Latest news with #Ciraldo
The Age
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
Mann on a mission to become oldest Kangaroos debutant
He waited 12 seasons and more than 200 NRL games to make his State of Origin debut, becoming the oldest Queensland rookie since the late, great Arthur Beetson in 1980. Now, after helping the Maroons to a stunning series win, 32-year-old Kurt Mann is on track to belatedly realise another childhood dream by becoming the oldest player to debut for the Kangaroos. Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo believed Mann was the best utility player in the NRL when he signed him from Newcastle at the end of the 2023 season. His form since arriving at Belmore has only reaffirmed that opinion, with Ciraldo declaring Mann should 'definitely' be a candidate for Australia's three-Test series against England, which will be the Kangaroos' first Ashes tour in 22 years. 'I think they take 22 players over, and he'd be one of the first I'd choose,' Ciraldo said. If Mann plays during the Ashes series, which kicks at Wembley on October 25, he will become the oldest Kangaroos debutant – breaking a record that dates back 66 years. The only other player to have celebrated his 32nd birthday before first pulling on the green and gold was legendary hardman Billy Wilson, in 1959. If Mann is selected, he will be more than six months older than Wilson was at the time of his debut. Before his Queensland call-up this year, Mann wondered if age would count against him when it came to representative football.
Sydney Morning Herald
3 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Mann on a mission to become oldest Kangaroos debutant
He waited 12 seasons and more than 200 NRL games to make his State of Origin debut, becoming the oldest Queensland rookie since the late, great Arthur Beetson in 1980. Now, after helping the Maroons to a stunning series win, 32-year-old Kurt Mann is on track to belatedly realise another childhood dream by becoming the oldest player to debut for the Kangaroos. Canterbury coach Cameron Ciraldo believed Mann was the best utility player in the NRL when he signed him from Newcastle at the end of the 2023 season. His form since arriving at Belmore has only reaffirmed that opinion, with Ciraldo declaring Mann should 'definitely' be a candidate for Australia's three-Test series against England, which will be the Kangaroos' first Ashes tour in 22 years. 'I think they take 22 players over, and he'd be one of the first I'd choose,' Ciraldo said. If Mann plays during the Ashes series, which kicks at Wembley on October 25, he will become the oldest Kangaroos debutant – breaking a record that dates back 66 years. The only other player to have celebrated his 32nd birthday before first pulling on the green and gold was legendary hardman Billy Wilson, in 1959. If Mann is selected, he will be more than six months older than Wilson was at the time of his debut. Before his Queensland call-up this year, Mann wondered if age would count against him when it came to representative football.
The Advertiser
16-07-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Coach explains reason Dogs dropped Sexton for Galvin
Cameron Ciraldo says Canterbury had to make tough decisions if they want to take it to the NRL's best, after dropping halfback Toby Sexton to bring in Lachlan Galvin. Six weeks after arriving at Belmore, Galvin will play his first game alongside Matt Burton in the halves on Saturday against St George Illawarra. The decision to drop Sexton is one of the toughest of any team this year, after the former Gold Coast No.7 helped take the Bulldogs to the top of the ladder. But after falling to third in recent weeks, Ciraldo said he had to make the tough call in order to challenge the best sides. "The last little period we've been working really hard on our attack," Ciraldo said on SEN. "We've been trying to evolve our attack gearing towards the back end of the year, understanding what's going to beat those top teams who have really good defensive systems. "And we just felt like we weren't sort of getting there."Probably because we're sitting on a good part of the ladder people think you don't have to change. "But we're coming in every day wanting to be a better football team and wanting to be better players, and sometimes you have to make tough decisions around that." Ciraldo said he expected Galvin to benefit from being left out of last week's win over North Queensland, after spending the game with him in the coach's box. Since arriving as a mid-season signing from Wests Tigers last month, Galvin has played two games off the bench and twice started during State of Origin-impacted rounds. He now has eight games to fit into the Bulldogs' structures before finals. "Lachie has been showing some really good signs at training with his natural talent with the ball and with how he can unlock players around him," Ciraldo coach again rejected any suggestion Galvin's arrival had impacted squad harmony, and insisted it had not put unnecessary pressure on Sexton. Sexton has since agreed to move to Catalans in the English Super League next season, after the Bulldogs did not open negotiations for an extension. "He has improved a lot over time. Him leaving for a really good deal at Catalans makes us really proud of the environment we were able to create," Ciraldo said. "It was a tough decision (to drop him) because we love Toby and he's done a great job for us, and we're not giving up on him. "Everyone has that (selection) pressure. "I remember having that conversation with Jacob Preston at the end of last year telling him we were bringing Sitili Tupouniua in. "We've got jobs to do, but we've got a deep squad and that's the great thing we've been able to put