Latest news with #Toole
The Advertiser
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
'Not satisfied': Brumbies ace eyes elusive Super crown
ACT Brumbies speedster Corey Toole is putting club before country as he eyes Super Rugby Pacific glory and, hopefully, a Wallabies jersey. Toole has resisted the temptation to chase overseas riches to remain in Canberra until the end of 2026, firmly believing the Brumbies can snap a title drought that now stretches more than two decades. "There's a lot of world-class coaches and players here, so much experience," he said after signing a one-year contract extension on Thursday. "Both a lot of international caps and Brumbies caps, so I'm just trying to learn as much as I can off the coaches and also the players. "There's a lot of things to work on, but that excites me. I'm really happy to be staying for another year." Arguably the fastest man in Australian rugby, the former national sevens star has been instrumental in helping the Brumbies to top of the table and a guaranteed home final in three weeks. The 25-year-old Wagga Wagga product is sitting second on the season's leading try-scorers' list with nine pointers, at an average of almost one a game this campaign. But while ACT coach Stephen Larkham has lobbied hard for Toole to receive a Test call-up for the looming series against the touring British and Irish Lions, the winger reckons Wallabies selection will take care of itself if the Brumbies keep delivering. "There's a lot of talk around the Wallabies about this time of the year, but I don't want to spend too much time focusing on that," he said. "Use my energy and just focus on the Brumbies this year and then play good footy and not look too far into the future. "We're in a good spot now and if we can perform well in finals, a lot of Brumbies will be picked in the Wallabies. "So that's my main focus." The Brumbies have lost a final, in 2013 to the Chiefs, and six semi-finals in the past 11 years since Larkham's champion 2004 team lifted the trophy. Toole says the class of 2025 won't rest until they get their hands on the silverware. "I think this is our best year yet and hopefully we can go deep into the finals and just keep building year after year and try to win a championship," he said ahead of this weekend's bye before a last-round home clash with the Crusaders. "We've made three semi-finals year after year so that's a positive sign, but we're still not satisfied with that. "We want to go one further." ACT Brumbies speedster Corey Toole is putting club before country as he eyes Super Rugby Pacific glory and, hopefully, a Wallabies jersey. Toole has resisted the temptation to chase overseas riches to remain in Canberra until the end of 2026, firmly believing the Brumbies can snap a title drought that now stretches more than two decades. "There's a lot of world-class coaches and players here, so much experience," he said after signing a one-year contract extension on Thursday. "Both a lot of international caps and Brumbies caps, so I'm just trying to learn as much as I can off the coaches and also the players. "There's a lot of things to work on, but that excites me. I'm really happy to be staying for another year." Arguably the fastest man in Australian rugby, the former national sevens star has been instrumental in helping the Brumbies to top of the table and a guaranteed home final in three weeks. The 25-year-old Wagga Wagga product is sitting second on the season's leading try-scorers' list with nine pointers, at an average of almost one a game this campaign. But while ACT coach Stephen Larkham has lobbied hard for Toole to receive a Test call-up for the looming series against the touring British and Irish Lions, the winger reckons Wallabies selection will take care of itself if the Brumbies keep delivering. "There's a lot of talk around the Wallabies about this time of the year, but I don't want to spend too much time focusing on that," he said. "Use my energy and just focus on the Brumbies this year and then play good footy and not look too far into the future. "We're in a good spot now and if we can perform well in finals, a lot of Brumbies will be picked in the Wallabies. "So that's my main focus." The Brumbies have lost a final, in 2013 to the Chiefs, and six semi-finals in the past 11 years since Larkham's champion 2004 team lifted the trophy. Toole says the class of 2025 won't rest until they get their hands on the silverware. "I think this is our best year yet and hopefully we can go deep into the finals and just keep building year after year and try to win a championship," he said ahead of this weekend's bye before a last-round home clash with the Crusaders. "We've made three semi-finals year after year so that's a positive sign, but we're still not satisfied with that. "We want to go one further." ACT Brumbies speedster Corey Toole is putting club before country as he eyes Super Rugby Pacific glory and, hopefully, a Wallabies jersey. Toole has resisted the temptation to chase overseas riches to remain in Canberra until the end of 2026, firmly believing the Brumbies can snap a title drought that now stretches more than two decades. "There's a lot of world-class coaches and players here, so much experience," he said after signing a one-year contract extension on Thursday. "Both a lot of international caps and Brumbies caps, so I'm just trying to learn as much as I can off the coaches and also the players. "There's a lot of things to work on, but that excites me. I'm really happy to be staying for another year." Arguably the fastest man in Australian rugby, the former national sevens star has been instrumental in helping the Brumbies to top of the table and a guaranteed home final in three weeks. The 25-year-old Wagga Wagga product is sitting second on the season's leading try-scorers' list with nine pointers, at an average of almost one a game this campaign. But while ACT coach Stephen Larkham has lobbied hard for Toole to receive a Test call-up for the looming series against the touring British and Irish Lions, the winger reckons Wallabies selection will take care of itself if the Brumbies keep delivering. "There's a lot of talk around the Wallabies about this time of the year, but I don't want to spend too much time focusing on that," he said. "Use my energy and just focus on the Brumbies this year and then play good footy and not look too far into the future. "We're in a good spot now and if we can perform well in finals, a lot of Brumbies will be picked in the Wallabies. "So that's my main focus." The Brumbies have lost a final, in 2013 to the Chiefs, and six semi-finals in the past 11 years since Larkham's champion 2004 team lifted the trophy. Toole says the class of 2025 won't rest until they get their hands on the silverware. "I think this is our best year yet and hopefully we can go deep into the finals and just keep building year after year and try to win a championship," he said ahead of this weekend's bye before a last-round home clash with the Crusaders. "We've made three semi-finals year after year so that's a positive sign, but we're still not satisfied with that. "We want to go one further."
