Latest news with #MichaelCarayannis
ABC News
10 hours ago
- Health
- ABC News
Mark Hughes: I'm constantly reminded how tough this disease is
The Beanies for Brain Cancer Round has become part of the NRL furniture with players, fans and commentators donning the beanies to raise money each year. The man behind it - former Knight Mark Hughes (32.37) - chatted to Andrew Moore and the team about how it continues to exceed his expectations. And while he's in good health he explained that his work with the Charity never lets him forget how hard it is to deal with the disease. Plus Michael Carayannis is along with all the latest Rugby League news - and speculation - in MC's Hammertime (44:33).
News.com.au
18-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
The moment that decided Origin II: Maroons finally stop To'o
Michael Carayannis and Brent Read unpack how the Maroons right edge was finally able to stop Brian To'o when the Blues threatened to steal the match - and the series.
News.com.au
09-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘I want to coach again': Walters responds to Titans link amid brutal Des Hasler contract clause
Kevin Walters has addressed being linked to replacing under-pressure Titans coach Des Hasler. Walters was brutally sacked by the Broncos last October just 12 months after taking the club the grand final. The 57-year-old admitted he wants to coach in the NRL again but said it was 'disrespectful' to talk about the Gold Coast role given Hasler was still in it. 'I've always said that I want to coach again at some stage but I think it's a bit disrespectful to Des and the Titans,' Walters said. 'We're into Round 10, I think Des has got a job to do there. Sure some things haven't gone right for them this year but I'm sure he can turn it around and the Titans can turn it around. 'Do I want to coach again? Yes, I've said that openly lots of times. But when the time is right and the team is right so now I just feel like it's just a bit disrespectful to be speaking about a coach that… and I've walked in Des' shoes as a coach. 'I think that Des more than anyone needs the respect that he needs to be given… he's only 12 months into the job. I feel like people in the game are pulling the trigger pretty early.' Hasler is facing the sack with his Titans needing to win 12 of their remaining 16 games this season to ensure the veteran coach avoids the axe in 2025. It has been revealed that Hasler's three-year contract has performance clauses that require the Gold Coast to play finals in 2025, according to The Daily Telegraph. The journalist who broke the story, Michael Carayannis, revealed what those clauses entailed. 'Massive news … He originally signed a three-year deal but there's clauses in his deal and one of those is a top eight clause,' Carayannis said. 'That is if they don't make the top eight this year, the Titans are under no obligation to keep him at the club next yet. 'There's another element to it and that's if when they are mathematically no chance of playing finals footy, they can split immediately.' The Titans have won just two of their opening eight games and look next to no chance of playing finals for just the third time since 2011. The number of premiership points required to play finals varies from season to season, but 14 wins guarantees a team a spot in September. The Titans snuck in with 10 wins in 2021 but the Broncos missed out on 13 wins the very next year and that wasn't even on point differential. Hasler could reportedly be sacked this as soon as his side are eliminated from finals contention and there won't be any financial repercussions for the club. Fox League's James Hooper believes the Titans are 'gearing up' to make a big decision with their coach. 'It's a results driven business. His winning strike rate since he's been there hasn't been great,' Hooper said. 'I think that the way it's shaping up and the way people are talking around the game, I think the Titans are gearing up to make a tough decision. 'If I'm the Gold Coast, I'd be giving a little bit more time as I do think he has runs on the board, but from talking to people around the league, it is an issue.' Carayannis called the Titans' decision to add the clauses as 'shrewd management' given Hasler's history with former clubs the Bulldogs and Sea Eagles. With both clubs, Hasler has ended up in monetary disputes. 'We've seen Des Hasler end up in the courtroom with his past two clubs and it hasn't ended very well,' Carayannis said. 'This is a way to safeguard them and if Des has success, well he gets next year. If not, it's a decision the club has control over and that's not something that has happened around Des at the past couple of clubs.' The 64-year-old two-time premiership-winning coach has the second worst winning record of any full-time Titans coach except for Garth Brennan. He'll have the worst if the Titans lose their next two games, against the Knights and Raiders. Hasler is only 10 games shy of hitting the 500-game mark after stints at Sea Eagles and Bulldogs before arriving on the Gold Coast. Wayne Bennett, Tim Sheens, Craig Bellamy, Ricky Stuart and Brian Smith are the only coaches to have overseen more NRL games than Hasler. The NRL360 panel discussed what coaches the Titans could look at if they do end up moving on from Hasler. 'It's a tough call because they signed a two-time premiership winning coach and they haven't improved. That's the concern Are they any better than when he took over? I don't think they are,' Carayannis said. 'They've gone for rookie coaches. They had Justin Holbrook and Garth Brennan. They've gone for experienced coaches in Neil Henry and John Cartwright. And now they've gone for a premiership winner in Des. None of them except John Cartwright have had success. 'The best young coaches at the moment that aren't coaching in the NRL are Ben Hornby, Willie Peters, Matt King, Dean Young, Josh Hannay. 'That's where I would go.' Hooper meanwhile, raised another name. 'Kevin Walters. That is a name that automatically springs to mind for me because he's a Queenslander,' Hooper said. 'It's a bit tricky because he works here at Fox League but if they were to draw up a hit list, I'm thinking his name would be right at the top of it.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kevin Walters in eye-opening move on live TV amid links to replace NRL coach
