Two brutal axings needed to dig Maroons out of 'awful trouble'

Queensland have to roll the dice and gamble on a fiery redhead from Canberra to change the trend of State of Origin in game two. New South Wales were only average for much of the 80 minutes but always looked like winning and the Maroons have now lost two straight games at Suncorp Stadium for the first time since 1998 and four of their last five clashes with the Blues. The Maroons need more aggression up front and Canberra's wild child Corey Horsburgh has that in bucketloads. Yes, he can lose his cool on the big stage but the Blues were happy he wasn't picked for game one and will be delighted if the Maroons persist with their 'pick and stick' mentality. The other big call Billy Slater may want to consider is dropping the struggling Kayln Ponga and moving the dangerous Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to fullback. 'The Hammer' is the most elusive ball-runner in the game but was starved of the ball with any time or space on Wednesday night. Ponga has been a shadow of his best this season at club level and many put that down to Newcastle's spluttering attack. But in elite company, Ponga again looked flat and barely troubled the Blues defence. Skipper Daly Cherry-Evans was another big-name Maroon who failed to fire and the oldest man in Origin footy may have played one series too many. The Maroons are in awful trouble having lost game one at home - and only wholesale changes can give them a chance to turn things around.

Reece Walsh cops crushing new blow as Raiders favourite sends emphatic message to Billy Slater

Reece Walsh's grip on his State of Origin jersey appears to be slipping after an underwhelming display in Saturday night's shock thumping by Canberra. And Raiders fan favourite Corey Horsburgh has sent another emphatic message to Maroons coach Billy Slater as his push for a recall to the Queensland side gathers steam. Walsh squandered a glorious chance to respond to rival fullback Kalyn Ponga's masterclass for Newcastle on Thursday night, that has seen calls grow for the Knights skipper to be picked in the Maroons No.1 jersey ahead of the Brisbane star. The Broncos fullback had a night to forget in the nation's capital as Ricky Stuart's Raiders gave the visitors a stark reality check. Many experts named Brisbane among the favourites to win the premiership this year after their crushing win over the Roosters in round one. But Michael Maguire's men were sent crashing back to earth by an impressive Raiders side that made it two wins from two to start the new season.Walsh was well below his best for the majority of the game after coughing up four errors, missing four tackles, and running for just 96 metres. The Broncos fullback is close to unplayable when he's on song but has a tendency to have these sorts of games every now and then and it will surely be a concern for Maroons coach Slater when it comes to picking a Queensland team to try and win back the Origin shield this year. The Brisbane No.1 failed to inject himself into the game during a very quiet first half as Canberra's pack out-muscled and out-enthused the star-studded Broncos middle forwards, led by Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan. And when Walsh did try to get more involved in the second forty, with his side trailing 16-10 at the break, the Broncos fullback was once again guilty of trying to do too much as errors and ill-discipline came back to bite Brisbane. Walsh inexplicably dropped one ball close to the tryline after breaking through Canberra's defence, before throwing a cut-out pass into touch in another poorly executed play. He also put winger Jesse Arthars - whose hat-trick gave Brisbane hope - under unnecessary pressure after taking a kick return and throwing a questionable pass to his teammate, who was subsequently bundled into touch.

Knights 'secretly praying' Slater snubs Ponga

In recent seasons, Newcastle's goal was simply to play finals football. But in the wake of the Knights' stunning run in the second half of last season and the improvements to their roster, they are well and truly shooting for a top four spot this time around. The team that went missing midway through 2023 with seven losses in nine games roared into September like a freight train, winning 10 games straight - knocking off some big scalps along the way. Add classy English imports Kai Pearce-Paul (Wigan Warriors) and Will Pryce (Huddersfield Giants), premiership-winning half Jack Cogger (Panthers) and busy forward Jed Cartwright (Rabbitohs) and the Knights appear to have all bases covered. The big question mark - and it could decide how far the Knights go in 2024 - is who will play in the halves. Tyson Gamble and Jackson Hastings did a great job last season but Cogger is also a class act who will push for a spot in the starting team. It leaves coach Adam O'Brien with a pleasant headache, and throw in Phoenix Crossland - a half who was converted to hooker last year when Jayden Brailey was injured - and the club has an embarrassment of riches in the playmaking stakes. The only significant losses are tryscoring ace Dominic Young (Roosters) and experienced forward Lachlan Fitzgibbon (Warrington Wolves). But their departures have been covered with the recruitment of speedy winger Tom Jenkins (Panthers) and Cartwright.

