Latest news with #ofOrigin
Perth Now
8 hours ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Munster the man to lead Maroons in Origin II
Cameron Munster's 20th Origin game for Queensland will be his first as captain. (Darren England/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP Cameron Munster will celebrate his 20th State of Origin match as the new captain of Queensland. The 30-year-old Melbourne playmaker has edged out fellow Storm teammate Harry Grant and Gold Coast prop and captain Tino Fa'asuamaleaui for the role. He replaces former skipper Daly Cherry-Evans, who was axed after the 18-6 loss in game one of this year's series. Munster will take charge for game two in Perth next Wednesday night as the Maroons aim to square the ledger. Munster is a proven leader and is in the Storm leadership group.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
NRL poised to unveil Mal Meninga as Perth Bears' inaugural coach
Mal Meninga is expected to be announced as the Perth Bears' inaugural coach ahead of their first NRL season in 2027. Mal Meninga is expected to be announced as the Perth Bears' inaugural coach ahead of their first NRL season in 2027. Photograph:Mal Meninga has a mighty task to make the Perth Bears competitive from the outset as history paints a bleak picture of the NRL's expansion teams in their early years. The NRL is poised to unveil Meninga as the Bears' head coach this week, with the rugby league great expected to relinquish his post in charge of the Australian national team to take the helm in 2027. Advertisement Related: Billy The Kid looks out of bullets as Maroons face another Origin defeat | Jack Snape The nine-time State of Origin series-winning coach is understood to have beaten South Sydney great Sam Burgess and former Parramatta boss Brad Arthur to the role, his first in charge of a club since 2001. The appointment of household name Meninga is expected to help generate big interest in the AFL-mad city, which has not had a team since the Western Reds folded in 1997. But a tough task looms for Meninga amid the excitement of the Bears' return to the NRL, 25 years after their Northern Eagles merger with Manly collapsed. Some 14 expansion teams have joined the NRL and its predecessors since 1982, when the league first began to expand out of Sydney. Advertisement Only two of those teams, the Brisbane Broncos and Melbourne Storm, played finals in their first two seasons. Even then, the Broncos only made it to a playoff game to reach the official post-season in 1989, losing that match to Cronulla. Among the 12 remaining teams, only one – the Auckland Warriors of 1995 – had a winning record in either of their first two seasons, while three picked up the wooden spoon in the same time-frame. Only six of the 12 remaining are still in the league in their current format, the vast majority of others folding in the aftermath of the 1997 Super League War. The last Perth expansion team, the Reds, did not play finals in any of their three seasons, the best of those an 11th-placed finish in 1995 that ended with a respectable 50% winning record. The statistics come after Wayne Bennett told AAP last month coaching an expansion team was one of rugby league's bigger challenges. Advertisement Related: NRL approves revised Perth team expansion bid to bring back the Bears NRL HQ considers the Dolphins expansion project a big success for its nationwide fan community and ability to challenge the Broncos for airtime in rugby league heartland Brisbane. But even then, Bennett did not lead the team to finals in their first two years, and the team sits outside the top eight at the halfway mark of their third campaign. '[Coaching an expansion team] sounds like a lot of fun but it can be a journey to nowhere,' South Sydney coach Bennett said. 'It's an extremely tough gig and it's not something I would recommend for anyone to take up.'
