Latest news with #Origin2
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Blow for Melbourne Storm and Queensland as star ruled out of State of Origin 3
The Melbourne Storm have revealed young star Jack Howarth will miss the next few weeks after undergoing surgery to remove his appendix, ruling him out of State of Origin 3. The centre was 19th man for Queensland in Origin 2 and the next cab off the rank if coach Billy Slater wanted to make a change to his back-line for the decider. The 22-year-old has been on Slater's radar for the last 12 months, but has endured an injury-plagued season in 2025. He missed six weeks earlier this year after dislocating his shoulder, which ruled him out of contention for Origin 1. And appendicitis has now seen his chances of playing in Game 3 ruined as well. The Storm's General Manager of Football Frank Ponissi revealed on Wednesday: 'Jack came down with appendicitis yesterday (Tuesday) and had surgery to remove his appendix last night. Unfortunately, it rules Jack out for the next few weeks, including this Sunday's game against the Sharks and State of Origin with Queensland.' According to renowned 'NRL Physio' Brien Seeney, the usual return to play timeframe after an appendix removal is 3-5 weeks. Seeney noted the fastest return after appendix surgery was Adam Reynolds in 2017, who only missed two weeks. It comes as a cruel blow for Howarth, who's been knocking down the door for Origin selection after a breakout year in 2024. Robert Toia has emerged as a State of Origin star for the Maroons, but it looked like Howarth had his nose in front before the shoulder injury ruined his chances of debuting in Game 1. Jack Howarth is out this week after requiring surgery to have his appendix removed. Storm expect him to miss at least a few weeks (+ Origin 3).Return time can vary, but most are in the 3-5 week range. Quickest - Adam Reynolds returned just 2 weeks post appendix removal in 2017. — NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 25, 2025 Speaking last month, Howarth revealed how fellow Storm and Queensland star Harry Grant helped turn him into an emerging Origin player. The former Australian Schoolboys star signed a five-year contract with the Storm in January of 2022, but it took him until 2024 to get a regular gig in the Storm's star-studded back-line. "I lived with Harry Grant for a year and he would cut clips up for me and tell me what I was doing right and what I needed to do better to be in the team," Howarth told AAP. "Harry had explained to me a few things I had to change because what I thought was important is a lot different to what (Storm coach) Craig Bellamy thinks is important." He added: "Craig is a very effort area type of person and I was always more concerned with how I went in attack. That is what I would base my game off, whereas he based a good game off defence and effort so I realised that and switched my mentality. "My dream is to play for Queensland. It is the pinnacle of rugby league, especially coming from Rockhampton and doing all my schooling in Brisbane. Just being amongst all the Origins in Brisbane growing up was crazy. Hopefully I do get the opportunity." RELATED: Corey Parker calls for premiership-winning coach to stand down now Wonderful family development amid sad news about Steve Mortimer Howarth revealed he's been receiving one-on-one tutelage from Slater - a Melbourne Storm legend. "Billy does show me a few clips from games," Howarth said. "He is very similar to Craig. It is the effort areas that he wants me to do well in." with AAP
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Hasn't progressed': Laurie Daley's worrying admission about Blues player for Game 2
NSW coach Laurie Daley has provided a worrying update on Blues winger Brian To'o after admitting his recovery from a hamstring niggle has not progressed as much as medical staff had hoped. Bulldogs winger Jacob Kiraz was called into Blues camp on Wednesday as a potential replacement for To'o if the Panthers flyer is unable to recover in time for Game 2 in Perth, where NSW will hope to wrap up the series with another win. To'o has already had two hamstring strains this year and missed the start of the NRL season for Penrith. And while Daley insists the injury hasn't 'flared up' and he remains hopeful the winger will be right to face the Maroons in Game 2, the NSW coach did concede on Thursday morning that the Blues' medical team were concerned the hamstring niggle had not improved as quickly as they expected. "We thought earlier in the week Brian would be OK ... but it just hasn't progressed as far as what we need him to," Daley told Nine's Today Show. "We're still confident that he'll be OK, but we thought it'd be better off to have Jacob come here on standby if Brian doesn't get up. "With hamstrings, they're tricky things. You want to make sure they're 100 per cent right to go. You can get through training. But then, of course game night, you don't want to injure yourself and then put the team at risk. We're just going to have to weigh up all those factors towards the end of the week." Brian To'o is dealing with a hamstring niggle - is expected to play in Origin 2 but NSW have called Jacob Kiraz into camp as cover (via @Danny_Weidler)To'o has already suffered 2 hamstring strains this season - a call on his Origin fitness expected before Kiraz's Round 15 game. — NRL PHYSIO (@nrlphysio) June 11, 2025 Fellow NSW winger Zac Lomax was more defiant about the prospects of To'o playing in Game 2, and backed the Blues' medical team to ensure he would be good to go in just under a week. "He's obviously a professional and he's going to get the job done," Lomax told Fox League on Wednesday night. "And we've got the best staff in the world here with us so I think he'll sit out tomorrow's training session just in regards to loads. "But on the flip side it gives someone like Jacob Kiraz a big boost to be able to come in and train with the squad. It's massive for him too, he's been playing unbelievable footy there at the Bulldogs. But for us we need to get 'Bizza' (To'o) right and I think that's him having the day off tomorrow and he'll be flying by Wednesday night." To'o scored one try and ran for a game-high 225 metres in a standout performance for the Blues in Game 1 at Suncorp Stadium. His tackle-busting ability and willingness to tough carries from the back has frequently helped the Blues get out of their own half and dominate field position against the Maroons and it would be a big blow if To'o was ruled out. Fortunately for NSW, Kiraz offers many of those same qualities and despite being less of a try-scoring weapon than To'o, he is more of an aerial threat and has an offloading game that could really hurt Queensland. Daley confirmed the Bulldogs star was training with the Blues squad for the first time on Thursday morning. Bulldogs teammate and Blues 18th man Matt Burton is another option to come into the NSW starting side if To'o is ruled out.
