Luke Keary – Page 4 – Michmutters

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Luke Keary World Cup, Ireland, Mal Meninga Kangaroos selections, Tonga, Samoa, Brian To’o, Josh Papalii, Joseph Suaalii, news

Luke Keary World Cup, Ireland, Mal Meninga Kangaroos selections, Tonga, Samoa, Brian To'o, Josh Papalii, Joseph Suaalii, news

Roosters star Luke Keary has put his hand up to play for Ireland in this year’s World Cup — throwing his support behind a raft of NRL stars opting to represent their heritage.

Reports surfaced that Maroons gun Josh Papalii will ply his trade for Samoa, joining Jarome Luai and Brian To’o, while Felise Kaufusi, Siosifa Talakai, Daniel Tupou and Kotoni Staggs are set to represent Tonga.

While Keary may not have been in Meninga’s Kangaroos plans, the 30-year-old has expressed his desire to represent Ireland after being ruled out of the 2017 World Cup with a hip injury.

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“I stuck my hand up to play for Ireland in 2017,” Keary said to the SMH.

“It didn’t eventuate, I had a few [injuries] at the back end of the year. We’ll just see how the next few weeks go but I’ve told the [Irish officials] that I need to tell.

“I’ve always had a connection there since I was a kid. Dad’s family is still over there. I haven’t been over there but you just feel proud whenever I’ve talked about it. It makes me feel good thinking about it.”

Keary welcomed players who wanted to represent their heritage, explaining “it’s great for our game”.

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“It’s going to be a great World Cup with so many great players putting their hands up for their nations of birth or their heritage. I think it’s great for our game,” he said.

Ireland have been drawn in group C, alongside Jamaica, Lebanon and one of the competition’s heavyweights — New Zealand.

The Kiwis boast one of Keary’s Roosters teammates, who plays at fullback for his national team, Joseph Manu.

Walker perfection sets up Butcher | 01:20

Meanwhile, young gun Joseph Suaalii will be attending the World Cup — whether it be for the Kangaroos or Samoa.

The 19-year-old could be set for a potential starting berth with Samoa should he choose to go down that path, but the young gun outlined his preference.

“I honestly haven’t thought about it too much but I want to be there playing at the World Cup,” Suaalii said.

“I’m trying to make that Australian team and if I’m lucky enough I’ll make that Samoan team as well.

“If I get picked for either of them it would be an honour. If I’m playing at the World Cup I’ll be happy.”

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casualty ward, injuries, Melbourne Storm, Jahrome Hughes, shoulder

Melbourne Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes.

Sea Eagles playmaker Kieran Foran suffered a hamstring injury in his side’s clash against the Eels in a brutal blow to the club’s final chances.

The 32-year-old left the field with seven minutes remaining in the contest and was spotted by Fox League’s Greg Alexander.

“That is not a good picture, Kieren Foran sitting there with an ice pack on his hamstring,” Fox League’s Greg Alexander said.

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Manly coach Des Hasler conceded the veteran is unlikely to feature in Round 22.

“He has got a mild hamstring strain, so I don’t think he will make it next week,” Hasler said in the post-match press conference.

As it stands, the Sea Eagles sit four points outside the top eight and need all hands on deck if they want to make a late finals charge.

But now, Hasler will need to look elsewhere, potentially handing young gun Josh Schuster a chance to return at five-eighth.

Meanwhile, Fox League’s Lara Pitt confirmed Titans star Aaron Booth will be sidelined for an extended period after his knee dislocated.

X-rays revealed Booth suffered a small break in his leg, with scans tomorrow expected to show an ACL, MCL and PCL rupture.

MELBOURNE’S COSTLY BLOW

Melbourne’s injury crisis may have deepened with halfback Jahrome Hughes leaving the game against the Titans on Friday night with a shoulder complaint.

Hughes played out the first half but was assessed at half-time and Storm coach Craig Bellamy opted against using him in the second stanza.

“Jahrome Hughes will not be risked for the rest of this match, the Storm need to have his injured shoulder looked at,” Fox League sideline reporter Lara Pitt said.

