Latest news with #woodenspoon
ABC News
16 hours ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Andrew McQualter enlists West Coast's AFLW coach Daisy Pearce to help struggling men's program
West Coast Eagles coach Andrew McQualter says he will pick the brain of AFLW great Daisy Pearce to help the men's program rebound from the lowest ebb in the club's AFL history. The Eagles (1-18) have won just 11 games since the start of 2022, and will collect their second wooden spoon in the space of three years. Given how dire the past four years have been, West Coast will formally ask the AFL for a priority pick. That impending request has already attracted a wave of criticism from fans and experts, given West Coast won the flag in 2018 and reached the finals as recently as 2020. McQualter has endured a tough debut year and is desperate to fast-track the team's rebuild. The 39-year-old revealed on Thursday that part of his plan was to tap into the knowledge of AFLW trailblazer Pearce, who is the coach of West Coast's women's team. Pearce led the Eagles to a 4-7 record in her first year as coach — the best return for the club in its six-season AFLW history. The 37-year-old previously served as a development coach with Geelong before landing the top role with the Eagles. "Daisy has finished her first year, added a second pre-season, and I will really look to use Daisy as a resource as to what she learned over that period," McQualter said. "Just with where we're at as a team and a club; we have to get better really quickly. "So if there's something I can learn from Daisy coming into her second season as coach, I'll look to learn it and implement it, because it's going to be a really critical period for our club over the next six to 12 months." Pearce, who captained Melbourne to the 2022 AFLW flag during her glittering 55-game career, is eager to learn more from West Coast's men's program. "I'm really excited to work with 'Mini' over the next few years … so that I can develop myself, help out however I can, and just keep bringing our programs closer and closer together," Pearce said. McQualter defended West Coast's plea for a priority pick. "We're just looking at it from the performances of the last four years and the history of what priority picks get given for," McQualter said. "We think we qualify, so we've applied for it. "We're in a rush to get better, and if it's a way that we can get better, we're willing to apply for it." Even if they get knocked back, West Coast is still likely to have the first two picks in the national draft. Pick number one will be for finishing last, while if restricted free agent Oscar Allen heads to Brisbane as expected, the Eagles will almost certainly be handed pick number two as compensation. West Coast will be without Harley Reid (ankle) for the rest of the season, leaving the Eagles even more vulnerable for Saturday's clash with Melbourne at Docklands Stadium. AAP
Yahoo
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wayne Bennett and Rabbitohs set for fresh NRL blow as player seeks exit
South Sydney Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett could be set for a further blow with Siliva Havili set to leave the club at the end of the season with his game time going to be reduced with the arrival of new stars. The Rabbitohs have been dealing with a horror injury toll this season with Latrell Mitchell, Cameron Murray, Campbell Graham and Cody Walker all currently out recovering. Bennett's return to Redfern has been an uphill battle and the coach is facing the possibility of earning his first ever wooden spoon with the Rabbitohs currently sitting in last place. The coach would have an eye on next year's season with the possibility of working with a full squad and new signings. Although he is set to see a veteran walk out the door with Havili looking at options with rival clubs or the Super League. Havili has played 18 games for South Sydney during their injury troubles in 2025 having scored two tries. The 32-year-old has started 10 of the games on the bench and was deemed as a back-up No.9, but the signing of Brandon Smith and Bronson Garlick has all but ended his possibility of increased minutes in 2026. Smith returned this year from an ACL injury and made a mid-year switch from the Roosters to arch rivals the Rabbitohs. Unfortunately, he re-injured himself during his comeback game and will miss the remainder of this season. Garlick singed a two-year deal with South Sydney starting next year. And Havili appears ready to move on with game time limited going forward. Havili is weighing up a move to England, but claimed he does have options to stay in the NRL. "That's definitely an option (to go to England). I've got options to play here too," Havili told AAP. "I still think I've got a lot of footy in me. I'm just happy to explore my options. I've got a young family to look after. I'm open to every option and everything out there." Havili has been part of Tonga's set-up in recent years and is keen on remaining in the camp going forward. "I do understand where I'm at with my career and what I can give," Havili said. "I also want to get into a bit of coaching too. So that's something I'm looking forward to in that pathway within the Pacific Island." RELATED: Roosters set for swift James Tedesco play as Kalyn Ponga links continue Storm ace lifts