Cheap shots won’t stop Hunt

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

BRONCOS halfback Ben Hunt says the threat of cheap shots from late tacklers will not stop him running at the line.

He will play on Friday night against a North Queensland team still fuming at the treatment meted out to Johnathan Thurston by the Knights on Saturday night.

Hunt says players launching late tackles at playmakers will be encouraged to "keep doing it'' by the inactivity of the NRL match review committee.

Johnathan Thurston lays on the ground after being injured against the Knights. Source: Getty Images

Storm fullback Billy Slater on Sunday rated premeditated late tackles of playmakers after they had passed as the No. 1 problem in rugby league.

EXPECT MORE OF THIS, BRONCOS WARN JT

I DON'T NEED LOCKY'S HELP, SAYS MILFORD

A day later, the match review committee found Newcastle's Beau Scott had no cause to answer for a tackle that knocked Thurston to the ground in Townsville after he had passed the ball in Round 2.

"Getting hit late is something that is illegal in the game and it's not being policed as it should,'' Hunt told The Courier-Mail.

"It is definitely a concern for the game. They can be dangerous if players aren't looking and have passed the ball.

"If some players get away with it they are going to keep doing it.

Ben Hunt is tackled during a training session. Pic Annette Dew Source: News Corp Australia

''The referees could really crack down on it.

"But we are taught to take the ball to the line and try to hold up your man as best you can.

"If you do that, you aren't going to be hit late sometimes and be cleaned up. If you want to be a good half and take on the line, it's something you are going to have to accept.''

Brad Fittler said on Channel 9 that Storm and Australian halfback Cooper Cronk was one of several playmakers he thought were passing before the line of advantage to limit the chances of being cleaned up in a late tackle.

Hunt said there were some ways to minimise the opportunities for late tackles.

"You can take some support players either side, guys running good angles and players in motion, and that can put the defence in two minds,'' he said.

Hunt and five-eighth Anthony Milford will try to make more waves in attack against North Queensland after the first rounds in which Brisbane have scored a total of three tries, including one from a kick chase.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

"It's coming along really well, but we're not where we want to be,'' Hunt said.

"Against Cronulla, we created some chances and some overlaps but we didn't finish off a few times. We need a lot of improvement and we'll keep working.''

Brisbane named the same 17-man squad who edged out Cronulla 10-2 away on Friday night.

Hunt can show Cowboys opposite Thurston what he learnt from his State of Origin camp visit last year.

The Broncos No. 7 was called into the Queensland team to train with the side and learn the plays before the second Origin game when Daly Cherry-Evans was in doubt for the game because of injury.

Hunt did not play alongside Thurston for Queensland that week, with Cherry-Evans cleared.

"There were a few things I learnt from him but the main thing was to stick to my plan," Hunt said.

09.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Red faces at Origin blue in Melbourne

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

THE State of Origin love in was going exactly to script in Melbourne until a senior member of the Victorian parliament called Queensland's State of Origin team the Reds ... twice.

Parliamentary secretary for major events Danielle Green referred to the Maroons as the Reds while launching State of Origin's return to the MCG this year.

The gaffe forced captain Cameron Smith to playfully shut down talk of a shock code switch.

The unfortunate aspect of Green's comment is Melburnians are actually snapping up tickets for Origin's return to the MCG fast with close to 90,000 fans expected for the Game Two event.

Green even talked up the prospect of a 100,000-strong crowd. Even 90,000 would be one of the highest attendances in the history of Origin, an annual event that is now the most watched sporting contest in Australia.

Green was a late call up to the announcement at Eureka Tower in Melbourne and people felt for her as she called the code rugby while seemingly anticipating Quade Cooper will be playing on the June 17 match.

Despite the presence of the Storm in Melbourne since 1998 Victorians have form in not knowing much about Origin.

Green's foot in mouth moment comes three years after former Victorian sports minister Hugh Delahunty said the epic series was played between Queensland and New Zealand.

"All rugby league supporters here today, it's fantastic as Minister of Sport to welcome you here to this very special game, the first game of the Queensland versus New Zealand ... New Zealand, that's a good start ... Queensland versus New South Wales in the State of the Origin match," Delahunty said in 2012.

He also referred to the Blues captain as "Paul Callen".

That comment prompted Matt Johns to declare Victoria didn't deserve Origin

.

"I've always fought for Melbourne saying they're entitled to State of Origin but I've swung the other way. Here we are, first State Of Origin game of the year, and compared to how big it is in QLD, we're basically sending it to Siberia. It is wrong," he said.

The Victorian Government are major supporters of the Origin concept, paying a sizeable fee for one game every three years.

They make their money back and then some via the amount of Queensland and New South Wales fans who travel to Melbourne for the event.

The Campbell Newman Queensland Government did not want to pay anything for Origin, ensuring the NRL took the occasional game to Victoria rather than have a guaranteed two games in Brisbane every second year.

09.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Gallen upset Keary wanted to play for Maroons

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

BLUES captain Paul Gallen was gushing about Luke Keary's State of Origin prospects until someone mentioned the Souths prodigy once tried to become a Queenslander.

Suddenly, Keary may be as likely to play for New South Wales as Beau Scott is for Queensland.

"I didn't know that — I am disappointed now," a downtrodden Gallen said about Keary.

"I am surprised. I wish that didn't happen. To be honest, it disappoints me."

Told the NRL officially ruled Keary a New South Welshman after the 23-year-old questioned his eligibility, Gallen fumed.

