Latest news with #AndrewWebster
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Ezra Mam in contentious moment as coach lodges complaint over Reece Walsh incident
Coach Andrew Webster was steaming after the Warriors' loss to Brisbane on Saturday, claiming his side were dudded by a number of refereeing decisions. The Warriors fell to a 26-12 loss at Suncorp Stadium, and also lost halfback Luke Metcalf to a suspected ACL injury. Speaking in his post-match press conference, Webster complained about a number of calls that went against the Warriors. His main complaint was a penalty that went to the Broncos and allowed them to kick out to a 20-6 lead in the second half. Jackson Ford was penalised for taking out Reece Walsh without the ball, even though the Broncos fullback was clearly off-side. Replays showed Walsh was well in front of kicker Adam Reynolds, but the penalty still went to the Broncos for Ford's foul play. Fox League commentator Andrew Voss suggested the call would have been overturned had the Warriors challenged it, because Walsh being off-side was the first infringement. Under NRL rules, serious acts of foul play override any previous infringements, but Ford's actions wouldn't fall under that category. RELATED: Cobbo twist as Dolphins player makes immediate move to Roosters Stunning development for Billy Slater and family before Origin 3 Webster was gobsmacked his team conceded the penalty, and pointed out another instance in which he felt Wayde Egan was wrongly pinged. 'I was right in front of that and he was miles off-side, like miles offside,' Webster said of Walsh. 'Wayde Egan in the first half, I ask you to go and pause it when the play-the-ball is and you tell me how he's off-side. He's three metres on-side. "So it's like they just made that up. Like Reece Walsh was way in front, the first infraction was that. And they probably (will) give me crap that it's foul play or something. That's the first infringement. I don't know how they miss it. I'm not a touchie, I'm not a ref. I was down there and I could see it.' It wasn't mentioned by Webster, but the Warriors also appeared to be hard done-by late in the game. The Warriors had reduced the margin to 20-12 and launched an attacking raid from inside their own half with five minutes remaining. They appeared to burst downfield before referee Adam Gee called Leka Halasima for an obstruction that impeded Ezra Mam. The Warriors challenged the call, and the Bunker official was very quick to confirm the decision. And while Halasima did appear to impede Mam, the Broncos five-eighth went to ground very easily. The NRL stated at the start of the season it would not reward players for taking 'dives' to win penalties or playing up contact during obstructions. Nicho Hynes wasn't rewarded last weekend when he went to ground too easily on a Broncos try, an incident that Voss labelled "embarrassing" for the Cronulla halfback. Mam's actions appeared very similar to those of Hynes the week before, but this time he did receive the penalty. Instead of streaming downfield and putting themselves in position to score, the Warriors were forced to do more defending on their own line. It proved too much as Gehamat Shibasaki went over for his second try to seal a 26-12 victory. A number of fans took to social media to suggest Mam had got away with one, and the Broncos were lucky to receive the penalty.
RNZ News
a day ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
NRL: NZ Warriors licking wounds after season-altering defeat to Brisbane Broncos
The Warriors are braced for the worst over Luke Metcalf's knee injury. Photo: Tertius Pickard/ Analysis - NZ Warriors have plenty to think about, as they head into their third and final bye of the NRL season, stinging from their fifth defeat - and first back-to-back losses - against Brisbane Broncos. Trailling 18-0 at halftime, they showed signs of a comeback, as they scored consecutive tries to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Leka Halasima, but could not complete the task. Adding injury to insult, they lost the services of arguably their two best players this season and coach Andrew Webster may need to spend the next fortnight grooming re-inforcements. Here are some takeaways from the calamitous Broncos result. Without doubt, the biggest story of the Warriors' early-season success has been the emergence of Luke Metcalf in the No.7 jersey previously owned by club legend Shaun Johnson. Many had their reservations about his ability to stamp himself on the game as Johnson had, but he had silenced those critics to such an extent, he actually led the Dally M Medal standings into the 14th round, when the judging went behind closed doors. The last player to win the league's MVP award after leading at halfway was Melbourne Storm hooker Cameron Smith in 2017, so maintaining that standing was always likely to be difficult. Despite his thrilling form, there was always the fear that Metcalf would eventually succumb to injury. His 2023 club debut was delayed until the 12th round, after a hamstring injury in training, then he suffered a recurrence to miss his team's playoff run. He missed most of last season with a broken leg, which is why his elevation to the lead job came as such a surprise. When Metcalf ran out for the second half against Penrith Panthers last week with a heavily bandaged thigh, that seemed