NRL to refund tickets

BRISBANE: Queensland’s historic NRL grand final will be played in front of a capped crowd of 39,000 due to tightening Coronavirus (Covid-19) restrictions.
The National Rugby League (NRL) has confirmed that 25 per cent of fans who purchased tickets to Sunday’s Rabbitohs-Panthers sold-out decider would be automatically refunded on a “first in” basis from when tickets were purchased.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced the return to stage-two Covid-19 restrictions across areas of South-East Queensland, including Brisbane and the Gold Coast, as well as Townsville yesterday.
Both grand final teams have been placed back under level-four biosecurity protocols as of 6pm on Wednesday.
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo acknowledged the disappointment that around 13,000 fans now face exclusion as he explained the refund process for Suncorp Stadium’s first NRL grand final.
“We had two allocations of grand final tickets. The first was to the general public and the second was aimed at fans of both grand final teams,’’ Abdo said.
“The fairest way to determine who can attend the game is by prioritising the first 75 per cent to purchase tickets in each allocation. Any fan who no longer wants to attend will also be able to access a refund.
“I want to acknowledge fans who will now miss out on attending the grand final.
“I know you had been counting down the days to a once in a lifetime experience and this will be difficult news to take, but this decision is out of our hands.”
Fans attending the decider will also be required to wear masks as per government restrictions.
“This will be difficult news to take, but this decision is out of our hands,” Abdo said.
Six new locally acquired cases have sparked the increased measures that will come into effect for two weeks from 4pm on Thursday, with Townsville also included after a positive case was detected in the city. – NRL

Cook reflects on 2014 ahead of Sunday’s decider

BRISBANE: Damien Cook has reflected on the “50-50” call to leave him out of Canterbury’s 2014 grand-final side as statistics reveal how important unlocking his potent running game will be in Sunday’s National Rugby League (NRL) decider.
The South Sydney hooker’s battle with opposite number Api Koroisau shapes as a crucial one at Suncorp Stadium.
And it could easily have been their second grand-final duel if Des Hasler had not picked playmaker Moses Mbye instead to replace injured Bulldogs No.9 Mick Ennis for the decider.
Koroisau too was plucked to start for the injured Issac Luke, the Penrith livewire now hunting a second title after being part of Souths’ breakthrough 30-6 defeat of Hasler’s Bulldogs.
All week Hasler was at his cagey best regarding Ennis’s replacement and Cook, who had played just four NRL games in total and two that season, remembers it well.
“I remember when Mick got injured it was 50-50 I reckon, the chances of me playing,” the 30-year-old told AAP.
“Throughout the year, if Mick went down I was next one in.
“But going into a grand final, I think I’d only played two games all year.
“Moses had played maybe 15 in the centres and half.
“Looking back now it was the right decision to make, putting him in there.
“I was very grateful to be part of that side, it was an exciting season and now I get to play on this Sunday, so all good.”
There’s no debating the New South Wales Origin hooker’s place in this team, Cook’s potent running game a feature of a Souths spine that has tormented defences all season.
But it’s that facet of the Rabbitohs’ game Penrith have been able to curb in recent times.
In four consecutive losses over the 2019-20 seasons, Cook twice didn’t run the ball at all and on the other occasions managed just one and four runs for six and 31 metres respectively. – AAP