Luke Keary with Queenslander Chris McQueen at Souths training. Picture Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

"So they should," he said.

"In NSW you are taught to hate Queensland. I'm not trying to have a go at Luke but Gorden Tallis was one of my favourite players but when he put that Maroon jumped on I never liked him.

"We need to get over this whole thing. Obviously the Greg Inglis thing was disappointing too.

"You need to love New South Wales."

In the space of six months, Keary's Origin hopes have gone from remote to likely.

Keary and his Rabbitohs halves partner Adam Reynolds, a genuine New South Welshman, are the in-form No. 7 and No. 6 in the NRL.

Blues incumbent Josh Reynolds could miss Game One through injury and Laurie Daley prefers using two halves who work together at club level. Enter Keary, the Ipswich born and raised talent who still counts Wally Lewis as his favourite player.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Keary was ruled a Blue because he represented the state during his high school years in Sydney.

Keary fought the NRL's ruling that he was a New South Welshman and formally asked officials for an explanation and rethink.

Speaking in Melbourne at the launch of the Origin's Game Two blockbuster at the MCG, Gallen initially said Keary was putting pressure on more senior players for a spot in the Blues.

"He's such a great competitor. If he keeps performing then the guys who were there last year and may be in front of him at the moment need to perform because he does every week," he said.

"He has that Origin attitude. He's a little terrier on the field. He doesn't care how big or small they are he just rips in."

It is an Origin attitude forged with the Queensland spirit.

09.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Gallop to Tinkler: Pay up or we take the club

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

AUSTRALIAN football chief David Gallop has warned embattled Newcastle Jets owner Nathan Tinkler that the governing body is ready to seize ownership of the club if he can't pay his debts.

The A-League club's financial plight is reaching crisis point as the Jets failed to pay the players their monthly wage on Monday.

Newcastle players only received their monthly wage late on Tuesday night.

David Gallop says the FFA will take over the Newcastle Jets if the club's debts aren't paid. Picture: Morne de Klerk/Getty Images. Source: Getty Images

Tinkler is due in court next week as he is being pursued for multi-million dollar debts, with Football Federation Australia monitoring the situations closely.

The Jets only recently cleared its debts with FFA but speaking at the Money in Sport Conference in Melbourne, Gallop said FFA was ready to step in.

MELBOURNE CITY RUN WILD AGAINST HAPLESS JETS

FFA SERVE TINKLER A FORMAL WARNING OVER FINANCES

"Paying the players in the next day is a critical one and we expect that to happen today,'' Gallop said.

"The position remains pretty simple, if a current owner pays the bills he will be the owner of the club and if he doesn't he won't be.

"There's no question that not paying the players is a clear indication that the owner can't meet his obligations and we would move quickly in that environment.

The Jets sit bottom of the A-League after a 4-0 loss to Melbourne City. Picture: Michael Dodge/Getty Images. Source: Getty Images

Nathan Tinkler, owner of the Newcastle Jets. Picture: Will Russell/Getty Images. Source: Getty Images

"We haven't given the Jets a grant for the last couple of months because of the situation with our own debt, which has now been cleared, and the Garnishee Notice from the Tax Office.

"He knows that that message has been put to him loud and clear and there's a big job ahead of the club to rebuild the connection with the community and grassroots of the game in that area.''

The Jets have slumped to the bottom of the table having conceded 45 goals in 21 games and produced an insipid performance, losing 4-0 away to Melbourne City last Saturday.

Gallop said having competitive teams was fundamental to the A-League's integrity.

"It's critically important for us that we put on five quality games every week. Games where fans can turn up with a legitimate expectation that their team can is a chance of winning that day,'' Gallop said.

"If we don't do that then our competition will suffer commercially and the local team will suffer significantly.''

09.57 | 0 komentar | Read More

Coote finally saddles up for the Cowboys

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

LACHLAN Coote is set to make his North Queensland debut at fullback as Cowboys coach Paul Green made his first changes to arrest the winless start to the season.

Coote was signed as a successor to Cowboys great Matt Bowen at the end of the 2013 season but missed last year with a knee injury.

The 24-year-old's experience at fullback, where he played most of his 83 games for Penrith, saw him earn the No. 1 jersey while incumbent Michael Morgan's superior defence means he will partner Johnathan Thurston in the halves.

Cowboys' Lachlan Coote during a trial match. Picture: Zak Simmonds Source: News Corp Australia

Robert Lui will suit up for the Townsville Blackhawks in the Intrust Super Cup.

After staying loyal to the players who won eight of the Cowboys' last 10 games in 2014, Green said losses to the Sydney Roosters and Newcastle meant it was time to make changes.

EXPECT MORE OF THIS, BRONCOS WARN JT

Coote has not played an NRL match since the end of 2013 but his fitness was never an issue as he started the year in the Queensland Cup.

As he looks for some consistency in attack, Green hoped Coote would add plenty to the Cowboys' firepower.

"Hopefully he's got good pass selection when he comes into the backline."

Morgan enjoyed a breakout year in his switch to the custodian role, earning a spot in the Queensland Origin camp and Prime Minister's XIII side, and Green hopes the Townsville junior will find as much space at five-eighth as he did at fullback.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

"I think we're probably better defensively with Morgo defending in the front line," Green said. "He's a bigger body, makes good decisions and has played most of his footy there (in the halves)."

09.57 | 0 komentar | Read More