2013 NRL Discussion

Paul Kent: Has the NRL lost its football sense?






FIRST, a different perspective on Mitch Allgood's right hand.

He is running back to the defensive line after a tackle on Jamie Buhrer, one that drew no penalty from the match review committee but which quite clearly drew a protest from Manly centre Steve Matai.

He knows that because Matai is running in from his position way out on the left edge. He also knows Matai has a reputation as a player who doesn't come to cuddle, so he is anticipating how this might end.

Does he wait to wear one first, and end up dominated like Nate Myles, or Brent Tate?Or does he listen to his training, the refining of an instinct where, all his life, the more dominant, the more aggressive, the tougher he is the better his chance of success?What would you do?


Read More:​http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...s-football-sense/story-fni3fh9n-1226676691454

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Parramatta Eels coach Ricky Stuart dumps $550,000-a-season star Chris Sandow







RICKY Stuart declared Chris Sandow as the Aboriginal Alfie Langer in the preseason but yesterday the Parramatta coach made him the scapegoat for another disastrous thrashing by dumping the $550,000-a-season star to reserve grade this weekend.

Wielding the axe after the Eels' 50-10 drubbing at the hands of Manly on Monday night, Stuart revealed how difficult it was to demote Sandow. "These decisions are always very tough," Stuart said. "But I am sure Chrissy will bounce back."

Four months after Stuart declared he saw strong similarities between the Queensland champion and his cheeky playmaker, he has axed Sandow to the NSW Cup to play for Wentworthville again as part of an incredible shake-up that has also seen five-eighth Joseph Paulo dropped after a couple of horror defensive reads against Manly.

Last season's high-profile signing Willie Tonga has been named to play his first game of 2013, but with Sandow and the injured Jarryd Hayne both out of this weekend's line-up, the struggling Eels will have more than $1 million in talent watching Saturday's match against Penrith from the sidelines.


Read More: ​http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...tar-chris-sandow/story-fni3ga7r-1226676710513
 
The Mole from RLW has reported the Following....

* Jeremy Hickmans has said that the Knights will not rush Kurt Gidley back and that he is still 2-3 weeks away from a return, The Knights are taking their time to make sure he is 100% for our run to the Finals and beyond

* Anthony Mundine's manager lives next door to Fox Sports boss Gary Burns and got him the gig on NRL 360 last week, Apparently Burns was impressed and wants Anthony to be on Fox sports more often....Great that's what this country needs, More Anthony Mundine :lol:

* Luke Lewis has delayed Shoulder surgery in a bid to help NSW to a series win over QLD, This was why Shane Flanagan moved him to the centres last week to lighten his defence workload
 
Well since Gidley's return will push Buderus to the bench, if what Bennett has said is true, then he can take the rest of the season.
 
How long until Bennett grows some and benches Gidley. Can you imagine if we make the semi's and Roberts is killing it so WB plays Gidley just because its Kurt Gidley.
 
Alicia said:
How long until Bennett grows some and benches Gidley. Can you imagine if we make the semi's and Roberts is killing it so WB plays Gidley just because its Kurt Gidley.
Click to expand...

Well he did cut Lewis from the Broncos I guess ... we'll see when the time comes if he's still got the gumption!

Imo Mullen deserves to be captain ... and I think Gidley should be 14 while Buderus is still at the club.
 
The Knights said that he could be playing against Penrith. It'd be good if he could replace Gower on the bench just to start off with at least, he'll provide alot more in that role.
 
Manly's Tom Symonds ruled out for 4-6 weeks due to fractured finger



  • AAP
  • JULY 10, 2013 12:20PM


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Manly will be without Tom Symonds for 4-6 weeks due to injury. Source: NewsLocal



MANLY second-rower Tom Symonds is set to miss up to six weeks of NRL action after breaking his thumb in the big win over Parramatta on Monday.


The Sea Eagles said Symonds would have surgery to insert pins into the fractured finger, ruling him out for four to six matches."But the upshot is that this will speed his recovery,'' the club posted on its website on Wednesday.

The news was better for fellow back-rower Glenn Stewart, whom Symonds replaced after he was inadvertently poked in the eye by teammate Daly Cherry-Evans.

While the club said the extent of damage was still uncertain, he was no longer wearing an eye-patch and was likely to head to Townsville to play North Queensland on Monday.


Read More: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...fractured-finger/story-fni3gnk1-1226677050744

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The Lurker has reported the Following...

* One very well-known player was spotted at a Sydney nightclub on the weekend. No dramas there, he wasn't misbehaving. The only problem was he withdrew from his side's match due to injury. Club management would be filthy to know he was out boozing while in rehab.


