2013 NRL Discussion

NRL season report card: The struggling Eels, Tigers, Dragons and Raiders in 2013



PARRAMATTA EELS - 16th (wooden spoon)

NRL wooden spooners can usually take solace in the old line “things can only get better”.Not Parramatta. Just about everyone, including the Eels themselves, knew 2013 would be a tough year. But few could have predicted just how bad it turned out

WESTS TIGERS - 15th

BENJI Marshall’s plans swirled around the team for much of the year and his performance was woeful from round three onwards but there were glimpses of a bright future for the Tigers.From a crippling injury toll came the emergence of possibly the best roster of youngsters in the NRL.

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS - 14th

FIRST Ben Hornby. Then Jamie Soward. The Dragons just couldn’t compete this season following the loss of both 2010 premiership halves within the space of 13 rounds.

With Hornby retiring over the off-season, St George Illawarra were forced to start the season with Nathan Fien and Soward in the halves, with young gun Kyle Stanley out for the season due to a knee injury.

CANBERRA RAIDERS - 13th

THE Raiders started the year with high hopes following a sixth-placed finish last season, capped by a fleeting cameo in the NRL finals.After 20 rounds, Canberra sat safely in the top eight following a respectable 10 wins from 18 games. They went on to lose their final six matches to finish 13th.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-raiders-in-2013/story-fni3fbgz-1226740369795
 
New Gold Coast Titans assistant Neil Henry to take Albert Kelly under his wing


  • TRAVIS MEYN
  • GOLD COAST BULLETIN
  • OCTOBER 16, 2013 12:00AM

NEW Titans assistant coach Neil Henry will be entrusted with transforming dynamo halfback Albert Kelly into the next Johnathan Thurston.

Henry visited Titans headquarters for the first time on Tuesday, meeting with fellow assistant Steve Murphy and football manager Scott Clark, while coach John Cartwright is away on holidays.

The former Cowboys coach will move to the Gold Coast next month before assuming his role as an attacking specialist.One of his missions is to mould livewire Kelly into the type of player he’s helped Test star Thurston become.

Henry coached the Queensland pivot at the Cowboys for five years and also mentored him at Origin level. He said helping develop Kelly and five-eighth Aidan Sezer was near the top of his agenda.

"Sezer and Kelly are both young halves who are developing," he said.

"Albert Kelly in particular showed what he can do (this year). He’s very quick and when he takes the line on he’s very dangerous."Those two will develop as a combination."

Henry is renowned for his tactical nous and is the first real addition to Gold Coast’s coaching ranks since the club was formed in 2007.While Cartwright and Trevor Gillmeister are defence-minded, Henry and Murphy will be given the attacking duties.

It’s an area the Titans have struggled in through their seven-year history, but Henry said he saw enough talent in Gold Coast’s roster to turn that around.
Henry will head south and join the Titans in 2014.

"It’s an exciting roster. There’s some talented players and older players too," he said."There’s a good leadership group and an exciting young halves pairing with good speed out wide."There’s been a couple of astute buys in the off-season to come to the club."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...y-under-his-wing/story-fni3grk4-1226740532882
 
Manly Sea Eagles winger David 'Wolfman' Williams AWOL since grand final stinker



479445-david-williams.jpg

David Williams has gone AWOL. Source: DailyTelegraph


WOLFMAN, where are you?

Manly winger David Williams hasn’t been spotted around rugby league since his side's heartbreaking 26-18 grand final loss to the Sydney Roosters at ANZ Stadium.

It appears the Sea Eagles’ cult hero has gone AWOL.

Williams had a poor game, there is no way to mask it.Earlier this week, Williams missed an individual season review with Manly coaching’s staff at the club’s Narrabeen headquarters.He hasn’t contacted close friends or posted on social media for the past 14 days.

The former NSW winger has been left shattered by the grand final defeat.Manly think Williams missed the season review because he lost his mobile phone and couldn’t be contacted. He is now on an end-of-season holiday.

"No one has sighted 'Wolfman'," said one source close to Williams.A Manly contact added: "He was pretty shattered in the dressing room. He is out there somewhere letting his hair down."It has been a long season. No one is quite sure where he is."

Williams remains off contract for next season.It is expected he will remain at Brookvale, but no official deal has been struck

"I didn’t speak to David about specifics, but everyone was disappointed the way we led the grand final and let it slip away," Manly coach Geoff Toovey said."David had a sensational lead-up to the grand final, something everyone was proud of."A few players in the grand final could have played better on the night.

"That’s footy, that’s what grand finals are about. I know David is very pleased with the season he has had."Outside of the grand final, the 'Wolfman' had a splendid season, scoring 20 tries in 27 games.

Williams hasn’t spoken publicly since the grand final, with teammates aware of his anguish. Manly fans have taken to social media to support their winger

It appeared Manly fullback Brett Stewart exchanged words with Williams after Roosters winger Daniel Tupou scored a try from a bomb.

Melbourne-bound Manly forward George Rose on Tuesday supported Williams."I don’t think he needs to blame himself at all," Rose said."We all have our down times but he’s a good dude.

"Critics and commentators were lining up to bag Williams during the grand final.Williams said recently he wanted to sign a new deal at Manly.

