Latest news with #QueenslandCup
Sydney Morning Herald
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Footy was a way out': The inspirational story behind Dolphins' potential saviour
Rugby league has produced a remarkable rise from obscurity for Aublix Tawha, one that's taken a circuitous route through Amsterdam and Yass, and away from his New Zealand home town. But now, the unheralded Dolphins enforcer is looking ahead as he seeks to repay coach Kristian Woolf's faith in him and help salvage a season plagued by an injury curse. 'Woolfy says he believes in me and that I can do the job, so I just want to prove him right, and prove to the boys I can be here to back them up,' Tawha said, ahead of his side's Thursday night clash with the Cowboys – his fourth NRL appearance. 'It's crazy, someone like that saying they believe in you. Coming from where I come from, you never thought you'd talk to someone of that calibre. 'Now I'm here playing NRL and he's telling me that – I just don't want to let him down.' Loading Tawha left Hamilton for Australia as a bright-eyed teenager to ply his trade for the Tweed Seagulls five years ago, before a shoulder injury seemingly ended his NRL crusade. He moved back across the ditch for a period, before taking up a shock opportunity to play rugby union in the Netherlands during the COVID-19 pandemic. He later returned home, where he settled for local football while working as a scaffolder. But an out-of-the-blue call from Yass Magpies in 2023 turned his fortunes around. There, he was spotted by former Redcliffe Dolphins coach and Brisbane Broncos forward Ben Te'o and produced a breakout Queensland Cup season.
The Age
15-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
‘Footy was a way out': The inspirational story behind Dolphins' potential saviour
Rugby league has produced a remarkable rise from obscurity for Aublix Tawha, one that's taken a circuitous route through Amsterdam and Yass, and away from his New Zealand home town. But now, the unheralded Dolphins enforcer is looking ahead as he seeks to repay coach Kristian Woolf's faith in him and help salvage a season plagued by an injury curse. 'Woolfy says he believes in me and that I can do the job, so I just want to prove him right, and prove to the boys I can be here to back them up,' Tawha said, ahead of his side's Thursday night clash with the Cowboys – his fourth NRL appearance. 'It's crazy, someone like that saying they believe in you. Coming from where I come from, you never thought you'd talk to someone of that calibre. 'Now I'm here playing NRL and he's telling me that – I just don't want to let him down.' Loading Tawha left Hamilton for Australia as a bright-eyed teenager to ply his trade for the Tweed Seagulls five years ago, before a shoulder injury seemingly ended his NRL crusade. He moved back across the ditch for a period, before taking up a shock opportunity to play rugby union in the Netherlands during the COVID-19 pandemic. He later returned home, where he settled for local football while working as a scaffolder. But an out-of-the-blue call from Yass Magpies in 2023 turned his fortunes around. There, he was spotted by former Redcliffe Dolphins coach and Brisbane Broncos forward Ben Te'o and produced a breakout Queensland Cup season.
The Advertiser
08-07-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
Titans usher in ownership, team changes before Broncos
On a landmark day for the Gold Coast, the Titans have confirmed former co-owner Darryl Kelly has sold his stake in the club. The development comes as star players Jayden Campbell and David Fifita return from injury to take their places in the side to host Brisbane on Sunday night. Kelly has been a key figure in the financial revival of the Titans after the NRL took control of the then cash-stricken franchise in 2015 after a cocaine scandal. Former truck driver Kelly and the husband and wife duo of Rebecca and Brett Frizelle, now full owners, poured millions into the club and assumed ownership in 2017. Kelly, a successful property developer, said in a statement on Tuesday it had been "a privilege to be involved in helping keep an NRL team here in the unique position of operating both sides of the New South Wales-Queensland border." Titans co-owner Rebecca Frizelle said "as we move forward as sole owners, we remain committed to addressing our on-field challenges while building on our strong community foundations." The on-field challenges the Frizelles face are immense and are highlighted by the fact in the past seven seasons the Titans have played just one final, in 2021 which they lost, while claiming the wooden spoon in 2019 and finishing 14th on three occasions. They are currently last. Boom back-rower Fifita has not played for the Titans since round eight due to an ankle complaint and poor form which earlier led to him being dropped to play for Ipswich in the Queensland Cup. His return is a huge boost against the in-form Broncos, his former club. One of the club's bright hopes is the 25-year-old Campbell, who returns at halfback from a concussion suffered against Parramatta in round 17. "I am feeling alright now. I had a few headaches after the game but having those two weeks off, with the bye, I am feeling a whole lot better," Campbell said. "Hopefully we put in a good performance this week and try and get the back end of the season on a roll with a few wins." The livewire playmaker, qualified for Queensland in State of Origin, was one of several Titans to take part in an opposed session against the Maroons last week. "I really enjoyed it and it has given me something to chase now," Campbell said. "It was one of their big opposed sessions and a really cool experience. I listened to things that can make me a better player. "I'm still learning and trying to get my game right. Hopefully, the time comes one day when I get to play Origin." Campbell started his career as a fullback