‘They turned my career around’: Maroons rookie’s huge praise for Gus, Ciraldo after Origin debut

Mann: I thought it was all a bit past me | 01:49

Queensland Origin debutant Kurt Mann has credited Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo and general manager of football Phil Gould with reviving his career.

Mann made a solid contribution for the Maroons off the bench against the Blues in game two in Perth, providing a try assist and a line break assist.

He was named 18th man for the Maroons in game one in Brisbane, but didn’t play any minutes.

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Speaking in the sheds after the Maroons’ heart-stopping 26-24 win at Optus Stadium, Mann, now on the wrong side of 30, said he thought the opportunity to play Origin had disappeared.

“I kind of thought it was all a bit past me,” Mann said.

“I’m no spring chicken, I’m 32.

“I thought it was long gone, my chances of playing Origin.”

Mann joined the Bulldogs at the start of the 2024 season, and has played a huge part in the club’s resurgence, which saw Canterbury last year reach the finals for the first time since 2016, and this season are leading the competition after 15 rounds.

“Just the credit to the program they run at the Bulldogs,” Mann added.

“Ciro, Gus, all the assistant coaches there, they’ve turned my career around.”

Mann was thrilled with the experience of playing Origin for the first time.

“It was everything I expected, and more. The atmosphere when you run out, it’s electric,” Mann said.

“It’s hard to explain, unless you really play it. Loved every minute of it.”

Queensland skipper Cameron Munster, who was named man of the match in his first game as Maroons captain, revealed he was nervous when the Blues turned a 20-point halftime deficit into just a two-point deficit, scoring four unanswered tries in the second half.

“Oh yeah, there was definitely doubts. There was no doubt about that,” Munster added.

“It was one of those things where you’re like, ‘oh, surely not’.

“But we just dug deep, found a way, and it ended up going our way.”

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Munster proud of the Maroons' resilience | 02:42

Munster wasn’t keen to say much about Billy Slater’s war of words with Aaron Woods in the build up to the game in Perth.

After Woods called Slater a “grub”, the Maroons coach apologised publicly on Wednesday morning after referencing the death of former Maroons coach Paul Green, in his response to Woods at a press conference the previous day.

“It’s probably not my place to talk about that,” Munster said.

“At the end of the day, look, everyone has a media role. Like Billy talked about, it’s a privilege to be in that role.

“Obviously comments and stuff, people are trying to make obviously headlines and stuff and it’s not my place to say.

“It’s above my pay grade. I’m just out here playing footy.”

Maroons fullback Kalyn Ponga said Slater’s reaction to Woods’ comments was authentic.

“We didn’t really look at it or address it as a team,” Ponga said.

“I think Billy’s response was genuine.

“I don’t know if he was trying to motivate us, or whatever. I think he was just very genuine about his response.

“But we stick with our coach, we stick together as Queenslanders and we look forward to game three.”

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