an omen. Just a cork, said Webster. It's onwards and upwards for him. As he passed the ball with 15 minutes remaining against Brisbane, Metcalf was cut in half by a perfect tackle from Broncos second-rower Brendan Piakura and could not find his feet. Piakura was put on report, but even Webster admitted afterwards the contact looked good. Pending the obligatory scans, the Warriors have indicated Metcalf's injury is a knee - and they have already lost co-captain Mitch Barnett for the rest of the campaign to one of those. The club isn't short of halves options, with Te Maire Martin and Tanah Boyd offering considerable first-grade experience in their resumes. Youngster Jett Cleary helped Warriors reserves to victory over Manly on Saturday and, if further misfortune strikes the squad, he may yet make a NRL debut this season. The real question will be can any of them bring the same strike power shown by Metcalf through the early season, as they try to clinch a post-season spot. Metcalf's loss only exacerbated an injury crisis that saw fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad leave the field at halftime, also with a knee injury. He seemed to fall badly, as he tried to stop Broncos centre Gehamet Shibasaki scoring before the break. After missing a game with concussion, Nicoll-Klokstad was about to pass Sydney Roosters fullback James Tedesco for competition lead in running metres. Averaging 208m per game, he needed 190 against Brisbane to overhaul Tedesco, whose team had a bye. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad suffered an injury against Brisbane Broncos. Photo: DAVE HUNT/AAP If he is also lost for a prolonged period, the Warriors have Taine Tuaupiki to replace him - except Tuaupiki may be required on the wing, after a subpar display from Ed Kosi, with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak nursing an ankle complaint . Another option could see Tuaupiki at fullback, Adam Pompey on the wing and Kurt Capewell into the centres, with Leka Halasima promoted to start in the second row. "They certainly won't be playing in two weeks, I can tell you that," Webster assessed on both Nicoll-Klokstad and Metcalf afterwards. The Warriors have been well served by their 'next man up' philosophy, but every week now, Webster has to move his pieces to cover another vacancy. Nicoll-Klokstad's knee did not seem as bad as Metcalf's, but they've now reached a stage where every additional injury just reduces their margin for error. In his 101st NRL appearance, against the club that rekindled his career in 2022, Te Maire Martin logged a season-high 51 minutes off the bench and showed his ability to step into whatever role was required of him moving forward. Initially, he replaced hooker Wayde Egan, who left the field in the first half for a head check. Right around the time he returned, Nicoll-Klokstad went missing, so Martin slotted into fullback. Te Maire Martin fills in everywhere against Brisbane Broncos. Photo: Tertius Pickard/ When Metcalf hobbled off, Martin went into the halves, Pompey shifted to wing, Capewell to centre and the Warriors had the luxury of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck at the back - where many still believe he belongs. "We practice Te Maire everywhere as much as we can," Webster said. "He played fullback here at the Broncos and did a really good job while he was here. "I don't know how many guys can come on to play hooker, then move to fullback at halftime and then to halfback, and does a good job in all three roles. "That's why you need those utility players and I don't think many clubs have that player." Ironically, Martin is off contract this season and he is now well placed to push his claims for an extension at the Warriors, where he'd love to stay. Whether he steps into Metcalf's position or keeps a spot on the bench, he has already shown his value. From the moment Marata Niukore dropped the ball almost at the opening kickoff, the Warriors were their own worst enemies in terms of making basic errors. That mistake led to Katoni Staggs' opening try. They were twice pinged for obstructing kickchasers and gave up two points through a penalty for not setting a scrum in timely fashion. The discipline that was a hallmark of their early games seemed to completely desert them. They were perhaps unlucky on one of those escort calls, when Broncos fullback Reece Walsh was clearly offside in his pursuit. "I was right in front of that and he was miles offside," said Webster, who spent the second half on the sideline, à la Ricky Stuart, after overseeing Nicoll-Klokstad's replacement at the break. "He was three metres offside… it was like they just made it up. Reece Walsh was way in front, the first infringement was that. "I don't know how they missed it. I'm not a touch judge, I'm not a referee and I could see it." Webster isn't usually one to question the officials, but he may hear more about those comments this week. That's probably more an indication of his frustration beginning to show. Incredibly, Tuivasa-Sheck's second-half try broke an 11-year drought at Suncorp Stadium. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck scores a drought-breaking try at Suncorp Stadium. Photo: Tertius Pickard/ In 2014, he was still playing on the wing with Sydney Roosters, when he featured in a 30-26 win over the Broncos, scoring one of their five tries. Since then, he had gone 10 subsequent visits without scoring, missing two seasons, when he changed codes to pursue his All Blacks dream. Tuivasa-Sheck finished as his team's top metre-eater against Brisbane, with 175 run-ning metres, and was probably their best performer on the night. The Warriors now sit fourth on the NRL table - four points behind leaders Canberra Raiders and Canterbury Bulldogs, and four points ahead of their next closest pursuers, the Broncos and Sydney Roosters. They have just suffered their first consecutive losses of the season and have a 10-5 record. Their solid start to the campaign has built them a buffer over their rivals, but they are now trending in the wrong direction. They have a bye week to regroup and regalvanise for the run home. Erin Clark reflects on Warriors defeat to Broncos. Photo: Tertius Pickard/ No matter what happens, they will still hold fourth in two weeks, after Round 19, but there are seven teams, covered by just two competition points, breathing down their necks and, unless they turn their form around, they risk being swamped for a playoff spot. They will likely be down at least four starters - Metcalf, Nicoll-Kolkstad, Watene-Zelezniak and Barnett - when they host Wests Tigers on Sunday, 13 July. They have emerged from two previous byes this season with losses. By Round 5, they had turned around a disappointing season-opening loss to the Raiders with three straight wins, but came out of the bye with their worst defeat so far against Melbourne Storm. By Round 15, they had rebounded from another loss to the Raiders with back-to-back wins, including their best performance of the season against Cronulla Sharks, but have lost twice since that rest week. The Warriors need to arrest that trend against the Tigers (5-10) - the good news (?) is they have no momentum to lose this time. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
How NZ Warriors star Kurt Capewell is making ‘damned lies' of NRL statistics
Kurt Capewell's recall to the Maroons helped them level the Origin series in Perth. Photo: AAP / Photosport Warriors v Broncos Kickoff: 5pm Saturday, 28 June Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Live blog updates on RNZ Sport One week after helping Queensland reverse their State of Origin fortunes with victory at Perth, NZ Warriors second-rower Kurt Capewell is still buzzing. "It was awesome," he confirmed. "Something I'll never get sick of is being in a Queensland team and getting the win was amazing. "Obviously, we let ourselves down a bit in the second half, but it was awesome to be part of it all again and something I always look forward to." After the Maroons were totally outplayed at home in Origin I, Capewell was recalled to the starting line-up and let no one down, scoring a first-half try, as they ran up a 26-6 halftime lead and then barely held on, as New South Wales stormed home after the break. He logged a full 80 minutes, running 11 times for 107 metres, and made 37 tackles, including one gamewinning effort about 90 seconds out from fulltime. As the Blues threw everything at Queensland, Capewell met barnstorming front-rower Payne Haas head-on, jolting the ball free less than 10 metres from the tryline to snuff out their last real attacking opportunity. "I thought he was the best player in Origin and I'm so proud of him," enthused Warriors coach and NSW fan Andrew Webster. Yet, in the build-up to the game, Capewell had to endure considerable social media mocking for a statistic that just doesn't correspond with his yeoman performances, week-in and week-out, for the Warriors. You see, for all his attributes, Capewell has the dubious distinction of leading the NRL in missed tackles this season - by quite a margin. In 13 appearances, he has supposedly missed 75 tackles, 16 more than second-placed Wests Tigers hooker Api Koroisau in the same number of games. NRL stats show Kurt Capewell atop the missed-tackles rankings. Photo: NRL website Capewell was credited with nine missed tackles in the season-opening loss to Canberra Raiders, eight in a narrow win over the Tigers and hit double figures in the 'Magic Round' win over North Queensland Cowboys. Online experts - probably NSW fans - took delight in questioning how someone so defensively deficient could earn representative honours, as they anticipated another ignominious Maroons defeat. Imagine their disappointment, then. To his credit, Capewell takes the taunting on the chin. Only one number really matters to him - the score. "You can make of it what you want, if you're into reading stats," he said. "For me, it's something that's in my game and I'd like to get better at. "No-one goes out there trying to miss tackles, but sometimes you can't help it. I haven't really looked into it. "I'd like to not miss any tackles, but as long as we're winning, I don't care." On the other hand, Webster bristles at the inference that his defensive kingpin is somehow a liability. He is obviously a disciple of American writer Mark Twain, who - in turn - credited former British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli with the statement: "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics." "That stat's ridiculous," Webster insisted. "The correlation to winning games… Penrith Panthers were one of the highest missed-table teams in the competition and they were the best