Latest news with #Fa'alogo
7NEWS
04-05-2025
- Sport
- 7NEWS
Canberra Raiders win golden point thriller in controversial finish against Melbourne Storm
Comeback kings Canberra have stunned Melbourne to win a 20-18 golden point thriller in one of the most controversial finishes in NRL history. Raiders captain Jamal Fogarty landed the match-clinching 85th minute penalty after Storm forward Trent Loiero was pinged for a high shot on Hudson Young in front of the posts.. The Storm looked set for a Magic Round victory in regulation time. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Leading 18-12, Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen, in his 100th NRL game, appeared to have sealed the win with a 75th-minute field goal. The one-point was disallowed due to Loiero being penalised while possession for an elbow to the head of Raiders prop Joe Topine in a previous play, after referee Gerard Sutton appeared to ask the Bunker for a review. 'I've got to say that's pretty harsh. What's he meant to do there? He can't get out of the way,' Kevin Walters said on commentary. Three minutes later Raiders fullback Kaeo Weekes scored a stunning individual try. From 50m out he raced away, chipped over Papenhuyzen's head, regathered and scored to send the match into golden point. The drama escalated when Storm prop Stefano Utoikamanu was penalised and sin-binned while in possession for stomping on Raiders hooker Tom Starling when his team was in front of the sticks. Raiders prop Josh Papalii was binned for running in and getting involved. Fogarty then stepped up to win it with a pressure penalty. Scintillating Storm winger Sua Fa'alogo earlier shone. The final Magic Round clash lived up to its billing as the match of the round with both sides inside the top four. Pocket rocket Fa'alogo set up two tries, scored one and made three line breaks in a dazzling display. The Raiders refused to relent. They had come back from an 18-point deficit to win their previous clash with the Dolphins. They were behind 14-0 after 25 minutes against the Storm and again rallied to narrow the margin to two at halftime. Melbourne had given up a 16-2 lead to lose 42-22 to the Dolphins last time they played at the venue and would have had a sense of deja vu. Fa'alogo's try in the 59th minute restored a six-point advantage. In the first half Cameron Munster eyed space on the left after a scything Faalogo bust. His left-foot kick was precision personified and centre Grant Anderson swooped. Faalogo set up a try for Papenhuyzen with a play of pure audacity and scintillating skill. The speedy winger broke down the right from 70m out and at full speed hooked an inch-perfect kick onto a flying Papenhuyzen's chest. It was Magic Round magic. The Raiders, however, are never beaten. Hulking Raiders winger Savelio Tamale, who had a blinder, got the better of Fa'alogo with brute strength to score in the corner. Raiders centre Matt Timoko was too strong and determined for three Storm defenders as he scored and it was game on at the break. There was plenty of feeling between two rivals with a history of titanic battles. Two skirmishes between multiple players broke out before Utoikamanu and Tapine exchanged open-handed shoves with the Storm giant penalised while in possession. Papalii was also put on report for foul play after he gave Papenhuyzen a facial.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Raiders stun Storm after golden-point drama
Comeback kings Canberra have stunned Melbourne to win 20-18 in golden point in one of the most controversial finishes in NRL history. Raiders captain Jamal Fogarty landed the match-clinching 85th minute penalty after Storm forward Trent Loiero was pinged for a high shot on Hudson Young in front of the posts.. The Storm looked set for a Magic Round victory in regulation time. Leading 18-12, Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen, in his 100th NRL game, appeared to have sealed the win with a 75th-minute field goal. The one-point was disallowed due to Loiero being penalised while possession for an elbow to the head of Raiders prop Joe Topine in a previous play, after referee Gerard Sutton appeared to ask the Bunker for a review. Three minutes later Raiders fullback Kaeo Weekes scored a stunning individual try. From 50m out he raced away, chipped over Papenhuyzen's head, regathered and scored to send the match into golden point. KAEO WEEKES! 