* Paul Gallen is on a self-imposed booze ban before State of Origin III. The Blues skipper brushed a beer at the traditional Blues bonding session this week ahead of Wednesday night's Origin decider. Gallen is battling a foot injury and was told by NSW medicos to stay well away from the grog. While others were enjoying a few ales, Gallen sat there drinking water.
 
Parramatta Eels' edge of chaos claims Chris Sandow






THERE are 37 reasons why Chris Sandow had to go this week.

Defending on the inside of Sandow, Eels centre Ryan Morgan made an astonishing 37 tackles in Parramatta's 50-10 thrashing by Manly on Monday night.

It's a defensive constitution more commonly associated with cauliflower-eared locks or hookers built like mini bars.And it shows just how much of a target the Eels' right-hand edge defence has become.

"Every single team in the competition targets that edge, because you get the guys either side of Chris Sandow to do so much work," a rival coach said. "The more questions you ask, the more wrong answers you get."


Read More: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ims-chris-sandow/story-fni3ga7r-1226677385666

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Peter Sterling: Queensland teams won't make the finals







THE last time there was no Queensland-based club in the NRL finals was way back in 1991.


I believe that is about to be updated with Brisbane, North Queensland and the Gold Coast already in real danger of missing the playoffs.In fact, in a show of a sign of the times, last weekend all three clubs tasted defeat in the same round of football for the first time this season.Recent history shows 28 competition points is generally a good guide to the magical cut-off total needed to finish in the eight.

With Souths, the Roosters and Melbourne opening up a substantial lead at the top of the ladder, that figure could drop to 26 but I wouldn't want to be relying on that being the case.

Regardless of what is finally needed it is clear that those from north of the border need to win the majority of their eight remaining fixtures.

Best placed at the moment are the Titans, who sit along with four others on 18 points and hold eighth spot on differential.They are close enough if good enough but their form has taken a dive at the wrong time and they face the toughest of runs home.


Read More: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-make-the-finals/story-fni3fh9n-1226677336877

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Behind the walls of the angry Red V army







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Dragons players react after yet another Roosters try in their heavy round 17 loss. Picture: Mark Evans Source: The Daily Telegraph



THE lift door opens on to the second floor of St George Leagues club and you're greeted by the angriest group of fans in the NRL.


Your columnist has purchased a $55 three-game Red V membership package to get access to rugby league's most fanatical supporter group and their annual forum, which has been running since 2002.

We wait outside the Heritage Room for a Monday night 7pm kick-off, a couple of irate members making it clear my presence was not welcome.Two hours later and much has been revealed about the problems confronting the once great club that is now fighting to avoid the wooden spoon.

Complaints range between the performance of coach Steve Price to CEO Peter Doust, the departure of Jamie Soward, recruitment, the quality of caps in merchandise supporter packs, the size of a McDonald's sign at Kogarah Oval, ticket prices and game scheduling.


Read More: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...angry-red-v-army/story-fni3g9a3-1226677345831
 
Bronco Hannant to miss Friday's NRL clash


AAP
Thu 11th July, 1:14pm


A niggling calf injury has forced Brisbane front-rower Ben Hannant out of Friday night's NRL match against Cronulla at Suncorp Stadium.

The former Queensland State of Origin prop, who has missed out on a Maroons jersey this year largely due to the ongoing problem, has struggled to overcome a calf tear which sidelined him for a month earlier in the season.

He tweaked it again a fortnight ago while warming up for the Broncos' round 16 clash with the Warriors.

"I tried, but it just wasn't to be," Hannant said on Thursday.


Read More: http://www.nrl.com/bronco-hannant-to-miss-fridays-nrl-clash/tabid/10874/newsid/73416/default.aspx
 
Suspend NRL competition during Origin period urges Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy







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Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy watches on at training. Source: News Limited


IT is Australia’s premier sporting event but rugby league's State of Origin series it simply too long.

Momentum is gathering for a review of the series, which essentially runs over eight, long, gruelling weeks from late May to mid-July.

High-profile coaches put forward alternate plans for Origin on Thursday, claiming the series, under the current structure, was destroying the NRL competition.

The most vocal was Storm and ex-NSW coach Craig Bellamy, who called the Origin to be played over three successive weeks while the NRL was suspended.

Rugby union won fans by playing the Wallaby-British Lions Tests over three straight Saturday's while the Super Rugby competition was halted.

"We’ve got to start looking towards that direction," Bellamy said.


Read More: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ch-craig-bellamy/story-fni3fbgz-1226677751230
 
Three weeks with no NRL is the way to go if they want themselves to be taken seriously. The NRL while Origin is on is a joke ... and I have to say, with three weeks between each game, Origin itself does lose momentum. Fingers crossed they trial this next season.
 
It seems pretty simple to me in all honestly. Move Origin to weekends, bring in New Zealand Origin and smaller Pacific nationa games, as well as U/16, U/18 and U/20s Origin.
 
