Category: Sports

I love his athleticism, his strength, his speed, his skill and timing through the air, but what I admire most is his toughness for someone so young. You watch him on those play-two carries and the way he brings those balls back. He pokes his nose through the line almost every time.

He could play anywhere in the backline except for halfback. He’s already a world-class winger, he’ll be a world-class center and the position he probably wants to play is fullback. How they fit James Tedesco, Joseph Manu and Suaalii all probably wanting to play that No.1 position will be a test for the Roosters.

It’s a must-win game for them against the Broncos on Thursday night. I think the top seven is pretty much sorted and the Roosters and Raiders are fighting it out for eighth position.

They had a really solid win last week against Manly, but I thought their attack looked rushed and frantic.

There’s a lot of pressure on Jared Waerea-Hargreaves with their front-row depth tested. There’s no Siosiua Taukeiaho, the concussions are a concern for Lindsay Collins and Egan Butcher is suspended.

But Patrick Carrigan is a massive loss for the Broncos. He does all the cleaning up around the middle of the field you don’t see. He’s going to be missed so much.

I’ve been impressed with the Broncos this year, and speaking to people at the club they’ve got even more great young talent waiting in the wings. I’m most happy for Kevin Walters, though. He was under a lot of pressure, and it’s great to see him smiling again. I don’t think they can win the title this year, but they’re a big show in the next few years.

This should be a belter, but I think the speed of Tedesco, Connor Watson and Sam Verrills around the ruck might get the Roosters home.

Joey’s tip: Roosters by 2
First try-scorer: Joseph Suaali
Man of the match: James Tedesco

Lack of ban for Asofa-Solomona still mind-boggling

I need to apologize. Not for the first time I got my words mixed up once again on The Footy Show. I said Nelson Asofa-Solomona should have been suspended for four months, but what I meant to say was four weeks. It was an honest mistake.

But I won’t apologize for not understanding how he wasn’t suspended. The NRL has come out and said the evidence wasn’t clear. Wayde Egan walking off the field looking like he’d broken his jaw and losing a couple of teeth, is there enough evidence there? It was a cheap shot and the only attempt he had was to hurt Egan.

When you have a look at the technique, Nelson actually throws his legs off the ground which means he gets maximum force and weight through his elbow into Egan’s head. I just think they got it horribly wrong. That was really close to a send-off and without a doubt four weeks.

I back the players all the time, but that should have been punished.

What I will say is the match review committee got it right on the money with Nathan Cleary’s five-week ban. It was an accident, but we can’t have players put in a position like that.

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The silver lining is he’s going to be fresh and fit for Penrith. The hurt and embarrassment will burn in his stomach and he will come back with a steely edge. It makes Penrith even harder to beat. If they’re fully fit, no one will get near them.

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“He’s one that is very professional, so that’s the other thing – he gets the best out of himself. He’s very well programmed on and off the field, and I’d say he’s probably more programmed off the field.

“He’s very coachable, and he’s showing high leadership traits… He just wants for others to become better players. I think that’s probably the thing that stands out the most for him, he wants to bring people along for the journey, not just be the journey.”

Wheeler said the opportunity to play in the midfield and around the square, which he has been doing in the Lions’ VFL side, potentially contributed to his decision, along with having a connection to the city he partly grew up in.

“I think that he wanted to go to a club where they were going to play him in his best position… but also that he spent a fair chunk of his childhood in Brisbane, in that area, so I think there’s a bit of connection there that maybe that’s what was pulling him back towards it.”

In a statement on Thursday, Ashcroft said he couldn’t wait to join the club and start earning the respect of all the players and coaching staff.

“I was lucky enough to do some work with the midfielders last pre-season and I am really looking forward to learning from them and hopefully breaking into that group and seeing what we can become,” said Ashcroft.

“To be following after Dad is a privilege and if I can achieve half of what he did, then I would be happy. I am also looking forward to forging my own name.”

The Lions’ football GM Danny Daly said Ashcroft was one of the most talented young players in the country and his choice to become a Lion was a huge moment for the club.

“He has impressed at every level he has played at this year and, like our members, we cannot wait for him to pull on a Brisbane Lions jumper,” Daly said.

“Obviously, his father Marcus is a legend of our club and it’s exciting to see him follow in those footsteps while also making a name for himself.

“We look forward to welcoming Will, Marcus, Bekky, Levi and Lucy to the Brisbane Lions family.”

As can be facilitated for father-son prospects, the young midfielder has agreed to a four-year deal, and if he goes at No.1, he will become the first father-son pick taken in the top spot. Sam Darcy, son of Luke, went at No.2 last year for the Western Bulldogs.

