Latest news with #Manly

ABC News
10 hours ago
- Sport
- ABC News
NRL live updates: Sydney Roosters host Melbourne Storm to kick off Round 21
Round 21 of the NRL season gets underway on Thursday night with the Sydney Roosters hosting the Melbourne Storm. The Roosters will be desperate for a win to keep them in the finals mix while their opponents are looking to rebound following last week's shock loss to Manly. Follow the live blog below, keep up to date with all the latest stats in our ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.


The Advertiser
20 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Broncos forward knocks back Manly to sign one-year deal
Brisbane forward Kobe Hetherington has backed himself and the club to the hilt after rejecting a three-year deal from Manly to re-sign with the Broncos until the end of 2026. The 26-year-old has been in hot form to lead the Broncos' mid-season revival on the back of five wins ahead of Friday night's clash with Parramatta at Suncorp Stadium. Hetherington started the season at lock before coach Michael Maguire switched Pat Carrigan back there from prop in round 14. The past two games, with State of Origin players out, Hetherington started at lock and prop and was outstanding to prove he has a future as a starting middle. His manager Chris Haddad told AAP that Hetherington was thriving at the Broncos and had set himself an admirable goal. "Manly made an offer for three years, but we have signed a one-year deal to see if Kobe can get his starting lock spot back. He will give it a good shot," Haddad said. "Kobe believes the side can win a grand final this year and next year and he wants to be part of that success." Haddad said his client was satisfied to accept a one-year deal and keep his options open, even though the Broncos were prepared to extend the length of the contract. "Kobe loves the Broncos, but you never now what will happen in the future," he said. Hetherington also received interest from St George Illawarra and Canberra. The son of former Canterbury premiership-winning hooker Jason Hetherington, Kobe is one of captain Adam Reynolds' favourite players. Reynolds has likened him to a cattle dog because "he has a bit of mongrel and fight in him like a cattle dog and just keeps going". The genesis of his prowess was in a cattle-yard in rural central Queensland. "When Kobe and his twin Zac were five years old I would get them to tackle calves," Jason Hetherington told AAP recently. "I'd be doing all the cattle work and with the calves that I'd brand and let through I'd say, 'go and tackle them boys, wrangle them, jump on them and ride them'. They would get in there and bulldog them and scruff them." Kobe was recruited by shrewd Broncos recruitment chief Simon Scanlan. "The Broncos signed him from a schoolboy game in Rockhampton when Simon Scanlan spotted him and his brother Zac," Haddad said. "Canterbury came in with interest, and Jason sent Zac to Canterbury and Kobe to Brisbane." Brisbane forward Kobe Hetherington has backed himself and the club to the hilt after rejecting a three-year deal from Manly to re-sign with the Broncos until the end of 2026. The 26-year-old has been in hot form to lead the Broncos' mid-season revival on the back of five wins ahead of Friday night's clash with Parramatta at Suncorp Stadium. Hetherington started the season at lock before coach Michael Maguire switched Pat Carrigan back there from prop in round 14. The past two games, with State of Origin players out, Hetherington started at lock and prop and was outstanding to prove he has a future as a starting middle. His manager Chris Haddad told AAP that Hetherington was thriving at the Broncos and had set himself an admirable goal. "Manly made an offer for three years, but we have signed a one-year deal to see if Kobe can get his starting lock spot back. He will give it a good shot," Haddad said. "Kobe believes the side can win a grand final this year and next year and he wants to be part of that success." Haddad said his client was satisfied to accept a one-year deal and keep his options open, even though the Broncos were prepared to extend the length of the contract. "Kobe loves the Broncos, but you never now what will happen in the future," he said. Hetherington also received interest from St George Illawarra and Canberra. The son of former Canterbury premiership-winning hooker Jason Hetherington, Kobe is one of captain Adam Reynolds' favourite players. Reynolds has likened him to a cattle dog because "he has a bit of mongrel and fight in him like a cattle dog and just keeps going". The genesis of his prowess was in a cattle-yard in rural central Queensland. "When Kobe and his twin Zac were five years old I would get them to tackle calves," Jason Hetherington told AAP recently. "I'd be doing all the cattle work and with the calves that I'd brand and let through I'd say, 'go and tackle them boys, wrangle them, jump on them and ride them'. They would get in there and bulldog them and scruff them." Kobe was recruited by shrewd Broncos recruitment chief Simon Scanlan. "The Broncos signed him from a schoolboy game in Rockhampton when Simon Scanlan spotted him and his brother Zac," Haddad said. "Canterbury came in with interest, and Jason sent Zac to Canterbury and Kobe to Brisbane." Brisbane forward Kobe Hetherington has backed himself and the club to the hilt after rejecting a three-year deal from Manly to re-sign with the Broncos until the end of 2026. The 26-year-old has been in hot form to lead the Broncos' mid-season revival on the back of five wins ahead of Friday night's clash with Parramatta at Suncorp Stadium. Hetherington started the season at lock before coach Michael Maguire switched Pat Carrigan back there from prop in round 14. The past two games, with State of Origin players out, Hetherington started at lock and prop and was outstanding to prove he has a future as a starting middle. His manager Chris Haddad told AAP that Hetherington was thriving at the Broncos and had set himself an admirable goal. "Manly made an offer for three years, but we have signed a one-year deal to see if Kobe can get his starting lock spot back. He will give it a good shot," Haddad said. "Kobe believes the side can win a grand final this year and next year and he wants to be part of that success." Haddad said his client was satisfied to accept a one-year deal and keep his options open, even though the Broncos were prepared to extend the length of the contract. "Kobe loves the Broncos, but you never now what will happen in the future," he said. Hetherington also received interest from St George Illawarra and Canberra. The son of former Canterbury premiership-winning hooker Jason Hetherington, Kobe is one of captain Adam Reynolds' favourite players. Reynolds has likened him to a cattle dog because "he has a bit of mongrel and fight in him like a cattle dog and just keeps going". The genesis of his prowess was in a cattle-yard in rural central Queensland. "When Kobe and his twin Zac were five years old I would get them to tackle calves," Jason Hetherington told AAP recently. "I'd be doing all the cattle work and with the calves that I'd brand and let through I'd say, 'go and tackle them boys, wrangle them, jump on them and ride them'. They would get in there and bulldog them and scruff them." Kobe was recruited by shrewd Broncos recruitment chief Simon Scanlan. "The Broncos signed him from a schoolboy game in Rockhampton when Simon Scanlan spotted him and his brother Zac," Haddad said. "Canterbury came in with interest, and Jason sent Zac to Canterbury and Kobe to Brisbane."
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Johns say NRL going 'way too far' to protect kickers
Andrew Johns has accused the NRL of going "way too far" in protecting kickers, unhappy with the decisive penalty against Harry Grant in Melbourne's loss to Manly. The Storm were on Sunday feeling the fallout of their 18-16 loss to the Sea Eagles, with prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona facing a two-game ban for an errant elbow. But it was the late penalty against Grant that defined the match, the Melbourne hooker stung for contact on Luke Brooks' leg after a missed field-goal attempt. The NRL has moved to offer more protection to kickers in recent years, with Manly denied a win against the Warriors last year in similar fashion. Johns has previously been among the most vocal in calling for playmakers to be afforded more protection, particularly furious when halves are hit after passing. But in the case of kickers, he believes it is now defenders who are being targeted too harshly by referees. "It's gone way too far, but to the letter of the law it's not a penalty," Johns said on Nine's Sunday Footy Show. "Say you defend a really good set, and you get the opposition they play the ball on their 30. "In years gone by if it was a slow play-the-ball the kicker would have to be back 10 to 15 metres, which means you would get the ball and bring it back to your 40. "Nowadays if you get a bad attacking set and slow play-the-ball, the kicker stands on the advantage line and kicks it 60 metres because they know they can't get hit. "They should be able to get out and tackle the kicker above the waist." The NRL remains steadfast behind the current rule, pointing to instances when kickers have been hurt when collected in the legs by defenders. Lachlan Ilias' broken leg last year while playing NSW Cup is the most obvious example. Grant has previously been penalised over the matter, successfully fighting a ban for dangerous contact on Cronulla's Daniel Atkinson last year. The NRL will also look at the controversial penalty against Luciano Leilua that left Shane Flanagan fuming following St George Illawarra's 20-18 loss to Canterbury. Flanagan labelled it "outrageous" that the bunker ruled Leilua's foot had knocked the ball out of Jacob Kiraz's hand as the Bulldogs winger stood up to play it. After having the decision overturned, Canterbury went downfield and soon afterwards scored the match-winning try. "He's got to get to his feet before he plants the ball," the Dragons coach said. "You can't be falling sideways. You can't ball-plant ... but tonight we ball-planted and we lost the game because of it." The NRL will review the penalty, but is likely to counter Flanagan's claim that it was a ball-plant from Kiraz, given it never reached the ground before contacting Leilua's foot.

