Latest news with #Kiraz
Sydney Morning Herald
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
From reserve grade to Blues squad, Kiraz is on the cusp of Origin debut
Jacob Kiraz couldn't get a start in the NRL four years ago. Now, he'll make his State of Origin debut if winger Brian To'o isn't fit enough for the decider at Accor Stadium on July 9. With To'o nursing a lateral ligament tear in his knee, Kiraz – the Blues 18th man – is a chance of starting. 'Obviously, Bizza's scan was a good one, but again [he's on] restricted duties, so you just can't afford to take any chances there, that's the reason Jacob's 18th man,' NSW coach Laurie Daley said. 'So, he'll [Kiraz] train the majority of the sessions so he won't miss a beat, so if we need to make that change, we can, we've got that flexibility there, so it won't disrupt our preparation. More importantly, Bizza can try and get right, and Jacob, if he plays, has got a good 11-day prep going into his first Origin. 'You'd like to think by Saturday [To'o is] going to have to do some decent training. It probably still won't be with the team, but you'll have to do some decent training by Saturday.' Kiraz's NRL career has been anything but conventional. After being handed a contract by the Cowboys in 2019, he ended up returning to Sydney when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the country. In 2020, he joined Newcastle on a development contract, but couldn't break out of reserve grade. Since the Bulldogs took a chance on him in 2022, he hasn't disappointed – Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga was so impressed with Kiraz's performance that he picked him in his 2024 squad, before he had to withdraw with a back injury.
The Age
01-07-2025
- Sport
- The Age
From reserve grade to Blues squad, Kiraz is on the cusp of Origin debut
Jacob Kiraz couldn't get a start in the NRL four years ago. Now, he'll make his State of Origin debut if winger Brian To'o isn't fit enough for the decider at Accor Stadium on July 9. With To'o nursing a lateral ligament tear in his knee, Kiraz – the Blues 18th man – is a chance of starting. 'Obviously, Bizza's scan was a good one, but again [he's on] restricted duties, so you just can't afford to take any chances there, that's the reason Jacob's 18th man,' NSW coach Laurie Daley said. 'So, he'll [Kiraz] train the majority of the sessions so he won't miss a beat, so if we need to make that change, we can, we've got that flexibility there, so it won't disrupt our preparation. More importantly, Bizza can try and get right, and Jacob, if he plays, has got a good 11-day prep going into his first Origin. 'You'd like to think by Saturday [To'o is] going to have to do some decent training. It probably still won't be with the team, but you'll have to do some decent training by Saturday.' Kiraz's NRL career has been anything but conventional. After being handed a contract by the Cowboys in 2019, he ended up returning to Sydney when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down the country. In 2020, he joined Newcastle on a development contract, but couldn't break out of reserve grade. Since the Bulldogs took a chance on him in 2022, he hasn't disappointed – Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga was so impressed with Kiraz's performance that he picked him in his 2024 squad, before he had to withdraw with a back injury.
The Advertiser
16-06-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Daley inspiration has Kiraz fighting for Origin dream
Jacob Kiraz admits it was upsetting to just miss out on State of Origin selection but a chat with Laurie Daley has steeled the Canterbury winger to keep fighting for his dream. NSW selectors had been considering both the in-form Bulldog and incumbent Zac Lomax for the right wing spot in last month's series opener. "It's pretty surreal when I first heard my name getting tossed up," Kiraz said. "Being recognised in those squads, it's something you dream of as a kid." But Kiraz went down with a calf injury the day the squad was named, with Lomax going on to star in NSW's game-one win and hold his spot for Wednesday's Origin II. It left him out in the cold once he recovered, after a back injury had also thwarted his hopes of making his Australian debut in the Pacific Championships last year. "I was upset at the time that I couldn't be a part of those (NSW and Australian) squads," Kiraz said. "But I honestly believe everything happens for a reason. When my time is right, it's right." Kiraz was called into Blues camp last week as injury cover for left winger Brian To'o, whose hamstring issue prevented him from training on Thursday. The Bulldogs gun was on stand-by to play in Perth before To'o made it through Saturday's crucial training session to hold his spot on the plane. For Kiraz, spending time in NSW camp was reward on its own with Daley assuring him he was in the front of selectors' minds with his career-best form. "He kind of said, 'you're playing great football and if you keep doing what you're doing, you never know what's around the corner'," Kiraz said. "That inspired me. When you know you're pretty close, it inspires