2013 NRL Discussion

[rhugh89]

Former Gold Coast Titans CEO David May breaks silence

• PETER BADEL
• THE COURIER-MAIL
• JUNE 15, 2013 12:00AM

Former Gold Coast Titans CEO David May. Picture: Jerad Williams Source: Gold Coast Bulletin





DEPARTED Titans CEO David May has broken his silence on claims a rift with club founder Michael Searle forced his exit as Gold Coast's search for his successor goes global.


May stunned many in the NRL with his sudden resignation on Wednesday, less than a year after being appointed to steer the Titans out of a debt crisis.Under May's stewardship, the Titans crawled into the black, recording a "modest profit", and were the only Queensland team in the top eight when he resigned at the mid-point of the NRL season.May cited personal reasons for his swift departure, but The Courier Mailunderstands a strained relationship with Searle was a factor.The disgraced Searle stood down as managing director last July after nearly sending the Titans broke, but he remains an influential voice.ASIC records show Searle is the Titans' largest shareholder, owning 39 per cent of the club's 85,500 shares through GCT Investments Pty Ltd.The other stakeholders are Anshuman Magazine (29.2 per cent) and Darryl Kelly (31.8 per cent), the latter a Titans director alongside Searle.Sources say Searle, by virtue of his shareholding alone, has found it difficult to relinquish control.

That created incessant frustrations for May, who made it clear upon his appointment that he would govern the Titans on his terms.Asked yesterday if a purported fallout with Searle had made his position untenable, May was unequivocal."That's not the reason for me going," he said. "It's really not about issues of personality. If every time in my career I clashed with somebody with a different opinion, I wouldn't have stayed very long in any job."The business I'm leaving is an emotional one for me. A huge amount of me has gone into the last 12 months.''Fellow shareholder Kelly scuppered claims Searle played a role in May's demise. The Titans are now assessing a number of candidates to replace May and have not ruled out an overseas appointment.

"It was David's decision, there were some issues in his personal life and I didn't know how great they were,'' he said.

"Michael has been reasonably good about it. He has mixed roles and we recognise that.

"If there is a decision to made at board level, where he may have a conflict he has withdrawn from voting on those issues.

"If Michael didn't do that he would be jumped on anyway.

"We talked about whether we should bring in an interim CEO, but we'll be progressing as quickly as we can to find a worthwhile replacement for David.

"I have a checklist in my mind, the sort of character we are looking for and the experience we are looking for.
"We are looking overseas at an international array of people we are considering.

"We won't replicate the Canterbury Bulldogs and go through 3500 applications because I wouldn't put myself through looking at so many candidates.''



http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...y-breaks-silence/story-fni3grk4-1226664157643

 

[rhugh89]

Newcastle Knights playmaker Jarrod Mullen makes move in Dally M race

• STAFF WRITERS
• NEWS LIMITED NETWORK
• JUNE 18, 2013 3:59PM

Jarrod Mullen takes the loss to the Storm hard. Source: News Limited

​

NEWCASTLE Knights playmaker Jarrod Mullen has moved to within a point of the Dally M lead following his impressive display against the Storm.


Mullen picked up two points in a losing side as the Knights suffered a narrow 16-14 defeat at AAMI Park.He is on 14 points after 14 rounds, leaving him equal second with Cooper Cronk, who was rested for the weekend's clash.South Sydney Rabbitohs fullback Greg Inglis remains in top spot on 15 points.

ROUND 14 VOTES

Sea Eagles v Bulldogs

3 James Graham
2 Trent Hodkinson
1 Daly Cherry-Evans

Judge: Brad Fittler

Dragons v Cowboys

3 Johnathan Thurston (Cowboys)
2 Glenn Hall (Cowboys)
1 Josh Dugan (Dragons)

Judge: Wally Lewis

Sharks v Eels

3 Beau Ryan (Sharks)
2 Paul Gallen (Sharks)
1 Wade Graham (Sharks)

Judge: Greg Alexander

Rabbitohs v Titans

3 Issac Luke (Rabbitohs)
2 Albert Kelly (Titans)
1 Adam Reynolds (Rabbitohs)

Judge: Gary Belcher

Raiders v Panthers

3 Reece Robinson (Raiders)
2 Josh Papalii (Raiders)
1 Terry Campese (Raiders)

Judge: Ben Ikin

Storm v Knights

3 Cameron Smith (Storm)
2 Jarrod Mullen (Knights)
1 Ryan Hoffman (Storm)

Judge: Brad Fittler

Roosters v Warriors

3 Elijah Taylor
2 Glen Fisiiahi
1 Shaun Johnson

Judge: Brett Kimmorely

Broncos v Tigers

3 Corey Parker (Broncos)
2 Matt Gillett (Broncos)
1 Ben Hannant (Broncos)

Judge: Greg Alexander

DALLY M LEADERBOARD ROUND 14


15 G Inglis (SOU)
14 C Cronk (MEL)
14 J Mullen (NEW)
12 T Carney (CRO)
12 J Sutton (SOU)
11 S Burgess (SOU)
11 J Reynolds (CBY)
11 J Thurston (NQL)
10 C Parker (BRI)
10 C Smith (MEL)
10 R Farah (WTI)
10 D Cherry-Evans (MAN)
10 J Maloney (SYD)
10 A Woods (WTI)
9 A Watmough (MAN)
9 J Waerea-Hargreaves (SYD)
9 M Scott (NQL)
9 D Boyd (NEW)
8 G Bird (GCT)
8 A Kelly (GCT)
9 S Johnson (NZL)
8 J Hayne (PAR)
8 T Campese (CAN)
8 S Thaiday (BRI)
7 P Gallen (CRO)
7 I Luke (SOU)
7 A Reynolds (SOU)
7 J Jackson (CBY)
7 Andrew Fifita (CRO)
7 B Cordner (SYD)
7 A Sezer (GCT)
7 S-B Williams (SYD)
7 T Mannah (PAR)
7 J Tamou (NQL)
6 M Gillett (BRI)
6 F Mateo (NZL)
6 J Idris (GCT)
6 K Foran (MAN)
6 Blake Ferguson (CAN)
6 L Lewis (CRO)
6 B Slater (MEL)
6 L Walsh (PEN)
6 Gareth Widdop (MEL)


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-in-dally-m-race/story-fni3fbgz-1226665756000

 

[rhugh89]

The Mole from RLW has reported the following....

* Rick Stone has put his hand up for the Cowboys coaching job should it become available

* Parramatta want to get rid of Chris Sandow but they can't afford the $1 million payout

* Sam Williams will join the Dragons, Expect announcement soon

* Manly CEO Dave Perry stormed into the press box after the loss to the Buldogs and apparently blasted an NRL official

* Sam Tomkins to the Warriors is a done deal, expect announcement soon

* The Warriors are chasing English Prop Glenn Riley

 

[Joel]

* Rick Stone has put his hand up for the Cowboys coaching job should it become available

... Who would replace him?

 

[Afro Zac]

The Mole from RLW has reported the following....

* Rick Stone has put his hand up for the Cowboys coaching job should it become available

* Parramatta want to get rid of Chris Sandow but they can't afford the $1 million payout

* Sam Williams will join the Dragons, Expect announcement soon

* Manly CEO Dave Perry stormed into the press box after the loss to the Buldogs and apparently blasted an NRL official

* Sam Tomkins to the Warriors is a done deal, expect announcement soon

* The Warriors are chasing English Prop Glenn Riley

Would we want him here

 

[rhugh89]

The NRL is suffering a slew of incidents of bad judgment brought on by excessive alcohol

• PAUL KENT
• THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
• JUNE 20, 2013 12:00AM

Queensland Origin coach Mal Meninga. Picture: Darren England Source: The Courier-Mail

​

MAL Meninga stepped over the line on Tuesday night.


No, literally.Meninga was kicked out of a licensed premises during Queensland's traditional bonding night not for being too drunk, as was suspected yesterday, but because he stepped over a line painted on the floor that was out of bounds for patrons.The question is whether the rest of us have already stepped over that line. It's a question with no easy answer as incidents continue to crash down on the NRL and the line keeps tightening over what is acceptable.A year ago Meninga being kicked out of a pub would have been a story worth no more than a few lines in a gossip column.Five years ago it would have been a celebration of Origin's tapestry - those crazy kids getting themselves battle ready for what lay ahead.But in light of recent dramas it is hard to ignore it, let alone celebrate it. A lot has changed in recent weeks, and significantly, too.Lovers of the game are being worn out defending the NRL against the non-believers as incidents pile up on top of each other.In the past six weeks there have been assault allegations against a woman levelled at an Origin player after a night of drinking. The player denies it.Another Origin player was stood down for high-range drink-driving while unlicensed. He has apologised.Another Origin player faces indecent assault allegations after getting on the drink on Sunday, the night before camp. He is yet to plead.One of the new stars of the game has been charged with wilful damage after a night drinking ended with him putting a street sign through an innocent car.

He has apologised.The common factor in all these incidents is bad judgment brought on by excessive alcohol.Meninga, in the real world, was probably just a victim of bad luck.The Queensland coach said it was an innocent mistake. He absent-mindedly wandered into the service area at a Brisbane pub.There is no answer for how he was supposed to defend himself against such a mistake, but it is also true that it is the last thing the game needed in this climate.Hopefully it is forgotten soon, which is the best we can hope for.The good news is the incident went a long way to discovering the bravest man in Queensland.That would be the Queensland publican who, for the heinous crime of stepping over a line on the floor, kicked out the Queensland coach while he was in camp for Origin.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...xcessive-alcohol/story-fni3fh9n-1226666521165

- - - Updated - - -

Peter Sterling: The NRL should reduce the number of interchanges available

• PETER STERLING
• THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
• JUNE 20, 2013 12:00AM

Source: The Daily Telegraph

​

CANTERBURY'S English import James Graham is the perfect example of why the number of rugby league interchanges need to be lessened.


When the outstanding Englishman left the field after a stellar opening 60- minute stint against Manly, Brad Fittler commented that the front-rower "wouldn't have blown out a candle".Now that is terminology that I normally associate with racehorses and while James is no Black Caviar when it comes to the looks department, he is certainly one that you want to have in your stable.The break was a short one of just eight minutes before being thrust back into the fray for the duration of the 84 minutes played. In total he racked up 75 quality minutes to again confirm how valuable he has become to the Bulldogs after just 33 games in the NRL.Combining the game time of the other 31 starting front-rowers from last weekend makes for poor reading with the average minutes played just 44. Even that was bolstered by the fact that Paul Gallen was pushed up front to start for the Sharks and nearly played a full game.

Surely that's not the way we wanted the game to evolve.While interchange is obviously a means of looking after player welfare, it also seems to be the tool used to ensure that the speed of the game is pushed to its limits.I have never subscribed to the belief that the quicker the game the better the game.In fact the fastest contests I have seen in the NRL have been due to dummy-half running dominating and I find nothing more uninspiring and less entertaining than watching that type of match.While there has been an outcry that rules introduced this week continue to sanitise our game, my bigger concern is that the gladiatorial aspect is disappearing because of the lack of fatigue in the game.I remember years ago Balmain great Wayne Pearce bemoaned the rest afforded to opposition forwards.Wayne wasn't necessarily the most skilful back-rower going around but made his ascent to the top by conditioning himself to a fitness level superior to everyone else. When the going got tough, he got tougher.He asked why should an opponent be able to have three different shots at him, with a break in between each?Apart from asking our players to dig deeper one of the greatest offshoots of less interchanges would be the positive effect on our playmakers.

At the moment if a defensive wall is starting to look vulnerable then a coach has the immediate option of adding another brick.It is a direct reason as to why there is a dearth of ball-playing halves coming through. They rarely get an advantageous environment in which they can ply their skills against tired defenders. William Shakespeare was the first to be quoted as saying "fatigue makes cowards of us all". If he had been a rugby league fan and understood the very best qualities the game has to offer he may have also added a footnote that "overcoming fatigue can make heroes of us all".After last week's performance by James Graham it is no surprise that Dogs coach Des Hasler has named him in the run-on side for tomorrow night's big clash against the Roosters.While the change in normal routine suited him comfortably, the impact of Sam Kasiano off the bench up against a defence with some sting removed was also particularly effective.With the momentum of having won seven of their last eight games the Canterbury side appear well placed to take advantage of a Roosters line-up minus their Origin stars.

While the Dogs will be without Josh Morris and Josh Reynolds, you would think that the Roosters would be more affected without Mitchell Pearce, James Maloney and Michael Jennings on deck.Especially when you consider that Joel Romelo produced a man-of-the-match performance against the Dragons when last called up to deputise for Reynolds.These sides did meet back in round five which was heavily promoted as the return of Sonny Bill Williams up against the club he walked out on.The Bulldogs fans who had waited so long to vent their displeasure were rendered silent when the Roosters routed their opponents 38-0 with SBW snaring a double.In that clash Canterbury were without Graham, Kasiano, Krisnan Inu and Ben Barba was still taking his tentative first steps back.Tomorrow night they are all there against a Roosters side that have hit a flat spot.Two weeks ago they lacked intensity against the Eels, last week it was intelligence against the Warriors.A couple of ad-lib efforts against the New Zealanders weren't the smartest of plays and resulted in long-range tries to Warriors backs Glen Fisiiahi and Manu Vatuvei to ice the match.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...hanges-available/story-fni3fh9n-1226666516077

 

[rhugh89]

League Confidential: Lauryn Eagle shows the NRL boys how to turn the other cheek

• JOSH MASSOUD
• THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
• JUNE 21, 2013 12:00AM

IT'S a shame some NRL players don't have the same sense of restraint as their female counterparts.


In a week that saw Rabbitohs enforcer George Burgess go troppo after being stranded outside a woman's apartment in Carins, it's been revealed that pro boxer-turned-footy player Lauryn Eagle courageously turned the other cheek in the face of an attack following a Nines Tournament.Having recently converted from rugby union, Eagle was representing the Helensburgh Tigerlillies in statewide event in Sefton on June 8. She engaged in some typical banter with an opposition player who was representing Canley Heights.During the grand final, which Canley Heights won, the player became agitated and allegedly threatened to sort out their differences in the car park after fulltime. Witnesses said she fulfilled the promise while Eagle was walking through the car park with a Helensburgh teammate, punching the popular celebrity at least four times in the face. Given her previous incarnation as a pro boxer with a winning record, Eagle would have been well equipped to respond.But in a rare show of behavioural discretion in rugby league these days, she retreated to the safety of the playing field and refused to bring the code into further disrepute. The NSWRL was made aware of the matter shortly afterwards, and the player has already been issued a breach notice for breaking the game's Code of Conduct. A hearing scheduled for last night was delayed at the 11th hour to enable the player to secure legal representation. Eagle politely declined to comment until after the matter is finalised.

AFTER thwarting Parramatta's bid to sign Josh Papalii, Canberra have again emerged as a roadblock to another second-row recruit. Roosters enforcer Frank-Paul Nu'uausala is in the sights of both clubs, but appears more likely to sign with the Raiders after travelling to the ACT to inspect their facilities this week. The Roosters remain confident of keeping the Kiwi international, but can only do so if he agrees to take a pay cut on what the other clubs are offering. Adam Blair could still be an option for the Eels. However, they won't get him cheap. We've heard the Tigers will only contribute around $100,000 toward Blair's release, after paying out a series of contracts in recent years.

Sonny Bill Williams celebrates a try. Picture: Brett Costello Source: The Daily Telegraph


IT'S not a marriage certificate with former Filipino president Ferdinand Marcos, so a shoe fetish will have to suffice. We've been told Sonny Bill Williams went on a shoe-buying spree this week, stocking up on enough pairs of Nike Air Jordans to fit-out the Chicago Bulls. He's also been showing off the purchases on social media, with Roosters teammates scratching their heads over how he finds the time to share them around.There's also been plenty of talk over Williams' post-try celebrations (pictured above), which we can confirm are a salute to Allah. And the Islam convert will soon be confronted with a tough choice to make over whether to fast during daylight hours for a month, with Ramadan commencing on July 9.

JUST when you thought there couldn't be any more drama at Parramatta, along comes a medical emergency. Former Eels CEO Bob Bentley, who is still in charge of the leagues club, was rushed to hospital just after lunch yesterday. It later emerged he suffered a sudden attack of gallstone pain. We wish Bentley all the best for a swift recovery.

KRIS Keating is the forgotten man of Canterbury, again overlooked for first grade this week after guiding the team to a grand final appearance last year. We can confirm Melbourne have considered Keating as a possible replacement for Gareth Widdop in 2014, but no decision has been made. The Storm's replacement five-eighth - Brett Finch - is signed for next year, but could retire early to pursue a career in either coaching or the media.

