Warriors' Win a Wee Relief, but Russell's Relief No Joke
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press.co.nz Out of the shadows Ben Smith a special utility for ABs B17 THE PRESS, Wednesday, June 5, 2013 B18 RUGBY LEAGUE Maroons set to make it eight Quite remarkably, because Queensland cussions with the referees, Smith rarely will be gunning for their eighth- KEY MATCH-UP puts a foot wrong. consecutive series victory, NSW look like If NSW are to win, they will need Rob- starting favourites for the first State of bie Farah to shade the Queensland and Origin grudge match in Sydney tonight Australian skipper. Queensland boast five players who Smith said yesterday that Thurston is will lay serious claims to joining the still not feeling 100 per cent. exclusive Immortals club in retirement. The play-maker has been hampered One of them, South Sydney’s Greg by a virus since Sunday. Inglis, is the game’s most in-form strike ‘‘Johnathan is still a little bit dusty,’’ weapon. Smith said. Inglis has barged, blasted and ‘‘He looks like he’s on the mend but sprinted his way to the top of the Dally M we’ll see how he goes at training and rankings this season — and, along with hopeful he’ll be right to go on Wednesday Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Cooper night.’’ Cronk and Johnathan Thurston, will Thurston, could break camp if his spearhead the Maroons attack. Robbie Farah (NSW), left, and Cameron partner, Samantha, goes into labour with Thurston, virus and the impending Smith (Queensland) are benchmark their first child. birth of his first child notwithstanding, players for their teams tonight. Queensland still haven’t declared will also break Gary Larson’s record of 25 winger Darius Boyd (bruised ankle) a consecutive Origins. TEAMS starter but Smith hinted the Newcastle NSW, under rookie coach Laurie fullback would line up for his 15th Daley, have a renewed confidence that Origin. this year will be the one when it all turns New South Wales: Jarryd Hayne, ‘‘He gets better every day and if he around after going so close last year. Blake Ferguson, Michael Jennings, gets through tonight’s session I think Aside from the withdrawal of utility Josh Morris, Brett Morris, James he’ll be right to play,’’ he said. Kurt Gidley, the Blues’ preparations Maloney, Mitchell Pearce, James Meninga has shadow players on have been seamless. Tamou, Robbie Farah, Paul Gallen standby for Boyd (Justin O’Neill) and But they are relying on James (capt), Luke Lewis, Ryan Hoffman, Thurston (Daly Cherry-Evans) while Maloney to become the first debutant Greg Bird. Int: Anthony Watmough, Canberra’s Josh Papalii is in camp with five-eighth to lead the Blues to victory in Trent Merrin, Andrew Fifita, Josh the Maroons in case there is any late Origin history. Reynolds. development in the Ben Te’o assault Queensland have chosen to back away Queensland: Billy Slater, Darius Boyd, investigation. from one of the key parts of their recent Greg Inglis, Justin Hodges, Brent Tate, Meninga said on Monday that he was dominance, choosing just two specialist Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk, closely monitoring Te’o emotional state. props and stacking the bench with Matt Scott, Cameron Smith (capt), But Smith said the South Sydney mobile back-rowers. David Shillington, Nate Myles, Sam forward appeared to be coping all This will force starting back-rowers Thaiday, Ashley Harrison. Int: Corey right. Nate Myles and Sam Thaiday up front for Parker, Matt Gillett, Ben Te’o, Chris ‘‘He’s fine. I know he’s going through parts of the game but is seen as a way of McQueen. a difficult time at the moment but his Time out: Warrior Russell Packer is caught on Fox Sports video urinating before the Warriors’ win over the Broncos in Brisbane. combating the greasy ANZ Stadium sur- Kick-off: 10.10pm. mental state is really good,’’ he said. face. ‘‘He’s been positive towards his prep- Queensland’s key is Cameron Smith aration and come (Wednesday) there will who is central to everything the Maroons rolling, his dummy-half kicking or the only be one thing on his mind and that do. Whether it’s getting their forwards statesman-like attitude he takes into dis- will be to play as best he can.’’ AAP Warriors’ win a wee relief, but Russell’s relief no joke Chris Barclay telling his Twitter Packer is not the first ● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ● followers: ‘‘Good win player to be caught The New Zealand Warriors have been when u gotta go u gotta go urinating on the Brisbane fined A$15,000 (NZ$18,100) after Russell lol’’. ground. Packer urinated on Suncorp Stadium However, he In 1988 during the old before Monday night’s NRL game against backtracked on the social ARL competition Manly the Brisbane Broncos. networking site after prop Don McKinnon was The front rower’s mirth after match McGuirk’s criticism. fined A$1000 for broadcaster Fox Sports noticed he ‘‘Hey guys just a quick christening what was then relieved himself while awaiting the kick- apology to you and your Lang Park when the off was substituted with an apology yes- family regarding my acci- Broncos made their debut. terday after the NRL issued a breach dent last night it has Warriors doctor John notice. offended some which i am Mayhew, who was on the While Packer and some team-mates sorry it was an...’’ All Blacks staff when Col- found his actions amusing, the NRL’s ‘‘Unfortunate thing lins irked some general manager of football operations, that happened i hope this Cantabrians with his Nathan McGuirk, slammed the prop’s apology eases your mind treatment of the old conduct leading into the Warriors’ 56-18 somewhat and helps you Lancaster Park, said it triumph. move on from it as i will be doing thanks was not an isolated incident. ‘‘This sort of behaviour is completely russ’’. ‘‘I’ve found it quite a few times. You unacceptable and there is no excuse for In 2006, All Black Jerry Collins normally stand round them and things it,’’ he said. relieved himself on Jade Stadium before like that,’’ he said. The Warriors have five working days kick-off in a Bledisloe Cup rugby test ‘‘It shouldn’t be a hanging offence.’’ to make submissions over the breach against the Wallabies in Christchurch. Reaction to Packer’s outburst on Twi- notice. Collins escaped punishment but tter was met with a combination of Warriors chief executive Wayne Packer will not be as fortunate. hilarity and indignation. Scurrah said the club was considering its Packer’s team-mates were oblivious to One Tweeter wanted the Queensland options before commenting but insisted the indiscretion at the time and police to charge Packer with public uri- it and Packer ‘‘deeply regretted’’ the inci- surprised when they found out. nation but another disagreed, saying dent. ‘‘What? Did he? Is he in trouble for marathon runners could stop mid-race Packer initially made light of it, that?’’ laughed fellow prop Ben Matulino. and relieve themselves. Fairfax NZ HARNESS RACING Ashburton favoured as home Matt Markham we won’t be racing at Ashburton.’’ ● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ● 213 Rennell said there would be plenty of Harness racing participants from across Total votes positive benefits following the success of the country are keen to see Ashburton ● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ● the weekend, which he regarded as the become the permanent home of the Har- best Harness Jewels day of the seven to ness Jewels. 169 date. Results of a poll held by The Press yes- Votes for (79.36pc). ‘‘Take away the euphoria of the first terday heavily favoured Harness Racing ● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ● Harness Jewels and I think the meeting New Zealand switching from alternating this year would have to be the best we between Ashburton and Cambridge to 40 have had yet,’’ Rennell said. the Mid-Canterbury track becoming the Votes against (18.77pc). ‘‘What that does, though, is offer Cam- ● ●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●● ● home of New Zealand’s fastest race day. bridge the chance to up their game again More than 200 people from across New 4 and try to match, or beat, the perform- Zealand including owners, trainers, Votes for neither venue ance of Ashburton. drivers, breeders, punters and general The most successful horseman in the harness racing followers voted with (1.87pc). seven-year history of the Harness Jewels, almost 80 per cent in favour of Ashbur- Mark Purdon, was not too keen to get ton. 2014 but where to following that is still up heavily invested in the debate. Those who did vote cited the fairness for discussion. ‘‘I’m pretty neutral on it all to be of the Ashburton track as their main Harness Racing New Zealand boss honest,’’ Purdon said. reason for going with the permanent Edward Rennell said it was almost a cer- ‘‘What I would say though is that gen- shift there with many also adding that tainty that racing would return to Ash- erally every horse gets an opportunity at Cambridge was very much dictated by burton in 2015 but added that nothing Ashburton, whereas, at Cambridge, you barrier draws. had even been considered further afield. can be dictated to by where you draw. Surprisingly, of those who voted from ‘‘It’s a constant discussion point but, ‘‘In saying that, I had a couple of the North Island more than 50 per cent up until Cambridge next year, nothing horses over the weekend who drew badly were keen to see the event stay in Ash- has been decided,’’ he said. and never really got into their races.’’ burton. ‘‘It’s very unlikely, and I would be On-course betting figures for the two Cambridge is already locked in for very surprised, that in two years time days totalled nearly $550,000..