State of Origin could take a shortened form in 2024 after the NRL told clubs that three days were to be shaved off each camp.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the clubs will be granted their wish for fewer days in camp, allowing for seven days of contact time with rep coaches instead of the current 10-day lead-in period.
Club bosses are against the status quo as they see the first two days as largely wasted on media and commercial work rather than on-field training, with players are taken away from their clubs for a longer time than is deemed necessary.
Queensland Rugby League (QRL) chair Bruce Hatcher told the SMH that the Maroons used those extra days for vital community work, and that the states had not been consulted in the decision-making process.
“I’m perplexed,” he said.
“We have an agreement to run Origin and we weren’t at a meeting which appears to have changed the manner in which the competition is conducted.”
Meanwhile, Brad Fittler has expressed his interest in continuing as NSW coach, telling the same masthead that he was ready to go around again in 2024, despite losing in 2023 and 2022.
“I’ve still got the energy, I’ve still got the drive,” said the Blues boss, who has made a presentation to the NSWRL board with his reflections on the most recent defeat.
“It is what it is, I love it, it’s fantastic. It’s a shame (that the scrutiny) affects people around you, but that’s life. That’s part of taking the job. The family is supportive, which is great. I love it, I love everything about it.
“I presented to the board and told them I would come back to them in a couple of weeks and go from there. I’ll go back to them with a plan. We had opportunities, whether we let them go, we exceeded (expectations) at some stages.
“There have been challenges along the way, it is what it is. Now it’s just about the decision going forward. You can’t change the past.”
Brisbane forward Brendan Piakura has received fines from the NRL match review committee for all three charges he received in the 32-22 loss to Melbourne.
It is a huge boost to the Broncos after coach Kevin Walters was resigned to being without the 21-year-old for week one of the finals series.
Piakura was put on report for a careless high tackle on Storm winger Grant Anderson in the first half. He was then pinged for dangerous contact on livewire debutant Sua Fa’alogo in the second half before catching forward Alec Macdonald high.
The classy second-rower received grade one charges for all three offences and $1000 fines for each with an early guilty plea.
MacDonald was sent for a HIA in the 75th minute after the incident. After the match Walters conceded Piakura could be in strife with the NRL match review committee.
“He is on report three times, so I dare say,” Walters said. “There wasn’t a lot in what he has done.”
The MRC agreed with Walters’ assessment.
Piakura has become a regular in the 17 as the season has gone on, with 26 tackles breaks and six line breaks in his 10 games providing impact.
Brisbane prop Xavier Willison, 21, limped off in the 47th minute with an ankle injury and will go for scans.
“It is not looking too good,” Walters said.
Prop Pat Carrigan (foot) and captain Adam Reynolds (calf) missed the Melbourne clash but Walters said both would be available next week.
(AAP)
The player at the heart of the Bulldogs ‘sharkbait’ punishment scandal has not ruled out taking legal action against the club, according to the Daily Telegraph.
A meeting was held between the player, his representatives and important figures at the Dogs, including General Manager of Football Phil Gould, in an attempt to smooth out the issue, which stems from an incident in which the unnamed player was forced to wrestle multiple teammates as a result of being late for training.
No resolution was forthcoming and now, legal action may follow. The player in question has been on mental health leave for a month and has not trained with the club.
Other teammates have since spoken out, backing the player and telling the Telegraph that they thought the punishment was disturbing.
Canterbury sponsors the Laundy Group have stood fast behind Gould and coach Cameron Ciraldo, with Craig Laundy telling the Telegraph:
“We believe it will bear fruit. The definition of insanity is trying the same things over and over again and expecting a different result.
“The board, Gus and Cam have a plan and that plan is around cultural change. They have Stu, Dad and myself – the Laundy families’ full support.”
Panthers
Roar Rookie
I find it hard to believe that Piakura wasn’t also on report for the high shot on Storm centre Smith, when Smith scored a try.
