INSIDE ❘ TEAM LISTS ❘ STAT ATTACK ❘ SCORES AROUND THE COUNTRY + NATHAN HINDMARSH ❘ NICK COTRIC ❘ PAUL GALLEN ❘ WESTS TIGERS POSTER MORE ROUND 15 Est. 1920 IT’S NOT OVER Munster: Maroons can repeat history MIND MATTERS is for certain – . Alternative methods he wants to be a Bulldog for life extending NRL careers YOUR HOME OF NRL EVERY GAME OF EVERY ROUND LIVE IN HD WITH NO AD-BREAKS DURING PLAY. Foxtel Now requires internet, data & a compatible device. Foxtel and some services not available to all homes. Foxtel marks are used under licence by Foxtel Management Pty Ltd. KICKING PAMELA OFF WHALEY THOUGHTIwouldkickthingsoffthisweek Iby making an announcement–Iwillbe retiring from representative duties, effective immediately. Just kidding of course, I haven’t representedanythinginanysportsince primaryschool,butitseemstobethetrend of the moment. Just this past week, Billy Slater announcedthiswillbehislastyearplaying representativefootball,asdidDariusBoyd, RussellPacker,BenMatulinoandSimon Mannering.Whileit’ssadtoknowwewon’t see these guys in their state or country colours anymore, it means we’re smack bang in the middleofrepfootyseason,andboy,Iamloving it.Round15isanotherchanceforplayersto impresstheirpotentialcoaches–whetherit beatStateofOriginorinternationallevel– before the competition breaks for rep round next weekend, capped off by the stand alone StateofOriginonSundaynight.It’sthefirst timewe’veseenOrigininthisformat,but I think it will be interesting to see how many players opt to take the week off rather than playforthePacificnations.Ihopeit’sasfewas possible – the achievements of Tonga, Fiji and even Papua New Guinea at the 2017 World Cup propelled their standing on the international Munster confident in stage. My hope is they continue on the same trajectory next weekend. AVID Klemmer is one of my favourite NRL Maroons fightback Dplayers. No matter what is going on around him, he always runs hard, tackles hard and UEENSLAND five-eighth Cameron Cameron Smith, who retired does his absolute best. He wears his heart on QMunsterisadamanttheMaroons from representative football last hissleevethat’swhatfanswanttosee.Fans can replicate last year’s come- month, called on Maroons selectors wanttoseethattheirplayerscareasmuch from-behind series victory in 2018. torecallStormteam-mateTimGlasby abouttheclubanditssuccessastheydo.It’s Afterdroppingthefirstgamefor for next Sunday’s clash. beenadifficultseasonfortheBulldogs,but the second-straight year, Munster said Glasby played two games for the Klemmer has been in excellent form. If there’s thesidestillhasthebelieftobounce Maroonsin2017butwasoverlooked onethingBulldogsfanscandelightinthis backinGameTwoatANZStadium. forthisyear’sseriesopener. year, it’s his passion. Flick to pages 16-17 to “Wehavethebeliefwecanproduce “Hewouldmakeadifference hear from the man himself. anotherfairy-taleendinglikelastyear,” By MICHAEL because there were certain periods of BLOK Munster told Big League. @michaelblok26 thegamewhereQueenslandstruggled “It’sobviouslytoughlosingGame in the middle defensively,” Smith said. One,butwecamebacktowintheseries “That’s where Damien Cook made his break lastyear.We’reinexactlythesameposition earlyinthegameand[James]Tedescoscored sothere’snoreasonwecan’tdoitagain.” the first try. Then Tedesco made maybe three FEATURES MunstersaidtheMaroonshaven’thad orfourline-breaksinthemiddlewhichcaused 12 NATHAN HINDMARSH thechancetotalkaboutreplicatinglastyear’s us a lot of issues. memorable result, but it will be discussed “There were some small areas Queensland 16-17 DAVID KLEMMER when they re-enter camp early next week. wereoffinthatgame.Whetherchangesare 18 NICK COTRIC “Lastyear’sresultwilldefinitelybeinthe neededI’mnottoosure,butifyouputTim 20-21 2003: PANTHER PRIDE back of everyone’s mind and that’ll give us Glasbyinhe’ddoagreatjob.” 22-23 TRAINING ALTERNATIVES confidence this time around,” he said. BluescoachBradFittlerisexpectedto 24 PAUL GALLEN “We’vegottheself-beliefandthetalentto stick with the same 17 players who got the do some really good things this series, but we jobdoneintheopeninggameattheMCG. UPFRONT 3-15 didn’t show it in the opening game. Hopefully Forward Jake Trbojevic said the Blues can’t wecangobacktothedrawingboardandbe becomplacentin2018orthey’llbeindanger CLUB NEWS 26-29 better in Game Two.” of losing the series again. LITTLE LEAGUE 30-31 WithOriginteamstobeannounced “Weknowthisseriesisfarfromover,” NRL TEAMS 36-51 on Monday, Maroons players will be on Trbojevic said. alertduringthisweek’sNRLroundwith “Lastyear’slosswastoughandIdon’t OTHER COMPS 52-55 coach Kevin Walters hinting at making changes. wantthattohappenagain–weneedtomake RESULTS 56-57 “I’mnottoosureiftherewillbechanges sure we don’t become complacent. DRAW 62 totheside,buttheselectorswillmakethe “Lots of