West Australian
22-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
'Not satisfied': Brumbies ace eyes elusive Super crown
ACT Brumbies speedster Corey Toole is putting club before country as he eyes Super Rugby Pacific glory and, hopefully, a Wallabies jersey. Toole has resisted the temptation to chase overseas riches to remain in Canberra until the end of 2026, firmly believing the Brumbies can snap a title drought that now stretches more than two decades. "There's a lot of world-class coaches and players here, so much experience," he said after signing a one-year contract extension on Thursday. "Both a lot of international caps and Brumbies caps, so I'm just trying to learn as much as I can off the coaches and also the players. "There's a lot of things to work on, but that excites me. I'm really happy to be staying for another year." Arguably the fastest man in Australian rugby, the former national sevens star has been instrumental in helping the Brumbies to top of the table and a guaranteed home final in three weeks. The 25-year-old Wagga Wagga product is sitting second on the season's leading try-scorers' list with nine pointers, at an average of almost one a game this campaign. But while ACT coach Stephen Larkham has lobbied hard for Toole to receive a Test call-up for the looming series against the touring British and Irish Lions, the winger reckons Wallabies selection will take care of itself if the Brumbies keep delivering. "There's a lot of talk around the Wallabies about this time of the year, but I don't want to spend too much time focusing on that," he said. "Use my energy and just focus on the Brumbies this year and then play good footy and not look too far into the future. "We're in a good spot now and if we can perform well in finals, a lot of Brumbies will be picked in the Wallabies. "So that's my main focus." The Brumbies have lost a final, in 2013 to the Chiefs, and six semi-finals in the past 11 years since Larkham's champion 2004 team lifted the trophy. Toole says the class of 2025 won't rest until they get their hands on the silverware. "I think this is our best year yet and hopefully we can go deep into the finals and just keep building year after year and try to win a championship," he said ahead of this weekend's bye before a last-round home clash with the Crusaders. "We've made three semi-finals year after year so that's a positive sign, but we're still not satisfied with that. "We want to go one further."
Perth Now
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
'Not satisfied': Brumbies ace eyes elusive Super crown
ACT Brumbies speedster Corey Toole is putting club before country as he eyes Super Rugby Pacific glory and, hopefully, a Wallabies jersey. Toole has resisted the temptation to chase overseas riches to remain in Canberra until the end of 2026, firmly believing the Brumbies can snap a title drought that now stretches more than two decades. "There's a lot of world-class coaches and players here, so much experience," he said after signing a one-year contract extension on Thursday. "Both a lot of international caps and Brumbies caps, so I'm just trying to learn as much as I can off the coaches and also the players. "There's a lot of things to work on, but that excites me. I'm really happy to be staying for another year." Arguably the fastest man in Australian rugby, the former national sevens star has been instrumental in helping the Brumbies to top of the table and a guaranteed home final in three weeks. The 25-year-old Wagga Wagga product is sitting second on the season's leading try-scorers' list with nine pointers, at an average of almost one a game this campaign. But while ACT coach Stephen Larkham has lobbied hard for Toole to receive a Test call-up for the looming series against the touring British and Irish Lions, the winger reckons Wallabies selection will take care of itself if the Brumbies keep delivering. "There's a lot of talk around the Wallabies about this time of the year, but I don't want to spend too much time focusing on that," he said. "Use my energy and just focus on the Brumbies this year and then play good footy and not look too far into the future. "We're in a good spot now and if we can perform well in finals, a lot of Brumbies will be picked in the Wallabies. "So that's my main focus." The Brumbies have lost a final, in 2013 to the Chiefs, and six semi-finals in the past 11 years since Larkham's champion 2004 team lifted the trophy. Toole says the class of 2025 won't rest until they get their hands on the silverware. "I think this is our best year yet and hopefully we can go deep into the finals and just keep building year after year and try to win a championship," he said ahead of this weekend's bye before a last-round home clash with the Crusaders. "We've made three semi-finals year after year so that's a positive sign, but we're still not satisfied with that. "We want to go one further."
