NRL Myles in fight for Origin jersey
BRISBANE backrower Matt Gillett has extended an olive branch to Tom Trbojevic after the Broncos copped flak for celebrating the tackle that injured the Manly fullback.
The Broncos forward also admits more- serious injuries will occur if the “tackling in the air” rule is not addressed by the NRL.
Manly chairman Scott Penn hit out at Brisbane amid a chorus of disapproval on social media, after the Broncos posted a tweet and online story, claiming winger David Mead’s tackle that injured the NSW Origin hopeful for up to eight weeks was a “great play”.
The Broncos later apologised and removed the tweet and story from their website.
“As players, you don’t want to see anything like that happen. We feel for Tom,” Gillett said. PAUL Vaughan has booked his flights, but not for a State of Origin camp in Kingscliff.
Despite talk of a NSW callup, Blues adviser Peter Sterling all but quashed suggestions Vaughan’s name would be read out during next week’s announcement for game one.
But the newly re- signed St George Illawarra forward revealed he had other plans anyway, with flights booked to attend a mate’s wedding in Hawaii during the team’s bye next week.
“I’ve actually got one of my best mate’s wedding in Hawaii next week, and my flights are booked,” Vaughan said yesterday.
“If I don’t get picked, I’ll be in Hawaii. Obviously I want to be playing Origin football, it’s always been a dream of mine.
“But it’s a win- win situation I think.” A DEFIANT Nate Myles insists he is not a spent force at Origin level amid calls for the Queensland warhorse to be axed in favour of a new wave of young Maroons forwards.
It is understood Myles will be retained for Origin I as Maroons coach Kevin Walters looks for a senior enforcer to step up for injured prop Matt Scott.
Myles turns 32 in June and is fighting to retain his Maroons jumper after being axed to the bench at Manly, where he is averaging just 36 minutes per game this season.
In nine matches this season, Myles has averaged just 86 running metres per game – well shy of the 150- plus metres expected of the NRL’s elite front- rowers.
But Myles, speaking about his Origin selection hopes for the first time, is adamant he can lift and spearhead Queensland’s quest for an 11th series win in 12 years.
A veteran of 31 Origin matches, Myles will surpass the great Wally Lewis and join Maroons icon Mal Meninga if selected for his 32nd game in the Origin opener on May 31. “I always hope to be there – I know I can do the job,” Myles said.
“Losing Matt Scott from any side is a huge loss. There is no one who can ever cover for Scott, but the exciting thing for Queensland is there’s a lot of great young front- rowers coming through.
“I’d like to think I can be there to help them out. There is enough experience in the Queensland team to keep the side moving forward.”
Maroons legend Gorden Tallis has led the push for generational change but Myles, a member of Queensland’s dynasty since 2006, is set to avoid the axe. Walters is keen to blood Dylan Napa in his starting front row in Origin I and he plans to partner the Maroons’ young buck with Queensland’s old bull.
• Six years after being punted from the Parramatta system, Mitchell Moses will line up in the blue and gold once again this weekend. A drawnout saga over the playmaker’s future came to a close yesterday when the Wests Tigers agreed to immediately release the 22- year- old to the Eels.