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News.com.au
5 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Tried to make him better': Luai opens up on Galvin exit as Tigers star makes huge contract call
Tigers skipper Jarome Luai has opened up on facing Lachlan Galvin for the first time since his defection to the Bulldogs. Luai and Galvin reportedly had a frosty relationship as teammates, even before Galvin's decision to leave the club. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer > Luai was vocal in defending coach Benji Marshall after his coaching credentials were called into question by Galvin's management as one of the reasons he wanted to leave the club. However, Luai told The Daily Telegraph there was no hard feelings between the pair and maintains they had a good relationship at the Tigers. 'I think he spoke about it already and said that there wasn't any beef in the relationship, which is true,' Luai told The Daily Telegraph. 'I did my best to try and make him a better footballer. 'All pre-season I thought to myself, we connected well and you know, we started the year off in great form, won some games. 'But like I just said before, he made a call on his future. All the other best of him, bro. I'm just focused on my career.' Luai refused to get caught up in the hype of playing against Galvin and is more focused on bouncing back from a loss to the Panthers. 'It's not about Lachie, it's not about the Dogs - it's about us,' Luai told WWOS. 'That's a story everyone wants to talk about. For us here inside our four walls, it's about us and how we perform on game day. Coming off the back of a loss, my main focus as a player is how I prepare throughout the week and ultimately, how I'm gonna perform. 'It's all about me and my team.' Luai also all but confirmed he will see out the remainder of his Wests Tigers deal, despite get-out clauses giving him the option to walk out on the club mid-contract. Luai's $6 million deal has been in the spotlight since he was critical of Lachlan Galvin walking out on the Tigers, despite the fact he had contract clauses that would allow him to do the same. The Tigers' skipper's five-year deal has options in his favour that would allow him to leave at some point in the final three years of the deal from 2027. It means Luai could become available to negotiate with rival clubs for 2027 from November 1 this year. When questioned about the clauses by Channel 9's Danny Weidler on WWOS, Luai moved to end speculation he would leave the club. 'Scoops? Nah, just scoops of ice cream,' Luai joked. 'I'm staying, don't worry - for life. 'I think when things get hard, people are sort of expecting you to change and I'm not that type of guy. I'm here for the long run and I'm here to change this club around.' The Tigers recently re-signed co-captain Api Koroisau to a two-year extension through until the end of 2028, meaning his contract length is similar to Luai's which expires in 2029. Luai admitted the chance to keep playing with Koroisau was a big factor in him committing to the Tigers. 'He's a big part of this club and a big reason why I signed here,' Luai said. 'It's good to see the skip locked in for a few more years, I can't wait to play some more footy with him.'
News.com.au
8 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Don't cop that': Braith Anasta ‘put on spot' over Dragons saga, NRL outcast
Debate has reignited over Kyle Flanagan's continued selection for St George Illawarra, with Braith Anasta reluctantly weighing in on what it's been like for his client Lachlan Ilias as he struggles to get back into the team. The club is in a unique situation with Kyle the son of coach Shane Flanagan, leading to plenty of scrutiny during what has been a disappointing campaign. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. Furthermore, backup halves Ilias and Jonah Glover have been knocking the door down in reserve grade, leading the Dragons' NSW Cup team to 10 wins from their past 12 games. Glover and Ilias missed out once again this weekend, with Flanagan picked at halfback for this weekend's clash against Canberra. Ilias, who joined the Dragons from Souths in the off-season, has played in seven NRL games in 2025. After a heavy loss to the Roosters in Round 8, Ilias was dropped and hasn't been able to win his spot back. Paul Crawley believes Flanagan simply wouldn't be continued to be picked if his dad wasn't the Dragons' coach. 'I would argue if Flanno wasn't the coach, I don't think Kyle would still be in the team,' Crawley said on NRL360. 'Because you've got to own up to the fact he tries his guts out – no one ever accuses him of not trying his guts out. But his kicking game hasn't been great. His game management hasn't been great. He doesn't pose a great attacking threat. 