Canterbury general manager Phil Gould has made the extraordinary claim that Reed Mahoney has been victimised following the backlash to his dog shot on Sharks utility Dan Atkinson.
Mahoney escaped suspension and was only fined for his controversial tackle on a prone Daniel Atkinson in the second half of their win over Cronulla on Saturday when collected the young utilty in the head with his arm and triggered a scuffle.
The Bulldogs antagonist raised eyebrows after the game when he described the incident as ‘Bulldogs footy’ and accused Atkinson of exacerbating the contact.
“If someone’s laying on the ground, I’m not going to just lay on him,” he told Fox League. “This is a tough sport, mate. If you’re going to carry on like that … It’s Bulldogs footy. We’re tough, it’s what we do.”
Mahoney avoided a ban for the incident, the Atkinson tackle deemed grade 1 dangerous contact by the match review committee, earning him an $1800 fine, which was doubled for an earlier high shot on prop Toby Rudolf.
Phil Gould. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)7
When asked why the Bulldogs hooker was sanctioned, Gould on his Six Tackles With Gus podcast claimed: “Because it was Reed Mahoney.
“He’s one of the most committed and courageous players I have seen. He’s a small man and the quantity of work that he gets through in 80 minutes every week is extraordinary.
“He’s very competitive and constantly on the front-foot and looking for a way to influence the game. Every now and again it sails close to the wind, but he’s done a lot of work on his discipline and he doesn’t want to let his team down.
“Reed Mahoney gets targeted by opposition coaches, players, fans and he gets targeted by the media and they scream at the referees to target him. A lot of it is unwarranted.
“Every now and then he has a bit of a slip-up, but it doesn’t make you a bad person or a bad thing and what he did the other night, there wasn’t much in it at all. But because it’s Reed Mahoney, it creates headlines.”
Walsh relishes Ponga rivalry
Reece Walsh is in a battle with Kalyn Ponga for the Queensland fullback spot and the Newcastle magician is a source of inspiration for the Brisbane No.1 to lift his game as he targets an Australian debut.
Walsh is the incumbent Maroons custodian but Knights talisman Ponga has been in red-hot form to start the season and is breathing down his neck.
“Every time you watch KP go out there and run out, he’s inspirational,” Walsh said ahead of Saturday night’s home clash with Wests Tigers at Suncorp Stadium.
“I’ve been watching him since I was a kid coming through school and to be in those conversations with him (Origin selection), it’s pretty amazing.”
Walsh, who has played five State of Origin games for Queensland, has Indigenous and Maori background but ahead of the NRL’s multicultural round he said he was not tempted to seek to qualify to play for New Zealand in future.
“My heart was always pretty set on Australia and Queensland. I grew up here and I always wanted to represent that side,” Walsh said.
Reece Walsh. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
“I do love that Māori side of where we’re from and I’m still learning a lot .
“But it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do as a kid; play for Queensland and Australia.
“First of all, I have just got to keep turning up here for the Broncos and working hard.”
Walsh started the Origin decider against NSW last year and Ponga, who has eight Origins under his belt, came off the bench. It didn’t work the way coach Billy Slater would have wanted and the Maroons lost.
In the next six weeks the duo will stake their claims for the role as Queensland starting fullback. Australia will also embark on an Ashes tour at the end of the year when Walsh will be in the frame.
The Broncos’ custodian has won praise from coach Michael Maguire for his defensive mindset this year despite his attack being awry in the opening four rounds.
He has been vocal in the defensive line with his organisational work and has put his body on the line.
“For sure, I feel like I’ve put myself in better positions this year defensively-wise,” Walsh said.
“My work at the back … it’s improving each week and that’s probably something that I haven’t had in my game too much, but I think it comes back from the hard pre-season that we had.
“There is a lot of running, a defensive mindset and I think that’s something that I’m incorporating in my game, having that defensive mindset level on top of that attack.”
Hughes a chance, Pezet a goner
Jahrome Hughes will be given until the last minute to prove his fitness for Melbourne as the Dally M Medal winner eyes a rapid recovery from a fractured hand.
Hughes has been named in the Storm’s extended squad for Sunday’s round-five trip to face Manly after missing last week’s shock loss to St George Illawarra.
The New Zealand international only sustained the injury in the Storm’s narrow round-three win over Penrith, but will potentially be available to take on the Sea Eagles.
“Jahrome has progressed quickly from his hand injury,” football boss Frank Ponissi told the Storm’s website.
“Our medical staff came to us earlier this week and reported that he might be available for Sunday. There’s still some work to do before that becomes reality.
“Jahrome will need to train with the squad over the next two days and then a selection decision will be made on Saturday morning.”
The potential return of the New Zealand international is offset by news rising Storm playmaker Jonah Pezet has suffered a fresh knee injury.
Pezet, 22, is seen as a long-term playmaker for the Storm but missed most of last year with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
The luckless halfback will undergo stabilising surgery after failing to finish Saturday’s NSW Cup for Storm feeder club North Sydney.
Jonah Pezet is tackled. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Pezet will miss up to three months of action.
“Jonah played 40 minutes for the Bears and did really well in his first game back in nearly a year,” Ponissi said.
“I want to give Jonah a massive wrap for the manner in which he has managed this latest setback.
“He’s remained positive throughout and will work hard to get himself back playing.”
with AAP
