Latest news with #NSWRL
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Hasn't served us well': NSW ditch pre-game tradition or State of Origin 3
NSW Blues captain Isaah Yeo says plans to scrap a popular State of Origin tradition are about restoring a sense of normality for the team ahead of Wednesday night's series-deciding game against Queensland. For the last six years, the Blues have warmed up at the adjacent NSWRL Centre of Excellence, before embarking on a four-minute walk through an underground tunnel that connects to their home ground at Accor Stadium. It's one of the most theatrical entrances in Australian sport and takes the Blues players past a who's who of NSW Origin greats, whose faces adorn the tunnel walls before they reach the ground. But NSW coach Laurie Daley flagged a change to the routine after analysing their slow start in Game 2 and wants to simplify the process so the Blues can focus purely on their preparation. "We just want to get over there and be a part of it instead of walking over there (after the warmup)," Daley told "I like getting on a bus and going to a game rather than walking to a game. That's what it is. I'd rather jump on a bus, leave the hotel and go from there and hopefully it's a smoother preparation." And while Yeo admits there are parts of the tradition he loves, the NSW skipper admitted the emotion it can stir up in the players 'hasn't served them overly well' in previous years. The Blues will instead complete their warmup inside the sheds at Accor, before running onto the field through the normal tunnel, which is more in line with how the players approach regular NRL games. 'It can be a really good thing but then previous years it probably hasn't served us overly well in terms of that emotion," Yeo said about plans to scrap the tradition. "I think it's just about being a bit more normal. Any sort of big game you play at Accor normally you're in the actual Accor sheds, so I think that's more of the thinking behind it. "It was probably getting tossed up a bit last year as well." The NSW captain cited Joseph Suaalii's infamous send-off at the start of Game 1 in Sydney last year as evidence that a more low-key entrance would be beneficial in keeping the emotions of the players in check. 'We chose to go with the tunnel and then the incident (Joseph Suaali'i getting sent off) pretty early on and you can probably go (to) hindsight but I just think it's just a bit of normality," he added. "You warm up in the sheds, you do what you normally do in big games. I think that's the way we're going to go.' RELATED: Latrell Mitchell footage that hints at huge NSW switch for Origin 3 Cam Smith responds as NRL considers breaking rule for Wayne Bennett Startling news about who would replace Cameron Munster in Origin 3 The Blues captain declared teammates Brian To'o (knee) and Payne Haas (back) certain starters for Wednesday night's series decider after both came through injury clouds to partake in an opposed session against the the Bulldogs' Jersey Flegg team on Monday. 'They've done everything that we've asked them to do and what the plan was for them leading into the game,' Yeo said on Tuesday morning. 'Bizza (To'o) did most of the session last time, got through unscathed and Payne did the parts that he needed to do.' NSW halfback Nathan Cleary is also good to go, despite an ongoing groin issue that means he won't kick for goal again on Wednesday night. Daley and NSW team manager Frank Ponissi have both indicated that Zac Lomax will be given goal-kicking duties once more, despite only making two from five attempts in Game 2, with Latrell Mitchell and Stephen Crichton handy back-ups if he has another off night.