lid on wife detail after turning back on big-money switch Hunt responds after Slater's criticism of Broncos as NRL feat looms Wayne Bennett facing wooden spoon battle Bennett is trying to avoid his first wooden spoon in charge of a NRL club with the Rabbitohs falling short of an upset last weekend against the Sharks. The injury toll has made it extremely difficult to maintain consistency in 2025, despite the Rabbitohs entering the season with a strong squad. Losing captain Murray before the start of the season was a blow and Mitchell didn't return until round five. Unfortunately for the Rabbitohs, Mitchell only played 10 games for the club with an injury after the State of Origin series ending his season. The Rabbitohs currently sit in last place due to their for and against and will be hoping to bounce back this weekend. Although their opponents, the Broncos, will also be looking to get back to winning ways after a shock defeat to the Eels last weekend. Bennett knows two crucial games are coming up with the Rabbitohs up against fellow wooden spoon contenders the Titans and the Eels. The Titans currently sit on 16 points with the Rabbitohs. Although the Rabbitohs have a bye remaining and a win against either of those teams should see them avoid the spoon in 2025. with AAP
The Australian
a day ago
- Business
- The Australian
AFL 2025: West Coast CEO confirms interest in priority pick, confident on Harley Reid future
West Coast has begun discussions with the AFL about receiving a priority draft pick at season's end while confident it will keep wunderkind Harley Reid. The Eagles are starring down a fourth season in the bottom two and successive wooden spoon with just one win. West Coast CEO Don Pyke revealed he had reached out after being forced into an 'unfortunate situation'. 'Look, we've had some initial discussions with the AFL around that,' Pyke told SEN. 'Looking at the unfortunate situation we find ourselves and looking at our numbers, whether it be games won, quarters won and percentage over the last five years, we find ourselves right in the position where other clubs who've recently received assistance. 'Looking at them, we're well and truly in the window for that. So, we'll have those discussions and we'll look to proceed with some sort of request. 'As disappointing as it is, we are where we are. With the draft is as compromised as it's been, we feel like we can benefit from some assistance to get ourselves out of where we've been over the last four years.' Harley Reid of the Eagles in action during the round 20 AFL match between Fremantle Dockers and West Coast Eagles at Optus Stadium. (Photo by Janelle St Pierre/) In positive news for the Eagles, they appear set to sign Reid on a monster extension. The 20-year-old has reportedly been tabled a two-year extension at West Coast with a trigger that could net him upwards of $24 million over 11 seasons. He suffered a syndesmosis injury during last weekend's loss to Fremantle and will not pull on the West Coast jumper again in 2025. Reid remains on his draftee contract through to 2026 but has been in ramped up extension talks in recent weeks. Pyke understood the hysteria around Reid's future but was confident the polarising young star would re-sign. 'Yeah, we are (confident he'll be here in 2026),' Pyke said. 'He's contracted here until next year, and we'd love to be able to get something done, and if we can't, we'll have to maybe park it and pick it up later on. 'Obviously, it's going to continue to be a talking point until the decision is made one way or another. 'But he's enjoying his time here, he's really engaged with the group, I think Andrew (McQualter) has said that a few times. 'He's very much now part of the group and wants to see us get back to where we want to be, which is not where we are at the moment.'
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Wighton cops four-game ban in a huge blow for the Rabbitohs
Wayne Bennett's hopes of avoiding his first wooden spoon have taken a massive hit with veteran playmaker Jack Wighton slapped with a whopping four-match ban after he was found guilty of a grade two shoulder charge at the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night. The Rabbitohs have lost eight in a row and head into round 22 in last spot behind the Knights and Titans on points differential, but their hopes of causing a gigantic boilover against the Broncos have copped a devastating blow with their five-eighth sidelined. He joins a host of stars who are missing for the club including Cam Murray, Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker. Wighton could have accepted a three-match ban for the grade two charge that saw him sent to the sin bin for a tackle that knocked out Cronulla's Toby Rudolf on Saturday night but rolled the dice after he pleaded not guilty. The panel of Greg McCallum and Bob Lindner listened to the 75-minute hearing and deliberated for just 15 minutes before they unanimously found him guilty. 'It was a fair hearing,' Wighton said afterwards. 'We came here thinking we had a good case. We didn't get the result we wanted. 