Perth Now
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Take that: Brumbies thump Waratahs for sweet revenge
The rampant ACT Brumbies have restored order and dealt the NSW Waratahs' finals hopes a hammer blow with a 40-17 Super Rugby Pacific statement win in the national capital. In the shadows of parliament house, the benchmark Brumbies piled on three quickfire second-half tries to emulate Labor's landslide election victory on Saturday night and retain Australian rugby bragging rights in emphatic fashion. The freakish Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii briefly offered the Waratahs hope of completing a first season derby double over the Brumbies in a decade before a refereeing howler turned the tide at GIO Stadium. The Brumbies never looked back after being the beneficiaries of a series of missed forward passes in the lead-up to a Billy Pollard try that gifted the home team a 19-12 halftime lead. But there was no denying the Brumbies were the superior team in a pulsating derby that would have encouraged Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt. Brumbies winger Corey Toole again showcased his claims for a Test call-up with another electrifying double while the code-crossing Suaalii was again enormous in a losing team. Schmidt might also have to reconsider his omission of Waratahs No.8 Langi Gleeson from his pre-season Wallabies camp after another mighty display. In the end, though, the Brumbies had too much class, consolidating third spot on the ladder to enhance their top-three finals hopes and a crucial home play-off after withstanding a spirited first-half fightback from the Tahs. Stung by last week's home loss to the Hurricanes, the Brumbies came out firing, dominating the opening quarter and surprising the Waratahs with the first try from a lineout. Instead of deploying their deadly driving maul, the Brumbies quickly shifted the ball left to Toole, who strolled over in acres of space. A yellow card for a no-arms tackle from Jake Gordon on Rob Valetini compounded the Waratahs' woes, and the pair's Wallabies teammate Len Ikitau wasted no time cashing in on the one-man advantage with the Brumbies' second try. Down 12-0 and camped in their own half, the Tahs needed inspiration and it came from Gleeson, who snapped up an intercept and raced away to put his team on the board in the 18th minute. Suaalii locked the game up at 12-12 when he ran a hard line to storm over from a NSW lineout. Suddenly it was game on. But the Waratahs had every right to be fuming after Angus Gardner, hailed as one of world rugby's best referees, missed a succession of glaring forward passes that gifted Pollard the first of his try-scoring double eight minutes before halftime. The Brumbies rode their officiating luck, then the momentum into the second half with three more tries after the break to skipper Allan Alaalatoa, Pollard and Toole to blow the game open. Wholehearted winger Andrew Kellaway crossed for a consolation try late for the Waratahs, who will need some serious soul searching to make the finals following a fifth straight loss away from home this campaign. After orchestrating the Tahs' first win over the Brumbies since 2018 six weeks ago, coach Dan McKellar came crashing back to earth on his homecoming against his long-time former outfit in Canberra. The Waratahs slipped to eighth on the ladder and desperately needing to beat the Queensland Reds in another Australian derby next Friday night to stay in the finals hunt.
Perth Now
29-04-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Brumbies hungry for Super revenge against Waratahs
Winger Corey Toole says the Brumbies are hungry to square the Super Rugby Pacific ledger with the NSW Waratahs, who they host on Saturday night. The Brumbies were looking for a club record 14 successive wins over their interstate arch rivals when they met in round six in Sydney but fell to a 28-23 loss. Wallabies wannabe Toole, who has had a breakout season, said the loss "burnt" and his team wanted to make amends against NSW, who are ranked seventh on the ladder. "Yeah, it definitely did," the 25-year-old said on Tuesday. "The Tahs have got a great team and like you said they beat us earlier in the year and all the boys are hungry to get one back over them." As well as that defeat, Australia's top-placed team, sitting third, were stung last round by their first loss in Canberra to the Hurricanes since 2017. Toole had his hands full with bullocking winger Kini Naholo, who sits second on the competition's try-scoring tally. The speedster said the Brumbies had had some tough training and video sessions since the loss. "The whole team and squad were quite disappointed," he said. "We had a hard review today and a hard training session and hopefully we can bounce back from that. "One of the big improvements is our line speed - we weren't really getting off the line against the Hurricanes so if we can get off the line and make our tackles this weekend against the Tahs we should go alright. "If we drop too many tackles, it's pretty hard to win games." Toole is in the mix for Wallabies selection for the upcoming British and Irish Lions series but he said he was just trying to focus on helping the Brumbies win the Super title. "I can't really focus on it too much. I've been close the last couple of years but I think the best way I can try and get in that Wallabies squad is to go deep into the competition with the Brumbies." Meanwhile, the Waratahs announced the re-signing of a trio of players with prop Daniel Botha, lock Ben Grant and centre Henry O'Donnell all extending their contracts for another two years.
