Page 100 - Jack Wighton News Today

Based on his maximum speed in the 2021 Telstra Premiership, debutant Blues halfback Mitchell Moses will be the fourth-fastest player in State of Origin III. With a PB of 36.1km/h, Moses can lay claim to being quicker on this seasons Telstra Tracker than all of his NSW teammates except winger Josh Addo-Carr (38.1km), the fastest man in the game. Moses has outpaced Tom Trbojevic (35.9km/h), Brian Too (34.7km/h) and James Tedesco (33.4km/h) and found a higher gear than Queenslands Dane Gagai (35.7...

While Tom Trbojevic, Latrell Mitchell and the NSW backs have stolen the headlines, the Blues forward pack have quietly gone about dominating the Maroons as well. Statistics show NSWs forwards (including the bench) have owned the middle-third of the field in easily recording more total metres and post-contact metres than Queensland across games one and two. Blues prop Daniel Saifiti has led the charge, racking up more metres than any other forward (271m) this series, so his absence in the third ...

With the Greater Sydney regions COVID-19 lockdown extended another week, the third Ampol State of Origin match has been switched to Newcastle. Next Wednesdays game has been transferred from Stadium Australia to McDonald Jones Stadium, which will become the second regional venue to host an Origin match after Townsville was the venue for the series opener. The match will be played in front of up to 20,000 fans or 75% of seated capacity. Fans located in Greater Sydney, including the Blue Mountains...

With NSW sure to start the final match of the 2021 Ampol State of Origin series as hot favourites to complete a clean sweep, attention turns to which player is facing the greatest scrutiny. Be it a chance to prove themselves at this level, one final opportunity to prove they deserve to remain at this level or even protecting their standing in the Kangaroos pecking order, there is a lot to play for other than state pride. Even state captains who guided their side to an improbable series win less...

Daly Cherry-Evans heads into Origin III under pressure to avoid a record-breaking series loss but the QRL has no doubt hes the right man to lead the Maroons out of the mire. The Manly playmaker faces arguably the greatest challenge of his three-year captaincy when he takes the reins of another rejigged Maroons side attempting to avoid NSWs first whitewash in 21 years and the biggest aggregate points deficit in Origin history. Queensland have speed to burn in game three after welcoming back Kaly...

NSW need two new halves for the Origin finale, with scans on Saturday revealing Jarome Luai suffered a medial ligament injury in Friday nights win over Parramatta. After the Panthers announced on Saturday that Luai was in "severe doubt for Origin III", Blues advisor Greg Alexander told Fox League on Saturday night that he expected Luai to miss the final match of the series. "He had scans today and it’s a grade two medial which will mean he won’t play," Alexander said. "He won’t play, Jar...

Wayne Bennett still isnt sure whats next in his fabled career but has declared "all the doors are open". The 71-year-old will step aside as Rabbitohs coach at the end of the season but has reiterated his desire to take on another job. Asked whether he would be interested in returning to Queenslands State of Origin set-up in 2022, Bennett didnt rule anything out. "Im at a stage where all the doors are open. I have no idea what the future holds for me at the moment," Bennett said on Saturday. "Ob...

With star halfback Nathan Cleary out of Origin III with a shoulder injury, Blues coach Brad Fittler needs a new halves pairing in his quest for a rare clean sweep. NRL.com stats has run the rule over the six most likely solutions available to the Blues brains trust. Five-eighth Jarome Luai has made a stunning start to his Origin career and is a certain starter for Game Three despite the absence of his club halves partner. Whether he remains at five-eighth or gets handed the keys to the team as ...

Mitch Moses is in the mix for his Origin debut but the Blues will be "all about winning" rather than looking to the future when they replace Nathan Cleary, who is out for at least the next month. With the Panthers confirming on Wednesday their star halfback would delay a potentially season-ending shoulder operation, Moses has a golden chance to impress the NSW selectors for game three when his Eels take on Penrith on Friday night.  Blues advisor Greg Alexander confirmed Moses was a chance for ...

By WWOS staff19 hours ago FShareTTweetQSMSWWhatsAppBEmailGJTumblrLLinkedIn19 hours ago Nathan Cleary could return to the NRL within a month if he isnt told that he needs immediate shoulder surgery. The Panthers are confident of getting their superstar halfback through the rest of the season if a shoulder specialist determines that he can have surgery later this year. Cleary is due to meet with a surgeon on Wednesday, facing the prospect of his season ending; having already been ruled out of the...