Ashcroft has already played two games for the Lions’ VFL side, averaging 28 disposals, and was impressive for Vic Metro and Sandringham Dragons, where he averaged 35 disposals.

While the AFL is a different standard than Ashcroft is used to, Wheeler says the youngster is very adaptable and up for the challenge.

He’s already dealt with setbacks with his shoulder and missing chunks of games through COVID, which Wheeler says has given him a good grounding for the next level.

“You know, the game gets quicker and the boys get bigger, so he’s going to have to adapt his game… but he’s had three games in the VFL and I think his average was 33 possessions in that, so I think he still knows how to find the footy.”

Father-son Bulldog Darcy to make his debut

Third-generation Bulldog Sam Darcy will make his AFL debut against Fremantle this weekend.

Darcy, son of club great Luke, was drafted at pick No.2 in the 2021 national draft but an ongoing navicular bone stress fracture in his foot has sidelined him for the majority of this year.

He’s also grown 5.5 centimeters since being recruited, bringing him to an impressive 209.5 centimeters tall.

The youngster has been showing impressive form in the VFL in recent weeks, playing a range of roles including forward, defense and ruck. Last weekend, he registered 20 disposals and 14 marks while playing as a key defender in Footscray’s 26-point win over Werribee.

“Obviously Sam’s been through a bit to get to the point where he’s been playing enough minutes to convince us he might be ready for a game,” Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said on Thursday.

“So, you’re making your debut this week, big fella.”

Darcy said he was “unbelievably excited” and it was all “a bit overwhelming.”

“I can’t wait to run out with the boys on Saturday night,” said Darcy.

“When the announcement was made, the energy was unbelievable and it is something I will never forget.”

Tigers hold out hope for Grimes return in 2022

Damien Hardwick concedes Richmond co-captain Dylan Grimes is unlikely to play again this season unless the Tigers make a deep run into the finals.

Grimes will miss the remaining three home-and-away rounds, starting with Saturday night’s crunch game against Port Adelaide, because of his latest hamstring setback.

The triple-premiership defender had surgery on Thursday to repair tendon damage in the hope he can return during September.

“He won’t play in the regular season, that part’s done and dusted,” Hardwick told reporters on Thursday.

“[It depends on] how far we go in the finals and it gives him a chance if we make it.

“Este [surgery] gives him his best chance to get back this year, we feel.”

In the meantime Josh Gibcus and Rhyan Mansell are in the frame to plug the hole in defense.

“We’ve got some players who can fill the void although we are replacing a pretty valuable player,” Hardwick said.

Richmond sit two points behind eighth-placed St Kilda after last week’s thrilling win over Brisbane and take on a dangerous Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval before matches against Hawthorn and Essendon in the run home.

The finals race lingers as a possible distraction, but Hardwick doesn’t expect any issues keeping his side focused on the immediate task at hand.

“It’s pretty easy, that’s what we do,” he said.

“We stick firmly to what we can control and that’s this week’s game versus Port Adelaide.

“Our prep is firmly on them and the way they play the game.”

AAP

Timeline on Grundy’s return unclear

Collingwood are unsure whether Brodie Grundy will be fit to make his AFL comeback before the finals following the star ruckman’s latest injury setback.

Grundy returned from three months on the sidelines with a knee injury through the VFL last week and was hopeful of breaking into the Magpies’ side for Friday night’s blockbuster against Melbourne.

But an ankle injury suffered at training has thrown up another hurdle for the dual All-Australian ruckman.

Grundy did not train with teammates on Thursday and is unlikely to play at any level this week.

Whether he is fit to play in the Magpies’ last two qualifying matches before the finals – against fellow top-eight sides Sydney and Carlton – remains to be seen.

“I was happy with the amount of minutes he played in the VFL but he just pulled up sore,” Collingwood coach Craig McRae told reporters on Thursday.

“Obviously we don’t want that. We want him to be fresh and vibrant and jumping around and bringing his best energy from him.

“We’ll just have to assess what it’s like over the weekend.

“Hopefully he pulls up well from that and then we can progress from there.”

Grundy suffered a knee injury in Collingwood’s win over Essendon in round six and has not been seen at the top level since.

The ankle concern continues what McRae conceded had been a frustrating run for the Magpies and their first-choice ruckman.

“We were hoping to get some momentum and he’s missed a lot of footy this year,” McRae said.

“But he’s got a real positive outlook on life and he’s looking at what he can do in this short-term.

Parfitt a Cat for two more years

Geelong midfielder Brandan Parfitt has resigned with the club, adding two more years to his contract and making him a Cat until at least the end of 2024, the club confirmed on Thursday.

The 24-year-old young gun has played 108 games since debuting in 2017 and said he was thrilled to put pen to paper to continue his stay at the Cattery.