“He’s with the physio in the sheds, the club telling me he simply had no strength in that shoulder, there were concerns he dislocated it in contact but it popped straight back in, so he’s going to have some scans tomorrow.”

Fox League caller Dan Ginnane said the injury could have huge implications on the finals.

“That is huge what happens there, they’ve got Penrith next week. Brisbane at Suncorp, the Roosters down here in Melbourne and then Parramatta,” Ginnane said.

“That is a brutal finish and top four is obviously no guarantee. It’s becoming a survival of the fittest this NRL (season).”

Read on for all the latest news in our NRL casualty ward.

INJURED IN ROUND 21

Jahrome Hughes (shoulder)

Aaron Booth (knee)

Kieren Foran (hamstring)

FULL CASUALTY WARD

BRONCOS

Selwyn Cobbo (concussion) – Round 21

Albert Kelly (foot) – Round 22

TC Robati (arm) – Round 22

Herbie Farnworth (biceps) – indefinite

raiders

Adam Elliott (hip) – Round 21

Jordan Rapana (suspended) – Round 21

Semi Valemei (knee) – Round 21

Trey Mooney (ankle) – Round 21

James Schiller (ankle) – Round 22

Harry Rushton (jaw) – Round 25

Jarrod Croker (shoulder) – season

Josh Hodgson (knee) – season

Harley Smith-Shields (knee) – season

BULLDOGS

Paul Alamoti (cheekbone) – Round 21

Ava Seumanufagai (calf) – Round 21

Raymond Faitala-Mariner (ribs) – Round 21-22

Corey Allan (groin) – Round 22

Corey Waddell (suspension) – Round 25

Luke Thompson (concussion) – indefinite

Jack Hetherington (shoulder) – season

Billy Tsikrikas (knee) – season

SHARKS

Dale Finucane (suspension) – Round 22

Royce Hunt (shoulder) – indefinite

Jack Williams (shoulder) – season

Sione Katoa (pectoral) – season

TITANS

Joe Vuna (knee) – indefinite

Shallin Fuller (leg) – season

BE EAGLES

Sean Keppie (shoulder) – Round 21

Ben Trbojevic (head knock) – Round 21

Tom Trbojevic (shoulder) – finals/World Cup

Karl Lawton (knee) – season

STORM

Jahrome Hughes (shoulder) TBD

Jack Howarth (shoulder) – Round 21

Will Warbrick (quad) – Round 21

Tepai Moeroa (shoulder) – Round 22

Nick Meaney (shoulder) – Round 22

Trent Loiero (back) – indefinite

Ryan Papenhuyzen (knee) – season

Reimis Smith (pectoral) – season

Christian Welch (Achilles) – season

George Jennings (knee) – season

KNIGHTS

Bradman Best (thumb) – Round 21

Kurt Mann (quad) – Round 22

Kalyn Ponga (concussion) – indefinite

Lachlan Fitzgibbon (shoulder) – indefinite

Chris Vea’ila (leg) – indefinite

Bailey Hodgson (elbow) – season

Dylan Lucas (pectoral) – season

COWBOYS

Kyle Feldt (hamstring) – Round 23

Jordan McLean (hamstring) – Round 24

Mitch Dunn (knee) – season

Heilum Luki (knee) – season

EELS

Haze Dunster (knee) – season

Ray Stone (knee) – season

Mitch Moses (finger) – Finals

PANTHERS

Eddie Blacker (hamstring) – Round 21

Mitch Kenny (knee) – Round 21

Stephen Crichton (ear/concussion) – Round 21

Kurt Falls (leg) – Round 21

Mavrik Geyer (thumb) – Round 21

Jarome Luai (knee) – Round 25-finals

Nathan Cleary (suspension) – Finals

RABBITOHS

Peter Mamouzelos (wrist) – Round 24

Hame Sele (hamstring) – Round 25

Michael Chee Kam (thumb) – Round 25

Campbell Graham (cheekbone) – indefinite

Jed Cartwright (hamstring) – indefinite

Liam Knight (knee) – season

Jacob Host (shoulder) – season

dragons

Cody Ramsey (knee) – Round 22

Jayden Sullivan (shoulder) – Round 23

Mikaele Ravalawa (hamstring) – Finals

Moses Suli (ankle) – Finals

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ROOSTERS

Siosiua Taukeiaho (cheekbone) – Round 22

Lindsay Collins (concussion) – Round 24-25

Billy Smith (knee) – season

Sitili Tupouniua (knee) – season

WARRIORS

Bayley Sironen (eye socket) – Round 21

Aaron Pene (illness) – Round 21

Jack Murchie (staff) – Round 21

Jesse Arthars (quad) – Round 22

Chanel Harris-Tavita (knee) – Round 22-23

Ben Murdoch-Masila (elbow) – indefinite

