North Queensland Cowboys coach Todd Payten has been hit with a ‘final warning’ by the NRL following his criticism of referees immediately after their draw with Penrith.
Payten was scathing of the performance of officials following the 30-30 draw, which included several missed calls on both sides late in the match, saying referees should ‘make the f–king right call’.
“One of the (Panthers’) tries was off a forward pass so I tell you how to fix that. Make the right call … Get it right. Get it right,” Payten said.
“I’ll talk to the NRL through the week, go through the right channels, but it’s just white noise. ‘Yeah, we got that wrong’. But no one’s held accountable for it.
“If it’s my player making error after error, or a couple of howlers, then there’s a fair chance he’s not in the team.”
On Thursday, the NRL released a statement firing back at Payten for his “repeated and consistent criticism”, which the league said dated back five years.
While serving as interim Warriors coach in 2020, Payten said he had given referees boss Bernard Sutton a “piece of (my) mind” over calls that had “infuriated” him in a loss to Gold Coast.
In 2022, he questioned whether in-form teams were given “the benefit of the doubt” by referees more than their struggling rivals, and said later that season the bunker was “too inconsistent” in officiating sin bins.
The NRL has pledged a harsher stance on negative post-match commentary towards referees.
“Mr Payten has been reminded of his obligations under the NRL Rules and Code of Conduct as well as his general responsibility as a sporting leader to set an appropriate example to grassroots and junior participants across the broader rugby league community,” the NRL said in a statement.
Tedesco not expecting Origin call-up
James Tedesco is not expecting a phone call from Laurie Daley this weekend as the NSW State of Origin coach decides on his team for the series opener.
It’s not that the 23-time Blues representative has lost motivation to represent his state, it’s just that he no longer puts pressure on himself to be selected.
Sydney Roosters captain Tedesco says it’s that lack of pressure fuelling the form that has catapulted him back into Origin calculations.
Tedesco’s NSW career appeared over when Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards usurped him for Origin II last year and helped inspire the two victories that confirmed a NSW series win.
But this year, Tedesco’s form and fitness have been superior to Edwards’ on a Panthers side that has spiralled to the bottom four on the NRL ladder.
The 2021 Origin series-winning captain and NSW’s most-capped fullback, Tedesco sits among the greatest-ever Blues and is considered Daley’s leading option outside of Edwards.
James Tedesco. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
But the Roosters star has been at peace with his lack of Origin selection since Edwards replaced him last year.
“I’m not expecting much, to be honest,” said Tedesco when asked of his selection chances for the May 28 series opener.
“I still feel like I can perform at that level. I still feel like the way that I’m playing means I can do good things in that jersey. But I haven’t put too much pressure on myself to really want to make this team.
“I’d love to because we play the game to play in representative teams and to be the best in your position.
“That’s still there, but energy wise I haven’t given it too much thought – and that’s shown in the way that I’m playing.”
Tedesco has been the shining light on a hot-and-cold Roosters side this season, sitting equal-third on the Dally M leaderboard through 10 rounds.
The 32-year-old has made the second-most tackle breaks, run for the second-most metres of any player in the league and crossed for two tries in the round-eight win over St George Illawarra on Anzac Day. He said his form was no coincidence, given he has been free from the yearly scrutiny about keeping his Origin spot.
“I haven’t felt that, which has freed me up and allowed me to play my best footy,” he said. “Even though there’s been more talk about it over the past few weeks, nothing really changed for me.
“As I’ve got older and more experienced, I’m a lot better at (handling) that.
“When you’re young, you’re looking for people to give you positive comments. But I’ve realised to let go of that so I’m not focused on that.”
New Bears boss announced
The NRL has launched a bid to win over Perth’s media, appointing a former editor-in-chief of The West Australian newspaper as the new Bears chief executive.
Head office confirmed on Thursday that Anthony De Ceglie would be the inaugural Perth CEO, appointing him to the role before a board is even in place.
