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Tyran Wishart: We wanted Cam Munster to know we've got his back
Tyran Wishart: We wanted Cam Munster to know we've got his back

ABC News

time10-07-2025

  • Sport
  • ABC News

Tyran Wishart: We wanted Cam Munster to know we've got his back

Melbourne Storm have struggled for consistency this season - which is worrying for the rest of the competition. Their Mr Fix It Tyran Wishart knows that there is room for improvement even though they are likely to be without some of their Origin players for the round 19 clash with the Knights. He told Andrew Moore and Matthew Elliott that the whole competition seems like to be on a similar level at the moment. He also explained that the tight knit group of players in Melbourne have put aside State divides to support the Talismanic Cam Munster through a very challenging last week.

Can you spot the tiny jersey detail that reveals what REALLY sparked Queensland's incredible Origin win?
Can you spot the tiny jersey detail that reveals what REALLY sparked Queensland's incredible Origin win?

Daily Mail​

time19-06-2025

  • Sport
  • Daily Mail​

Can you spot the tiny jersey detail that reveals what REALLY sparked Queensland's incredible Origin win?

Queensland channeled the spirit of their iconic 1995 'Neville Nobodies' team to secure a heart-stopping victory over New South Wales - and even paid tribute to the side on their jerseys. The Maroons thrive when they are bagged and given no chance and they were in their element in Perth in a stunning 26-24 win to take the State of Origin series to a decider in Sydney. The side invoked the mindset of the famous 1995 Queensland team, with a subtle '1995' printed on the right sleeve of their jersey. The 'Neville Nobodies' stunned the rugby league world by thrashing a star-studded Blues outfit in a series that's etched into Maroons folklore. 'We had that mentality, like the '95 Nobodies team and just kept working and turning up for each other and we ended up getting the chocolates,' said Maroons skipper Cam Munster after the match. 'But in game three, we need to be a lot better in certain positions and we can't afford to give them piggy backs.' Billy Slater, who turned 42 on Origin night, and his fellow selectors axed veteran skipper Daly Cherry-Evans and replaced him with Tom Dearden at halfback and it worked a treat. The elevation of Munster as skipper was a revelation in his 21st Origin match, as was the recall of 32-year-old second-rower Kurt Capewell. NSW great Andrew Johns said Slater's call on Munster was 'an absolute masterstroke'. Big occasions and the weight of expectation are what Munster thrives on and after a nervous start he showed why he was a dream pick as the 16th captain of the Maroons. His first-half try when he ran onto a pass from Harry Grant with a body swerve into space was as masterful as it gets in the Origin cauldron. The 30-year-old had a look in his eye that suggested he would not be denied and was a deserved man of the match.. Dearden's performance was elite and a tribute to Slater's faith and coaching. He clearly gave the 24-year-old the belief to take charge and the North Queensland co-captain's involvement in three first-half tries showed where his mindset was at. Dearden's pinpoint kick for Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow's second try was all class. There were other selections that Slater made that were spot on. The inclusion of Capewell was vindicated with the versatile Warrior scoring a try and making key tackles when the Blues came home with a bang. The Maroons started poorly with errors. Dearden was sitting back on his heels to allow Jarome Luai to run freely and set up a try to Brian To'o with a grubber. That could have rocked the Maroons but their key players all stood up. Munster, Dearden, fullback Kalyn Ponga and Grant at hooker all had big moments that set up their 26-6 halftime lead. It all went south from there as the Maroons fell away. Capewell's defence, despite the errors of his teammates, was the difference.

