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ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys is set to take on even more influence over the sport by becoming the head of the selection committee for the Kangaroos.
V’landys is slated to become selection chairman of a new-look panel to choose the squad for the World Cup which will also include Origin coaches Brad Fittler and Billy Slater, and national team mentor Mal Meninga.
According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, the selection panel will pick a 40-man squad midway through the State of Origin series which will be cut back after the NRL grand final.
The proposal is set to be ratified by the ARL Commission.
V’landys was an outspoken critic of the World Cup going ahead in England last year during the COVID-19 pandemic despite other international sporting teams travelling to the country amid tight biosecurity controls.
The NRL clubs were keen to delay the tournament until this year as they held concerns over the quarantine periods for players travelling to and from the UK eating into their off-season preparation time.
A fit and healthy Harry Grant has arrived in Queensland camp as he prepares to share the hooking duties in Wednesday’s State of Origin opener with good mate Ben Hunt.
The Melbourne star was kept away from the squad until Wednesday night after recovering from flu and managing a groin strain.
Grant was recovering from another groin injury in the lead-up to last year’s series-opener and was below his best as the Blues romped to a record 50-6 victory. But he says there are no such concerns this year, with Grant set to feature in an opposed session against Queensland Cup outfit Ipswich Jets at their Gold Coast base on Thursday afternoon.
“It was more precautionary for the others trying not to bring the flu into camp,” Grant said. “Two days at home felt like two weeks … I was champing at the bit to get in here, felt like I was missing out on a lot (but now I’ll be) pretty much straight into it.”
Grant has been named in the No.14 jersey and is set to come off the bench in a role this year’s No.9 Ben Hunt adopted last season.
Bulldogs interim head coach Michael Potter. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Immortal halfback Andrew Johns believes Canterbury should take a punt on Ben and Shane Walker to turn their fortunes around following the mid-season exit of Trent Barrett.
The Walkers forged a reputation for innovation during their successful stint coaching Ipswich in the Queensland Cup and went close to getting a start in the NRL a few years ago when the Gold Coast Titans were on the lookout to replace Garth Brennan.
Their unorthodox attacking approach could be just what’s needed to put some bite back into the Bulldogs, according to Johns.
“I’d love to see the Walker brothers get it. They play a unique style of footy, all-out attack, something we haven’t seen in the NRL,” Johns said on Freddy and the Eighth. “Let’s get some fresh ideas in and see how it goes.
“I see it as the Bulldogs, what have they got to lose?
“The way they play is quite extreme so if they could tone it down a little bit, whether they could do that. But it’s all based around skill and space.”
Johns said the Walkers’ method was similar to the successful Broncos, Raiders and Roosters premiership-winning sides who liked to throw the ball around from deep inside their own territory.
He believes potential recruits would soon see the fun atmosphere of playing in a team under their tutelage.
“I think it’s a risk they should really consider.”
Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould earlier in the week claimed he had not received any job applications for the full-time role starting next season after caretaker Mick Potter guides the side through the rest of 2022.
He has previously stated he believes the next Canterbury coach needs to be an experienced operator to get the last-placed team out of the doldrums.
Brisbane hooker Jake Turpin has been granted permission to negotiate a mid-season release with another club just days after prop Payne Haas withdrew his request to leave immediately.
Turpin has been left out of the team recently with Billy Walters preferred at hooker and despite captaining the team on three occasions last season, he has been told he can test the market.
The 25-year-old rake is a free agent at the end of the season and has been linked to the Dolphins, who are yet to sign a hooker for their debut campaign next year.
Brisbane issued a statement to say they “can confirm that Jake Turpin has been granted permission to negotiate with other clubs. Jake approached the club wishing to explore his options elsewhere and the Broncos have granted that request.”
His chances of linking with the Dolphins may have taken a hit with the club announcing on Thursday afternoon that they have signed Canterbury hooker Jeremy Marshall-King on a two-year deal.
Marshall-King, who made his NRL debut at the Tigers, has been one of Canterbury’s few reliable performers over the past couple of seasons.
“Jeremy is a crafty player who will give us some significant experience at some very important positions on the field,” said CEO Terry Reader.
“He is an accomplished dummy half and has also shown he can play in the halves in the NRL – and players with that skill set are hard to find.
“With Jeremy and young Queensland Cup star Harrison Graham in our squad already for 2023, we are building some good options and providing some competition for our No.9 jersey.”
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