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News.com.au
35 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Calls to change State of Origin 18th man rule as Reece Walsh, Bulldogs dudded
It's Canterbury's curse they can't escape, and the Broncos might be catching it. The highly controversial 18th man rule in State of Origin has once more cost the Bulldogs a star for this week's important Round 18 clash against the Brisbane Broncos this Friday. FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every game of every round in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership, LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. The side have been constantly burned by the problem, losing key players like Matt Burton and Kurt Mann previously without them even getting a run of rep footy. Mann was the Maroons Reserve in Game 1, while Burton was the same for NSW in Game 2 and other occasions in past years. This time, its metre-eating winger Jacob Kiraz whose selection by coach Laurie Daley as a precautionary back-up for Brian To'o will cost the Dogs significant yardage carries and a pair of safe hands. The Penrith winger played through a knee injury in his sides tight win over Canterbury last week, but scan results have cleared To'o of any concern, meaning it is highly unlikely Kiraz will take to the field come Wednesday. Brisbane find themselves in a similar problem, running out against the Bulldogs without superstar Reece Walsh who fills the Maroons 18th man slot and has been in great form since returning from injury. 'It's Kiraz and Reece Walsh, they should be allowed to play in their club teams,' Mark Geyer said on 2GB. 'We don't play (Origin) until next Wednesday. In fact, I think it's time in Origin for us to bring in an 18th and 19th man to sit on the bench — a forward and a back. 'Come on, we've outgrown that '18th man can't play' thing. 'It's just a bit of a bug bear of mine. The 18th man should be allowed to play for his club team. Coach Billy Slater's decision to shift Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to fullback to replace the injured Kalyn Ponga leaves Michael Maguire with their own equally devastating Origin casualty list. In Game 2 it was Ezra Mam. 'It's interesting the 18th man rule, I don't think anyone agrees with the way it is,' Daley said on the Sky Sports radio on Monday. 'Matt (Burton) I think has been selected as 18th man five times, missed club games and hasn't played a part in the Origin games themselves. 'The reason why I picked Jacob, we've got one bloke who is in a bit of doubt and that's Brian To'o. 'We want to give him every chance to play and because the Bulldogs are playing on the Friday night we want to make sure if Brian is ruled out than Jacob has had a full 11 days preparation with us.' Team performance manager Frank Ponissi on Triple M weighed in on the topic, suggesting on Wednesday that picking an 18th man solely from a team with the bye isn't solution for picking the optimal player. 'What makes it difficult is the draw is unbalanced, so you don't know who's going to play. Some weeks that situation … it may favour NSW more than QLD because there's more NSW players not playing that weekend compared to QLD,' he said. 'We've got to get the draw right before we get this particular issue correct. 'Origin has to be played in the middle of the season, it's so big and massive for our game. It's what we do with the NRL around the Origin period, we've got to get that right. So when we can sort that out, I think the 18th man and everything else will fall in line.' Whether the NRL makes any changes to the 18th man rule following the series is yet to be seen as the discussion grows.
News.com.au
35 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Rosehill Inside Mail: Tim Clark mount Assailant ‘ready to run his best race this preparation'
Star jockey Tim Clark is hopeful of closing out his best-ever stakes season by securing an upset win on Bases Loaded in the Listed $200,000 Winter Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday. Clark has ridden 24 stakes winners this season including two at Group 1 level to be the nation's third most successful jockey for Group and Listed wins behind James McDonald (42 wins) and Blake Shinn (27 wins). It is Clark's best result at stakes level in a season, eclipsing the 23 winners he netted in 2022/23. 'I think obviously the Group 1 wins I had on War Machine in the Stradbroke Handicap and Royal Patronage in the Canterbury Stakes have been the highlights for me,'' Clark said. 'But it has been a great season overall and the Queensland carnival was good for me. 'I'm planning to take a break after Saturday. Brisbane is a long carnival and travelling up there and back constantly does take a bit out of you. 'So, I will have a break after Rosehill and then look to recharge my batteries for the new season.'' Clark has a busy day at Rosehill with rides in nine of the 10 races including the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott -trained Bases Loaded in the Winter Stakes. Bases Loaded, with Clark in the saddle, resumed in the Civic Stakes and finished down the track behind Headley Grange. 