Dragons knock back bid for Su’A to join Parramatta this season

Parramatta-bound forward Jaydn Su’A will remain at St George Illawarra for the rest of the season after the Dragons decided against releasing him early to the Eels.

The Queensland State of Origin representative last month agreed to join Parramatta on a three-year deal from next season.

The injury-riddled Eels had designs on bringing Su’A to the club before the June 30 transfer deadline to bolster their squad along with Cowboys forward Harrison Edwards, whose arrival they confirmed on Wednesday.

But the Dragons have opted against letting the 28-year-old go early, regarding him as an important asset in their effort to turn around a miserable season.

Su’A is serving a three-game suspension for a shoulder charge on Souths captain Cameron Murray after becoming the first player to be sent off in the NRL for two years.

He won’t be available for Saturday’s match against Newcastle at WIN Stadium or the Dragons’ following game against the Panthers at Suncorp Stadium to close out Magic Round.

But interim coach Dean Young is banking on him to make an impact when he returns later this month.

The last-placed Dragons are coming off the bye and still chasing their first win of the year.

“Obviously, our attack hasn’t been great, which is then leading to our defence not being up to standard. I feel like we’d still defend OK, but if you do too much of it obviously it’s going to fatigue you and then you start leaking points,” centre Valentine Holmes said.

“You give teams like Souths or Newcastle a sniff at your try line, they’re going to put points on you and then that confidence again starts going down and down.

“I feel like when we’re in a streak like this, a losing streak, you try and do the Hail Marys all the time and try and shift the way to the wing.

“But we just need to focus on going through the middle, earning the respect and going out wide and hopefully we can do that.”

Da Silva ready to step up for injury ravaged Eels

Adrian Proszenko

Parramatta hooker Tallyn Da Silva says he is ready to play every minute of every game until fellow dummy half Ryley Smith returns from injury.

Smith lasted eight minutes in the loss to the Warriors before succumbing to a sternum injury that has ruled him out of Friday’s clash with North Queensland in Townsville. It will result in Da Silva starting for the first time for the Eels and mark his fifth occasion as a starting hooker after 40 games in the NRL.

“I wasn’t expecting that to be honest,” Da Silva said after punching out 72 minutes against the Warriors. “I just wanted to try and do a job for the boys.

“Obviously I got a bit sore towards the end, but [I’m happy] putting up with it right now, and looking to back it up again [against the Cowboys].

“Obviously it’s hard seeing one the boys go down the way he did. [Smith] has been playing some good footy as well, so it’s very unfortunate for him. But obviously … I’m gonna have to step up and do a job for the team and I’ll make sure I do that.”

Asked if he was up to the physical demands of playing 80 minutes at hooker, “After [the Warriors game], I can, definitely.

“It was good to get that little hit out, get the cramps and things out of the way, but I think I’m definitely ready for it.”

Smith is part of a bulging Parramatta injury ward that includes Isaiah Iongi, J’Maine Hopgood, Bailey Simonsson, Matt Doorey, Sam Tuivati and Kitione Kautoga. The club secured the services of Cowboys forward Harrison Edwards on an immediate transfer, but not in time for him to be considered for selection against his former club for Friday’s clash in Townsville.

Parramatta’s biggest off-season recruit, half Jonah Pezet, made his way back from a hamstring strain in the NSW Cup. However, he is suspended, giving five-eighth Ronald Volkman another chance to play alongside Mitchell Moses.

“He’s killing it,” Da Silva said of Volkman. “He’s playing his own game, it’s the way Ronnie plays, fast and free flowing. He’s been doing very well, so proud to see him grow.”

Da Silva began his NRL career at Wests Tigers, but switched to Parramatta midway through last season. While it’s been a tough period for the blue and golds, the 24-year-old has no regrets about the move.

“I think it’s been a positive change,” he said.

“Having Brownie [former hooker and Eels assistant coach Nathan Brown] here in the coaching staff, he’s always on me and Riley’s case, trying to make us better players and better people.