State of Origin five quick hits: NSW Blues goal kicking woes continue, as Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow shines for Maroons
State of Origin five quick hits: NSW Blues goal kicking woes continue, as Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow shines for Maroons

ABC News

time18-06-2025

  • Sport
  • ABC News

State of Origin five quick hits: NSW Blues goal kicking woes continue, as Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow shines for Maroons

Queensland survived a ferocious comeback from NSW to level the State of Origin series and force a decider in Sydney. The Maroons had a 20-point lead at half-time as the Blues imploded. By the time the full-time whistle sounded, it was only the Blues' poor kicking that denied them victory. Here are the five quick hits from State of Origin II at Perth Stadium. Queensland needed to make a bright start in Perth to put the demons of game one to bed. The Maroons managed the exact opposite, with new captain Cam Munster kicking his first grubber dead, giving away a six-again restart on the last tackle — then after surviving that, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui turned the ball over in the defensive half. It put the Blues in the ascendancy, and they converted the early dominance with the game's opening try after seven minutes. The try was credited to Penrith winger Brian To'o, but the four-pointer was created by two excellent kicks. Jarome Luai, called in following an injury to game one five-eighth Mitchell Moses, played a deft grubber kick for chasing second-rower Angus Crichton. The star forward then showed off some foot skills that would not look out of place in the A-League. Seeing To'o unmarked, Crichton put in a little soccer pass to the in-goal for his winger to chase and touch down. Queensland's ability to score in recent times has been a massive struggle. The Maroons had not scored a try in the first half of an Origin match since the first game of the 2024 series. After going down early, the Queenslanders needed to lift — and they did. Queensland scored on their first set with the ball after conceding, helped by a trio of six-again restarts as the Blues suffered from poor discipline. The weight of possession and pressure led to Queensland's first try, as Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow went over in the right corner untouched at the end of a nice Queensland move. That was the Hammer's 10th try in his ninth Origin, the fastest any player has managed to get to 10 State of Origin tries. Seven minutes later, The Hammer had his 11th try in Origin football. An excellent kick from halfback Tom Dearden to the corner was met by a leaping Tabuai-Fidow, who beat To'o in an aerial contest, to snatch the ball out of the air and score to give Queensland the lead. The Blues were near faultless in game one at Lang Park to take a 1-0 series lead. But in Perth, with a chance to win the series and head to Sydney with dreams of a whitewash, the Blues lost their cool in the first half. They gave up eight penalties in the first half, while the Maroons were not penalised once. In fairness, the Blues were lucky not to have at least one player sent to the sin bin. Jarome Luai was put on report in the 24th minute for putting his fingers in the eyes of Queensland forward Reuben Cotter. The footage captured on the Nine Network broadcast was not flattering for the NSW five-eighth, who appeared to have his fingers dug into Cotter's eyes. NSW winger Zac Lomax was the next to be placed on report, after throwing an elbow into the head of Queensland lock Trent Loiero. Lomax had the ball and was getting ready to stand to his feet and play the ball. He then, inexplicably, threw his elbow back and connected with the side of Loiero. That penalty was directly linked to points for the Maroons, as Valentine Holmes kicked a goal off that penalty. NSW had got themselves back into the contest with a second try to To'o, then a terrific individual effort from Stephen Crichton to run over Valentine Holmes for a score. With momentum with the Blues, the Queenslanders needed to find some spark — and for a moment, they did. A magnificent defensive effort pinned the Blues deep in their own end. Luai kicked the ball away from inside his own 20m line. But Queensland's effort was all in vain as Tabuai-Fidow attempted to stop the bouncing ball with his foot. The ball instead bounced up and hit The Hammer on the arm for a knock-on. Off the next set, To'o barged over for his third try in the match, to have NSW believing in a famous win. The goal kicking in the first match at Lang Park was poor. NSW scored four tries in their 18-6 win, but none of those tries were converted. The only successful kick was a penalty goal for Nathan Cleary. Zac Lomax was given goal kicking duties in game two as Cleary appeared to have an issue with his kicking leg. Unfortunately for Lomax, all of the Blues' five tries on Wednesday night were scored near the sideline. In miserable conditions, they were never going to be easy. Lomax was able to convert just two of his five attempts — leaving six points out there. NSW scored five tries to four and were irresistible in the second half. But the poor goal kicking denied NSW a historic win, and wrapping up the series in two matches.

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