Latest news with #JohnathanThurston
ABC News
4 days ago
- Health
- ABC News
Concussion forces teen rugby player to retire amid tackling age warning
Riley Mansfield grew up wanting to play for the North Queensland Cowboys like his idol Johnathan Thurston. He was on all the right pathways, playing in the elite Dolphins Cup competition in Queensland. But the promising teenage footballer has hung up his footy boots and retired, aged 15, following repeated concussions. "I want to be back out there." Riley's mum, Kristy, said his head knocks were so bad, her son spent weeks vomiting and feeling sick afterwards. "He was suffering significant kinds of symptoms, so very, very light sensitive, noise sensitive, severe headaches and he's got a pretty strong pain threshold," she said. "It took us about six weeks to gradually introduce him back into normal activities, so that meant he wasn't able to do school for a period of time. "As a mum it's been hard because just knowing how much your son loves football and playing and he's such an active kid." An expert is now warning children should not be involved in tackling in sport until they are at least 12, after releasing joint research last month. "One of the big reasons is they have obviously a larger head and weaker neck muscles, which puts them at a little bit more risk of some of those rotational linear forces," said Griffith University lecturer in exercise science and physiology Joel Garrett. "Plus, with that developing brain they potentially may be at greater risk of [harm to] long-term brain growth and development as well," Dr Garrett said. So why the age of 12? "Around the ages of eight to 12 is a sweet spot for children's cognitive and motor development," Dr Garrett said. "An eight-year-old, for instance, may struggle with the rapid judgements required to align their shoulder and brace their neck properly when tackling a moving player. "By the age of 12 they may have the ability to make those last-second changes if need be and execute a good tackle that's both safe for them but also the person they're tackling." But Dr Garrett said delaying full-body contact — such as tackling — in junior sport remained controversial. "We don't want it just to be like, 'No tackling,'" he said. "We firmly believe that we need a progression to that and having a really structured plan." For the Mansfield family from Rockhampton in rugby league heartland in central Queensland, Riley's latest concussion in April was a case of deja vu. Riley's dad, Andrew, suffered a broken neck on the same football field in Mackay at the same age of 15. "That was my last game of footy," Andrew said. "I was the width of a piece of hair to not walking ever again." After consultation with a team of neurologists in Brisbane, Riley has been told not to return to contact sport for five years. Kristy said she hoped that all sporting codes across the country continued to shift attitudes regarding concussion through education and awareness like rugby league. "Riley's grown up with footy and it's great to see that the sport is taking it seriously and ensuring that the players are taking the time out they need to be able to recover before they go back and play again," she said. With Riley's dreams of playing in the NRL are over at the tender age of 15, the talented teenager has turned his focus to another sport. Every weekend, Riley hits the softball diamonds, along with his parents, and he has already earned state and national team selection. "He's got a massive future [in softball] and can whack a golf ball too … but still can't out drive Dad yet," Andrew said.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
NSW State of Origin star is caught on camera hitting Queensland with an X-rated two-word sledge
Spencer Leniu was a despised figure in Queensland on Wednesday night following his recent war of words with Maroons legend Johnathan Thurston - and the prop couldn't care less. The NSW Blues enforcer, 24, was also caught on camera issuing Queensland players a savage two-word sledge after he entered the fray in the 30th minute at Suncorp Stadium. Labelled a 'grub' by News Corp in the lead-up to the series opener following incidents with Thurston and previously Broncos star Ezra Mam in Las Vegas, Leniu was desperate to silence the locals. He didn't get his wish initially, with the Maroons instead kicking to debutant Max King. Leniu wasn't happy, and was seen mouthing 'f***ing pussies' before carting the ball up seconds later on the third tackle. 'They deliberately kicked the other way,' Fox League's Matty Johns said on his Backstage podcast. 'I reckon that's a victory for Spencer.' In April, a fiery confrontation between the Sydney Roosters forward Leniu and Channel 9 commentator Thurston was believed to have been sparked by comments the NRL legend made after Vegas last year. Leniu had the last laugh, with the NSW Blues winning 18-6 to take a 1-0 lead in the Origin series (pictured, at fulltime) In 2024, Broncos star Ezra Mam made a complaint that Leniu called him a 'monkey' on the field in Las Vegas - the Roosters enforcer was later banned for eight weeks by the NRL Witnesses said Leniu called Thurston a 'f***wit' as he passed the sideline commentary team. Thurston was reportedly stunned and sought to understand the reason behind the abuse. According to sources, Thurston confronted Leniu after full-time in the tunnel, asking him: 'What's your problem?' Leniu allegedly replied with another slur, calling the former Cowboys premiership-winning captain a 'f***ing c***'. It is believed the exchange stemmed from lingering tension over last year's racism scandal involving Broncos star Mam. Leniu was suspended by the NRL for eight weeks after referring to Mam as a 'monkey' during the NRL's season opener in Sin City. Speaking last year, Thurston said: 'The NRL had a great opportunity to make a stand, not only for the game but for society as well. 'I don't think the eight weeks is sufficient for what has been said and for the mental scars that have been brought up.'
