' head coach this week, with the rugby league legend expected to relinquish his post in charge of the Australian national team to take the helm in 2027. The nine-time State of Origin series-winning coach is understood to have beaten South Sydney great Sam Burgess and former Parramatta boss Brad Arthur to the role, his first in charge of a club since 2001. The appointment of household name Meninga is expected to help generate big interest in the AFL-mad city, which has not had a team since the Western Reds folded in 1997. But a tough task looms for Meninga amid the excitement of the Bears' return to the NRL, 25 years after their Northern Eagles merger with Manly collapsed. Some 14 expansion teams have joined the NRL and its predecessors since 1982, when the league first began to expand out of Sydney. Only two of those teams, the Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm, played finals in their first two seasons. Even then, the Broncos only made it to a play-off game to reach the official post-season in 1989, losing that match to Cronulla. Among the 12 remaining teams, only one - the Auckland Warriors of 1995 - had a winning record in either of their first two seasons, while three picked up the wooden spoon in the same time-frame. Only six of the 12 remaining are still in the league in their current format, the vast majority of others folding in the aftermath of the 1997 Super League War. The last Perth expansion team, the Reds, did not play finals in any of their three seasons, the best of those an 11th-placed finish in 1995 that ended with a respectable 50 per cent winning record. The statistics come after Wayne Bennett told AAP last month coaching an expansion team was one of rugby league's bigger challenges. NRL HQ considers the Dolphins expansion project a big success for its nationwide fan community and ability to challenge the Broncos for airtime in rugby league heartland Brisbane. But even then, master coach Bennett did not lead the team to finals in their first two years, and the team sits outside the top eight at the halfway mark of their third campaign. "(Coaching an expansion team) sounds like a lot of fun but it can be a journey to nowhere," South Sydney coach Bennett told AAP last month. "It's an extremely tough gig and it's not something I would recommend for anyone to take up." EXPANSION TEAMS THAT PLAYED FINALS IN THEIR FIRST TWO SEASONS:- Brisbane Broncos: 7th (1988), 6th^ (1989) Melbourne Storm: 3rd^ (1998), 3rd^ (1999) EXPANSION TEAMS THAT MISSED FINALS IN THEIR FIRST TWO SEASONS Canberra Raiders: 14th* (1982), 10th (1983) Illawarra Steelers: 13th (1982), 12th (1983) Newcastle Knights: 14th (1988), 7th (1989) Gold Coast/Tweed Heads Giants: 15th (1988), 13th (1989) South Queensland Crushers: 16th (1995), 20th* (1996) Western Reds: 11th (1995), 16th (1996) North Queensland Cowboys: 20th* (1995), 17th (1996) The Warriors: 10th (1995), 11th (1996) Adelaide Rams: 9th (1997, Super League), 17th (1998) Hunter Mariners: 6th (1997, Super League), N/A (1998) Gold Coast Titans: 12th (2007), 13th (2008) The Dolphins: 13th (2023), 10th (2024) ^denotes the team played finals *denotes the team finished last Mal Meninga has a mighty task to make the Perth Bears competitive from the outset as history paints a bleak picture of the NRL's expansion teams in their early years. The NRL is poised to unveil Meninga as the Bears' head coach this week, with the rugby league legend expected to relinquish his post in charge of the Australian national team to take the helm in 2027. The nine-time State of Origin series-winning coach is understood to have beaten South Sydney great Sam Burgess and former Parramatta boss Brad Arthur to the role, his first in charge of a club since 2001. The appointment of household name Meninga is expected to help generate big interest in the AFL-mad city, which has not had a team since the Western Reds folded in 1997. But a tough task looms for Meninga amid the excitement of the Bears' return to the NRL, 25 years after their Northern Eagles merger with Manly collapsed. Some 14 expansion teams have joined the NRL and its predecessors since 1982, when the league first began to expand out of Sydney. Only two of those teams, the Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm, played finals in their first two seasons. Even then, the Broncos only made it to a play-off game to reach the official post-season in 1989, losing that match to Cronulla. Among the 12 remaining teams, only one - the Auckland Warriors of 1995 - had a winning record in either of their first two seasons, while three picked up the wooden spoon in the same time-frame. Only six of the 12 remaining are still in the league in their current format, the vast majority of others folding in the aftermath of the 1997 Super League War. The last Perth expansion team, the Reds, did not play finals in any of their three seasons, the best of those an 11th-placed finish in 1995 that ended with a respectable 50 per cent winning record. The statistics come after Wayne Bennett told AAP last month coaching an expansion team was one of rugby league's bigger challenges. NRL HQ considers the Dolphins expansion project a big success for its nationwide fan community and ability to challenge the Broncos for airtime in rugby league heartland Brisbane. But even then, master coach Bennett did not lead the team to finals in their first