Maroons resigned to losing Taylor

Updated June 27, 2011 21:17:00

Queensland coach Mal Meninga says he is "not shocked" Maroons forward David Taylor has been cited by the NRL match review committee, putting him in doubt for State of Origin III.

Taylor is in danger of missing the biggest match of his career after copping a grade two dangerous throw charge.

He is facing a possible four-match suspension even with an early guilty plea after his tackle on Brisbane prop Scott Anderson in the fifth minute of South Sydney's Friday night match in Perth.

Meninga says he is resigned to playing the series decider on July 6 without Taylor.

"I'm not shocked. We can't do much about it," Meninga said.

"It's a pretty severe grading considering his carry over points and loading.

"It could be very difficult to defend and get him off."

Meanwhile, Maroons legend Arthur Beetson has called on the judiciary to show Taylor the same leniency afforded Blues' winger Akuila Uate before State of Origin II.

Beetson let fly, saying Taylor is potentially Queensland's X-factor and the Blues clearly want him out of the encounter

"Uate got off, and he (Taylor) should get off," Beetson said.

"There's no difference between them. Uate's was worse if, he had his hand between the guy's legs.

"Nothing's changed. I can go back years. It's still the same old story. New South Wales are running things and nobody is accountable."

- AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-league, nrl, state-of-origin, brisbane-4000

First posted June 27, 2011 20:31:00

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Hornby unfazed about losing top spot

Posted June 14, 2011 21:45:00

St George Illawarra skipper Ben Hornby says the NRL-leading Dragons are unconcerned about the prospect of losing top spot with defeat on Friday in Brisbane.

Wayne Bennett's depleted side lost only its second game of the season to struggling Gold Coast last Friday, with six players sidelined due to State of Origin and three more missing through injury.

Defeat to the Broncos and wins for Manly and Melbourne could see the Dragons slip to third on the ladder.

Jamie Soward, Beau Scott, Mark Gasnier, Darius Boyd, Trent Merrin and Ben Creagh have all been named in the side to face the Broncos, just 48 hours after playing in Origin II in Sydney.

Hornby admitted preparations for Bennett's return to Lang Park had been hit hard with so many key players missing from training, but believed the defending premiers were tough enough to get a result.

"We're not concentrating on losing top spot. We just want to go up there and play well, but it is a difficult time of the year for us," he said.

"We don't know which blokes will get through Origin, but they are in a similar sort of boat so we will see what happens.

"There is nothing we can do about Origin. We just have to tough it out.

"Last year, we didn't have as many blokes involved as we have this year. It's going to be a challenge for us, but we will be up for it."

Despite losing to the Titans at Kogarah, Hornby said the opportunity for the joint venture's young guns to shine was a positive to take from the 28-14 result.

"We're just trying to put it behind us. With so many changes, it's hard to get the combinations together. We were quite happy with how we played, but let ourselves down in defence a little bit," he said.

"It's always good to see the young blokes get a chance. A lot of them have been waiting a fair while, so it's good to see them go out there and play well."

- AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-league, nrl, australia, nsw, kogarah-2217, wollongong-2500, qld, brisbane-4000

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