you more and you just want to go out there and keep playing good." Kiraz has bounced back from a frightening neck injury suffered during the 24-18 defeat of South Sydney on Sunday. The winger twisted awkwardly attempting to tackle Rabbitohs fullback Jye Gray and was attended by Bulldogs medical staff as he lay motionless on the turf though managed to play on after a stoppage. "It was a bit of a scare there. My whole neck went numb there for probably a minute," Kiraz said after full-time. "But thank God, it all came back, I got my feeling again. It's a bit stiff now but it probably could have been worse. I'm very lucky." Jacob Kiraz admits it was upsetting to just miss out on State of Origin selection but a chat with Laurie Daley has steeled the Canterbury winger to keep fighting for his dream. NSW selectors had been considering both the in-form Bulldog and incumbent Zac Lomax for the right wing spot in last month's series opener. "It's pretty surreal when I first heard my name getting tossed up," Kiraz said. "Being recognised in those squads, it's something you dream of as a kid." But Kiraz went down with a calf injury the day the squad was named, with Lomax going on to star in NSW's game-one win and hold his spot for Wednesday's Origin II. It left him out in the cold once he recovered, after a back injury had also thwarted his hopes of making his Australian debut in the Pacific Championships last year. "I was upset at the time that I couldn't be a part of those (NSW and Australian) squads," Kiraz said. "But I honestly believe everything happens for a reason. When my time is right, it's right." Kiraz was called into Blues camp last week as injury cover for left winger Brian To'o, whose hamstring issue prevented him from training on Thursday. The Bulldogs gun was on stand-by to play in Perth before To'o made it through Saturday's crucial training session to hold his spot on the plane. For Kiraz, spending time in NSW camp was reward on its own with Daley assuring him he was in the front of selectors' minds with his career-best form. "He kind of said, 'you're playing great football and if you keep doing what you're doing, you never know what's around the corner'," Kiraz said. "That inspired me. When you know you're pretty close, it inspires you more and you just want to go out there and keep playing good." Kiraz has bounced back from a frightening neck injury suffered during the 24-18 defeat of South Sydney on Sunday. The winger twisted awkwardly attempting to tackle Rabbitohs fullback Jye Gray and was attended by Bulldogs medical staff as he lay motionless on the turf though managed to play on after a stoppage. "It was a bit of a scare there. My whole neck went numb there for probably a minute," Kiraz said after full-time. "But thank God, it all came back, I got my feeling again. It's a bit stiff now but it probably could have been worse. I'm very lucky." Jacob Kiraz admits it was upsetting to just miss out on State of Origin selection but a chat with Laurie Daley has steeled the Canterbury winger to keep fighting for his dream. NSW selectors had been considering both the in-form Bulldog and incumbent Zac Lomax for the right wing spot in last month's series opener. "It's pretty surreal when I first heard my name getting tossed up," Kiraz said. "Being recognised in those squads, it's something you dream of as a kid." But Kiraz went down with a calf injury the day the squad was named, with Lomax going on to star in NSW's game-one win and hold his spot for Wednesday's Origin II. It left him out in the cold once he recovered, after a back injury had also thwarted his hopes of making his Australian debut in the Pacific Championships last year. "I was upset at the time that I couldn't be a part of those (NSW and Australian) squads," Kiraz said. "But I honestly believe everything happens for a reason. When my time is right, it's right." Kiraz was called into Blues camp last week as injury cover for left winger Brian To'o, whose hamstring issue prevented him from training on Thursday. The Bulldogs gun was on stand-by to play in Perth before To'o made it through Saturday's crucial training session to hold his spot on the plane. For Kiraz, spending time in NSW camp was reward on its own with Daley assuring him he was in the front of selectors' minds with his career-best form. "He kind of said, 'you're playing great football and if you keep doing what you're doing, you never know what's around the corner'," Kiraz said. "That inspired me. When you know you're pretty close, it inspires you more and you just want to go out there and keep playing good." Kiraz has bounced back from a frightening neck injury suffered during the 24-18 defeat of South Sydney on Sunday. The winger twisted awkwardly attempting to tackle Rabbitohs fullback Jye Gray and was attended by Bulldogs medical staff as he lay motionless on the turf though managed to play on after a stoppage. "It was a bit of a scare there. My whole neck went numb there for probably a minute," Kiraz said after full-time. "But thank God, it all came back, I got my feeling again. It's a bit stiff now but it probably could have been worse. I'm very lucky."