two years, and the team sits outside the top eight at the halfway mark of their third campaign. "(Coaching an expansion team) sounds like a lot of fun but it can be a journey to nowhere," South Sydney coach Bennett told AAP last month. "It's an extremely tough gig and it's not something I would recommend for anyone to take up." EXPANSION TEAMS THAT PLAYED FINALS IN THEIR FIRST TWO SEASONS:- Brisbane Broncos: 7th (1988), 6th^ (1989) Melbourne Storm: 3rd^ (1998), 3rd^ (1999) EXPANSION TEAMS THAT MISSED FINALS IN THEIR FIRST TWO SEASONS Canberra Raiders: 14th* (1982), 10th (1983) Illawarra Steelers: 13th (1982), 12th (1983) Newcastle Knights: 14th (1988), 7th (1989) Gold Coast/Tweed Heads Giants: 15th (1988), 13th (1989) South Queensland Crushers: 16th (1995), 20th* (1996) Western Reds: 11th (1995), 16th (1996) North Queensland Cowboys: 20th* (1995), 17th (1996) The Warriors: 10th (1995), 11th (1996) Adelaide Rams: 9th (1997, Super League), 17th (1998) Hunter Mariners: 6th (1997, Super League), N/A (1998) Gold Coast Titans: 12th (2007), 13th (2008) The Dolphins: 13th (2023), 10th (2024) ^denotes the team played finals *denotes the team finished last Mal Meninga has a mighty task to make the Perth Bears competitive from the outset as history paints a bleak picture of the NRL's expansion teams in their early years. The NRL is poised to unveil Meninga as the Bears' head coach this week, with the rugby league legend expected to relinquish his post in charge of the Australian national team to take the helm in 2027. The nine-time State of Origin series-winning coach is understood to have beaten South Sydney great Sam Burgess and former Parramatta boss Brad Arthur to the role, his first in charge of a club since 2001. The appointment of household name Meninga is expected to help generate big interest in the AFL-mad city, which has not had a team since the Western Reds folded in 1997. But a tough task looms for Meninga amid the excitement of the Bears' return to the NRL, 25 years after their Northern Eagles merger with Manly collapsed. Some 14 expansion teams have joined the NRL and its predecessors since 1982, when the league first began to expand out of Sydney. Only two of those teams, the Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm, played finals in their first two seasons. Even then, the Broncos only made it to a play-off game to reach the official post-season in 1989, losing that match to Cronulla. Among the 12 remaining teams, only one - the Auckland Warriors of 1995 - had a winning record in either of their first two seasons, while three picked up the wooden spoon in the same time-frame. Only six of the 12 remaining are still in the league in their current format, the vast majority of others folding in the aftermath of the 1997 Super League War. The last Perth expansion team, the Reds, did not play finals in any of their three seasons, the best of those an 11th-placed finish in 1995 that ended with a respectable 50 per cent winning record. The statistics come after Wayne Bennett told AAP last month coaching an expansion team was one of rugby league's bigger challenges. NRL HQ considers the Dolphins expansion project a big success for its nationwide fan community and ability to challenge the Broncos for airtime in rugby league heartland Brisbane. But even then, master coach Bennett did not lead the team to finals in their first two years, and the team sits outside the top eight at the halfway mark of their third campaign. "(Coaching an expansion team) sounds like a lot of fun but it can be a journey to nowhere," South Sydney coach Bennett told AAP last month. "It's an extremely tough gig and it's not something I would recommend for anyone to take up." EXPANSION TEAMS THAT PLAYED FINALS IN THEIR FIRST TWO SEASONS:- Brisbane Broncos: 7th (1988), 6th^ (1989) Melbourne Storm: 3rd^ (1998), 3rd^ (1999) EXPANSION TEAMS THAT MISSED FINALS IN THEIR FIRST TWO SEASONS Canberra Raiders: 14th* (1982), 10th (1983) Illawarra Steelers: 13th (1982), 12th (1983) Newcastle Knights: 14th (1988), 7th (1989) Gold Coast/Tweed Heads Giants: 15th (1988), 13th (1989) South Queensland Crushers: 16th (1995), 20th* (1996) Western Reds: 11th (1995), 16th (1996) North Queensland Cowboys: 20th* (1995), 17th (1996) The Warriors: 10th (1995), 11th (1996) Adelaide Rams: 9th (1997, Super League), 17th (1998) Hunter Mariners: 6th (1997, Super League), N/A (1998) Gold Coast Titans: 12th (2007), 13th (2008) The Dolphins: 13th (2023), 10th (2024) ^denotes the team played finals *denotes the team finished last
Sydney Morning Herald
10 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Hasler given last warning for saying bunker ref Badger ‘got it wrong'