Jazz Tevaga (shoulder) – season

TIGERS

Luke Garner (neck) – Round 21

Tommy Talau (knee) – Round 21

Stefano Utoikamanu (wrist) – Round 24

Luke Brooks (calf) – Round 24

Jackson Hastings (leg) – season

Alex Twal (concussion) – season

Shawn Blore (ACL) – season

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Melbourne Storm, Brandon Smith, hip-drop tackle, Gold Coast Titans, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Craig Bellamy, Match Review Committee, Pat Carrigan

Melbourne Storm, Brandon Smith, hip-drop tackle, Gold Coast Titans, Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, Craig Bellamy, Match Review Committee, Pat Carrigan

Storm star Brandon Smith was placed on report for an alleged hip-drop tackle on Titans skippers Tino Fa’asuamaleaui — and Craig Bellamy has pleaded the Match Review Committee to ignore the “hysteria”.

Smith took out the legs of Fa’asuamaleaui and his teammates Tanah Boyd and Sam McIntyre immediately threw up their arms in protest.

Fox League commentators Dan Ginnane and Shane Flanagan made no mention of the tackle until the Gold Coast lock pulled up licks.

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Replays then showed Smith took out the legs in ugly fashion and referee Peter Gough placed him on report.

“I understand it’s wet and he’s sliding, but it’s (that) he throws his legs out which drops the weight on the back foot, it’s on report,” Gough told Melbourne captain Jesse Bromwich.

“That could be very big. Only a two-man tackle not the familiar three-man tackle where that result occurs,” Ginnane said.

“It doesn’t really matter. You can’t do it, we know you can’t put your weight on the back of the legs when the player is going away from you and he gets himself in a bad position.”

Brandon Smith’s tackle on the Titans captain.Source: Getty Images

It comes after Broncos star Pat Carrigan copped a four-game ban for a hip-drop tackle last weekend that broke the leg of Tigers gun Jackson Hastings — an event that was heavily publicized.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy pleaded with the MRC in the post-match press conference to ignore the reports, hoping his star utility remains on the field.

“I just hope it gets judged on the tackle, not some of the hysteria that has gone on this week,” Bellamy said.

“That is all we ask.

“If you go on one last week, but how many have there been? If there is one in however many games since the last one.

“Pat Carrigan doesn’t go out on the field to break Hastings’ legs, they are an accident.”

Bellamy also said he didn’t believe hip-drop tackles were a big issue in the modern game.

“I don’t see it as a real big issue in the game, but I understand that it can injure people, but there hasn’t been a whole heap this year I don’t think.

“I just hope it gets judged on that and not on it being in the news a lot this week.”

Smith’s tackles was heavily debated on the Fox League halftime panel by ex-players Mick Ennis and Corey Parker.

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Open your eyes! Roosters Scold Walker | 00:31

“We watched it in full speed live, Brandon Smith is just making the tackle and he falls off the tackle and the fact Tino went on that out line dragged Brandon Smith along with him,” Parker said.

“When you slow it all down to the enth degree like we do it doesn’t look great, but he’s just hanging on.

“If you don’t want to end up in that position then Brandon Smith has to let go of the tackle, otherwise what does he do, it’s a complete accident.

“I don’t see it as a genuine hip drop like we saw with Pat Carrigan last week. If he’s not to end up in that position, he needs to let go which completely goes against everything we talk about in rugby league.

Ennis agreed with Parker but said the tackle would be a “big concern” for the Storm.