The Advertiser
11-06-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Kiraz called in as Blues star sidelined from training
NSW have called Jacob Kiraz into camp as cover for Brian To'o, with the Penrith winger battling hamstring soreness seven days out from State of Origin II. Blues officials insisted on Wednesday that Kiraz's call up was only precautionary, with NSW medical staff keen to keep To'o off his feet on Thursday. To'o is believed to have pulled up sore from Penrith's win over Wests Tigers on Sunday, and has already battled two hamstring injuries earlier this year. NSW are confident the Samoan winger will be fine to train on Saturday, before the team flies to Perth on Sunday and attempts to wrap up the series next Wednesday. The Blues have an opposed session against The Entrance's team from Newcastle's rugby league competition on Thursday, and want a natural winger to feature in the game. Kiraz has not previously featured in a NSW squad, but the Canterbury flyer was favoured to win a spot on the wing for game one before a calf injury ruled him out. NSW do have other outside backs in camp with Brisbane centre Kotoni Staggs and Penrith winger Tom Jenkins brought in as extra training bodies earlier in the week. Matt Burton is also in the team as 18th man having previously played as a centre, but Kiraz is clearly the top option if To'o has further setbacks. To'o's fitness will be key to the Blues' hopes of winning in Perth, given he has been the best winger in the NRL for the past five years and a leader for early-set yardage. NSW have already suffered one blow ahead of Origin II, with Warriors prop Mitchell Barnett ruled out a fortnight ago when he suffered a season-ending ACL rupture. NSW have called Jacob Kiraz into camp as cover for Brian To'o, with the Penrith winger battling hamstring soreness seven days out from State of Origin II. Blues officials insisted on Wednesday that Kiraz's call up was only precautionary, with NSW medical staff keen to keep To'o off his feet on Thursday. To'o is believed to have pulled up sore from Penrith's win over Wests Tigers on Sunday, and has already battled two hamstring injuries earlier this year. NSW are confident the Samoan winger will be fine to train on Saturday, before the team flies to Perth on Sunday and attempts to wrap up the series next Wednesday. The Blues have an opposed session against The Entrance's team from Newcastle's rugby league competition on Thursday, and want a natural winger to feature in the game. Kiraz has not previously featured in a NSW squad, but the Canterbury flyer was favoured to win a spot on the wing for game one before a calf injury ruled him out. NSW do have other outside backs in camp with Brisbane centre Kotoni Staggs and Penrith winger Tom Jenkins brought in as extra training bodies earlier in the week. Matt Burton is also in the team as 18th man having previously played as a centre, but Kiraz is clearly the top option if To'o has further setbacks. To'o's fitness will be key to the Blues' hopes of winning in Perth, given he has been the best winger in the NRL for the past five years and a leader for early-set yardage. NSW have already suffered one blow ahead of Origin II, with Warriors prop Mitchell Barnett ruled out a fortnight ago when he suffered a season-ending ACL rupture. NSW have called Jacob Kiraz into camp as cover for Brian To'o, with the Penrith winger battling hamstring soreness seven days out from State of Origin II. Blues officials insisted on Wednesday that Kiraz's call up was only precautionary, with NSW medical staff keen to keep To'o off his feet on Thursday. To'o is believed to have pulled up sore from Penrith's win over Wests Tigers on Sunday, and has already battled two hamstring injuries earlier this year. NSW are confident the Samoan winger will be fine to train on Saturday, before the team flies to Perth on Sunday and attempts to wrap up the series next Wednesday. The Blues have an opposed session against The Entrance's team from Newcastle's rugby league competition on Thursday, and want a natural winger to feature in the game. Kiraz has not previously featured in a NSW squad, but the Canterbury flyer was favoured to win a spot on the wing for game one before a calf injury ruled him out. NSW do have other outside backs in camp with Brisbane centre Kotoni Staggs and Penrith winger Tom Jenkins brought in as extra training bodies earlier in the week. Matt Burton is also in the team as 18th man having previously played as a centre, but Kiraz is clearly the top option if To'o has further setbacks. To'o's fitness will be key to the Blues' hopes of winning in Perth, given he has been the best winger in the NRL for the past five years and a leader for early-set yardage. NSW have already suffered one blow ahead of Origin II, with Warriors prop Mitchell Barnett ruled out a fortnight ago when he suffered a season-ending ACL rupture.
Perth Now
11-06-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Kiraz called in as Blues winger sidelined from training
NSW have called Jacob Kiraz into camp as cover for Brian To'o, with the Penrith winger reporting hamstring soreness one week out from State of Origin II. Blues officials insisted on Wednesday that Kiraz's call up was only precautionary, with NSW medical staff keen to keep To'o off his feet on Thursday. To'o is believed to have pulled up sore from Penrith's win over Wests Tigers on Sunday, and has battled two hamstring injuries earlier this year. NSW are confident the Samoan winger will be fine to train on Saturday, before the team flies to Perth on Sunday and attempts to wrap up the series next Wednesday. The Blues have an opposed session against The Entrance's Ron Massey Cup team on Thursday, and want a natural winger to feature in the game. Kiraz has not previously featured in a NSW squad, but the Canterbury flyer was favoured to win a spot on the wing for game one before a calf injury ruled him out. NSW do have other outside backs in camp with Brisbane centre Kotoni Staggs and Penrith winger Tom Jenkins brought in as extra training bodies earlier in the week.