defensive team, meaning they conceded the least points. "If Kurt was the worst tackler in our competition, he wouldn't be in our team. I'd be saying can someone please take him to another team and we'll release him. "Instead, he's the man of the match in Origin." According to Webster - a former Panthers assistant - Capewell's unfavourable stats are a result of his pursuit of tackles he has no right making. "If you're running at me and step me, and I lay a finger on you, or I clip you and you fall over, and the next guy gets on you, they will count that as a missed tackle. "You might be running to score a try, I'm coming across, dive and lay a finger on you - that's a missed tackle. "You find players who go after the contest, putting pressure on the opponent, taking time and space away from them, making them pass the ball… they have to move quickly, Kurt clips them and sends them into the other guy, and the play is dead. "What they want to achieve doesn't work and that's why he's one of the best, because he's constantly going after the contest." Kurt Capewell scores a try for the Warriors against the Dolphins. Photo: AAP/DAVE HUNT Certainly, his teammates seem to understand his contribution to their collective defensive effort. "He's huge for our team and does a lot of the little things that you don't really see, as a fan watching, but we know how much work he does," said bench utility Te Maire Martin, who also played a season alongside Capewell at Brisbane Broncos. "It's contagious and a lot of the other boys are starting to do it. It's something the coaches are driving and it's winning us games. "He just works hard and doesn't stop moving. He's always competing, he's always in the picture and makes his own luck." Capewell is thankful for the chance to redeem himself, after his first season at Mt Smart didn't go quite as planned. "Last season was tough, I had a few injuries and our whole squad had a few injuries, but touch wood, we've been pretty good this year. "It was never going to happen overnight and something we work at every day." With the unexpected retirement of former captain Tohu Harris in pre-season, the mid-season move of veteran Dylan Walker to Parramatta Eels and season-ending injury to co-captain Mitch Barnett, Capewell's experience has been a boon to a Warriors programme, where the margins of error are becoming smaller. Before crossing the Tasman, he reached the playoffs with Cronulla Sharks, Penrith and Brisbane. His last appearance for the Panthers was the 2021 Grand Final victory and his last outing for the Broncos was their 2023 Grand Final defeat. "He wasn't terrible last year," Webster insisted. "He still got picked for Origin and had a big impact there - he just didn't play as well as we knew he could. "I'm just happy for all our fans that they get to see the real Capey. He hasn't let anyone down, he's been awesome." Capewell's leadership has proved a boon to the Warriors, with the loss of former captain Tohu Harris, veteran Dylan Walker and co-captain Mitch Barnett. Photo: David Neilson/Photosport Capewell made his 2020 Origin debut for Queensland at centre and, while he's better known as a second-rower, his versatility has also proved invaluable to the Warriors, with midfielders Rocco Berry (hamstring) and Ali Leiataua (ankles) plagued by injury, and Adam Pompey often pushed to the wing to cover absences there. "It's challenging, having to defend some pretty fast and agile players, but it's something I've always modelled my game around, being able to play anywhere at any time," he said. Capewell credits his team's early success - sitting fourth on the NRL table, with a 10-4 record - for his own recall to the Queensland squad, with every likelihood coach Billy Slater will stick with his successful squad for the series decider in Sydney next month. "A lot of it's got to do with the team I'm playing with and the players around me probably having the best seasons of their careers as well," he said. "A lot of that has to do with the coaching staff and the people around the club. "I just think we're moving in the right direction here at the Wahs and it's great to be part of." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Marsh McLennan's Oliver Wyman to Acquire Healthcare Analytics Business Validate Health
NEW YORK, June 25, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oliver Wyman, a global leader in management consulting and a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC), today announced an agreement to acquire Validate Health, a healthcare analytics business that enables healthcare providers and Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) to better manage costs, risk, and performance. The terms of the transaction, expected to close in summer 2025, were not disclosed. Validate Health will join Oliver Wyman Actuarial, a specialized business within Oliver Wyman that provides actuarial services to insurers, investors, healthcare providers, corporates and other clients. The acquisition strengthens the business through powerful analytic and technology solutions that help clients grow market size, increase margins, optimize programs, manage risk, and secure investments and funding, while also enhancing patient outcomes. "Healthcare is a complex and critical industry featuring a unique set of challenges, and it is undergoing a seismic shift," said David