“All the talk this week was two players holding the man up then that third tackler coming in and showing no duty of care, I don’t like the position that Tino gets in at the end but I’m not sure what else Brandon Smith could do there other than let go of the tackle,” Ennis said.

“Do we put that down to the duty of care? Is that where we’re going? Maybe we have to, where we’re eliminating players from getting in that position.

“That was a real difficult one, he just ended up in that unfortunate position Brandon Smith and I’m not sure what else he could have done.”

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NRL news 2022: Corey Oates try forward pass video, Roosters vs Broncos score

NRL news 2022: Corey Oates try forward pass video, Roosters vs Broncos score

Nothing seemed to go right for Brisbane Broncos on Thursday evening, but Kevin Walters’ men were perhaps lucky to be awarded their second try against the Sydney Roosters at the SCG.

The Broncos were trailing by 20 points in the 60th minute when five-eighth Ezra Mam floated a pass over the Roosters defensive line towards winger Corey Oates, who dived over for the try.

But replays suggested the pass was forward, with Mam releasing the ball behind the 10m line and Oates catching it approximately eight meters out.

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The referee believed the ball was passed backwards but floated forwards — which is legal. The Sydney crowd didn’t agree though, with a chorus of boos echoing around the stadium when replays were shown on the big screen.

“Man, that’s way forward,” Channel 9 commentator Mathew Thompson said. “Oh he’s going to let it go. He’s let it go!

“It can’t have been thrown back either.”

Melbourne Storm legend Cameron Smith continued: “Seriously? Unless it’s come off a Rooster’s hand … I think that ball has drifted forward about three meters.”

Former New South Wales representative Michael Ennis agreed on Fox League. “The pass from Ezra Mam looked like it was two meters forward out of his hands from him,” he said.

“It certainly went forward.”

Regardless, the Roosters have taken another important step towards securing a top eight berth after beating Brisbane 34-16.

Trent Robinson’s men weren’t at their ruthless best, but a fourth straight win has put their premiership rivals on notice.

The Roosters started the round at risk of dropping to ninth but will finish the weekend either seventh or eighth, keeping their closest pursuers at bay for at least another week.

They have a tough run home over the closing month – meeting North Queensland, Wests Tigers, Melbourne and South Sydney – but who would be foolish enough to declare the Chooks won’t reach the finals for a sixth straight season?

And any team featuring James Tedesco, Joey Manu, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Luke Keary, Victor Radley and Joseph Suaalii will be a threat come September.

“We feel like we’ve worked hard enough this year and tried different things (and) it’s time to play better,” Robinson said.

“The last month has been good and we’re improving but we’ve got to keep going.”

Skipper Tedesco added: “We’re still chasing that 80-minute performance but we’re getting better and better.”

The Roosters led this must-win game 18-0 after as many minutes, pouring through the Broncos’ ineffectual defense and eating up the meters with ease.

It took the hosts just five minutes to open the Broncos up, a lovely bat-on pass from Tedesco handing Paul Momirovski an open passage to the line.

Sam Walker engineered the next try three minutes later with a clever chip kick into the in-goal for Nat Butcher to reach out and ground the ball with his fingertips.

When Angus Crichton pushed through some Brisbane’s flimsy right-edge defense to reach out and score, the Roosters were headed for an 18-0 lead and complete control of a one-sided contest.

Then they took the foot from the throat, inviting Brisbane back into the game.

The Broncos scored through Corey Oates to narrow the gap to 14 as the Roosters’ completion rate went through the floor.

Robinson told the Tricolours to park the fancy stuff in the second half – and they did – but they still came up with three tries to snuff out any hope of a Brisbane revival.

Keary was superb, putting the finishing touches on a standout performance with a brilliant individual try 12 minutes from the end.

We were expecting a strong response from the Broncos following their shock loss to Wests Tigers, but they fired a few decent shots in another worrying performance.

Their attack was pedestrian and clunky for most of the night and there wasn’t much in the way of whack in defense.

The visitors were chasing the game from the outset and did well to avoid a blowout, although they never really looked like mounting any sort of concerted comeback.