🤯#NRLStormRaiders — NRL (@NRL) May 4, 2025 The drama escalated when Storm prop Stefano Utoikamanu was penalised and sin-binned while in possession for stomping on Raiders hooker Tom Starling when his team was in front of the sticks. Raiders prop Josh Papalii was binned for running in and getting involved. Fogarty then stepped up to win it with a pressure penalty. Scintillating Storm winger Sua Fa'alogo earlier shone. The final Magic Round clash lived up to its billing as the match of the round with both sides inside the top four. Pocket rocket Fa'alogo set up two tries, scored one and made three line breaks in a dazzling display. The Raiders refused to relent. They had come back from an 18-point deficit to win their previous clash with the Dolphins. They were behind 14-0 after 25 minutes against the Storm and again rallied to narrow the margin to two at halftime. Melbourne had given up a 16-2 lead to lose 42-22 to the Dolphins last time they played at the venue and would have had a sense of deja vu. Fa'alogo's try in the 59th minute restored a six-point advantage. In the first half Cameron Munster eyed space on the left after a scything Faalogo bust. His left-foot kick was precision personified and centre Grant Anderson swooped. Faalogo set up a try for Papenhuyzen with a play of pure audacity and scintillating skill. The speedy winger broke down the right from 70m out and at full speed hooked an inch-perfect kick onto a flying Papenhuyzen's chest. It was Magic Round magic. The Storm are bringing the magic to Magic Round! 👏#NRLStormRaiders — NRL (@NRL) May 4, 2025 The Raiders, however, are never beaten. Hulking Raiders winger Savelio Tamale, who had a blinder, got the better of Fa'alogo with brute strength to score in the corner. Raiders centre Matt Timoko was too strong and determined for three Storm defenders as he scored and it was game on at the break. There was plenty of feeling between two rivals with a history of titanic battles. Two skirmishes between multiple players broke out before Utoikamanu and Tapine exchanged open-handed shoves with the Storm giant penalised while in possession. Papalii was also put on report for foul play after he gave Papenhuyzen a facial.
Perth Now
04-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Raiders stun Storm after golden-point drama
Comeback kings Canberra have stunned Melbourne to win 20-18 in golden point in one of the most controversial finishes in NRL history. Raiders captain Jamal Fogarty landed the match-clinching 85th minute penalty after Storm forward Trent Loiero was pinged for a high shot on Hudson Young in front of the posts.. The Storm looked set for a Magic Round victory in regulation time. Leading 18-12, Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen, in his 100th NRL game, appeared to have sealed the win with a 75th-minute field goal. The one-point was disallowed due to Loiero being penalised while possession for an elbow to the head of Raiders prop Joe Topine in a previous play, after referee Gerard Sutton appeared to ask the Bunker for a review. Three minutes later Raiders fullback Kaeo Weekes scored a stunning individual try. From 50m out he raced away, chipped over Papenhuyzen's head, regathered and scored to send the match into golden point. The drama escalated when Storm prop Stefano Utoikamanu was penalised and sin-binned while in possession for stomping on Raiders hooker Tom Starling when his team was in front of the sticks. Raiders prop Josh Papalii was binned for running in and getting involved. Fogarty then stepped up to win it with a pressure penalty. Scintillating Storm winger Sua Fa'alogo earlier shone. The final Magic Round clash lived up to its billing as the match of the round with both sides inside the top four. Pocket rocket Fa'alogo set up two tries, scored one and made three line breaks in a dazzling display. The Raiders refused to relent. They had come back from an 18-point deficit to win their previous clash with the Dolphins. They were behind 14-0 after 25 minutes against the Storm and again rallied to narrow the margin to two at halftime. Melbourne had given up a 16-2 lead to lose 42-22 to the Dolphins last time they played at the venue and would have had a sense of deja vu. Fa'alogo's try in the 59th minute restored a six-point advantage. In the first half Cameron Munster eyed space on the left after a scything Faalogo bust. His left-foot kick was precision personified and centre Grant Anderson swooped. Faalogo set up a try for Papenhuyzen with a play of pure audacity and scintillating skill. The speedy winger broke down the right from 70m out and at full speed hooked an inch-perfect kick onto a flying Papenhuyzen's chest. It was Magic Round magic. The Raiders, however, are never beaten. Hulking Raiders winger Savelio Tamale, who had a blinder, got the better of Fa'alogo with brute strength to score in the corner. Raiders centre Matt Timoko was too strong and determined for three Storm defenders as he scored and it was game on at the break. There was plenty of feeling between two rivals with a history of titanic battles. Two skirmishes between multiple players broke out before Utoikamanu and Tapine exchanged open-handed shoves with the Storm giant penalised while in possession. Papalii was also put on report for foul play after he gave Papenhuyzen a facial.