Perth Now
30-06-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
Star's horror after missing flight to Origin camp
Stefano Utoikamanu's preparations for the State of Origin decider couldn't have gotten off to a worse start after the Blues prop arrived late into camp after he missed his flight from Melbourne to Sydney on Monday morning. As Blues players gathered at the NSWRL, media were told that three squad members would be missing, with Payne Haas getting treatment on his back in Brisbane, while Bradman Best was returning from Hamilton Island. But the biggest story was Utoikamanu, who misread his flight details and arrived just in time for the team's media commitments ahead of game three next Wednesday. 'Not a good way to start. It was something really stupid,' the Storm prop said, worried that he could have been punished for the innocent mistake. 'I looked at my flight and it said 10am departure, but for some reason I thought it meant 10am boarding time. 'I was getting ready to leave about an hour before and I looked at my flight details again. 'I had to call Frank (team performance manager Frank Ponissi) and told him I was going to miss my flight. It was pretty crazy and my head is still rattled. 'I thought I was going to come here and do two interviews, but I ended up doing a lot. I'm still rattled and feel bad that I missed my flight.' Utoikamanu was dropped off by his partner in Tullamarine after a member of the Blues staff booked him on another flight, but it turns out it wasn't necessary. 'I had a pretty good run with the traffic, but I didn't want to risk trying to get there and then missing the flight because that would have made it worse,' he said. 'That flight ended up getting delayed by about 20 minutes, so I think I would have made it anyway.' The hulking prop forward sat next to someone who had no idea who he was, but the waiting Sydney media all had questions for him ahead of the biggest game of his career. Utoikamanu joined the Storm this year so he could play in important matches, and it's taken only half a season for him to take his place on the bench with everything on the line. 'This is the biggest game that I've played in my career,' he said. 'To play here in Sydney makes it even more special to do it in front of all the NSW fans. 'I think I'm just excited to go out and play with this group of boys. I'm still pretty rattled to get to play with all these guys.'
Daily Mail
01-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mail
Anthony Mundine makes heart-warming return to rugby league after 25-year absence
NRL star turned champion boxer Anthony Mundine has attended his first official rugby league function in 25 years, after wanting nothing to do with the sport following his retirement in 2000. Mundine burst onto the scene in the mid-90s, signing with the Dragons at just 18 and making his first grade debut the following year. By the end of the decade he was a State of Origin rep for the Blues, and his electrifying ability suggested he might go on to be one of the all-time greats. However, he walked away from the game he loved in 2000 after growing disillusioned and bitter. Last week, 'The Man' made an emotional return at NSWRL's True Blues Ball in Sydney. 'I was dirty on the game for a long time after I left,' he told News Corp. 'I thought I was 'done wrong' and (denied) from reaching my ultimate dream, which was to play for the Kangaroos. I held a lot of resentment over the years. 'I achieved all my dreams in rugby league and the only goal left was to play for the Kangaroos. I felt I had runs on the board and was tearing it up. 'I was one of the best, premier players in the world. 'I felt I wasn't being treated right by the system. I know I rubbed the system up the wrong with my stances – how passionate and militant I was for my people and the injustices I saw. 'I just called it out. 'Because I was a brash, cocky, confident, loudmouth, Aboriginal boy, telling it how it was, I don't think they liked that too much.' Mundine, who would go on to win three world titles in boxing, explained that his anger has dissipated over the years. 'As you get older, you mellow, so I thought I would go and see some old faces and peers, and show my face,' he said. 'Whether you've played one game for NSW, or 20, you're still a Blue. I played a series so I am a big part of the history. 'I've got a really good relationship with Dave Trodden and I met up with 'Madge' last year so I felt a bit of love, you know what I mean? 'I've been to a couple of Dragons' old boys catch-ups but nothing official. 'It was a 25-year hiatus. 'What was gratifying (at the True Blues Ball) was having a yarn to a few of the boys and brothers – Spencer Leniu and Stephen Crichton.' In 2023, Mundine said he quit playing rugby league because he missed out on selection for the Kangaroos while appearing on SAS Australia. 'I feel like the system was against me,' he told SAS instructor Ant Middleton. 'I debuted in '93. I was 18 years old. I was only a skinny kid. And I was carving up but I felt like I wasn't getting the accolades. If I was a white fella, I would have got...' Middleton then interjected: 'Oh, you believe it came down to race?' Mundine replied: '100 per cent...I knew from a young age I wanted to play for Australia, that was my goal. '(1999) was probably one of my best years. But at the end of that year they were taking a tour to England. I don't know if it was the World Cup but they were taking a tour. 'They picked 42 men to go on this tour. I was the best player in the league, no doubt ... Stats showed that. 100 per cent they showed that. No one close to me in my position.' Middleton said: 'So you obviously got picked for the team?' Mundine replied: 'No. I didn't get picked for the team. The Australian coach said I didn't get picked (because of) my off-field characteristics. I don't drink, I don't smoke, I never took drugs in my life, but I'm very outspoken. 'They just wanted to show me that they were in power. So they didn't pick me ... They crushed me. Crushed me. Devastated me. Ripped my heart out, basically. 'I was playing from a young kid, I started footy when I was four years old.
