Source : ABC NEWS
Newcastle forward Asu Kepaoa has been referred directly to the NSW Rugby League judiciary for allegedly making a homophobic slur in a NSW Cup game.
The former Wests Tigers forward was sent from the field just before half-time in the Knights’ reserve-grade defeat of St George Illawarra on Friday.
He has until midday tomorrow to enter a plea ahead of Wednesday night’s hearing.
Players are typically referred directly to a judiciary hearing for the most serious offences, or those for which an exact appropriate punishment is not immediately clear.
While playing for the Warriors’ NRL side in 2022, Marcelo Montoya notably received a four-game ban for using a homophobic slur against North Queensland winger Kyle Feldt.
Kepaoa has played 43 NRL games, all for the Tigers between 2020 and 2024.
Latrell Mitchell suffers another injury setback
NSW Blues hopeful Latrell Mitchell is set to miss South Sydney’s last game before teams are picked for the State of Origin decider after suffering a fresh injury.
Latrell Mitchell is set to miss this Thursday’s match between the Rabbitohs and Eels. (Getty Images: Hannah Peters)
The superstar centre hurt his calf and did not participate in today’s field session after warm-ups in a big blow to his hopes of a NSW recall for Game III in Brisbane on July 8.
Mitchell stretched and performed light drills with the team before leaving the pitch at Heffron Park with a trainer, and later going for scans.
The 29-year-old had told Fox League last night that he was “pushing” to play in round 17, pending the back injury that has sidelined him since round nine.
Souths had initially expected Mitchell would recover within a fortnight and be fit for the State of Origin series opener.
But as his recovery dragged on, Mitchell subsequently telephoned NSW coach Laurie Daley to rule himself out of Game I last month.
The new injury means he is expected to miss Thursday’s clash against Parramatta, with Souths fullback Jye Gray describing it as a “devastating” new setback.
“Devastating that he had to go off,” Gray said after training.
“You just want to see all your teammates get out on the field and not have these injury setbacks. But he we will be back.
“We’re just hopeful, obviously we don’t know how bad anything is at the moment. Obviously devastated for him.”
Kotoni Staggs (Brisbane) and Tolu Koula (Manly) were the centre pairing for the Blues in their 44-24 loss to the Maroons in Game II.
There are a handful of leading options to come into the team if Blues selectors wish to make a change in the centres but opt against taking a chance on Mitchell.
Canterbury’s Stephen Crichton returned from a shoulder problem to kick the game-winning field goal against Manly on Saturday night.
Bradman Best set up a try on his return from a calf injury in Newcastle’s defeat of St George Illawarra and has been excellent in two previous Origin games.
Ruled out of Origin II during camp, Penrith centre Casey McLean is considered unlikely to recover in time for this weekend’s clash with North Queensland.
Bears find new football boss to run NRL roster build
North Sydney Bears boss Gareth Holmes has been tasked with invigorating Perth’s inaugural NRL roster recruitment amid rumours of infighting.
Gareth Holmes has been appointed general manager of football for the incoming Perth Bears. (Supplied: Perth Bears)
Holmes was announced as the club’s new general manager of football today after David Sharpe left the role in April.
Sharpe’s style reportedly ruffled a few feathers with chief executive Anthony De Ceglie, but inaugural coach Mal Meninga, who was crucial in getting Sharpe to the Bears, was quick to dismiss the rumours.
Holmes’s most pressing task will be building the expansion club’s inaugural roster ahead of their 2027 entry into the NRL.
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Perth has yet to find a marquee player and suffered a demoralising blow when the club and Meninga were this month fined $40,000 for breaches of the league’s anti-tampering rules.
The fines relate to media comments made by Meninga about the Bears’ hopes of signing Penrith star Nathan Cleary and Canterbury duo Matt Burton and Jacob Preston.
Holmes reunites with Meninga after managing the NRL elite programs, which included the Kangaroos.
Serving as the North Sydney Bears’ chief executive for five years, Holmes also has three decades of experience in senior management roles at Parramatta, Manly and Canterbury.
In a club statement, Holmes said the Perth Bears were “something genuinely special”.
“This is an incredibly exciting opportunity, and one I haven’t taken lightly given what North Sydney means to me and to rugby league history,” he said.
“I am looking forward to working with Mal and the team to build elite pathways and a high-performance culture from the ground up.”
The Bears’ only signing with Origin experience is Siosifa Talakai, who played two games for NSW in 2022.
Their only premiership players so far are Penrith bench forwards Liam Henry and Scott Sorensen.
AAP