THE issues just don't stop coming for new salary cap boss Jim Doyle. We can reveal some of the game's highest profile players have gone to war with their clubs over self-interested interpretations of salary cap increase clauses. On a wholesale basis, the cap has increased from $4.1 to $5.85 million this year. But while clubs are happy to use the old wholesale base, they are trying to remove marquee player allowances from the new cap to limit the increase and thus pay the players less. Shrewd agents aren't having a bar of it and are urging the players' association to get involved.

Source: The Daily Telegraph


WITH all the focus on Nate Myles' forehead, we thought it timely to unveil one of the funniest gags in rugby league. When Myles played for the Roosters in 2010, some of his web-savvy teammates found a clip on You Tube from a Red Faces skit on Hey Hey It's Saturday. The performance featured three dwarves in cross-dress performing the Beyonce hit, All the Single Ladies. Roosters players felt the lead singer struck an eerie resemblance to Myles, and broadcast the clip on the projector in a team meeting to survey the thoughts of their peers. The view was unanimous.

DON'T be surprised if the Tigers board draws a line in the sand over the continued monthly payments to sacked coach Tim Sheens. Sheens has been collecting his normal salary since being marched last October, but there's been a change of heart at board level over whether they should keep forking-out after Sheens knocked back an alternative role at the club. The Tigers would be prepared for Sheens to take legal action to recover the final 15 months of his contract, but are confident they won't have to part with a full settlement.

CANTERBURY will honour the late Karen Folkes tonight, continuing her annual charity initiative in aid of the Salvation Army. At one home match each season, the wives and partners of Bulldogs players circulate ANZ Stadium with buckets to collect donations for the Salvo's winter appeal. They will be stationed outside Gates K and B from 6:30pm. A special mention to Frank Pritchard's wife Raima, who will front after suffering appalling racial abuse at Brookvale last Friday night.

THERE'S already plenty of scuttlebutt around Cameron Smith potentially finishing his career at the Brisbane Broncos. We can reveal the Australian skipper has been asking about properties on the Sunshine Coast, just an hour north of Brisbane. His interest is intriguing, although we still can't imagine Smith leaving the Storm after coach Craig Bellamy signed-on for another three years.

THE NRL were supposed to do something to remedy the ludicrous second tier salary cap rules that saw Panther fullback Matt Moylan dumped to NSW Cup two weeks ago. We've still heard nothing, and now details are beginning to emerge about others being denied a chance thanks to the arcane provisions. Roosters prop Kane Evans is one an exciting youngster in the game, but can't get an NRL start because the Roosters have exhausted their $375,000 second tier cap. The same applied to lock Dylan Napa, who was also in the administrative freezer until this week's Origin toll gave coach Trent Robinson the all clear to debut him tonight.

FORMER Wests Tigers chairman Dave Trodden yesterday began his new career as CEO of the NSWRL replacing outgoing boss Geoff Carr. Carr was farewelled at Wednesday's board meeting.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-the-other-cheek/story-fni3fbgz-1226667104184

 

[rhugh89]

Rebecca Wilson: The smell of scandal has become a stench that threatens to derail rugby league

• REBECCA WILSON
• THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
• JUNE 22, 2013 12:00AM

Artwork: Boo Bailey Source: The Daily Telegraph


RUGBY league used to be a proudly working-class game. This season it has proved it is fast becoming a no class game, replete with drinking binges, sexual and physical assaults, drunken vandalism and unprovoked on-field bash-ups.

The events of recent weeks have also shown that no amount of tut-tutting from the powers that be has an ounce of impact on the recidivists who do not abide by rules, or learn from the errors of their pasts.The multi-billion game that has become rugby league is living a public relations disaster of its own making, with no apparent signs that some of those who play it have any regard for their code or those who pay their bills.While television ratings are drastically down on last year and the year before, league bosses do not appear to have put two and two together. At present, they seem to genuinely believe there is no link between normal mums and dads turning off their televisions, and the players who practice unlawful behaviour on and off the field.

Dave Smith, the new commission and all of those who continue to hand out light punishments to the offenders, must understand that this has become a mammoth crisis.Let's start with Paul Gallen. The NSW captain has turned himself into a hero for his cowardly attack on Queenslander Nate Myles. But those wise enough to distance themselves from a debate between Blues and Maroons supporters believe league sank to new depths the night of the first Origin.Here was the captain, unleashing on a player who did not raise a fist in protest. Under the rules of any other sport, he would be immediately sent from the field. In league, his coach says it was a "great moment in Origin" and his judiciary judges ruled king hitting an opponent without answer was only worth a week off the field.Gallen had the hide to arc up about his punishment, blaming Myles, the judiciary and even the code for promoting the biff. Some former league players who now make a handsome living from commentating on the game patted him on the back on his way through more than a dozen media appearances.Gallen soon appeared to believe he was truly wronged. Nobody had asked those who had watched it, the fringe observers who only engage during Origin, what they had thought of the sickly attack as they watched from their lounge rooms.There is little wonder that his teammates, Blake Ferguson and Josh Dugan, approached one of their apparently regular drinking binges with an element of bravado. These two are very, very lucky to even have a contract, let alone to be playing at the highest level. They have been resuscitated once before this season after a drinking binge that encompassed all that is bad about Gen Y athletes.No matter. Off they went to Cronulla for a marathon drinking session that ended with Ferguson being charged with indecent assault.

Dave Smith and the rest banned Ferguson from Origin but ruled Dugan 'had done nothing wrong', so he will wear his Blues jersey on Wednesday night.The pair of them should have stood before Smith and NRLC chairman, John Grant, while their contracts were ripped up. Fans with a semblance of decency cannot believe that, once again, a superstar player involved in another off-field incident had been given another reprieve.It goes on. Queenslander Ben Te'o should not be playing this week or next while allegations of a violent assault against a young woman are investigated, even though he denies it; South Sydney's rising star George Burgess has been stood down for a couple of weeks while he works out that throwing a street sign threw a car at 2.45am is not appropriate; and Queensland coach Mal Meninga should not have been in any bar at one in the morning during an Origin camp.Only James Tamou has been handed the right punishment, copping a pay cut of $50,000 and a ban from Origin for driving unlicensed at four times the legal limit.

The Cowboys were the ones who suggested he be stood down, not the NRL.League is facing its toughest challenge. The smell of scandal after scandal has become a stench that threatens to derail the game. The converted, those who fanatically turn out every week, will stick solid. The rest will disappear. Parents deciding which code for their kids won't cop what they have seen in recent weeks. The television ratings are not just a downward spike. They are a trend that will continue if authorities believe on field talent is enough to justify off field atrocities.Only when contracts are thrown in the bin will any of these blokes finally twig you do wrong, you don't play. It's not rocket science.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ail-rugby-league/story-fni3fh9n-1226667778110

 

[Beaumont]

Not a coincidence that Wilson and the word stench appear in the one article. We'll see how sickened people were when Gallen hit Myles(probably not as many that were when Myles shat in the hallway) and how derailed the game is a chance of being when the ratings for game 2 of Origin are released. She's a scrubber.

 

[rhugh89]

Footy Show host Beau Ryan's comedy act is a serious business

• JESSICA HALLORAN
• THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
• JUNE 23, 2013 12:00AM

Beau Ryan with his daughter Rem at his home in Warrillai. Source: The Daily Telegraph


IT might look like a permanent goofball act, but the business of being Beau Ryan is very serious indeed.


The Cronulla Sharks backrower, 28, has parlayed his role as comic-relief sidekick on Nine's Footy Show into a unique brand unparallelled across rugby league. Little kids adore him. Blokes laugh at him. Women tune in specifically to see him.But Ryan, despite regularly overshadowing his co-hosts, has a future career as a television presenter in mind and is deliberately modelling himself on the anchors he admires: Today host Karl Stefanovic and The Footy Show's central persona, Paul "Fatty" Vautin.The best of Beau RyanThere is a serious and considered side to Ryan, who recently became a first-time father to baby Remi: he wants to be more than just the funny guy."I think I am a determined person who always wants more," Ryan said."My main focus for me is to provide the best for my family. I want Remi to have everything - although my wife Kara saysI am not going to spoil her," he laughed.He is in career-best form for Cronulla, but Ryan is looking to the future already.

"I could see myself presenting," Ryan said. "I could see myself maybe co-hosting things and learning the ropes. I have been around for a bit now."There's a serious and very considered side to Ryan away from the cameras. It is clear he wants to be more than just the "funny guy"."I've done a bit of commentary, I like mixing comedy with being serious, because you can't be funny all the time," Ryan said."Karl Stefanovic is a fantastic presenter. Fatty has been a host of the show for so long - I am not saying I want to host the show - his longevity shows you can be in a showbiz for longer than just a couple of years. They are my role models."The 28-year-old's popularity certainly won't stop his rise.The NRL star is feted by thousands, with his Beau Ryan Facebook page clocking more than 100,000 likes. Just this week he was mobbed in the city centre while filming for The Footy Show and he and his crew had to keep moving locations.It was over a coffee at a little cafe called Fonda's, next door to Channel 9, that Ryan's TV career was hatched.

Ryan's manager Wayne Beavis encouraged then Footy Show executive producer Burns to meet the footy player in 2009."I went down there thinking nothing much is going to come of it and after meeting him I thought there was something to him and gave him a try," Burns said.Ryan's delivery to camera was natural - and rare - said Burns, who now is now head of channels at Fox Sports."He is Paul Hogan-esque but a modern version and younger version of Hoges," Burns said. "What he had from the word go, he had that X-factor, that appeal and ability to do it to camera ... which you see in a very small amount of people."Ryan says his producer James Rochford, who writes a lot of his Beau Knows, is a key to his success.Footy Show host Vautin thinks Ryan's settled home life - marrying Kara last year and Remi's arrival - has really seen the man flourish.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...serious-business/story-fni0cx12-1226668056396[/COLOR]

- - - Updated - - -

What's the Buzz: NSW State of Origin fullback Josh Dugan's two benders in 24 hours

• PHIL ROTHFIELD
• THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
• JUNE 23, 2013 12:00AM

Josh Dugan looks on during a Blues team photo. Source: Getty Images



NSW fullback Josh Dugan was involved in a drunken incident with police on the night before he was out with Blake Ferguson at a Cronulla nightclub last weekend.


It can be revealed that 24 hours earlier, police were called to a home on Karimbla Rd, Miranda, following complaints by neighbours.Officers turned up to find an allegedly intoxicated Dugan and a male acquaintance sitting in a boat on the side of the road, drinking and pretending to be fishing.True story.They were searched before being ordered inside. Dugan has been living in the house since leaving Canberra and signing with St George Illawarra.Neighbours phoned police to complain about alleged noise and feared the boat had been stolen when it was moved from the front yard of the house to the side of the road.Having a beer at home is obviously not a major crime on the scale of atrocities in rugby league these days.The concern is that Dugan was undergoing treatment for an ankle injury and behaving like an absolute gibberer at the time.Most clubs now have strict no-alcohol policies in place for anyone on the injured list.The fact he backed up the following night with Ferguson at Northies and then the 2320 restaurant bar questions how professionally he is caring for his injuries - even when he's on the verge of playing in the biggest State of Origin game in a decade as Jarryd Hayne's replacement.The NRL and its chief executive Dave Smith's talk of zero tolerance is a case of too little too late.When Dugan was sacked from the Canberra Raiders for repeated alcohol-related infringements, the NRL allowed the Dragons to sign the troubled fullback a few weeks later.For starters, this was grossly unfair on the Raiders.A more appropriate response may have been to send Dugan to the bush for a year like Todd Carney, who continues to show the benefits of his new maturity.St George Illawarra's commitment to Dugan's overall rehabilitation needs to be questioned, too.It's wonderful that he's scoring tries, but surely they need to be more conscious of his off-field activities and behaviour.A player's welfare should be far more important than two competition points.

Picture: Scott "Boo" Bailey. Source: The Sunday Telegraph


***

THE truth about why Blake Ferguson turned on a bender last weekend can be revealed for the first time.

The Canberra Raiders star had earlier in the day failed in an attempt to patch up a broken relationship with his old girlfriend.

Ferguson was originally booked on an early Monday morning flight from Canberra to Sydney to join the Blues camp.

Instead he changed his flight to Sunday morning and told Raiders officials he was going early to visit family.

At the same time he told a number of his Raiders' teammates he really wanted to see his ex-girlfriend.

It didn't go well, so he phoned Josh Dugan to organise the night out in Cronulla, which led to him being charged with indecent assault.

***

RUGBY league has a long history of players falling off the rails.The good news is most of them learn from their mistakes and make it back to the top with the right type of guidance.We've even picked a team (see below) of players who have had to overcome major dramas.It wasn't that long ago Jarryd Hayne was dodging bullets in Kings Cross after a big night on the town.Todd Carney was banished to the bush and Albert Kelly was dumped by the Sharks and the Knights. His career looked to be over before the Titans took him on.Willie Mason was damaged goods and no one but Wayne Bennett would give him a start. It still frustrates Test coach Tim Sheens that the Wests Tigers board banned him from signing Mason last year.Jake Friend had his contract torn up at the Roosters and had to work in a Surry Hills sandwich shop while he was out of the game for a season.It gives hope to the likes of Blake Ferguson and Josh Dugan. Anyone can make it back as long as they are prepared to pull their heads in.

REFORMED XVII: Jarryd Hayne, Lote Tuqiri, Michael Jennings, Greg Inglis, Sandor Earl, Todd Carney, Albert Kelly, Paul Gallen, Jake Friend, Willie Mason, Nate Myles, Sonny Bill Williams, Greg Bird. Interchange: John Sutton, Anthony Watmough, Joel Monaghan, Ben Barba.

Wests Tigers player Mark O'Neill and his wife Belinda at their Carlingford home with twins Ella (stripes) and Maddison and Myla, 3. Picture: Adam Ward Source: The Sunday Telegraph



***
THIS is one of the most uplifting stories in rugby league at a time when the game desperately needs good news.Retired Wests Tigers star Mark O'Neill and his wife Belinda have been doing double-time after the birth of twin girls Ella Rose and Maddison Lee three weeks ago.What makes this such an inspirational family is the fact Belinda was diagnosed with breast cancer 11 years ago and had to have a breast removed and re-constructed.The O'Neills even went as far as having embryos frozen as Belinda had the mastectomy, went through chemotherapy and was warned about the possibility she and Mark may never be able to have a family.Fortunately, it wasn't the case.Today, the O'Neill household has never been busier, with the twins becoming little sisters to three-year-old Myla Belle."We're over the moon. There's not enough hours in the day but we couldn't possibly be any happier," O'Neill said."What we'd really like to do is help raise some awareness if we can."Belinda is breast-feeding the twins and she's actually only got one breast that works."The twins need six feeds each a day and Belinda is doing four of them, then we're going with bottles for the other two. It's safe to say with four girls in the house now, I'm getting a lot of love."O'Neill captained the Tigers to their last premiership in 2005 and is currently the NRL's operations manager.

***

SAINT

THE Socceroos have not only made it to Brazil but they have shown our cricket, rugby league and rugby union stars the exemplary behaviour that is expected of our national sporting teams. Tim Cahill, in particular, was an absolute class act on The Footy Show.

***

SINNER

LAST week we couldn't separate Dave Warner and James Tamou as sport's biggest ratbags. This week the winner is Blake Ferguson (gold), Josh Dugan (silver) and George Burgess (bronze). Mal Meninga finished a close fourth.

***

THE BOX SEAT

THE best kept secret in Australian sport is that there are still seats available, albeit expensive ones, for the Sydney Test between the Wallabies and British & Irish Lions at ANZ Stadium on Saturday, July 6. If you're a typical rah-rah supporter with truckloads of cash, eight-seat corporate boxes are still available at $1500 a head.You get wined and dined for four hours, attend a cocktail function and the best seats in the house.And don't forget the leather patches.

***

SHOOSH

IF you thought Souths boss Shane Richardson and coach Michael McGuire were angry about the poor behaviour of George Burgess in Cairns last weekend it was nothing compared to the dressing down he received from older brother Sam.

***

MERRITT POINTS

NATHAN Merritt is the exact opposite to Blake Ferguson, the man he replaced on the Blues wing.In his first night in Origin camp the team had dinner at a Coogee restaurant and Merritt didn't touch a single drop.

***

PLANE SILLY

HOW could Qantas boss Alan Joyce and his marketing team drop the naming rights of the Socceroos just as the game hits new peaks? Surely the question is being asked from the boardroom of our so-called "national carrier"?

***

ORIGIN FLASHBACK

UNDER the NRL's new broadcasting agreement, 2GB can't call Channel Nine's delayed Sunday afternoon game. Not a problem. This afternoon gun caller Andrew Moore will call the first ever State of Origin game in 1980 off an old DVD.


***

STANDING PROUD

THE Fox Sports shoulder-to-shoulder campaign is starting to take off. In pouring rain this trio showed their passion for the Socceroos and even got a re-tweet from Tim Cahill, who is fronting the campaign. All Aussies can get involved for their chance to win a trip for six people to the Ashes for the fifth Test by standing shoulder-to-shoulder in support of Australia's national teams and posting it to Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #itson and tag @FOXSPORTSAUS.

