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NSW origin side.

Old Kogarah Boy 1

First Grade
Messages
5,415
With supposed injuries from last nights' game, there may be some openings for our Dragon players.
Sims in particular.

________________________________________________________________________________
From the SMH

Eleven days after celebrating his first Origin win, NSW coach Brad Fittler was forced to watch Penrith prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard suffer a suspected broken jaw and Roosters centre Latrell Mitchell taken from the field on the back of a medicab with a neck injury.

Tyrone Peachey will also be sweating on not being charged by the match review committee for striking Luke Keary while James Maloney hobbled around late with a sciatic nerve problem.

The selection debate was already raging before the full-time siren sounded. You would think Ryan James is one prop who rockets into calculations, especially given he was in the mix for game one and was almost about to board a plane from the Gold Coast to join the first Blues camp.

Aaron Woods is another representative prop, as is Campbell-Gillard’s Penrith pal Trent Merrin.

The centre options could see St George Illawarra’s Euan Aitken given a call, or even Melbourne’s Curtis Scott. Peachey could be promoted to the starting side – he has Mitchell-like speed over short distances – which creates a vacancy on the bench.

For Mitchell, his 21st birthday today will be anything but a celebration. To make matters worse, he suffered the injury from an accidental crusher tackle involving fellow Baby Blue Nathan Cleary.

"He's just gone for scans now,'' coach Trent Robinson said.

"He was fairly positive when I walked back in the sheds. I think he's doing well.''


Skipper Boyd Cordner said of Mitchell: "It's not good at all when you see someone go down like that. I was close to him, he was saying it was his neck. You don't want to see that [injury] in the game, especially one of your teammates, but he's in good hands now with our medical staff, so from all reports he's doing OK, which is a positive sign.''

 

The Friz

Juniors
Messages
232
Sims should be coming in for Cordner. How is Cordner escaping any attention from the MRC for his forearm busting Harawiras face open. If Sam Burgess commits the same act he could expect 2-3 weeks wearing civvies.
 

getsmarty

Immortal
Messages
33,485
STATE OF ORIGIN


Dragons quartet retain place in NSW's Origin II squad
Author
NSWRL
Timestamp
Sat 16 Jun 2018, 09:57 PM

Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler has today named a 20-man squad to prepare to take on Queensland in Game Two of the 2018 Holden State of Origin series.

Revealed exclusively by BLUiE, thanks to The Star Sydney, Fittler announced three new selections for his squad to take on Queensland at ANZ Stadium on 24 June.

The Gold Coast Titans' Ryan James, the Sydney Roosters' Luke Keary and the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks' Matt Prior have been added to the squad, with Panthers prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard ruled out with a broken jaw.

Tickets are still available for the clash, with Blatchys Blues tickets also including the upgraded SMARTWiG, providing a superior fan experience and lighting up the northern end of ANZ Stadium.

The Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues squad for Origin II, 2018 is as follows:
  • Josh Addo-Carr (Melbourne Storm)
  • Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers)
  • Damien Cook (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
  • Boyd Cordner (c) (Sydney Roosters)
  • Angus Crichton (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
  • Jack de Belin (St George Illawarra Dragons)
  • Tyson Frizell (St George Illawarra Dragons)
  • Ryan James (Gold Coast Titans)
  • Luke Keary (Sydney Roosters)
  • David Klemmer (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
  • James Maloney (Penrith Panthers)
  • Latrell Mitchell (Sydney Roosters)
  • Tyrone Peachey (Penrith Panthers)
  • Matt Prior (Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks)
  • James Roberts (Brisbane Broncos)
  • Tariq Sims (St George Illawarra Dragons)
  • James Tedesco (Sydney Roosters)
  • Jake Trbojevic (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
  • Tom Trbojevic (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
  • Paul Vaughan (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Head coach: Brad Fittler
Assistant coach: Danny Buderus


https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2018/06/17/dragons-quartet-retain-place-in-nsws-origin-ii-squad/
 

The Damo

Juniors
Messages
1,991
Interesting choice of Prior to join the squad. I actually do rate him as a good, solid reliable prop. He’d do better at origin level than Woods for instance. But Merrin’s form at prop this year is exceptional, seems to be very unlucky to be lumped in with the old guard who lost all those years. Either Vaughan or Merrin to start alongside Klemmer, with the other on the bench with Jurbo would be the best prop options I think. But still want to see Sims at Origin level, I think he’d lift to berserker level in that arena.
 