Maroons' huge Billy coup as Origin future confirmed

Queensland legend Billy Slater has agreed to coach the Maroons for at least another three years.The rugby league icon took his time coming to a decision on his coaching future, but has put pen to paper to do the State of Origin job until the end of the 2026 series, he confirmed with Wide World of Sports.Slater, 40, took the reins in 2022 and has won the shield in both Origin series he's coached to date.

Lockyer's major concern over Titan's $12m deal

Queensland great Darren Lockyer has cast doubt over the Titans 10-year deal for Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, declaring "there's more risk on the side of the Titans".The prop's deal means he's likely to play out the rest of his career at the club as they search for a maiden premiership under Des Hasler from next season.Following Fa'asuamaleaui's $12 million contract, Broncos star Payne Haas re-signed four days later on a deal reportedly worth $3.6m over three years.Both contracts have effectively shaken up the player market for forwards and Lockyer believes Fa'asuamaleaui's is a "risk"."We're talking about Payne Haas at the Broncos and the money he's going to be on, it's not like it's foreign to pay a front row forward big dollars like that," he said on Wide World of Sports' QLDER."Without understanding every bit of detail of the deal, I think 10 years is a long time (for Fa'asuamaleaui). I think there's more risk on the side of the Titans than there is for Tino but again we don't know the finer details in the deal."Fa'asuamaleaui joins Jason Taumololo and Daly Cherry-Evans in signing historic long-term deals.

Representative star out to 'disrupt the sector'

Former Kangaroos prop David Shillington has entered the sometimes murky world of player management.After hearing plenty of horror stories about the management game, 'Shillo' has decided to set up his own agency and already has a dozen young players on his books, several of whom have signed with NRL clubs."I've had one sign with the Bulldogs, one with the Raiders and one is in the Storm academy," he told Wide World of Sports."I'm pretty keen for it to be more of that 'mentoring/performance' relationship with the player rather than the traditional player manager relationship."I'm keen to disrupt the sector a bit. The stories of agents signing up players and then doing nothing for them, not even a phone call in 12 months, are still rife, I've been hearing it non stop, it's sad."

'A lot more to it': Slater denies Maroons deal is done

League icon Billy Slater has confirmed his management is in discussions with the Queensland Maroons over a head coaching contract extension, but said reports that it was a done deal were premature.After starring as a player in the Maroons' eight-straight series victories between 2006 and 2013, Slater took on the top job in 2022 and has since coached Queensland to two-straight series wins.The 40-year-old had previously refused to comment on his future as Queensland coach after his side was stopped short of a series clean sweep last month.QRL boss Ben Ikin told News Corp that they've "established that Billy wants to keep coaching the Maroons"."Now we'll work through the specifics of how that looks, both for Billy and the QRL," he said.However, when asked on Nine's The Billy Slater Podcast if talks of the contract extension being confirmed were premature, he agreed."Yeah I think so, Ben Ikin came out and said that I'd like to coach on and I don't think I've ever said that I wouldn't like to help the Queensland rugby league team," he said."I've just got to make sure that it works. Selfishly, I'd love to coach on, that's the easy answer, but I'm a husband, I'm a father, I run a small stud farm, we do that ourselves as a family."I've got to make sure that everything works and I can commit that time to the Queensland rugby league team."Slater went on to confirm his manager George Mimis has spoken with the QRL."My management has started discussions with the QRL and hopefully they progress further and then I'll sit down with my family and work out how it all works because like I said, there's a lot more to it than me selfishly wanting to be coach of the Queensland rugby league team," he said.

Fiery Raider starting to mature

Corey Horsburgh pressed his claims for a Queensland State of Origin call-up with a fast and furious performance against the Titans on Saturday afternoon.The fiery Raiders red-head made 55 tackles — more than anyone on the field — in his 70 minutes of game time against the Titans and ran for 113 metres.But perhaps most importantly, in a pressure match, Horsburgh's discipline could not be faulted.The tough forward has had brain explosions in tight games in the past but was faultless in the Raiders' narrow 26-22 win.