***


IT'S a shame more footballers aren't as professional as Kiwi Test skipper Kieran Foran .

The 22-year-old Manly Sea Eagles five-eighth has sworn off the booze for the rest of the season.

It's a sacrifice he's prepared to make to try to win the premiership and lead the Kiwis to the World Cup. And it's typical of his commitment to the game.

The NRL should be using outstanding citizens like Foran as a mentor for up and coming players in the game.

***

THE Bulldogs have warned rival clubs to stay away from Dally M champion Ben Barba.Coach Des Hasler and CEO Todd Greenberg have made it clear he will not be released.

The Titans and the Tigers are two clubs who are believed to have spoken to Barba's agent Gavin Orr.

There is a thought Barba is on "unders" at Belmore and could earn substantially more at another club.

His current deal was done before he shot to prominence as the game's No. 1 one pin-up player last year. He used to be a heavy gambler and has not invested his football earnings wisely.

***

IT'S been a particularly tough week for boxer Anthony Mundine, torn between loyalty to two of his closest "brothers".The sacking of Blake Ferguson and then the selection of Nathan Merritt in the Blues side left the boxer with mixed emotions.Mundine sent coach Laurie Daley a text message to congratulate him on Merritt's selection.

***

IF you reckon the Socceroos did it the hard way in getting to Brazil, spare a thought for the thousands of Aussie fans facing the trauma of a global ticketing ballot later this year.

There are 3.3 million tickets available for the World Cup, but Brazil's football-mad population of 200 million is first in line.

Details will be announced on July 1 and the scramble begins in August.

***

WHILE the coach and players deservedly received the praise for the Socceroos' triumphant last few weeks, one of the unsung heroes was physio Les Gelis.FFA boss David Gallop told me during the week how he had been persuaded by coach Holger Osieck to fund an individual trip by Gelis to the Middle East and Japan to help Mark Bresciano and Josh Kennedy with their injury rehabilitation last month.A fit Bresciano was outstanding against Japan, Jordan and Iraq, firing the cross for Kennedy's winning header on Tuesday night.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ders-in-24-hours/story-fni3fbgz-1226668083840

 

[rhugh89]

Melbourne Storm fullback Billy Slater could make switch to five-eighth

• DEAN RITCHIE
• THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
• JUNE 24, 2013 12:00AM

Melbourne Storm superstar Billy Slater could be set for a switch to five-eighth. Source: Getty Images





COULD the world's best fullback shift to five-eighth yet again?

It happened a decade ago when Brisbane fullback Darren Lockyer was moved into number six by then Broncos coach Wayne Bennett.The positional switch proved a master stroke.Now there are suggestions from Bleak City that the same could happen to Melbourne's superstar fullback Billy Slater.With Gareth Widdop signing with St George Illawarra from next year, the Storm are determined to find a replacement five-eighth from within their own ranks.And Slater could follow Lockyer into the front line.At Skilled Park for tonight's match against Gold Coast, Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy has opted to play young Ben Hampton at five-eighth with Widdop going to fullback to replace Slater, on Origin duty.Showing he isn't afraid to experiment, Bellamy actually trialled Cam Smith at five-eighth for a short period of the 2009 season.Slater is the latest to emerge as a potential number six."I probably play a bit of first receiver anyway," Slater said."We'll have to weigh up our options and I'm sure Ben Hampton will be one of them."We've got some good young kids coming through so whether Craig opts for one of them or goes another way, I'm not too sure."Slater's Storm, Queensland and Australia teammate Cooper Cronk agreed it was "not a bad idea" but insisted it was a decision to be made at the end of this year."It's a long way away," Cronk said.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...h-to-five-eighth/story-fni3fbgz-1226668479632

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Full backing for Titans No.1 William Zillman

• TRAVIS MEYN
• GOLD COAST BULLETIN
• JUNE 24, 2013 12:00AM

NUMBER ONE: Fullback William Zillman at Titans training. Picture: Luke Marsden Source: The Courier-Mail





TITANS vice-captain William Zillman has spoken for the first time about speculation surrounding his future as Gold Coast fullback.

The Titans have been linked to Dally M medallist Ben Barba, English superstar Sam Tomkins, Blues custodian Josh Dugan and Cowboys livewire Matt Bowen.It is understood Zillman was privately miffed at the Gold Coast continually being linked to fullbacks, but the stand-in skipper tried to avoid the speculation.However Gold Coast coach John Cartwright hosed it down last week, telling Zillman in a heart-to-heart conversation he would be his fullback until at least 2017, when his five-year contract expired.The 26-year-old said yesterday Cartwright's show of faith had put his mind at ease."It is (heartening)," he said."The Titans have shown a lot of faith in me and I'm very grateful for that. I really appreciated him (Cartwright) being honest with me.

That's all I ask for and they've done that."I'm trying to do my best and play my best footy for not only me but the club."Zillman will captain the Titans against the Storm at Skilled Park tonight, with Greg Bird and Nate Myles on Origin duty.Luke O'Dwyer (broken jaw) will return to the side for the first time since round 7, with young hooker Sam Irwin to miss out.The rumours about Zillman's tenure came as he was playing the best football of his career."I tried not to think about it, to be honest," he said."I turned a blind eye to it and concentrated on my footy for the last couple of weeks."Cartwright revealed Ashley Harrison had defied medical advice to prove his fitness for State of Origin, only to be dropped after one game.Harrison turns out for the Titans against Melbourne, and all eyes will be watching to see how he responds to his axing.

Cartwright said Harrison should have been given another chance in Origin II after battling bone bruising in his knee."You wouldn't have known (he was dropped). That's typical of Harro," he said.The Titans have a 75 per cent winning record when without their Origin stars, the best strike rate in the NRL, while Melbourne have won just two of their seven Origin-affected matches since 2008.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-william-zillman/story-fni3grk4-1226668410289

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Immortal Andrew Johns says NRL must do what it can to keep Sonny Bill Williams in rugby league

• PAUL CRAWLEY
• THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
• JUNE 24, 2013 12:00AM

Immortal Andrew Johns says Roosters star Sonny Bill Williams must be kept in the NRL. Source:Getty Images


RUGBY league Immortal Andrew Johns says the NRL must "bend the rules" to keep Sonny Bill Williams in the game next year.


The NRL has never been in a more powerful position financially on the back of the $1 billion TV deal but salary cap restrictions remain a roadblock when it comes to keeping superstars like SBW and Israel Folau in league.Folau was all set to return to the NRL and play for Parramatta - but contract negotiations went pear-shaped when the NRL held them up just long enough to allow the Australian Rugby Union to sneak under Parramatta's guard.What the NRL and Parramatta missed out on was on show on Saturday night when Folau starred with a man-of-the-match performance in the Wallabies' loss to the British and Irish Lions.Both the Roosters and the Bulldogs are keen to try and sign Folau for 2014 but the talk is he will be staying in rugby union next year.

​

Williams' uncertain future is also in the spotlight in the wake of his man-of-the-match performance in Friday night's win over the Bulldogs.Johns told Channel 9's Sunday Footy Show: "Get a plan now to keep him in rugby league."Despite five years out of the game, Williams has quickly re-established himself as one of the NRL's biggest drawcards but the fear is money isn't the only issue standing in his way.Debating the topic with Johns yesterday, Brad Fittler said the NRL's reluctance to allow players to maximise their potential in other sports is also a potential problem.Fittler said about Williams' future: "He hasn't signed a contract so he is leaving his options open."I'd love him to stay."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-in-rugby-league/story-fni3fbgz-1226668521471

 

[rhugh89]

Bulldog's Bite: Everyone loves a stink, says Steve Roach

• DEAN RITCHIE
• THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
• JUNE 25, 2013 12:00AM

Blues and Tigers legend Steve Roach. Source: The Daily Telegraph



STEVE "Blocker" Roach is all fired up.


The emotion and passion over Paul Gallen's infamous fight in Origin I bubbled over yesterday when Roach sat down in Brisbane for this fiery one-one-one interview with The Daily Telegraph."Maybe I am a dinosaur," Blocker thundered. "But there are too many do-gooders out there, mate. I reckon more people would agree with me than don't."

Bulldog: Do you like the "one punch and you're off edict"?

Blocker: No, I hate it. What happens if someone hits you off the ball? Or hits you late with an elbow? What are you going to do ... get up and thank him? Whoever made that decision should go back and look at early Origin games in the 1980s. Maybe I am a dinosaur. But you know what? If I am, I am happy to be one.

Bulldog: That was my next question, Blocker. Are you a dinosaur?

Blocker: I am telling you that everyone loves a bit of biffo. If it happens, it happens. I will ask you this: do you think people go into games with pre-conceived ideas to have a biff? No, they don't. People react to things. Tempers flare.

Bulldog: What did you think when you saw Gallen whack Nate Myles?

Blocker: I got out of my seat. I was yee-har-ing. Yee-har! It was fantastic. It was a bit of passion. I tell you what, the adrenaline ran. That's what happened. I loved it.

Bulldog: Blocker, four million people around Australia watched Origin I. It can't have been good for the game's image.

Blocker: Well, I reckon five million will watch this game because of the stink.

Bulldog: But will they really be watching because of the possibility of a fight?

Blocker: They will be watching because of the anticipation. "Will it happen, will it not happen?"

Bulldog: What do you think rugby league mums thought of the fight?

Blocker: I thought mums loved it, blokes standing up eyeball to eyeball. I think they do like it. Deep down, mums don't like to admit it. Deep down they love it. Why do women go and watch gladiatorial sports? Why do women go and watch boxing? They like people getting hit. There are too many do-gooders out there. What are you allowed to do now?

Bulldog: If Myles hits Gallen in Origin II, what would you expect Gallen to do?

Blocker: I would expect Gallen to whack him back.

Bulldog: And if he didn't because of the new rule?

Blocker: If he didn't, I would be disappointed. But knowing the new rule, both of them would be sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes. The thing that got to me was the twisting of ankles and knees. All the stuff people don't see. Knees in the back of the calf. Two blokes ready to have a blue and to get it on, that surely is a lot better people get away with those grubby acts. How is that good for the game? Why don't people ban that?

Bulldog: Will there still be fisticuffs despite the edict?

Blocker: I don't think you can pre-empt anything. Things happen in games of football. This is a collision sport. People get fired up. How can you say, "You can't do this, you can't do that." No one knows what is going to happen. How can anyone suddenly come in and say, "You're not allowed to fight, or you're not allowed to do this or that." I reckon more people would agree with me than don't.

Bulldog: Origin is a highly charged, emotional game.

Blocker: Don't worry about Origin, the emotion of the entire sport. How can you stop blokes from firing up? You can't have a blanket statement to say you can't do this or that.

Bulldog: Do you think rugby league is too politically correct these days?

Blocker: It is too politically correct. And I also think the game is too sanitised. Mate, people say eat up the yards, it's 10m, land on your elbows and knees, play the ball fast. Where are all the ball players? Where are the players who can offload the football? Most can do it but they are too scared to do it.

Bulldog: You're a Tigers legend. Is Benji Marshall worth $1 million a year?Blocker: No, Benji Marshall is not worth $1 million a year. Benji Marshall, there is no doubt he has been a great player. I would argue that his last three years, maybe he has been earning a lot more away from the football field and his focus hasn't been on football. But he is a wonderful player and gets people clicking through the turnstiles. He deserves to be paid a lot of money but he shouldn't be paid the top money at the Tigers. Robbie Farah should. Benji shouldn't be anywhere near him at the moment because of the way he is playing.

Bulldog: Well, what is Benji worth?

Blocker: It's funny when people talk about worth. What is someone worth? Someone is worth what clubs are willing to pay. I don't know the situation when it comes to the highest paid player, but if Robbie Farah was, say, on $800,000 a year, I'd give Benji $600,000. Robbie Farah is the No.1 player at the Tigers and plays well week in, week out. I am sure even Benji would admit he hasn't been at his best over the last three years.

Bulldog: Why have Wests Tigers struggled this year?

Blocker: You lose key personnel, you are going to struggle. I always try to look for a positive out of everything. The good thing for the Tigers is that these kids are getting first grade experience now. They will be better for it over the next couple of years. That's the positive.Bulldog: Do you think there are too many athletes and not enough footballers in the NRL?

Blocker: No I don't. I think there are footballers there but they're not allowed to do it. "Don't you offload the ball because we might knock it on and they might get possession." So what? Chance your arm, mate, that's how you win. If you travel through your whole life, whether it be playing football or not, and you keep thinking about what you're not going to do then you will miss out on what you are supposed to do.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...says-steve-roach/story-fni3fqyo-1226668978487

 

[rhugh89]

Phil Rothfield catches up with the greatest Origin commentator of all time Darrell Eastlake

• PHIL ROTHFIELD
• THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
• JUNE 27, 2013 12:00AM

Darrell Eastlake and Phil Rothfield together for State of Origin II, 2013. Source: The Daily Telegraph



IT'S a long way from the old Lang Park where the voice of State of Origin was born exactly 30 years ago.


I'm watching Origin II out of the Chamberlain Gardens nursing home at Wyoming on the NSW Central Coast.You walk into Room 129 and it's hard to recognise the unshaven old legend with the long grey hair, looking nothing like the immaculately attired television star he once was.Darrell Eastlake has still got the booming voice but is struggling with his mind and memory. He's a month short of his 70th birthday - only six weeks younger than Channel 9's current caller Ray Warren.Eastlake has been struck down by dementia, diabetes and emphysema.He gets by on a walking stick but is under permanent care at this nursing hospital, his home for the past two years.We settle back to watch to game in a room not much bigger than the old commentary boxes he called from.Darrell on his bed, your columnist in the chair next to him. He's had toasted sandwiches for dinner and we're sharing a six-pack of Crown Lagers he insisted I bring.He's not happy about the late start to the television coverage because of the leadership challenge in Canberra.

Former sports commentator Darrell Eastlake with his wife Julie and dog. Picture: Robert Barker



"C'mon Nine, get to the f---en football, it's half past seven," he yells, "Let the ABC cover the politics."He heads to the balcony for a cigarette.Finally the action starts. Sam Thaiday scores for the Maroons after two minutes."Too easy, too soft," Darrell says.Darius Boyd races over off a Johnathan Thurston pass in the 17th minute."Oh f---, this could be a cricket score. They've come to play tonight."Finally, NSW get their first penalty after 23 minutes of virtually all defence.Darrell calls out: "About bloody time."We break for half-time. Darrell asks for another beer from his mini-fridge.I ask him for his thoughts on the Channel 9 coverage."It's excellent, they do a great job," he says. "But I can't stand Fatty, he's a smart arse."The Maroons score again early in the second half through Boyd. It's game over.Then the four players get sent to the sin-bin. Darrell hasn't got a problem with it. "They were told about the edict before the game."A generation of rugby league fans remember this guy as the defining voice of Origin, as big as the game itself. The voice that boomed into millions of lounge rooms around the country.Big Darrell was as well-known as Arthur Beetson, Mick Cronin, Jack Gibson, Barry Gomersall and Wally Lewis. He had only one volume level and it was loud.Nine legend Kenny Sutcliffe recalls working alongside Eastlake, Jack and Mike Gibson and co-commentator Ian Maurice in the early days.

"Darrell used to get to a fever pitch from very early on in the game," Sutcliffe said."He'd get so excited that David Hill, our executive producer, stood behind Darrell in the broadcast box at Lang Park with a rolled up Courier Mail."He'd belt him over the head if he started getting too carried away but Darrell just kept on calling in his own unique style."These days Eastlake is a lonely figure. "I'm his only regular visitor," says his wife Julie, "plus another good friend, Roy, from Darrell's racing car days."Faith, his favourite nurse, treats him to takeaway pizza most weeks."Look, I smoke, I've got a lot of channels on the Tele and I go around on my walking stick and do all the corridors," Eastlake says."That's how I keep fit - my weight's very good."The meals are restaurant quality and the staff can't do enough for me."It's a world away from his old broadcasting days in rugby league, surfing and the Olympic weightlifting.And the nights when Jack Gibson would say of Andrew Ettingshausen: "He's so quick he can switch off the light and be in bed before it gets dark." Darrell would just bellow: "Heh, heh, heh, good one, Jack."As a commentator, Eastlake had his own inimitable style. "He'd be the first to admit he never had the broad knowledge of the game that Rabs has got," Sutcliffe said."But he had his own unique style. You heard his voice and you knew you were watching State of Origin."Eastlake' short-term memory these days is a problem but he still loves his footy.I ask him if he can recall the first Origin game, testing his memory from a fortnight ago."Yeah, Rex Mossop called it - it was a one-off game," he says, thinking I meant the very first series in 1980.That's the thing about this illness. His long-term memory is unaffected but short term can be a blank.I ask him about the Gallen/Myles punch-up. He recalls it because it's been replayed on television so many times."That was just a couple of pussy punches," he says."You wanna see a real fight, that was (Kevin) Tamati and (Greg) Dowling in the Test at Lang Park (1985)."As Darrell would call it, that was huuuuuge.