Paulo playing grand final alongside childhood hero

BRISBANE: Most young footballers want to follow in the footsteps of Benji Marshall, but few have done it as specifically as Jaxson Paulo.
The South Sydney winger, 21, will play alongside Marshall on Sunday in the National Rugby League grand final against Penrith.
It’s been 16 years since Marshall was last there, at a similar age to Paulo, starring in Wests Tigers’ 2005 win over North Queensland.
Both born in New Zealand, they moved to the Gold Coast at a young age and played for Nerang, went to school at Keebra Park State High School and headed to New South Wales for a shot at the big time.
Paulo’s uncle Paul Rauhihi as well as other childhood heroes Johnathan Thurston and Matt Bowen were in action that day, but Paulo’s heart was taken.
“Watching that year when I was really young, it’s what made me love the game,” he told AAP.
“Benji oh yeah, he’s been an idol since I grew up … since he arrived at Souths this year I’ve discovered we’ve grown up the same sort of way.
“Same junior club, same school … it’s pretty crazy.
“Getting to know him and understanding what he’s about, it’s one of the best things ever.”
A product of Gold Coast’s development system, Paulo doesn’t regret leaving when Souths called.
“I was still young, 18 I think, and just had a few boys ahead of me at the Titans, just wasn’t ready at that stage,” he said.
“Footy wise it was the best option for me and looking at it now I don’t think I would’ve got the same opportunities that I did.”
Josh Mansour’s injury has opened a permanent spot on the wing, with Paulo famously backpeddling over the line for a try in their preliminary-final win over Manly.
In just his second season Paulo is doing his best to savour the moment.
“When I first moved down I had guys like Greg Inglis, Sammy Burgess, John Sutton in the locker room, I didn’t know what was happening,” he said.
“And on the weekend when Benji caught the ball and had a bit of room he did a big goosie (step).
“It was like I was watching in slow motion, thinking ‘oh he’s going to make something crazy happen here’.” – AAP

Luke attending title decider as rep of former Rabbitohs

BRISBANE: Issac Luke will represent every past Rabbitohs player and the links to the club’s 21 premierships, two-year fight for existence and transformation since readmission when he rings the 1908 foundation bell before Sunday night’s grand final.
The bell, which South Sydney co-owner Russell Crowe successfully bid A$42,000 (about K100,000) to buy in 1999 at a fundraising auction for the club’s fight against expulsion from the competition, has only been rung twice since their return.
“It is just a rule with that bell.
The bell gets no use, it doesn’t even get seen by anybody, unless it’s a situation where South Sydney is in a grand final,” Crowe told NITV’s on Wednesday night.
“Issac will represent all of the past players, the John Suttons and everyone else who can’t make it to Queensland. “There wouldn’t be a single South Sydney player, whether they played with him or not, who wouldn’t understand and appreciate and support the selection of Issac Luke as the man to ring the foundation bell.” – NRL

Arrow aims to repay South Sydney, Bennett’s faith

BRISBANE: South Sydney forward Jai Arrow honestly doesn’t know where he would be right now if it wasn’t for the support of his National Rugby League (NRL) coach Wayne Bennett.
Arrow was kicked out of Queensland’s State of Origin camp earlier this year in disgrace after sneaking a woman into the Maroons’ hotel in a breach of biosecurity protocols.
The incident led to Arrow being banned from the final game of this year’s series and fined A$35,000 (about K87,000) but also left the 26-year-old ashamed and embarrassed.
It could have left his first season at the Rabbitohs in tatters but Arrow said Bennett’s backing was vital in keeping his head in the game and ensuring he played a vital role in Souths’ charge to Sunday’s NRL grand final against Penrith in Brisbane.
“He was unbelievable. If I didn’t know Wayne Bennett, I really don’t know how it all would have panned out,” Arrow told AAP. “I’d obviously spoken to him on the phone and he reiterated, and the club reiterated, that they were backing me and going to look after me — do what they could to get me through this.
“They did that and I can’t thank them enough for it.”
Having joined Souths from hometown club Gold Coast with the stated aim of winning a premiership, Arrow is now doubly motivated heading into this weekend’s decider.
With Bennett to leave the Rabbitohs after Sunday’s game, Arrow feels it’s a chance to repay the faith shown in him by the veteran coach by doing all he can to secure the 71-year-old an eighth premiership.
“You wouldn’t read about it if that happened and it would definitely be a dream come true,” he said.
“I’m definitely going to get myself in the right state mentally and emotionally to do all I can to do my job for the team.
“I have no doubt, I have all the faith in the world that all 16 boys next to me will do their job.
“We’re going to go out there, we’re going to put on a good show and enjoy it.”
Arrow’s father, based on New South Wales’ Central Coast, won’t be able to witness his son’s first NRL grand final appearance due to border restrictions but the fact the game is in Brisbane will allow several other members of his family to be in the stands at Suncorp Stadium. – Yahoo Sports Australia