Cult hero donates cherished Origin item in moving act

On the eve of State of Origin, former Queensland star PJ Marsh has produced an incredible gesture that should make players from both teams proud.A talented hooker/half who played over 150 NRL games for the Eels, Warriors and Broncos in the 2000s, Marsh also played four games for Queensland.Now a coal miner in central Queensland, his most prized possession is his Maroons jersey - but when he heard of a family friend's life-threatening illness, he donated the jersey to charity, raising over $5000.One of Marsh's colleagues at the Glencore mining company has a son who was diagnosed with a rare brain condition and had a range of complex medical conditions since birth including Cerebral Palsy Quadriplegia.When Marsh learned of his condition, he took action."To hear his story – no one will ever understand what the family has been through," Marsh said."I was asked if I could donate some clothing from the brand I own for a fundraiser being held onsite. I thought, I can do better than that. I've got something special that will get good money."And that's when Marsh donated his cherished debut Origin jumper."This is my area, central Queensland," he said."I'm happy to do it. It's a passion of mine to help people."The 'Dig for Brody' raffle and auction raised $92,000 for the family, with PJ's jersey fetching $5,000 after Sam, a co-worker on his drill and blast crew, placed the winning bid.His act of generosity is what football is all about - well done PJ!

Maroons rocked by star's sudden retirement

Queensland enforcer Josh Papalii has retired from State of Origin on the eve of the 2023 series.The Raiders front-rower follows in the footsteps of his club teammate Jack Wighton, who retired from Blues selection recently.Papalii, 31, played 23 Origin games for the Maroons."I've loved every minute of my time playing for Queensland and representing the state and I have memories from my time in maroon I will never forget," Papalii said."For me, it's about giving the next generation of Queensland players the chance to represent and it also allows me to concentrate on my football for the Raiders during the middle part of the season."I want to thank all of the coaches over the years that have given me the opportunity to play for Queensland and all of the players who I have taken the field with."While New South Wales coach Brad Fittler said he had been aware of Wighton's decision for some time, it's unclear if Queensland coach Billy Slater knew about Papalii.Slater and his selectors will unveil their squad on Monday for game one, which is in Adelaide on Wednesday week."Josh's decision to retire from State of Origin showcases Josh's character and his selflessness for his state," Canberra coach Ricky Stuart said."Playing one State of Origin match is a huge achievement, but to play over 20 Origin matches over a decade makes Josh one of the most experienced and decorated players in Origin history."His efforts for Queensland playing in the toughest arena in the toughest position will forever be remembered and Josh will go down as one of Origin's greatest players."Papalii's Raiders teammate Corey Horsburgh is a chance of an Origin debut and the retirement will no doubt bump him up the Queensland pecking order.

Gilbert locked in for Origin

Tom Gilbert has played one Origin game for Queensland - but this season he may well be the first forward chosen.Gilbert has been outstanding for the Dolphins in their debut season and was ruthless in Friday night's upset 32-22 win over the Cowboys.The 22-year-old came up with some massive plays in both attack and defence and has proved himself a real weapon for Wayne Bennett's new chums.Gilbert was psyched up against his former club at his old home ground and was easily the best forward on the paddock as the Dolphins out-enthused the struggling Cowboys.

'Shock' as rugby league icon rushed to hospital

The rugby league world has been shocked by news that legendary front-rower Sam Backo has suffered a major heart attack and is in a critical condition.Backo, aged 62, is in hospital in Cairns in a serious condition with doctors closely monitoring him."His wife called me and said he is in a bad way," Backo's former Queensland State of Origin teammate Colin Scott told Wide World of Sports."He is a tough man and always had a big heart so hopefully he can get through it - but it is a real shock."Former Canberra, Broncos, Maroons and Test prop Backo is regarded as one of the finest Aboriginal players of the 20th century.He wrote himself into league folklore in 1988 when he became the first Australian forward to score tries in all three Tests of an Ashes series - a record that no one has ever matched.After his retirement in 1990, he was named in the Indigenous Australian team of the century.