HIGHLIGHT - Watching Origin alongside a true legend. You sat there wishing he was back behind the microphone.

LOWLIGHT - Nine’s delayed start to the coverage because of the Labor party leadership vote. The network was absolutely hammered on Twitter by frustrated fans.

SCENIC ROUTE - You’ve got to admire the passion of one NSW fan who travelled from Port Headland via Perth, Sydney and then onto Brisbane to cheer for the Blues.

SALLY’S SWELL - In case you had any doubts, everyone’s favourite surfer Sally Fitzgibbons outed herself as a massive Blues tragic last night. “Bring it on Queenslandersss!!! A series WhiteWash coming ur way..C’monnn Mighty @NSWRL Blues #UpTheBlues #stateoforigin,’’tweeted Sally, who boasts 60,000 followers. Thankfully, former swimmer Jess Schipper, who goosed herself with a Twitter rant during Origin I, kept her thoughts to herself last night.

MAN OF THE MATCH - While I was up at Wyoming with big Darrell, the boys at the office were feasting on burritos – and their verdict on Origin II’s standout player was Johnathan Thurston.

SALLY M POINTS (WORST ON GROUND)

3 SHAYNE HAYNE
2 ASHLEY KLEIN
1 TRENT MERRIN


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ng-it-like-it-is/story-fni3fqyo-1226670489641



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Brett Stewart is likely to make his return from a back injury against the Sydney Roosters

• JAMES MACSMITH
• AAP
• JUNE 26, 2013 2:40PM

Brett Stewart fends off Albert Kelly. Picture: Adam Head. Source: News Limited



MANLY are set to welcome back superstar fullback Brett Stewart from a back injury for Monday night's NRL clash with the Sydney Roosters.


The former NSW custodian suffered a chipped bone in his back after copping a knee during the Sea Eagles' gutsy round eight win over St George Illawarra at Kogarah Oval.The Sea Eagles have sorely lacked Stewart's undoubted try-scoring ability since then.Manly announced themselves as genuine premiership contenders over the early rounds of the season, winning five of their first six games before the stand-alone representative weekend.Since then they have struggled, winning only two of their last seven games, with Stewart's absence a significant factor.Stewart wasn't named when the team lists were announced on Tuesday but Sea Eagles coach Geoff Toovey said the man nicknamed `Snake' could return against the third-placed Roosters who sit three points ahead of Manly in fourth on the NRL ladder."Potentially, he will be,'' Toovey told reporters on Wednesday

"He has just got some clearance things to do. He will probably have a run later in the week and just see how he is.''Prop Brent Kite admitted the Sea Eagles had missed Stewart's spark in attack."He's a loss to any team. He's just a natural. He does those things that you can't even think about doing yourself,'' Kite said."He will turn up when you need him and he will add a lot to this team.''The probable return will also give Stewart the chance to put his case forward for selection for the NSW team for the final State of Origin game in Sydney on July 17.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-sydney-roosters/story-fni3gnk1-1226670217323

 

[rhugh89]

Maroons and Melbourne captain Cameron Smith to miss Wests Tigers clash with eye injury

• RUSSELL GOULD
• HERALD SUN
• JUNE 28, 2013 12:00AM

Cam Smith will miss this week for the Melbourne Storm. Picture: Peter Wallis Source: News Limited

​

EIGHT stitches just below his right eye could be in danger of re-opening so Melbourne Storm captain Cameron Smith won't back up against the Wests Tigers tomorrow night.


But Storm's three other State-of-Origin representatives - Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater and Ryan Hoffman - won't miss the clash unless the club's medical staff deem they won't be 100 per cent.Smith saw a specialist in Brisbane after receiving a cut under his eye in the second half of Wednesday night's win over NSW. He was advised not to fly or play this weekend due to the possibility of further risk."It's around a pretty delicate area, so I don't really want to jeopardise the rest of the year just for one match," Smith said.But Storm coach Craig Bellamy said his trio of other Origin players would be assessed over the coming days when they join the team in Sydney and he wouldn't leave any out unless they needed the rest.

Melbourne halfback Cooper Cronk missed Storm's Round 14 win over Newcastle following the Origin opener and showed the benefits of that rest with a starring role for Queensland in Wednesday's return bout."We can't leave our players out just so they are fit for Origin. We have a responsibility to the club," Bellamy told the Herald Sun."But we are not going to take chances with them either. If we think they can play, they'll play. And they have to think they can play too. We are not going to be silly with them but we will see how they go."I think they are all OK, at this stage the reports are positive ... they are likely to play."After three days in Queensland Storm moved to Sydney yesterday to continue preparations for the weekend clash with the Tigers at Leichardt Oval.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-with-eye-injury/story-fni3gpfg-1226670840337

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Canberra Raiders star Terry Campese back enjoying his footy after a devastating series of injuries

• TYSON OTTO
• THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
• JUNE 28, 2013 12:00AM

Terry Campese is enjoying being back on the park with Canberra. Picture: Kym Smith Source: The Daily Telegraph



TERRY Campese lost two years in the prime of his career, but found new reasons to smile in places he hadn't looked before.


He will enter tonight's clash against the Rabbitohs leading an exciting Raiders team that is playing a brand of football that fans adore.But Campese will also carry onto ANZ Stadium the physical and mental scars of two years that made him consider retirement.First came a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament at the end of the Raiders' magical run in the 2010 finals. He did not play for 261 days.Campese played seven minutes before tearing his groin in his comeback in round 13, 2011. This time he had to sit out for 271 days.Then, in his seventh appearance of last season, Campese ruptured his ACL in the same knee.He did not play for 365 days, returning off the bench in round six this year in front of 80 friends and family members that he bought tickets for at Canberra Stadium."It's funny how things like that happen to certain people," Campese said. "When it happens, it changes you. It makes you want it a bit more. You enjoy everything a little bit more."My No.1 focus is winning a championship with the Raiders. It has always been the thing I've wanted to do in my career, but it means a lot more to me now."I'm really enjoying being back with the boys. I feel a bit like any of the other kids on debut."The 28-year-old's life is about more than football now. It wasn't long ago it was everything.

Terry Campese watching on from the bench after injuring his knee. Picture: Adam Head Source: The Courier-Mail


Campese has established a foundation under his name, to help raise money for charities and projects around the ACT and Queanbeyan. He owns two Crust Pizza restaurants in Queanbeyan and Canberra and shares every moment he can with wife Sarah, daughter Billie, 2, and six-month-old son Jett. Life is good.It is a perspective forged in the fires of sudden disappointment.Campese represented NSW in State of Origin once before he was dropped. He also represented Australia once, at the rugby league World Cup in 2008.The fragility of his greatest achievements has opened his eyes to how remarkable his list of accomplishments already is. Just being able to run onto a football field wearing a Raiders jumper - which he has done 112 times - now means everything.It has been a hard lesson to learn.Campese doubted if he was strong enough to go through the whole recovery process the second time around. It all seemed too much three months after the first surgery on his injured knee last season.He had booked a flight to see former Raiders teammate Joel Monaghan play in the Challenge Cup final in the UK, but a surgeon had other ideas.

Terry Campese with wife Sarah. Picture: Mark Evans Source: The Daily Telegraph


"I knew I'd done everything right in rehab. I thought it would just be a quick check-up. Then they told me I needed to strengthen the knee. Told me I needed another surgery called an ITB release. It probably wasn't the hardest thing I had to go through, but at the time it just felt like another kick in the guts."It was his fourth surgery in two years."The second time is a lot harder. You know exactly what you're in for. It plays on your mind. I really questioned myself. I did have doubts that I might never play again. I was lucky that I had so much stuff outside of football to keep me busy. It was easy to get distracted."His passion has not gone unnoticed. Regardless of injury, Campese has been the Raiders' captain in more than just name.

Rising star Josh Papalii says he wouldn't be the player he is today were it not for Campese's influence.Campese knew Papalii was terribly homesick in his early days and struggling to adapt to Canberra. One thing Papalii missed was his mum's chicken curry. "I had to laugh because my wife makes a mean chicken curry as well. So I told him 'that's it, once a week you're coming over for dinner'." It is still happening. C ampese is carrying six-month-old son Jett in one hand and taking a call from The Daily Telegraph in the other. We're both along for a ride on the Campese family's weekly grocery shop at a shopping centre in Queanbeyan. It's a bumpy one, if Jett's yelps for his dad's attention are anything to go by. It seems Campese has lived his whole life at this particular shopping centre.During high school he worked at Domino's Pizza, just around the corner, before taking a job as a "trolley boy"."I've still got the record for the most trolleys ever pushed up the escalator at the same time," he laughs. "I did 26 once.

Had to do the first 13 then whip around and grab the other 13. They should put a plaque up there."Living his whole life in the area, Campese now wants to give back to it. The Terry Campese foundation raises money for local causes. Through a golf day last year the foundation raised $65,000 for kids battling illness."That really touches my heart," he said. "I love the area, it's a really tight-knit community. It has given so much to me. I want to give something back. I know how fortunate I am. I'm lucky to be able to play football for a living."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ries-of-injuries/story-fni3gmmu-1226671072141

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South Sydney playmaker John Sutton is finally living up to his enormous potential

• PAUL CRAWLEY
• THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
• JUNE 28, 2013 12:00AM

ABOUT this time two years ago John Sutton was voted the game's most overrated player alongside Jamie Soward in Rugby League Week's annual players' poll.


Today Sutton is equal with Greg Inglis at the top of the Dally M leaderboard and fighting for a NSW State of Origin call-up.How times have changed.When Sutton leads the table-topping Rabbitohs out tonight against Canberra he will do so knowing he is well and truly pressing for a place in the Blues squad in the wake of Wednesday night's stunning defeat.His teammates will tell you Sutton is well and truly ready for Origin football - and statistics supplied by Fox Sports Stats show the powerful five-eighth is literally twice the player he used to be.Always regarded as a player of enormous potential, the biggest criticism of Sutton in the past was always that he never involved himself enough or played with enough consistency.In 2011 Sutton used to make an average of 6.9 runs a game for 59 metres.This year he averages 11 runs a game for 104 metres.

Issac Luke jumps on the back of teammate John Sutton after Sutton scored a try during the round 15 NRL match between Parramatta Eels and South Sydney Rabbitohs. Picture: Phil Hillyard



He now makes twice as many tackles busts, four times as many linebreaks. That isn't even taking into consideration what Sam Burgess reckons is perhaps his greatest strength - his defence.As Burgess said: "Halves get targeted in offence but John Sutton is 6 foot 3 and he is probably as strong a defender as we have got in the team."That adds strength to our left-edge."It's something the Blues might look at given the way Queensland targeted the smaller James Maloney on Wednesday night on the left-edge."I would love to see him in a Blue jersey," Burgess said. "This is my fourth year here and I haven't seen him play better."Sutton's leadership qualities are also highlighted."It's not just the way he is playing but the consistency he brings to training," Burgess said. "What he demands of himself and what he demands of other players."Adam Reynolds admits on the field it can get heated between the two at times - but he knows Sutton is the boss."On the field he is very dominant," Reynolds said. "He is always barking orders and calling the shots."He has been our best player this year and that all comes back to the training and hard work he has done off the field. He has definitely taken his game to a new level and it's not surprising he is pushing for a NSW spot."

Roy Asotasi is adamant the new-look Sutton is only going to get better."I think he is just going to be climbing to the next level over the next couple of years," Asotasi said. "He is relishing playing under coach Maguire."This is Maguire's second year now and you can just tell how comfortable Sutton is with his role in the side."In the absence of the injured Michael Crocker, Sutton has also taken over Souths' on-field leadership duties. "He is starting to take on a lot more responsibility within the group and that is probably something Sutto used to shy away from," Asotasi said. "With Crock injured at the moment Sutto has taken over the duties and he definitely has the potential to be the next captain. He is respected among the group and that is why he is leading the team out." http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ormous-potential/story-fni3gki8-1226671087094

 

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Broncos bank on Maroon artillery for re-match against the Warriors

• CHRIS GARRY
• THE COURIER-MAIL
• JUNE 29, 2013 12:00AM

Matt Gillett made tremendous impact in Origin II. Picture: Wallis Peter Source: The Courier-Mail


THE Broncos are in the midst of one of their worst mid-season schedules in several seasons, with their four-strong Origin contingent forced to play three brutal games in 10 days.


The Broncos expect all their Maroons stars, Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker, Matt Gillett and Justin Hodges to play against the New Zealand Warriors in Auckland tomorrow, only four days after their crushing victory over the Blues.Following the Warriors contest, Brisbane have a three-day camp in Auckland before flying to Melbourne to face reigning premiers Melbourne at AAMI Park on Friday night.Impressive Maroons bench weapon Gillett said it was a situation he simply had to man up to and deal with, as dwelling on the relative fairness of the draw would not change their schedule."My body is feeling good. I might have a bit more rest for my legs this week and have lighter training but that's not up to me," he said. "We are staying in New Zealand during the week so we are not flying around everywhere which will help us (recover)."It is good to come back here into the Broncos set-up actually.


It is not difficult for me to switch focus."It will be tough (three games in 10 days) but I'm looking forward to helping the Broncos get some more wins."The Broncos' last game against the Warriors was their low point of the season, thrashed 56-18 at Suncorp Stadium, the first time they had conceded a half century at home.Gillett was watching that game in Sydney while in camp with the Maroons but said he still felt embarrassed."We want to show the Warriors who the real Broncos are," Gillett said. "That was embarrassing. They came to our home and did that so we want to come to their home and get the win."Meanwhile, the Broncos have signed talented Sydney Roosters prop Lama Tasi for the rest of this season.Raised in Ipswich, a desire to move home to Queensland and receive more time in first grade was behind Tasi's mid-season switch.Tasi, 23, was part of Queensland's Emerging Origin Squad last year and his 190cm, 108kg, frame will add needed bulk to the Broncos.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...nst-the-warriors/story-fni3gv5x-1226671663631

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Late Mail: NRL round 16

• TYSON OTTO
• THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
• JUNE 28, 2013 12:00AM

Melbourne Storm will be without their captain Cameron Smith for round sixteen. Picture: Michael KleinSource: Herald Sun



ALL the latest team news for round sixteen of the 2013 NRL season.

RABBITOHS V RAIDERS

Greg Inglis, Ben Te'o, Chris McQueen and Nathan Merritt all came through State of Origin without incident. They returned to Sydney yesterday, but did not take part in the club's captain's run. It means Dylan Farrell andJustin Hunt will drop off the bench. Michael Maguire is expected to go with a bigger-bodied utility in Nathan Peats over Luke Keary on the bench. The Raiders have also had good news with Queensland's Josh Papalii joining the team in Sydney yesterday.

TIGERS V STORM

The Storm have lost Cameron Smith for this week after cutting his right eye in State of Origin II. It has seen the club move Ryan Hinchcliffe into the No.9 spot. Tohu Harris is expected to get the promotion into the run-on side. The Tigers received good news after Origin II, with Robbie Farah expected to play. Aaron Woods is also expected to play after spending less than half an hour on the field in his State of Origin debut

PANTHERS V DRAGONS

Trent Merrin yesterday accepted a one-week ban for starting the Origin II brawl. Dragons coach Steve Price is yet to name a replacement, but Leeson Ah Mau is expected to come into the starting side with Will Matthews the likely player to earn a spot on the bench. James Roberts will finally play his second game of the year for the Panthers. Tim Grant has also overcome his hand injury.

KNIGHTS V TITANS

Darius Boyd will play for the Knights after escaping without injury from Origin II in Brisbane. Dave Taylor (sternum) has been ruled out for the Titans. Greg Bird and Nate Myles are expected to play, but will be assessed after the team's final training run tomorrow before they travel to Newcastle. Bird will start in the second-row for Taylor, while Myles' inclusion would force Luke Bailey to the interchange bench.

WARRIORS V BRONCOS

The Broncos have been on an eight-day mid-season camp in a bid to revive their finals hopes. Justin Hodges, Matt Gillett, Sam Thaiday and Corey Parker are all expected to play. The Warriors are still yet to clear fullbackKevin Locke to make his return.

COWBOYS V SHARKS

Johnathan Thurston appears back to his best after a devastating display in Origin II. The club also welcomes back James Tamou from an NRL imposed suspension. Paul Gallen is out for the Sharks until at least round 19 with a swollen foot injury caused by a stressed tendon. Luke Lewis is also in doubt after injuring his arm in Origin II.