“I think I’m learning a lot, I’m sort of changing the way I play as well, so it’s not just run first and head down all the time. It’s about trying to create a bit of momentum and roll the ruck, bring the boys onto the ball and things like that.”

Players rally around Bellamy as Storm look to snap streak against Tigers

Roy Ward

Melbourne Storm star Jahrome Hughes says his teammates have rallied around coach Craig Bellamy following the heartbreaking news that he has been diagnosed with a neurodegenerative disorder.

Bellamy made the news public last week with Hughes among the senior players who received a phone call beforehand from the 66-year-old coach with the shocking news.

Bellamy, who has not specified what condition he is battling, wants to coach out the year and Hughes said he hadn’t seen any change in his mentor’s workrate or coaching style.

“He’s been really good to be fair,” Hughes said on Wednesday.

“He had the news earlier and I know he didn’t want to share the news as he doesn’t want the attention on him.

“He’s doing really well and I don’t see a change in him. He’s exactly the same and, at a time like this, we have to get around him but not too much as he barely likes a handshake when you see him in the morning.

“I still have faith in him to be our coach.”

While Bellamy has yet to speak publicly since the Storm announced his condition, Hughes said the players were making the most of their time with Bellamy who is signed until the end of 2028 but will likely need to reassess those plans.

“I’m probably like, ‘You should go look after yourself and do what’s best for you’,” Hughes said.

“But he’s happy doing this. This is his life and I know he really enjoys being around this group and coaching this group and helping around the boys and we absolutely love it as well.

“To see him sacrifice that stuff at a time when he’s going through tough things – it inspires us.”

The Storm are trying to end a seven-game losing streak when they host Wests Tigers at AAMI Park on Sunday and Hughes agreed the players were making the most of his time with his coach.

“You have to look at it like that now,” Hughes said.

“I’ve been very, very lucky to spend a lot of time with him. I think, with the way he is, he will be able to go forever but it makes it a little more special spending that time with him now.”

Hughes has been named to play against the Tigers after suffering a concussion against South Sydney and playing “one of the worst games of his career”.

Hughes still had to complete some training sessions this week but expects he will be right to play on Sunday.

“I know there is some pressure on us as a spine to perform and I probably had the worst game I have played in my career in that Souths game as I was trying to do too much,” Hughes said.

“Yes, we as a spine have to create stuff but if we try to do everything ourselves, it’s not going to work.”

Addo-Carr hoping chemistry with Mitchell can conjure up Origin recall

Christian Nicolussi

Josh Addo-Carr is optimistic his on-field chemistry with good friend Latrell Mitchell on the left edge can help him win a State of Origin recall and a first NSW appearance since 2023.

Penrith’s Brian To’o will be on one wing for the Blues, while the weekend injury to Mark Nawaqanitawase, who was seen as a leading candidate to replace Zac Lomax on the other flank, has left coach Laurie Daley assessing his options with just two NRL rounds left before he names his squad for game one.

Parramatta flyer Addo-Carr, South Sydney’s Campbell Graham, Panthers try-scoring machine Tom Jenkins, his teammate Casey McLean, who has played on the wing for New Zealand, and Manly’s Tolu Koula all deserve to be in the conversation.

Even Canterbury captain Stephen Crichton has the versatility to play out wide, with his big body ideal for getting the Blues on the front foot to start their sets.

Addo-Carr was a regular for the Blues until the end of the 2023 campaign, after which Lomax – now playing rugby for the Western Force – was preferred.

While the 30-year-old has always been known for his huge personality, which helps lift the mood in representative camps – he was popular during last year’s Ashes tour with the Kangaroos – Addo-Carr has a bond with left centre Mitchell. A left-wing spot would also allow To’o to remain on the right, where he plays each week for Penrith.

Daley knows club combinations and on-field chemistry are a bonus, but also not a deal-breaker when it comes to the final make-up of his side.

“We’re really close outside of footy, and to put the Blues jersey on again with my bruh, it would be an absolute honour,” Addo-Carr told this masthead said about a potential return to the Blues alongside Mitchell, who is now in doubt with a back injury.

