Latest news with #ImmortalBehaviour
Sydney Morning Herald
4 days ago
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
Johns' critical advice for Lomax after conversion woes: Immortal Behaviour Ep15
Join Allana Ferguson and Andrew Johns as they discuss the best way for Zac Lomax to put his Game 2 kicking woes behind him. Will Billy swap out Kalyn Ponga for an informed Reece Walsh? With so many players on the market, where will the likes of Will Kenned and Selwyn Cobbo play next year? All that and more on Immortal Behaviour!
The Age
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Age
Johns' critical advice for Lomax after conversion woes: Immortal Behaviour Ep15
Join Allana Ferguson and Andrew Johns as they discuss the best way for Zac Lomax to put his Game 2 kicking woes behind him. Will Billy swap out Kalyn Ponga for an informed Reece Walsh? With so many players on the market, where will the likes of Will Kenned and Selwyn Cobbo play next year? All that and more on Immortal Behaviour!
Sydney Morning Herald
21-06-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
NSW nearly lost Cleary and Moses to injury. Who are the halves next in line?
Isaiya Katoa continues to earn rave reviews for his displays at the Dolphins, especially as the club has run up some big scores in recent weeks. Immortal Andrew Johns has publicly praised Katoa on several occasions for the way he plays straight and regularly digs into the line, already anointing him Cleary's long-term NSW No.7 successor. When asked about the 21-year-old being parachuted into Origin III at Accor Stadium in the event of any fresh injuries, Johns said on Nine's Immortal Behaviour: 'Katoa is special. I worry about his age. He'd handle it, but you don't want to burn him too early. Coming in with the series on the line is a lot of pressure. [Queenslander] Tom Dearden got it done coming into game two … [but] on the back of eight [first-half] penalties.' NSW coach Laurie Daley is also a fan of Katoa, but it is unlikely he would throw a 21-year-old in for his Origin debut in an all-or-nothing decider. Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf has worked with Katoa for several years, including with the Tongan Test team, and while he knows Katoa is in wonderful form he is also mindful of keeping a lid on the hype. 'He's an exceptional young man, I love the way he carries himself, the way he goes about his work in terms of wanting to be the best player he can be – and how hard he works at that – and his calm nature,' Woolf said. 'He's calm around the club, he's calm on the field, and that's why he's getting better each week.' New Zealand Warriors playmaker Luke Metcalf is enjoying a breakout season and currently sits in the top half of contenders in the Dally M race, but was struggling with what looked like a quad injury in the late stages of yesterday's defeat to Penrith. Like Katoa, he would find it a big ask to play his first Origin game with everything at stake. Loading The same line of thinking would also be why Canterbury recruit Lachie Galvin would not be considered, even though he is a future Blue in the making. Broncos captain Adam Reynolds has played Origin in the past and was just last week weighing up a move to the Tigers, where he would have joined Luai. Thankfully for the Blues and Daley, Cleary, Burton and Luai will have all finished their NRL commitments by next Friday night. Hopefully, this debate is not being had this time next week.
The Age
21-06-2025
- Sport
- The Age
NSW nearly lost Cleary and Moses to injury. Who are the halves next in line?
