Latest news with #PatCarrigan
Yahoo
24-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Broncos to unleash 'super six' together for first time
It has taken 21 rounds, but Brisbane finally have their dream starting spine and two powerhouse forwards, Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan, set to play together for the first time. The takeaway from that fact ahead of the home clash with Parramatta on Friday night is that the fifth-placed Broncos' premiership window is well and truly open. Ideally they would like to be closer than four points outside the vital top four, but they have a chance to make the most of the stars aligning to give them a red-hot crack at the title. The first-choice spine of Reece Walsh, Ezra Mam, Adam Reynolds and Ben Hunt had their first game together in the 26-14 win over Gold Coast before the bye. Prop Haas has returned from two weeks off after he was rested from the Titans match due to a lower back injury, and will partner lock Carrigan in a fearsome pack. It's all systems go for the Broncos, but it is up to them to make the most of it. "I'm looking forward to a really strong performance. We've got everything to play for," coach Michael Maguire said. "There's an opportunity there to be taken. It's not so much about who we're playing, it's about what we're doing. It's really important. "We've got a fair bit out of the last five weeks, the way we've played." The Broncos have won their past five games after a sequence of six losses in seven matches. Haas has been a marvel after going above and beyond to play for the side, despite carrying a lower back injury for most of the year. "He's worked hard. He's sacrificed a lot of time to make sure his back's right," Maguire said. "Payne has actually had a real good couple of weeks. I'm glad now that we rested him (against the Titans) ... and he's looking forward to what's ahead." The return of veteran Hunt against the Titans, from two months out with a hamstring injury, has given the Broncos a second rudder to complement captain Reynolds. "Having Hunty there, that's pretty handy for us with obviously the experience that he brings," Maguire said. "He will develop as he keeps going because he hasn't played a lot of nine in recent times, but he's played in big games, so he knows what he's doing." In injury news, giant prop Ben Te Kura is set for more time on the sidelines after a foot fracture playing for Souths-Logan. "He's had a really tough run, the big fella. He got a bit of a slight fracture in one of his bones in his feet," Maguire said. "Unfortunately, he's been in and out. He should be back for two or three games at the back end (of the season), we're hoping."
Sydney Morning Herald
23-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Kangaroos coach Walters faces exodus of stars to Pacific nations
'If those boys feel passionate about representing the Pacific Island nations or little countries then so be it, that's their choice. It makes for a better product.' That was the declaration of Kangaroos forward Pat Carrigan, who threw his support behind a slew of State of Origin stars contemplating defection to Samoa. New Australia coach Kevin Walters faces a battle to field his strongest possible side in the lead-up to this year's rugby league Ashes series in England. Payne Haas, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow are considering shifting their allegiances to Samoa – similar to how Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita famously turned Tonga into an international force. The trio's decision comes at a pivotal time for rugby league, when growing the international game is paramount. Loading Only three teams – Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain – have lifted the trophy at 16 previous Rugby League World Cups. Samoa and Tonga have made gallant strides, with the former reaching the last tournament's final with State of Origin stars Stephen Crichton, Brian To'o, Jarome Luai and Josh Papalii lining up. Maroons regulars Murray Taulagi and Jeremiah Nanai have also been a part of the Samoa cause.
The Age
23-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Kangaroos coach Walters faces exodus of stars to Pacific nations
'If those boys feel passionate about representing the Pacific Island nations or little countries then so be it, that's their choice. It makes for a better product.' That was the declaration of Kangaroos forward Pat Carrigan, who threw his support behind a slew of State of Origin stars contemplating defection to Samoa. New Australia coach Kevin Walters faces a battle to field his strongest possible side in the lead-up to this year's rugby league Ashes series in England. Payne Haas, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow are considering shifting their allegiances to Samoa – similar to how Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita famously turned Tonga into an international force. The trio's decision comes at a pivotal time for rugby league, when growing the international game is paramount. Loading Only three teams – Australia, New Zealand and Great Britain – have lifted the trophy at 16 previous Rugby League World Cups. Samoa and Tonga have made gallant strides, with the former reaching the last tournament's final with State of Origin stars Stephen Crichton, Brian To'o, Jarome Luai and Josh Papalii lining up. Maroons regulars Murray Taulagi and Jeremiah Nanai have also been a part of the Samoa cause.
