Latest news with #ACLs
The Age
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
Should a former Wallaby really be in the running for NRL's rookie of the year?
Roosters fans will be more concerned about Nawaqanitawase staying put, rather than any water-cooler debate about his rookie-of-the-year credentials. Herald colleague Iain Payten wrote about Rugby Australia potentially making a play to bring Nawaqanitawase home in time for the 2027 World Cup on home soil, once his Roosters deal expires at the end of 2026. However, incoming Wallabies coach Les Kiss was cool on that prospect when he addressed it at a NSW Blues training session at Ballymore on Monday. 'I couldn't see it happening at this stage,' Kiss said. 'Someone like Marky is someone we'll always keep an eye on. But the truth is, he's in as good place at the moment to stay at the Roosters – I do know he's done well enough there for the Roosters to not let him go.' As the young Roosters round out the weekend action at home to the Raiders, assistant coach Matt King said the Generation Next Chooks – excepting Nawaqanitawase – had been on the radar for several years. 'It's a story that has been three or four years in the making,' King said.'The club has been incredibly supportive of some absolute legends of the game as they've dealt with retirement, including Mitch Aubusson, Jake Friend, Boyd Cordner and Brett Morris. Their sole focus has been to develop the next crop. 'They've been patient. Nobody else knew what we had on our hands, but we did.' King said Nawaqanitawase was just as impressive off the field as he was on it. 'I've got three young girls, and if one of them ever brings home a man like Marky Mark, I'll be happy as – he's such a good fella,' King said. 'He walked into and changed our environment, purely through the person he is. There's no ego. He finished at the Paris Olympics, and three weeks later he's playing [reserve grade] in Glebe in front of three people. He just got on with it. He's an incredible human. 'With Hugo, there are two things I have consistently seen in a good young half during my career, which is someone who makes their tackles, and someone who kicks the ball well. Cooper Cronk did just that when starting at Melbourne, and so did Adam Reynolds at Souths. Hugo is not only making all his tackles, he's consistently kicking the ball well to all areas of th field. 'And Rob's journey to the NRL has been filled with adversity because of two ACLs. He's clear on what makes a consistent NRL centre. He's got stuff like the two Joeys [Joey Suaalii and Manu] with the footy. We don't see it as consistently at the moment because he's so focused on his defence and shutting down his edge. But it will come.' Dolphins winger Jack Bostock took top honours last year after new Bulldog Lachie Galvin was ineligible because of suspension, while Sunia Turuva beat his future Tigers teammate Jahream Bula in 2023.
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Should a former Wallaby really be in the running for NRL's rookie of the year?
Roosters fans will be more concerned about Nawaqanitawase staying put, rather than any water-cooler debate about his rookie-of-the-year credentials. Herald colleague Iain Payten wrote about Rugby Australia potentially making a play to bring Nawaqanitawase home in time for the 2027 World Cup on home soil, once his Roosters deal expires at the end of 2026. However, incoming Wallabies coach Les Kiss was cool on that prospect when he addressed it at a NSW Blues training session at Ballymore on Monday. 'I couldn't see it happening at this stage,' Kiss said. 'Someone like Marky is someone we'll always keep an eye on. But the truth is, he's in as good place at the moment to stay at the Roosters – I do know he's done well enough there for the Roosters to not let him go.' As the young Roosters round out the weekend action at home to the Raiders, assistant coach Matt King said the Generation Next Chooks – excepting Nawaqanitawase – had been on the radar for several years. 'It's a story that has been three or four years in the making,' King said.'The club has been incredibly supportive of some absolute legends of the game as they've dealt with retirement, including Mitch Aubusson, Jake Friend, Boyd Cordner and Brett Morris. Their sole focus has been to develop the next crop. 'They've been patient. Nobody else knew what we had on our hands, but we did.' King said Nawaqanitawase was just as impressive off the field as he was on it. 'I've got three young girls, and if one of them ever brings home a man like Marky Mark, I'll be happy as – he's such a good fella,' King said. 'He walked into and changed our environment, purely through the person he is. There's no ego. He finished at the Paris Olympics, and three weeks later he's playing [reserve grade] in Glebe in front of three people. He just got on with it. He's an incredible human. 'With Hugo, there are two things I have consistently seen in a good young half during my career, which is someone who makes their tackles, and someone who kicks the ball well. Cooper Cronk did just that when starting at Melbourne, and so did Adam Reynolds at Souths. Hugo is not only making all his tackles, he's consistently kicking the ball well to all areas of th field. 'And Rob's journey to the NRL has been filled with adversity because of two ACLs. He's clear on what makes a consistent NRL centre. He's got stuff like the two Joeys [Joey Suaalii and Manu] with the footy. We don't see it as consistently at the moment because he's so focused on his defence and shutting down his edge. But it will come.' Dolphins winger Jack Bostock took top honours last year after new Bulldog Lachie Galvin was ineligible because of suspension, while Sunia Turuva beat his future Tigers teammate Jahream Bula in 2023.