ST Tangles 01

Juniors
Messages
557
I like the choice of Prior over Woods & Merrin.
Prior will not let anyone down if given the opportunity.
I however think they will go with James at prop and if they don't will possibly play Jake T at prop with Sims off the bench.
 

Frank Facer

First Grade
Messages
5,069
Prior, Keary and James have all been added to the NSW squad. There was a funny quote from Fittler regarding Prior. He described Prior as a like for like replacement for RCG and he then said that Matt is quite explosive. lol. I had never thought of Prior as quite explosive. I would go James over Prior.
 

getsmarty

Immortal
Messages
33,485
State of Origin: Cousin's broken jaw opens Blues door for Dragons hardman
Dragons Den News
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NEXT IN LINE: Tariq Sims in action against Manly on Saturday. Picture: Robert Peet

THERE’S been many twists and turns in the career of Dragons enforcer Tariq Sims, but the latest may just trump them all if he makes a long-awaited Origin debut this weekend.

Sims has seemingly spent all eight of his NRL seasons on the cusp of a maiden Blues jumper, only to be repeatedly set back by career-threatening injuries.

The fact it’s an injury to his cousin that could open the door for him to finally earn that maiden NSW start is almost hypoerbolic in its irony.

Yet that’s the scenario presented this week, with Reagan Campbell-Gillard ruled out of games two and three after suffering a broken jaw in the Panthers loss to the Roosters on Friday.

Sims, who was one of the first on the phone to check on his cousin’s welfare, looms as a likely replacement in Brad Fittler’s 17 having been 18th man for game one.

“I was watching the game [on Friday] and they weren’t really leaking too much in regards to his jaw until the second half,” Sims said.

“As soon as they did I texted him and he let me know what they thought it was.

“Unfortunately the scans came back with what it was so it’s obviously disappointing for big Reggie.

“It’s one of those things, accidents do happen during a game and unfortunately he was on the wrong end of one.

“I know as much as anyone you’re only one run away from an injury, unfortunately we saw that with Reggie. He got a knock on his jaw and now he’s out for four to six weeks.

“You’ve just got to play every game like it’s your last and hope for the best. That’s definitely how I approach it.”

Elevating game-one debutant Paul Vaughan into a starting role with Sims coming onto the bench is one option for Brad Fittler, though specialist props Ryan James and Matt Prior have been added to a 20-man squad.

Sims’ ability to play in the middle and on the edge could get him the nod, but the 28-year-old said he’s willing to play any role required of him.

“The hunger’s never wavered to pull on that jersey and play,” Sims said.

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BROKEN JAW: Injured Reagan Campbell-Gillard will miss the remaining two Origin games. Picture: AAP

“It’s a tough call to make. Freddie and the coaching staff have got a game plan, whether that’s me going into the middle that’s up to them.

“I don’t mind mixing it up in the middle. I’ll just make sure I’m in there doing my best for the team in whatever role I’m asked to play.

“It’s just one of those things where I’m going to have to keep biding my time and chipping away and hopefully playing some strong football when I get the chance.”


https://www.illawarramercury.com.au...pens-origin-door-for-dragons-hardman/?cs=3713
 

getsmarty

Immortal
Messages
33,485
Frizell, Blues determined to avoid State of Origin mistakes of 2017
Dragons Den News
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Determined: Blues forward Tyson Frizell. Picture: NRL Photos.

NSW Blues star Tyson Frizell has vowed to ensure the side doesn’t experience a repeat of last year as they head into State of Origin II on Sunday night.

The St George Illawarra forward is one of just six players remaining from last year’s capitulation, in which the Blues let slip a 10-point lead at halftime of game two at ANZ Stadium before being blown off the park by the Maroons in a deciding game three.