Daily Mail
09-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
How Broncos fullback Reece Walsh made an incredible $520,000 without having to lift a finger
NRL star Reece Walsh may not be playing in the Origin decider for Queensland on Wednesday night - but the electric fullback is celebrating a $520,000 windfall without having to lift a finger. According to recent valuations, Walsh's luxurious Gold Coast mansion which has eight bedrooms is now worth as much as $2.4million. It comes after the Broncos pin-up boy spent $1.88 million to purchase the home in May last year. The lavish estate features a stunning outdoor covered pool and a ' Florida room', an area that comes fully screened to cater for maximum sunlight. Other standout features of the Federation-style property include an open-plan living and dining area, a stylish kitchen featuring an island bench and two guesthouses. According to the property listing described the home as a 'superb opportunity', offering 'spacious serenity, contemporary elegance and versatile living.' 'Recently redesigned and renewed, this residence epitomises modern elegance set against meticulously landscaped gardens,' the listing description continued. Property records show the 1992 built home last sold for $782,000 back in 2015. The impressive new value of Walsh's home would also make the regular one hour drive to Brisbane for training that little bit sweeter. Broncos stars who also call the glitter strip home include Pat Carrigan and winger Jesse Arthars. In November last year, Broncos great Corey Parker dismissed talk that Brisbane players residing on the Gold Coast is fraught with danger. 'My personal view is live wherever you want, who cares?' Parker told News Corp. 'Why would it matter? If it's impacting the team, then you might have to look at it. 'You [just] have to make sure you are performing and doing your job as a professional athlete. 'I don't see why it should be an issue.' The 'Florida Room' is designed to maximise sunlight and is ideal for entertaining guests Walsh, 22 - who has a young daughter Leila - joined the Broncos NRL squad on a development contract in 2021. After starring in the Queensland Cup for Norths Devils, he signed a three-year contract with the New Zealand Warriors, beginning in 2022. In July that year, the Queensland Origin star was granted an early release from the Warriors to re-join the Broncos ahead of the 2023 season. His form was a big reason why the Broncos made the grand final, losing to a Nathan Cleary inspired Penrith. In October last year, Walsh signed a five-year, $5.5million extension at Red Hill until 2029.
ABC News
03-07-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
After seven clubs and two codes, Queensland Origin debutant Gehamat Shibasaki is right where he's meant to be
Gehamat Shibasaki has taken the long way to Wednesday's State of Origin decider, but it was the only way he could get there. The journey from junior standout to a Queensland jersey has been winding and taken the 26-year old through seven clubs across two codes and two continents. As recently as a few months back, just being a consistent first grader would have been a fine achievement for a player who puts the journey in journey man, but at every turn of an extraordinary season, Shibasaki has continued to defy expectations. Those expectations once defined him, because he was the kind of player whose first grade debut was not just expected, but awaited. There was a time when it wasn't a matter if Shibasaki could play this kind of football or earn this honour, but when it would come. Shibasaki caught eyes as a junior, not just because of his background – though there's not many potential NRL players who are the great-great grandsons of Japanese pearl divers – but also his pedigree. As a youth, Shibasaki stamped himself a prospect of uncommon talent. He made his first Queensland side when he was just 12 and represented the state's under-20s side three years in a row. On a Broncos under-20s team that contained Payne Haas, Pat Carrigan, Lindsay Collins, Jaydn Su'A, Herbie Farnworth, Tom Flegler, Kotoni Staggs and Jamayne Isaako it wasn't easy to stand out, but Shibasaki managed it. He made his NRL debut in 2018, the same year as Haas and Staggs, and NRL stardom seemed within his grasp — only to depart at the end of the following season. "He's always been gifted," Haas said. "He was one of the best players growing up when we were kids. "He lost his way a bit the last few years. But he's found his way back and I'm super proud of him, I just hate that he's a Queenslander.' It's been a long way back to Brisbane, back to the spotlight, back to where Shibasaki's talent once seemed certain to carry him. He has freely admitted that during the lost years there were times he took rugby league for granted, a lesson learned the hard way through his many travels. The first stop was Newcastle where, after a strong start, the COVID shutdown halted Shibasaki's progress and by his own admission, he lost focus. He spent much of his two years there in reserve grade, where he rubbed shoulders with a young and hungry outside back named Jacob Kiraz. Today, Kiraz is one of the best wingers in the NRL and will act as 18th man for New South Wales for Game III but back then he was a 19-year old scrapper fighting for a chance alongside Shibasaki in front of minuscule crowds on forgotten footy fields all around the place. "I was still really young. Whenever I asked him questions regarding footy he'd always have answers and when I moved to Newy he welcomed me with open arms," Kiraz said. "Stuff happens for a reason, it happened to me, and at the time it can be hard and you don't understand why. "But you see him now and he's making his Origin debut, which is pretty crazy, but I'm sure he wouldn't want to change his path to any other way because it wouldn't have got him to where it is. Two seasons with the Knights yielded