The Advertiser
03-06-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Jealous Sharks star says Origin rule change not answer
Addin Fonua-Blake says State of Origin eligibility rules should not change, even if the Sydney-born Cronulla prop finds himself jealous watching others play for NSW. Fonua-Blake remains at the centre of Origin's great eligibility debate, unable to play in the game's showpiece event despite being one of the NRL's best forwards. A Mascot Jets junior who was born in Sydney's north-west, Fonua-Blake is ineligible after representing his New Zealand heritage and playing one Test off the bench for the Kiwis against Scotland in 2017. The front-rower would otherwise likely be one of the first picked for NSW if available, in what would be a fearsome one-two punch alongside Payne Haas. Origin rules state that players are able to represent NSW or Queensland if they lived in the state before age 13, and have not represented England or New Zealand. The same rule means the Roosters' Victor Radley is ineligible to play Origin - he's Sydney-born but played Tests for England - although players born overseas who represent second-tier rugby league nations are able to, such as Canterbury's Samoan representative Stephen Crichton. Fonua-Blake admitted on Tuesday he could have been better advised when he played for New Zealand as a youngster before now representing Tonga. "I was pretty young. An opportunity presented itself (with New Zealand)," Fonua-Blake said. "If I had the right mindset or people around me back then, it might have been a different story. "I have no regrets for my career and the way it's unfolded ... I'm happy just representing the Sharks in Tonga. "I'd be lying if I said I'm not jealous a bit. You sit back and you watch it and the build up for it and the excitement around it and you'd love to be a part of it." Asked whether eligibility rules should change to allow players to feature in Origin regardless of previous representation, Fonua-Blake rejected the suggestion. "I reckon they should just keep the rules the same," he said. "A lot of people will get an opportunity that weren't born here. "It's better off if they just leave the rules the same, with young kids born in Queensland and NSW representing Queensland and NSW. "That ship sailed for me a long time ago. I made a decision and it's part of the decision. I can't play anymore." Origin talk aside, Fonua-Blake is relishing a shot at his old club the Warriors and his replacement James Fisher-Harris on Saturday. The Tongan star has conceded his honeymoon period at Cronulla is now over, saying he wants to be a leader of the pack. "James has been playing out of his skin this year for them. He's a real leader for them and I see myself as a bit of a leader for this team," Fonua-Blake said. "There is an alpha in every team and you've got to try and match their energy every week. "I'd be lying if I say it's not in the back of my mind to try and get the best of (the other team's) best prop." Addin Fonua-Blake says State of Origin eligibility rules should not change, even if the Sydney-born Cronulla prop finds himself jealous watching others play for NSW. Fonua-Blake remains at the centre of Origin's great eligibility debate, unable to play in the game's showpiece event despite being one of the NRL's best forwards. A Mascot Jets junior who was born in Sydney's north-west, Fonua-Blake is ineligible after representing his New Zealand heritage and playing one Test off the bench for the Kiwis against Scotland in 2017. The front-rower would otherwise likely be one of the first picked for NSW if available, in what would be a fearsome one-two punch alongside Payne Haas. Origin rules state that players are able to represent NSW or Queensland if they lived in the state before age 13, and have not represented England or New Zealand. The same rule means the Roosters' Victor Radley is ineligible to play Origin - he's Sydney-born but played Tests for England - although players born overseas who represent second-tier rugby league nations are able to, such as Canterbury's Samoan representative Stephen Crichton. Fonua-Blake admitted on Tuesday he could have been better advised when he played for New Zealand as a youngster before now representing Tonga. "I was pretty young. An opportunity presented itself (with New Zealand)," Fonua-Blake said. "If I had the