ABC News
09-06-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
InZane Rugby League - Frank Ponissi -We don't want the Bears to steal our players like the Dolphins did
On InZane Rugby League this week - Zane Bojack and former Raiders halfback Sam Williams are joined by Melbourne Storm General Manager of Football and NSW Head of High Performance Frank Ponissi to preview Origin 2 and discuss the likelihood of the club retaining their stars from the threat of the Perth Bears. Ponissi says he has a soft spot for the Bears as a former football boss at the club but does not want them to pillage the Storm like the Dolphins did in 2023. He said Melbourne is willing to discuss roster management with Mal Meninga to ensure the Bear's success but not at the expense of the Storm's playing list. Zane and Sam also discussed the coach Mal Meninga is chasing to be his protege, the changes Billy Slater made to Queensland for Game 2 and the weekend's magic moment in Canberra when Josh Papalii scored two tries and kicked a conversion in his record-breaking 319th match for the Raiders.
ABC News
09-06-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
InZane Rugby League - is Peter Wallace set to be Mal Meninga's protege?
On InZane Rugby League this week - Zane Bojack and former Raiders halfback Sam Williams are joined by Melbourne Storm General Manager of Football and NSW Head of High Performance Frank Ponissi to preview Origin 2 and discuss the likelihood of the club retaining their stars from the threat of the Perth Bears. Ponissi says he has a soft spot for the Bears as a former football boss at the club but does not want them to pillage the Storm like the Dolphins did in 2023. He said Melbourne is willing to discuss roster management with Mal Meninga to ensure the Bear's success but not at the expense of the Storm's playing list. Zane and Sam also discussed the coach Mal Meninga is chasing to be his protege, the changes Billy Slater made to Queensland for Game 2 and the weekend's magic moment in Canberra when Josh Papalii scored two tries and kicked a conversion in his record-breaking 319th match for the Raiders.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Thurston's dagger for DCE after poor moment that could end State of Origin career
Johnathan Thurston has criticised the game-management of Manly - led by Daly Cherry-Evans - that saw them cough up a 16-0 lead to lose to Newcastle on Thursday night. And it could spell the end of the Queensland captain's State of Origin career. The Knights produced a woeful first-half and were booed off by their own fans, but came back for a staggering 26-22 victory in the second. Speaking on Channel 9 after the game, Thurston said the game-management of Cherry-Evans and the Sea Eagles "wasn't up to scratch". Fellow Queensland legend Cameron Smith agreed that Cherry-Evans needed to ice the game for Manly considering he's one of the premier halves in the NRL. But the comments from Thurston were most telling considering he's an assistant coach to Billy Slater for the Maroons. Many have called for Tom Dearden to start at halfback in State of Origin 1, after Cherry-Evans failed to fire in Game 1. The Manly halfback produced a strong performance against the Broncos last weekend, but crashed back to earth on Thursday night. There was a particularly poor moment with 23 minutes remaining that might spell the end of Cherry-Evans' Origin career. After the Knights had reduced the deficit to 16-12, the Manly halfback took the ball on the short-side near the halfway line and looked to kick it into touch to give his team a breather. But he belted it out on the full and gave the Knights prime field position for another attacking raid. James Schiller crossed a short time later to make it 16-16, and despite Manly regaining the lead the Knights managed to win in golden-point. Thurston's comments paint a grim picture for Cherry-Evans as Slater weighs up whether to axe his halfback and captain for Origin 2. "I don't know. I will find out Monday or Sunday," DCE said in his post-match presser. "You always find out on the Sunday or Monday." DCE kicking the kick off out on the full probably summed up their issues; scrambled thinking rather than game management — Stuart Akister (@StuartAkister) June 5, 2025 Didn't have to do anything in attack once you lead 22-16 with 10 to go. Kick long and defend for less than 10 minutes. 5 sets of defence. DCE just had absolutely no game management in the final 20. Embarrassing for someone who wants 1 mill next year — Sam (@desmoneyfr) June 5, 2025 Is DCE trying to kick his way into the Original team? That's 3 shockers so far #gomanly — Lyn Shields 🦅 (@lynshields) June 5, 2025 Andrew Johns is among the many who have called for Dearden to replace Cherry-Evans, and the Cowboys half will get another chance to impress against the Storm on Friday night. "I genuinely don't know what has been said," Cherry-Evans said on Thursday night about the speculation he'll be axed. "I understand it's a pretty busy period when it comes to my name. But I am just doing my best to keep my head down. Train and play with the Manly boys and be a good dad." RELATED: Cameron Smith's truth bomb for Billy Slater after 'weak' accusation Kevin Walters calls out Broncos amid sad Adam Reynolds situation Speaking before the Knights game, Cherry-Evans' Queensland predecessor Cooper Cronk urged his old teammate Slater to meet with the half before making a call. "I think Billy should have a heart-to-heart coffee catch up with Daly and ask him how much the jersey means," Cronk said on Fox League. "Because the series is on the line, and Daly the captain and halfback needs to deliver. (How he plays against Newcastle), I don't think it matters. Billy would have made that gut instinct call up already." Tellingly, a poll of over 28,000 Yahoo Sport Australia readers has Dearden and Cameron Munster as the overwhelming favourites to be the Queensland halves for Game 2. Over half of the readers who voted would axe DCE for the game in Perth. with AAP