Weinsier, Partner, Global Life and Health Leader for Oliver Wyman Actuarial. "This acquisition allows us to not only meet that moment but lead it. By combining our deep actuarial and policy expertise with Validate Health's data-driven solutions, we are at the forefront of building an analytics platform that helps clients improve healthcare delivery and drive efficiency." Andrew Webster, Validate Health Co-Founder, added, "This is a milestone moment for us. From the start, our mission has been to make healthcare better through data. Joining forces with Oliver Wyman gives us the reach, actuarial and insurance expertise, and complementary skillsets to supercharge that mission. Our clients – and their patients – stand to gain the most." For more information about Oliver Wyman Actuarial services, visit our Actuarial Consulting website. About Oliver Wyman Oliver Wyman, a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC), is a management consulting firm combining deep industry knowledge with specialized expertise to help clients optimize their business, improve operations and accelerate performance. Marsh McLennan is a global leader in risk, strategy and people, advising clients in 130 countries across four businesses: Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Mercer and Oliver Wyman. With annual revenue of over $24 billion and more than 90,000 colleagues, Marsh McLennan helps build the confidence to thrive through the power of perspective. For more information, visit follow us on LinkedIn and X. About Validate Health Validate Health provides ongoing actuarial and financial optimization services customized for Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). It reconstructs the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) methodology using computer models for MSSP, REACH, Medicare Advantage, and other accountable care programs. Depending on the decision needed, Validate Health simulates the impact of multiple scenarios at different organizational levels, time horizons, and decision frequencies. View source version on Contacts Danielle Arceneaux1 (212) 345 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Business Wire
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Marsh McLennan's Oliver Wyman to Acquire Healthcare Analytics Business Validate Health
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oliver Wyman, a global leader in management consulting and a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC), today announced an agreement to acquire Validate Health, a healthcare analytics business that enables healthcare providers and Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) to better manage costs, risk, and performance. The terms of the transaction, expected to close in summer 2025, were not disclosed. Validate Health will join Oliver Wyman Actuarial, a specialized business within Oliver Wyman that provides actuarial services to insurers, investors, healthcare providers, corporates and other clients. The acquisition strengthens the business through powerful analytic and technology solutions that help clients grow market size, increase margins, optimize programs, manage risk, and secure investments and funding, while also enhancing patient outcomes. 'Healthcare is a complex and critical industry featuring a unique set of challenges, and it is undergoing a seismic shift,' said David Weinsier, Partner, Global Life and Health Leader for Oliver Wyman Actuarial. 'This acquisition allows us to not only meet that moment but lead it. By combining our deep actuarial and policy expertise with Validate Health's data-driven solutions, we are at the forefront of building an analytics platform that helps clients improve healthcare delivery and drive efficiency.' Andrew Webster, Validate Health Co-Founder, added, 'This is a milestone moment for us. From the start, our mission has been to make healthcare better through data. Joining forces with Oliver Wyman gives us the reach, actuarial and insurance expertise, and complementary skillsets to supercharge that mission. Our clients – and their patients – stand to gain the most.' For more information about Oliver Wyman Actuarial services, visit our Actuarial Consulting website. About Oliver Wyman Oliver Wyman, a business of Marsh McLennan (NYSE: MMC), is a management consulting firm combining deep industry knowledge with specialized expertise to help clients optimize their business, improve operations and accelerate performance. Marsh McLennan is a global leader in risk, strategy and people, advising clients in 130 countries across four businesses: Marsh, Guy Carpenter, Mercer and Oliver Wyman. With annual revenue of over $24 billion and more than 90,000 colleagues, Marsh McLennan helps build the confidence to thrive through the power of perspective. For more information, visit follow us on LinkedIn and X. About Validate Health Validate Health provides ongoing actuarial and financial optimization services customized for Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs). It reconstructs the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) methodology using computer models for MSSP, REACH, Medicare Advantage, and other accountable care programs. Depending on the decision needed, Validate Health simulates the impact of multiple scenarios at different organizational levels, time horizons, and decision frequencies.