Having experienced the heartbreak of 2017, Frizell is determined to ensure the Blues close out the series this weekend.

“In game two last year we should have wrapped up the game in the second half, but we didn’t,” Frizell said.

“But it’s a new team, a lot of fresh new faces and it brings a new culture and a new sense of belief.

“We can take a bit of confidence out of game one, but we need to be better this week.”

While the two sides were relatively evenly matched for large portions of game one, NSW executed when it mattered most to close out the game in the second half. Frizell is bracing himself for a much improved Queensland performance on Sunday.

“We just need to prepare better than we did in game one. We need to be better in everything that we do and we know that Queensland are going to be better as well.”

Blues captain Boyd Cordner admits the side played within themselves in game two last year as they attempted to protect a lead and he’s confident the team has learnt from those mistakes.

“Probably the biggest lesson to take out of last year, we went away from what worked so well for us at the start of that series,” Cordner said.

“That was going after the game and I thought late in that second half we just turned and tried to save the game instead of going after it.

“There are some lessons to be learnt and we know that the challenge is in front of us. We know Queensland’s going to be stronger and hungrier than ever.

“It’s definitely going to be a tougher task trying to shut the series out here in Sydney, but we’ll be preparing well and we’ll be up for it.”

The fallout from last year’s series defeat was long and difficult, with coach Laurie Daley axed and new coach Brad Fittler implementing sweeping changes to the side. Reports that filtered out of camp indicated some players had prepared as if the series was already wrapped up.

Given what went down last year, Cordner is confident the side will remain focused on achieving their sole goal, a State of Origin series victory.

“I don’t think complacency will be an issue. We can take a lot of lessons from last year’s game two. Just coming into camp already and knowing the feeling, the boys are probably hungrier than what they were in game one.

“That’s a good sign with it being a short week as well. We haven’t got many training sessions, so we have to make them count.”

The Queensland cause has been bolstered by the return of fullback Billy Slater and the inclusion of Kalyn Ponga in their squad. Like this year, Slater missed game one in 2017 and his impact on the squad in the second and third matches was significant.

“Billy Slater brings so much experience to that team,” Cordner said. “He’s been there and done it before, everyone knows the quality of player he is, we’ll be wary of him.”


https://www.illawarramercury.com.au...determined-to-avoid-mistakes-of-2017/?cs=3713
 

getsmarty

Immortal
Messages
33,485
Vaughan not taking under-fire Maroons pack lightly
Local Sport
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GOOD TIMES: Paul Vaughan in Blues camp this week. Picture: AAP
NSW prop Paul Vaughan is braced for backlash from maligned Queensland pack as the Blues look to put the series to bed at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.

The Maroons big men have been slammed for their lack of impact at the MCG, with front-row duo Dylan Napa and Jarrod Wallace two of the main targets for criticism.

Napa will have his syndesmosis injury assessed on Thursday while coach Kevin Walters said he’s given Wallace a “second chance” after a sub-par effort in game one.

Wallace responded to the knockers on Tuesday saying critics ‘‘look at stats and don’t watch games.

He found an unlikely ally in Vaughan who scoffed at suggestions the Blues pack did it easy in game one.

“I don’t read into the media at all. They’re great players and their forward pack’s a great pack,” Vaughan said.

“The whole game [one] was just an absolute arm wrestle. I know we scored a couple more points at the back end but no game’s easy in the middle.

“I’m certainly not reading into that [criticism] too much. This is a decider for them so I know they’re going to come out firing and we’ll need to be a lot better.”

Vaughan admitted it took some time to come down from the cloud of his Origin debut at the MCG.

“It was unreal, it was a dream come true for me,” The 27-year-old said.

“As a young fella it’s all I wanted to do, play for NSW and I just really soaked up the whole week.

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TARGET: Maroons prop Jarrod Wallace has been heavily criticised for his performance in Origin I. Picture: AAP

“It was a bit surreal for me being around those calibre of players but I think I deserved to be there. That’s what was good to take away from that experience.

“I just wanted to go back to club footy and be the best version of myself playing-wise and it’s great to get the opportunity to back for game two.”

