Latest news with #NRLDolphinsStorm
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Craig Bellamy lifts lid on eye-opening dressing room move amid Billy Slater's dilemma
Craig Bellamy has claimed Jahrome Hughes called out his team's defence in the dressing room after they conceded 40 straight points against the Dolphins as Billy Slater might be forced to phone Ben Hunt ahead of Origin. The Storm were left shellshocked on Friday night when they lost 42-22 after a second-half blitz from the Dolphins at Suncorp. In a worrying sign for Bellamy, Grant was ruled out before the game after the 27-year-old sustained an injury in his side's captain's run on Thursday. The coach said he was expected to miss up to six weeks due to his hamstring, which could rule him out for State of Origin Game 1. And Grant's guidance and efforts in defence were clearly missed as the Storm put in a woeful second-half display as Isaiya Katoa tore Melbourne apart with five try assists. The Storm were held to just one try in the final 40 minutes - after Ryan Papenhuyzen once again showed his skills in the first-half - and were forced to rely on their defence to compete. And the Dolphins sliced through them with ease as Katoa pulled the strings. And in a surprising moment, Bellamy revealed Hughes spoke to the team in the dressing room and pointed out they are yet to prove they can win a game in 2025 based on their defensive efforts. This is due to Melbourne running away with most of the games this year as a result of their attacking power. 'Jahrome (Hughes) just made a good point in the dressing room that we've been winning our games off our attack, to be quite honest and today we had to stump up defensively because we kept turning the ball over and we just couldn't do it," Bellamy said after the game. 'It's a big concern to rely just on your attack. We've been a little bit aware of it, that our defence hasn't been as good as we'd like it to be. 'It's probably more individuals, to be honest, but I just have to have a look through it where we think the problems are and there are a few problems. After the game I thought perhaps it was complacency after getting that sort of start and just putting the slippers on. We'll do our review and we need players coming in with reasons why tonight might have happened.' Bellamy was fuming with the Storm, but would have been aware the task was always going to be harder after losing Grant before game day and Jack Howarth 17 minutes into the clash. And Grant's injury has left Queensland coach Slater with a tough call to make ahead of Origin. This is becoming a bloodbath at absence of Harry Grant is immense, but arguably Hughes' worst performance in a few will have a massive bounce back against South Sydney next week… massive.#NRLDolphinsStorm — Jack Blyth (@jblesfooty224) April 18, 2025 It remains to be seen if Slater was going to turn towards Hunt to play his utility in 2025 after the Queensland side went down 2-1 to NSW last year. Many felt the Maroons squad needed a shake-up with Grant one of the few players a certainty if called upon. However, his injury has once again opened the door for Hunt to remain in the squad and potentially be elevated back into the starting side. The futures of Maroons veterans Cherry-Evans and Hunt were up in the air late last year, with both flagging the possibility they might quit rep footy to concentrate on their clubs. Hunt then admitted ahead of this season he would most likely play for the Maroons if Slater gave him a call. This comes after Hunt moved from the Dragons to the Broncos where he has played most of the season as five-eighth. And while Slater was facing a tough call on who to play as his utility in 2025, the decision may have been made for him if Grant isn't fit in time for Game 1. Regardless, Reed Mahoney has also been tipped as a potential starter for Slater. The Bulldogs have been sensational to start the season and Mahoney has been a big part of the defensive efforts Canterbury are building their success on.
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Never again': Kerr's contract vow after Dolphins blitz
After playing one of the best NRL games of his career off-contract Dolphins prop Josh Kerr made a vow about securing his future. "I will never be that person that gets taken advantage of by my club ever again, that's something I'm very strong on," he said. Kerr, in his 100th NRL match, had just ripped and teared his way through a classic front-rower performance to sink Melbourne 42-22 at Suncorp Stadium. It was the Storm that gave the 29-year-old his first contract before he moved to St George Illawarra and made his NRL debut. Watch all the highlights as the Dolphins take on the Storm in Round 7!#NRLDolphinsStorm — NRL (@NRL) April 18, 2025 The Redcliffe junior always wanted to be a Dolphin and wants to stay one. He has immense respect for the club and is loved by all and sundry, but said prior experiences taught him a valuable lesson. "I definitely do (want to stay)," Kerr said. "We've had chats with my manager and missus too. I'm very happy and comfortable here. It's my junior club and I want to see it succeed. "However, I've done the thing in the past where I thought I was playing for love at a club. "But you learn very quickly it's a business and they don't really give a s*** … there's a difference between loving a club and wanting to play for it and then them having a look at that and taking advantage of that. "I'm never going to be put in that position ever again and as hard as it could be (to leave) … I don't want to put it out there. "But I want to stay." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Josh Kerr (@joshmkerr) Kerr said it was "crazy" his milestone match was a big win over the Storm. "What a cosmic coincidence, they were the first club that gave me a chance," he said. "I love this, this is honestly insane to me. "This is a dead set f****** fairy tale. I'm telling you." Kerr played the ball in 2.95 seconds, the fastest of any Dolphin against the Storm, scored a try, set one up, stopped tries and ran for 96m in half an hour of power off the bench. "As the game's evolved, there's a big spot for impact players off the bench, you can change the game and you have got to swallow your pride and ego a little bit too," Kerr said. "Whether that means it's me playing shorter minutes, but doing more output, well if that's what's best for the team, that's what's best for the team."