News.com.au
27-04-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
NSWRL drops women's Origin name amid legal threats from Sydney FC
NSWRL has been forced to drop the name Sky Blues for their women's State of Origin side after threats of legal action were made by A-League's most successful club Sydney FC, who go by the same nickname. Ahead of Thursday night's series opener at Suncorp Stadium, the former moniker 'Sky Blues' has been dropped from all official NSWRL communications as well as the team's social media channels. However, the changes weren't made in time to make cut off dates for new kits for this year's series, which were submitted back in November. The NSW game day jerseys and training kits for staff and players still have the former logo including the words 'Sky Blues' in the crest, which will be worn on Thursday night. The official change on social media channels and communications was made earlier this year after NSWRL relented to ongoing requests from Sydney FC, despite the difference in sporting codes and teams. The A-League giant claims the trademarked moniker 'Sky Blues' is a part of the club's intellectual property and branding of their men's, women's and academy teams, as well as a recognisable part of their club culture and fan songs. It was officially trademarked as the team's nickname a decade ago. Sydney FC's legal attempts to protect their brand escalated in February and to avoid any further action NSWRL bosses opted for an official shift for their representative side to be known as the NSW Blues women instead. The new name aligns branding with the men's team, known as the NSW Blues, as well as the Queensland Maroons women's team. It comes ahead of Thursday night's series opener which is expected to attract a crowd bigger than last year's 25,492 to kick off Magic Round. The new-look NSW Blues arrived in camp in Brisbane on Saturday, and will train at Ballymore Oval on Monday as they plan to avenge back-to-back series losses. Coach John Strange has named a brand new 20-person team, including untested halves combination Tiana Penitani and Jesse Southwell, rookie fullback Abbi Church and fellow debutants Jayme Fressard, Ellie Johnston and Jocelyn Kelleher.
Yahoo
15-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Haynes sidelined in rugby league return
Jarryd Hayne has made his return to the rugby league pitch – just not as he would have hoped – after a hamstring injury scuttled chances for his first game in more than six-and-a-half years. The 37-year-old was due to make his comeback with the Wentworthville Magpies, based in Sydney's west, in the third-tier Ron Massey Cup this season, where he was expected to play five-eighth. Despite signing a one-year contract with the NSWRL earlier this year, the two-time Daly M medal award winner was not named for Saturday's match with the Ryde-Eastwood Hawks. It came after medical staff had reportedly decided Hayne would not play while pushing to return from a hamstring injury, but considered him to have a good chance for next week's bout with the Penrith Brothers. Despite the last-minute shake-up, the former Parramatta Eel winger was pictured on the sideline's of Saturday morning's game at Ringrose Oval in Wentworthville in Sydney's west. Haynes he could be seen laughing and shaking hands with people gathered at the stadium, and was standing with his teammates as they sat on the bench as the game got underway. Once one of the biggest names in NRL after taking the Parramatta Eels to the 2009 grand final, Haynes has not played a rugby league match since he went uncontracted at the end of the 2018 season. Haynes was charged with two counts of sexual intercourse without consent over an alleged incident on the night of the 2018 grand final, for which he was found guilty at two separate trials. He was later released from prison in June 2024 after more than a year behind bars when his conviction was overturned. The 37-year-old has routinely maintained his innocence. He briefly featured in a Nines tournament on the Gold Coast last month, but was limited due to his injury. Wentworthville, a third-tier open-age competition below the NRL and the NSW Cup, acts as a feeder club to Parramatta's NSW Cup side.
