The Roosters have held urgent crisis talks with Joseph Suaalii’s management in the wake of savage criticism of the rugby union-bound 19-year-old.
Sport Confidential can reveal the Roosters held an urgent meeting in recent weeks with his management in the wake of savage criticism of the 19-year-old, who has been a victim of the Bondi glamour club’s form slump.
It is understood Suaalii’s management floated the idea of the young gun leaving the Roosters immediately and linking with Rugby Australia, whom the teenager will join in 2025 on a three-year $4.8 million contract.
Suualii is contracted to the Roosters until the end of 2024 and there were suggestions the Roosters were ready to jettison the utility back given his mediocre form.
That prompted Suaalii’s management to explore possible solutions, including quitting the NRL this season, but Robinson torpedoed that proposal.
It is a sign of Robinson’s commitment to Suaalii and the Roosters coach’s desire to extract the best of the talented 196cm flyer before his eventual move to rugby to chase a Wallabies debut in 2025.
Joseph Suaalii of the Roosters. Picture: Getty Images
Roosters supremo Nick Politis recently denied reports the powerhouse NRL club is set to show Suaalii the door.
“For starters, you can’t blame Joseph for the way the team is performing,” he said.
“We have no plans to release him at this stage. The final say on recruitment is always with ‘Robbo’ (coach Trent Robinson) anyway.
“He’s working very hard with all the players to turn things around for our next game.”
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OPEN TO OFFERS: WHO WANTS TO BE PART OF THE BRONCOS
The largest private shareholder of the Broncos is open to selling his $22 million stake in the club.
Brisbane property mogul Phil Murphy insists his 22 per cent share of the Broncos isn’t ‘For Sale’ but that doesn’t mean he won’t part ways with it.
Murphy bought 21,620,972 shares in the Broncos over a decade ago in the hope he could potentially one day build on that stake and have the Brisbane fans, members and community involved in the club.
That hasn’t eventuated, with News Corporation – publishers of this masthead – maintaining a majority share of 69 per cent.
Murphy forked out $4.75 million for his stake of the club, paying 22 cents per share at the time.
Broncos shares have been trading at around $1 per share recently, however should Murphy’s stake be available it is unlikely to attract that price for such a large volume.
Murphy, 72, said he was open to discussions but not desperate to offload his share of the Broncos.
Broncos part owner Phil Murphy. Pic Darren England.
“I wouldn’t go out there and say they’re ‘for sale’, so please don’t promote that,” he said.
“Over the past 10 years every now and then someone rings up and says ‘do you want to sell your shares?’. I say ‘tell me what you want to pay’ but nothing ever comes of it. It’s like some sort of game.
“The value is only what someone would pay for them and no-one has ever put that forward.
“The aim was to try and get the Brisbane public on board with me to acquire the Broncos, as the fans, members and public could potentially own the club. There was a lot of discussions but nothing eventuated apart from me buying the 22 per cent.
“If someone sincerely wants to have a yarn to me, I would do that. If it leads to something, we can talk about it.”
Despite having a significant stake in the Broncos, Murphy hasn’t been spotted at games in recent years.
That changed when he attended Brisbane’s recent loss to Penrith at Suncorp Stadium and Murphy said he was supportive of the club’s direction under coach Kevin Walters.
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SPOTTED
Maroons prop Tino Fa’asuamaleaui cruising the streets of Adelaide on an E-scooter the morning of Origin I. He was hard to miss with his flowing mullet.
The Maroons snapped on the front page on a golf buggy.
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BUGGY BLUNDER
The Queensland Rugby League received complaints after the Maroons were photographed overloading golf carts.
The Courier-Mail printed a front page photo on Tuesday of Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Selwyn Cobbo, Murray Taulagi, Valentine Holmes, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Reuben Cotter cruising through Sanctuary Cove in a golf buggy.
The players looked like they were having a ball on their way to training, but not everyone was happy about it.
The QRL fielded an angry email pointing out the buggy had a load limit that was most likely exceeded by the 700kg of Maroons talent on it.
Some people will be outraged by anything.
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GUS GOULD BASHES BLUES, PRAISES BRAINY BILLY
He is NSW’s greatest Origin coach. But Phil Gould has delivered a stinging assessment of the bumbling Blues and labelled Queensland a smarter Origin team.
NSW’s equivalent to Queensland legend Wayne Bennett, former Blues mentor Gould declared the Maroons simply understand the science of Origin after their famous 26-18 victory in the series opener on Wednesday night.