but has made the transition to the halves at the Titans. He is off-contract at the end of next year but in no hurry to sign a new deal. "For me at the moment, the way the season is going, I haven't really thought about (contracts). I am just trying to get results for the club and the fans," he said. On a landmark day for the Gold Coast, the Titans have confirmed former co-owner Darryl Kelly has sold his stake in the club. The development comes as star players Jayden Campbell and David Fifita return from injury to take their places in the side to host Brisbane on Sunday night. Kelly has been a key figure in the financial revival of the Titans after the NRL took control of the then cash-stricken franchise in 2015 after a cocaine scandal. Former truck driver Kelly and the husband and wife duo of Rebecca and Brett Frizelle, now full owners, poured millions into the club and assumed ownership in 2017. Kelly, a successful property developer, said in a statement on Tuesday it had been "a privilege to be involved in helping keep an NRL team here in the unique position of operating both sides of the New South Wales-Queensland border." Titans co-owner Rebecca Frizelle said "as we move forward as sole owners, we remain committed to addressing our on-field challenges while building on our strong community foundations." The on-field challenges the Frizelles face are immense and are highlighted by the fact in the past seven seasons the Titans have played just one final, in 2021 which they lost, while claiming the wooden spoon in 2019 and finishing 14th on three occasions. They are currently last. Boom back-rower Fifita has not played for the Titans since round eight due to an ankle complaint and poor form which earlier led to him being dropped to play for Ipswich in the Queensland Cup. His return is a huge boost against the in-form Broncos, his former club. One of the club's bright hopes is the 25-year-old Campbell, who returns at halfback from a concussion suffered against Parramatta in round 17. "I am feeling alright now. I had a few headaches after the game but having those two weeks off, with the bye, I am feeling a whole lot better," Campbell said. "Hopefully we put in a good performance this week and try and get the back end of the season on a roll with a few wins." The livewire playmaker, qualified for Queensland in State of Origin, was one of several Titans to take part in an opposed session against the Maroons last week. "I really enjoyed it and it has given me something to chase now," Campbell said. "It was one of their big opposed sessions and a really cool experience. I listened to things that can make me a better player. "I'm still learning and trying to get my game right. Hopefully, the time comes one day when I get to play Origin." Campbell started his career as a fullback but has made the transition to the halves at the Titans. He is off-contract at the end of next year but in no hurry to sign a new deal. "For me at the moment, the way the season is going, I haven't really thought about (contracts). I am just trying to get results for the club and the fans," he said. On a landmark day for the Gold Coast, the Titans have confirmed former co-owner Darryl Kelly has sold his stake in the club. The development comes as star players Jayden Campbell and David Fifita return from injury to take their places in the side to host Brisbane on Sunday night. Kelly has been a key figure in the financial revival of the Titans after the NRL took control of the then cash-stricken franchise in 2015 after a cocaine scandal. Former truck driver Kelly and the husband and wife duo of Rebecca and Brett Frizelle, now full owners, poured millions into the club and assumed ownership in 2017. Kelly, a successful property developer, said in a statement on Tuesday it had been "a privilege to be involved in helping keep an NRL team here in the unique position of operating both sides of the New South Wales-Queensland border." Titans co-owner Rebecca Frizelle said "as we move forward as sole owners, we remain committed to addressing our on-field challenges while building on our strong community foundations." The on-field challenges the Frizelles face are immense and are highlighted by the fact in the past seven seasons the Titans have played just one final, in 2021 which they lost, while claiming the wooden spoon in 2019 and finishing 14th on three occasions. They are currently last. Boom back-rower Fifita has not played for the Titans since round eight due to an ankle complaint and poor form which earlier led to him being dropped to play for Ipswich in the Queensland Cup. His return is a huge boost against the in-form Broncos, his former club. One of the club's bright hopes is the 25-year-old Campbell, who returns at halfback from a concussion suffered against Parramatta in round 17. "I am feeling alright now. I had a few headaches after the game but having those two weeks off, with the bye, I am feeling a whole lot better," Campbell said. "Hopefully we put in a good performance this week and try and get the back end of the season on a roll with a few wins." The livewire playmaker, qualified for Queensland in State of Origin, was one of several Titans to take part in an opposed session against the Maroons last week. "I really enjoyed it and it has given me something to chase now," Campbell said. "It was one of their big opposed sessions and a really cool experience. I listened to things that can make me a better player. "I'm still learning and trying to get my game right. Hopefully, the time comes one day when I get to play Origin." Campbell started his career as a fullback but has made the transition to the halves at the Titans. He is off-contract at the end of next year but in no hurry to sign a new deal. "For me at the moment, the way the season is going, I haven't really thought about (contracts). I am just trying to get results for the club and the fans," he said.