'I'm sure Bases Loaded will improve on Saturday but he has a fair bit of ground to make up,'' Clark said. 'He will definitely strip a bit fitter as he is a big horse and takes some racing to get fit.'' Bases Loaded is rated a $19 chance in latest TAB Fixed Odds betting behind co-favourites Whinchat and Thunderlips at $4.80. All bases covered! ðŸ'� It’s all Bases Loaded in the G3 Sky Racing Gunsynd Classic at Eagle Farm for @GaiWaterhouse1 - Bott and @clarkyhk! @BrisRacingClub — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 15, 2024 Clark's best chances of improving on his 56 city wins that has him fourth in the Sydney jockeys premiership this season seem to rest with another Waterhouse and Bott-trained galloper, Assailant, and the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou -trained Diddle Dumpling. Assailant is second emergency for the Catanach's Jewellers Handicap (2000m) but the former English galloper is the $5.50 favourite after impressing in his two Australian starts, including a last-start third to Freight Train. 'Up to 2000m with blinkers going on, I think Assailant is ready to run his best race this preparation on Saturday,'' Clark said. 'He's still got to get a start but if he does I'm sure he will run well.'' 🚂 Freight Train finally salutes to win the TAB Handicap at Rosehill! @MickPriceRacing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025 Clark gets his first ride on the John Singleton-owned Diddle Dumpling in the Agency Real Estate Handicap (1300m). Diddle Dumpling was ridden by Nash Rawiller when she resumed with a runaway win at Gosford. She is rated a $7.50 chance behind the $4.80 favourite Gatekeeper for Saturday's race. 'It was a typical Nash 'heads up' ride on Diddle Dumpling the other day and she took care of the them pretty comfortably,'' Clark said. 'She's an improving filly.'' • Clinton Payne's race-by-race tips, analysis for Rosehill Gardens on Saturday â– â– â– â– â– ROSEHILL BIG BETS & MARKET MOVERS Race 1: Raging Force $2.45-$2, Just Awesome $17-$11 Race 2: Zouripper $4.60-$3.10 Race 3: Exit Fee $3.60-$2.70, Powder Man $14-$9.50 Race 4: Lunaite $8-$5, Show 'Em Howl $26-$18 Race 5: Storm The Ramparts $3.30-$2.90, Deprivation $23-$11, Pokerjack $23-$13 Race 6: Let's Go Again $11-$7 Race 7: Sounds Unusual $11-$5.50 Race 8: Dollar Magic $11-$7, Cigar Flick $11-$8.50, Cosmonova $26-$14 Race 9: Thunderlips $6-$4.40, Whinchat $15-$4.80, Saltcoats $26-$16, Testator Silens $51-$23 Race 10: Kerguelen $3.50-$3.20, Sacred Rocks $6-$3.50, Brave One $4.40-$3.60 MARKET MOVERS: $15 TO $4.80 FEATURE RACE RUNNER @ClintonPayne reveals all the big betting moves for Saturday's races, including a runner that has been the subject of a concerted betting push ahead. ðŸ'‡ — Racenet (@RacenetTweets) July 4, 2025 • Ray & Shayno's tips, analysis for Rosehill on Saturday â– â– â– â– â– EARLY QUADDIE Race 3: 1,4,5,6 Race 4: 1,4,7 Race 5: 1,4,5 Race 6: 1,2,5,6 QUADDIE Race 7: 1,7,14,17 Race 8: 8,11,13,14 Race 9: 2,4,8,10 Race 10: 5,8,10,12 ‘Another concussion would kill me’ @BlakeSpriggs realises he has won the biggest race of his life. It’s why he can accept his riding days are over … and with it, his chances of winning The Everest on Headwall this year. Story: @RayThomas_1 ðŸ'‡ — Racenet (@RacenetTweets) July 4, 2025 â– â– â– â– â– PRICE CHECK Race 9 No.8 WHINCHAT has been sensationally backed to win the Winter Stakes, firming from $15 to $4.80 and is pressing $4.40 favourite THUNDERLIPS (10) at the top of betting. Who starts favourite in the closer is anyone's guess. In race 10, KERGUELEN (5) heads betting at $3.20 but SACRED ROCKS (12) is $6 to $3.50 and BRAVE ONE (10) is $4.40 to $3.60. Dominant! Whinchat was just far too good out in front today. @DavidPfieffer — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 31, 2024 • Berry confident in Welwal's wet track advantage â– â– â– â– â– SECTIONAL STARS Race 10 No.12 SACRED ROCKS was outstanding at her Sydney debut, coming from near last on the turn with a long, sustained run wide out to swamp her rivals over 1300m here three weeks ago. She ran her final 600m in a very fast 33.66s with a 11.08s closing 200m split. With three wins and two seconds from five starts, Sacred Rocks has obvious ability and the step up to 1400m suits her. Sacred Rocks storms home on the outside to win the last at Rosehill! 