Latest news with #PatCarrigan
The Advertiser
7 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Back to future 'excites' Carrigan on Maroons benching
Pat Carrigan was such a success in his Queensland debut off the bench in 2022 that coach Billy Slater will play him there again in a do-or-die State of Origin roll of the dice. The benching of regular Maroons lock Carrigan for game two of the series in Perth next week came as a shock to NSW, particularly second-rower Angus Crichton who insisted it was a "mind games" ploy. Crichton refused to believe the Maroons team list which has Melbourne forward Trent Loiero named at No.13 and Carrigan at No.17. Queensland can of course make a late switch if they choose but closer inspection reveals there is method in Slater's apparent madness. In game one of 2022, Carrigan had one of the great Maroons debuts off the bench. He smashed Jack Wighton with his first tackle and his opening run was hailed by Slater post-match as "a momentum shift for us" in a 16-10 win at Accor Stadium. The Brisbane forward came on in the 15th minute and played the rest of the match on the way to 183m from 19 runs and making 34 tackles. He was even in contention for the man of the match award. "We've had some conversations with Bill and it's all about what is best for the balance of our team," Carrigan said of his positional switch. "I won't touch on it too much but I think it is about getting the best out of each other as a team and creating a bit of havoc when I get on the field. "I just want to do my role for the team. I know that the boys that start are going to lay the foundations for us. "Coming off the bench ... I am excited. It gives me an opportunity to get into the game and make a difference." The 27-year-old also played game two of the 2022 series off the bench but has lined up at lock for his last eight Origin matches, including the 18-6 loss in Brisbane in game one this year where he topped the tackle count with 53 and ran for 139m. Carrigan may have paid a price for the Maroons' poor start in game one where penalties and a failure to win the ruck cost his side. "They probably won the ruck definitely when you look back at it. Our discipline was pretty poor and I was there at the start of the events," he said. "When you give the opposition so much footy you make it hard for yourself. The effort was always there but just our start let us down." Carrigan said he had ultimate faith that Loiero would do the job at lock. "He's playing for Melbourne at the moment and Billy watches every habit in everyone's game," he said. "I know Billy trusts him to do his job and we trust him too." Pat Carrigan was such a success in his Queensland debut off the bench in 2022 that coach Billy Slater will play him there again in a do-or-die State of Origin roll of the dice. The benching of regular Maroons lock Carrigan for game two of the series in Perth next week came as a shock to NSW, particularly second-rower Angus Crichton who insisted it was a "mind games" ploy. Crichton refused to believe the Maroons team list which has Melbourne forward Trent Loiero named at No.13 and Carrigan at No.17. Queensland can of course make a late switch if they choose but closer inspection reveals there is method in Slater's apparent madness. In game one of 2022, Carrigan had one of the great Maroons debuts off the bench. He smashed Jack Wighton with his first tackle and his opening run was hailed by Slater post-match as "a momentum shift for us" in a 16-10 win at Accor Stadium. The Brisbane forward came on in the 15th minute and played the rest of the match on the way to 183m from 19 runs and making 34 tackles. He was even in contention for the man of the match award. "We've had some conversations with Bill and it's all about what is best for the balance of our team," Carrigan said of his positional switch. "I won't touch on it too much but I think it is about getting the best out of each other as a team and creating a bit of havoc when I get on the field. "I just want to do my role for the team. I know that the boys that start are going to lay the foundations for us. "Coming off the bench ... I am excited. It gives me an opportunity to get into the game and make a difference." The 27-year-old also played game two of the 2022 series off the bench but has lined up at lock for his last eight Origin matches, including the 18-6 loss in Brisbane in game one this year where he topped the tackle count with 53 and ran for 139m. Carrigan may have paid a price for the Maroons' poor start in game one where penalties and a failure to win the ruck cost his side. "They probably won the ruck definitely when you look back at it. Our discipline was pretty poor and I was there at the start of the events," he said. "When you give the opposition so much footy you make it hard for yourself. The effort was always there but just our start let us down." Carrigan said he had ultimate faith that Loiero would do the job at lock. "He's playing for Melbourne at the moment and Billy watches every habit in everyone's game," he said. "I know Billy trusts him to do his job and we trust him too." Pat Carrigan was such a success in his Queensland debut off the bench in 2022 that coach Billy Slater will play him there again in a do-or-die State of Origin roll of the dice. The benching of regular Maroons lock Carrigan for game two of the series in Perth next week came as a shock to NSW, particularly second-rower Angus Crichton who insisted it was a "mind games" ploy. Crichton refused to believe the Maroons team list which has Melbourne forward Trent Loiero named at No.13 and Carrigan at No.17. Queensland can of course make a late switch if they choose but closer inspection reveals there is method in Slater's apparent madness. In game one of 2022, Carrigan had one of the great Maroons debuts off the bench. He smashed Jack Wighton with his first tackle and his opening run was hailed by Slater post-match as "a momentum shift for us" in a 16-10 win at Accor Stadium. The Brisbane forward came on in the 15th minute and played the rest of the match on the way to 183m from 19 runs and making 34 tackles. He was even in contention for the man of the match award. "We've had some conversations with Bill and it's all about what is best for the balance of our team," Carrigan said of his positional switch. "I won't touch on it too much but I think it is about getting the best out of each other as a team and creating a bit of havoc when I get on the field. "I just want to do my role for the team. I know that the boys that start are going to lay the foundations for us. "Coming off the bench ... I am excited. It gives me an opportunity to get into the game and make a difference." The 27-year-old also played game two of the 2022 series off the bench but has lined up at lock for his last eight Origin matches, including the 18-6 loss in Brisbane in game one this year where he topped the tackle count with 53 and ran for 139m. Carrigan may have paid a price for the Maroons' poor start in game one where penalties and a failure to win the ruck cost his side. "They probably won the ruck definitely when you look back at it. Our discipline was pretty poor and I was there at the start of the events," he said. "When you give the opposition so much footy you make it hard for yourself. The effort was always there but just our start let us down." Carrigan said he had ultimate faith that Loiero would do the job at lock. "He's playing for Melbourne at the moment and Billy watches every habit in everyone's game," he said. "I know Billy trusts him to do his job and we trust him too."