just 14 NRL games and Shibasaki left for Japanese rugby, signing a deal with Tokatsu Green Rockets. It wasn't just a different sport, but a different world. Amid clashes with teams like Toshiba Brave Lupus, Tokyo Sungoliath and Saitama Wild Knights, the language and cultural barrier meant a trip down the shops could become an adventure and Google Translate was a constant companion. The team was located about an hour from glittering sprawl of Tokyo, so players rode their bikes along roads lined with rice paddy fields to get to training and with the omicron COVID variant making it difficult for friends and family to travel to Japan, the foreign imports stuck close together. "He was a lot of fun to be around. The Japanese boys loved him, given he had that Japanese heritage," said Ben Hughes, a teammate at Tokatsu. "Rugby is a completely different game to league, there's so much to learn and what I remember most about 'Shiba' was how he always wanted to improve, always asked questions, always wanted to learn – that might be off the senior players or the coaches. "Back then they had a rule where only four non-Japanese players could be on the field at once, which wasn't easy. "He would have played inside and outside blokes who didn't speak English, so you can't have those micro-conversations on the field and that makes the transition from league even more difficult. It wasn't an easy year for the Green Rockets. Despite boasting Michael Cheika as director of rugby, it was a tough campaign and they narrowly avoided relegation after winning a late-season playoff against Mie Honda Heat. But Shibasaki acquitted himself well, scoring three tries in eight games as he tried to make a fist of his new sport. "I think Shiba would tell you he wasn't in the greatest nick when he arrived due to two weeks COVID isolation in a hotel room. But you could see his application, how he tried to learn – he wasn't there to muck around," Hughes said. "You can see why he's done well because the mindset he had, playing a new sport in a foreign country and the way he went about it at training, it shows why he's made the State of Origin side now." Shibasaki returned to Australia once the Japanese season wrapped up to sign with the Mackay Cutters in the Queensland Cup. From there he went home to Townsville, signing first with the Cowboys, where hamstring injuries kept him to just two matches, and then with their feeder club the Townsville Blackhawks. For a time, Shibasaki was happy working a normal job and playing Queensland Cup. He was back home and free from the pressures of life in elite sport and after the wandering years, that was enough. A one-match cameo on loan with South Sydney last year could well have been the end of him at the top level, with just the trainspotters and the tragics left to remember. But a chance meeting with Carrigan when the Broncos were in town to play the Cowboys lit a fire in Shibasaki. The boys he came through with at Brisbane had become men and were riding high and he wanted to be a part of it. He signed with Wynnum-Manly and part of the deal included a train and trial contract with the Broncos and it got off to a rough start – on his first day, Shibasaki couldn't finish the session. But he stayed on the job, winning the respect of coach Michael Maguire through his work ethic and persistence and slowly uncovered the ability that had always lurked within. Haas could see the change in his old teammate from the start. "He's way more dialled in, he took his training more seriously, the way was eating, the way he was preparing for training, it was cool to see," Haas said. "I knew he was serious about. I knew he knew this was his last shot. He took it with both hands and he's never looked back." After a summer of hard work, Shibasaki was a surprise starter for round one and at the end of years in the wilderness, he became the player he promised to be. Shibasaki plays strong and brave and competes on everything. He has finished off plenty an attacking movement and sits second in the league for tries scored and first among centres, doubling his career try tally in less than half a year. He is also second among centres in line breaks, fourth in tackle busts and fifth in metres gained. The prodigy of another time, who has travelled far and seen so much, has returned older and wiser and has moved the past into overtaking the future. Selwyn Cobbo and Deine Mariner are two of the most talented outside backs in the sport and Shibasaki is keeping them out of Broncos best 17 every week, rightfully so. This season is the first time he has played more than 12 games in an NRL season and despite making his first grade debut back in 2018, only Robert Toia carries fewer top flight appearances into the decider. Stephen Crichton, the man he will mark and by most's reckoning the best centre in the game, made his first grade debut a year after Shibasaki and has almost three times as many games to his name. His selection is one of the most unheralded Origin calls in years, just as Toia's was for Game One, because this is a career that never quite got started like it was supposed to. But if it was about how you start, Shibasaki wouldn't be here at all. He wouldn't have made it to the end of the journey which has doubled as a new beginning, with his name on the back of a Queensland jersey, the eyes of the rugby league world on him and a chance to enter the Maroons pantheon of unlikely heroes who answered the call when their time came and their state needed them. To get it done, he'll have to defy the odds, with New South Wales entering the game as warm favourites. But when you've fought your way back from the brink like he has, when you've come home to yourself and finally achieved the promise of your youth that by all rights should have slipped away, anything must feel possible. ABC Sport will be live blogging all the action from the Origin III decider on Wednesday, July 9 at