The Age
07-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Maroon declares Qld's second-half fade in Perth ‘all my fault'. This is how they can claim decider
But Toia vowed to make amends come Wednesday night, as he reflected on his meteoric rise through the ranks. 'I'm pretty confident going into game three, the tries they scored in game two were basically all my fault. My defensive movements were a bit poor, and some lateral movements,' Toia said. 'You always have to have that self-belief, so deep down I've always backed my abilities, but to be honest, I didn't think any of this would be happening this quickly. 'Obviously I backed myself, but it was an honour to go up against Latrell. I feel like it was a privilege to mark-up against him, and he's dominated the Origin arena for years, so I was just grateful and blessed to be in this position.' While Toia has begun to adjust to the Origin arena, his centre partner Gehamat Shibasaki will complete his remarkable surge from obscurity, having gone from train and trialist at the start of the season to the Maroons' man entrusted with containing Stephen Crichton. Shibasaki came up against Crichton for the Broncos this year, keeping the Bulldogs skipper to his second-fewest run metres (66) for the season. However, experience in this arena looms as a key New South Wales strength – with the Blues centre pairing boasting 21 games to Queensland's two. 'I've got a lot of clips there where I can be a lot better with him. Although some people don't know him, he's there for a reason and has been one of the in-form centres of the year.' Stephen Crichton on Gehamat Shibasaki His Broncos coach Michael Maguire – who led the Blues to last year's series triumph before arriving at Red Hill – believed the 26-year-old was ready to respond to the defensive challenge. But Shibasaki's former Townsville Blackhawks coach Terry Campese insisted his own strengths with the ball should not be discounted. Campese told this masthead it was the Townsville product's 'talk on the field that's got him to where he is today', while his ability to cover defend and use his 96-kilogram frame to bring down his opposite number down has already been used to thwart Crichton. But the one-time Blues and former Canberra Raiders' five-eighth saw how valuable he could be with the ball, making him a key X-factor in the Blackhawks' Queensland Cup campaign last year. Shibasaki's form there – in which he scored nine tries while averaging four tackle busts, 143 running metres and 55 post-contact metres a game – earned him an appearance for Townsville's NRL affiliate club, the Rabbitohs, before returning to Brisbane. Loading And while the Bronco will forge one of the game's most inexperienced centre-pairings – having played a third of his own NRL clashes this year, despite debuting in 2018 – Campese was adamant the long road he had taken would ensure he was not overawed. 'He was definitely an attacking weapon we tried to get the ball to as much as possible because he's a big, strong, athletic footy player, and he can be very dangerous on the edge,' Campese said. '[In defence], he's a big body who stops them in their tracks. It's a massive game and a big job, but I think the way he's been playing he should be confident of going out on the field and do what he's been doing all year, and having faith in what Billy and the selectors have done.'
Sydney Morning Herald
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Maroon declares Qld's second-half fade in Perth ‘all my fault'. This is how they can claim decider
But Toia vowed to make amends come Wednesday night, as he reflected on his meteoric rise through the ranks. 'I'm pretty confident going into game three, the tries they scored in game two were basically all my fault. My defensive movements were a bit poor, and some lateral movements,' Toia said. 'You always have to have that self-belief, so deep down I've always backed my abilities, but to be honest, I didn't think any of this would be happening this quickly. 'Obviously I backed myself, but it was an honour to go up against Latrell. I feel like it was a privilege to mark-up against him, and he's dominated the Origin arena for years, so I was just grateful and blessed to be in this position.' While Toia has begun to adjust to the Origin arena, his centre partner Gehamat Shibasaki will complete his remarkable surge from obscurity, having gone from train and trialist at the start of the season to the Maroons' man entrusted with containing Stephen Crichton. Shibasaki came up against Crichton for the Broncos this year, keeping the Bulldogs skipper to his second-fewest run metres (66) for the season. However, experience in this arena looms as a key New South Wales strength – with the Blues centre pairing boasting 21 games to Queensland's two. 'I've got a lot of clips there where I can be a lot better with him. Although some people don't know him, he's there for a reason and has been one of the in-form centres of the year.' Stephen Crichton on Gehamat Shibasaki His Broncos coach Michael Maguire – who led the Blues to last year's series triumph before arriving at Red Hill – believed the 26-year-old was ready to respond to the defensive challenge. But Shibasaki's former Townsville Blackhawks coach Terry Campese insisted his own strengths with the ball should not be discounted. Campese told this masthead it was the Townsville product's 'talk on the field that's got him to where he is today', while his ability to cover defend and use his 96-kilogram frame to bring down his opposite number down has already been used to thwart Crichton. But the one-time Blues and former Canberra Raiders' five-eighth saw how valuable he could be with the ball, making him a key X-factor in the Blackhawks' Queensland Cup campaign last year. Shibasaki's form there – in which he scored nine tries while averaging four tackle busts, 143 running metres and 55 post-contact metres a game – earned him an appearance for Townsville's NRL affiliate club, the Rabbitohs, before returning to Brisbane. Loading And while the Bronco will forge one of the game's most inexperienced centre-pairings – having played a third of his own NRL clashes this year, despite debuting in 2018 – Campese was adamant the long road he had taken would ensure he was not overawed. 'He was definitely an attacking weapon we tried to get the ball to as much as possible because he's a big, strong, athletic footy player, and he can be very dangerous on the edge,' Campese said. '[In defence], he's a big body who stops them in their tracks. It's a massive game and a big job, but I think the way he's been playing he should be confident of going out on the field and do what he's been doing all year, and having faith in what Billy and the selectors have done.'