Daily Mail
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
NRL club mourns fan who died in tragic scenes at their home ground just moments before kick-off in milestone match
The Broncos are in mourning after a fan died at Suncorp Stadium moments before their clash against the Gold Coast Titans on June 7. Brisbane boss Dave Donaghy confirmed a club supporter suffered a heart attack in the stands as halfback Adam Reynolds prepared to run out for his 300th NRL game. Suncorp Stadium management and the Broncos provide on-site paramedics for all home games - but tragically, the man couldn't be revived. Relatives of the man informed the club of the news, and the Broncos will donate a jersey to be placed on his coffin. 'It was horribly sad,' Donaghy told News Corp. 'Our thoughts are with the family right now and of course we will do whatever we can to support them at this difficult time. 'The first responders on the night were remarkable, I couldn't imagine the job they had to do in difficult circumstances.' Meanwhile, Broncos star Pat Carrigan has backed teammate Ezra Mam following the controversial pivot's selection in the Queensland Origin squad. Mam recently returned to the NRL following a nine-game ban after pleading guilty to driving with drugs in his system and without a licence, following a head-on collision with an Uber last October. Many footy fans felt Mam should have been punished more severely. 'Look, he made a well-publicised mistake and he had to own that,' Carrigan said. 'We know what Ezra has more than well and truly done enough work on himself and he continues to do so. 'It (Origin camp) is a good opportunity for him, you get into these sort of environments and you get to learn from guys like Cameron Munster and Tommy Dearden, how they prepare and how they go about things. 'Those experiences will be good for the Broncos too. Ezra's done a lot of hard work outside of it and it's nice to see him get rewarded.' As 18th man, Mam could feature in game two in Perth on June 18 for the Maroons if there is a concussion-related injury.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Billy Slater drops another staggering Queensland team decision
Billy Slater has made the shock decision to demote Broncos gun Pat Carrigan to the bench for State of Origin Game 2. Just 24 hours after the Queensland coach announced his decision to axe halfback Daly Cherry-Evans, it has been revealed the Melbourne Storm legend is set to make another gigantic gamble by promoting Storm forward Trent Loiero into the starting side. As first reported by Code Sports, Slater on Tuesday said Loiero will start the game playing at lock with Mo Fotuaika and Tino Fa'asuamaleaui keeping their spots in the front row. 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 > Slater is also set to make another shock call by dumping Jeremiah Nani to the bench and replacing him in the starting side with Kurt Capewell. Capewell's return sees Beau Fermor dropped from the squad. It has been suggested Carrigan's move to sit on the pine is a tactical shift to stop NSW from getting the upper hand when Blues coach Laurie Daley decides to use his interchanges. However, it has also been reported Slater's decision is a 'kick up the backside' for Carrigan not to get complacent. Slater has started the shadow games early with the under-pressure coach still having the option of making more changes in the hours before kick-off. Slater announced the Maroons squad by alphabetical order on Monday, instead of handing each player a jersey number. The bizarre decision to take Carrigan out of the starting team has left some NRL commentators staggered. The ABC's Zane Bojack posted on X: 'Don't understand Carrigan in bench. 'Surely he swaps with Moe before kick off. Got told it was a kick up the backside for Pat from Billy thinking he has got too comfortable.' NRL Twitter commentator Eden Richards wrote on X: 'QLD could have Carrigan starting at lock and Hors starting at prop but Billy's decided Loiero at lock and Mo at prop is a better option…. I don't get it. 'We are so cooked.' Another fan wrote: 'That's crazy. Carrigan is one of the best forwards in the game. Also, he should be captain instead of Munster'. The Maroons need to win in Perth on Wednesday, June 18, to keep the series alive. Slater has been forced to admit he got it wrong in selecting Cherry-Evans for the series opener with Cowboys halfback Tom Dearden to start in the halves alongside Cameron Munster. The storm five-eighth was on Tuesday unveiled as Queensland's captain. Munster was picked ahead of his Melbourne Storm captain and Maroons teammate Harry Grant as well as Gold Coast Titans skipper Fa'asuamaleaui. The clash in Perth on Wednesday will be Munster's 20th Origin appearance for Queensland, having won the Wally Lewis Medal as player of the series in 2020. Slater also confirmed Canterbury Bulldogs forward Kurt Mann would play his first game for Queensland in a new-look team that has to beat the Blues to force a game three decider to avoid losing a second straight series. Controversial Broncos star Ezra Mam has also been named in Slater's 20-man squad - just three games back from his drug-driving scandal - along with Raiders enforcer Corey Horsburgh and boom Storm centre Jack Howarth. The decision to pick Mam was promptly labelled a 'disgrace' by NRL fans, who felt Slater had lost the plot. Mam will reportedly wear the No.18 jersey as the Maroons' replacement player. Slater insists DCE is not the scapegoat Slater has moved to play down Cherry-Evans axing, denying claims DCE was used as the team's scapegoat for an underwhelming Game 1 showing. 