Queenslander
28-05-06, 08:50 AM
Tonga blow for Maroons
By Andrew Dawson
May 28, 2006
QUEENSLAND'S slender grip on this season's State of Origin series loosened further last night after Bulldogs centre Willie Tonga sustained a hamstring injury in his team's 25-6 loss to Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.
With Queensland already depleted of centres and wingers, Tonga was a near certain selection to replace Justin Hodges (hamstring) in the second interstate match.
But Tonga did not return after halftime and he and Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes fear the worst.
Tonga said he felt his hamstring strain in the warm-up and it worsened after a kick, leaving him to basically rule himself out of the second Origin.
"I've done my hammy a couple of times and when I get that feeling I know that something's up," Tonga said.
"If I'm going to do it, I'd rather do it on the field trying to help the boys.
"When I came in and did the strength test afterwards, they said three-to-five weeks. So I think Origin is out of the question."
Shaun Berrigan's excellent form at centre last night would have marginally cushioned the bad news surrounding Tonga, but a man of Tonga's size would have been handy to help combat the New South Wales three-quarter line.
Broncos coach Wayne Bennett said Berrigan was close to Queensland's best player during the week and that he was thrilled to see him continue such form last night.
"Obviously Wednesday has given him confidence and a bit of help," Bennett said.
Brisbane soared to the top of the NRL ladder with captain Darren Lockyer eager to bury the demons from his worst performance for the state side just four days earlier.
After Brisbane had matched the Bulldogs in the bash-up derby down the middle, Lockyer fired the backline in classical fashion to enable the outside backs to flourish.
In between Brisbane's ball movement, mission "halt Willie Mason" was gleefully accepted by Brad Thorn, Corey Parker and David Stagg who reduced the towering Bulldog ball carrier to modest returns. Stagg was particularly courageous against his hulking opponent.
Lockyer was obviously smarting after his role in Queensland's defeat and wanted to leave his fingerprints on the match.
"The past couple of days have been pretty tough," Lockyer said.
"I was keen to get in and I suppose put a few things right.
"In the past couple of days a lot of things go through your mind - the what-ifs. I was just really motivated tonight to get a win."
Asked if he was tired after Friday's admission from Newcastle captain Andrew Johns that he (Johns) was jaded, Lockyer responded: "Teams and individuals are going to go through ups and downs during the year.
"At the moment I am enjoying my footy and intend to play every week.
"I have to be prepared if I go through a flat period to hang in and do the little things every game that the team needs."
In front of 30,589 spectators, Brisbane never lost stride from the opening salvos when three tries were scored in the first 14 minutes.
The club's 300th premiership victory has them on top of the competition after North Queensland's shock loss to Canberra.
Melbourne may crawl over the Broncos by winning today against Penrith at Olympic Park.
But Brisbane's worst result would to be to remain in outright second position.
Down 18-0 at half-time, Reni Maitua inflated his lifeless outfit with a 45th-minute try made possible by Daniel Holdsworth's lofted pass back over his shoulder.
But Broncos winger Tame Tupou doused the recovery just five minutes later when a wonderful off-load by prop Petero Civoniceva had given Lockyer space to allow Tupou to challenge Hazem El Masri in the left-hand corner.
Tupou smashed into El Masri and grounded the ball marginally ahead of taking the corner post. It was the perfect example of how Brisbane had used the width of the field.
Four of Brisbane's five tries came from free-wheeling sideline raids, with halfback and five-eighth standing deep and its men on the outside coming onto the ball at depth and at alarming angles.
The Sunday Mail (Qld)
By Andrew Dawson
May 28, 2006
QUEENSLAND'S slender grip on this season's State of Origin series loosened further last night after Bulldogs centre Willie Tonga sustained a hamstring injury in his team's 25-6 loss to Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.
With Queensland already depleted of centres and wingers, Tonga was a near certain selection to replace Justin Hodges (hamstring) in the second interstate match.
But Tonga did not return after halftime and he and Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes fear the worst.
Tonga said he felt his hamstring strain in the warm-up and it worsened after a kick, leaving him to basically rule himself out of the second Origin.
"I've done my hammy a couple of times and when I get that feeling I know that something's up," Tonga said.
"If I'm going to do it, I'd rather do it on the field trying to help the boys.
"When I came in and did the strength test afterwards, they said three-to-five weeks. So I think Origin is out of the question."
Shaun Berrigan's excellent form at centre last night would have marginally cushioned the bad news surrounding Tonga, but a man of Tonga's size would have been handy to help combat the New South Wales three-quarter line.
Broncos coach Wayne Bennett said Berrigan was close to Queensland's best player during the week and that he was thrilled to see him continue such form last night.
"Obviously Wednesday has given him confidence and a bit of help," Bennett said.
Brisbane soared to the top of the NRL ladder with captain Darren Lockyer eager to bury the demons from his worst performance for the state side just four days earlier.
After Brisbane had matched the Bulldogs in the bash-up derby down the middle, Lockyer fired the backline in classical fashion to enable the outside backs to flourish.
In between Brisbane's ball movement, mission "halt Willie Mason" was gleefully accepted by Brad Thorn, Corey Parker and David Stagg who reduced the towering Bulldog ball carrier to modest returns. Stagg was particularly courageous against his hulking opponent.
Lockyer was obviously smarting after his role in Queensland's defeat and wanted to leave his fingerprints on the match.
"The past couple of days have been pretty tough," Lockyer said.
"I was keen to get in and I suppose put a few things right.
"In the past couple of days a lot of things go through your mind - the what-ifs. I was just really motivated tonight to get a win."
Asked if he was tired after Friday's admission from Newcastle captain Andrew Johns that he (Johns) was jaded, Lockyer responded: "Teams and individuals are going to go through ups and downs during the year.
"At the moment I am enjoying my footy and intend to play every week.
"I have to be prepared if I go through a flat period to hang in and do the little things every game that the team needs."
In front of 30,589 spectators, Brisbane never lost stride from the opening salvos when three tries were scored in the first 14 minutes.
The club's 300th premiership victory has them on top of the competition after North Queensland's shock loss to Canberra.
Melbourne may crawl over the Broncos by winning today against Penrith at Olympic Park.
But Brisbane's worst result would to be to remain in outright second position.
Down 18-0 at half-time, Reni Maitua inflated his lifeless outfit with a 45th-minute try made possible by Daniel Holdsworth's lofted pass back over his shoulder.
But Broncos winger Tame Tupou doused the recovery just five minutes later when a wonderful off-load by prop Petero Civoniceva had given Lockyer space to allow Tupou to challenge Hazem El Masri in the left-hand corner.
Tupou smashed into El Masri and grounded the ball marginally ahead of taking the corner post. It was the perfect example of how Brisbane had used the width of the field.
Four of Brisbane's five tries came from free-wheeling sideline raids, with halfback and five-eighth standing deep and its men on the outside coming onto the ball at depth and at alarming angles.
The Sunday Mail (Qld)