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‘Pathetic’: Fittler takes aim at May’s NSW comments
Ex-NSW coach Brad Fittler has labelled Terrell May’s comments about his Blues selection chances as “pathetic” ahead of a final Origin audition the Tigers prop believes is already redundant.
May raised eyebrows late last week on his video gaming platform Twitch when he told another gamer that he wouldn’t be picked based on reports he suggested were leaked from within NSW camp.
The 26-year-old has been one of the NRL’s best front-rowers to put himself in the frame for an Origin debut, though Laurie Daley has reportedly been weighing up believed defensive issues in May’s game.
May’s live gaming broadcast included him telling another gamer: “You know that Blues jersey I bought you? Chuck it in the bin”.
“It’s not the media. How do you think it got leaked? You think they’re not just playing Chinese whispers?”
“[I] might have to switch my allegiance [to Queensland]“.
Daley will lock in the Blues Origin I squad after May plays against the Rabbitohs in the last game of round 11 on Sunday night.
With Newcastle’s Jacob Saifiti (calf) and incumbent skipper Jake Trbojevic (concussion stand down) both unavailable, May, Melbourne’s Stefano Utoikamanu and Canterbury prop Max King are vying for a bench spot.
Fittler took aim at May’s comments on The Sunday Footy Show, referencing Haumole Olakau’atu’s regret over supporting Queensland in a 2022 social media post before eventually making his Blues debut two years later.
Haumole Olakau’atu a couple of years ago something very similar, and then last year I went into Manly and he came up and apologised and sat there and just spoke about how he was immature,” Fittler said.
“I really respected things he was speaking about and how light he was about it.
“I reckon maybe Terrell May should maybe ring Haumole and humble up a little bit.
“Seriously. What are these blokes thinking? There’s people at home who just love this game. They just love it.
“And you sit there playing a game and all of a sudden you want to just talk like this. How blasé. Pathetic.”
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How a Cleary-Moses combination would work
By Christian Nicolussi
Nathan Cleary will be given a licence to roam in Origin I as NSW coach Laurie Daley considers playing two genuine halfbacks in the series opener.
Daley also insists he will not ask Blues coaching advisor Craig Bellamy how to stop Storm pair Cameron Munster and Harry Grant, who loom as Queensland’s main danger men.
One of the coach’s biggest selection headaches will be whether to partner Cleary with Parramatta’s Moses, or his four-time premiership-winning five-eighth mate Jarome Luai, who left Penrith for the Tigers at the end of last year.
MItchell Moses tries to stop Nathan Cleary during the 2022 grand final. Could they play together in Origin I?Credit: Getty Images
Daley played down any concerns about Moses having to play second fiddle to Cleary, despite being the dominant playmaker at Parramatta.
He also said Moses was more than capable of playing on the left side for NSW, rather than his preferred right side for his club.
“Nathan will be the dominant half, and whoever we go with at No.6, they’ll be in that support role,” Daley said on Saturday. “Mitch was a five-eighth in his junior years, and there’s no reason he can’t do it.
“What I can tell you is Nathan will be given the chance to roam. That final 20 minutes in the [2023] grand final, Nathan played his best game, and he spent the majority of time on the left side of the field. He also did it again at Magic Round a couple of weeks ago when he tore the Broncos apart.
“Either way, I’ve got no doubts the Cleary and Moses combination will work. I also know the Cleary and Luai combination has already worked, with those two enjoying success at all levels.”
Read the full story here.
Poll: Who debuts for the Blues?
Welcome to Origin selection day
Welcome one, welcome all to the busiest news day of the rugby league calendar that doesn’t specifically involve the Wests Tigers.
It’s Origin selection day baby. Strap in, lock the kids outside (they’ll be fine) and put a pot of coffee on, because we’re going to be here for a while, and it’s going to be worth it.
The key Origin players: Laurie Daley, his advisor Craig Bellamy, rival Billy Slater and superstar Latrell Mitchell.Credit: Nathan Perri
Returning NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley is weighing up several key calls across his playmaking spine and front-row ahead of the May 28 series opener, while Billy Slater has decisions to make all out wide and on the edges too coming off the first series loss of his Queensland coaching career.
Michael Chammas is doing what he does best – finding out things and telling people about them, I’ll do what I do best – gibber – and we’ll meet somewhere in the middle with three games for your Sunday as well.
As they say in the classics, let’s go.