'It's not the case (Cherry-Evans being a scapegoat for Game I loss),' Slater said. 'It's a case of the best person for the position. It is what it is. when you're in this position you've got to think about what's best for the team.' The halfback's axing means the Maroons will need to appoint a new captain for Game 2, with Slater revealing that decision will be made tomorrow. 'We'll make everyone aware of who the captain is tomorrow (Tuesday when teams are named). We've got quite a few club captains, quite a few leaders within the group, I feel whenever you play for the Qld team you're a leader in your own right.' Expected Queensland team for State of Origin II 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Xavier Coates 3. Robert Toia 4. Valentine Holmes 5. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow 6. Cameron Munster (C) 7. Tom Dearden 8. Mo Fotuaika 9. Harry Grant 10. Tino Fa'asuamaleaui 11. Reuben Cotter 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Trent Loiero 14. Kurt Mann 15. Lindsay Collins 16. Jeremiah Nanai 17. Pat Carrigan 18. Ezra Mam 19. Jack Howarth 20. Corey Horsburgh
News.com.au
30-05-2025
- General
- News.com.au
‘They're definitely playing': Massive boost for Broncos with Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan set to play after Origin heroics
Broncos coach Michael Maguire has declared prop forward Payne Haas is 'definitely playing' after his herculean performance in the front row for NSW on Wednesday night despite barely training due to a quad injury. Haas was named man of the match in the game one win on the back of 138m, 27 tackles and zero misses after being in doubt for the Suncorp Stadium showdown. The machine in the middle didn't train with the team for the first few days of camp but played like a man possessed to help the Blues take a 1-0 series lead. There would be no shame in him wanting to rest up after a bruising battle on Wednesday, but he and front row partner Pat Carrigan are both set to take on Manly in a rare trip to Brookvale. 'They're definitely playing,' Maguire said. 'I'll wait and see (how many minutes they play) depending on how they're playing. 'Payne played a lot of time the other night and so did Patty. The amount of work they did for both teams was exceptional, so I'll just manage that as the game goes.' Maguire was thrilled to see the Blues win in enemy territory after he guided the team to a famous series victory last year, although he didn't want to gloat too much given he's now coaching the biggest club in Queensland. He has other things to worry about this weekend, with Maguire making a couple of key changes to the spine with Cory Paix starting at hooker and Jesse Arthars moving to fullback. Reece Walsh is still a week away as he recovers from a knee injury, with Arthars switching roles with Selwyn Cobbo, who will play on the wing after missing out on the Maroons side. 'They'll probably interchange a little bit, but Jesse has got a lot of energy with what he's doing,' the coach explained. 'Being able to utilise both he and big 'Selly' in a different way is something that I'm going to look at.' The Broncos start the round in eighth spot, but there is plenty of focus on a team that has lost three on the trot since their epic upset win over the Bulldogs. They were fantastic that night but haven't replicated that form, with Brisbane coming off a 30-26 loss to the Dragons that few saw coming before last week's bye. Effort and team cohesion have been questioned since then, but Maguire is confident his players can turn things around with ease. 'To be honest, it's pretty easy. And the players can actually see that,' he said. 'It's about individuals working hard with each other. There was a great bond with this group and that's why I've really enjoyed coaching the group. 'But you've got to be able to use that in games because the momentum of games is what it's about. When it swings on you, you've got to be able to make sure you come together, which I can see the boys doing.'
News.com.au
19-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Payback on Carrigan's mind after 2024
State of Origin: Pat Carrigan is hopeful that the pain of Queensland's decider loss in 2024 will be all the motivation they need to secure a game one win at Suncorp.