Plus Fiji v PNG, Samoa v Tonga and rotate that around including the Cook Islands aswell. Therefore we still have a good 5-6 games at least without any weakened NRL club games.
 
Fox Sports' team of experts rate Cameron Smith ahead of his fellow NRL superstars as the most valuable player in the game







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Cameron Smith has established himself as one of the game's greats. Source: Getty Images



FORGET Greg Inglis. Forget Sonny Bill Williams. Forget Billy Slater. Cameron Smith is the most valuable player in rugby league.


Matty Johns rates the Maroons captain close to the best big- game player of all time - and Johns said if he was starting up a franchise from scratch he would sign Smith as captain-coach.

With calls to set up a $1.5 million marquee player allowance to keep Sonny Bill in the game, and bring Israel Folau back from rugby union, we gave a list of 10 superstars to the NRL experts at Fox Sports and asked them to rate who would be the best buy if every player was on the market.Incredibly, the first five players who polled best overall will be lining up against NSW next Wednesday night.

It shows the enormity of the task facing Laurie Daley as the Blues try to end Queensland's seven years of State of Origin dominance.Johns was in no doubt about the most valuable player in the game."If I'm setting up a new team I buy Cameron Smith as the captain-coach. It is as simple as that," Johns said.


Read More: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ayer-in-the-game/story-fni3fbgz-1226678150105

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The new version of Sonny Bill Williams has been discovered







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Up and coming NRL star and Australian boxer champion Willis Meehan at U18 Championships in Cairns. Source: News Limited



RUGBY league has found a new version of Roosters superstar Sonny Bill Williams - except this one can really fight.

Willis Meehan is a 116kg, 17-year-old powerhouse who has emerged at the Australian schoolboys championships in Cairns as one of the country's hottest sporting talents.He is already a gold medal favourite in the super heavyweight division for next year's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Meehan is a blockbusting centre for the Sydney Roosters' Holden Cup team and is playing for NSW Combined High Schools, who take on Queensland in today's grand final.

He is the son of former heavyweight champ Kali Meehan who had a career of 42 fights for 38 wins.


Read More: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-been-discovered/story-fni3fbgz-1226677837711
 
The Lurker has reported the Following....



Wenty set for Stormy union

The Storm are set to take a greater foothold into the Sydney market by using Wentworthville as their feeder club from next season. The Storm currently share their non-NRL players with Cronulla in the NSW Cup but it is an uneasy marriage that has both clubs unhappy.

Wentworthville, a strong league nursery in Sydney's west, has been aligned to Parramatta for many years but this relationship is also strained.

Barret won't get Dragons job

Trent Barrett has been mentioned as a possible successor to under-siege Dragons coach Steve Price -- but it won't happen so long as chief executive Peter Doust runs the club. Doust and Barrett had a major falling out a few years back when the former Test five-eighth was a senior player at the club.

Barrett took up the players' cause over a number of issues, a move which saw him at odds with the CEO.


Read More: http://www.sportal.com.au/league-news-display/the-lurkernrl-rumour-filefriday-243370

 
Parramatta Eel Kaysa Pritchard just grateful to be playing first grade







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Kaysa Pritchard at Parramatta Stadium. Picture: Karly Earl Source: The Daily Telegraph


KAYSA Pritchard speaks with a smile, which is a rare thing at Parramatta these days.

"It's not easy to enjoy losing all the time," says the Eels rookie. "But just being given this opportunity is a joy for me."I'm playing in first grade alongside the boys I grew up with and I'm just really grateful for that chance."

When you're riding the wave to the big time at just 19 years of age the grim tide that's sweeping Parramatta toward back-to-back wooden spoons is easy to ignore.

In truth, the baby brother of Bulldogs strike weapon and Kiwi international Frank Pritchard didn't expect to play NRL for another two years.

Read More: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ying-first-grade/story-fni3ga7r-1226678658887

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Kelly aiming to make jinxed jersey his own







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Parramatta's Luke Kelly is tackled by Brisbane's Matt Gillett. Source: Getty Images



LUKE Kelly admits he brings no great moniker in his kitbag like "The Aboriginal Alfie".


"No, not coming from the Northern Territory," the new Parramatta halfback laughs. "All the great footballers up there are AFL players ... except for Frankie Stokes."Despite boasting just 20 NRL games, 23-year-old Kelly today begins his push to secure what has become the most contentious, and perhaps doomed, rugby league garment of all time - the Eels No.7.

Boasting more disillusioned members than a pyramid scheme, the jinxed jersey this week claimed yet another victim when Chris Sandow, he of the "Aboriginal Alfie" moniker and $500,000 salary, was punted to NSW Cup.

And so, in comes Kelly. An unassuming Katherine product who, while he may not boast the same profile or paypacket as Sandow, is just as proud of his indigenous heritage.