“At 18-0 we got a bit of momentum back and (then) a couple of things didn’t go to plan,” Brisbane skipper Adam Reynolds said.

“It’s obviously disappointing, but it’s a learning curve. We’re still a young team that’s figuring it out.”

Brisbane could finish the round as low as seventh if Parramatta and Souths win their respective matches.

With Adam Lucius, NCA NewsWire

Read related topics:BrisbaneSydney

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NRL 2022: Sydney Roosters vs Brisbane Broncos, teams, Matt Lodge exit from Broncos, payout, Kevin Walters

NRL 2022: Sydney Roosters vs Brisbane Broncos, teams, Matt Lodge exit from Broncos, payout, Kevin Walters

Further details of Matt Lodge’s exit from the Broncos have emerged as the front rower braces to face his former side when Brisbane battle the Roosters on Thursday night.

The Broncos agreed to pay up to $1 million of Lodge’s salary to facilitate his departure from Red Hill, a move that came under intense scrutiny at the time.

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“You try not to be critical of Brisbane as a former player but I don’t think we can believe anything that’s coming out of that place at the moment,” former Queensland representative Brent Tate told NRL tonight in the wake of Lodge’s exit to the Warriors.

“Kevvie came out and said they’d stay and if Matt Lodge goes, honestly, I think clubs are built on trust and at the moment there doesn’t seem to be that at that club.

“There’s different messages coming from all different people within the ranks and I hope for Matt Lodge’s sake he gets to go to a club because he’s been so up in the air and I know how difficult that would be for a player who plays on passion and emotion.”

Now though, a report from news corp has revealed more details on Lodge’s exit while chairman Karl Morris also explained why Brisbane was willing to chip in to speed the process up.

“Matt Lodge was a redemption story and it was great to have him back,” Morris told news corp.

“He did all the tough work he had to do while playing for Redcliffe to get back into the NRL. He completely gave up the drink and was a model citizen while he was with us.

“For whatever reason, culturally, it didn’t work with him and the new coaching staff and we decided to part ways.

“Kevvie wants a certain type of player and person at the Broncos and he just didn’t suit the type of team Kevvie was trying to build.”

the news corp report claims that Lodge’s character was not the best match for what Walters was trying to build at Red Hill, with suggestions he cut corners at training.

Lodge is also said to have been sprayed by one Broncos official for his attire around the club.

But speaking to news corp ahead of Thursday’s game, lock forward Pat Carrigan was full of praise for his former teammate.

“Lodgey always plays well and I’m sure he will step up against us, I’m excited for him,” he said.

“He’s a halfback in a front-rower’s body, he’s actually a very smart footballer and he taught me a lot about the game.

“I am grateful for a lot of the stuff Lodgey did for us younger blokes here. He gave us that introduction to first grade. We had some good battles on the training ground so he will be up for this one and we will be too.”

Originally published as ‘He just didn’t suit’: Key issue behind Matt Lodge’s $1 million Broncos exit revealed

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Sydney Roosters vs Brisbane Broncos, teams, Matt Lodge exit from Broncos, payout, Kevin Walters

Sydney Roosters vs Brisbane Broncos, teams, Matt Lodge exit from Broncos, payout, Kevin Walters

Further details of Matt Lodge’s exit from the Broncos have emerged as the front rower braces to face his former side when Brisbane battle the Roosters on Thursday night.

The Broncos agreed to pay up to $1 million of Lodge’s salary to facilitate his departure from Red Hill, a move that came under intense scrutiny at the time.

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“You try not to be critical of Brisbane as a former player but I don’t think we can believe anything that’s coming out of that place at the moment,” Brent Tate said on ‘NRL Tonight’ in the wake of Lodge’s exit to the Warriors.

“Kevvie came out and said they’d stay and if Matt Lodge goes, honestly, I think clubs are built on trust and at the moment there doesn’t seem to be that at that club.

“There’s different messages coming from all different people within the ranks and I hope for Matt Lodge’s sake he gets to go to a club because he’s been so up in the air and I know how difficult that would be for a player who plays on passion and emotion.”

