Latest news with #MoeakiFotuaika
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Not done yet: Titans eyeing late run at finals
Gold Coast stars AJ Brimson and Kieran Foran insist the last-placed side can still make a late run and contend for finals with one proviso. The Titans, who play Parramatta away on Sunday night, have also had good news on their two State of Origin representatives Moeaki Fotuaika and Tino Fa'asuamalaeaui. Both middle forwards travelled to Sydney on Saturday to join the team and are set to play the Eels. Fa'asuamaleaui had a sternum complaint he took into Queensland's 26-24 win over NSW in Perth, but is determined to play Parramatta so long as there is no late complication. Brimson was man of the match in last week's 28-8 win over Manly playing at fullback. It was easily the Titans' best win of the year with 11 players unavailable - two to Origin and nine injured. The Titans play North Queensland at home next week and then have the bye. Brimson said it was vital the side string back-to-back wins together, starting with Parramatta, so as to have a crack at a late run to the finals. "We are planning on (the Manly win) not being a one-off. We think this is what we have been capable of for weeks," he said. "You enjoy every win when you are on the bottom. We are trying to put together some wins to finish off the year and see where we can go with it. "After a short turnaround and as outsiders that was a good team performance. "We spoke about taking the shackles off because we enjoy playing footy and that was Titans footy … backing ourselves and playing eyes-up footy. "We are back on track with the way we want to play. We have got Parramatta and we are not getting ahead of ourselves." Veteran Foran also had his best game of the season at No.6 and said the Titans were capable of figuring in September. "I still believe we can," he said. "I've always maintained we've got a great footy side here. "The first part of the season hasn't gone to plan on the back of some disappointing performances. "We've got to reset and go again. It's a block at a time. If we do that, you never know. "We've got to go step by step." In other Titans team news, boom back-rower David Fifita, named as 18th man, won't return this week after ankle surgery but is close to making a comeback. Parramatta are also at the bottom of the ladder and will be without halves Dylan Brown (suspended) and Mitchell Moses (injured). Their places will be taken by debutant Joash Papalii and Dean Hawkins.
The Age
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Maroons prop's Origin plea for refs to ‘let it slide'
Moeaki Fotuaika has urged officials to 'let a few slide' when addressing how the NRL's high-shot crackdown might impact the State of Origin opener. The Gold Coast prop has been named to start alongside clubmate Tino Faasuamaleaui in Wednesday's first game in Brisbane. And, on the back of a series-deciding loss at Suncorp Stadium last year, the pair have made a pact to 'lay the foundation' with physical defence. Complicating that is the fact there has never been a greater NRL focus on high contact. There were a record 18 sin-bins recorded in one round earlier this year with the Titans, at the time, the most penalised team for high-contact indiscretions. Loading Ahead of his 10th appearance for Queensland, Fotuaika said there was a need to manage aggression but also a hope the Origin arena would be adjudicated differently to club level. 'Controlling that aggression ... sometimes you can go a bit over the top,' he said on Thursday from camp on the Sunshine Coast. 'Hoping, because it's an Origin game, they can sort of let a few slide.
Sydney Morning Herald
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Maroons prop's Origin plea for refs to ‘let it slide'
Moeaki Fotuaika has urged officials to 'let a few slide' when addressing how the NRL's high-shot crackdown might impact the State of Origin opener. The Gold Coast prop has been named to start alongside clubmate Tino Faasuamaleaui in Wednesday's first game in Brisbane. And, on the back of a series-deciding loss at Suncorp Stadium last year, the pair have made a pact to 'lay the foundation' with physical defence. Complicating that is the fact there has never been a greater NRL focus on high contact. There were a record 18 sin-bins recorded in one round earlier this year with the Titans, at the time, the most penalised team for high-contact indiscretions. Loading Ahead of his 10th appearance for Queensland, Fotuaika said there was a need to manage aggression but also a hope the Origin arena would be adjudicated differently to club level. 'Controlling that aggression ... sometimes you can go a bit over the top,' he said on Thursday from camp on the Sunshine Coast. 'Hoping, because it's an Origin game, they can sort of let a few slide.
