‘Something’s going to give’: Ricky fumes at draw; NRL’s stunning 118-year crowd first looms — Daily

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart has blamed an injury to star player Simi Sasagi on the club’s draw, which has seen them play four games in two and a half weeks.

Sasagi has been arguably the form centre of the competition in the opening months of the season, but succumbed to a hamstring injury that ruled him out against the Tigers.

Watch every game of every round of the Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on FOX LEAGUE, available on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

Stuart was disappointed for Sasagi and took issue with the NRL putting such a heavy workload on his players in such a short space of time.

“It’s disappointing we have had a very heavy load over the last 18 days,” Stuart said.

“This is our fourth game in two and a half weeks basically, so something is going to give and it did with Simi.

“I have had to lighten up the loads this week with all the travel we have had and then the short turnarounds.

“We have really lightened our load and trying to look after them physically.”

Stuart was pressed on whether the short turnarounds directly impacted Sasagi’s injury.

“You are better off asking our sports scientists to get a proper answer on that, but I just know that I have had to lighten their loads this week because of the drain,” Stuart said.

MORE NRL NEWS

TALKING PTS: Blunt reality in awkward halves headaches; ‘ugly’ fear in Dragons call

$50 STITCH-UP: Leichhardt miracle, simple two-word rule - Ricky’s inner-sanctum

‘LOVE A GLAMOUR SIGNING’: Roosters linked to bold Cleary double play

ENTIRE ROUND SET FOR SELL-OUT IN 118-YEAR FIRST

The NRL is tracking for it’s first sold out round in the 118 year history of the game in Round 8, with all but one ANZAC Day weekend clash sold out.

The Daily Telegraph reported all but the Cowboys’ clash with the Sharks are sell-outs, with 3,000 more tickets to be sold to achieve a first sold-out round outside of Magic Round in the game’s history.

Round 8 kicks off with a ground capacity sell-out at Leichhardt Oval for the Tigers’ clash with the Raiders.

Meanwhile, sellouts are set to be announced in Brisbane, Sydney, Newcastle, Melbourne, Wellington in New Zealand and hopefully finally Townsville.

Magic Round aside, which is played at the one venue, rugby league has never sold-out every game in a single round at eight different venues.

It’s hoped that a final push for ticket sales and walk-ups will help the 25,000 seat Queensland Country Bank Stadium sell-out and complete a historic NRL crowd grand slam.

“We’re very proud to be able to kick-off the weekend and host the early game on Friday night, which leads into a big day on Saturday with Dawn Service and then the parades,” Cowboys football CEO Micheal Luck said.

“Hopefully as many people as possible get here and celebrate the start of what hopefully is a wonderful weekend.”

If the Cowboys’ clash with the Sharks is a sell-out, it will mean 260,000 fans will flock to NRL games in Round 8.

NRL crowds are up 7.1 per cent year-on-year - 1,203,253 this year compared 1,123,381 after Round 7 last year.

“The first two months of the season have been exciting and unpredictable, and fans are loving it,” NRL CEO Andrew Abdo said.

“Attendances and TV viewership are both up more than seven per cent on last season after an amazing start in Las Vegas.

“With several venues on track to sell out this Anzac round, it’s shaping up as another huge weekend.”

Click here to read article