Sydney Morning Herald
5 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Storm enforcer Asofa-Solomona banned for elbow to rival's head
Loading Storm enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona is facing a three-game ban for elbowing after being issued his fifth charge in the past two seasons. Asofa-Solomona was issued a 2-3 game suspension pending his plea after he elbowed Manly's Jake Simpkin in the head while trying to earn a quick play-the-ball on Saturday night. Melbourne's try to Harry Grant from the subsequent play was disallowed because of Asofa-Solomona's foul play, a decision that proved critical in the Sea Eagles 18-16 upset win. Unless Asofa-Solomona successfully appeals his grade 2 dangerous contact charge at the judiciary, he will now miss Thursday's clash with the Roosters and a trip to face the Eels at Commbank Stadium in round 22. An unsuccessful judiciary challenge would also rule the Kiwi star out of the following clash against Brisbane.

The Age
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
Storm enforcer Asofa-Solomona banned for elbow to rival's head
Loading Storm enforcer Nelson Asofa-Solomona is facing a three-game ban for elbowing after being issued his fifth charge in the past two seasons. Asofa-Solomona was issued a 2-3 game suspension pending his plea after he elbowed Manly's Jake Simpkin in the head while trying to earn a quick play-the-ball on Saturday night. Melbourne's try to Harry Grant from the subsequent play was disallowed because of Asofa-Solomona's foul play, a decision that proved critical in the Sea Eagles 18-16 upset win. Unless Asofa-Solomona successfully appeals his grade 2 dangerous contact charge at the judiciary, he will now miss Thursday's clash with the Roosters and a trip to face the Eels at Commbank Stadium in round 22. An unsuccessful judiciary challenge would also rule the Kiwi star out of the following clash against Brisbane.