the guys didn’t experience last Gregg Porteous/NRLPhotos.com right decision. Whoever they’ll pick will do year’s loss. This is a new year and we’re going COVER PHOTO: ALIX SWEENEY a good job,” Munster said. to be focused for Game Two.” PHOTO: Round 15 BIG LEAGUE 2018 3 No backflip for purring Peachey By MICHAEL BLOK starting to dream about what his team can achieve in 2018. ENRITH centre Tyrone With 11 rounds remaining Peachey has quashed until the finals, the Panthers Preports he’s considering have a 10-3 record and have back-flipping on his Gold their sights on a top four finish. Coast deal. “I want to leave on a good Before a ball had been kicked note and hopefully we can do this season, the New South something special at the end Wales representative penned of the year,” Peachey said. a lucrative three-year-deal with “Penrith’s the club that the Titans, starting in 2019. backed me from the start. But since signing with the All I want to do is finish well Queensland club, a lot has because they’ve been nothing changed for the 26-year-old star. but good to me. I’m going to try He’s secured a starting role at and repay the favour to them.” the foot of the mountains and Although he played just seven has been an influential figure minutes in New South Wales’ in Penrith’s rise up the ladder, 22-12 victory over Queensland which saw him make his State last Wednesday, Peachey said of Origin debut last week. the experience of being within He told Big League he’s SHOW ‘N’ GO: the Origin camp will help him struggling with the idea of develop as a better player. is off to the Gold leaving the Panthers, but Coast next year. “The whole week was is adamant he’ll honour his unreal,” he said. deal at the Titans. they go through a rebuilding stage, “It was great being around “I’mhappywiththedecision and he’s eager to play under former so many good players and I learnt Imade.Itwasadecisionthathad Penrith mentor Garth Brennan. a lot from the experience.” tobemadeandI’vegotnoregrets,” “I’m looking forward to starting Peachey said he and his three Peachey said. freshuponthe‘Goldie’. The Titans team-mates – Reagan Campbell- “It’s going to be hard leaving have made a few good signings Gillard, James Maloney and Nathan Penrithattheendoftheyear,but this year so hopefully we can do Cleary – will use the momentum I’mcommittedtotheTitansand something special up there,” he said. of the Origin victory to help Penrith I’mlookingforwardtoit.” Peachey, who will play his 99th for the remainder of the season. Notonlyhashecommittedtothe game for the Panthers against the “Hopefully we can bring that form Titans,he’sexcitedtojointheclubas Roosters on Friday night, said he’s back to club footy for the Panthers.” Next-gen Beasts making their mark By WILL EVANS Shaun Johnson said after the While Fusitu’a’s career-best resounding win. campaign comes as little surprise, HERE’S only one Manu Vatuvei, “But what [Fusitu’a and Maumalo’s transformation from Tbutsomeundeniabletraces Maumalo] are doing in their own enigmatic hulk to ultra-consistent of ‘The Beast’s’ best traits are in right,thepaththey’re carving star has stunned most observers. Warriors wingers David Fusitu’a for themselves is really special. Maumalo has improved and Ken Maumalo. “It’s cool spending the past considerably this season and Fusitu’a is replicating Vatuvei’s few years with them, seeing ranks sixth for running metres. legendary try-scoring strike-rate, them grow into their bodies, Previously regarded as an while Maumalo’s powerhouse andatthesame time evolve.” obvious target for opposition chargeswereastapleofManu’s Johnson backed up a Fusitu’a kickers, Maumalo has been formorethanadecade. break to score against the Sea mistake-free this year. The 23-year-old giants were Eagles, then twice returned the Johnson noted another subtle again among the Warriors’ best favour with brilliant assists for two addition to Maumalo’s play. in a 34-14 beatdown of Manly of the long-striding flyer’s three “Ken’s not just one-dimensional. in Christchurch. tries. Fusitu’a’s hat-trick lifted his He’s brought that late footwork NRLPhotos.com: Gregg Porteous (Peachey), Porteous (Peachey), Gregg NRLPhotos.com: “They’re terrific players in season tally to 15 from 13 games into his game,” he said. theirownrightbutIdon’tthink – only eight short of Francis Meli’s “We’re just thankful they’re on PHOTOS: Mark Nolan (Tigers) (Trbojevic); Trouville Grant you can compare anyone to Manu,” club record. our side.” The Rabbitohs are aiming for seven straight wins for the first time since 1994. UU Roosters halfback Cooper Cronk has 4 BIG LEAGUE 2018 Round 15 NRL TABLE FOR AGAINST PWLDBFADIFFPTST GFGT GFGHOMEAWAY ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA 13103013192081112248631 353407-03-3 PENRITH 13103013001901102244604313306-14-2