ROOSTERS V SEA EAGLES

James Maloney (fractured cheek) will be out for at least one match. Mitchell Pearce also suffered a whack to the cheek but is expected to play withMichael Jennings. The Roosters welcome back Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. Anthony Watmough and Daly Cherry-Evans were not injured in Origin. Fullback Brett Stewart could make a surprise return. The attacking ace has been out since suffering a chipped bone in his back in round eight.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/late-mail-nrl-round-16/story-fni3fbgz-1226671051021




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Preston Campbell lauds cousin Gold Coast Titan Albert Kelly

• TRAVIS MEYN
• THE COURIER-MAIL
• JUNE 29, 2013 12:00AM

Gold Coast Titans halfback Albert Kelly. Source: The Courier-Mail




TITANS legend Preston Campbell has anointed Albert Kelly as the halfback to lead the club to its maiden premiership.


Kelly has drawn comparisons to the diminutive Campbell, who created a legacy for being one of the most courageous and skilful players despite his tiny frame.The Titans hall of famer revealed for the first time the comparisons were warranted, with the indigenous excitement machines sharing bloodlines."His great grandmother and my grandmother are sisters. Not many people know that," Campbell said."We're cousins. With indigenous people, we don't really have first, second, third cousins. We're either cousins or brothers and sisters."Kelly arrived on the Gold Coast late last year with no guarantees but has fought his way to the No.7 jersey.The 22-year-old is the club's leading try-scorer (10) this year and Campbell said his success was the result of hard work."I knew him when he was a young fella. He used to travel across to Kempsey and the coast. My old man is from that way," he said."I always knew he was a good footballer but we're really seeing it now. It was just a matter of how he was going to be as a person and he's really come along."He's a very confident young man.

He says it's only going to get better for the team and him so I'm looking forward to seeing that."Kelly will face off against one of the clubs that sacked him, Newcastle, tomorrow.It'll be a bitter-sweet return to Hunter Stadium, a venue he never got to play at under the masterful Wayne Bennett. Kelly has since formed a slick scrum-base combination with Aidan Sezer and Campbell said the youngsters were the Jekyll and Hyde combination the Gold Coast needed."They've managed to stay under the radar and I don't know how they've been doing it," he said."Apart from Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney, their combination is probably the best, considering it's the first time they've played alongside each other."They're completely different players. Opposites attract."Alby's that kind of x-factor. He brings the surprise element to the team."Aidan is straight up and down. He steers the team around, doesn't do anything wrong and has a great kicking game."The longer you can keep the same team together the more they grow."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...tan-albert-kelly/story-fni3grk4-1226671667155

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James Tamou has a point to prove and debt to repay for the Cowboys this weekend

• PETER BADEL
• THE COURIER-MAIL
• JUNE 29, 2013 12:00AM

James Tamou working hrd during a Cowboys training session this week. Picture: Simmonds ZakSource: The Courier-Mail

​

JAMES Tamou's stint in NRL purgatory is over with the Cowboys enforcer cleared to stake his NSW Origin claims against Cronulla tomorrow night in Townsville.


In a further boost for North Queensland as they fight to salvage their season, star trio Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott and Brent Tate are expected to back up following their Origin II heroics.Tamou was fined $20,000 and hit with a two-match ban, wiping him out of Origin II, after being charged with driving drunk and unlicensed three weeks ago.But the Test bookend can seal his return for the Origin decider with a dominant performance tomorrow night against a Sharks side rocked by the loss of skipper Paul Gallen.But Cowboys coach Neil Henry challenged the prop to ease the strain on front-row partner Scott."Jimmy certainly missed that Origin game and you could see how disappointed he was being on the sideline for us against the Dragons," Henry said. "He really wanted to be out there with the boys, but he sat out and is jumping out of his skin.

He's keen to get back out there and play for his club."He will want to make sure Laurie (Daley, NSW coach) is picking him for the right reasons and that he deserves to be in that team."Scott was outstanding last Wednesday night, tearing through the rucks as he amassed 169m from 18 hit-ups.The co-skipper will relish the chance to dominate the Sharks, but Henry is keen for Tamou to step up after he attracted criticism for their early-season form."We expect the other players will take up the load for 'Scotty'," Henry said. "We need them to play their role. We don't expect Matty Scott to play 60 minutes. He backs up fairly well but he will be under a bit of fatigue."


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...oys-this-weekend/story-fni3g8pa-1226671658395

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Time is all Brett Finch needs to fill void left by injury to Gareth Widdop at Melbourne Storm

• RUSSELL GOULD
• HERALD SUN
• JUNE 29, 2013 12:00AM

Brett Finch steps in for Gareth Widdop in the halves. Picture: Colleen Petch Source: Herald Sun

​

MELBOURNE Storm coach Craig Bellamy can't rule out a few "scratchy" performances from the reigning premiers as they come to terms with the loss of five-eighth Gareth Widdop.


The English international has stayed with the team for tonight's clash with the Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval after suffering a dislocated hip last Monday, sidelining him for the season.Bellamy reported Widdop to be in "good spirits" and helping the team.But having been a mainstay of the line-up since 2011, Bellamy conceded replicating Widdop's output for Storm would be difficult, even from a veteran pro like Brett Finch.The 31-year-old has played just two games for Melbourne since returning to the club this season.The combination of his re-introduction and that of Storm's returning State of Origin stars made it hard for Bellamy to predict just how cohesive his unit would be.

"There's going to be some adjustment, Gareth is a different player to what Brett Finch is," Bellamy said."Finchy hasn't played much with us, it will take a bit of time and bit of patience but we have to make sure we stick at it."The more time you play and train it helps. I don't know how long it is going to take or how scratchy we are going to be, who knows."We'll work hard at it, Brett is a very experienced player, that will help."Wet conditions are expected for tonight's clash, which won't make things any easier for the visitors.Storm had only a five-day turnaround from Monday's loss to the Titans, in which several players spent more time on the field than they were used to.Youngster Tohu Harris and his backrow partner Kevin Proctor played 80 minutes for the first time this season, as did debutant Ben Hampton who also copped a physical barrage."They're going to have to back up. There are only so many players we have at the club," Bellamy said.Storm will be without skipper Cameron Smith tonight, but Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk will both play.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-melbourne-storm/story-fni3gpfg-1226671594867

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James Roberts gets shot at redemption with Penrith Panthers

• JOSH MASSOUD
• THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
• JUNE 29, 2013 12:00AM

Panthers coach Ivan Cleary and James Roberts. Picture: Matthew Sullivan Source: The Daily Telegraph


TONIGHT could mark the start of a memorable and breathtaking career.


Almost a year after he was sacked from South Sydney, one of the club's best young prospects will get his shot at top grade redemption far from the neighbourhoods that led him astray.James Roberts - nephew of former St George, Panthers and Roosters speedster Amos Roberts - made his debut in 2011 at just 18 years of age, earmarked as the NRL's fastest commodity.He posted five tries from 10 games that season, one of which Fox Sports statisticians timed as the quickest any scorer has clocked 40 metres.Since then Roberts has managed just one further outing in elite company, off the bench a month ago for his new club, Penrith. But even that much has been a small miracle, thanks no less to the tremendous and unsung effort Panthers boss Phil Gould has invested into him.Renowned for his love of the punt, Gould took a sizable gamble when he threw Roberts a lifeline last August.

Just a month earlier he was marched from Souths in disgrace, having been reported for creating a disturbance at an adult establishment in club attire. It was the exclamation point on a long and tired list of behavioural breaches.Most of it was prankster-style gags, such as the time when Rabbitohs officials were informed of a golf green being damaged with a cart. But all of it related back to Roberts' disjointed upbringing, which invokes parallels to another wayward star, Blake Ferguson.Like Ferguson, Roberts left the care of his mother when he was just 12 years old.He moved from Ballina on the north coast to the heart of Souths territory in Alexandria with uncle Amos, who at the time was playing regular first grade at the Roosters.Roberts took-up junior footy at La Perouse and all was well until Amos made an unexpected move to Wigan in 2009.

Souths officials attempted to fill the void with local billet families, under whom dozens of previous youngsters had adjusted.But not Roberts, who fell in with a bad crowd. A series of knee problems poisoned the mix, adding idle time and frustration to produce a string of misdemeanours.At one point South Sydney even sent him to England to rehabilitate with Amos, but the regular cycle of offence and repent quickly resumed."There were a few incidents and I know what (Souths coach) Michael Maguire is like from playing under him at Wigan," Amos said."He won't put up with that. So James suffered the consequences and he's only got himself to blame."As a young kid, you just don't appreciate the opportunity you've got."I've tried to tell him that ... so many times. I can only hope he realises it now."People can try and help, but they can only do so much. It's really up to him."It's pretty simple, really. You can chose to have successful career, stay home and look after your body. But if you don't want to do that stop wasting everyone's time."

James' uncle Amos Roberts in action for the Roosters. Picture: Brendan Baker Source: The Daily Telegraph


When Amos returned to Australia late last year, Roberts moved back to their new home in Ryde. But according to Panthers officials there were still behavioural concerns, and yet again serious injury was a common denominator.In his first trial with the Panthers, Roberts broke his ankle and was out for 12 weeks. He made only a handful of appearances in NSW Cup before being called up to the first grade bench against St George Illawarra in round 11.Then he fractured his eye socket. Tonight he's back against the same opposition, making his run-on debut for the Panthers on the wing.In between, Gould has been working frantically to isolate Roberts from the nomadic lifestyle and bad influences that defined him at SouthsThose close to Gould liken these efforts to those that helped Andrew Walker temporarily resurrect his career at the Roosters in the 1990s.There's no shortage of good judges hoping the investment will pay dividends.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...penrith-panthers/story-fni3gfvk-1226671629942

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South Sydney Rabbitohs must hang onto coach Michael Maguire

• PAUL CRAWLEY
• THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
• JUNE 29, 2013 12:00AM

Souths coach Michael Maguire watches over training at Redfern Oval. Picture: Gregg PorteousSource: The Daily Telegraph

​

MARIO Fenech calls him South Sydney’s greatest signing - and he’s not talking about Greg Inglis or Sam Burgess or any of the champions from in his day.


When Michael Maguire arrived last season he was untested in the NRL. Today this formerly dysfunctional club sits five points clear at the top of the table.Who could have imagined this possible at the start of last year?Now try and put a figure on how much Maguire would be worth to the Rabbitohs because, behind the scenes, that is exactly the deal Shane Richardson has been working on for some time.Maguire is off contract at the end of next year and Richardson, understandably, wants him to stay.The talk is they have offered him a five-year deal but so far negotiations remain “ongoing”.Maguire doesn’t talk about his personal business, he just goes about getting the job done.If you didn’t catch Souths’ 32-2 win over Canberra last night, it won’t rate on the season highlights - yet in so many ways it summed up what the Rabbitohs are all about.As Maguire said post-match, when asked what was the best thing about the win: “The boys understand their roles in the team and they just go about it. They play for each other.”With that simple line, he said everything.Canberra are one of the most threatening teams in the NRL but last night they didn’t cross for a single try.Before Maguire arrived at Souths that was unheard of.They could always score points, but they didn’t mind making it a contest.Today they play with a Melbourne-like intensity and discipline.

Then, every now and then, players like Inglis and Merritt hit the go button and you just sit back and admire.It doesn’t matter about the importance of the match, or what the weather’s doing or how many fans are in the stands, they just turn up to play.Each week, for each other, and that’s the secret behind Maguire’s instant success.It’s now all about the team, regardless of reputation or seniority, if you don’t perform on the park or at training, you don’t play NRL on Maguire’s watch.And from discipline and respect comes the camaraderie you see after every try they score. How they come running in from everywhere to celebrate - and in defence they also turn up in numbers.As a player, Maguire was no champion.

He played 13 first grade games for Canberra during two stints back in the 90s and throw in five more games for the Adelaide Rams.But his winning record as a coach is starting to rival the very elite.In two years at Wigan, Maguire had a 79 per cent success rate, at Souths it’s 70 per cent and climbing.Maguire was the brains behind Inglis’ shift to fullback, Sutton’s discovery of self-belief. Adam Reynolds wasn’t a blip on the NRL radar at the start of last year - and just as importantly, like all the good coaches, Maguire has a knack of turning journeymen into players every club would dig deep to keep.And whenever you start talking to these players, almost always the conversation goes back to the coach.A man they respect and admire. A man who hates talking himself up - but the Rabbitohs' performances have made him the headline act.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-michael-maguire/story-fni3gki8-1226671673444

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Sydney Roosters forward Sonny Bill Williams wants officials to leave the game alone

• JOSH MASSOUD
• THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
• JUNE 29, 2013 12:00AM

Sonny Bill Williams trains with the Roosters at Henson Park in Marrickville. Picture: Tim HunterSource: The Daily Telegraph



THEY'RE the wisest words uttered since Origin's "Ban the Biff" debate erupted a fortnight ago.


And for Sonny Bill Williams, they also stand to win him back the admiration of hardcore league fans unhappy about the fabric of their beloved code being unravelled on a weekly basis."I think State of Origin is game unto itself," Williams said yesterday."There's a lot of people coming out and saying that fighting is no good for the kids."(But) I believe State of Origin is its own thing."State of Origin is not there to raise your kids. It's your parents. You do that."The game Williams famously deserted five years ago has changed much, and from a rare press conference outside Roosters HQ, it was clear the dual international doesn't feel the result is necessarily a better product.Not only was Williams "disappointed" to see four players sin-binned on Wednesday night. The 27-year-old also expressed genuine remorse for the death of the shoulder charge, a trademark defensive weapon he described as "an art"."I wouldn't mind the shoulder charge to come back," Williams said."Our doctor (John Orchard) here at the Roosters was vocal."I've spoken to him at length about the ramifications of tackles that go wrong ... you don't want that."But I thought that, instead of outlawing it, they would've come down harder with more penalties so players didn't try shoulder charges."I believe shoulder charging is an art and when you see a really good one you appreciate it."

Whether Williams appreciates what's left of the game he loved as a child and decides to stay for another season at the Roosters remains to be seen.There's been reports of an understanding with chairman Nick Politis to that effect, but Williams refused to shed any light on his intentions ahead of Monday night's heavyweight clash against the Sea Eagles at Allianz Stadium.What Williams does relish is the free agency he was given last week against Canterbury, when he produced a man-of-the-match effort as playmaking forward in the absence of Origin stars James Maloney and Mitchell Pearce.With Maloney (eye socket) out this week, Williams could again find himself at the scrum base against Manly."It probably wasn't that different to when I played rugby, when I was back-up to the number 10," he said.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...e-the-game-alone/story-fni3gn3s-1226671644485

 

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Unwanted former Parramatta Eels players haunting old club

• NICK WALSHAW
• THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
• JUNE 29, 2013 12:00AM

Former Eel Daniel Mortimer in action for the Roosters. Source: Getty Images



DANIEL Mortimer, the kid once signed to a $500,000 contract by Parramatta, is now set to become one of six unwanted Eels halves starting in the NRL this weekend.


With Roosters five-eighth James Maloney, himself a blue and gold reject, sidelined with a fractured eye socket, Mortimer now shapes as the short-odds replacement against Manly in Monday Night Football.Should the 24-year-old utility start, he will join fellow Eels discards Jeff Robson (Sharks), Brett Finch (Storm), Albert Kelly (Titans), John Morris (Sharks) and Feleti Mateo (Warriors).Had Canterbury not had the bye, that figure could have risen to seven or eight, with Bulldogs halves Kris Keating and Trent Hodkinson also starring for Parramatta during their early years.The bizarre set of figures is certain to annoy Eels fans given their team is not only slumped on the bottom of the NRL ladder, but has unsuccessfully trialled a host of partners alongside halfback Chris Sandow in the past two years.

Quizzed by The Daily Telegraph about his old club this week, Mortimer smiled and said: "Parramatta? Geez, that seems like a long time ago doesn't it. I actually played out there only a couple of weeks ago and it felt like a life time since that was my home. It was a strange feeling going back, weird."And while it's taken longer than I would've liked to get back to the NRL, I'm happy with how things have turned out."The Eels have been struggling for a couple of years and, while I've had my own frustrations, it was probably a good time for me to get out."While Parramatta now sit last, seven of the eight unwanted halves are now playing with teams inside the top eight.In fact, Finch has been catapulted into the starting line-up of defending premiers Melbourne after regular No.6 Gareth Widdop suffered a dislocated hip.Back in 2009, the affable playmaker won a premiership with the Storm (which would later be stripped by the NRL) after being cut from the Eels midseason.Of course, it needs to be noted that Kelly has been shifted through several clubs because of ill-discipline, while Maloney also humped his swag through Melbourne and Auckland before becoming a NSW Blue.