“I would love to make some good memories with him, and hopefully lift that shield up. That’s what it’s all about. It’s always the goal to play for NSW. My main focus is getting better every day, which is what ‘Rylsey’ [Eels coach Jason Ryles] speaks about. I’m trying to lead with my actions, and compete on the stuff people really don’t see, and doesn’t require talent.

“I’ve never taken Origin for granted, that’s for sure. It’s a privilege to be a part of that team and arena. If I get the call-up, whatever my job needs to be, I’ll give it a red-hot crack.”

Graham has height and power and the advantage of also slotting into the centres if needed, where he has played for Souths.

The 26-year-old Graham has been in and around NSW camp in recent years and has already played for Australia.

“Every year that’s the goal for me, and it’s no different this year,” he said. “I feel like I’m finding my feet since shifting to the wing, but I feel like I’ve been building.”

While the Blues have a number of stars unavailable because of injury, there was some brighter news with Roosters back-rower Angus Crichton an outside chance of overcoming an MCL injury to be fit for the May 28 series opener in Sydney.

Brutal road run after surgery convinced Ramsey he could make incredible comeback

AAP

An emotional Cody Ramsey has revealed how a joke from a doctor and brutal four-kilometre road run hours after leaving hospital convinced him he could one day return to the NRL.

Ramsey on Saturday night completed the most inspirational comeback of this decade, overcoming a battle with ulcerative colitis to make it back to the top grade.

Called onto the Sydney Roosters’ wing to replace Mark Nawaqanitawase in the 38-24 win over Brisbane, Ramsey hailed his return as “way better” than any debut.

During an agonising 1337 days between NRL games, the winger spent seven months in a hospital bed, lost 27kg and had to learn to eat again. He had his large bowel removed, had to go to the toilet 40 times a day, at one stage fearing it had made his life “unliveable”.

At times Ramsey asked doctors to put him into an induced coma so he could no longer feel the pain, while also dealing with the risk of life-threatening sepsis infections.

An ever-growing family with his partner Tahlia and rugby league remained a beacon of hope, despite the 26-year-old being told by doctors he would never play again. But his outlook changed when a surgeon at Chris O’Brien Lifehouse jokingly asked him to go easy on his Wests Tigers upon his return.

“He was the one cutting me open, doing the reversals,” Ramsey said. “So I was like, ‘If he thinks I’m going to do it, then it’s only up to me. If I can get myself back and myself right and do the right things, then why can’t I do it?’

“If you see a 62kg human being walking around saying he’s going to go play NRL again, it’s very easy not to believe him. But I did. My family did. I could easily not have done it, but I’ve got to live inside my own head for the rest of my life if I didn’t give it a go.”

Ramsey wasted little time in trying to push his cause, at one point tested himself just hours after leaving hospital from one of several operations.

“We’d checked out of hospital, and I just said to my missus, I’m just going to run [four kilometres] to dad’s house,” the Molong product recalled. “And if I don’t do it, I’ll never make it back into football.

“I had a wound on my stomach, my phone in my hand in case something went wrong. I remember as I was running down Dapto Highway, I was 62 kilos. It honestly took me forever. It nearly killed me.

“But once I’d done it, I was like, ‘I can do it’. This condition, it’s so mental. It’s all in your head.”

After noticing something was wrong when he began passing blood on the toilet in 2022, Ramsey returned to St George Illawarra training in May 2024 and played NSW Cup last year before moving to the Roosters.

Even by the point of Saturday night’s return, Ramsey remains 10kg lighter than his 2020 debut as a 20-year-old at the Dragons. All the while, he has convinced himself it is a case of mind over matter.

“For the whole year, I felt like I needed to go to the toilet every time I ran,” Ramsey said. “But I was like, what’s the worst that’s going to happen to me?

“I’m going to shit my pants. That’s it, that’s the worst. And then I didn’t that one training session. And then I didn’t that week. And then I didn’t that month. And then I get into the game, and I didn’t do it. It’s just something in your head that tells you that you’re not going to do it.”

AAP