Dylan Edwards rose to the challenge of James Tedesco to ensure he will be the Blues fullback for Origin I next month. With the Panthers struggling since Las Vegas and needing to make a statement over the Roosters, Edwards was superb. He won his battle against Tedesco - the form fullback of the early rounds - and that paved the way for the return to form by the four-time champions. Edwards ran for 238 metres - exactly double his rival's 119 - and was the sharper of the two around the rucks.
The Sydney Roosters' lukewarm start to the NRL season could have consequences for a number of State of Origin players, with many slamming Spencer Leniu for his display against the Titans on Friday night. Leniu was a revelation for NSW in 2024, providing spark off the bench with short bursts of power and speed through the middle. However he's struggled to find the same form in 2025 and hasn't been nearly as effective as a starting player. Leniu missed the first two games of the NRL season after getting himself suspended for a high tackle in the pre-season. He performed well against the Warriors in Round 3, running for 117 metres and breaking six tackles in 53 minutes. However he crashed back to earth against the Titans in Round 4, running for just 69 metres in 42 minutes of action. He also missed four tackles and didn't break any with ball in hand. The former Panthers player completely lost his head in a game-changing moment in the second half with the game in the balance at 12-12. Jayden Campbell had just scored an intercept try to level the score when it appeared the Roosters were certain to score. In the very next set, Leniu tried to fire up his team by putting a big shot on David Fifita, but he went way over the top and gave away a penalty for a second effort in the ruck. Not long after the Titans scored again, and went on to win 30-12. Roosters fans were critical of Leniu's moment with Fifita, labelling it "embarrassing" and "costly". Some even went as far as to suggest NSW coach Laurie Daley can't afford to pick Leniu in Origin this year due to his habit of hot-headed brain snaps.
Laurie Daley has been unveiled as the new Blues State of Origin coach, with the NSW Rugby League board also handing Craig Bellamy a special advisory role. NSWRL announced Daley as Michael Maguire’s successor on Monday, but the news has divided fans, with many feeling as if they are repeating mistakes of the past. The former coach has previously been held back from the role due to his involvement with TAB. But Daley has given up those commitments to lead the Blues in 2025 as NSW look to land back-to-back series wins over Queensland. But despite the monumental series win, his reign in charge of NSW is not one looked back on fondly. Daley won just one of five series in charge of the Blues and was sacked at the end of 2017 after the likes of Andrew Johns slammed the coach for his lack of tactical prowess and his inability to adapt as the Blues let a 1-0 lead slip. And following news of his appointment on Monday, many Blues fans felt as if NSWRL haven't learnt from the mistakes of the past.
Kiwi league legend Tony Kemp has demanded the New Zealand Rugby League sack Michael Maguire as national coach immediately if he gets the Blues State of Origin job.The highly respected Maguire is the hot favourite to replace Brad Fittler as NSW coach but says he is committed to continuing with the Kiwis and helping them through to the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.Maguire's stance has infuriated the outspoken Kemp, who went as far as saying the NZRL should never appoint an Australian coach again."We should never have an Australian coaching the Kiwis and then allowed to take an Aussie job such as Origin," Kemp told Wide World of Sports."The Kiwis is the pinnacle, not a stepping stone for the Australian pathway system."Kemp is also angry at the way the 16 Aussie-based NRL clubs continue to pillage New Zealand for players."Australia are so concerned about their own pathways that State of Origin has now become Country of Origin," he said."The NRL know how important Kiwi players are to its competition and that's the reason it allows the clubs to waltz into New Zealand and do a hit-and-run mission on kids."We aren't even in the fight to retain 'Kiwi' hearts in our game or our 'Kiwi' way that has been built since 1907."I can see a time when New Zealand becomes a second-tier nation because the island nations are winning the hearts and minds battle over NZ and Aussie."The NRL needs to grow some balls and take over our game in NZ for the sake of the grassroots game."We are a tournament-based competition that promotes scouting and also a pathway for sacked NRL coaches to get back into the game."
Campbell Graham has given Blues coach Brad Fittler no choice - he must be the first centre picked for Origin One.The long-striding Souths star was outstanding in the Rabbitohs' 32-6 demolition of Brisbane, scoring three tries and setting up another.Graham now has eight tries in eight games this season and is playing the best football of his career in the red-hot Bunnies backline.No centre in the NRL has scored as many - and Graham has also been outstanding in defence, saving tries with last-ditch tackles.Graham played for Australia in the World Cup and looked very comfortable in the green and gold - now it's time to blood him in Origin football against the Maroons.
