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Knights immortal Andrew Johns thinks NSW need to bench Cameron Murray and bring in Manly second-rower Haumole Olakau’atu for added X-factor in this year’s State of Origin series.
Johns has named the 17 he would take into the first match at the end of next month and he thinks six players from the team which lost game three last season should be punted.
Murray was selected out of position in the second row last year with Isaah Yeo at lock and Johns believes Olakau’atu could
He has also given the nod to rugby-bound Roosters teenager Joseph Suaalii to make his debut on the wing ahead of teammate Daniel Tupou.
However, he added he would have recalled Josh Addo-Carr to the wing after he was controversially not picked last year but the Canterbury speedster is now out of contention due to the syndesmosis injury he suffered last week against Souths.
Haumole Olakau’atu. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Johns thinks Damien Cook should return to the NSW starting line-up with Api Koroisau a better option off the bench as the utility, just ahead of Sharks star Nicho Hynes.
“I think the contentious ones are the back row and maybe the dummy half,” Johns said when asked about his selections on Nine’s Freddie and the Eighth show.
Apart from Tupou, he also dropped centres Matt Burton and Stephen Crichton to make way for Tom Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell, who were injured last year, and bench forwards Jacob Saifiti and Siosifa Talakai, while , Angus Crichton is unlikely to be considered for selection as he is still yet to play a match this year after being diagnoses with bipolar disorder.
Andrew Johns’ team for Origin I
James Tedesco
Brian To’o
Tom Trbojevic
Latrell Mitchell
Joseph Suaalii
Jarome Luai
Nathan Cleary
Payne Haas
Damien Cook
Jake Trbojevic
Haumole Olakau’atu
Liam Martin
Isaah Yeo.
Interchange: Api Koroisau, Cameron Murray, Daniel Saifiti, Junior Paulo.
Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson says it won’t be long before Angus Crichton is back in the NRL after being diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
The Australian Test forward hasn’t played a game since last year’s World Cup final after seeking professional help for his mental health in January.
Robinson confirmed Crichton will play for their NSW Cup side against the Newtown Jets on Saturday at Henson Park.
Nathan Brown is also expected to feature in the reserve-grade fixture as he bids to get fit after picking up a hamstring injury following his move from Parramatta.
“Physically he (Crichton) is in really good shape so I don’t think it’ll be too long, (before he’s back in the NRL),” Robinson said on the eve of their clash with Cronulla on Friday.
(Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
“A good indication will be the weekend’s game, but I feel like it won’t be too long.
“The plan is for him to get started and go back and play back-row (and get) somewhere between 50-80 minutes depending on how it goes during the game.
“He’s been in really good shape and he’s been really good at training so it’s time to start playing.
“He missed a lot of that pre-season period, and you can’t replicate that during the season, so we need to ramp it up during reserve grade.”
Crichton’s expected return will be a boost for Robinson, who also has prop Matt Lodge (facial fracture) and James Tedesco (concussion stand down) back for the trip to face the Sharks.
“He (Tedesco) has been really good after what happened and obviously the rules are pretty clear,” Robinson said.
“It (the stand down) gives them a lot of time to recover, even if they’re good in the days afterwards.
“He’s ready to get back there and put the armband back on.”
The Roosters are undefeated in seven consecutive games against Cronulla and face a Sharks side without Dale Finucane (suspension) and Toby Rudolf (toe).
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Queensland coach Billy Slater has knocked back St George Illawarra after the club asked whether he’d be keen to replace Anthony Griffin next year.
Slater, who scored a series win with the Maroons last year in his rookie Origin campaign, was approached by the Dragons as part of their plan to sound out prospective coaches for 2024 while Griffin tries to prove he deserves a new deal with on-field results.
The team has a 2-3 record heading into Sunday’s clash with the Raiders in Canberra.
Slater informed the club that he wanted to concentrate on this year’s Origin campaign instead of throwing his hat into the ring for that job, according to a NewsCorp report.
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With Craig Bellamy a strong chance to bring down the curtain on his time as Storm coach at season’s end, Slater is believed to be the frontrunner to replace him at the club where he had a legendary playing career at fullback.
Billy Slater and Ben Hunt celebrate. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Former Dragons, Roosters and Storm prop Jason Ryles is also one of the main contenders for the vacancies at St George Illawarra and Melbourne.
The speculation over Griffin’s future is becoming a distraction for Dragons captain Ben Hunt, who is loyal to the incumbent coach.
And while he had not yet been consulted, Hunt believes the board should speak to he and other players before making a decision. “It’s something I would have thought you would be involved in,” Hunt told AAP.
“As a captain and leader of the club, you would like to be approached about it. I am sure I will be though. Not just myself, but a number of senior players. You would think that the players that are out on the field would have some sort of say in it.”
The NRL’s top prop, Payne Haas, is being offered a small fortune to remain at the Broncos.
Haas, whose is contracted until the end of next year, has been agitating for an upgrade in recent seasons but due to a conflict with his previous agent, the negotiations have been delayed.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
The NSW and Australian representative requested an immediate release last year due to the argy-bargy over his contract negotiations before deciding to stay put a short time later.
Brisbane are reportedly looking to make him an offer to stay that would bump him up from $800,000 per season to over the million-dollar mark annually, according to The Courier-Mail.
Haas has been in strong form to start the season and with Tom Flegler ruled out of Saturday night’s derby against the Titans on the Gold Coast, he will be a key player for Brisbane as they look to bounce back from last weekend’s surprise loss to Canberra.
Australian prop Paul Vaughan, a key reason for Warrington’s dramatic shift in fortunes after last season’s relegation struggle, has signed a contract extension until 2025.
Vaughan, 31, made the switch from Canterbury Bulldogs in the off-season and his strong showings have been integral to Warrington’s blistering start to the season.
Vaughan, who won two caps for Australia, initially signed a two-year contract, but he and his family have settled quickly into life in the UK and he had no hesitation in extending his stay for at least one more season.
“I’m excited to extend my stay,” Vaughan told Sky Sports. “It’s been very enjoyable so far and hopefully we can keep the ball rolling for a successful year.
George Williams (Photo by Mark Nolan/Getty Images)
“We’ve really enjoyed our time here so far with the family, and with the boys playing such great football as well it’s a big factor.
“I want to be a part of a great squad and it’s a huge opportunity this year with the squad we have.
“The club has been great to me and my family, the transition is nice and easy, and both parties wanted to agree and I’ve been lucky enough to do that.”
The Super League leaders head into Friday night’s top-of-the-table clash against Wigan buoyed by the news that stand-out halfback George Williams has also signed a contract extension despite interest from the Wests Tigers about a possible return to the NRL.
Williams, the star performer in England’s run to the World Cup semi-finals last year, has been one of the main instigators of the Wolves’ fine start, in which they have reeled off eight straight wins.
The 28-year-old former Canberra Raider has signed an extension until November 2026.
Williams said: “I’m really happy to nail my future down. We’ve got a great group here and I’m excited for what’s to come.
“As a half-back you’re probably hitting your prime years at my age. Hopefully my best years are ahead of me, we can keep winning and doing my bit for the team.”
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