Many thought coach Brad Fittler could elevate Vaughan to a starting role after game-one prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard suffered a broken jaw in clubland.

Fittler will instead hand a starting debut to veteran Sharks forward Matt Prior and Vaughan said he’s more than happy to reprise his bench role on Sunday.

“It was a bit different for me starting from the bench in game one from starting [for the Dragons],” Vaughan said.

“They’re completely different roles but I’m just going to do whatever the coach asks me. I’ve got a role to play in the team and I don’t want to let anyone down.

“If that’s coming off the bench it doesn’t bother me at all. I just want to do my best for my team and my state.”

https://www.illawarramercury.com.au...aking-under-fire-maroons-pack-lightly/?cs=302
 

getsmarty

Immortal
Messages
33,485
vaughan_20180622.jpg


STATE OF ORIGIN


The 95-year-old Nonna spurring Vaughany
Author
Dan Walsh
Timestamp
Sat 23 Jun 2018, 08:01 AM

Paul Vaughan's number one supporter won't be among the 80,000-strong faithful baying for a NSW series win at ANZ Stadium on Sunday night.

Instead 95-year-old nonna Marina O'Rourke will be paying homage to her boy in Blue, the grandson whose every move in rugby league has been painstakingly cut up, clipped out, and scrap-booked since he first made waves in Canberra's juniors.

Vaughan's maternal grandmother Marina was welcomed into the Blues fold alongside the rookie prop during the lead-up to Origin I, joining a players' family lunch at the invitation of Brad Fittler.

Fittler has placed serious emphasis on the people who helped this year's NSW contingent reach the game's highest level, with several family-focused events, and a heartfelt tribute to the parents and partners of his squad after their game one triumph at the MCG.

For 27-year-old Vaughan, that support doesn't come any stronger than the Naples-born Italian migrant, who spent over a month at sea to emigrate after World War II. She will be cheering him on from the nation's capital once more come Sunday night.

"Nonna turned 95 last Saturday but she hasn't lost anything, she's still pretty sharp and she's moving around well down in Canberra," Vaughan told NRL.com.

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NSW Blues prop Paul Vaughan. :copyright:Grant Trouville/NRL Photos
"She comes down to games at Wollongong and can handle that crowd, but ANZ might be a bit much so she'll be watching on TV.

"She keeps all the cut-outs from the papers, she frames them up. She's got a little shrine at home for me which is really cool and she'll be into it this week.

"You see that passion she has and can't help be proud of what you've achieved and that your family is obviously proud of you.

"Having the family there, mum and my two sisters [before Origin I] was great as we're a very close-knit family so everything I do through football is to make them proud and make them happy.

"It was really cool that they were up here and then in the sheds afterwards at the MCG too. They've ridden the wave with me my whole career so it's great to have them there to enjoy the successful times too."

Marina is the reason Vaughan first rose to rep honours with the Azzurri at the 2013 World Cup, earning one of rugby league's better nicknames as the 'Italian Stallion'.

Vaughan will once again come off the bench in Origin II and plans to leave it all on the paddock - a term to be taken literally when his 26-minute game one cameo reduced him to vomiting on the sidelines immediately after coming from the field because of the extent he pushed himself.

Blues v Maroons

While Reagan Campbell-Gillard's broken jaw potentially opens up a starting spot for the Dragons front-rower, Vaughan is more than happy for debutant Matt Prior to start against a Queensland pack stinging from a touch-up in the middle down in Melbourne.

"Matty's a great player, he's won two comps, he's aggressive in his defence.,and he probably suits that starting role," Vaughan said.

"I'm just excited to be in the team and play my role and if that's starting off the bench it doesn't really bother me.

"It's a different role to what I do at Saints, coming on at 20-30 minutes, hopefully I can inject myself there and change a bit of the tempo of the game, just play my natural game."

Game I is done and dusted! Don’t miss Game II of Origin at ANZ Stadium on Sunday 24 June. Click here to get your tickets


https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2018/06/23/the-95-year-old-nonna-spurring-vaughany/
 
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