Isaiya Katoa continues to earn rave reviews for his displays at the Dolphins, especially as the club has run up some big scores in recent weeks. Immortal Andrew Johns has publicly praised Katoa on several occasions for the way he plays straight and regularly digs into the line, already anointing him Cleary's long-term NSW No.7 successor. When asked about the 21-year-old being parachuted into Origin III at Accor Stadium in the event of any fresh injuries, Johns said on Nine's Immortal Behaviour: 'Katoa is special. I worry about his age. He'd handle it, but you don't want to burn him too early. Coming in with the series on the line is a lot of pressure. [Queenslander] Tom Dearden got it done coming into game two … [but] on the back of eight [first-half] penalties.' NSW coach Laurie Daley is also a fan of Katoa, but it is unlikely he would throw a 21-year-old in for his Origin debut in an all-or-nothing decider. Dolphins coach Kristian Woolf has worked with Katoa for several years, including with the Tongan Test team, and while he knows Katoa is in wonderful form he is also mindful of keeping a lid on the hype. 'He's an exceptional young man, I love the way he carries himself, the way he goes about his work in terms of wanting to be the best player he can be – and how hard he works at that – and his calm nature,' Woolf said. 'He's calm around the club, he's calm on the field, and that's why he's getting better each week.' New Zealand Warriors playmaker Luke Metcalf is enjoying a breakout season and currently sits in the top half of contenders in the Dally M race, but was struggling with what looked like a quad injury in the late stages of yesterday's defeat to Penrith. Like Katoa, he would find it a big ask to play his first Origin game with everything at stake. Loading The same line of thinking would also be why Canterbury recruit Lachie Galvin would not be considered, even though he is a future Blue in the making. Broncos captain Adam Reynolds has played Origin in the past and was just last week weighing up a move to the Tigers, where he would have joined Luai. Thankfully for the Blues and Daley, Cleary, Burton and Luai will have all finished their NRL commitments by next Friday night. Hopefully, this debate is not being had this time next week.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Cameron Munster switch gathers steam as Ponga faces brutal axing from Origin
Cameron Munster playing fullback for Queensland might not be as far-fetcher as it seems, particularly after another uninspiring performance from Kalyn Ponga on Friday night. Ponga started the year in superb form and edged ahead of Reece Walsh in the race to be Billy Slater's Maroons fullback. With Walsh suffering a knee injury and ruled out of Origin 1, the spot is there for the taking for Ponga. But the Knights have now lost seven of their last eight games, and Ponga's form has fallen off a cliff. The superstar fullback had 22 runs for a whopping 254 metres in a 28-6 loss to Parramatta on Friday night. He broke six tackles and made two line-breaks, helping set up the Knights' only try to James Schiller. It was probably enough to convince Slater to pick him in Origin 1 on May 28, but many were left suggesting the concerning dip in form might be too big of a risk. Slater has the option of using Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow at fullback, but would likely prefer he remains in the centres. There have also been whispers in recent days that Slater is even considering using Munster at fullback to accomodate Tom Dearden at five-eighth. Dearden has been in good form for the Cowboys and is the incumbent No.6 for the Australian Kangaroos. With Daly Cherry-Evans seemingly a lock to play halfback despite some poor form of his own, Slater could look to utilise both Munster and Dearden in the starting team. It would mean Ponga is forced to play the No.14 role off the bench, or miss out entirely. Injured utility Ben Hunt even flagged the possibility of Munster playing fullback this week. "There's definitely really good options - depending on what Billy wants to do," he said on 4BC radio. "You're hearing some chat about maybe Munster going to fullback and things like that. If he wants to put Munster at fullback and start Tommy (Dearden) in the halves, then you've got KP (Kalyn Ponga) on the bench, so that's pretty handy as well. [Ponga's] debut he played in the middle and was probably our best player. He wouldn't be a bad option." RELATED: Stephen Crichton learns fate after calls for State of Origin ban Blow for NSW as forward set to be ruled out of Origin opener Ponga started on the bench in Game 3 last year with Walsh at fullback, but wasn't particularly effective when he came on the field. The Maroons' attack looked a bit clunky, with too many playmakers trying to get involved. Discussing the possibility of Munster playing fullback on Friday, NRL Immortal Andrew Johns described it as "ridiculous". He said on the 'Immortal Behaviour' podcast: "You don't weaken one position to strengthen another. Munster hasn't played fullback for a long time and fitness-wise, it's totally different - you are doing a lot more running. "You're also organising the defensive line, that's an art in itself. It won't happen … not at all." Speaking on Friday night after Newcastle's loss, Ponga admitted his form isn't where he'd like it to be. 'I want to be there obviously," he said of State of Origin selection. "It's a prestigious jersey. It's an honour to wear (the Queensland) jersey. I would love to be in that arena again.' Ponga is terrible. Munster deserves the fullback spot over him. #NRLKnightsEels — Daniel (@danieleth00) May 16, 2025 Ponga will lose the origin series for us if he's picked at FB for QLD — Gillyman (@gillyman96) May 16, 2025