The NRL issued Hasler with a final warning on Thursday. 'The final warning relates to comments made by Mr Hasler following round 13 of the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, as well as previous public statements regarding officiating,' the statement read. 'Mr Hasler has been reminded of his obligations under the NRL rules and code of conduct as well as his general responsibility as a sporting leader. 'Negative public remarks about match officials significantly hinder the recruitment and retention of match officials at the community and pathways tiers of the game.' Hasler could face a fine if he makes future comments criticising match officials. The NRL looks at such incidents on a case-by-case basis and hands down penalties based on the seriousness of each incident. Cowboys coach Todd Payten was given a final warning by the NRL last month for 'repeated and consistent criticism' of match officials. 'Easy as': Bellamy to coach on in 2026, loved taking back seat to Daley in Origin Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy will make it 24 years in charge of the club after agreeing to continue in 2026. Bellamy's contract finishes at the end of next season and he refused to look beyond when asked on Thursday. The Storm coach took time to speak with his family, some senior players and club management before locking in next season - he admits his reasons to stay remain the same. His players greeted the news with loud cheers when informed on Thursday morning. 'I'm still enjoying what I'm doing and we have a pretty good group of guys here, staff and players - it always seems to be the same answer every year but I'm still enjoying myself and still enjoying what I'm doing,' Bellamy said. 'There are considerations with the footy, the club, the team and there are private things as well - all that comes under consideration and, sometimes, it takes a little while to figure it all out. 'But this is where we have come to.' When asked about his thoughts beyond 2026, Bellamy gave a smile. He's due to coach his 600th Storm game in round 26 against Sydney Roosters at AAMI Park. 'Not really, no, I take it a week at a time,' Bellamy said. 'That's how I take my life and how I take my footy as well. I don't get too far ahead of myself.' Bellamy had no comment after reports claiming he was considering a move to Gold Coast Titans in 2027 but a senior Storm official dismissed it as 'rubbish'. Bellamy has, perhaps, had a vision of how he can continue in coaching after the Storm following his first game as coaching advisor to NSW coach Laurie Daley during game one of State of Origin last Wednesday night. It was Bellamy first foray into Origin since his time as Blues coach ended in 2010 and he only returned to help his former Canberra teammate Daley while former Storm players Brett White and Matt King are also on the staff. 'It was pretty hectic, a couple of plane rides, but I really enjoyed it,' Bellamy said. 'It was something different, a different group and the players were really good guys but the main reason I went into camp was that Laurie was a good mate of mine and two of the assistant coaches played here. 'I really enjoyed it, actually.' Most importantly, Bellamy seemed to relish taking a back seat and not having to make all the calls as head coach. 'Easy as, no problems whatsoever,' Bellamy said with a smile. If it is a future role that Bellamy could fill beyond his Storm years, he isn't quite ready to admit it. 'I don't know,' Bellamy said. 'But it was different certainly and I didn't have any problems shutting my mouth. If I felt like saying something, I offered my opinion if I thought it was worthwhile. Otherwise, I just tried to help the coaches.' White and King were two former Storm players that Bellamy hadn't coached with before Origin and he took some satisfaction from seeing how they had developed. 'It was interesting to see how they've come on - they present really well and are strong in their opinions,' Bellamy said. 'It was nice seeing them like that. I reckon I saw it [coaching] in 'Whitey' as a player but I didn't see it in 'Kingy' as he was always a laid-back dude so he's changed a little bit from that but he's always been a great guy.' The Storm sit in fourth place but have frustrated Bellamy in recent weeks due to their inconsistent form. So, just like the Bellamy of old, he has cracked whip at training after identifying some areas he hadn't pushed hard enough in and he hopes that will snap his team into line starting with Friday night's clash with North Queensland Cowboys at AAMI Park. Storm skipper Harry Grant needed to complete the captain's run on Thursday and wake up comfortably on Friday before Bellamy will lock him in for the match after battling a hamstring injury. Bellamy also enjoyed the chance to play the old man, claiming energetic outside back Sua Fa'alogo was likely to go deaf from playing his 'boombox' too loudly. 'I'm not quite sure I want to be young if I'm like Sua with that boombox - he's going to be deaf by the time he's 30,' Bellamy said grumpily. 'But having new players, younger players, come in, it's part of keeping things fresh and they help keep you a little younger than what you are - I don't think that hurts.' Tigers tyro back to state his case for Galvin's No.6 jersey Adrian Proszenko Latu Fainu will get the chance to stake his claim as Lachlan Galvin's long-term replacement when he returns from injury on Sunday for the Wests Tigers. Fainu has been named on coach Benji Marshall's bench after overcoming a thumb injury that has sidelined him since round five. He is one of three members of the Fainu family poised to take on the Panthers, alongside Samuela and Sione. Latu recently stated his desire to become the long-term halves partner of Jarome Luai, and will get his chance after Galvin joined the Bulldogs. Galvin has been named on an extended Canterbury bench, while Heath Mason will again start at five-eighth for the Tigers. 'I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make this team better. For me, if it means getting that six role, I'm all in,' Latu said in April. 