Kevin Walters insists he wants to coach again in the NRL but has refused to address speculation he's in line to replace Des Hasler at the Titans after describing it as "disrespectful" to the veteran coach. Hasler's job at the Gold Coast is under fire after a poor start to the season that sees the Titans sitting 16th on the ladder after just two wins in eight games. It's now emerged that the under-siege coach has a number of performance-related clauses in his contract that could see the Titans axe Hasler without needing to pay him out, if the veteran mentor cannot turn things around. News Corp reports that Hasler faces the axe if Gold Coast don't make the top-eight and play finals footy this season. The Daily Telegraph's Michael Carayannis says the clauses also state that if Gold Coast are mathematically out of finals contention later in the season, then the Titans can decide to part ways with the veteran coach then and there. 'He originally signed a three-year deal but there's clauses in his deal and one of those is a top-eight clause,' Carayannis said. 'That is if they don't make the top eight this year, the Titans are under no obligation to keep him at the club next yet. There's another element to it and that's if when they are mathematically no chance of playing finals footy, they can split immediately." With 14 wins generally accepted as the number necessary to play finals footy in most years, it means Hasler's Titans would have to win 12 of their remaining 14 games this season for his job to be safe. The Titans have been hurt by a number of injuries to key players already this season, with Kiwi Test fullback Keano Kini the biggest blow after being ruled out for the season. Former rep forward David Fifita has also experienced complications from pre-season ankle surgery that's set to keep him sidelined for an extended period. The underwhelming form of the rampaging back-rower has been a major issue for Hasler in 2025 and so too has the defence of the Titans, whose 250 points conceded is the second-worst behind only the bottom-placed Eels. As a consequence, Hasler's job has come under massive scrutiny, amid reports Walters is being lined up as a potential candidate to replace the Gold Coast coach. Walters was controversially axed as coach of the Broncos after failing to make the finals last year, despite leading them to the grand final the year before. Walters has since moved into a media role with Fox League as one of the expert analysts on their league coverage but he's made it clear he'd love to return to an NRL head coaching job in the future. And according to The Courier Mail, Fox Sports bosses won't stand in his way if Walters has an NRL coaching job lined up. But Walters has refused to add credence to reports he's being lined up to replace Hasler at the Titans after throwing his support behind the embattled coach. 'I've always said that I want to coach again at some stage but I think it's a bit disrespectful to Des and the Titans,' Walters said. 'We're into Round 10, I think Des has got a job to do there. Sure some things haven't gone right for them this year but I'm sure he can turn it around and the Titans can turn it around. Do I want to coach again? Yes, I've said that openly lots of times. But when the time is right and the team is right so now I just feel like it's just a bit disrespectful to be speaking about a coach that… and I've walked in Des' shoes as a coach. Gold Coast missed the finals last year after finishing 14th in Hasler's first season as head coach, although they were missing their captain and best player Tino Fa'asuamaleaui all season. Barring a miraculous turnaround in 2025, the Titans are set to miss out on the top-eight again. But Walters says he feels for two-time premiership winning coach Hasler, and says he's earned the right to be afforded more time with the club. 'I think that Des more than anyone needs the respect that he needs to be given... he's only 12 months into the job," Walters added. "I feel like people in the game are pulling the trigger pretty early.'
ABC News
08-05-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Karyn Murphy: "The pureness, rawness and speed is what sets the Women's Game apart""
It's Women in League Round and there are few who have done more in the game than Karyn Murphy (43:59). Not only did she play in 4 World Cups across 15 year career but she led the Jillaroos to their 1st World Cup win in 2013. These days she's coaching the Gold Coast Titans in the NRLW and the Hall of Famer explained her journey in the sport to Andrew Moore and Matthew Elliott. There's also a deep dive into the official announcement of the Perth Bears in MC's Hammertime (19.26) with Michael Carayannis braving the elements (or shirking child care responsibilities) to bring us the latest news. And you can get some tipping guidance in Christopher's Corner (10:37)
