Latest news with #NorthQueensland

Storm players waiting on Bellamy's big call

The Advertiser

16 hours ago

Sport
The Advertiser

Storm players waiting on Bellamy's big call

The 65-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down, this year adding to his work-load by joining the NSW State of Origin coaching team as a consultant. But having signed a five-year contract back in 2022 that allows him to decide each year whether he will continue in the head coach position or transition into a coaching director role, the question comes around annually. One of the premiership favourites, Melbourne are currently fourth on the ladder after some inconsistent form that has seen them go win-loss since round six. They host sixth-placed North Queensland on Friday night and are set to be back to full-strength after skipper Harry Grant and winger Xavier Coates sat out their Gold Coast win following State of Origin duty. Dally M Medal-winning halfback Jarome Hughes said he hadn't heard any whispers around what call his coach might make. Star playmaker Cameron Munster has been enlisted in the past to persuade "Bellyache" to sign on but also hadn't made a visit to his office. The coach has been rumoured to be considering a shift to the Titans in 2027, relocating to his Gold Coast property to be near extended family. "Usually around this time it's all in the papers of what he's going to do but there hasn't been much talk," vice-captain Hughes said. "He probably wouldn't want that to distract anyone either, likes to keep that close to his chest, what he's going to do. "I guess it's that time of year where it's probably going to come up now and he's probably going to have to make a decision soon and I'm sure Munny (Munster) will be back in his office trying to get him to stay another year." "He's such a great coach and he's been such a great mentor for all of us players for so long - so the longer he stays the better. "It's whatever's best for him and his family and whatever he wants to do but I can't see him hanging it up too soon. "He'll get bored at home in his mansion at Albert Park so I'm sure he'll go around again." The 65-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down, this year adding to his work-load by joining the NSW State of Origin coaching team as a consultant. But having signed a five-year contract back in 2022 that allows him to decide each year whether he will continue in the head coach position or transition into a coaching director role, the question comes around annually. One of the premiership favourites, Melbourne are currently fourth on the ladder after some inconsistent form that has seen them go win-loss since round six. They host sixth-placed North Queensland on Friday night and are set to be back to full-strength after skipper Harry Grant and winger Xavier Coates sat out their Gold Coast win following State of Origin duty. Dally M Medal-winning halfback Jarome Hughes said he hadn't heard any whispers around what call his coach might make. Star playmaker Cameron Munster has been enlisted in the past to persuade "Bellyache" to sign on but also hadn't made a visit to his office. The coach has been rumoured to be considering a shift to the Titans in 2027, relocating to his Gold Coast property to be near extended family. "Usually around this time it's all in the papers of what he's going to do but there hasn't been much talk," vice-captain Hughes said. "He probably wouldn't want that to distract anyone either, likes to keep that close to his chest, what he's going to do. "I guess it's that time of year where it's probably going to come up now and he's probably going to have to make a decision soon and I'm sure Munny (Munster) will be back in his office trying to get him to stay another year." "He's such a great coach and he's been such a great mentor for all of us players for so long - so the longer he stays the better. "It's whatever's best for him and his family and whatever he wants to do but I can't see him hanging it up too soon. "He'll get bored at home in his mansion at Albert Park so I'm sure he'll go around again." The 65-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down, this year adding to his work-load by joining the NSW State of Origin coaching team as a consultant. But having signed a five-year contract back in 2022 that allows him to decide each year whether he will continue in the head coach position or transition into a coaching director role, the question comes around annually. One of the premiership favourites, Melbourne are currently fourth on the ladder after some inconsistent form that has seen them go win-loss since round six. They host sixth-placed North Queensland on Friday night and are set to be back to full-strength after skipper Harry Grant and winger Xavier Coates sat out their Gold Coast win following State of Origin duty. Dally M Medal-winning halfback Jarome Hughes said he hadn't heard any whispers around what call his coach might make. Star playmaker Cameron Munster has been enlisted in the past to persuade "Bellyache" to sign on but also hadn't made a visit to his office. The coach has been rumoured to be considering a shift to the Titans in 2027, relocating to his Gold Coast property to be near extended family. "Usually around this time it's all in the papers of what he's going to do but there hasn't been much talk," vice-captain Hughes said. "He probably wouldn't want that to distract anyone either, likes to keep that close to his chest, what he's going to do. "I guess it's that time of year where it's probably going to come up now and he's probably going to have to make a decision soon and I'm sure Munny (Munster) will be back in his office trying to get him to stay another year." "He's such a great coach and he's been such a great mentor for all of us players for so long - so the longer he stays the better. "It's whatever's best for him and his family and whatever he wants to do but I can't see him hanging it up too soon. "He'll get bored at home in his mansion at Albert Park so I'm sure he'll go around again."

