Latest news with #NRLGrandFinal
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
English footy star reveals how he almost LOST his leg after a spider bite: 'It was a real welcome to Australia'
John Bateman has faced some of the toughest assignments getting around on the footy field, but nothing could prepare him for Australia's deadly wildlife - that almost cost him his leg. The incident happened in Perth when the Cowboys were scheduled to play the South Sydney Rabbitohs on April 12 and Bateman was a late scratching. Now it can be revealed that his absence from the team was because of a spider bite that was so severe, the English international nearly lost his leg. 'I think it [the spider] was on the field, and it bit me on my leg. I wasn't too sure what it was, I've never had to worry about that before,' Bateman told 'I had a rough sleep on Wednesday night, and I literally got rushed to hospital on Thursday morning. 'It was pretty bad. I was just hot and cold, and my leg from above my knee to beneath my ankle went all red, so I was pretty worried. 'But when I got into the hospital, I just said to the doctor, 'just make sure I'm ready for the game on Saturday'. 'Then on the Friday morning he came back in, because they had taken bloods, and he said, 'mate, there is no chance of you playing, we're just looking to save your leg'.' News quickly got back to the UK where his family, including his daughter Millie, still resides. 'They were just as shocked as I was, but I was in the best place and it's a credit to Perth Hospital,' he said. 'I got away in one piece, but it was a real 'welcome to Australia,' put it that way.' Bateman began his NRL career in Australia with the Canberra Raiders in 2019, quickly becoming a fan favourite. Known for his aggressive defence and high work rate, he played a key role in Canberra's run to the 2019 NRL Grand Final. After two standout seasons, he returned to the UK in 2021 to rejoin Wigan, citing a desire to be closer to family. Bateman remained a dominant force in the Super League before seeking another opportunity in the NRL. In 2023, he signed with the Wests Tigers, but struggled to find consistency in a struggling side. Despite his strong individual efforts, the Tigers failed to climb the ladder, and Bateman's future became uncertain. By the end of the 2024 season, rumours swirled about a potential move back to Queensland. The North Queensland Cowboys secured his signature, aiming to bolster their forward pack with his experience. Bateman spoke about the dramatic change in conditions from Bradford to tropical north Queensland and how he had to adapt - including the deadly wildlife. 'I got there on January 2 and for a lad from the north of England it was a lot different to where I'm from,' he said. 'It's not really the sun, it's more the humidity and when you're running you just get fatigued quick. It's really tough, it zaps the energy out of you and I think it's so hard to actually get fit in the heat. 'When you get to a certain point, you can normally push through it anywhere else in the world, but because of the humidity it just literally takes it all out of you and you can't continue running. 'I'm sure every other player that's played up in Townsville will vouch for that. You've just got to get used to it.' Bateman also backed under-fire coach Todd Payten, who has come under scrutiny as the Cowboys crashed out of finals contention despite boasting a strong roster including a host of internationals and State of Origin representatives. 'Todd is pretty straight down the line like some of the other coaches I've had - Shaun Wane, Wayne Bennett, and Ricky Stuart. He tells you how it is so you know where you stand and I like that,' Bateman said.
Courier-Mail
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Video rocks NRL as Panthers caught red-handed in ugly act
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Penrith has got some explaining to do with a viral video appearing to catch a veteran trainer red-handed during the Panthers' golden point thriller against the Cowboys. The 30-30 draw was full of controversy as both clubs butchered field goal attempts in extra time at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville on Saturday night. Watch your team in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership. Stream every round LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play, on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. It appears the most controversial moment of all has only been revealed after the match with amateur sideline footage appearing to show Panthers trainer Shane Elford spraying the ball with liquid from a water bottle before the opening period of golden point. X The viral clip showed the Steeden was left dripping wet after Elford had twice sprayed the ball before handing it to fullback Dylan Edwards to kick-off. The Penrith Panthers have told the club is aware of the video. As first reported by Code Sports, the NRL is also aware of the video. Cowboys coach Todd Payten has told Code Sports, his coaching staff noticed Elford doing the same thing throughout the match. Shane Elford appeared to spray the Steeden with the water bottle. Photo: Fox League and X, @TeddyCJD. 'He did it before every kick-off,' Payten said. 'We noticed it in the (coaching) box. I will let the NRL handle it. I don't know what they're going to do but it was noticeable to us, definitely. 'I don't want to say anymore.' At one point of the viral clip, Elford is seen spraying the ball while talking to hooker Mitch Kenny with other players standing nearby as he committed the act. Elford hands the ball to Edwards. Panthers trainer Shane Elford chats to Mitch Kenny. Pic: Fox League Wetting the ball makes it heavier and more slippery for opposition teams to handle. It is not the only time Elford and Panthers trainers have been accused of overstepping the mark. There were calls before the 2022 NRL Grand Final for Panthers trainers Pete Green and Elford to be banned from the season finale after a series of incidents with opposition players. Saturday night's incident is now expected to be scrutinised by NRL officials. The Panthers have their own reasons for being upset after the referees missed an off-side infringement that would have given Penrith an opportunity to kick a match winning penalty goal. With scores locked at 30-30 with a minute and a half to play in regulation time, a Panthers kick appeared to hit Scott Drinkwater on the foot before falling to John Bateman in an off-side position. The referee ruled play on, but a penalty goal would have given Nathan Cleary a kick from 30 metres out to ice the win. Originally published as Video rocks NRL as Panthers caught red-handed in ugly act