But when, say, Robson and Morris combine for three tries like they did in thumping the Eels back in round 14, the Eels fans hurt."Personally, though, I'm more than happy with how everything has turned out," continued Mortimer, who led Parramatta to a grand final in his own 2009 rookie season."I've had a tough couple of years but it's great to be back now playing week-in, week-out with the Roosters."After starring at halfback in the Roosters' 20-18 upset win over Canterbury last weekend, where he replaced NSW Origin seven Mitchell Pearce, Mortimer is confident of doing the same for Maloney."I see myself more as a five-eighth anyway and I think 'Robbo' does too," he explained. "That's where I've played my best footy in the past and I trained there quite a bit during pre-season."Jimmy's (Maloney) a great player and we'll definitely miss him."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...aunting-old-club/story-fni3ga7r-1226671588565

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Young gun Ashley Taylor could be the playmaker to save the Broncos

• PETER BADEL
• THE SUNDAY MAIL (QLD)
• JUNE 30, 2013 12:00AM

Broncos young gun Ashley Taylor in action. Picture: Darren England. Source: The Sunday Mail (Qld)




ASHLEY Taylor is 18 and has not played a minute of NRL football, but he has emerged as the Broncos' great hope at halfback after signing a lucrative new deal worth $300,000.


The Sunday Mail can reveal Taylor has formally inked a three-year contract, securing the boom playmaker, currently a member of Brisbane's under-20s, until the end of 2016.But it is the value of his upgraded deal, which will rise incrementally, that underlines the esteem in which Taylor is held by a Broncos club searching for its next long-term playmaker.With Corey Norman joining Parramatta next season and halves Peter Wallace and Scott Prince both off-contract in 2014, Taylor is at the forefront of coach Anthony Griffin's scrumbase succession plan.A Toowoomba Brothers junior, Taylor has been a hit in the Holden Cup this season. In his first five games in the starting side, he led the Broncos to five successive wins, making five line breaks and scoring six tries, including a hat-trick in the 28-22 defeat of the Titans.Taylor suffered a season-ending shoulder injury against the Warriors three weeks ago.But such is his talent, the Broncos moved quickly with a contract extension and the boom playmaker is set to be added to the Broncos' senior squad in November upon his recovery from surgery."Ashley hasn't played much footy but he is someone we think has real potential.

The other one is Duncan Paia'Aua (under-20s five-eighth)," Griffin said. "It's been great to resign him, he won't play any more footy this year because of injury but we will work with him and develop him."A former Queensland under-15s halfback, Taylor is rated one of the most promising products to emerge from the Toowoomba region in the past decade.Also a talented touch-football player who represented his state, Taylor has work to do on his defence, but Griffin is impressed by his attitude and game awareness."Like most halves, the little footy Ashley has played he has been very composed," Griffin said. "He is able to get a team around the park. We haven't seen too much of him yet but he's a good kid."He has a good work ethic and has played some decent footy at under-20s level, that's why we signed him to a new deal."Taylor's Toowoomba Brothers junior coach, Mike Hollman, said the classy playmaker had the ability to develop into a senior shot-caller at the Broncos.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...save-the-broncos/story-fni3gv5x-1226671892650

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Warriors danger man Kevin Locke back to tackle Broncos

• CHRIS GARRY, PETER BADEL
• THE SUNDAY MAIL (QLD)
• JUNE 30, 2013 12:00AM

Danger man: Kevin Locke, pictured in action against the Titans, ran amok against the Broncos earlier this month in Brisbane. Source: Getty Images

​

BRONCOS coach Anthony Griffin has revenge on his mind.


But he will have to contend with New Zealand Warriors fullback Kevin Locke, who plays his first NRL game today since destroying Brisbane earlier this month.In Locke's last match, he produced a near perfect performance as the Warriors embarrassed the Broncos 56-18 at Suncorp Stadium.Locke's stats line were dream-like, running for 152 metres as he laid on three tries, created three line breaks, made two line breaks himself, scored a try and was error free.Still hurting from that drubbing, Griffin will play all four of his Origin stars at Mt Smart in a further sign his representative resting policy has been discarded.Griffin said his team was motivated to prove their club was better than the 10-try massacre they let occur in round 11."We were very hurt by that, as anyone would be, and it is still very fresh in our minds what happened that night," Griffin said."It was a totally different squad we had but still, we expect better than that. We weren't proud of that performance."It's another game this week, but we want to perform with a lot more integrity than we did that night."

The Broncos are last start winners, defeating a poor Wests Tigers team 32-12. They must win 60 per cent of their remaining games to scrape into eighth place.Griffin said the cliche still applied for his team, one week at a time."It's not about what has happened in the past for us," Griffin said."It's a matter of taking our opportunities now."We did what we had to do against the Tigers and now it's a matter of building on that."Hurting their chances today will be the inclusion of Locke, who is playing for his future as he his off contract and England's Test star Sam Tomkins is reportedly Auckland bound next season.Warriors coach Matt Elliott named the same 17 players used in the 23-12 win over the Sydney Roosters on June 16 with Locke included on a six man bench.It is understood Locke has recovered from a hip flexor injury and will start in the No.1 jersey.Elliott said they were preparing for a vastly improved Brisbane."Regardless of who they have or don't have, it's going to be one of our toughest games of the year," he said."We won't be playing a side remotely like the one we played in Brisbane ... the mentality they bring will be pretty focused."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/warriors-danger-man-kevin-locke-back-to-tackle-broncos/story-fni3gv5x-1226671890476

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Gold Coast Titans saviour Darryl Kelly vows he is in for the long haul

• PETER BADEL
• THE SUNDAY MAIL (QLD)
• JUNE 30, 2013 12:00AM

Bright future on horizon: Darryl Kelly is confident the Titans' dark days are behind them. Picture: Jerad Williams

​

DARRYL Kelly, the white knight business tycoon who helped save the Gold Coast Titans from financial ruin, has vowed he is in for the long haul with the rebuilding club.

The 62-year-old has pledged to be bullied by no one, including Titans founder Michael Searle, as he helps the club continue its climb from the brink of bankruptcy to title contention.Ahead of Gold Coast's clash against Newcastle today, Kelly opened up about his role in hauling the Titans empire out of a $25 million black hole that prompted an external NRL audit.At the time, the ARL Commission seriously considered shutting down the Titans.Thanks in part to the emergence of Kelly, the Titans held on to their NRL licence, averted a PR disaster, cleared millions in debt and are now on course for their first finals appearance since 2010.As Kelly attests, the resuscitation of the Titans has not been a one-man exercise.But in an exclusive interview with The Sunday Mail, the multi-millionaire detailed his fortuitous arrival as the club's financial saviour and dismissed claims former managing director Searle, still the largest shareholder, wields power at the Titans.

"I take offence to that line of questioning because it implies that Michael (Searle) has some sort of power," Kelly said."I want to set the record straight - Michael is only one of three shareholders. He is not the majority shareholder."I stay out of the limelight, but my personality is not one of someone who gets walked over."I can assure you my intentions of being involved in this club are singular and that is I want to see the Titans survive and prosper."A rugby league side on the Gold Coast is imperative."I am a rugby league man, I want the best for the Titans, and no one will walk over the top of me ... I can assure you of that."Intensely private, Kelly hails from the southern NSW town of Wagga Wagga. He made his fortune in sand and gravel, before diversifying into property development and shopping centres.As humble as he is unpretentious, Kelly doesn't tell you the story of how he saved Wagga Leagues Club from going broke in 2004. And how in 2009, when he was named the NRL's volunteer of the year, his $10,000 cheque went straight into rugby league's grassroots in the NSW Riverina.So when Kelly moved to the Gold Coast 16 months ago, around the time the Titans were on their deathbed, the timing was impeccable.

"I had no intention of ever getting involved with the Titans," he said."Then I read about the licence being in jeopardy and other syndicates being put together."I had a discussion with my wife and said, 'I'm never going to stop working, why don't I invest in something I love to give me some enjoyment'."She said, 'Go for your life'."I felt the Titans had done a great job promoting the game on the Coast."I rang Michael Searle and I said: 'If you need a hand with the club here's my number, give me a shout' and that's how it started."Without Kelly, the rescue operation could have hit a dead-end.It was the company named after him, Darrkell Pty Ltd, which was granted a new NRL licence when the ARLC approved the rescue package from Searle's debt-laden web of companies.Under the new structure, Kelly, via his separate company Bruttund Investments, bought 27,166 of the Titans' 85,500 shares. ASIC records show he outlaid $3.25 million for a 31.8 per cent stake in the Titans. Fellow investor Anshuman Magazine owns 29.2 per cent of the club, while Searle remains the largest shareholder with 33,334 shares for a 39 per cent stake.That alone gives Searle, who quit as managing director after nearly sinking the Titans, some clout in the new regime. But Kelly defended Searle's right to remain at the club, outlining plans to appoint three independent directors in the com-ing weeks to beef-up the Titans' governance.Asked how any executive could survive after racking up a record debt, Kelly said: "To be honest, there weren't many people who wanted to help the Titans."I don't think the NRL wanted to start again because of the cost factor, that is the truth, so Michael was given every opportunity to refinance the group and the club. They preferred for Michael Searle to resurrect something and that is the outcome we had."The commission were tough on us but it was a good thing because it's made the club what it is now."What Michael did in the past is not my concern."I am only concerned about the future, planning for the future, ensuring it is bright and rosy and we never get into those issues again."We're getting very close to the appointment of some independent directors.

We want an outside perspective."I'm only a board member but I have been in the trenches doing what I can to turn this club around."We don't want a huge board. Five to seven is a good number for an effective committee so that's the range we are looking at ... it will be healthy to have an external view."Despite the shock mid-week resignation of chief executive David May, Kelly believes the Titans have navigated turbulent waters. The club is said to be debt-free and Kelly says he won't risk having his reputation besmirched."I've been in business four decades. Every business I have been involved in has produced a turnaround," he said. "I have never been frightened to give it a go."I'm a stickler for doing the right thing. My integrity is my life. I have a good reputation and I intend to keep it that way."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...or-the-long-haul/story-fni3grk4-1226671869092

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Cronulla Sharks forward Andrew Fifita's success inspires twin brother David

• DAVID RICCIO
• THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
• JUNE 30, 2013 12:00AM

Cronulla Sharks teammates and twins Andrew (below) and David Fifita. Source: The Sunday Telegraph




THEY finish each other's sentences like an old married couple. They share the same laugh that echoes into a cackle. They walk the same, right down to that right-foot, which is ever so slightly pigeon-toed.

And they speak with such similar haste that not even their girlfriends can translate which of the brothers said what.But drawing comparisons between identical twins, Andrew and David Fifita, is something the brothers will never agree on."I'm the boss," says Andrew, who is the elder twin by 10 minutes."No way. It goes on size, so I'm top dog," David interrupts.Whose the fastest?"I am, I'll race Dave right now," Andrew claims, as he points to a strip of asphalt."Please, I'll beat you, especially over the longer distance," David, who was a former cross country champion, snaps back.Every rugby league supporter knows the Andrew Fifita story.Unwanted by the Wests Tigers, given a second chance at the Cronulla Sharks, the NSW Origin prop has proven the most consistent Blues forward throughout the current series. But if David Fifita embraces his own second coming in the NRL, he may just end up proving who really is the top dog.Ignoring the security of a two-year deal under Storm coach Craig Bellamy in Melbourne, David has returned from 10 months playing league in France to join his twin brother at Cronulla for a contract that extends to no more than the remaining 10 games of this season.

The deal is simple: reach your potential to earn a new deal or see you later. And that's exactly the way David likes it."I knew if I had that second year locked in already, I might not have been as focused. This will drive me," said David, who will commence his NRL quest in NSW Cup next week."It's my last chance. It's taken me years to realise if I'm good enough, I have to take it to the next level."A precocious talent, who possessed a wicked fend either at centre or back-row, David overshadowed his twin brother when they last played together in under-20s for the Wests Tigers in 2009."I always rated David better than me," Andrew said."I got to this position today because of the way he attacked. My fend that I use now, I learnt that off my brother."He was that much more dominant than me growing up."I was in the shadow of David.I never thought I would go past him."

Cronulla Sharks teammates and twins Andrew (left) and David Fifita. Source: The Sunday Telegraph


But physical prowess is only half the story. Hard work, dedication and attitude is where it all came unstuck for David."It comes down to an off-field thing. It's mental, it's doing those extras. Those little one per-centers off the field are what counts," Andrew said."I stuck to those rituals that first-graders do, like coming to training on days off, but coming through the grades David didn't want a bar of it."Now he's back, he's ready to go and do that hard work."David claims his brother's remarkable rise to Origin level has proven an inspiration."Before going to France I had everyone telling me, 'You should be there, you should be there' of which I just kept ignoring and not taking serious," David said."But the big eye-opener was when he got the call-up for Origin. It made me realise how much he's done, how young he is."At one stage we were together and I went off the track and he stayed on the track."Now that he's done it. It's just pushing me to be there with him."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...in-brother-david/story-fni3gol8-1226671905873

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Bondi hitman Jared Waerea-Hargreaves goes old school

• JAMES HOOPER
• THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
• JUNE 30, 2013 12:00AM

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves returns tomorrow night against the Sea Eagles for the first time since being suspended agains the same team in round nine. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Daily Telegraph


THE making of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves began last September, when Kiwi coach Stephen Kearney dumped him from the Test side in favour of Dogzilla Sam Kasiano.

Given the season the Roosters had and the way Kasiano helped impose the Bulldogs all the way to a grand final, it was no great shock.But behind-closed-doors, the Roosters prop had good reason to be fuming. In the week leading up to the announcement, Waerea-Hargreaves was told by the Kiwi camp his place in the front row was safe.Rather than get dirty about cancelling the end-of-season trip to Thailand he had planned in favour of earning his 12th Test jumper, the Roosters prop nicknamed "Hollywood" decided to get even.Tomorrow, when he returns at Allianz Stadium after a five-week suspension for a high tackle on Manly opposite George Rose, the Roosters forward will tip the scales at 121kg.Last season, the Roosters had him playing as low as 103kg. With the additional weight has come a confidence to play an old-school style of front-row football.Up until he was suspended, Waerea-Hargreaves had been typically confrontational and aggressive but without the cheap penalties and niggle.

His statistics are as good as they have ever been, averaging 116 metres per game and 28 tackles.According to Roosters coach Trent Robinson, his standing in the game demanded being selected in the starting side to play Manly despite the five-week lay-off."Jared had a slight calf strain after that Manly game so he's been doing a lot of wrestling, running, boxing and weights. It was a small pre-season for him for about three weeks there," Robinson said."I believe he's one of the best props in our competition and I think he needs to own that. That's why I want him to get back out there and get back to where he left off with us."I think we did notice his absence. I thought Luke O'Donnell and Martin Kennedy really stepped up, along with Frank Paul Nu'uausala, but it's hard to replace someone like Jared - and we couldn't replace him."Under Robinson, the Roosters have developed from one of the worst defensive teams in the competition to one of the best. On numbers alone, the Roosters and tomorrow night's opponents Manly are setting the benchmark.

The Roosters rank first in the NRL in terms of missed tackles, metres conceded and line breaks conceded and second in terms of points and tries conceded.But Bryan Fletcher, a key member of the club's last premiership win in 2002, reasons the return of Waerea-Hargreaves is crucial.Fletcher said it is difficult to replicate an enforcer like English hardman Adrian Morley in the modern game, but Waerea-Hargreaves is the closest the club is going to get to a player of that stature."The thing I liked about him years ago was when he was a rookie on the Test scene and he had the confidence to call out Petero Civoniceva. That really stood out to me and made me want to watch him," Fletcher said."But there was a period where I'm sure by his own admission Jared would say he wasn't playing as well as he would have liked."This season is completely different. Up until the point when he got suspended, he was leading the pack."

The Sunday Telegraph wanted to talk to the Roosters prop and Rose about the return bout at Allianz Stadium, but both clubs declined, not wanting to add further fuel to the situation.Even Queensland Origin legend Gorden Tallis has come full circle in his view on Waerea-Hargreaves, who he labelled a "cheap shot" merchant last year."I said all the niggle in his game, jumping on blokes when they couldn't defend themselves and all the talk, to me that's not a tough player," Tallis said. "The tough guys are the ones who just go out and go about their business and get the job done."They don't need to talk themselves up."To his credit, he looks like he's changed. I hope he keeps playing like that."When the Roosters upset the Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval in round nine, they effectively announced themselves as a legitimate contender for the premiership.But losses to Melbourne and the Warriors highlighted weaknesses.

It is significant that Waerea-Hargreaves was suspended for both games."Last week we were stumbling until we found a bit of confidence against the Bulldogs," Robinson said."It's hard during Origin because it's difficult to structure training. I think we're in a good place and it's up to us to determine how the back end of the year looks."We've set ourselves up well, but we need to back up some of that early form over the next two months."When Waerea-Hargreaves was a young forward at Manly for three seasons, coach Des Hasler used to wind him up against the NRL side from time to time.If ever a Narrabeen training session lacked intensity, the rookie prop would be instructed to up the tempo.On more than one occasion, players had to be separated. The Sea Eagles, better than anyone, know what's coming tomorrow night.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-goes-old-school/story-fni3gn3s-1226671926722

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What's the Buzz: Board bust-up cripples Manly Sea Eagles

• PHIL ROTHFIELD
• THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH
• JUNE 30, 2013 12:00AM

THE soap opera inside the Manly Sea Eagles boardroom continues after last Thursday night's board meeting had to be abandoned following another disagreement between directors.