Read More: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...d-jersey-his-own/story-fni3ga7r-1226678664062

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NRL clubs converge on Australian Schoolboy titles to scout for future stars







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Jackson Hastings in action for NSW Schoolboys. Picture: Brian Cassey



THERE'S a lot more to running a successful NRL club than turning up to compete for two competition points each week of the footy season.

Coaching, training, medical, sponsorship, marketing, membership, welfare, community and promotion are a few of the vital ingredients that can build a successful club.And then there's the most important component of all - recruitment.

The search to find the next Greg Inglis, Ben Barba, Billy Slater, Benji Marshall or Johnathan Thurston.

It's why all 16 NRL clubs, their recruitment staff and the game's leading player agents converged on Cairns this week for the Australian Schoolboy titles.

This has been the No.1 breeding ground for budding rugby league superstars for many a decade, from champion Test forwards like Les Boyd, Craig Young, Paul Sironen and Bradley Clyde to backline legends like Greg Inglis, Brad Fittler, Andrew Ettingshausen and Greg Alexander.


Read More: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...for-future-stars/story-fni3fbgz-1226678682956
 
Cronulla Sharks second rower Wade Graham to miss 3-4 weeks






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Wade Graham is treated for an injured shoulder against the Broncos. Source: Getty Images



WADE Graham feared his season could be over, but instead the Cronulla vice-captain is planning to be back in advance of the NRL finals.


An AC shoulder injury suffered during Friday night's 19-18 win against Brisbane to Graham will keep the talented back rower sidelined for the next three to four weeks."I'm looking at the positives and for me that means getting straight into rehab, setting goals and getting back with plenty of time before the finals," Graham said.

"I was thinking the worse so I'll be doing everything I can now to get back out onto the field."Sharks coach Shane Flanagan is banking on Luke Lewis and Andrew Fifita returning from Origin unscathed as he looks to overcome injuries to his forward pack.


Read More: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...o-miss-3-4-weeks/story-fni3gol8-1226678934428
 
Brisbane Broncos refuse to give up on finals dream



  • TODD BALYM
  • THE SUNDAY MAIL (QLD)
  • JULY 14, 2013 12:00AM



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Josh McGuire of the Broncos attempts to break through the defence. Source: Getty Images



BRONCOS prop Josh McGuire is refusing to give up on Brisbane's finals dream believing the team is edging closer to a breakthrough that can save their season.

McGuire powered through an impressive 80-minute effort in the front row in the 19-18 loss to Cronulla on Friday night, taking it upon himself to try and drag the Broncos out of a worrying form slump.Brisbane has now lost six of their past seven games and must now win six of their next seven to be any chance of playing in the finals.

The Broncos have the bye this week and coach Anthony Griffin will give the players an extra-long weekend to freshen up and get their heads around the looming mission impossible.


Read More: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-on-finals-dream/story-fni3gv5x-1226678986790

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Melbourne Storm on high alert for Bulldogs star Ben Barba







DON'T bother trying to tell Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy that Bulldogs star Ben Barba is not the player he was last year.

The 2012 Dally M winner had some well documented personal issues earlier this year, but the Storm is on high alert ahead of today's clash at ANZ Stadium.

"I have such admiration for Benny he's a wonderful player," Bellamy said."I think there has been a bit of comment about probably he hasn't been in his best form, but I don't think that's right."I probably wasn't aware of it until this week when I watched a bit of vision of the Bulldogs over the last month.

"I think he is playing every bit as good as he was last year."


Read More: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...s-star-ben-barba/story-fni3fbgz-1226678980002

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Stem cells save Canterbury Bulldogs halfback Trent Hodkinson's career







TRENT Hodkinson says stem cell surgery has saved his career, with the Bulldogs halfback admitting he considered quitting the game with a chronic knee injury.

Back in the NRL, Hodkinson has opened up about a horror run of injuries that almost destroyed his career and the procedure that helped get him back into first grade.

Going into Sunday's grand final re-match against the Melbourne Storm at ANZ Stadium, Hodkinson, 25, said he was in constant pain and struggled to walk up stairs before booking into a clinic in Kogarah last year for stem cell surgery.Strangely, it was not the knee that he hurt last year that became the problem."It was actually my other knee from when I was in the 20s," Hodkinson said."I had a knee reconstruction when I was young and the wear and tear had worn it down. I was in constant pain. I was over it and over hurting all the time.

"I couldn't do simple things, I mean I couldn't even run properly. I couldn't walk up stairs without pain and I was hobbling around everywhere. It was something that I just put up with, but it was affecting me and getting worse."Hodkinson ignored the pain and played on.

The former Sea Eagles halfback was then struck down by an injury to his other knee and two season-ending shoulder problems.


Read More: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...odkinsons-career/story-fni3g67w-1226678922107
 
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