'You've got Ilias, who Shane Flanagan brought to the club – he brought him to the club to play halfback. He got dropped because of his game management. He (Ilias) went back and did what he had to do in reserve grade. 'They've lost their last four games and Flanno has dug his heels in and he's not gonna change. He's just not gonna change. But is that because Kyle's his son? Or because Kyle is just a player that he really believes is really playing to the best of his ability and Lachie can't come in and do something better?' Ilias is managed by NRL360 host Braith Anasta. Anasta said he was 'put on the spot' by a question from The Daily Telegraph's Dean Ritchie, who asked Anasta how Ilias was going 'emotionally and form wise'. 'That's a tough one. That's a tough one to ask,' he responded. 'I can't win here … Shane and the Dragons will think I'm having a crack – but if you want my honest opinion, he's gone back and did everything he's asked of. They've won 10 out of 11 games. And then pretty much because they lost one on the weekend, that's why he's not playing this week? I don't cop that. 'I've sat pretty quiet here. I don't want to get involved. It's hard for me. But he couldn't do any more. 'Unfortunately for him, I'm trying to keep him up because he's losing hope. I'm sure the other kid there, (Jonah) Glover is as well. 'Maybe I shouldn't say this, but I had to – because that's how I feel.' Earlier this week, the Dragons officially announced the hiring of former NRL coach Daniel Anderson to be the club's Head of Recruitment. One of Anderson's biggest tasks this off-season will be to search for the club's next marquee halfback. Rather bluntly, Dragons CEO Tim Watsford has publicly said that Flanagan won't be the club's halfback next season. 'Kyle was brought in as a 14 or utility to play a role,' Watsford said earlier this month. 'At the time, we had two halves in Benny Hunt and Junior Amone. That was where the club was heading. 'At the end of last year, we signed Daniel Atkinson from the Sharks and he will come in and play half in 2026. 'Kyle is there fulfilling a role for 2025 and fulfilling it well. Now, we're in the market and we'll be in the market for a marquee halfback. However, Crawley believes that Flanagan's continued insistence on selecting his son at halfback is 'doing the club damage' as the veteran journalist said it could be sending potential free agent targets a poor message. 'There's another layer to that too – another layer to the story in the fact the Dragons senior management has come out in recent weeks and said they're chasing a top line number 7,' Crawley said. 'Well, you'd have to question of the young guys coming through would you want to send a young 7 to the Dragons knowing that there's every chance Kyle stays at 7? They've shown no trust in the bloke they bought last year to play 7. 'I think it's doing the club damage – they might not want to admit it, but it's the truth.'
Herald Sun
4 days ago
- Sport
- Herald Sun
NRL news: Jahrome Hughes forced to miss Cameron Munster's father's funeral after horror shoulder injury
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Melbourne star Jahrome Hughes was heartbreakingly forced to miss the funeral of his close friend and teammate Cameron Munster's father because he was not allowed to travel after picking up a shoulder injury on Thursday night. Hughes left the field just minutes into the second half of Melbourne's gutsy 34-30 win over the Roosters with the club confirming immediately that he'd dislocated his shoulder after landing awkwardly while making a tackle on James Tedesco. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. The reigning Dally M Medal winner was in agony and had to be helped off Allianz Stadium, with Melbourne's medical staff unable to put it back in, and he was sent to the hospital needing extreme pain medication. Hughes made it back to the team hotel in the early hours of Friday morning and luckily escaped needing surgery, but will miss around six weeks of action. Jahrome Hughes was forced to miss Cameron Munster's father's funeral. Image: Getty But the hammer blow came in the early hours of Friday morning when Hughes was informed the injury meant he wasn't clear to fly to Queensland to be by Munster's side as he bid farewell to his father Steve. The Maroons star didn't play on Thursday night because it would have been too difficult to get back to Queensland for the funeral on Friday. However, some players and staff caught a flight up to Rockhampton at 6am on Friday so they could attend the funeral. Cameron Munster bravely led the Maroons to Origin glory days after his father Steve passed away. Photo: NRL Photos Hughes originally planned to be on that flight, however, Melbourne chief Frank Ponissi said the Kiwi wasn't cleared to fly due to his shoulder. 