together." Meanwhile, Ciraldo revealed Tupouniua was on track to return from a hamstring injury against the Dragons, provided he got through training on Thursday. Cameron Ciraldo says Canterbury had to make tough decisions if they want to take it to the NRL's best, after dropping halfback Toby Sexton to bring in Lachlan Galvin. Six weeks after arriving at Belmore, Galvin will play his first game alongside Matt Burton in the halves on Saturday against St George Illawarra. The decision to drop Sexton is one of the toughest of any team this year, after the former Gold Coast No.7 helped take the Bulldogs to the top of the ladder. But after falling to third in recent weeks, Ciraldo said he had to make the tough call in order to challenge the best sides. "The last little period we've been working really hard on our attack," Ciraldo said on SEN. "We've been trying to evolve our attack gearing towards the back end of the year, understanding what's going to beat those top teams who have really good defensive systems. "And we just felt like we weren't sort of getting there."Probably because we're sitting on a good part of the ladder people think you don't have to change. "But we're coming in every day wanting to be a better football team and wanting to be better players, and sometimes you have to make tough decisions around that." Ciraldo said he expected Galvin to benefit from being left out of last week's win over North Queensland, after spending the game with him in the coach's box. Since arriving as a mid-season signing from Wests Tigers last month, Galvin has played two games off the bench and twice started during State of Origin-impacted rounds. He now has eight games to fit into the Bulldogs' structures before finals. "Lachie has been showing some really good signs at training with his natural talent with the ball and with how he can unlock players around him," Ciraldo coach again rejected any suggestion Galvin's arrival had impacted squad harmony, and insisted it had not put unnecessary pressure on Sexton. Sexton has since agreed to move to Catalans in the English Super League next season, after the Bulldogs did not open negotiations for an extension. "He has improved a lot over time. Him leaving for a really good deal at Catalans makes us really proud of the environment we were able to create," Ciraldo said. "It was a tough decision (to drop him) because we love Toby and he's done a great job for us, and we're not giving up on him. "Everyone has that (selection) pressure. "I remember having that conversation with Jacob Preston at the end of last year telling him we were bringing Sitili Tupouniua in. "We've got jobs to do, but we've got a deep squad and that's the great thing we've been able to put together." Meanwhile, Ciraldo revealed Tupouniua was on track to return from a hamstring injury against the Dragons, provided he got through training on Thursday. Cameron Ciraldo says Canterbury had to make tough decisions if they want to take it to the NRL's best, after dropping halfback Toby Sexton to bring in Lachlan Galvin. Six weeks after arriving at Belmore, Galvin will play his first game alongside Matt Burton in the halves on Saturday against St George Illawarra. The decision to drop Sexton is one of the toughest of any team this year, after the former Gold Coast No.7 helped take the Bulldogs to the top of the ladder. But after falling to third in recent weeks, Ciraldo said he had to make the tough call in order to challenge the best sides. "The last little period we've been working really hard on our attack," Ciraldo said on SEN. "We've been trying to evolve our attack gearing towards the back end of the year, understanding what's going to beat those top teams who have really good defensive systems. "And we just felt like we weren't sort of getting there."Probably because we're sitting on a good part of the ladder people think you don't have to change. "But we're coming in every day wanting to be a better football team and wanting to be better players, and sometimes you have to make tough decisions around that." Ciraldo said he expected Galvin to benefit from being left out of last week's win over North Queensland, after spending the game with him in the coach's box. Since arriving as a mid-season signing from Wests Tigers last month, Galvin has played two games off the bench and twice started during State of Origin-impacted rounds. He now has eight games to fit into the Bulldogs' structures before finals. "Lachie has been showing some really good signs at training with his natural talent with the ball and with how he can unlock players around him," Ciraldo coach again rejected any suggestion Galvin's arrival had impacted squad harmony, and insisted it had not put unnecessary pressure on Sexton. Sexton has since agreed to move to Catalans in the English Super League next season, after the Bulldogs did not open negotiations for an extension. "He has improved a lot over time. Him leaving for a really good deal at Catalans makes us really proud of the environment we were able to create," Ciraldo said. "It was a tough decision (to drop him) because we love Toby and he's done a great job for us, and we're not giving up on him. "Everyone has that (selection) pressure. "I remember having that conversation with Jacob Preston at the end of last year telling him we were bringing Sitili Tupouniua in. "We've got jobs to do, but we've got a deep squad and that's the great thing we've been able to put together." Meanwhile, Ciraldo revealed Tupouniua was on track to return from a hamstring injury against the Dragons, provided he got through training on Thursday.
Sydney Morning Herald
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Is Galvin set for NSW Cup after omission from Bulldogs' top squad?