right mindset or people around me back then, it might have been a different story. "I have no regrets for my career and the way it's unfolded ... I'm happy just representing the Sharks in Tonga. "I'd be lying if I said I'm not jealous a bit. You sit back and you watch it and the build up for it and the excitement around it and you'd love to be a part of it." Asked whether eligibility rules should change to allow players to feature in Origin regardless of previous representation, Fonua-Blake rejected the suggestion. "I reckon they should just keep the rules the same," he said. "A lot of people will get an opportunity that weren't born here. "It's better off if they just leave the rules the same, with young kids born in Queensland and NSW representing Queensland and NSW. "That ship sailed for me a long time ago. I made a decision and it's part of the decision. I can't play anymore." Origin talk aside, Fonua-Blake is relishing a shot at his old club the Warriors and his replacement James Fisher-Harris on Saturday. The Tongan star has conceded his honeymoon period at Cronulla is now over, saying he wants to be a leader of the pack. "James has been playing out of his skin this year for them. He's a real leader for them and I see myself as a bit of a leader for this team," Fonua-Blake said. "There is an alpha in every team and you've got to try and match their energy every week. "I'd be lying if I say it's not in the back of my mind to try and get the best of (the other team's) best prop." Addin Fonua-Blake says State of Origin eligibility rules should not change, even if the Sydney-born Cronulla prop finds himself jealous watching others play for NSW. Fonua-Blake remains at the centre of Origin's great eligibility debate, unable to play in the game's showpiece event despite being one of the NRL's best forwards. A Mascot Jets junior who was born in Sydney's north-west, Fonua-Blake is ineligible after representing his New Zealand heritage and playing one Test off the bench for the Kiwis against Scotland in 2017. The front-rower would otherwise likely be one of the first picked for NSW if available, in what would be a fearsome one-two punch alongside Payne Haas. Origin rules state that players are able to represent NSW or Queensland if they lived in the state before age 13, and have not represented England or New Zealand. The same rule means the Roosters' Victor Radley is ineligible to play Origin - he's Sydney-born but played Tests for England - although players born overseas who represent second-tier rugby league nations are able to, such as Canterbury's Samoan representative Stephen Crichton. Fonua-Blake admitted on Tuesday he could have been better advised when he played for New Zealand as a youngster before now representing Tonga. "I was pretty young. An opportunity presented itself (with New Zealand)," Fonua-Blake said. "If I had the right mindset or people around me back then, it might have been a different story. "I have no regrets for my career and the way it's unfolded ... I'm happy just representing the Sharks in Tonga. "I'd be lying if I said I'm not jealous a bit. You sit back and you watch it and the build up for it and the excitement around it and you'd love to be a part of it." Asked whether eligibility rules should change to allow players to feature in Origin regardless of previous representation, Fonua-Blake rejected the suggestion. "I reckon they should just keep the rules the same," he said. "A lot of people will get an opportunity that weren't born here. "It's better off if they just leave the rules the same, with young kids born in Queensland and NSW representing Queensland and NSW. "That ship sailed for me a long time ago. I made a decision and it's part of the decision. I can't play anymore." Origin talk aside, Fonua-Blake is relishing a shot at his old club the Warriors and his replacement James Fisher-Harris on Saturday. The Tongan star has conceded his honeymoon period at Cronulla is now over, saying he wants to be a leader of the pack. "James has been playing out of his skin this year for them. He's a real leader for them and I see myself as a bit of a leader for this team," Fonua-Blake said. "There is an alpha in every team and you've got to try and match their energy every week. "I'd be lying if I say it's not in the back of my mind to try and get the best of (the other team's) best prop."
