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NRL NEWS: Anasta accuses 'Pinocchio' Gus of lying, Cobbo in Maroons mix, knee injury sidelines NAS

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16th May, 2022
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Braith Anasta ripped into his former Origin coach Phil Gould, accusing him of lying over Trent Barrett’s messy departure as Canterbury coach.

Anasta took aim at the Bulldogs general manager for his comments two weeks ago when he said Barrett would be coach “long after I’m gone”.

Barrett resigned on Sunday night with Gould fronting the media on Monday to say the coach made the decision on his own terms. He had claimed a fortnight ago that speculation around Barrett’s tenure was driven by media outlets with childish agendas against him.

“Well, you’re not laughing now Phil after saying that only a couple of weeks ago,” Anasta said on NRL 360.

“Pinocchio there, saying that his job was safe, Phil Gould, and he’s going to be here long after Gus. He’s telling lies because Barrett’s gone and he’s still there.”

Anasta, a member of the 2004 grand final-winning Bulldogs side who played 110 matches in blue and white, said the club’s tough DNA was no longer part of the fabric of the club.

Gould indicated on 100% Footy on Monday night that an interim coach would be appointed to oversee the team for the rest of the year with an experienced mentor his preference to be the long-term replacement.

Assistant coach David Furner and NSW Cup coach Mick Potter are the only two members of the current staff who have NRL experience.

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Cobbo in Maroons’ sights

Maroons assistant Cameron Smith said he and coach Billy Slater have been mightily impressed with Broncos young gun Selwyn Cobbo as they look to build their 24-man squad for Origin I.

After scoring seven tries in the past four games for the Broncos, he is in contention for a wing spot if Queensland use Valentine Holmes in the centres alongside Dane Gagai.

Storm star Xavier Coates is likely to be on one wing for Queensland while Cowboys speedster Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is also in the mix for a spot out wide.

“Billy is the boss, you never give instructions up, they come down,” Smith said on SEN Radio. “I had a chat with Billy recently to compare notes and Cobbo was certainly on the radar.

“You can’t ignore the form he is in at the moment and some of the things he can bring to the football side.”

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Nelson Asofa-Solomona. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Nelson Asofa-Solomona. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

Storm dealt NAS blow

Melbourne’s forward depth is set to be tested even further with towering prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona ruled out of Saturday’s game against the North Queensland Cowboys.

Asofa-Solomona left the changing rooms after the Storm’s 32-6 loss to Penrith at NRL Magic Round on Saturday in a knee brace.

Scans showed the New Zealand international sustained a medial ligament injury although the Storm are hopeful it won’t rule him out much longer than a fortnight.

Melbourne are second after the loss to the Panthers but are unlikely to slip further down the ladder if they fall to the third-placed Cowboys in Townsville.

Amid an injury toll that includes Ryan Papenhuyzen, Reimis Smith and Jahrome Hughes, Craig Bellamy’s men were at least given a boost with the return of Tui Kamikamica against the Panthers.

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The Fijian prop had been stood down by the NRL and suspended him for nine games after he was charged for assault following an off-season incident in November last year.

Police charges were dropped and Kamikamica expressed his relief at returning for the Storm.

“It feels good to be back playing,” he told AAP. “It’s been a long time, it doesn’t matter how hard you train, match fitness is a different thing. 

“I don’t focus on the media and outside noise, I just want to help the team go well.”

With fellow forwards Asofa-Solomona, Tepai Moeroa and Christian Welch all sidelined, Kamikamica said he was aware he needed to pick up where he left off last season.

“When I was on the sideline I wanted to come in and do the same job I have been doing the last couple of years,” he said.

“Now I’ve got the first game out of the way, I want to keep on doing that.”

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