Author : NSWRL

NSW Wheelchair Rugby League team ready for Origin firestorm

Bring in the hostile crowd – the NSW Wheelchair Rugby League team is ready to take the heat.

The Blues head to Townsville in north Queensland this Saturday for the 2022 State of Origin match and they know they’re heading into a firestorm.

That’s partially because of the 22-12 win by Queensland against the Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues in Game Three of the Ampol State of Origin series at Suncorp Stadium on 13 July.

“The social media since Wednesday night’s Origin win has been massive – ‘If the Queenslanders can do it with a big home crowd then let’s get that for the wheelchair guys too’ – that’s what they’ve been saying,” NSW co-captain Brad Grove said.

“The Queenslanders are already whipping things up. They want a big crowd up there and it sounds like they’ve got it.

“We know what we’re going into. Some of the newer guys might find it a bit tough but it’s a mindset thing – zone it all out and do the job.”

His co-captain and fellow Wheelaroo Craig Cannane said the six Australian members in the NSW Origin side, who have been named for World Cup squad later this year, will receive valuable preparation in Townsville for dealing with hostile fans.

“I told my guys to watch the Origin game at Suncorp Stadium and you’ll see how the players react and lift to the crowd,” Cannane said.

“We’ll be in the same boat – most of the crowd yelling for them.

“And we need to get used to that because our first game in the World Cup is against England – it’s sold out already and no-one will be cheering for us.

“As players we need to deal with that – it’s a challenge.”

The other challenge is more obvious – win back the Origin shield which the Queenslanders claimed in January with a 50-30 victory in Sydney.

“We have to play for 80 minutes,” Cannane said.

“We went try-for-try for 50 minutes last time and then dropped off.

“Queensland stepped up then and they will do it again, so we have to shut down that momentum this time by playing strong defence.

“If we do that then we’re capable of a lot of points ourselves.”

Grove said the NSW side was better prepared for Townsville.

“We’ve had the chance to prepare a bit more together this time around with no lockdowns,” Grove said.

“All the boys have done their fitness stuff, practised hard, so we’ve done pretty much everything we should have done.

“We’ve had the local club comp, then City-Country so we’ve all had far more time in the chairs. I’m more confident this time.

“There’s nothing much we needed to change – just be more prepared, and we are.”

Wheelchair Rugby League is played over two 40-minute halves, with the same points scoring as the running game. The ‘field of play’ is 50-metres in length and 25-metres wide, across three indoor basketball courts.

Rules are similar – players must pass backwards, possession changes after six tackles. A ‘tackle’ is made by ripping off the Velcro shoulder tag of an opposition player, similar to Monarch Blues Tag.

Kicks downfield, conversions, penalties and field goals are hand-punted. A play-the-ball is made by tapping the football on the ground before passing.

Click here to watch the Wheelchair State of Origin.

Queensland won the 1st State of Origin in Sydney (Photo – Steve Montgomery)

NSW Wheelchair Rugby League squad

NSW Wheelchair team from the 1st 2022 State of Origin in Sydney (Photo – Steve Montgomery)

Jason Attard (Wests Tigers)
Cory Cannane (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Craig Cannane (c) (St George Illawarra Dragons)
William Derederenalagi (Parramatta Eels)
Rick Engles (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Brad Grove (c) (Wests Tigers)
Diab Karim (Parramatta Eels)
Liam Luff (Parramatta Eels)
Chris O’Brien (Canberra Raiders)
Toby Popple (Canberra Raiders)

Reserves

Zac Carl (Canberra Raiders)
Edge Iole (St George Illawarra Dragons)

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The post NSW Wheelchair Rugby League team ready for Origin firestorm appeared first on OurFootyTeam.

Author : NSWRL

Rugby League’s greatest rivalry opens another brutal chapter

When people watch Wheelchair Rugby League for the first time, Australian and NSW rep player Brad Grove knows what their reaction will be.

“The first comment we get most often is ‘Why haven’t I seen this before?’,” Grove said.

“Their reaction shows that there’s an appetite for our game out there.”

Those not familiar with the game can watch the live stream on NSWRL TV of the State of Origin between NSW and Queensland from the Whitlam Centre in Liverpool at 2.15pm tomorrow (29 January).

The game has been postponed the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with NSW winning the 2019 interstate clash 52-4.

Unfortunately, due to the current Omicron surge, Saturday’s match is not open to spectators.

But Grove, a veteran of the NSW Blues side as well as a Wheelaroo (an Australian player at the 2013 and 2017 Wheelchair World Cups), encouraged fans to tune into NSWRL TV to have their eyes opened.

“Straight off the bat it’s different,” he said.

“Everyone is used to seeing the men’s and women’s games but when people see our game, they don’t expect us to be able to do the things we can do in a wheelchair.

Saturday’s match is not open to spectators

“After missing the last two years we’re obviously pretty disappointed (there’s no fans) but at least it’s getting streamed. For us the main thing is we get to play.

“All the boys are ready. We’ve got a few new players and lot of experienced guys there so we’re gelling really well – we’re ready to go.”

NSW co-captain Craig Cannane said in 2019 the game not only attracted a large crowd to Sydney Olympic Park but was live streamed as well.

“We had a big audience on live stream, which proves people want to watch us,” he said.

Cannane said the Queensland team had a number of Australian players in their ranks and were coached by England international, Jack Brown.

“Jack is one of the best players in the world and will be back playing for England at this year’s World Cup,” he said.

“He won the Golden Boot award in 2019 so he has experience and familiarity with the game.”

Cannane is also a dual World Cup representative.

the NSW Wheelchair Rugby League team presented with the NSW Blues playing Jerseys before the 2019 State of Origin (Photo : Steve Montgomery)

National selectors will use Saturday’s Origin game as they formulate the Wheelaroos squad for the 2022 World Cup.

