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Holbrook: Bulldogs must not seek revenge for Fa'asuamaleaui's Origin attack on Burton
Justin Holbrook has warned his Gold Coast players not to become involved in a tit-for-tat battle with Canterbury rivals seeking retribution on Tino Fa’asuamaleaui for Matt Burton.
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The issue of Fa’asuamaleaui and Burton’s State of Origin scuffle has been thrown into the headlines again this week, with Tevita Pangai vowing to protect his Bulldogs halfback.
Canterbury and NSW players had been angered when Fa’asuamaleaui held Burton in a headlock in Origin III, as Queensland star Dane Gagai landed a flurry of punches to Burton’s head.
But Holbrook claimed on Saturday he was disappointed the issue had come up in the lead-up to the round 19 clash, adamant there should be no flow-on effect from Origin into club football.
“We’ve just got to make sure we keep our discipline,” Holbrook said.
“It has been blown out of proportion. It was an incident in an Origin game, he was breaking up a fight.
“And all of a sudden it has turned into a Bulldogs v Titans battle.
“I am a bit disappointed, I know we are looking at different ways to promote games, but I don’t think that is the right answer.
“I don’t know how you get one back on them the way the game is played these days, that can’t happen. They can try whatever they like, we’ll just play footy.”
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Burton at least received good news on Saturday, with his main attacking weapon Josh Addo-Carr on track to recover from an ankle injury and play at Accor Stadium.
Declan Casey will play fullback with Jake Averillo sidelined by COVID-19, denting his return to form in the No.1 jersey for the Bulldogs.
Gold Coast are a team desperately in needing to find some form.
A loss on Sunday would leave them at risk of being last on the ladder, while Holbrook’s defensive coach Jim Dymock was axed earlier this month.
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Holbrook again pointed to his team’s inexperience as part of their issues, after letting the likes of Jamal Fogarty, Ash Taylor and Mitch Rein go at the end of last year.
The under-pressure Titans coach has identified hooker as the area the club need to boost for next year, with Aaron Booth set to start there again on Sunday and Erin Clark to feature at lock off the bench.
“We’ve got to keep looking hard in that area,” Holbrook said.
“We have said for a few weeks now we want Erin back in that modern-day lock role.
“We have Boothy who is old in age but young in experience.
“We need to strengthen that in the long-term, and it will help Toby (Sexton), Jayden (Campbell) and AJ (Brimson).
Comments on RugbyPass
Pretty good side. Scott Barrett should be the captain. Ethan Blackadder a great choice at blindside. He is going to go from strength to strength having made a couple of starts for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson rates him highly. Perenara could start a no 9.
3 Go to commentsI question and with respect. Was enough done over the last few years to bring through new blood knowing the Whitelocks and co couldn’t last forever. There should have been more done to future proof the team. New squad new coach, he and they weren’t set up well. IMO
6 Go to commentsJacobsen will definitely be in the 23
3 Go to commentsLots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
3 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
6 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
6 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to comments