'He said Jahrome got back to the hotel last night. They finally put the shoulder back in place in the hospital without too many issues,' journalist Andrew Webster told SEN, reading out Ponissi's text message to him. 'At this stage, it is very difficult to assess, although the initial scans show nothing too sinister. He was coming up to Munster's father's funeral this morning with a few of us, but instead will now head straight back to Melbourne with the team, where they will assess him.' Steve Munster died on the eve of State of Origin 3, and Cameron bravely played just days later, lifting the Maroons to a memorable series win. – with NewsWire Originally published as Jahrome Hughes forced to miss Cameron Munster's father's funeral after horror shoulder injury
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
‘Looks nothing like me': NRLW star slams new rugby league game
Two-code great Millie Elliott has joined the chorus of disdain over the look of the new Rugby League 26 video game. Last week's release of the latest rugby league video game descended into farce, with users taking to social media to complain about glitches, comical bugs and frozen loading screens. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. The production company behind the game was desperately scrambling for solutions after the highly anticipated release fell apart. With limited resources and budgets for such a small market of gaming fans, expectations are always low when it comes to local football games — but even the most pessimistic of fans would have been disappointed when the game dropped. That has now included Elliott, a stalwart of the NRLW competition who has represented both the Jillaroos and Wallaroos in her footy career. Born Millie Boyle, Elliott married Newcastle Knights veteran Adam Elliott in 2023 and both appear in the new game. After getting a look at her character in the game, it's fair to say the 27-year-old was not impressed with her likeness or her rating. '(Adam) sent me the photo of my character and I will say it looks absolutely nothing like me. It looks nothing like me,' she said on Triple M. 'Adam's looks like his own doppelganger. It looks exactly like him. 'And also, apparently I've been rated out of 100 (at) 53. I don't know if that's good?' When she was told she 'should be worried' about the rating, Elliott said: 'So that's not very good apparently. That's an insult? Right, OK. 'So firstly it looks nothing like me and secondly, I'm the sh**test footy player on there. 'You'd think with AI and all this technology these days, that they could get it looking a little similar.' Eels lock Kennedy Cherrington is another player that has vented her concerns with the new platform. The 26-year-old was keen to get stuck into the game last weekend until she saw herself in the game and the general gameplay. 'This might seem petty, but as a player that features in the new RL26 game, I'm not happy,' she tweeted with a series of cry-laughing emojis. 'Maybe we should just be grateful that we're in the game but overall I know the fans aren't happy too. From the facial scans to the player ratings & even the gameplay nahhh.' Cherrington then added: 'I was so keen to get sweaty on the game this weekend! But it's put me off. That update better be incoming soon haha.' While plenty of fans publicly praised the game's in-match experience, countless others took to social media to share clips of hilarious glitches. Among the angry reactions across cyberspace, some fans reached out directly to the Big Ant Studios Studios developer responsible for executing the new game. Big Ant Studios released a statement on social media last week, apologising to those that had purchased the new game. 'We know today has not gone as smoothly as it should have and we will compensate all #RugbyLeague26 purchasers with some free #ProTeam credit,' the Studio posted. 'Details to follow. There has been overwhelming demand that also may have caused service issues, and for that we cannot apologise enough.' A number of footy fans reacted to Elliott and Cherrington's comments on X. One wrote: 'The NRL need to stop being cheap. They made over 50 million in profit last year.' Another said: 'If you don't have a big budget, these are the results to expect …' X user Mark Jordan wrote: 'Time for the @RLPlayers to step in?' A fourth wrote: 'I'm not at all surprised sadly. Every promotion for the game was just screaming poor quality. It looks like it belongs on the PS3!'