Rugby league fans have taken to social media to mock the new State of Origin jerseys unveiled by New South Wales this week. The Blues showed off their new-look strips on Wednesday after announcing a stunning $8 million naming rights sponsorship deal with banking giants, Westpac.It's understood the sponsorship agreement - which includes Westpac's iconic 'W' logo splashed across the front of the jerseys - is worth around $8 million, or $2 million per season for the NSWRL.Blues stars Tom Trbojevic and Emma Tonegato posed for photos in the men's and women's jerseys at a launch at NSWRL’s Centre of Excellence inside Sydney Olympic Park on Wednesday, with the pair arriving in a Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter.As part of the new deal which sees Brydens Lawyers replaced as the Blues' major sponsor, Westpac has also agreed to donate $5000 for every NSW try scored in both the men’s and women’s series, with proceeds going towards the rescue service.“Westpac and NSWRL are two organisations that are such huge parts of the lives of Australians across the state,” NSWRL chief executive David Trodden said at Wednesday's launch.
Wests Tigers have won a battle to sign a promising country centre - beating the Sydney Swans to gain his services.Navren Willett, a tall 18-year-old from the NSW mid-north coast town of Taree, has agreed to a four year deal with the Tigers.But not before the Swans tried to sway the youngster with a booming kicking game to play Australian Rules."He is one of those kids who is just a natural all-round sportsman," Willett's manager Michael Hudson told Wide World of Sports."I had a lot of interest in him from NRL clubs and then the Swans' approach from left-field."But league is his preference and he will play in the Tigers' SG Ball team next year before hopefully progressing to the top 25 from there."While centre appears Willett's best spot, he has also shown he can play at fullback and halfback.
It's almost 30 years since a Blues team came back to win a State of Origin series after losing the opener in Sydney, but two stars of that memorable NSW team of 1994 have laid down a blueprint for Brad Fittler's men to follow.Brilliant fullback Tim Brasher and giant back-rower Paul Sironen admitted things looked bleak for the Blues when Mark Coyne scored the famous last-minute try to win the Queenslanders an epic Game One that series."I know how this team feels - because it's the same way we felt back in '94," Sironen, now a member of the Blues' management team, told Wide World of Sports from Perth."When you have game one at home you just have to win it - and we blew it."We didn't play as well as we could have and we didn't execute the way we trained and we knew we were really going to be up against it for the rest of the series."We levelled the series in Melbourne and it then all came down to the decider in Brisbane."Brasher has vivid memories of the lead-up to the all-important third match at Lang Park."Everyone was telling us about Lang Park being the cauldron and how we would cop it up there and I must admit I wasn't all that confident in the week leading up to the game," Brasher said."But then on game night, as our team bus went down Caxton Street and they came out of the pub and shook the bus and threw bottles at us, I think that actually did us a favour."It galvanised us, gave us a siege mentality and we were determined to go all the way."The Blues won the decider 27-12, with a young Brad Fittler playing in the centres.
Tariq Sims' future remains up in the air - but there is no shortage of interest in the NSW State of Origin back-rower.Four of the most successful clubs in the NRL in recent years - the Panthers, Storm, Roosters and Souths - are keeping a close eye on Sims' negotiation process.None can afford the big money Sims was on this year at the Dragons - but all realise the big fella brings plenty both on and off the field and if the price is right, they are looking at ways to fit him into their rosters.
Jake Trbojevic admits his horror start to the NRL season was his lowest ebb as a footballer. Trbojevic has recovered to win a starting spot in NSW's pack for Wednesday night's State of Origin series opener, running on at prop for the first time. But it was only two months ago that Trbojevic was wracked with doubt, Origin the furthest thing from his mind. The 27-year-old is known for riding results like few others in the NRL, as one of the game's most passionate players both on and off the field. But in the opening four weeks at Manly, there were few highs as the Sea Eagles sunk to last on the ladder. "You try not to think about (Origin); it just all got so frustrating," Trbojevic told AAP. "I wasn't great if I'm being honest. It was tough, very tough. "I don't think it could get much worse. They were four big losses and at the start of the year, you start with so much optimism. "To go down like that was so disappointing." And while all the talk has fairly been about his brother Tom since his return, the turnaround with Jake has been incredible. The middle man has regained his ball-playing ability with Tom, while his defence has also firmed back up to keep his Blues jersey. "It was just mentally tough," Trbojevic said. "You probably doubt yourself a bit. I'm just happy we've won a few now. "You find it hard to stay positive, I'm not going to lie. It's probably something I need to work on. "I was just happy we were able to turn it around which made life a lot easier. It's a relief." "It's pretty similar. I have played it before. I have played it in my early days for Manly and (off the bench) for NSW," Trbojevic said.