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Matt Lodge left Brisbane in 2021. (AAP Image/Darren England)Source: AAP

Now though, a report from news corp has revealed more details on Lodge’s exit while chairman Karl Morris also explained why Brisbane was willing to chip in to speed the process up.

“Matt Lodge was a redemption story and it was great to have him back,” Morris told news corp.

“He did all the tough work he had to do while playing for Redcliffe to get back into the NRL. He completely gave up the drink and was a model citizen while he was with us.

“For whatever reason, culturally, it didn’t work with him and the new coaching staff and we decided to part ways.

“Kevvie wants a certain type of player and person at the Broncos and he just didn’t suit the type of team Kevvie was trying to build.”

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Major “Reboot” need for Knights – Buzz | 01:08

the news corp report claims that Lodge’s character was not the best match for what Walters was trying to build at Red Hill, with suggestions he cut corners at training.

Lodge is also said to have been sprayed by one Broncos official for his attire around the club.

But speaking to news corp ahead of Thursday’s game, lock forward Pat Carrigan was full of praise for his former teammate.

“Lodgey always plays well and I’m sure he will step up against us, I’m excited for him,” he said.

“He’s a halfback in a front-rower’s body, he’s actually a very smart footballer and he taught me a lot about the game.

“I am grateful for a lot of the stuff Lodgey did for us younger blokes here. He gave us that introduction to first grade. We had some good battles on the training ground so he will be up for this one and we will be too.”

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Josh Papalii commits to Samoa for Rugby League World Cup, Kangaroos, Australia, Brian To’o, news, updates

Josh Papalii commits to Samoa for Rugby League World Cup, Kangaroos, Australia, Brian To'o, news, updates

Canberra Raiders prop Josh Papalii has reportedly pledged his allegiance to Samoa for the upcoming Rugby League World Cup held in England later this year.

Papalii has dabbled in the Samoan and Kangaroos camps in the past with four games with Samoa and 11 with the Kangaroos.

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The Maroons veteran is the latest Australian eligible player to commit to a Pacific Island nation, joining Panthers duo Jarome Luai and Brian To’o.

“As an older player, I feel like it’s a movement I just don’t want to be missing out on,” Papalii said.

“Just seeing the likes of a few of the Penrith boys coming out and I’ve had few text messages from other players who haven’t come out yet saying they’ve put their hand up for Samoa.

“I have put my hand up to play for Samoa. Mal Meninga knows that and I’ve had a coffee with Mal as well to speak about what I’m planning to do… but that’s a long way from here, anything can happen in the next hopefully eight weeks.”

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This year’s Rugby League World Cup will be Papalii’s second for Samoa. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Papalii represented Samoa at the 2017 World Cup but has since pulled on the green and gold of Australia.

“I guess probably my last World Cup wasn’t the best, I sort of treated it as a little vacation and probably drank a bit too often, ate more than I should have,” he admitted.

“I’m looking to just play a bit of World Cup for the Motherland and represent my wife and my kids and especially my parents as well and just make Samoa proud.”

This year’s Rugby League World Cup will be hosted in the United Kingdom, making it Papalii’s third appearance in the major tournament, being his second with his native country of Samoa.

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Newcastle Knights, Adam O’Brien, David Klemmer future, news, latest, transfers, Sam Walker, Rabbitohs, Latrell Mitchell

Newcastle Knights, Adam O'Brien, David Klemmer future, news, latest, transfers, Sam Walker, Rabbitohs, Latrell Mitchell

The divide in the Newcastle dressing room has been simmering for the past few months with Knights coach Adam O’Brien telling the playing group after a recent loss: “I know what you blokes are saying about me. I’m going nowhere.”

The point blank message from O’Brien can be revealed as the Knights go into damage control in the wake of the coach’s loose carry press conference last Sunday.

O’Brien fronted the media again on Tuesday to try and walk things back off the cliff but by that stage the cracks in the Newcastle dressing room had been prized wide open.

The David Klemmer situation has only driven a further wedge into the struggling club which has only managed five wins out of 19 games this year.

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The Knights started this season full of optimism after back-to-back wins over the Sydney Roosters and Wests Tigers before going on a run of seven losses leading into Magic Round.