News.com.au
04-05-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Nathan Cleary stuns Brisbane Broncos with Grand Final flashback try
Nathan Cleary loves nothing more than haunting the Brisbane Broncos. The Penrith Panthers superstar displayed his damaging best on Sunday at Suncorp Stadium as he guided his side to a thumping 32-8 win. But in scenes that would have left Broncos fans far and wide suffering PTSD, Cleary produced an eerily similar try to the one that tore the hearts out of Brisbane during the 2023 NRL Grand Final. Cleary took the ball at first receiver on the left with five Brisbane defenders all sliding before he stepped inside and went past Adam Reynolds with ease to cross and score. The try was a carbon copy of his heroics in the dying stages of the Grand Final that secured the win for the Panths. 'That's grand final like, that was the last try of the grand final,' Andrew Johns said of the Magic Round try. Billy Slater added: 'That's identical'. Fans watching on couldn't quite believe the heroics Cleary was once again producing against the Broncos. One Brisbane fan wrote: 'Nathan Cleary will always Own us. You don't understand how much hate I have for that man.' Another NRL fan added: 'Nathan Cleary rents space in the Broncos head. Plays games with them.' Multiple fans also made reference to Cleary channelling Michael Jordan anytime he lines up against Brisbane. NRL Immortal Andrew Johns was glowing in his praise of Cleary and his display on Sunday. 'He's been a 10 out of 10 today,' Johns said. 'That early kick then he went down and smashed Cobbo, this could really be turning point in the Panthers season. He has just dragged them along.' On the eve of Origin selection, Cleary had a hand in everything as he booted the Broncos off the park. 'He's got that in him doesn't he and it's this time of year where those players start to rise. Credit to him, he played a good game,' Broncos coach Michael Maguire conceded. Panthers coach Ivan Cleary added: 'It was good to see him play well, I feel like he's been playing well anyway but as a team we just weren't clicking together and functioning as well as we could but we're still trying to find our way too.' Premiership-winning playmaker Braith Anasta said it was Cleary who broke the game open and ultimately decided the result. 'Cleary, he's one of the greats and today he really delivered. Throughout that first 40 minutes he had some magic touches, he changed the game with some big plays and it was great to see him back, smiling, playing some good footy and leading this team around with absolute class,' Anasta said on Fox League.
Daily Mail
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Revealed: How a simple running race kicked off a rivalry between two of the NRL's best ever coaches
Footy great Matty Johns has pinpointed the moment that ignited the decades-long rivalry between Wayne Bennet and Craig Bellamy. The coaching greats had once been best mates but over the years have traded barbs and will now come up against each other once again on Friday night as the Storm take on the Rabbitohs at AAMI Park. It appears their careers have forever been entwined, with Bellamy being signed as a co-coach for the Canberra Raiders back in 1987. Bellamy, a former five-eighth, was on the Raiders' list at the time, but his side were seriously struggling for form. Following his appointment, Bennett opted to implement new fitness plans for his players. One measure that was introduced saw Bennett make his players undergo a 10km torture run each week. 'Bennett would not only join the players on the run - he would win. Every week. Easily,' Johns wrote in his column in The Daily Telegraph. Bellamy, though, had been ruled out of pre-season before the beginning of the 1987 premiership campaign with a calf injury. But a month into the new season, he was able to have a stab at the 10km race. It was here that he would put the Raider's coach through his paces. After having taken the lead, Bennett was passed by Bellamy, who had zoomed past the footy boss. In fact, this, according to Johns, was the 'beginning of their long relationship and symbolic of their fierce rivalry.' After hanging up his boots in 1991, Bellamy would seek out a career in coaching, with Bellamy hiring him as a performance coordinator and assistant coach during his time at the Brisbane Broncos. The team won the NRL Grand Final the following year in 1998. He had learned many things about footy and coaching from his old mentor Bennett during that time, including a lesson that you are meant to treat players differently. Johns recounted how Bellamy had become infuriated after spotting skipper Allan Langer chatting to a man on a walk at the edge of the Bronco's training ground fence. He had attempted to go and talk to Langer and tell him to pull up his socks but Bennett stopped him, asking him where he was going. Johns recounted Bennett telling him: 'You f***ing leave him alone, that's what he does.' Over the years, the pair have come head-to-head on 35 occasions, with Bellamy winning 29 of those matches. Bennett's Bunnies are coming off the back of a dismal 32-0 defeat by the Bulldogs last week, their second successive loss after suffering an eight-point defeat to the Cowboys the week prior. Despite going second in the NRL ladder, Storm also slumped to a disappointing 42-22 defeat by the Dolphins last week. The Melbourne-based side has been rocked by a spate of injuries in recent weeks, with Will Warbrick set to miss out on Friday's clash with a concussion injury. Captain Harry Grant and Jack Howarth are both out with a hamstring problem and a dislocated shoulder. 'It has been testing but there are other clubs in the same boat. we're just struggling to put a 17 out there at the moment,' he said. 'We've already been looking at (bringing in players) since Christian retired. I'm not quite sure why we haven't got someone in. There are not too many clubs willing to release players. 'We need to make sure we get the best out of what we've got.'
News.com.au
22-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Jett Cleary shows glimpses of famous brother
Jett Cleary was involved in two tries in the Warriors' Jersey Flegg win over the Dragons that had shades of his brother Nathan's iconic performance in the 2023 NRL Grand Final.