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ryan Papenhuzyen's worrying Origin setback as Billy Slater handed triple blow
Ryan Papenhuyzen endured a rollercoaster night in the Storm's 42-2 upset to the Dolphins with Billy Slater watching two Queensland hopefuls leave the field injured. Melbourne raced out to a 14 point lead at Suncorp on Friday evening with NRL fans expecting the frontrunners to put on another huge total like they did against the Warriors last week. Despite losing Harry Grant before kick-off, Papenhuyzen was once again proving to fans why he could be the NSW Origin fullback in 2025 having scooted from dummy-half to finish a Storm move and score a try. Melbourne's attack looked lethal once again as they were 16-2 up with plenty of time to build on their attack. However, it all went wrong for the Storm in the second-half after Isaiya Katoa put on a masterclass. the 21-year-old recorded five try assists and outshining Jahrome Hughes in the halfback battle. And while Papenhuyzen started off looking like a potential Blues star, he was left wanting on a number of occasions in the final 40. In one telling moment, Blues coach Laurie Daley would have noticed Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow embarrass Papenhuyzen for a try. The Dolphins fullback out-jumped Papenhuyzen in a one-on-one battle, before offloading to Ray Stone for his second try of the evening. Earlier in the Dolphins onslaught, Katoa caught Papenhuyzen out of position at dummy-half as he put through a grubber as the Storm fullback raced across the field to stop Kodi Nikorima. And while Papenhuyzen and the Storm were once again solid in attack, it was there defence that let them down. "It seems to be a bit like that," Bellamy said. "It is a big concern to just rely on your attack. We have been aware that our defence hasn't been as good as we'd like it to be. I'll have to look through it to see where the problems are … and see where we can improve next week." And Daley would have taken notice of Papenhuyzen's defence in the shock Dolphins defeat after a telling moment against potential Queensland rival Tabuai-Fidow. Hammer just posterised Papenhuyzen omg — George (@g73636) April 18, 2025 NSW are completely spoilt for fullback optionsEdwards is a machine, Tedesco, has he ever played better, and what a comeback Papenhuyzen has made, electric every week, would not look out of place.... #NRLDolphinsStorm — RugbyLeagueIsTheNameOfTheGame (@RugbyLeagueHARD) April 18, 2025 While the Dolphins would have been thrilled with their record win over the Storm, Queensland coach Slater would have been watching a number of selection hopefuls go down injured. Before the game,coach Bellamy confirmed Grant had injured himself in the captain's run on Thursday and he was expected to miss up to six weeks. The 27-year-old is now facing a race to be fit for Game 1 of Origin in an enormous blow for Slater. However, Slater's night as a coach got worse. Dolphins forward Max Plath, who was firming for a position in the Maroons squad, suffered a foot injury. He is expected to miss up to six weeks. And in a final blow, Jack Howarth was all but ruled out of Origin selection. Howarth was firming as a potential utility for Slater after his barnstorming start to the season. Although the young star left the field clutching at his shoulder in the 17th minute. "He will be (out for) an extended time but if he has an operation it will be the season I think," Bellamy said. "I think he will try and rehab it and go from there. I don't think it was out for too long so that is a plus, but we will see what the medical team think. They are thinking to rehab it and try him again." Grant's injury means Slater may be forced to promote Broncos No.6 and regular Maroons No.14 Ben Hunt to the starting position. He could also look at selecting Bulldogs No.9 Reed Mahoney after a strong start to the season.