“I’m very happy at Geelong. I enjoy being part of this playing group and love everything about the club.”

Cats general manager of football Simon Lloyd echoed that the club was excited to see Parfitt remain at GMHBA Stadium.

“Brandan is an important part of Geelong and our plans moving forward. He has shown to be an integral part of our midfield with his football smarts and physicality.

“It has been pleasing to see Brandan’s development through our system, he has worked very hard and we have no doubt he will continue to improve and take his game to the next level.”

Parfitt made his return to the senior team in last week’s win against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night after being sidelined since round 12 with a broken hand and COVID-19.

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Premier Tagelagi occupies the highest office in the land of Niue, and three weeks ago was rubbing shoulders with Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese in Fiji at the Pacific Islands Forum.

He’s also a mad South Sydney Rabbitohs supporter.

Tagelagi takes off his mask – he’s the only person in sight wearing one – and pulls up a seat at a wooden table just a few meters away from where he is about to do battle against Australia in the first round of the men’s fours event.

“Some of my close mates in bowls here know who I am. I try and hide,” Tagelagi tells the herald.

“I say to my friend ‘you’re the best man in this sport but I’m the top man in my country in politics’. We have a few jokes like that.”

It’s one of the great untold stories of the Commonwealth Games, which tends to throw up obscure stories involving athletes from smaller nations.

Tagelagi is a softly spoken man and has been in government since 2008. He was sworn in as Niue’s premier in June 2020.

Despite the optics of being in Birmingham competing at a third Commonwealth Games while COVID-19 begins to sweep through Niue, Tagelagi insists there is no issue.

He’s on annual leave.

Tagelagi has been supporting his 14-year-old son Tukala, who is another member of Niue’s small lawn bowls squad.

The first thing you notice about Tagelagi on the bowling green, as he coaches his son, is the AirPods in his ears.

They’re in place in case he needs to take – or make – an important call.

“I came here for a two-week break. This is the first time I’ve had a break since I became a leader,” Tagelagi says. “I used the chance to bring the young fella here and give him that experience at high-level sport.

“We have a little bit of an issue with our community in terms of an outbreak of about 20 [COVID-19 cases]. They’re managing it well. I still keep an eye on what’s happening back home. It keeps me busy.

“I’m going back to the polls next year. Three weeks ago I was with your prime minister in Fiji. I’ve been away from home for six or seven weeks now. I’m going to Australia in September for meetings in Brisbane.

“I actually grew up in Sydney myself.”

A big grin comes over Tagelagi’s face when he reflects on a two-year stint in Sydney in 1984 and 1985.

“I followed Bob Hawke’s leadership at the time before Paul Keating,” Tagelagi says. “I was down in Maroubra. I used to surf and row at the South Maroubra Surf Life Saving Club.

“I’m a Rabbitohs and NSW Blues man. I played league and rugby. That’s why my knees are bad.”

There are myriad scars all over Tagelagi’s arms and legs. More often than not he wears a suit, so no one notices.

“Back home I used to fall off the motorbike and little scooters,” Tagelagi says.

Does he miss Sydney?

“I miss the fish markets [in Pyrmont] that’s for sure,” Tagelagi says. “That’s the best hangover cure on a Sunday. I miss that. I’ve been around but home has always been Niue.”

Tagelagi admits he could have been more diligent in his preparation for these Games. Juggling lawn bowls commitments and the around-the-clock responsibilities of being the boss of a country is laborious.

“I have late nights,” Tagelagi says. “As soon as I turn 60, I’ll call it quits. I want to do something else. I can’t quit now though. I’m only 54, so I’ve got a while before I can get on the pension.”

Niue does not send athletes to the Olympics, so the Commonwealth Games is the peak for Tagelagi and his teammates.

The country’s bowling greens certainly aren’t flash. There are seven rinks to play on at a small bowling club with about 50 members.

Niue does not have beaches, just a reef that Tagelagi says divers enjoy exploring. The island is vulnerable to big waves and bad weather because there are no other islands surrounding it.

There’s a nine-hole golf course with about 20 members playing every Saturday morning.

There’s only one flight on and off the island every week.

Niue lost their fours match on Tuesday 18-8 against an Australian team featuring a business development manager (Carl Healey), ambassador for a bowling club (Ben Twist), a groundsman (Corey Wedlock) and a bowls coordinator (Barry Lester).

Did the Aussies know anything about Niue or the influential figure on the other team?

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“Not much, other than they’re pretty handy players and really lovely people too,” Healey said.

“I only just found that out that their skipper is the big dog. At the end of the day, you’re out there competing for your country.

“We don’t worry too much about saluting or bowing to anyone.”

Get all the latest news from the Birmingham Commonwealth Games here. We’ll be live blogging the action from 4pm-10am daily.