West Australian
4 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Tupou lifted by rookies, Roosters make big Origin call
Daniel Tupou has described how he sees a younger version of himself in Robert Toia, as Queensland's breakout State of Origin star returns for the Sydney Roosters. Roosters coach Trent Robinson confirmed on Saturday all five of his Origin players would face Canberra on Sunday, days after the interstate series opener. That will leave the Roosters in the best chance to remain on the cusp of the NRL's top eight, despite sitting 16th on the ladder as recently as six weeks ago. Toia has been one of several young Roosters whom Tupou believes has re-energised the club this year, amid a difficult injury run to start 2025. The centre himself overcame back-to-back ACL ruptures before making his debut this year, and was arguably Queensland's best in their series-opening loss. Tupou himself played 10 games on the wing for NSW and has consistently become something of a mentor for the younger members of the Roosters' backline. "Watching from afar, the extras he's putting in after the adversity he's been through is a credit to him," Tupou said. "He reminds me of myself, just the quiet nature and shy with all that media stuff and he's handled it really well. "I have seen him keep his composure and let his footy do the talking." Queensland coach Billy Slater said after Wednesday's loss Toia's debut was "great", hailing his focus on the "not brilliant" parts of the game. Robinson was also not surprised, praising Toia's movements and decisions. The Roosters centre is not the only youngster to have left a mark on Tupou. The towering winger scored twice in last week's win over Cronulla off the back of two Hugo Savala kicks, with the halfback making the most of Tupou's height. Just six games into starting as a No.7, the 23-year-old has made a genuine case to keep a spot in the halves once Sam Walker returns from his ACL rupture in coming weeks. "It was just a gameplan and he backed himself," Tupou said. "All week from the Monday leading up to the week he said he was going to own that part of his game and he lived up to the expectation. "We just fell into place straight and away and it worked. Credit to him as a young player to have the courage to be able to do that." It's also not lost on the Roosters that it was in this corresponding Sunday night home fixture against the Raiders that their 2024 season was ripped apart. In the space of one half both Walker and hooker Brandon Smith suffered ruptured ACLs, in a blow that has had ramifications going into 2025. "Obviously losing those two big names during that game was tough," Tupou said. "We can only move forward from that and God willing it doesn't go the same way this year."