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Politics
- News.com.au
Villain Spencer Leniu blasts Queensland over kick-off act
Spencer Leniu blasted a move from the Queenslanders on Wednesday night as he waited to make an impact in the State of Origin opener for NSW. Leading into the first game at Suncorp Stadium, all eyes were on NSW firebrand Leniu, labelled Queensland's main target after his run-in with Johnathan Thurston earlier this year. It took until the 30th minute of the first half for the fired up home crowd to get its wish and have a chance to vent its frustration at the Roosters prop. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE in 4K with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Coming on for Payne Haas, Leniu had to wait for his first touch, with Maroons winger Valentine Holmes kicking off to the opposite side of the field to where the 24-year-old NSW star was lining up following the visitors' second try of the night. Leniu responded to that move by blasting some of his Maroons counterparts. 'Spencer has just realised Queensland aren't going to kick to him from the restart,' Mat Thompson said on Channel 9. Andrew Johns added: 'He is blowing up.' Leniu then got his first carry a couple of tackles later and the boos rained down on the maligned prop. 'Get ready, here comes Spencer,' Thompson said. 'Here's his first touch, there's the reception from the Suncorp crowd, he's public enemy No. 1.' The Triple M commentary team also noted Leniu's introduction. 'Leniu just popped up on the big screen, hence the chorus of boos,' Dan Ginnane noted. 'Here he comes, that's a pretty innocuous run, a good one. Even the most banal of runs has to have something about it for Spencer.' Leniu's night then went up a notch when he took out Queensland hooker Harry Grant with another hit-up, drawing blood from the face of the Storm star. Fans watching on felt Leniu represented the hot first half for the Blues. 'When Queensland didn't want to kick to Spencer Leniu, that's when you knew the game was won for NSW,' was one early comment on X. 'Spencer Leniu owns the entire state of Queensland,' suggested another. 'Spenny the boogey man,' added a third. The well-publicised spat with Thurston stemmed from last year's racism saga, when Leniu was banned for eight games for calling Queenslander Ezra Mam a 'monkey' during Round 1 last season. Leniu came off the bench for NSW and was tipped to be targeted by Queensland's forward pack, although the Maroons weren't able to inflict any damage on the maligned star. The Thurston and Mam incidents appeared to be the motivation when The Courier-Mail's back page on Tuesday called for the Maroons to 'Smash This Blues Grub', who they called the 'new Paul Gallen'. Last month, vision emerged of a heated exchange between the Roosters enforcer and NRL legend Thurston. Leniu and Thurston had two dramatic confrontations during the Roosters' 26-16 win over the Broncos, with the fiery encounters reportedly stemming from that racism scandal in last year's Vegas encounter. At that time, Thurston took a public stand in condemning Leniu over the alleged 'monkey' comment he made to Broncos playmaker Mam in Las Vegas. And the situation came to a head during that round six NRL clash, with Leniu reportedly calling Thurston a 'f***wit' after coming from the field in the 55th minute of play. The sideline microphones picked up an inaudible, muffled comment as Leniu left the field near Thurston. New footage then surfaced of another run-in with Thurston at full-time, when Leniu again gave the North Queensland great a piece of his mind as the Roosters' media manager attempted to pull him away. The North Queensland Cowboys grand final hero was commentating in his role with Channel 9. It took longer than they wanted, but the crowd finally got to voice its feelings towards Leniu in the Origin opener.