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Laughing stock': Latrell Mitchell finds support from NRL great after Magic Round ban
Former NRL star Mat Rogers has let rip at the suspension handed to Latrell Mitchell for hit late tackle on Sua Fa'alogo with the South Sydney Rabbitohs fullback ruled out of Magic Round. Mitchell's first game at fullback in the 2025 season ended in disaster after the 27-year-old was sent from the field for a late tackle on the Storm winger. Fa'alogo had made a break in play and was honing in on the Rabbitohs line when he drew Mitchell in and passed the ball to his left. Just before the pass, Fa'alogo appeared to lose balance and lowered his body closer to the ground. Mitchell committed to the tackle, having planted his feet, and hit Fa'alogo high and late. Mitchell was sent for 10 minutes in the bin and Fa'alogo unfortunately did not return due to concussion. And the tackle has divided fans. Many felt Mitchell had already committed to the tackle and Fa'alogo's body height made the tackle appear more dangerous than it appeared. However, after the NRL has enforced harsher penalties for head-high tackles across the last two rounds, most couldn't argue with Mitchell's trip to the sideline. And the match review committee handed the Rabbitohs fullback a one game suspension, which rules him out of his Magic Round clash. While NRL boss Andrew Abdo has come out and defended the code's stance on high-tackles, former player Rogers can not believe Mitchell won't feature in Magic Round. Rogers was left flabbergasted Mitchell won't be taking part in one of the NRL's most important rounds this week and suggested the suspensions being handed out to players has gone too far. Speaking on SEN Radio, Rogers claimed Mitchell should have escaped a suspension because Fa'alogo slipped into the tackle, which made it look a lot worse than it was. "You don't wan't Magic Round to be un-magic," Rogers said. "Nope, he should't even be suspended. Latrell Mitchell is standing his Sua Fa'alogo slips and slips down to his shoulder. That is not a penalty, it's not a sin-bin and it certainly isn't a suspension. The fact Latrell Mitchell is going to miss Magic Round because if that is unbelievable," Rogers said. "I hope the NRL listen to Craig Bellamy and Cameron Munster and listen to the cry out from the fans because you are making a laughing stock of a game that has incidental contact with the head at times. It doesn't always have to be a sin-bin. It doesn't always have to be a penalty." Surprisingly, both Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy and star playmaker Cameron Munster defended Mitchell over the incident believing it was an accident because the game moves so quickly. 'It's slippery out there, it's wet, there'a a lot of speed, Sua's very quick, Latrell's very big. I don't know where you want Latrell to go there," Munster said post-game. 'Sua's obviously trying to engage him before the pass and he's slipped over. I feel like sometimes it's hard to get out of those positions when you're fully committed to the contact. There wasn't a heap of malice by the look of it. I know where the game is trying to go by protecting players but as long as we keep it consistent around the game I don't have a problem with it." Reporter Paul Crawley also claimed South Sydney were fuming a high-profile rival player didn't cop a suspension for accidental head-high contact when Mitchell did. Isaah Yeo hit falling Manly fullback Tom Trbojevic in the nose with his forearm during their Saturday night clash. And Yeo escaped a trip to the bin and a suspension, despite leaving Trbojevic bloodied. Veteran league journalist Crawley reported that Souths officials were "privately questioning" why Yeo wasn't sanctioned in a similar way to Mitchell. "I understand there was a lot of focus on Latrell's tackle because it looked so spectacular," Crawley wrote for Fox League. "But watch that in real speed and it's the definition of a rugby league accident. And the wet conditions contributed to this given Fa'alogo clearly slipped in the tackle and was less than a metre off the ground at the moment of impact. Yet Yeo gets off with penalty sufficient. Talk about double standards."