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Tupou lifted by rookies, Roosters make big Origin call
Daniel Tupou has described how he sees a younger version of himself in Robert Toia, as Queensland's breakout State of Origin star returns for the Sydney Roosters. Roosters coach Trent Robinson confirmed on Saturday all five of his Origin players would face Canberra on Sunday, days after the interstate series opener. That will leave the Roosters in the best chance to remain on the cusp of the NRL's top eight, despite sitting 16th on the ladder as recently as six weeks ago. Toia has been one of several young Roosters whom Tupou believes has re-energised the club this year, amid a difficult injury run to start 2025. The centre himself overcame back-to-back ACL ruptures before making his debut this year, and was arguably Queensland's best in their series-opening loss. Tupou himself played 10 games on the wing for NSW and has consistently become something of a mentor for the younger members of the Roosters' backline. "Watching from afar, the extras he's putting in after the adversity he's been through is a credit to him," Tupou said. "He reminds me of myself, just the quiet nature and shy with all that media stuff and he's handled it really well. "I have seen him keep his composure and let his footy do the talking." Queensland coach Billy Slater said after Wednesday's loss Toia's debut was "great", hailing his focus on the "not brilliant" parts of the game. Robinson was also not surprised, praising Toia's movements and decisions. The Roosters centre is not the only youngster to have left a mark on Tupou. The towering winger scored twice in last week's win over Cronulla off the back of two Hugo Savala kicks, with the halfback making the most of Tupou's height. Just six games into starting as a No.7, the 23-year-old has made a genuine case to keep a spot in the halves once Sam Walker returns from his ACL rupture in coming weeks. "It was just a gameplan and he backed himself," Tupou said. "All week from the Monday leading up to the week he said he was going to own that part of his game and he lived up to the expectation. "We just fell into place straight and away and it worked. Credit to him as a young player to have the courage to be able to do that." It's also not lost on the Roosters that it was in this corresponding Sunday night home fixture against the Raiders that their 2024 season was ripped apart. In the space of one half both Walker and hooker Brandon Smith suffered ruptured ACLs, in a blow that has had ramifications going into 2025. "Obviously losing those two big names during that game was tough," Tupou said. "We can only move forward from that and God willing it doesn't go the same way this year."
West Australian
25-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Super Rugby Pacific: Western Force coach Simon Cron crestfallen after promising season ends on sour note
Western Force coach Simon Cron says a combination of a lack of high-intensity training, fatigue, injuries and jet lag contributed to a six-game winless run to end their season which ruined their final hopes. When the Force beat the Highlanders on April 5 to move into fourth spot, a first Super Rugby Pacific finals berth beckoned; instead the Force are now at risk of the wooden spoon after their super-point 22-17 loss to the Waratahs. Darby Lancaster's spectacular 90th minute try after the sides could not be separated at the end of regulation gave the visitors a win to keep their own season alive while condemn the Force to a fifth loss in a row. After their first bye, the Force failed to win and only picked up two points the rest of the season, coming in their first game post-break in a 17-17 super point draw with the Hurricanes. While they had chances to beat the Waratahs, Cron conceded they were their own worst enemies and had made poor decisions. Part of the reason for those errors was a lack of sharpness. 'There's a few things tout of our control a little bit in that last six game block. The S&C (strength and conditioning) department was telling me,we probably trained them six times in six weeks at any sort of intensity,' he said. 'That makes makes it more challenging as a coach, because you like to coach when you're on field but unfortunately, that's just the way the cookie crumbled this year with what we were doing.' Injuries and a heavy travel schedule contributed to the Force's lack of high-intensity training in the second half of the season. A swell of injuries to first-team players and key rotational pieces blighted the Force in the run home; starters Marley Pearce, Vaiolini Ekuasi and Divad Palu all missed long stretches through injury. Prop Pearce's shoulder issue was compounded by starting-calibre front-rowers Harry Hoopert and Harry Johnson-Holmes both tearing ACLs before the season even began. In recent weeks, star flanker Carlo Tizzano and important back-rower Nick Champion de Crespigny also missed time, while Wallabies duo Dylan Pietsch and Brandon Paenga-Amosa were restricted to seven games each. 'You're going to lose players at Super Rugby. It's just when we lose that many, we've just got to try and continue to build the depth behind that so that we don't get hunting worldwide,' Cron said. The Force's second bye of the season comes next week, in the final league round of the season — something Cron has repeatedly complained about after his side travelled more than 49,000km in the air this season. 'Funnily enough, this is the boys' bye week, which lines up nicely with our season, giving the highest-travelled team a bye at the end,' Cron said. But both Cron and captain Jeremy Williams conceded they butchered chances against the Waratahs and their decision-making eluded them. 'The big area of growth for us is our very brains in key moments, we sometimes make it a bit hard for ourselves,' Cron said. 'There are probably moments in the game I'd like over, potentially around those penalties and decisions to go to the corner; in hindsight now I would have loved to go to the points, so that's hurting me a fair bit,' Williams said.