Courier-Mail
6 days ago
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
NRL news, updates: Kevin Walters' Kangaroos appointment torn to shreds as contract detail says it all, Cameron Smith, Wayne Bennett, Brad Fittler
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. After being unveiled as the new Kangaroos coach, Kevin Walters has a big task ahead of him; first to convince a trio of stars to stay loyal and then potentially an even tougher battle in keeping his job. Earlier this week, Walters was appointed by the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) to replace Mal Meninga as Australia's next coach on a short term deal. The three-game contract that covers the upcoming Ashes series against England at the end of this year suggests even the ARLC aren't confident he is the right man for the job. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1. But first cab off the rank is to try and hold onto several Aussie stars. On Wednesday, six-time Kangaroo representative Greg Alexander raised genuine concerns over whether Walters is the man to convince the likes of Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Payne Haas and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui to stay loyal to the green and gold instead of switching to Toa Samoa for the Pacific Championships. 'What if he can't get them on the plane?' Alexander asked Corey Parker on SEN. 'Just think about how many (Australian) players didn't play in the Pacific Championships last year, how many went 'I need a little bit of surgery' instead? 'The squad might be scattered with some of the best players, but Kev might be taking two or three down the list to fill other spots.' Kevin Walters has been named the next coach of the Kangaroos but faces a tough task ahead of him. Image: Getty Parker agreed. 'I know there are more than capable props, but if you pull Payne Haas and big Tino out of the front row, they're two of the leading props in the entire game,' Parker said. 'We also know Mitch Barnett is gone for the rest of the season with an ACL, Val Holmes is gone, and Latrell Mitchell is leaning against it (selection) given his injury situation. 'There's going to be a lot of players unavailable, which makes the task even more challenging for Kevvie.' Walters is understood not to have been the first choice for the Australian job either, with Brad Fittler turning the role down. He also wasn't the second choice with Wayne Bennett reportedly preferred to Walters, but the current coaching rules didn't allow it. Brad Fittler turned down the chance to become Kangaroos coach. (Photo by) Because Wayne Bennett is an active NRL coach he was ineligible to lead the Kangaroos. (Photo by) And veteran journalist Andrew Webster suggested on the Off The Record Podcast that the appointment of Walters on a three-game deal again adds to the notion that the Australian team is no longer the superpower they once were, and therefore it is no surprise that several stars are considering defecting. 'Kevin Walters is basically the last man standing. The fact they have only given him three games shows their lack of faith,' Webster said. 'It could be a very tough tour (with stars such as Hammer, Payne and Tino potentially not there). That's why I wish they made a better decision with the coach.' 'Hammer, Payne and Tino. … The Kangaroos used to be like the Harlem Globetrotters. But it's a different time now, and they are no longer the superpower that they were, and that's something Kevvie will have to deal with.' The ARLC handed Walters only a three-game deal, which will just cover the upcoming UK Tour. But the short-term deal suggests not even they are confident the Queenslander is the right man for the job. Cameron Smith is reportedly seen as the long-term Kangaroos coach. Picture: Jonathan Ng And Nine journalist Michael Chammas revealed talks with Melbourne Storm legend Cameron Smith about a possible transition into the Kangaroos head coach role are already underway. Smith's link to the Kangaroos' top job would further explain Walters' short term appointment. 'My understanding is Peter V'landys spoke to Cameron Smith a few days ago and told him we're going to go with Kevvie,' Chammas said on The Journos podcast. 'When Peter V'landys spoke to Cameron Smith, he brought up the assistant coach's role and said he would like to transition him into the head coach down the track as early as the 2027 World Cup. 'The three-match contract tells me that they're not completely sold that Kevvie is the right man, and in the end, there weren't many people that fit his criteria.' The Kangaroos are scheduled to leave for the UK just two weeks after the NRL grand final on October 5. Originally published as Kevin Walters' Kangaroos appointment torn to shreds as contract detail says it all