The tournament is being played simultaneously with the men’s and women’s tournaments for the first time.

Grove is expecting a more highly competitive game than in 2019.

“The Queenslanders haven’t had the lockdowns we’ve had in Sydney so they’ve had more time to prepare as a group,” he said.

Commentary for the Origin game will be led by Jason Costigan, who has called more than 200 NRL games, mostly on Fox League in Australia and New Zealand’s Sky Television, including the 2002 NRL Grand Final.

Costigan will be joined in commentary by David Nugent, who will be team manager for the Wheelaroos at the World Cup and has an extensive background in Wheelchair Rugby League.

There are five players on court at a time, with the rules a close mirror of the 13-a-side running game but obviously without tackles, scrums, or traditional play-the-balls.

Players must pass backwards, possession changes after six tackles, the ball must be grounded on the try line or in-goal, and the points-scoring system is the same.

Players are tackled similar to OzTag – by defenders removing an attacking players’ velcro tag worn on the shoulders. The “field” is half the size of the running game – 50m x 25m – or across three indoor basketball courts.

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The post 2022 Wheelchair Rugby League State of Origin appeared first on OurFootyTeam.

Author : Colleen Edwards QRL content producer 

Queensland ready to roll for State of Origin match up

This year is shaping up as a huge one for the nation’s best wheelchair rugby league players, with next week’s NRL Wheelchair State of Origin kicking off a busy representative calendar in 2022.

There has been a steady growth in support and exposure for the game during recent seasons and players will be pushing their case for selection in the Australian team.

NSW v QLD face off in the annual interstate clash at the Whitlam Leisure Centre in Liverpool, Sydney, on Saturday, January 29.

The Australian Wheelaroos team will compete in the Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup in England later this year, with the tournament to be played simultaneously with the men’s and women’s tournaments for the first time.

Queensland coach Jack Brown said with improved preparations across the board in the lead-up to this game.

He was confident in a strong showing by his side for the match that was postponed last year due to COVID-19 complications.

“New South Wales have been a tough unit for a very long time now by developing with their long-running domestic leagues,” Brown said.

“It has given them the advantage against Queensland in the past. On the other side, Queensland previously have had literally no preparation leading up to their Origin games.

“This year, they have had full Queensland trials and camps to prepare themselves and have had the time to plan and learn how each individual in their team works.

“It’s safe to say, this is the greatest chance Queensland have had so far, and we’re only getting better.

“The players are some of the most professional individuals I have had the pleasure to work with.

“I’m sure they’re all excited for the chance to represent their country and with the form they are showing in our Queensland sessions now, Brett (Clark – Australia head coach) will be lucky to have any of them in his squad.”

Queensland Wheelchair Rugby League TeamPhoto from the 2019 NRL Wheelchair State of Origin game. Steve Montgomery)

The match with kick off at 3pm AEDT and New South Wales Rugby League plan to livestream the game.

The State of Origin match comes as the sport recently announced their Come, Try and Play project received a major funding boost after being awarded a Sport Australia participation grant.

The grant will help provide more opportunities for people to play wheelchair rugby league.

In Queensland, big strides have already been made in recent years, with Brown happy to see a growth in grassroots competitions which also lead to the inaugural state championships being staged last year.

“I can’t speak for previous seasons as I only arrived in Queensland before the 2021 season.

Having said that, I was involved in the Ashes series between England and Australia in 2019 when there were no domestic level competitions in Queensland,” Brown said.

“Then last season, it hit off with the first leagues in North Queensland and South East Queensland, with some amazing skills on show and heaps of opportunities for juniors and their parents to get involved.

“After this State of Origin and then the World Cup this year, our expectations for growth in the sport are sure to be exceeded.”

‘It’s exciting to be a part of it, with the sport growing”It’s exciting to be a part of it, with the sport growing’

‘It’s exciting to be a part of it, with the sport growing’

Find out more about Wheelchair Rugby League via their website.

Queensland Wheelchair Rugby League 2022 squad

Pete Arbuckle
Shaun Harre (c)
Giles Harris
James Hill
Mathew Lodewikus
Bayley McKenna
Mathew Lodewikus
Zac Schumacher
Adam Tannock

Head coach: Jack Brown
Assistant coach: JJ Atuahiva
Team manager: Jade Brown
Trainer: Peter Angelo-asiga Lee
Interim chair of Queensland: David Nugent

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The post Queensland ready to roll for State of Origin match up appeared first on OurFootyTeam.

Author : NSWRL 

Wheelchair State of Origin has been POSTPONED

Billed as one of the most significant events on the Wheelchair Rugby League calendar, the NSW Blues and Foxville Queenslanders will go head-to-head on 10 July in a highly anticipated clash.

The Wheelchair Rugby League State of Origin match will be held 10 July 2021, Whitlam Centre, 90 Memorial Ave, Liverpool (4pm kick-off, free entry).

The State of Origin match showcases the best representative players as they go head-to-head in this dynamic interstate battle.

A Come N Try event will be held as the precursor to the State of Origin game, in partnership with the West Tigers.

The State of Origin series and the Come N Try event will celebrate the all-inclusive game and allow the community to attend, see how the game is played and give it a go themselves.

“I tell everyone I know to get on board with it. It’s unreal to be a part of, and great to watch!” Wests Tigers captain and Wheelchair Rugby League Ambassador James Tamou said.

NSW Blues – Wheelchair State Of Origin

Brad Grove, Brett Henman, Cory Cannane (AB), Craig Cannane, Diab Karim (AB), Eddie Morgan, Jason Attard (AB), Liam Luff, Rick Engles, Tim Robinson (AB).

Note : (AB) = Able Bodied

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