It’s been slim pickings since with Newcastle now having the worst defensive record in the NRL having leaked 522 points at an average of 27.47 points per game along with currently having the worst differential in the competition of minus 238 points.

There’s no question O’Brien’s penchant for a blow-up is wearing thin with elements of the Newcastle playing group.

The problem for O’Brien is in 2022 it’s so much easier to get rid of a head coach than it is to completely try and turn over a roster.

The old saying goes you’ve never really been a head coach until you’ve lost four games in a row and the heat is on – which is exactly where O’Brien finds himself now.

‘AT A TIPPING POINT’: Knights at a crossroads, O’Brien feels for running ‘soft ship’

David Klemmer’s future at Newcastle is clouded. NRL PHOTOSSource: The Daily Telegraph

The Knights are adamant O’Brien will remain as the head coach next season but the biggest immediate challenge the Newcastle coach faces is getting the playing group all back on the same page.

New Director of Football Peter Parr has arrived at Newcastle and could only be shaking his head at the bun fight he’s walked into.

O’Brien is signed with Newcastle until the end of 2024 which if the Knights stay the course would mean he’s had a five-year tenure at the club.

After the events of the past week it’s now become blatantly clear the Knights coach needs a fast start to next season to ensure his own job security.

Let’s call the Klemmer play from Newcastle for what it is – the Knights are clearly trying to free up some money to try and go in a different direction next season.

Klemmer is on $800,000-plus which would give Newcastle some serious money to go to the open market with.

Plenty of ex-players are happy to tell you middle forwards often protest against being dragged from the field.

Newcastle have clearly identified they no longer want the ex-NSW and Australian prop at the Knights and so have started the process of steering him towards another club.

Adam O’Brien has come under scrutiny this week. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

ROOSTERS MOVE TO LOCK UP WALKER

The Sydney Roosters are set to launch a multi-million dollar play aimed at keeping young gun halfback Sam Walker at the Tricolours long-term.

Walker, 20, will be a free agent for rival clubs to approach as of November 1 but like all the good clubs the Roosters will try and make sure they strike a deal well beforehand.

The other rookie who has everyone talking at the Chooks is emerging superstar Joseph Suaalii. The Roosters clearly value his contribution to the team at the point where champion frontrower Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has been bringing him into leading the club’s team song over the past fortnight.

Jared has long been the Roosters leader in charge of leading the team song. Even after the Roosters were disappointed with their round 20 win over Manly, JWH still insisted on Suaalii riding shot gun with him leading the celebrations.

Nofoaluma vows to honor Tigers deal | 01:16

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DRAGONS CHASE ROOSTERS HOOKER

THE Gold Coast Titans aren’t the only club having a crack at signing Sydney Roosters hooker Sam Verrills.

The St George Illawarra Dragons are also making a play for the premiership-winning no.9.

Where it gets interesting is the Dragons have had a tough conversation with current hooker Andrew McCullough.

McCullough, 32, still has a year to run on his contract next season but the Red V are clearly exploring going in a different direction.

McCullough is one of the ex-Broncos clique of Dragons players who enjoys a close rapport with Red V coach Anthony Griffin.

The hooker, Dragons captain Ben Hunt and Josh Maguire all played in an under 20s grand finale with the Broncos in 2008 when Griffin was the coach.

‘This is what gives me the s****!’ | 02:04

FARAH GETS HANDS ON IN TIGERS FRONT OFFICE

The Wests Tigers putting the band back together with Tim Sheens, Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah is a smart play from the struggling club.

What’s equally as smart is Farah’s new contract stipulating that he’s also set to learn the ropes in terms of front office administration with the club.

The Tigers have long been laughed at by rival clubs about the way the club has been run.

Getting a figurehead like Farah who has bled for the club more hands-on in this department makes a lot of sense.

SOUTHS MOVE TO KEEP LATRELL, CODY AT REDFERN

We told you last week how South Sydney had a delicate $6 million balancing act on their hands around the re-signings of superstar fullback Latrell Mitchell and five-eighth star Cody Walker.

We were told there was a big chance the two key position players would wait until after November 1 to re-commit to South Sydney.