Banned former Leagues Club chairman Bob Reilly walked out when the majority shareholders, the Penn family, asked for all future meetings to be taped.It follows a disagreement over minutes from a previous meeting when Rick Penn's apology to Darrell Williams from their racial dispute was not recorded in the official minutes.
To end any future confusion, the Penn family have strongly indicated they will not attend future meetings until there is an agreement on taping all conversations from inside the board room.It could potentially lead to months of delays in running the football club business.At the moment, the warring parties cannot even agree on annual security of a two-year%ll club staff.Surely it's time for NRL chief executive Dave Smith and his senior staff to step in.


The game cannot continue to allow such a dysfunctional board to hold back one of the NRL's leading clubs.The Penn family recently put forward a motion to call in Smith and the NRL to try to settle the long-running disputes between themselves, Quantum and the Manly Sea Eagles football club.Directors of Quantum, whose share price tumbled to a record low of .005 cents last week, and the football club directors voted against it.There is now grave concern that the boardroom brawling will spill over to coach Geoff Toovey and the players.It's a miracle it has not yet affected the football team who again remain in serious contention for the finals.
The Penn family has poured more than $20 million into the Sea Eagles and purchased the Leagues Club to save it from going under.Yet while they are major shareholders, they only have three of the seven votes against the football club and Quantum who vote together on every issue.There is no question the dramas are holding Manly back and even attempts by the club's godfather Ken Arthurson end all hostilities have failed.The game's best CEO Todd Greenberg recently spoke of the importance of operating under a stable board."It's been an absolute pillar of our success at Canterbury to have a strong and stable board behind the footy team," he said.


***

THE Wests Tigers covered up the real reason why struggling superstar Benji Marshall was demoted to the bench last month.A furious coach Mick Potter dumped the five-eighth for disciplinary reasons, not poor form, as was suggested at the time.In the week leading up to the Souths clash at ANZ Stadium, Benji was on the Tigers' rehab list with fullback Tim Moltzen and centre Blake Ayshford.The club has a strict no-alcohol policy for players under medical treatment but word got back to Potter that all three had spent a night out drinking.Potter had no hesitation in benching the champion playmaker but agreed to keep it out of the media.I keep hearing this will be Benji's final season at the club and that he will be looking for what he probably needs most - a fresh start in 2014.


***

DISGRACED Blues star Blake Ferguson was spotted in the last place you'd expect to find him after Wednesday night's Origin - a Brisbane pub around midnight.A patron at the Exchange Hotel phoned me to say Ferguson was there and enjoying a beer despite recent claims he was off the grog.I sent Ferguson a text on Friday night to ask him about the night out. He first denied even being there: "Nah mate! I've been laying low!"When I pressed him on the drinking, he replied: "I was there for I reckon 3 mins to see my best mate! I don't see anything wrong with that buzz"I don't drink anymore. Been off it since I got in trouble mate!"

Ferguson had been in Brisbane to watch the Origin match with boxer and mentor Anthony Mundine.Mundine did not go to the pub. He texted me saying: "He don't drink Buzz. He is off it mate. Trust me, when I'm finished with him, he will never want a drink again."Ferguson is staying at Mundine's home in Sydney while he awaits his court appearance on July 16 on an indecent assault charge.The pair train every day. At the game, Mundine and Ferguson sat with the family of Nathan Merritt, the man who replaced him."I wanted Blake to be there in that crowd to understand what he had given up," Mundine said.


***

SAINT

ISRAEL Folau. He's the first Australian player in more than a decade to make the world's most boring game, rugby union, remotely interesting and even watchable.

***

SINNER I

IT makes me feel sick every time NSW born, bred, raised and schooled Greg Inglis runs out in a Maroons jersey.

***

SINNER II

THE shocking performances of Origin referees Shayne Hayne and Ashley Klein, both rattled by the 50,000-odd lunatics at Suncorp Stadium.

***

SHOOSH

WHICH State of Origin star's marriage is on the rocks after his wife discovered his second mobile phone full of text messages to call girls and phone numbers to escort agencies. She has even spoken to his coach about it.

***

SPOTTED

BLAKE Ferguson and Lote Tuqiri greeting each other with a Gen Y handshake at Brisbane airport after the Origin on Thursday morning.

***

MONEY MADNESS

TALK about having no respect for money. On Friday a punter invested $400 with the NSW TAB on the Parramatta Eels to play the Broncos in the grand final at odds of 5000/1 for a $2 million collect. His only hope would be the other 14 clubs getting busted for salary cap rorting.

***

RAPER SURGERY

FORMER referees boss Stuart Raper has undergone hip replacement surgery to repair an old footy injury that was preventing him from walking for more than a couple of hundred metres.

***

T-REX SALE

IN the ultimate insult, struggling Bulldogs forward Tony "T-Rex" Williams has been put up for sale on eBay by one disgruntled fan. Listed under the "used" section, bidding started at $1. The former Blues and Kangaroos forward has struggled big time to make any impression since arriving at Belmore.

***

BOOM centre Dylan Walker will keep every penny of the three-year contract he signed at the South Sydney Rabbitohs last week.
While most NRL players hand over 6.5 per cent of their earnings to their managers, Walker doesn't have an agent shopping him around. Instead his mum and sister negotiated the deal - and a nice little pay rise - with South Sydney chief executive Shane Richardson.

***

FOOTY caller Andrew Voss could be making a free-to-air TV comeback at Channel 7 for the rugby league World Cup in October in the UK.The network wants Voss to call the Kangaroos' matches and is considering Laurie Daley and Shane Webcke as co-commentators.Jim Wilson, husband and handbag of stunning newsreader Chris Bath, is likely to host the event.




http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...manly-sea-eagles/story-fni3fbgz-1226671920197

 

[fj182]

I wonder who the shoosh part in that article was about

 

[rhugh89]

Melbourne Storm rebuild for NRL clash with Brisbane Broncos

• RUSSELL GOULD
• HERALD SUN
• JULY 01, 2013 12:00AM

MELBOURNE Storm will be down on troops and desperate to improve the form of an unsuccessful two-game road trip when they play the Broncos this Friday night at AAMI Park.


After losing five-eighth Gareth Widdop to a season-ending hip injury against the Titans the previous week, in-form prop Jason Ryles strained his medial ligament in the 22-6 loss to Wests Tigers on Saturday night and could miss up to three weeks.The Storm were outplayed badly in slushy conditions at Leichhardt Oval and could find the effort draining on their efforts this week.Storm will get skipper Cameron Smith back for the clash with the Broncos, which is a must win for Melbourne to stay in the hunt for a top-two finish.After starting the season on fire with seven straight wins, Melbourne has struggled to find consistency since then.From their past eight games the defending premiers have managed three wins and a draw - and one of those victories was a last-gasp home win over Newcastle.

The following week Storm will be without Smith and three other State of Origin players, as well as Widdop and Ryles, for the clash with last year's grand final combatants, Canterbury.Storm football manager Frank Ponissi said the players were tired after a week away from home and two losses, especially Saturday's in which five Storm players made 30 tackles or more.Ryan Hinchcliffe made 50 and young lock Tohu Harris 48 in his second straight 80-minute effort.

Dejected Melbourne Storm players. Picture: Sam Ruttyn



"There are some very tired boys and a few bumps and bruises and they are a bit disappointed," he said."But they are also very keen to make amends on Friday night."Ponissi said he had no issues with the NRL game going ahead despite surface water making it hard to stand up in certain parts of the field."The NRL made the right call to cancel the early games, and I don't think the players were put in any danger by taking to the field," he said. "We wouldn't have wanted it postponed either."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...brisbane-broncos/story-fni3gpfg-1226672212899

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Robbie Farah's as good as Cam Smith, says Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter

• PAUL CRAWLEY
• THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
• JULY 01, 2013 12:00AM

Robbie Farah in action for the Tigers against the Storm. Source: Getty Images



WESTS Tigers coach Mick Potter reckons Robbie Farah's form in 2013 proves he now rivals Cameron Smith as the game's best hooker.


Backing up from Origin II, Farah was again inspirational as he masterminded the Tigers' upset over Melbourne on Saturday night with a magnificent wet-weather performance just three days after he clocked up 52 tackles for NSW.All season Potter has been signing the praises of his skipper and this is not the first time the coach has compared Farah to the Australian and Queensland captain."He is right up there (with Smith)," Potter said."I mean, it all depends on how you look at both players but they both have great attributes and I don't think you can split them."I'd hate to be the Australian selector to say who is in and who is out."It's good for Australia that they can both play 80 minutes for a team competing in the World Cup."To be fair to Robbie, he has been performing like that all year. He has been performing between a nine out of 10 and a 10 out of 10 every week.

It is a credit to him how he maintains that standard every week but it is no coincidence when you see how hard he works."However, Potter woke yesterday to more headlines about his future at the Tigers and speculation Benji Marshall could play Super Rugby for Auckland next year.Asked if he expected Marshall to be at the Tigers next year, Potter said: "I'd like to think so. Benji loves playing for this club and he'd love nothing more than to stay here. I can't say if he will or he won't, but I'd like to think he'd be more inclined to be staying than going."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...oach-mick-potter/story-fni3gpz1-1226672200493

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Manly Sea Eagles coach Geoff Toovey says Sydney Roosters are a big test

• DEAN RITCHIE
• THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
• JULY 01, 2013 12:00AM

Sonny Bill Williams trains with the Roosters at Moore Park in the lead up to tonight's big clash with the Sea Eagles.Picture: Tim Hunter Source: The Daily Telegraph


THE key question in tonight's match at Allianz Stadium will centre on whether Manly have the mental and physical strength to combat and overcome a relentless Sydney Roosters.


That is the opinion of Sea Eagles coach Geoff Toovey ahead of what shapes as a magnificent Monday night game between two of the premiership heavyweights.Toovey has watched the Roosters slowly but surely wear down their opponents this year with a simple yet highly effective style."They play a simple style on the back of some quality players," Toovey toldThe Daily Telegraph last night."The Roosters are dominating teams through good yardage and field position. Teams have cracked this year because the Roosters are relentless."Asked if Manly's challenge was not to crack, Toovey said: "I think so."Both teams defended well last time the two teams met (in round nine, a 16-4 win by the Roosters at Brookvale).

They took advantage of a couple of our mistakes and punished us."Hopefully we can put pressure on them and they make mistakes that we can capitalise on."Manly fullback Brett Stewart trained yesterday and looks certain to return from injury in tonight's game. That would push Peta Hiku out of the side."'Snake' (Stewart) got through the session," Toovey said. "We will see how he pulls up but so far, so good. I would suggest he would play."This match offers so much.Manly will send out a star-studded side that includes Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai, Anthony Watmough, David Williams, Kieran Foran, Daly Cherry-Evans and Glenn Stewart.But the Roosters have their own glamour through Sonny Bill Williams, Michael Jennings, Anthony Minichiello and Mitchell Pearce. Daniel Mortimer will replace the injured James Maloney at five-eighth.Roosters prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves will return tonight from suspension. One interesting individual line-up will come on the wing, where David Williams meets rising Roosters star Daniel Tupou.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...s-are-a-big-test/story-fni3gnk1-1226672200889

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Broken leg ends Gold Coast Titans centre Jamal Idris' season

• EMMA GREENWOOD
• GOLD COAST BULLETIN
• JULY 01, 2013 12:00AM

Jamal Idris was forced from the ground early after suffering a season-ending broken leg against the Knights. Source: Getty Images



THE Titans are resigned to being without Jamal Idris for the remainder of the season after the form centre broke his leg and suffered a suspected dislocated ankle in Newcastle yesterday.


Gold Coast will rush Luke O'Dwyer into the side for Saturday's clash against Penrith in Darwin, with Idris expected to undergo surgery this week.While it is his attacking ability that is most headline-grabbing, it is his brutal defence that has been the most improved component of his game this season and is what the Titans - in fifth place and the best-placed Queensland side - will miss from him the most.Idris was forced off the ground in the opening minutes of yesterday's 46-16 loss to the Knights.As his teammates left for Sydney last night, the 22-year-old was in John Hunter Hospital in Newcastle with a broken fibula - an injury similar to that sustained by teammate Beau Falloon earlier this season - and possible dislocated ankle."I don't think it's minor, put it that way," coach John Cartwright said.Idris was distraught at having to leave the match and force a backline reshuffle which exposed the Titans' frail right-edge defence.

He took to Twitter asking for forgiveness from his Titans teammates for letting them down, something Cartwright hoped was the pain medication talking. But Cartwright said Idris had been upset when they spoke at halftime before he had left for hospital."He was very despondent at halftime, he doesn't like missing football," Cartwright said."It's the thing he enjoys most, and I think he knows it's something that might keep him on the sideline for a while."Idris has been in outstanding form, sparking talk of a recall to the NSW Origin side to add to his solitary state cap.The Gold Coast first shuffled William Zillman into right centre before shoring up their line with the reliable David Mead, who could fill the role again this week after a successful return from a jaw injury."(The loss of Idris) was a big blow but I don't want to use that as an excuse, we were just a little bit loose right from the start," Cartwright said.

Gold Coast enforcer Nate Myles was unable to back up from State of Origin, and fellow co-captain Greg Bird might have wished he did the same as Newcastle snapped a four-game losing streak in style.Newcastle winger James McManus scored a club-record four tries.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...mal-idris-season/story-fni3grk4-1226672216264

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Monday Buzz: Bore must kick International Rugby Board into action

• PHIL ROTHFIELD
• THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
• JULY 01, 2013 12:00AM

RUGBY purists no doubt enjoyed the Wallabies' victory over the Lions on Saturday night.


League tragics like this columnist found it exciting in the closeness of the scores but lacking in skill and creativity.It's hard to believe the visitors almost won the game with no tries, no line breaks and just three offloads.If fans can get a kick out of watching a penalty goal shootout for 76 minutes, good luck to them.I couldn't believe the headline in one newspaper yesterday: "Daring Wallabies prevail in a thriller."There have now been 21 penalty goal shots in two Test matches.Whatever happened to the running rugby days when we had the Ella brothers, Campese and Horan with an emphasis on using the football and scoring tries.These days teams just play for a penalty and an attempt at goal.Games are decided by referee interpretations of highly subjective technical scrummaging and ruck decisions that few people understand.

I hope rah-rah fans watched the highlights from the Wests Tigers-Melbourne Storm NRL game at Leichhardt Oval.Blake Ayshford's try shortly before halftime showed glorious skill in atrocious conditions (video below).A 90m movement started by winger Tim Simona featured Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah before Ayshford slid over.It had everything - speed, skill, flair, footwork, passing, teamwork and desperation.You switch over to the rugby Test and the few excitement machines like Israel Folau hardly get the ball. In the first half he had just two touches for 12m.Surely that sort of possession starvation will convince Folau to return to the NRL next year.I loved this tweet a punter sent me late Saturday night to describe the rugby game."Ruck, kick, maul, baffling penalty, 50m goal, 3pts, 5min scrum, penalty, 50m goal, 3pts, no spread. Ever. Repeat."It pretty well sums up what we'd just watched.Rugby league has had its periods too where the game suffered as a spectacle from negative play.The value of a field goal was changed from two points to one point because fans wanted tries, not Eric Simms drop goals.Various rules were altered after low-scoring grand finals in the mid 1980s.

Canterbury beat Parramatta 6-4, then St George 7-6 the following year. Parramatta beat the Bulldogs 4-2 the season after that.Bulldogs coach Warren Ryan had turned the code into a game of chess and shackled champions like Steve Mortimer.At least the code did something about it. In rugby league there are no rules in changing the rules.The NRL makes changes where necessary and the rest of the game just falls into line.We had the introduction of the interchange to keep fresh players on the field.The 5m rule became the 10m rule.When the Bulldogs monotonously kept bombing Dragons fullback Glen Burgess to get repeat line drop-outs, we introduced 20m restarts.In other sports everything has to go through committees, sub-committees, rule and referee panels at IRB or FIFA levels.These groups need to have a long hard look at what's happening in rugby union.The purists might enjoy their penalty goal shootouts but no one else gets a kick out of it.




ST GEORGE Illawarra are in crisis and their fans have had enough.Social media lit up on Saturday night after the loss to the Panthers virtually ended their finals hopes.The old "Oust Doust, Slice Price" tweets were getting a good send around.St George Illawarra's on-field problems are obvious - they can't score points.The Dragons have scored more than 18 points only three times this season. In the past two years they have scored 18 points or less 28 times.

They make a lot of offloads (14.1 per game), which is the most of any team, but have no genuine structure and just offload when they can't break through the line and end up going from one side of the field to the other without making headway.