🚀 @CMaherRacing @djgibbons22 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 14, 2025 • â– â– â– â– â– TRIAL POINTERS Race 4 No.7 GATEKEEPER is a superbly-bred three-year-old by undefeated US triple crown winner Justify and is the first foal out of Group 1 Surround Stakes winner Nakeeta Jane. The Chris Waller-trained Gatekeeper has only raced once for a stylish win at Canterbury last summer. He's resuming after two recent trials that hardly make inspiring reading on paper but were actually very good efforts. He was kept under a very tight hold when last of 9 in a Rosehill 900m heat then was desperate to go faster as he worked home well for fifth to the smart Terra Mater in a 740m Warwick Farm trial. Gatekeeper looks set to explode first-up at Rosehill on Saturday. . @mcacajamez gets his first win in Australia for the year with Gatekeeper finding the gap and taking out the first at Canterbury! ðŸ'¥ @cwallerracing — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) January 17, 2025 Race 5 No.5 TARPAULIN is a promising sprinter with two wins from seven starts, both on heavy tracks last winter. Godolphin tested him at stakes level during the spring including a competitive fourth in the Group 2 Danehill Stakes at Flemington. He hasn't raced since last October but has had two recent barrier trials and was particularly impressive winning over 900m at Canterbury last week. Tarpaulin settled outside the leader, cruised up and then drew clear of his rivals to win by nearly a length without being put under any pressure. Tarpaulin looks primed for his return to racing. Tarpaulin runs away with it! ðŸ'¨ @mcacajamez and @JamesCummings88 combine to win the Randwick opener 🙌 — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) July 27, 2024 â– â– â– â– â– BEST BET Race 3 No.6 EXIT FEE was heavily backed into favouritism first-up in a Randwick Highway and he ran well without threatening for a half length second to the speedy Calico Miss. He had never previously won at the start of a campaign so his Randwick effort suggests he's in for a good winter preparation. Exit Fee will strip for that run and goes back to Rosehill where he won a Highway over 1300m when last in work. Drawn to get the run of the race, he's won second-up previously, handles soft track and is ready to win. Calico Miss races away with the TAB Highway at Randwick! ðŸ'° @weir_mikayla @aus_turf_club — SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) June 21, 2025 • â– â– â– â– â– VALUE Race 8 No.13 COSMONOVA has shaped promisingly in two runs from a spell including her closing third to stablemate Accredited at Randwick two weeks ago. The Joe Pride-trained Cosmonova returns to Rosehill where she has won over the 1200m course and although drawn a little wide, she should be able to slide across and settle in the front half of the field with cover. Cosmonova is at her peak after recent racing, she is unbeaten in two previous attempts third-up from a spell, and the soft track conditions are perfect for her. She's terrific value around $17.
News.com.au
35 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Beau Dazzler takes unorthodox path to Winx Guineas at Sunshine Coast
It's unconventional and quirky but Tony Sears reckons dropping his colt back 800m in distance might just be a masterstroke as he prepares to line up in Saturday's $300,000 Group 3 Winx Guineas. It's not every day you see a horse dropping so far in distance but that's what Beau Dazzler will be doing as he aims up in the Guineas over 1600m after last being seen in the Group 1 Queensland Derby over 2400m. Beau Dazzler is a $14 chance in the Group 3 Guineas on the Sunshine Coast with some punters not quite sure what to make of the left-field blueprint. Beau Dazzler copped a wide run in the Derby when being beaten more than nine lengths but Sears, who co-trains with daughter Maddy, now believes the colt's sweet spot could potentially be 1800m. • Sears feels you need a horse who runs a strong 1800m to win the 1600m Guineas given the expansive nature of the big Sunshine Coast track. 'We were going to spell him after the Derby, but he hadn't had many runs this campaign,' Sears said. 'He was only third-up into the Derby and I'm not sure whether training him for a Derby really suited him. 'We decided to set him for the Winx Guineas because we figured that you needed a horse who could run 1800m to win the Guineas and he certainly is that. 'He hasn't raced for a while and he had a few days in the paddock and he's fresh and going well. 'I am now thinking he is a really good mile to 1800(m) horse. 'I know on Saturday that the distance will be no problem at all and he handles the sting out of the track.' Regular rider Jag Guthmann-Chester will again partner Beau Dazzler who has drawn barrier nine in the Winx Guineas, the race so named because it was the start of Winx's famous 33-race winning streak in 2015. Paul Shailer-trained Mister Bianco, who wears the same colours as Winx and is part-owned by Peter Tighe, is the $3.40 favourite for the Winx Guineas off the back of three successive wins. But Mister Bianco has drawn wide and punters must also note he has never raced beyond 1400m before. Meanwhile, Sears is certain his speedy sprinter Steady Ready is the one to beat as the $3.10 favourite in the $200,000 Open Plate (1000m). Steady Ready was well beaten when resuming in the Lightning Handicap at Eagle Farm last month but Sears said there were clear excuses. 'He had a few issues when he last raced, he galloped on his heel and he was lame for a week afterwards,' Sears said. 'But we took him and trialled him at Beaudesert and I thought he went really good. 'If he is back to his best, which I think he is, he is the one they all have to beat.'