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Thurston's brutal call on Latrell as Rabbitohs fullback set to be rubbed out by NRL
Johnathan Thurston has predicted Latrell Mitchell will be suspended after the South Sydney star was sin-binned for a high tackle on Sua Fa'alogo on Friday night. Mitchell hit the Melbourne Storm winger in the head with his shoulder after Fa'alogo passed the ball following a break. Fa'alogo fell into the tackle due to the wet conditions, but Mitchell still made heavy contact with his opponent's head - who failed his HIA and will now miss next week's match against Canberra in Magic Round as well. Opinion is heavily divided on whether Mitchell should be suspended, with many of the believe he didn't do much wrong and tried his best to lower his body to avoid high contact. But the fact the hit was so late will work against Mitchell, as well as his poor disciplinary record. The Rabbitohs fullback was charged five times last season, including a three-game ban for dangerous contact to the head of Warriors halfback Shaun Johnson. Considering his poor record and the 'loading' he'll have from previous charges, it's hard to see how Mitchell won't be banned. And according to Thurston it might be a multi-week stint on the sidelines. 'He comes flying in, pretty aggressively,' Thurston said on Channel 9. 'Direct contact to the head. I think he does have a case to answer – it could be a couple of weeks.' Andrew Johns pointed out that Mitchell had a duty of care because Fa'alogo had already passed the ball. "Latrell Mitchell just spears into Fa'alogo, who is looking for Tyran Wishart on the inside," he said. "Oh Latrell Mitchell. He could be in serious trouble." On Fox League, commentator Dan Ginnane said: 'That doesn't look pretty for Latrell Mitchell, who has a wretched history when it comes to the judiciary. He's been found over a dozen times guilty. 'And if that holds up, he's going to miss time. That's pretty ugly. That looked a hell of a lot worse than those slow motion (replays).' But Greg Alexander suggested there were mitigating factors because Fa'alogo slipped. "Sua Fa'alogo was two feet off the ground by the time Latrell hit him and we're watching in slow motion, which makes everything looks worse,' Alexander said. 'Very hard to change. Latrell had bent his back. If Sua Fa'alogo stays at normal height, Latrell hits him in the waist.' Storm coach Craig Bellamy and five-eighth Cameron Munster were also quick to defend Mitchell. "I just think in the game now, there's a lot of, when people get hit high, they're dropping," Bellamy said in his press conference. "I don't know whether ... sometimes, you can't control that. I know it's a dangerous place to go to pick ones out that you think could or couldn't have controlled it, so I don't think anyone's going to go there, but I don't think there was too much malice in it. But I only had a quick look at it." RELATED: Payne Haas and Jahrome Hughes linked to rival NRL team NRL's 'crazy' move as $120 million disaster could be on the cards Munster added: "I know we're trying to protect a lot of players with obviously the head knocks and stuff, but I'm probably on the side of Craig. It's slippery out there, it's wet, force on force, a lot of speed. "Sua's very quick, Latrell's very big and I don't know where you want Latrell to go there. Sua's obviously trying to engage him to be able to pass and he slipped over, so I feel like sometimes it's hard to get yourself out of those positions when you're fully in and into the contact." Souths are already missing the likes of Cody Walker, Cameron Murray and Jamie Humphreys, and can ill-afford to have Mitchell on the sidelines again as well. Melbourne's 24-16 win saw them remain in second place on the NRL ladder, while the Rabbitohs have dropped out of the top-eight.