Daily Telegraph
6 days ago
- General
- Daily Telegraph
State of Origin Game 1 live updates: NSW's ‘suspicious' move amid withdrawal fears
NSW firebrand Spencer Leniu has been labelled Queensland's public enemy No. 1 ahead of the State of Origin series opener and has been warned to expect to be targeted when he takes his first run on Wednesday night. The 24-year-old was instrumental in the Blues winning Origin last year and, as a result of that and a couple of run-ins with current and past Queensland players, he is not a popular man up north. 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. The Blues prop was involved in a well-publicised spat with Maroons legend Johnathan Thurston earlier this year which stemmed from last year's racism saga, when Leniu was banned for eight games for calling Queenslander Ezra Mam a 'monkey' during Round 1 last season. Spencer Leniu will be ready for a Maroons storm on Wednesday night. (Photo by) Back page of the Courier Mail on Tuesday. Leniu quickly found himself in the middle of a racism storm and he clearly took exception to comments made by Thurston in the aftermath. It all came to a head earlier this year when Leniu reportedly labelled the 37-game Queensland great a 'f***wit' in a sideline encounter that went viral. That encounter has simmered away in the background after The Courier-Mail's back page on Tuesday called for the Maroons to 'Smash This Blues Grub', who they called the 'new Paul Gallen'. Queensland great Darren Lockyer believes the encounter between Thurston and Leniu is being used by Maroons coach Billy Slater to fire up his troops. 'I reckon that would have been addressed at some point in the camp,' Lockyer said. 'Origin motivates you naturally – but as a coach, if you can prod a few players and get them fired up, you do it. 'I've got no doubt there would have been a conversation within the group like 'hey boys, let's try and prove a point here and get stuck into him'.' Leniu made his Origin debut last year and he had a massive impact off the bench for the Blues as they came from behind to claim the series 2-1. As a result, the Queensland forwards will be without a doubt wanting to prove a point on their home deck on Wednesday. Game 1 will get underway tonight from 8.05pm AEDT at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane. You can read on for all the live updates below. Originally published as State of Origin Game 1 live updates: NSW's 'suspicious' move amid withdrawal fears
News.com.au
6 days ago
- General
- News.com.au
State of Origin Game 1 live updates: Queensland identify public enemy No. 1
NSW firebrand Spencer Leniu has been labelled Queensland's public enemy No. 1 ahead of the State of Origin series opener and has been warned to expect to be targeted when he takes his first run on Wednesday night. The 24-year-old was instrumental in the Blues winning Origin last year and, as a result of that and a couple of run-ins with current and past Queensland players, he is not a popular man up north. 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. The Blues prop was involved in a well-publicised spat with Maroons legend Johnathan Thurston earlier this year which stemmed from last year's racism saga, when Leniu was banned for eight games for calling Queenslander Ezra Mam a 'monkey' during Round 1 last season. Leniu quickly found himself in the middle of a racism storm and he clearly took exception to comments made by Thurston in the aftermath. It all came to a head earlier this year when Leniu reportedly labelled the 37-game Queensland great a 'f***wit' in a sideline encounter that went viral. That encounter has simmered away in the background after The Courier-Mail's back page on Tuesday called for the Maroons to 'Smash This Blues Grub', who they called the 'new Paul Gallen'. Queensland great Darren Lockyer believes the encounter between Thurston and Leniu is being used by Maroons coach Billy Slater to fire up his troops. 'I reckon that would have been addressed at some point in the camp,' Lockyer said. 'Origin motivates you naturally – but as a coach, if you can prod a few players and get them fired up, you do it. 'I've got no doubt there would have been a conversation within the group like 'hey boys, let's try and prove a point here and get stuck into him'.' Leniu made his Origin debut last year and he had a massive impact off the bench for the Blues as they came from behind to claim the series 2-1. As a result, the Queensland forwards will be without a doubt wanting to prove a point on their home deck on Wednesday. Game 1 will get underway tonight from 8.05pm AEDT at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.