The Rabbitohs have swiftly moved to try and nip the scenario in the bud by meeting with the star duo earlier this week.

Both Latrell and Cody are off-contract at the end of next season but with talks progressing positively there’s every chance they can soon re-commit to the Bunnies.

It will be a huge coup for the red and green club and also for CEO Blake Solly.

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Sports

Kyle Flanagan shuts down Hull FC transfer rumours, news, contract, Canterbury Bulldogs, Michael Potter

Kyle Flanagan shuts down Hull FC transfer rumours, news, contract, Canterbury Bulldogs, Michael Potter

Bulldogs halfback Kyle Flanagan has enjoyed a remarkable rise under interim boss Mick Potter in Canterbury, with the now free-scoring team surging up the ladder.

Now the 23-year-old number seven has shut down talk of a mooted move to the English Super League, declaring he ‘definitely’ wants to extend his time at the club.

Having been benched in the opening months of the season and subsequently for struggling form, Flanagan had been linked to a move to English side Hull FC in recent months.

But he shut that talk down at Tuesday’s press conference, laughing off a question around whether he had held talks with Hull.

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“No,” Flanagan laughed. “The first time I got out there on social media and shut that stuff down, that was the first I’d heard of it.

“I’m on contract here next year at the Bulldogs and keep winning footy games, I won’t have to listen to that sort of stuff.”

With his contract expiring at the end of 2023, Flanagan declared his allegiance to the Dogs long-term, stating his desire for a long-term deal.

“Yeah, I think so,” Flanagan replied to a question about remaining at the club.

“Obviously I live in Cronulla and I love the Bulldogs. They gave me an opportunity and I like to think I have turned things around and things are going forward for the club.

“As I said, if we keep winning and combinations keep building, this footy team is only going to get better.

“I’m loving my time here and I definitely want to extend here.”

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Flanagan was full of praise for interim boss Potter, declaring he has simplified the club’s on-field strategy and removed the shackles from the side.

“I can’t give any more credit to what Pottsy has done for me individually or this footy team.

“He is such a calm head and simplifies things so much for us. He just backs up and gives us confidence to go out there and play footy, and we do exactly that.

“We are repaying the faith he puts in us.”

“We are out there putting the wins on the board, the shackles are off and we are just playing what we see.,” he added.”

“It’s really exciting to be playing in this footy team and for myself, I’m just really enjoying my own footy and starting to love playing every weekend.”

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Sports

Josh Papalii commits to Samoa for Rugby League World Cup, Kangaroos, Australia, Brian To’o, news, updates

Josh Papalii commits to Samoa for Rugby League World Cup, Kangaroos, Australia, Brian To'o, news, updates

Canberra Raiders prop Josh Papalii has reportedly pledged his allegiance to Samoa for the upcoming Rugby League World Cup held in England later this year.

Papalii has dabbled in the Samoan and Kangaroos camps in the past with four games with Samoa and 11 with the Kangaroos.

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The Maroons veteran is the latest Australian eligible player to commit to a Pacific Island nation, joining Panthers duo Jarome Luai and Brian To’o.

“As an older player, I feel like it’s a movement I just don’t want to be missing out on,” Papalii said.

“Just seeing the likes of a few of the Penrith boys coming out and I’ve had few text messages from other players who haven’t come out yet saying they’ve put their hand up for Samoa.

“I have put my hand up to play for Samoa. Mal Meninga knows that and I’ve had a coffee with Mal as well to speak about what I’m planning to do… but that’s a long way from here, anything can happen in the next hopefully eight weeks.”

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This year’s Rugby League World Cup will be Papalii’s second for Samoa. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Papalii represented Samoa at the 2017 World Cup but has since pulled on the green and gold of Australia.

“I guess probably my last World Cup wasn’t the best, I sort of treated it as a little vacation and probably drank a bit too often, ate more than I should have,” he admitted.

“I’m looking to just play a bit of World Cup for the Motherland and represent my wife and my kids and especially my parents as well and just make Samoa proud.”

This year’s Rugby League World Cup will be hosted in the United Kingdom, making it Papalii’s third appearance in the major tournament, being his second with his native country of Samoa.

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