Gould and halfback legend Andrew Johns once engineered a Blues dynasty, but both were scathing of NSW’s offence and general attitude as ‘Gus’ hailed Queensland’s never-say-die spirit to win with 12 men.
“NSW’s attack was terrible,” said Channel 9 expert analyst Gould, who won six of nine series as NSW coach between 1992-96 and 2002-04.
Phil Gould has delivered a stinging critique of NSW Origin game plan.
“There was no confidence in their ball movement.
“There didn’t seem to be a plan everyone was connected to.
“It was too intricate for what they needed in Origin.
“Get your forwards working hard, run hard, get your halves and hooker being creative and everyone just run fast.”
Gould paid tribute to Maroons coach Billy Slater, whose gamble in blooding Reece Walsh and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow at the expense of Kalyn Ponga and Dane Gagai paid dividends.
“It’s a brilliant young Queensland side. Full credit to Billy Slater. He made some big calls,” Gould said.
NRL: Maroons coach Billy Slater and captain Daly Cherry-Evans have addressed the media following their impressive Game I win over the Blues at Adelaide Oval
“Queensland played the perfect brand of Origin football and it was a perfectly selected team.
“Hardworking forwards, confident, creative halves and speed.
“I’ve been saying for two years that their young fullback (Walsh) is a superstar in the making and he certainly covered himself with glory.
“Queensland defended better when they had to, they attacked better when they had to.
“It was that simple.
“At halftime, I was really worried that Queensland had two visits to the NSW end and scored two tries.
“NSW had a mountain of possession at Queensland’s end and came up with one try.
“Queensland were far more resilient in defence, far more creative in attack and faster.
Maroon too good. Far better attacking game. Had less ball, (and even less players for ten minutes), yet created more tries. Guile and speed. Deserved winners. NSW had more than enough possession, but looked clunky and slow all night. Maroon leads series 1-0 with Game 2 inâ¦
— Phil Gould (@PhilGould15) May 31, 2023
“I keep coming back to speed, Hamiso, Cobbo and Reece Walsh, they just looked faster with the ball in hand.
“NSW looked clunky, they didn’t look confident with the ball at all.
“Queensland wore them down with Origin football and an Origin mentality.
“NSW need to bounce back. NSW have got to find something. People will be calling for them to find it in the selection room, they will be calling for changes, which again plays into Queensland’s hands.”
Johns added on Channel 9: “The attack was terrible, NSW had so much momentum and so much possession. This is the 17 that failed and they have to go to Queensland and win the series.”
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HUNTING FOR ANSWERS
Maroons star Ben Hunt is set to make a decision on his NRL future in the coming days after the Dragons bombed out in the race to sign rising coach Jason Ryles.
Ryles was St George-Illawarra’s No. 1 candidate to replace sacked coach Anthony Griffin and the battling club believed they were close to landing their man.
But Ryles rejected the Dragons on Wednesday, opting to return to the Melbourne Storm where he will be groomed to replace super coach Craig Bellamy in the coming years.
That has thrust the spotlight on Hunt’s future at the Dragons beyond this year.
Ben Hunt in action for the Maroons. Picture: Getty Images
The club captain is signed until 2025, but could seek a release as instability continues to plague the joint-venture.
Hunt, 33, has been linked with a potential move to the Bulldogs and said he would assess his future in the lead-up to the Dragons’ Sunday afternoon clash with Penrith.
“I honestly haven’t thought about it,” he said.
“I only found out the news (Wednesday) and my focus was on this game (Origin) so I put it on the backburner.
“I’ll get back to the Dragons in the next couple of days and see where it’s at.
“I’m sure they’ll get it sorted out. I don’t know why he turned down the job. They’ll sort it out.
“I believe in what they’re doing. As a player it’s not my job to sort those things out, it’s for the higher-ups and I’m sure they’re doing the best they can.”
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Reece Walsh of the Maroons walks onto the field with his daughter after winning game one of the 2023 State of Origin series. Picture: Getty Images
REECE LIGHTNING’S INSPIRATION
Maroons sensation Reece Walsh says his stunning Origin debut was inspired by his young daughter.
Walsh was carrying two-year-old Leila around the Adelaide Oval on Wednesday night after a fantastic performance in Queensland’s 26-18 win against the Blues.
And he said his only child was why he was so determined to make the most of his career.
“She’s my rock, mate,” he said.
“She’s the reason I go out there and put my body on the line. I want her to look back on these moments and be proud that I’m her dad.
“She is a big part of why I want to be great. I’ve got a very good opportunity to look after my little girl for the rest of my life.