West Australian
03-06-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Jealous Sharks star says Origin rule change not answer
Addin Fonua-Blake says State of Origin eligibility rules should not change, even if the Sydney-born Cronulla prop finds himself jealous watching others play for NSW. Fonua-Blake remains at the centre of Origin's great eligibility debate, unable to play in the game's showpiece event despite being one of the NRL's best forwards. A Mascot Jets junior who was born in Sydney's north-west, Fonua-Blake is ineligible after representing his New Zealand heritage and playing one Test off the bench for the Kiwis against Scotland in 2017. The front-rower would otherwise likely be one of the first picked for NSW if available, in what would be a fearsome one-two punch alongside Payne Haas. Origin rules state that players are able to represent NSW or Queensland if they lived in the state before age 13, and have not represented England or New Zealand. The same rule means the Roosters' Victor Radley is ineligible to play Origin - he's Sydney-born but played Tests for England - although players born overseas who represent second-tier rugby league nations are able to, such as Canterbury's Samoan representative Stephen Crichton. Fonua-Blake admitted on Tuesday he could have been better advised when he played for New Zealand as a youngster before now representing Tonga. "I was pretty young. An opportunity presented itself (with New Zealand)," Fonua-Blake said. "If I had the right mindset or people around me back then, it might have been a different story. "I have no regrets for my career and the way it's unfolded ... I'm happy just representing the Sharks in Tonga. "I'd be lying if I said I'm not jealous a bit. You sit back and you watch it and the build up for it and the excitement around it and you'd love to be a part of it." Asked whether eligibility rules should change to allow players to feature in Origin regardless of previous representation, Fonua-Blake rejected the suggestion. "I reckon they should just keep the rules the same," he said. "A lot of people will get an opportunity that weren't born here. "It's better off if they just leave the rules the same, with young kids born in Queensland and NSW representing Queensland and NSW. "That ship sailed for me a long time ago. I made a decision and it's part of the decision. I can't play anymore." Origin talk aside, Fonua-Blake is relishing a shot at his old club the Warriors and his replacement James Fisher-Harris on Saturday. The Tongan star has conceded his honeymoon period at Cronulla is now over, saying he wants to be a leader of the pack. "James has been playing out of his skin this year for them. He's a real leader for them and I see myself as a bit of a leader for this team," Fonua-Blake said. "There is an alpha in every team and you've got to try and match their energy every week. "I'd be lying if I say it's not in the back of my mind to try and get the best of (the other team's) best prop."
Perth Now
03-06-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Jealous Sharks star says Origin rule change not answer
Addin Fonua-Blake says State of Origin eligibility rules should not change, even if the Sydney-born Cronulla prop finds himself jealous watching others play for NSW. Fonua-Blake remains at the centre of Origin's great eligibility debate, unable to play in the game's showpiece event despite being one of the NRL's best forwards. A Mascot Jets junior who was born in Sydney's north-west, Fonua-Blake is ineligible after representing his New Zealand heritage and playing one Test off the bench for the Kiwis against Scotland in 2017. The front-rower would otherwise likely be one of the first picked for NSW if available, in what would be a fearsome one-two punch alongside Payne Haas. Origin rules state that players are able to represent NSW or Queensland if they lived in the state before age 13, and have not represented England or New Zealand. The same rule means the Roosters' Victor Radley is ineligible to play Origin - he's Sydney-born but played Tests for England - although players born overseas who represent second-tier rugby league nations are able to, such as Canterbury's Samoan representative Stephen Crichton. Fonua-Blake admitted on Tuesday he could have been better advised when he played for New Zealand as a youngster before now representing Tonga. "I was pretty young. An opportunity presented itself (with New Zealand)," Fonua-Blake said. "If I had the right mindset or people around me back then, it might have been a different story. "I have no regrets for my career and the way it's unfolded ... I'm happy just representing the Sharks in Tonga. "I'd be lying if I said I'm not jealous a bit. You sit back and you watch it and the build up for it and the excitement around it and you'd love to be a part of it." Asked whether eligibility rules should change to allow players to feature in Origin regardless of previous representation, Fonua-Blake rejected the suggestion. "I reckon they should just keep the rules the same," he said. "A lot of people will get an opportunity that weren't born here. "It's better off if they just leave the rules the same, with young kids born in Queensland and NSW representing Queensland and NSW. "That ship sailed for me a long time ago. I made a decision and it's part of the decision. I can't play anymore." Origin talk aside, Fonua-Blake is relishing a shot at his old club the Warriors and his replacement James Fisher-Harris on Saturday. The Tongan star has conceded his honeymoon period at Cronulla is now over, saying he wants to be a leader of the pack. "James has been playing out of his skin this year for them. He's a real leader for them and I see myself as a bit of a leader for this team," Fonua-Blake said. "There is an alpha in every team and you've got to try and match their energy every week. "I'd be lying if I say it's not in the back of my mind to try and get the best of (the other team's) best prop."