Cowboys forced to repel stunning Tigers fightback

Yahoo

4 days ago

Entertainment
Yahoo

Cowboys forced to repel stunning Tigers fightback

North Queensland have rebuffed an incredible West Tigers comeback to collect their first win in more than a month with a 32-28 victory in Townsville. Down 32-6 at one stage, the Tigers scored three tries within five minutes in the second half and got to within four points when fullback Jahream Bula crossed with five minutes left on the clock. Adam Doueihi missed a tough conversion, which would have allowed them to level with a two-point field goal. Tom Dearden is having a game! 🔥#NRLCowboysTigers Telstra Moment of the Match — NRL (@NRL) May 31, 2025 It left the visitors unable to complete one of the NRL's greatest fightbacks, just falling short at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in their Saturday night clash. The Tigers were left to rue ill-discipline in the first half. Turning out for their first match since the departure of polarising playmaker Lachlan Galvin to Canterbury, they did themselves no favours with both Jarome Luai and Adam Doueihi sin-binned. Luai had a stint on the sidelines from the 11th minute for slowing down the ruck after repeated team infringements as the Cowboys attacked the line. While the star halfback was off the field, John Bateman, who had an acrimonious split with Wests Tigers, scored the opening try for North Queensland. Centre Jaxon Purdue also crossed in the 16th minute while the visitors were down a man. The Cowboys then took advantage of centre Doueihi making a temporary exit for a professional foul, with Scott Drinkwater crossing for an 18-6 halftime lead. That margin proved a mountain for the visitors, made larger just two minutes into the second stanza with Doueihi still off. Skilful second-rower Jeremiah Nanai, backing up from State of Origin duty, leapt high to take a kick and than raced to the line to score his team's fourth try. While the Tigers looked out on their feet in the second half, the Cowboys' other Queensland Origin stars Tom Dearden and Reuben Cotter also stood up. Dearden added a 57th-minute try to his two try assists for a 32-6 scoreline. The tide then turned for the Tigers in the 62nd minute when centre Starford To'a crossed for his second, after a first-half try. That was quickly backed up by five-eighth Heath Mason, and then Charlie Staines three minutes later, for a 32-24 scoreline to put the Cowboys crowd on edge. Bula had them on their feet with his late four-pointer but the home side managed to hang on for the win. North Queensland will move to sixth place on the competition ladder on the back of their first win since round eight. It's a third straight loss for the Tigers, who sit 13th.

‘Just dumb': NRL world turns on star Tiger Jarome Luai

News.com.au

4 days ago

Entertainment
News.com.au

‘Just dumb': NRL world turns on star Tiger Jarome Luai

Life without Lachlan Galvin has not started well for Jarome Luai and the Wests Tigers. Teenage five-eighth Galvin finally got his wish and joined the Bulldogs on Friday, ending a drawn out saga as coach Benji Marshall injected youngster Heath Mason into his starting line-up to face North Queensland in Townsville. Marshall would have expected a strong showing from Luai, but his captain let himself and the side down with a series of infringements that led to 10 minutes in the bin in just the 12th minute of the match. In a horrendous display of ill discipline, it began with big Royce Hunt holding on for too long just outside his own try line and gifting the Cowboys another set. Enter Jarome Luai. In what could only be a brain explosion, or a misguided attempt to give his teammates a chance to reset their line, Luai twice held on for far too long in consecutive tackles, testing the patience of referee Gerard Sutton. The first may have had a little extra feeling when he clung onto former Tiger John Bateman, giving North Queensland yet another set. Sutton could be heard barking at Luai, but he didn't listen as he did it again on the next tackle on Cowboy Sam McIntyre. 'Luai again, oh, trouble. Gone. Luai is out of here for 10 minutes,' Dan Ginnane said on Fox League. Sutton said to Luai: 'That's three rucks, back to back to back, in the same set of possession. 'It's a mandatory sin bin. You had two six mores, then that, it doesn't matter.' Adding to the Tigers' woes, Api Koroisau was also placed on report for an infringement during the same Cowboys set. With the one-man advantage, North Queensland quickly scored tries through Bateman and Jaxon Purdue to break the game open. Tigers fans were absolutely livid with their skipper. 'Luai is supposed to be our captain but is letting us down with pathetic leadership. Really tough to watch,' was one comment on X. 'Luai showing his leadership qualities yet again,' said another sarcastically. 'Wests fans try tell us Luai is better than Galvin? The guy that crabs sideways all game, the guy with 1 try assist all season, the guy that gets binned for stupid continued ruck infringements letting his team down,' tweeted another. 'Well that's just idiotic from Luai there … could see that sin bin coming from a mile away,' wrote a fourth. A fifth claimed: 'Jarome Luai deserved to go there. It's so unnecessary for giving away a penalty as stupid as that and he then doubled down on it.' Other comments labelled Luai 'brain dead', 'just dumb' and he was accused of 'losing the plot'. One fan even had a cheeky dig at the club's contract drama, tweeting: 'Galvin wouldn't have done that.' The home side took a comfortable 18-6 lead into halftime, with Adam Doueihi also spending 10 minutes in the bin late in the first half as the Tigers fell apart. Starford To'a had given the visitors a little hope with a try in the 25th minute, but the Cowboys finished the half well on top. 'That will be all she wrote for the first half,' Ginnane said. 'Boy the Tigers make it hard for themselves.' Speaking during the break, Fox League's Yvonne Sampson said: 'Benji Marshall will be steaming on the discipline. 'It has spoiled any of the Wests Tigers' sense of adventure in Townsville so far. 'Jarome Luai, the sin bin, started off a chain reaction that really went in the Cowboys' favour.'