“I’m going to keep working hard and cherish these moments with my little girl.”
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FURY’S BIG BOUNTY FOR AUSSIE DEBUT
World boxing superstar Tyson Fury wants $10 million to fight in Australia.
Sport Confidential can reveal that is the figure Fury is seeking for a history-making heavyweight world title fight Down Under – and it’s twice the amount Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao received for his Australian cameo.
It is understood the Queensland government provided a $5 million funding injection to secure the epic Pacquiao-Jeff Horn world-title blockbuster before 51,000 fans at Suncorp Stadium in 2017.
WBC Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday. Picture Lachie Millard
And if any state government is prepared to write a $10 million cheque, Fury will agree terms on a heavyweight battle in Australia.
The heavyweight world champion was in Brisbane and Melbourne last week inspecting possible fight venues at Suncorp Stadium and the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Fury is keen to fight on every continent and insists he is “deadly serious” about fighting in Australia, but his asking price could be a bridge too far for government powerbrokers.
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PENRITH’S AMERICAN DREAM
Panthers boss Brian Fletcher is adamant the Panthers must headline the NRL’s trip to America.
The NRL will launch the 2024 season with a double header in Las Vegas next season and Fletcher says the Panthers – the two-time defending premiers – should be the first team chosen.
“We should be one of the four teams to go,” Fletcher said.
“If the NRL gives our fans enough notice, I believe 5000 Penrith fans would go to America and help fill the stadium.
“I don’t think you will have any trouble getting four teams to put their hand up to go.
“But I believe the Panthers are a no-brainer. We are the reigning premiers and we have been the best side of recent years.
“We’ve got genuine stars of the game, including Nathan Cleary, Dylan Edwards, Jarome Luai and Brian To’o, so we would be a great advertisement for the NRL.”
State of Origin: Billy Slater was quick to warn Daly Cherry-Evans on comparisons between Reece Walsh and the Maroons coach.
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MAROONS SKIPPER BACKS PUSH FOR ORIGIN IN VEGAS
Maroons skipper Daly Cherry-Evans believes State of Origin could be a smash hit in America as the ARL Commission prepares to give the green light to an NRL season launch in Las Vegas.
It’s been 36 years since rugby league’s bosses took the code’s showpiece event overseas by sending NSW and Queensland stars overseas for an Origin exhibition game in Los Angeles in 1987.
The NRL have drawn up a five-year plan for rugby league to make incursions into the American betting market that could net League Central more than $200 million.
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys and NRL boss Andrew Abdo returned to Australia three weeks ago after a fact-finding mission where the high-powered duo met with American delegates.
American stakeholders were highly impressed with the V’landys-Abdo pitch and barring an 11th-hour collapse, the NRL season will celebrate a historic kick-off next year in Las Vegas with a double-header blockbuster.
The NRL’s Vegas odyssey could be the first step towards State of Origin returning to America.
NSW beat Queensland 30-18 before 12,349 fans at Veterans Memorial Stadium at Long Beach, California in 1987 and Cherry-Evans would relish an Origin game in Vegas if the NRL schedule allowed.
“They played an Origin game in the 1980s so it’s not like it can’t be achieved,” he said.
“I think the first step is playing some NRL premiership games up and running over there and once the Americans get a taste of it, an Origin game would blow their minds.
“Logistically, it might be difficult taking an Origin game to Vegas in the middle of the season with travel, but I’m all for the game growing and if we need to take it internationally, I’d certainly be open to it.”
The NRL has taken State of Origin to new markets in recent years with clashes Perth and Adelaide, which hosted its second NSW-Queensland clash on Wednesday night after a South Australian debut in 2020.
Now there is a push for Origin to go offshore to markets such as the US and New Zealand, which would almost certainly sell out the 50,000-capacity Eden Park in Auckland given Kiwis’ passion for rugby league.
Asked if State of Origin could be trialed in Vegas, NRL boss Abdo said: “We are focused on the double-header premiership opportunity for the US for next year.
“It’s a long-term plan to grow a fan base in a large sports market.
“Making the premiership double header is our first priority.”
Wayne Bennett coached the Maroons in the US exhibition game and believes Americans would embrace the return of State of Origin.
“I love Vegas, it is my favourite place in America,” Bennett said.
“I went to America 36 years ago and that Origin match was meant to be a game changer. It wasn’t quite that, but at least we had some great memories.
“Allan Langer (then Maroons halfback) came third in a male-modelling competition.
“America is a great nation and their sports fans would love rugby league.”