3 R M
Roar Rookie
Yes as I understand it BG, probably it's arguable at state level on an industry basis but federal law is consistent and covers all the parties and holds the occupiers (the club then ultimately the NRL) the football department (managers ) the players and the support staff all responsible it covers all workplaces The club has a duty to provide a safe workplace both physically and mentally. The Legal action means there's a case you would say.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I am still trying to work out how Piakura was put on report for the second one. Tackle off the ball was a penalty but there was nothing else illegal about it. I only saw a quick replay of the first one but my initial reaction was there was nothing there. I didn't see the third one. I am not surprised he got off
steveng
Roar Rookie
Piakura missed tackle on Fa'alogo injured him and was way worse than what Trell did to Frizell and Trell gets 1 week? This Piakura was like a bull seeing red and was going after anything, surely he will hurt someone as he does it every game and gets away with it, oh it must be ok as he is playing for the Broncos!
Brett305
Roar Rookie
Horsburgh 4 weeks…Piakura a fine..that’s the NRL in a nutshell
Rellum
Roar Guru
We have had players celebrated for sitting out Origin two years in a row now we get the trimming of camp. Bit by bit...
Rellum
Roar Guru
It will end up like the NFL where there are only set periods you are allowed to train, can only talk to coaches for certain periods.
mushi
Roar Guru
Not at all on the last sentence. That's a Gould special he trots out to defend being a guy who's happy to tax Western Sydney for his wage and watch young men's minds deteriorate. Football and Basketball in the US have had court involvement on things like this and yet miraculously survived in a more litigious country. They can train for the accepted risks and i think there's been multiple media reports where yelling/language in the work place is acceptable. The issue here would be is this genuine training or it is reserved as simply physical (and emotional) harm as a punishment.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
"Well not many workplaces let you be physically assaulted 20 times a game. Players sign up knowing this is part and parcel of their work conditions. That said, look at the changes that have been made in the past decade to the way high tackles are viewed and assessed. Agreed about the ranting & screaming. I'm guessing it won't be long before that disappears from the NRL. It's on par with the sorts of "punishments" Ciraldo dished out for effectiveness, especially when the coach expects the players to do the punishing. All sports will continue to look at common workplace rules to see whether they could/should be adopted and that's a good thing, IMO. No sport can afford to remain static while the rest of society moves on. There's a raft of things completely unique to contact sports, so a lot of the "normal" rules you'd likely dread won't be applied to rugby league, simply because they don't fit and never will. If they did, as you rightly say, it'll be over.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Well not many workplaces let you be physically assaulted 20 times a game . Not many workplaces would allow a manager to rant and scream at you during a work break . Not many workplaces allow physical punishment for misbehaviour. Again, If sport is subject to Normal workplace rules it's over. It's not , but it's getting closer.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
But isn't professional sport like any other workplace? Unions, management, collective agreements, OH&S, etc, it's all pretty much the same as my workplace. The only difference I can see is how individuals earn a wage.
Horses for Courses
Roar Rookie
Hold your outrage for another day mate, anyone can sue anyone but that doesn't mean it will end up in court.
Tony
Roar Guru
Too late mate. Just take a look at the work of the RLPA. I expect to see long service leave after 10 games and 12 weeks paid paternity leave any time soon.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Seriously, so ' punishing ' a player for a misdemeanour can now result in a court case? Oh he made me wrestle half a dozen players .! The humiliation. If we start treating sport ( especially RL) like any other workplace it's over. Let's all get a computer game.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
What difference does it make to Clubs if players are with their Clubs for an extra couple of days around Origin time? If this story's correct, those days are not taken up with actual training, (which was the big issue this season, given the injury to LM) but media and PR for the sport. If that's the case, what do Clubs gain by not releasing players for 10 days? As for Freddy, it's not passion or energy you need, but a clear game plan to beat the Maroons. If you have the latter, the former will happen naturally.