'When I first came to Wests Tigers, they brought me to play in the halves. That's all I've ever wanted to do. That's the position I've been playing my whole career, since I started playing footy. I feel most comfortable there, I feel I can add more value to the team as a half. 'Whatever the team needs, I'm all in. I love the club.' There are plenty of other big-name inclusions in round 14. Kalyn Ponga is back for Newcastle after Origin, while fellow state representatives Harry Grant, Xavier Coates (Storm) and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (Dolphins) also return after being rested last weekend. Reece Walsh is a huge in for a Brisbane side under immense pressure after dropping six of their last seven games. Walsh will wear the No.1 jersey against the Titans after overcoming a knee injury that has sidelined him since round seven. Cody Walker and Jack Wighton have overcome calf issues and will return for the Rabbitohs, their first game together since round seven. Jake Trbojevic is back for Manly's clash with Newcastle after being cleared following a concussion. The same goes for Will Penisini, who rejoins the Parramatta backline for the King's Birthday clash against Canterbury. Nathan Lawson retains his spot on the wing after a strong Dragons debut, with the return of Christian Tuipulotu (hamstring) forcing Tyrell Sloan out of the side to face the Dolphins. Back-rower Jaydn Su'A is out with an ankle sprain. Like Mark Nawaqanitawase, Lawson represented Australia in rugby sevens at the Paris Olympics and picked the brain of 'Marky Mark' before making the switch. 'Me and Mark are actually good mates, we came through a few sevens tournaments together, we played a few comps and played a bit of footy growing up,' Lawson said. 'It was good to be able to lean on him and [Eel] Bailey Simmonsen, I went to school with him as well. I've been chatting to those two boys, they make it look pretty easy.' Koloamatangi states case for Blues recall after Barnett injury He's performed an uncanny impersonation of Payne Haas in his past two games, and in the process, South Sydney powerhouse Keaon Koloamatangi has staked a claim to line up alongside him in Origin II. NSW will almost certainly require front-row reinforcements as they attempt to clinch a second successive series in Perth after winning the series opener 18-6 at Suncorp Stadium last week. Blues enforcer Mitch Barnett suffered a knee injury in his team's 36-30 win against Souths on Sunday. Scans on Monday confirmed a season-ending ACL injury, one that ends Barnett's 2025 campaign. Melbourne Storm middle forward Stefano Utoikamanu was a standby player for the Blues last week, and NSW coach Laurie Daley may promote him into the 17 for the game in Perth. But Wests Tigers wildcard Terrell May and Koloamatangi have also been racking up numbers that Daley will find hard to ignore. Koloamatangi was switched from second row to prop by Souths coach Wayne Bennett two games ago, and the 27-year-old has delivered consecutive eye-catching performances. In Souths' 22-12 win against the Tigers on May 18, Koloamatangi carted the ball for 282 metres and made 49 tackles, prompting Bennett to compare him to former Brisbane greats Glenn Lazarus, Shane Webcke and Andrew Gee. On Sunday, he followed up with a bulldozing try, 218 attacking metres and 40 tackles in the loss to the Warriors. This time Bennett compared him to Haas, widely regarded as the NRL's best prop. 'Keaon's numbers are great, that's the point we're missing,' Bennett said of Koloamatangi, who is averaging 140 metres and 30 tackles per game this season. 'And he's playing the full 80 minutes. He's not even looking to be brought off the ground. 'That's the remarkable thing - to have a middle forward these days who can do all that workload. Payne Haas is really good at it too, but this guy is in that league.' Koloamatangi has played one State of Origin, helping NSW win game three of the 2023 series, and recognises that consistent form at club level is the key to earning a Blues recall. 'They had a dominant win in game one, so I don't think they'll change the team,' he said. 'I'm just trying to play my best footy for the Rabbitohs, and if the rep stuff comes, it comes. But I'm not too fussed, to be honest. If I get the call, I get the call. 'My main focus is the Bunnies … obviously one of my big goals is to get back there [in Origin], but obviously I have to play good at club level to be able to make the team.' The Mascot Jets junior was confident he would be better a second time around in the Origin arena, given the experience he gained on debut two years ago. 'Especially playing for Tonga against Australia as well - you know, obviously they're a mixture of both Queensland and NSW,' he said. 'I'm confident in the way it's going at the moment. I feel like I'm playing good footy, so whatever happens, happens.' He has embraced his move into the engine room and was hopeful his ability to also play on an edge would count in his favour when Daley sits down on Sunday to name his team for Origin II. 'Wayne puts his trust in me, and I don't want to let him down, to be honest,' he said. 'I don't want to be a liability for the team ... obviously the best props in the world, like Payne, they play massive minutes and do a massive amount of work. 'I'm just trying to do that for my team.'
