Montagna believes Swans' season is over!
AFL: Leigh Montagna says it's curtains for the Swans in 2025, questioning their form and ability to bounce back after recent struggles.
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News.com.au
35 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Desperate Saudi Arabia set to make it tough for Socceroos in Jeddah
The Socceroos are bracing themselves for a hostile reception on and the off field in Saudi Arabia, where FIFA World Cup qualification will be up for grabs on Wednesday morning in Jeddah. The Australians are on the brink of reaching next year's World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, with the Saudis needing to score at the least five goals against them to have any hope of securing guaranteed qualification at the expense of the Socceroos. As a result, Saudi hospitality is expected to be anything but forthcoming. 'I'm expecting delays at the airport, I'm expecting a really bad pitch to train on, I'm expecting … bus delays before the game,' Socceroos midfielder Connor Metcalfe said. 'They're probably just going to throw everything at us because they know what they need to do, and they're going to make it as difficult as possible.' And don't expect the Socceroos to take things lying down, with Metcalfe saying the Australians would be willing to display some gamesmanship of their own to frustrate the hosts. 'We're going to have to play a little bit of their game as well,' he said. 'Whether we waste time and delay the game as much as we can, because it's going to be like that. 'There's going to be a lot of diving, a lot of acting, but we will block the noise out, focus on ourselves and do the best we can. 'If you get affected by any of their little games or noise or whatever it is, then it's just going to affect the game, and they're going to get that little advantage over you. 'We want to beat them on their home turf in front of all their fans.' Metcalfe returned to Socceroos duty last Thursday night in Australia's 1-0 win over Japan in Perth after missing the national team's previous seven matches following a series of injuries that restricted him to just 10 appearances for his German club St. Pauli in the 2024-25 Bundesliga season. 'It's been a long, long journey, (and a) tough ride, but it was amazing being back out there,' the former Melbourne City star said. 'Just being involved in a win as well in front of a home crowd was a special feeling.'
West Australian
36 minutes ago
- West Australian
Tiger's name the only way to explain Origin snub: Benji
A mystified Benji Marshall is at a loss to explain Terrell May's State of Origin omission, suggesting if the prop had a different name he would be gaining more attention as a NSW contender. As May prepares to lead a depleted pack against Penrith on Sunday, Tigers coach Marshall launched a staunch defence of the Samoan international's character. May left the Sydney Roosters for the Tigers in November in circumstances which look all the more questionable given the prop's red-hot form for Marshall's men. The 26-year-old, who averages 177m per game, leads the NRL in offloads and has regularly clocked up 80-minute performances for the Tigers this season, was left out of the Blues squad for game one. Mitch Barnett's knee injury has opened the door for May to receive a call-up to the Blues squad for game two in Perth on June 18, an option Marshall has implored NSW coach Laurie Daley to take. "Given Terrell's form early in the season, I think he's been one of the best front-rowers in the game," Marshall told reporters on Saturday. "I don't pick the (NSW) team, but he's been outstanding for what he's done for us and I'm punching him out for pretty big minutes. "I hate the stuff that gets thrown around about his personality and his character, because what we see is a guy who brings leadership to our team." Marshall described May as a "great performer with impact on and off the field". "All the (negative) things that get said about him ... it's not true," he said. "I feel sorry for him because he's got a bit of a bad rap, but he's a really good bloke. "What more can he do? Maybe if his name wasn't Terrell May he would make it." May will be tasked with carrying the Tigers' pack against the Panthers as they aim to avoid falling to a fourth-straight NRL defeat. Marshall is without Alex Twal (concussion) and Fonua Pole (knee), leaving the Tigers light on in the middle. The Tigers coach has named two utilities - Jack Bird and Latu Fainu - on his bench alongside two-game forward Kit Laulilii and NRL debutant Charlie Murray. Marshall has dropped former Cronulla prop Royce Hunt to NSW Cup. "Royce made some great impact for us at the start of the season," Marshall said. "We just need to get some match fitness into him, and he's had limited minutes for us."
Perth Now
38 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Tiger's name the only way to explain Origin snub: Benji
A mystified Benji Marshall is at a loss to explain Terrell May's State of Origin omission, suggesting if the prop had a different name he would be gaining more attention as a NSW contender. As May prepares to lead a depleted pack against Penrith on Sunday, Tigers coach Marshall launched a staunch defence of the Samoan international's character. May left the Sydney Roosters for the Tigers in November in circumstances which look all the more questionable given the prop's red-hot form for Marshall's men. The 26-year-old, who averages 177m per game, leads the NRL in offloads and has regularly clocked up 80-minute performances for the Tigers this season, was left out of the Blues squad for game one. Mitch Barnett's knee injury has opened the door for May to receive a call-up to the Blues squad for game two in Perth on June 18, an option Marshall has implored NSW coach Laurie Daley to take. "Given Terrell's form early in the season, I think he's been one of the best front-rowers in the game," Marshall told reporters on Saturday. "I don't pick the (NSW) team, but he's been outstanding for what he's done for us and I'm punching him out for pretty big minutes. "I hate the stuff that gets thrown around about his personality and his character, because what we see is a guy who brings leadership to our team." Marshall described May as a "great performer with impact on and off the field". "All the (negative) things that get said about him ... it's not true," he said. "I feel sorry for him because he's got a bit of a bad rap, but he's a really good bloke. "What more can he do? Maybe if his name wasn't Terrell May he would make it." May will be tasked with carrying the Tigers' pack against the Panthers as they aim to avoid falling to a fourth-straight NRL defeat. Marshall is without Alex Twal (concussion) and Fonua Pole (knee), leaving the Tigers light on in the middle. The Tigers coach has named two utilities - Jack Bird and Latu Fainu - on his bench alongside two-game forward Kit Laulilii and NRL debutant Charlie Murray. Marshall has dropped former Cronulla prop Royce Hunt to NSW Cup. "Royce made some great impact for us at the start of the season," Marshall said. "We just need to get some match fitness into him, and he's had limited minutes for us."