Mann, in particular, has established himself as Canterbury's first-choice interchange handyman, a role Galvin could potentially have filled. Against the Cowboys, Jaeman Salmon was deployed as bench utility, with the equally versatile Bailey Hayward starting at lock. Barring injuries or suspensions, it's hard to see where Ciraldo can squeeze Galvin into his squad, raising the question of whether he should return to NSW Cup to maintain match fitness while he waits for another top-grade opportunity. Ciraldo indicated it was a case of horses for courses in tropical Townsville, and admitted he had second thoughts about Galvin's omission when Burton left the field in the second half for a head-injury assessment. 'It was a hard one because it would have been nice to have Lachie on when 'Burto' went off,' Ciraldo said. 'I reckon if he [Galvin] was on there [the bench] to bring him on at the back end with fresh legs, I thought he could really have asked some more questions of the Cowboys' defence. 'But I thought we needed four forwards on the bench. [Max King] is backing up from Origin, Jaeman Salmon's first game back. 'We looked at the Cowboys-Melbourne game last week, and a lot of players were cramping up at the back end of the game, so we thought it was really important to carry an extra forward tonight. 'When 'Burto' went off, I was thinking maybe that wasn't the right decision, but it was clearly the right decision, because our forwards worked their arses off. And it was tough. It was hot and humid out there.' Ciraldo offered Galvin a glimmer of hope when he admitted Canterbury's attack looked 'a bit clunky at times', adding that their attack functioned better in back-to-back losses against Penrith and Brisbane, when Galvin played. 'It wasn't our best performance tonight,' Ciraldo said. Loading 'I thought we probably played better the last two weeks, especially with the ball. 'But we just had to scrap out a win tonight. Leaving 'Critta' [Crichton] and Kurt Mann at home, it was important these guys were able to graft out a win. 'Add 'Critta' and Kurt Mann - and Sitili comes back next week - we're starting to get our team back together and we're past this Origin period, and we can get into this last third of the season.' Ciraldo was delighted with the debut of 19-year-old local junior Jethro Rinakama on the wing. He scored Canterbury's second try, carried the ball 183 metres in attack and made all five tackles he attempted. 'I just thought he was brilliant,' Ciraldo said of the 19-year-old local junior.
The Age
13-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
Is Galvin set for NSW Cup after omission from Bulldogs' top squad?
Mann, in particular, has established himself as Canterbury's first-choice interchange handyman, a role Galvin could potentially have filled. Against the Cowboys, Jaeman Salmon was deployed as bench utility, with the equally versatile Bailey Hayward starting at lock. Barring injuries or suspensions, it's hard to see where Ciraldo can squeeze Galvin into his squad, raising the question of whether he should return to NSW Cup to maintain match fitness while he waits for another top-grade opportunity. Ciraldo indicated it was a case of horses for courses in tropical Townsville, and admitted he had second thoughts about Galvin's omission when Burton left the field in the second half for a head-injury assessment. Toby Sexton hoists a bomb against North Queensland. Credit: Getty Images 'It was a hard one because it would have been nice to have Lachie on when 'Burto' went off,' Ciraldo said. 'I reckon if he [Galvin] was on there [the bench] to bring him on at the back end with fresh legs, I thought he could really have asked some more questions of the Cowboys' defence. 'But I thought we needed four forwards on the bench. [Max King] is backing up from Origin, Jaeman Salmon's first game back. 'We looked at the Cowboys-Melbourne game last week, and a lot of players were cramping up at the back end of the game, so we thought it was really important to carry an extra forward tonight. 'When 'Burto' went off, I was thinking maybe that wasn't the right decision, but it was clearly the right decision, because our forwards worked their arses off. And it was tough. It was hot and humid out there.' Ciraldo offered Galvin a glimmer of hope when he admitted Canterbury's attack looked 'a bit clunky at times', adding that their attack functioned better in back-to-back losses against Penrith and Brisbane, when Galvin played. 'It wasn't our best performance tonight,' Ciraldo said. Loading 'I thought we probably played better the last two weeks, especially with the ball. 'But we just had to scrap out a win tonight. Leaving 'Critta' [Crichton] and Kurt Mann at home, it was important these guys were able to graft out a win. 'Add 'Critta' and Kurt Mann - and Sitili comes back next week - we're starting to get our team back together and we're past this Origin period, and we can get into this last third of the season.' Ciraldo was delighted with the debut of 19-year-old local junior Jethro Rinakama on the wing. He scored Canterbury's second try, carried the ball 183 metres in attack and made all five tackles he attempted. 'I just thought he was brilliant,' Ciraldo said of the 19-year-old local junior. NRL is Live and Free on Channel 9 & 9Now Michael Chammas and Andrew 'Joey' Johns dissect the upcoming NRL round, plus the latest footy news, results and analysis. Sign up for the Sin Bin newsletter.