Halfback is obviously the problem. Nathan Fien is going OK, but he is really only a fill-in halfback.Jamie Soward has gone and there is nowhere else to turn.Genuine match-winners Josh Dugan and Brett Morris need quality halves to create their opportunities.The Dragons also can't win on the road. They have only won five of their past 28 away matches.


HIGHLIGHT

Blake Ayshford’s spectacular try for the Tigers on Saturday night was the result of absolutely breathtaking skill and team work.

LOWLIGHT

Surely the pressure is building on Dragons CEO Peter Doust following another ordinary performance against the Panthers. Someone has to start taking responsibility for yet another dismal season.


* SURELY Lote Tuqiri has played his final game of NRL for the Wests Tigers. There is no way Mick Potter could choose him ahead of young guns David Nofoaluma, Tim Simona or Marika Koroibete.


* NOW I’ve seen everything … the great Greg Inglis packed down in the second-row at one stage against the Raiders on Friday night and even played half-back for a second-half scrum.


* THE NRL will release the full schedule for the final six weeks of the premiership on Wednesday. Hopefully we’ll get more Sunday afternoon football in Sydney.



http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/monday-buzz-bore-must-kick-international-rugby-board-into-action/story-fni3fbgz-1226672161769

 

[rhugh89]

Watching the Manly vs Roosters game and Boyd Cordner is taking the Conversions....

He is 0/2 so far

 

[rhugh89]

Brisbane Broncos believe they can turn it around

• CHRIS GARRY
• THE COURIER-MAIL
• JULY 02, 2013 12:00AM

THE Broncos are sinking towards their worst NRL season but the players are adamant they have finally found the belief to begin the winning streak they desperately crave.


The Broncos sit 12th on the NRL ladder after 16 rounds, their lowest ranking this late in a season since the NRL was formed in 1998.Their previous worst placing from round 16 or later was 11th in 1999, the season which prompted Allan Langer to retire.That year the team rallied late to finish eighth but were eliminated in the first final.Broncos veteran Corey Parker said the Broncos showed in Sunday's 18-16 loss to the New Zealand Warriors that they too could string wins together to sneak into the finals.

Parker said the side's effort to overcome the late loss of Ben Hannant and be within an intercept try of a win at Mt Smart Stadium against the in-form Warriors proved commitment had returned."We had a chat to ourselves a few weeks ago about what we want to do and where we want to go as a team," Parker said."If you look back at where we were, we are streets ahead of that."We are turning up for each other now and that's what it is all about."Their fightback begins with a camp in Auckland this week before facing the Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park on Friday night.

Justin Hodges and the Broncos show their disappointment after Konrad Hurrell scores what turns out to be the match-winning try at Mt Smart Stadium.



Hannant is unlikely to be named in the Broncos team today because of a calf strain suffered minutes before Sunday's kick-off.Recent prop signing Lama Tasi will not be his replacement, instead he will turn out for the Ipswich Jets as he is yet to even train with the club.The Broncos have a mixed run home this season.There are tough away games against the North Queensland Cowboys and Newcastle Knights and should-win home clashes against the Penrith Panthers, Parramatta Eels and St George Illawarra Dragons.

They can only afford to lose three of their remaining nine games, if they are to earn 28 competition points, which is the usual eighth place cut-off.The playing group will draw inspiration from the Broncos' 2009 campaign when they were also adrift of the eight in round 16, but ended up one game away from a grand final.During the club's infamous 2010 season, in which they finished 10th, the team was as high as sixth after round 16.Captain Sam Thaiday declared belief had returned to the team on Sunday and he is adamant their season is far from over."We learned a lot from that (Warriors game).

We now have more of a belief in ourselves and our systems," he said."The Storm on Friday is another great challenge for us and I'm sure if we put another effort in like that we will get the two points."Friday night's game comes just five days after their brutal Warriors loss and 10 days after four players were involved in Origin II, but coach Anthony Griffin refused to make excuses."We got looked after with seven-day turnarounds earlier in the year so I'm not going to whinge about the draw," he said."We don't have to turn anything around. We just have to get up and go again."


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...n-turn-it-around/story-fni3gv5x-1226672833614

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Will Hopoate embracing life in Queensland

• CHRIS GARRY
• THE COURIER-MAIL
• JULY 02, 2013 12:00AM

William Hopoate in action for the Sea Eagles back in 2011. Picture: Adam Head Source: The Courier-Mail





STATE lines in rugby league are more divided than ever, yet the winger NSW wish they could use, Will Hopoate, says he has "great love" for Queenslanders.


Considering the spite in this year's Origin series, those words are rarer than applause for Paul Gallen at Suncorp Stadium.Hopoate is embedded deep in enemy territory with just a few months left of his two-year Mormon mission in Brisbane before he returns to the NRL with Parramatta.Completely focused on serving his faith, the 2011 Blues winger has not seen a single minute of rugby league in 18 months.He knows the Origin series is square and has heard about Gallen's punches in game one, but is otherwise clueless on the latest twists in league's soap opera."There are people around who give us a heads up about the footy, it is something I can't completely avoid," Hopoate told The Courier-Mail."It is a good icebreaker, to find common ground."When I'm out in the community, I get rugby league fans who notice the badge with the Hopoate name on it."People in Queensland are very nice.

I have great love for the people in Queensland."There's a lot of memories here and people I will keep in contact with after my mission."Sitting in the Latter-Day Saints Church atop Kangaroo Point, Williams is a far more confident man than when he first arrived in Brisbane 18 months ago.He is currently doing community work in the northern suburbs of Brisbane, mainly in Ascot, Nundah and out to Banyo.The 23-year-old has sought the advice of fellow Missionary and Melbourne Storm forward Lagi Setu.Setu, a former Bronco, spent two years in England's midlands on a mission and has made an impressive return to the NRL, doing enough to secure a two-year deal with Canberra."I have heard through people he's doing well. I spoke with Lagi at the beginning of the year because he was up here to see his family," Hopoate said."He gave me some good tips on adjusting back to rugby league life."He told me how much he enjoyed his mission. I'm loving it too. It has helped me to see who I am ... social skills especially because we are meeting different people everyday and trying to offer them the happiness we feel."We don't seek to push our beliefs on anyone. Everyone has their freedom of choice."


Hopoate still cuts an imposing figure and has a strict exercise routine during the one hour he has every morning to prepare himself for the day.Parramatta trainers come to Brisbane every few weeks to put Hopoate through their own programs to ensure he is not losing complete touch with the game."The Eels guys come up every so often and I appreciate their help," Hopoate said."They are very respectful in allowing me to focus on why I am here."They let me work to my schedule and focus on the church."The mission has definitely helped me become stronger mentally."I know my capabilities now."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...fe-in-queensland/story-fni3ga7r-1226672785930

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St George Illawarra Dragons a side on the slide

• PAUL CRAWLEY
• THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
• JULY 02, 2013 12:00AM

ALONG with the Rabbitohs, the Dragons are rugby league's most famous club - but fed up St George Illawarra fans are voting with their feet.

The Dragons' home crowds have slumped this year to their lowest since before Wayne Bennett arrived, while the TAB has listed them as the shortest price in the joint-venture club's history to finish last.Just when fans thought it couldn't get any worse, it looks like they will now be forced to take on the high-flying Sydney Roosters on Saturday night without star fullback Josh Dugan.Dugan is facing a grade two shoulder charge for a shot on Penrith's Matt Moylan and will cop a one-match ban if he pleads guilty or two weeks if he fights the charge and loses.

Given their recent form, and limited signings for next year, former champion halfback Greg Alexander said it was hard to see any sunshine on the horizon for the club that is second last on the ladder.He said the problems were extensive. They have arguably the best back three in the competition in Dugan, Brett Morris and Jason Nightingale, but not enough opportunities are being created to make the most of that talent."They are exceptional at the back but it's what is not happening on the inside," Alexander said."They are not worrying sides around the middle and on the edges to create the space on the extreme edge."There is very little going on there in terms of creativity.

St George's Josh Dugan reacts after a Penrith try on the weekend. Picture: Brett Costello



"Remove Jamie Soward and the creativity falls solely on Nathan Fien's shoulders."He's trying hard, he's busy and I thought he played well on Saturday night. But there is not much support for him."Honestly, I can't see much improving until Gareth Widdop gets there (next year)."Chase Stanley at five-eighth is not working. He is a ball-runner. I don't know if Harry Seika (who joined mid-season from the Warriors) is the answer."And Fein will retire at the end of the year, so I don't know what they have got in terms of halves. That is not their only issue."The halves are a massive problem but they were ineffective without Trent Merrin on Saturday night. Merrin is their pack at the moment."

Fox Sports Stats show the Dragons have scored the third least number of tries of any team (2.7 per game), made the equal least linebreaks (3.1 per game) and busted the third least number of tackles (22.6 per game).They have scored more than 18 points just three times this year and in 2012-13 have scored 18 points or less 28 times - the most of any team in that period.It makes depressing readings, but perhaps explains why their home crowds are also in free-fall.

In 2008, before Bennett arrived, the Dragons averaged 12,596 to home games. That went up to 15,365 in Bennett's first year, 16,820 in 2010 and 17,422 in 2011.

Last year they dipped only marginally to 16,426 but this year they have plummeted to 12,734, which ranks them 13th of the 16 NRL clubs.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ide-on-the-slide/story-fni3g9a3-1226672817636

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Bulldog's Bite with England rugby league coach Steve McNamara

• DEAN RITCHIE
• THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
• JULY 02, 2013 12:00AM

England rugby league coach Steve McNamara at the Crowne Plaza hotel in Coogee, Sydney. Picture: Brett Costello Source: The Daily Telegraph





ENGLAND rugby league coach Steve McNamara has claimed the exodus of Super League players into the NRL will actually stave off rich Pommy rugby union clubs raiding league's finest stars.

McNamara is on a three-week whistlestop trip to check on his NRL-based players before the end-of-season World Cup in England.He also said rugby league could become AFL - with no international football - unless Super League continues to receive support.

Bulldog: What do you make of the exodus of Super League players to the NRL?

McNamara: From a pure, selfish England's coach perspective, there is no better way of improving your standard than playing in the very best competition. It's not just the games, but to make the team you have to compete every single day at practice and that's where (England and Souths forward) George Burgess has really shone.When he came to this country, there were five, six, seven players in front of him. He had to come to work every day and do the very best he could each practice session. In our competition, we don't have that same strength and depth and sometimes you get picked before you should be playing.From a domestic point of view, we don't want to end up like AFL where it is played in one country and there is no international sport. We have to be very mindful of that. All the governing bodies through the world need to make sure the game is strong in England, and it is strong. We need to make sure the balance stays right.

Bulldog: Steve, surely if you take out half a dozen stars from any competition it will struggle.

McNamara: There is another way of looking at it. Rugby union in England is very, very powerful and has been a threat to taking our players for a number of years, particularly since it went professional. The NRL salary cap has gone up through the TV deal so our players can now earn the same money and have the same profile on the other side of the world. We shouldn't be scared of it, we should embrace it because it is protecting us from another enemy. There is a positive and negative.

Bulldog: At least it keeps rugby's hands off your stars?

McNamara: You have had one or two in the past, I remember Mat Rogers went that way. Israel Folau is now in rugby union. Ideally we would like all the best players in rugby league staying in rugby league and if the NRL helps to do that at this time, then that's fine. We should embrace it and, at the same time, make sure the English Super League stays strong.

Bulldog: I hear you've visited all your Pommy players during your stay.

McNamara: I wanted to catch up with all our NRL-based English players and keep them up to speed in terms of what we have been doing and to make them feel part of our program so at the end of the year when they come into the group it's integrated. I have had a great response from the players.

Bulldog: You have also been to visit several clubs?

McNamara: I am pretty close friends with Trent (Robinson, Roosters coach). I haven't got any players at the Roosters but we go back. I have met up with Souths, Melbourne and was up the Gold Coast when they played. I will visit James Graham and Canterbury this week. I will have a meal with James and the Burgess boys. We get together as much as we can. I was in Brisbane as well (for State of Origin) and also had a few sessions with the Broncos, watching Jack Reed and getting information. When you put the two sides (England and Australia) together, we have a potent mix.

Bulldog: With a number of English players here, the squad will be quite formidable.

McNamara: We think we will be very competitive. We have some very good players in England and now a core of players not just playing in the NRL, but making a big impact.

Bulldog: Can you win it?

McNamara: We can. We will prepare ourselves to give us our best opportunity to perform well. You can never guarantee success and you can never guarantee you are going to win anything. But you can guarantee you will be the best prepared you can be going into the tournament and without doubt, we will be.

Bulldog: What did you make of the James Graham biting drama in the grand final?

McNamara: It was unfortunate. Out of that little bit of adversity for James came a real positive. You have to understand the length of Super League seasons. We start earlier and finish later than you. Throw in the internationals at the end of the year - which James has been involved in for every year since I can remember - and his body hasn't had a lengthy rest.

South Sydney's Burgess brothers: ( L-R) Sam, Luke and twins George and Tom at Coogee Beach. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Daily Telegraph


Bulldog: Origin II. You were there. What did you make of it?

McNamara: It was an outstanding experience. As a coach I went there with all the intentions of looking at individual players but once I got caught up in the build-up, I thought, "Bollocks to this, I'm going to go as a fan and enjoy the experience."We picked out all the technical stuff afterwards. I just wanted to experience what an Origin game was like in Brisbane. It was everything everyone said it would be. It was very tribal. It was an intimidating place for NSW and I thought the performance from Queensland was top-drawer.It makes me a laugh a little bit. We get called whingeing Poms but the two weeks I have been here, all I have heard from NSW and Queensland is moaning and moaning. You and the newspapers fire it up, adding fuel to the fire. It is all part of the theatre.

Bulldog: What can you tell Eels fans about 2014 recruits Gareth Hock and Lee Mossop?

McNamara: Lee Mossop is a really steady individual, on and off the field. He is an intelligent kid who is in great shape. He is young and ambitious and is pushing hard for the World Cup. Gareth is an explosive individual. He has had some issues off the field but has matured. You will see some real dynamite from him.

Bulldog: Will four Burgess brothers be in the England squad?

McNamara: It is a possibility. You never say never. Tom is only just making his way and has played one or two games but if he has the same rapid rise as his brother George and has an impact in the NRL then he would give himself a chance. Luke has been out injured for most of the season but if Souths go all the way to the grand final and all those players are in the team and making an impact then they would give themselves every opportunity.

Bulldog: It would be an extraordinary story.

McNamara: It would be a dream for the marketing, commercial and sales teams. But, for myself as a coach, it's about performances. There is a love affair there that would have to be put aside and pick a side purely on what is best for England.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...h-steve-mcnamara/story-fni3fbgz-1226672759313

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South Sydney Rabbitohs set sights on $19m high-performance centre at Maroubra

• JOSH MASSOUD AND LAURA SUCKLING
• THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
• JULY 02, 2013 12:00AM

Sam Burgess trains with the Rabbitohs at Redfern Oval. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Daily Telegraph




A CHANGE of heart from the state government is set to force the South Sydney Rabbitohs from their spiritual burrow at Redfern.


With their hopes of building a Centre of Excellence next to Redfern Oval dashed a month ago, Souths officials have turned their sights to a proposed $19 million high-performance centre in Maroubra.The Rabbitohs opened talks in June with Randwick Council, which last week passed a 14-1 resolution to push ahead with plans to construct a multi-purpose facility and a new training oval at Heffron Park.Schoolboy league powerhouse Marcellin College currently holds a lease over the proposed site and has shown an early willingness to sub-let part of the venue for South Sydney's exclusive use.


Expected to take three years to build, the facility would accommodate the club's entire operation - including football, administration, charitable arms and merchandise.Souths CEO Shane Richardson last night said the club had been left with no choice but to investigate options elsewhere after the state government recently slammed the door shut on any development at Redfern.The Rabbitohs were originally encouraged to devise plans for a high- performance centre, with which state politicians planned to replace a housing commission block on Elizabeth St opposite Redfern Oval.Officials spent around $50,000 to pursue the dream, hiring former Australian Test cricketer Graeme Watson to draw up plans that were never publicly released.Instead, they've been passed on to Randwick Council as a blueprint for the Heffron Park development.


"After the government told us the Redfern development wouldn't go ahead, we needed to find another site because there was no more room around Redfern," Richardson said."Souths juniors actually pointed us toward Randwick Council, which had some plans for Heffron Park."The plans we'd already drawn up for Redfern fit in really well with what they were thinking and council last week passed a resolution to conduct further investigation into the project."Being in Maroubra, in the heart of Souths territory, it's perfect for us."Federal government support will be sought to fund the development, which Souths won't have to pay a cent to build.The Rabbitohs would then lease the facility from council.The club's current lease with Redfern Oval does not expire until 2017 and Richardson vowed Souths would always maintain a presence there.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ntre-at-maroubra/story-fni3gki8-1226672836857