NRL NEWS: Fittler favours Staggs, Cleary tells Arthur to ignore trolls, Rabbits relocate, Ben in Dally M Hunt

Brad Fittler has thrown Kotoni Staggs up as the frontrunner for the NSW left centre role after conceding Latrell Mitchell will all but certainly miss the State of Origin series opener.

Four weeks out from NSW’s squad announcement, the Blues coach said he was impressed as Staggs got the better of fellow contender Siosifa Talakai in their head to head duel last Thursday night, urging him to back it up consistently.

The 23-year-old Staggs scored a great try and defended Cronulla behemoth Talakai brilliantly in Brisbane’s 16-7 NRL win.

“The fact is it was obvious what was going on, both players were aware of the challenge and when players step up under that sort of pressure, that’s what State of Origin is all about,” Fittler said on Monday.

“Given (that), I think there’s a really good push for him … it’s about backing that up and being the best centre.”

Another standout candidate to replace Mitchell is 21-year-old Stephen Crichton, with the Penrith centre already boasting an impressive combination with Panther teammates and NSW halves Jarome Luai and Nathan Cleary. But Fittler indicated he could have to wait a bit longer for his chance.

“The fact is if players have played together and worked under pressure before it definitely helps, but any combination or relationship starts somewhere,” Fittler said. “(Crichton) still only a kid, he’s 20-odd years old, I really think he’s gonna be stronger next year, the year after.”

Fittler’s comments came after it was confirmed Mitchell will fly to America for specialist treatment on his injured hamstring later this month ahead of the June 8 Origin opener.

Fittler locked captain James Tedesco in for the No.1 jersey, but added Melbourne’s in-form Ryan Papenhuyzen was a serious option for the bench.

“James Tedesco, we don’t give our captaincy out that easily, it’s normally someone we see in our plans for a long time,” he said.

“You need people on the bench that can be a little bit versatile.

“It’s a bit of a jigsaw puzzle toward the end, but (Papenhuyzen) is definitely a candidate for that No.14 role.”

(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Eels bite back at Arthur trolls

Penrith star Nathan Cleary has one piece of advice for Parramatta rookie Jake Arthur and that’s do everything he can to block out the trolls.

Cleary and Arthur will likely battle this Friday night at BlueBet Stadium, but the pair already co-exist in one of the NRL’s most exclusive clubs.

Cleary, Arthur, Billy Walters and Kyle Flanagan are the only current players to have had the experience of playing under their father.

There was a torrent of abuse towards the Arthurs online in the wake of the 35-4 defeat to North Queensland in Darwin on Saturday night with faceless trolls accusing the coach of nepotism.

After a spate of injuries in the outside backs, Jake was brought in at five-eighth the previous week in the big win over Newcastle with Dylan Brown switched to centre and the coach kept them in those positions for the clash with the Cowboys.

However, Jake was ineffective in Darwin but was hardly on his own in that regard with the Eels outplayed across the park.

The Eels posted two messages on their Twitter account, pleading with fans to lay off their 19-year-old five-eighth: “Guys. Give some confidence. Doesn’t always have to be neg!” and “The Arthur joke is enough. It’s not funny” which were later deleted.

Arthur is still fighting to prove himself in the NRL, debuting last year and considered a prospect of real potential. Cleary got a chance under Anthony Griffin a year after his father Ivan had been moved on. When Cleary senior returned to the Panthers his son was the NSW State of Origin halfback.

But even then it wasn’t easy as Penrith went 2-8 and external noise grew about the pair. “The first year we were together was pretty difficult,” Nathan Cleary said. “It’s definitely not been smooth sailing the whole time. It was tough at the start… But once we got through that it probably made us stronger.”

What Cleary decided was most important was paying attention only to those in the club, and not outside criticism. “It’s just prioritising who you listen to,” he said.

“That’s the biggest thing I found. If you listen to the trolls all the time you go nowhere trying to please them. As for Jake’s experience. It’s hard when you’re young. But I’m glad it happened to me at such a young age because it allowed me to grow through it and deal with it.”

Cleary’s comments come after fellow former premiership winner Martin Lang defended Arthur, having spent his career playing under his father John.

“Jake Arthur is only 19 years of age and is a fine prospect,” Lang said. “I’d like to see the CVs of those behind the nepotism accusations. Miserable, jealous individuals who want nothing more than to discredit the coach.”

Eels chief executive Jim Sarantinos told The Daily Telegraph the club had zero tolerance for the social media abuse.

“Our fans are passionate and we understand the disappointment that comes after a loss,” he said, “However, it is completely unacceptable when comments become abusive and highly personal.”

(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

Rabbitohs set for SFS homecoming

South Sydney are on the verge of ending their 17-year stint at Homebush to return to the new Sydney Football Stadium next year.

The Bunnies are on the verge of ending their agreement to play home games at Accor Stadium next year to play at the rebuilt SFS closer to their base at Redfern.

It will mean they will share the new venue with their arch rivals, the Sydney Roosters.

The rivals are set to play the first match at the stadium in Round 25.

Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly told the Sydney Morning Herald that the NSW Government’s decision to abandon plans to turn Accor Stadium into a rectangular venue had forced the club’s hand.

Dragons captain in Hunt for Dally M

St George Illawarra skipper Ben Hunt is within striking distance of his first Dally M Medal after leading his team to a stirring comeback win over Wests Tigers.

Hunt picked up three votes from Sunday’s victory in Wollongong to be just two behind overall leader Ryan Papenhuyzen, who had a rare outing where he failed to land a vote in Melbourne’s flogging of Newcastle.

Panthers co-captain Isaah Yeo is equal second with Hunt, one ahead of Eels halfback Mitchell Moses with Manly veteran Daly Cherry-Evans and Sharks playmaker Nicho Hynes a further two back.

Dally M leaderboard

15: Ryan Papenhuyzen
13: Isaah Yeo, Ben Hunt
12: Mitchell Moses
10: Daly Cherry-Evans, Nicho Hynes
9: Sam Walker, Dylan Edwards, Jahrome Hughes, Siosifa Talakai
8: Scott Drinkwater, Nathan Cleary, Jack Wighton
7: James Tedesco, Cameron Munster, Damien Cook

Round 8 votes

Broncos v Sharks
3: Kotoni Staggs, 2: Adam Reynolds, 1: Will Kennedy. Judge: Roy Masters

Titans v Panthers
3: Dylan Edwards, 2: Nathan Cleary, 1: Isaah Yeo. Judge: Andrew Johns

Rabbitohs v Sea Eagles
3: Cody Walker, 2: Cameron Murray, 1: Blake Taaffe. Judge: Paul Whatuira

Warriors v Raiders
3: Adam Elliott, 2: Jack Wighton, 1: Reece Walsh. Judge: Brett Kimmorley

Bulldogs v Roosters
3: James Tedesco, 2: Matt Burton, 1: Paul Vaughan. Judge: Greg Alexander

Eels v Cowboys
3: Scott Drinkwater, 2: Kyle Feldt, 1: Jason Taumalolo. Judge: Jimmy Smith

Knights v Storm
3: Cameron Munster, 2: Harry Grant, 1: Nelson Asofa-Solomona. Judge: Luke Lewis

Dragons v Tigers
3: Ben Hunt, 2: James Tamou, 1: Moses Mbye. Judge: Greg Inglis

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