Why Storm won’t bother seeking public apology from Phil Gould over Harry Grant ‘cheat’ claim
Brisbane: Melbourne Storm part-owner and chairman Matt Tripp, his captains and Queensland No. 9 He won’t demand a public apology from Phil Gould for calling Harry Grant. “to betray” – twice – on national television.
Gould caused a stir ahead of Wednesday night’s Origin decider in Brisbane when talking about Grant and his constant chasing of umpires in the Nine’s. 100% Football to show.
Nine
Tripp said Grant laughed when he first heard the comments but had no plans to take it further.
“This is what we expect from ‘Gus’ [Gould] – we didn’t care what he had to say,” Tripp said.
“This time last year Gus said Harry was Queensland’s best player who put pressure on him and discouraged him.
“Now she does the same thing, but this time she calls him a cheat, hoping he will fool her.
“That’s all water off a duck’s back for Harry. It’s a really strange thing to say about a player who is one of the fairest players in the game.”
“Calling it a cheat is pretty ridiculous. It certainly didn’t bother Harry.”
Following a report in this imprint Blues players hoped Ashley Klein wouldn’t fall for Grant’s anticsGould was happy to share his thoughts, including his constant speeches and pleas for sets to be restarted and punishments.
The issue was brought up during a lighthearted debate broadcast on Monday night. 100% FootballWhen current big name former Queensland captain Cameron Smith, known for regularly approaching tipsters during matches, said: “You’ve got to keep the referees honest.”
“Support me ‘Gus’ [Gould]This has been happening since 1908, right,” Smith said.
“You took this to a new level,” Gould said.
“Let’s face it as it is: Harry is a cheat.
There’s no doubt fans will be eager to see what happens with Grant and his interactions with Klein at the start of Wednesday’s game.
Arrow wardrobe malfunction
Jai Arrow got married on Sunday, then flew to Brisbane where he did his best to speak onstage at the former Queensland Origin greats’ lunch at Suncorp Stadium.
Arrow was scheduled to marry his partner Berina Colakovic in Italy in October, but he worried that motor neurone disease would prevent him from saying “I do” and rushed the wedding.
His spirits were high when he joined some of the Sunshine State’s best players a few days later.
Sam Thaiday was the server and ordered Corey Oates to have a beer when he noticed he was wearing a light blue shirt.
“You can’t wear that color here,” Thaiday said, referring to NSW blue.
The crowd didn’t know what to expect when Arrow walked onto the stage and realized he was also wearing blue.
Saying that Thailand day is Thailand day, he told Arrow: “I don’t care what you’re fighting mate, you’re wearing blue, which means you have to skol too.”
Arrow took the joke well and joined the room in laughter in response.
Support for the 30-year-old has been overwhelming in post-try arrow celebrations over the last few weeks, and has also been boosted by rivals’ rules including rugby and the AFL.
“This has been a crazy thing and I honestly don’t know what I can do to thank everyone,” Arrow told the imprint.
“The amount of support shown is overwhelming, but in a good way. I never expected any of this.”
Origin pay increase
There is early talk that Origin payments will rise from $30,000 to around $50,000 per game after the NRL announced its $5.3 billion, seven-year broadcast deal on Tuesday.
According to the NRL’s website, Origin payments rose to $12,500 in 2006 and then $30,000 in 2013. payments dropped to $10,000. The money saved was used to supplement all players’ salaries the following year.
It is rumored that the salary cap will increase from $12 million next year to $18 million or $20 million the following year. If the latter happens, that would mean a 75 percent increase, and some league officials assume Origin payouts will increase accordingly.
All 19 players receive $30,000, while the 20th man and players who assist in training camps receive a smaller salary.
Addin Vakfıa-Blake was paid $3333 per minute for his brief nine-minute role in Origin II’s Melbourne, but says competing alongside champions such as Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo comes at no cost.
“I’ve been paid enough throughout my career and when it’s all said and done, I can look back on my career and say that I’ve played in these big games and rubbed shoulders with some greats,” said Sorua-Blake.
Suaalii will stop catching up
Despite being in Brisbane with the Wallabies, Joseph Suaalii is not expected to catch up with his former NSW Origin team-mates in the sheds after full-time work.
Suaalii’s only appearance for the Blues was the opening match of the 2024 series, in which he was sent off for taking down Reece Walsh.
The 22-year-old will be in town for the Wallabies Test against France on Saturday. Thursday’s early training session means he is unlikely to catch up quickly with some of his old rugby league mates.
Future Wallabies coach Les Kiss, who plays rugby league in Australia, Queensland and North Sydney, will be at tonight’s Origin deciding meeting.
Nice to see you, Madge.
The last NSW coach to decide the series on Queensland soil joined the Blues for dinner on Tuesday night.
Michael Maguire spent more than an hour talking about his magical Origin victory in 2024, as well as some old stories from his days in Canberra with Blues coach Laurie Daley.
“Madge” is famous for swinging a baseball bat to motivate his players, but there was no sign of his Louisville Slugger when he arrived at the team hotel.
“If you cut Michael Maguire open, his heart would be the size of a watermelon,” Blues assistant coach Matt King said.
“He’s one of the best guys in rugby league, he’s under pressure at the moment.” [at the Broncos]So she put that aside and came and shared her meal, told stories for about an hour and a half… Laurie and Madge were sharing old Canberra stories, which was great for us young people to hear.
“Madge is part of the Blues fraternity after what she did two years ago. She is always welcome in our camp.”
Uber great driver
The Uber driver who took this masthead from Gold Coast airport to NSW’s Kingscliff training camp was none other than Toby Sexton’s grandfather.
After promising to give me a star for being New South Welsh, Sexton’s pop star Raymond told the story of how Sexton met Canberra and Cronulla before Mal Meninga persuaded him to start his career on the Gold Coast. It’s fitting that Sexton and Meninga will be reunited with the Perth Bears on the other side of the country next year.
