‘Impossible to ignore’: How Benji flipped awkward script on Ciraldo; Eels’ $1.3m Origin fury
Here’s a hypothetical for Wests Tigers fans to ponder when basking in the Bulldogs’ debacle that just goes from bad to worse: If the Tigers had their time over, would they still want their club to chase Cameron Ciraldo ahead of Benji Marshall like they did four years ago?
Watch every game of every round of the NRL Premiership LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports |WHAT'S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au. Even a year ago the careers of Ciraldo and Marshall were heading in completely different directions until Lachlan Galvin became the meat in the sandwich.
And Benji was a former champion player considered completely out of his depth in the wake of Galvin’s controversial exit. Suddenly it’s Ciraldo, not Benji, under the blowtorch. The Tigers head into Sunday’s game against the Panthers sitting 10th on the ladder _ and somewhat still in control their own finals destiny after beating the Bulldogs last weekend.
Meanwhile, Ciraldo’s Dogs _ top of the table this time last year when Galvin arrived _ are now 14th and fighting to save their season when they take on Parramatta on Monday.
‘Telling’ reality behind shock Roosters call; the words that may ‘haunt’ GalvinIf Galvin’s departure was damaging to Benji’s reputation at the time, what has happened since has been the ultimate response. And to put it in further perspective, remember that when the Tigers were looking for a replacement for Michael Maguire, they also chased Ciraldo relentlessly. And when Ciraldo knocked them back, the Tigers went after him again.
But Ciraldo didn’t want a bar of it _ deciding to stay at the Panthers as an assistant under Ivan Cleary until the right opportunity presented itself. Everyone then expected the story would only end one way following Galvin’s arrival.
Instead, Benji has somehow brought his squad closer together despite the attacks on his reputation, with camaraderie we haven’t seen at the Tigers since Tim Sheens was in charge for his first stint, when Benji was himself the game’s next big thing. Yet you compare that to the Dogs where pressure is mounting on everyone by the week, not least of all Ciraldo, Galvin and Gould.
And while no one likes to see a 20-year-old relentlessly booed every time he touches the ball, it is also difficult to be overly critical of Tigers fans given the circumstances surrounding Galvin’s departure last year. Yet for mine even more concerning was the decision from his own skipper Stephen Crichton to knock back the captain’s challenge after Gavlin had appealed for the stripped ball.
It got worse when the on-field audio was revealed on NRL 360 during the week that highlighted how the Tigers players had sledged their former teammate: “Lachie, he doesn’t trust you. ”You can only imagine the embarrassment that would have had on Galvin on the back of the constant boos he’d copped all game.
Then came Ciraldo’s post-match media conference where he ripped into the match officials over a number of contentious decisions that most considered 50/50 calls at worst. It just looked like another obvious attempt from an under-fire coach to try and divert attention away from the real story. And yet what it revealed was a coach who was also struggling to handle the scrutiny that has come with arguably the most controversial player swap of the modern era.
Meanwhile, Marshall has never looked more comfortable as his coaching stocks continue to rise as players like Terrell May re-sign and publicly declare they want to align themselves with Benji. As for Galvin, if only he could have his time over, maybe he would have made different choices. It’s probably easier to just blame the refs. It was good to hear Reece Walsh admit this week that he hasn’t been playing to the standards required to wear the Queensland jersey.
The Broncos desperately need Walsh to rediscover his best against the Titans this weekend because if they don’t, the season will be effectively done by the first weekend of June. What is puzzling is why it always seems to take the Broncos getting to this point before they want to roll up their sleeves. Brisbane lost four straight and looked gone before suddenly hitting the go button and charging all the way to a premiership.
The point I want to make here is that Walsh could do worse than study one of his fullback rivals, Dylan Edwards. But because Edwards has mastered the art of just going out and working his absolute butt off every game, every carry and every tackle. And watching Edwards against the Warriors last weekend was a reminder of why he has become one of the most respected players of his generation.
Because there were no miracle plays that came because of his God given flair_ it was just his relentless work ethic that made its own luck. He just looked like a player determined to prove that he belonged back in the Origin arena _ even though Edwards would have also known that he was absolutely no chance of getting the NSW fullback spot back from James Tedesco. We all know that Walsh has all the talent in the world.
$1.3 MILLION REASONS PARRA FANS CAN BE FILTHY ABOUT MOSES’ ORIGIN CALL UP Here’s $1.3 million reasons why Parramatta fans have every right to be filthy about the potential call up of Mitchell Moses for NSW in State of Origin II. But because the Moses situation has the potential to blow up not only on the Blues, but the Eels as well. In fact, it was described as touch-and-go whether he would play against Newcastle last weekend.
Yet he is still being considered for Origin where it is expected, if he is fit to play, it will mean him getting rushed straight back into the starting team at Ethan Strange’s expense. Because it will also mean Moses would enter the game in Melbourne having not played for 31 days. Particularly when hamstring injuries have a habit of reoccurring at the worst possible moment.
But the even bigger issue for mine is if the injury does reoccur, what will it mean for the club who pays Moses’ salary of a reported $1.3 million-a-season. The Eels may be sitting 15th on the ladder, but their season isn’t over yet. But the reality is he played only 11 games last season _ and just eight the year before that. But if Moses breaks down again during Origin, it won’t just hurt the Blues.
And we are already hearing speculation that Jason Ryles needs a good finish to the season to keep the hounds from his door.
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