'I'll turn my attention to preparing my teammates and really helping everyone at my club the best way I can.' It was a reunion of sorts between Wighton and judiciary counsel Patrick Knowles, with the five-eighth asking him 'how many games of rugby league have you played?' during a fiery hearing in 2023 when he was banned for three matches for biting. Wighton didn't give evidence on this occasion, a point not lost on Knowles who suggested he could have explained why there were no other options available to him to make a different type of tackle. However, judiciary chairman Geoff Bellew reminded the panel that Wighton had no obligation to justify. Knowles described the contact as a 'textbook example of a shoulder charge' and that he twisted his body, the right shoulder led the forceful contact and that his left arm raised in a bracing motion but didn't attempt to wrap. 'The amount of force generated in a tackle that used no arms carries a significant risk of injury,' he said. 'The shoulder was the first impact and carried the primary degree of force.' Prominent Sydney lawyer Nick Ghabar represented Wighton and argued it was 'quite wrong' to suggest he propped and drove with the shoulder and that he did his best to avoid a head on collision. Ghabar argued that the right arm wrapped around Rudolf's left arm before contact and that the Cronulla forward generated the force by leading with his head and arms. 'Rudolf stepped 'violently' off his left foot,' he said, arguing that it was inevitable that there'd be a more violent collision if Wighton hadn't dipped his body. 'Wighton drops his body height to avoid the risk of a head clash. He's got a split second decision to make. He's attempting to tackle with his left arm but his right arm doesn't have the ability to swing around the back of Rudolf.' The referee's report from Belinda Sharpe included a quote from Wighton that said 'I couldn't get my arm out', while the medical report said the injury was caused by a 'head clash from opponent'. Ghabar suggested that the first contact was shoulder on shoulder, but that played into the argument it was an actual shoulder charge. Knowles refuted a number of those arguments and pointed out Wighton's right fist was clenched so it couldn't have been a conventional wrapping tackle and that he could've twisted the other way and made a conventional left shoulder tackle. Ghabar sought a downgrade that would have seen Wighton miss two matches, but it was dismissed after Knowles argued the force was moderate, it was careless and the risk of injury was moderate and that the risk came to fruition. Wighton will miss matches against the Broncos, Titans, Eels and Dragons and will return in the final round against the Roosters, with Lewis Dodd likely to start in the halves.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Field (goal) of dreams as Doueihi proves a late hero
Adam Doueihi has kicked Wests Tigers out of the race for a fourth straight NRL wooden spoon, nailing a 30-metre field goal to clinch a 21-20 win over Gold Coast. Trailing the Titans by four points with four minutes left, the Tigers looked at risk of slipping back into the wooden-spoon race on Sunday afternoon at Leichhardt. But Taylan May sent Jeral Skelton over for a crucial try, before Doueihi missed the conversion attempt from the sideline to take the lead. It mattered little though, as a Reagan Campbell-Gillard crusher tackle put the Tigers back on the attack. And while the joint-venture made a mess of the final two plays, Doueihi was able to position himself 30 metres out and right in front to nail the last-minute shot. Making matters worse for Gold Coast was a knee injury suffered by Tino Fa'asuamaleaui early in the match, leaving him unable to return. The result piles more pressure on Titans coach Des Hasler, with Gold Coast now officially out of finals contention and alone in 17th place on the NRL ladder. Doueihi kicks the match-winner! 🤩 — NRL (@NRL) July 20, 2025 For the Tigers, the finals also look unlikely. They would need to go undefeated though the final seven rounds to have any hope of snapping a 14-year drought. But a fourth straight wooden spoon now at least appears equally unlikely. Sunday's win kicked the joint-venture into 12th spot and four points clear of the Titans, with a bye still in hand. This match was anything but pretty, with the Tigers' attack at times appearing disjointed and the two sides combining for no less than 26 errors. But there was a bright spot for the Tigers, with Taylan May scoring one try in his first NRL game in 14 months and setting up the other two. Playing his first match since domestic-violence charges against him were dropped, May had the Tigers' first when his brother Terrell gave him space on the left. He then put the Tigers up 12-4 when he combined with Jarome Luai to send Staines across, before the Titans mounted a late first-half comeback. Phil Sami and Jaylan De Groot both crossed in quick succession, with the second coming off the back of a nice kick from Jayden Campbell. As good as the Titans were in that period, they were at times their own worst enemies. Nowhere was that more evident than in the second half with scores locked at 14-14, when they failed to pack a scrum in time and gifted the Tigers a penalty goal. An AJ Brimson try with 13 minutes to play looked set to save Gold Coast, and bring them level with five other clubs on 16 points at the bottom of the ladder. But instead the Tigers' late heroics left the Gold Coast alone in 17th, two points behind the likes of Parramatta and South Sydney with seven rounds left.
