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Richie Mo’unga joins NSW Blues camp: ‘I’d be worried if I was Queensland’

Richie Mounga of New Zealand looks on during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between New Zealand and Uruguay at Parc Olympique on October 5, 2023 in Lyon, France. (Photo by Craig Mercer/MB Media/Getty Images)

All Blacks assistant coach Leon MacDonald has fired a warning at the Queensland Maroons ahead of Wednesday’s State of Origin decider after the Blues welcomed Richie Mo’unga into their camp earlier this week.

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With the New South Welshman looking to win their first men’s Origin series in three years, coach Michael Maguire called the former All Blacks first five-eighth into camp to help out with some “one-on-one” support.

The Blues were blown away in the opening game of the three-match series 38-10 at Accor Stadium after Joseph Sua’ali’i was sent off less than 10 minutes into the clash. They never recovered with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow starring with a hat-trick in Sydney.

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But after bouncing back in game two with a historic 38-18 triumph at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Blues will already be full of confidence and drive as they look to win back the shield at the cauldron that is Suncorp Stadium.

Add Mo’unga’s influence and the playmaker’s championship pedigree in rugby union, then there’s every reason the Queenslanders should be a bit “worried” as they tackle the pressure of hosting another Origin decider.

“I’d be worried if I was Queensland,” Leon MacDonald told reporters this week.

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“Awesome, he’ll enjoy that. That’s right up his alley, the big games, and him to be involved around those people and having him, he’ll be invaluable for that group.

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“So yeah, good for them. Again, it’s a smart move.”

Mo’unga is not currently eligible for international duty with the All Blacks after signing a multi-year deal with Toshiba Brave Lupus in Japan. The flyhalf made the move away from New Zealand’s after last year’s Rugby World Cup final.

The Crusaders great had won seven Super Rugby titles in as many years before moving to Japan, where Mo’unga famously led the team to a Japan Rugby League One title. For those keeping score, that’s eight titles in as many years.

New Zaland ushered in their new era under Scott Robertson with two wins from as many starts, with Damian McKenzie doing enough in the No. 10 jumper and Beauden Barett providing some serious impact off the bench.

But Mo’unga has hinted at potentially returning to New Zealand early after feeling “FOMO” (fear of missing out) when the All Blacks team was named.

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“I signed for three years with Toshiba and my intentions were, ‘Yep, I’m going to do the three years’,” Mo’unga told Stuff.

“Obviously with Razor coming along and saying he’d love to have me back home, it’s just given me another opportunity to think about where I’m at with my footy.

“I am loving my time in Japan. It’s awesome.

“But then for the All Blacks who have just been named, you get a bit of FOMO and you start to wonder what it would be like if you were in the team playing.

“I feel like I’m in my prime, so having that thought of not being able to play for the best team in your country is really hard to take, but it’s the decision I made heading over to Japan.

“I knew that these are the things that I would have to sacrifice in order to get those experiences with my family and to be refreshed with my footy.

“So, it’s all part of the greater plan.”

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Comments

11 Comments
j
johnz 261 days ago

Richie seems to have a lot of time on his hands. We’ve got Barrett, Savea and Cane freshly back from the Japanese season, all eligible to play for the ABs. How much of a push would it be really to let Richie get laced up? Especially as he’s wondering what to do with himself.

M
MattJH 262 days ago

Excellent! That’s what we want to hear.

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fl 1 hour ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“A succession of recent ex-players going straight back into the game as coaches in their early 40’s would prob be enough to kill it stone-dead. Innovation would die a death.”

Would it? I do think one of the major differences between rugby and most other sports - which we’ve been overlooking - is the degree to which players are expected to lead team meetings & analysis sessions and the like. Someone like Owen Farrell has basically been an assistant coach already for ten years - and he’s been so under a variety of different head coaches with different expectations and playing styles.


“The most interesting ppl I have met in the game have all coached well into their sixties and they value the time and opportunity they have had to reflect and therefore innovate in the game. That’s based on their ability to compare and contrast between multiple eras.”

I don’t doubt that that’s true. But having interesting insights doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be the best able to inspire a team, or the best at managing the backroom staff.


“Wayne Smith winning the WWC in his mid sixties three years ago prob means nothing to you but it meant a lot to him. It took him back to the roots of is own coaching journey.”

I don’t doubt that! But I don’t think coaches should be hired on the basis that it means a lot to them.


“The likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Wayne Bennett and Andy Reid all have a tale to tell. You should open your ears and listen to it!”

I agree! Never have I ever suggested otherwise!

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J
JW 5 hours ago
French bid to poach 109kg 17-year-old dual-code Aussie prospect Heinz Lemoto

Yes that’s what WR needs to look at. Football had the same problem with european powerhouses getting all the latin talent then you’re gaurenteed to get the odd late bloomer (21/22 etc, all the best footballers can play for the country much younger to get locked) star changing his allegiance.


They used youth rep selection for locking national elifibilty at one point etc. Then later only counted residency after the age of 18 (make clubs/nations like in this case wait even longer).


That’s what I’m talking about, not changing allegiance in rugby (were it can only be captured by the senior side), where it is still the senior side. Oh yeah, good point about CJ, so in most cases we probably want kids to be able to switch allegiance, were say someone like Lemoto could rep Tonga (if he wasn’t so good) but still play for Australia’s seniors, while in someone like Kite’s (the last aussie kid to go to France) case he’ll be French qualified via 5 years residency at the age of 21, so France to lock him up before Aussie even get a chance to select him. But if we use footballs regulations, who I’m suggesting WR need to get their a into g replicating, he would only start his 5 years once he turns 18 or whatever, meaning 23 yo is as soon as anyone can switch, and when if they’re good enough teams like NZ and Aus can select them (France don’t give a f, they select anybody just to lock them).

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