De Ceglie will therefore be charged with helping put the club together, with one of the most pressing jobs being to appoint a new coach for their 2027 entry.
The CEO appointment is notable, given the NRL conceded last week that they could face a tough run in the media in AFL-mad Perth.
De Ceglie was most recently the director of news and current affairs at Seven West Media, having been promoted after overseeing Western Australia’s flagship newspaper.
“To succeed in Perth, you need a well connected local who knows how to get things done and has a can do attitude,” ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landy said.
“Anthony is a brilliant operator with a proven track record and a genuine Western Australian.
“I am excited about what he can do for us as we grow rugby league in the WA market.”
V’landys had last week claimed perceived bias in Perth, after a local headline of “Bad News Bears” labelled the club as a “dud second-division team” from Sydney.
AAP also understands that V’landys and NRL CEO Andrew Abdo met with Seven West Media chairman Kerry Stokes on the eve of the expansion announcement.
“I think the media coverage has been a bit biased, in the sense the main newspaper here is owned by Seven West Media that has the AFL rights,” V’landys said at last week’s expansion announcement.
“Let’s be quite frank: They don’t want us to be here.
“They realise we will be quite competitive and we’ll be taking some of their lunch. And we eat a lot, so we will be eating a fair bit of their lunch.”
The NRL has previously indicated there will be at least three local directors on the Perth Bears board, including the chair.
Brad Arthur, Mal Meninga and Sam Burgess remain the three main candidates for the coaching role.
The Bears have five-and-a-half months before they can hit the open market for players, with anyone off contract next year considered a free agent on November 1.
Drugs issue on managers’ minds
The scourge of players using illicit drugs has flared again after a poll of player managers has described the issue as an epidemic in the NRL.
According to a Code Sports poll of more than 50 accredited player agents, 62 per cent believe recreational drug use was a major problem.
Several players in recent years have been fined or banned for taking recreational drugs or being caught up in “white powder scandals” from photos posted on social media, including Latrell Mitchell, Cameron Munster, Josh Addo-Carr, Mitch Kenny and Braydon Trindall.
“Any professional athlete that engages in illicit drug use is a problem for the NRL, whether it’s five players or 50,” Penrith premiership-winning forward Scott Sattler, who is now an agent, told Code.
“I say this based on things I’ve observed over the years working in the industry, which concern me as a rugby league fan, not just as an agent.
“Everyone naturally says it’s a societal issue but … if you are a professional athlete, male or female, and you are dabbling in performance-enhancing or social drugs, there should be no place in the game for you.”
Fellow agent Shaun Pyne said the nine-game ban handed out to Ezra Mam for causing a car crash when he had drugs in his system was insufficient given that Roosters prop Spencer Leniu received an eight-match suspension for racially abusing the Brisbane five-eighth.
Storm raging over Vegas snub
The Storm are raging after the NRL’s decision to reject their claims for a spot in Las Vegas, a “missed opportunity” that shows the game is neglecting one of Australia’s biggest sporting markets.
The NRL overlooked the perennial competition heavyweights, opting to capitalise on Canterbury’s popularity by putting them on the plane to the US next year, alongside St George Illawarra, North Queensland and Newcastle.
Ahead of the 2025 fixture the Storm withdrew from the running, unhappy with the NRL’s terms and conditions, but Storm boss Justin Rodski told AAP they were “keen” for 2026.
Melbourne have had back-to-back sell-outs already this season and have signed more than 31,000 club members, which is why Rodski was puzzled that the NRL didn’t look to lure a new fan base to the showpiece event.
“We thought we had a proposal that was compelling, but unfortunately, for whatever reason, I think the NRL missed a big opportunity to not take the Storm,” he said.
“It’s an opportunity missed to showcase Melbourne, second largest city in the country; Victoria, the biggest growth market with the game flying; Origin here next year.
“By all metrics we’re one of the powerhouse clubs in the competition, and to be not selected again is disappointing.
“In all sports, we’d be among the top-ranked clubs in the country when it comes to broadcast, commercial support, fan base and social media reach.
“If you think about all the factors, it’s hard to understand how we weren’t picked to go, but at the same time there’s always layers of complexity that sit within decision-making for the NRL, so they’ve got to weigh that all up.”
Jahrome Hughes makes a break. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)
Rodski wasn’t certain if they would consider applying for 2027, saying the club had a more pressing priority.
“Hopefully we win the comp and we’ll be playing in the world club challenge in England instead,” he said.
Making their maiden appearances in Vegas, Newcastle will meet North Queensland, before neighbouring rivals the Bulldogs and Dragons face off on March 1 (AEDT).
Hull KR will also play Leeds in the Super League match.
The 2024 grand finalists are one of five teams not to have played in Las Vegas since the overseas promotion started in 2024, along with the Dolphins, Gold Coast, Parramatta and West Tigers,
It’s expected the Bulldogs’ recent surge in popularity will help the NRL push for an increased crowd figure from the 45,209 of this season.
Canterbury hosted a record regular-season crowd when 65,603 turned up for this year’s Good Friday match against South Sydney.
The Bulldogs have an average crowd this season of more than 35,000.
Adding to the NRL’s hopes of an increased attendance is that they have been able to name the fixtures earlier, rather than in July last year and August the previous year.
Meanwhile, the absence of a women’s match in Wednesday’s announcement came after Australia trounced England 90-4 in Vegas this year.
NRL bosses conceded afterwards the day was potentially too long, and could be shortened for 2026.
AAP understands the NRL is examining what the women’s schedule looks like for next year and beyond, with the game continuing to grow.
Ahead of the second State of Origin clash in Sydney, Queensland coach Tahnee Norris and her Blues opposite John Strange plumped for an interstate match to feature in Vegas.
Gilbert’s goal is full series for Maroons
It’s two years since Tom Gilbert rampaged for Queensland but he’s ready to realise a mission this year that has so far proven elusive.
When the Dolphins captain returns to the State of Origin arena it will be a story for the ages.
Good judges like Maroons legend Cameron Smith predict his comeback will be on May 28 at Suncorp Stadium in the opening match of the 2025 series.
Smith, one of the best players and sharpest minds the game has seen, released his preferred team for the Origin opener on Channel Nine’s 100% Footy show on Monday night. Gilbert was in his side as starting back-rower alongside Gold Coast powerhouse Beau Fermor.
Gilbert last played for the Maroons in game one of the 2023 series in Adelaide when a shoulder dislocation ended his season. A subsequent ACL rupture ruled him out of the 2024 series.
The 24-year-old made his Origin debut in 2022 at Suncorp Stadium off the bench in the decider when the Maroons triumphed.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Two wins from two Origin appearances is a good start, but Gilbert wants more.
“I missed it heaps,” Gilbert said of his Origin absence.
“In (2023) I got injured and didn’t get to play out the series, which was a huge goal of mine, and to win a series playing all games (would be) massive.
“Last year I missed all of it and they lost, so that was definitely hard to watch as it was for any Queenslander.
“If I got the opportunity I’d take it with two hands and it’s my ambition to play for Queensland and win a series with them as a player.
“The biggest thing now is how I play for the Dolphins and that will contribute to those goals.”
Gilbert, who said he was “100 per cent ready” for the Origin cauldron, can play second-row or as a middle forward which is a huge asset in representative football.
“It doesn’t matter to me too much,” he said.
“I actually did that role up at the Cowboys before I left, so I really enjoyed playing back-row and moving into the middle.”
Gilbert just wants to fire against the second-placed Warriors on Saturday afternoon at Suncorp Stadium.
The Dolphins are eight competition points behind the Auckland-based outfit and must win to keep in touch with the top eight.
with AAP