"I’d love to stay. I’d love to finish my career at Manly," he said."I’ve found a home with the boys. So we’ll see how it plays out."I’ve always been a loyal sort of bloke and I always wanted to play for one club."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...nd-final-stinker/story-fni3gnk1-1226740465828
 
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Bulldogs set new day-one membership record

NRL.com
10:50am Wed 16th October, 2013

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have set a new club record for most day-one memberships, with over 1000 supporters signing up to be club members for 2014 after a single day of memberships going on sale.

The club exceeded its target of 1000 memberships on day one after offering supporters who signed up on the day the chance to win a Cruiser 250 Motorcycle, thanks to Corporate Partner Laro Motorcycles. It's just the first incentive the club is offering to fans as part of their '18 days of prizes' initiative.

"To have over 1000 signed up Members after day one is an enormous achievement and a testament to the hard work of our people in getting us to this stage," Bulldogs chief executive Raelene Castle said.

http://www.nrl.com/bulldogs-set-new-day-one-membership-record/tabid/10874/newsid/75079/default.aspx
 
Warriors take over Vulcans' helm

AAP
2:01pm Wed 16th October, 2013

The Warriors will take over operations of the Vulcans in the New South Wales Cup, the NRL club and the Auckland Rugby League said on Wednesday.

Originally set up by the Mount Albert club as the Auckland Lions in 2007, the Vulcans have until now been run on a joint venture basis between the ARL and the Warriors.

ARL chairman Cameron McGregor said the timing was right for the Warriors to take control.

"Our original aim was to develop an outlet for local amateur players to play at the best level possible but stay in Auckland," he said.

McGregor said the Vulcans had provided a pathway for local coaches, football staff, managers and match officials.

"However, the time is right for us to focus even more on our Auckland club football and rugby league at school level."

Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah said the ARL's foresight in supporting a team which developed players and rugby league in the Auckland area had been vital.

"After seven years it's a good time for us to fully integrate the team into our organisation and provide a seamless transition from our development squad to the NYC, the New South Wales Cup and the NRL."

He said the Warriors' NSW Cup side would now give the club an official team for players not selected to play in the NRL, as well as being used to develop NYC player.

http://www.nrl.com/warriors-take-over-vulcans-helm/tabid/10874/newsid/75082/default.aspx
 
NRL season report card: The also-ran Broncos, Warriors, Panthers and Titans



GLIMPSES of promise came to nothing for the Broncos, Warriors, Panthers and Titans, who just missed the NRL season 2013 finals. We examine their year in full.

BRISBANE BRONCOS - 12th

THE worst season in Broncos’ history. Just 10 wins and a 12th-place finish.Club greats Gorden Tallis and Kevin Walters called for a massive overhaul of the club, particularly in terms of recruitment. And it seems the Broncos administration listened, securing 2012 Dally M winner Ben Barba for next season.

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS - 11th

A NEW coach in Matthew Elliott, but much the same story for the Warriors in 2013.With ultra-talented players in key positions across the park, the Warriors always proved a danger to the competition’s best sides – as the Roosters and Sea Eagles learned first-hand in big back-to-back wins for the Kiwi team in June.

But the lows were more frequent than the highs – a 62-6 loss to the Panthers in round 10 the lowest of the lot.

PENRITH PANTHERS - 10th

THE Panthers were up against it from the outset, losing five of their first six and leaving many to question the merits of Phil Gould’s "five-year plan".

But under Ivan Cleary, the Panthers continued their rebuilding phase, introducing a throng of young guns to the fold – none more impressive than fullback Matt Moylan, who established himself as a bona fide star of the future

GOLD COAST TITANS - 9th

ANOTHER Titans year of promise and hope was cruelled by controversial refereeing decisions late in the piece and a season-ending injury to star centre Jamal Idris.

The Titans, who haven't featured in the finals since 2010, came within one win of the top eight but had their chances shattered in a round 24 loss against the Warriors.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...thers-and-titans/story-fni3fbgz-1226740986745
 
Search goes global for AWOL Manly Sea Eagles winger David 'Wolfman' Williams



DAVID Williams' Twitter page states he is "somewhere in the wilderness".

He’s not wrong.Just ask Tim the Yowie Man, Australia’s leading expert in finding large, hairy beings.He thinks Wolfman is hiding around Manly Dam.

Despite an extensive search by millions of News Limited readers, the Wolfman remains at large.Readers reported sightings from as far afield as Waikiki in Hawaii, but no spotting was confirmed.

On Wednesday, we revealed that Williams hasn’t been spotted since the day after his poor performance during Manly’s 26-18 grand final loss to the Sydney Roosters.

The Sea Eagles’ cult hero has gone AWOL, even failing to show up at a Manly season performance review on Monday.Sea Eagles players haven’t seen or spoken to Williams since Mad Monday, his mobile having been lost.

Desperate for more information, News Limited approached Tim the Yowie Man, who has carved out a well-known career as a mystery investigator after spotting a yowie in the rugged Snowy Mountains."I reckon I could find him," Tim told us.

"I could trace his footprints around Narrabeen. He wears special footy boots, doesn’t he?

"I think he would be somewhere in bushland around Manly Dam. That is close by and people won’t see him there. He has long hair, so I could look for a sample in a specimen jar. Maybe the hair would be on a fence and we could get it DNA tested.

"He could also be hiding in one of the old armaments on North Head. Probably not at Summer Bay, though, as the recent fire flushed out most wildlife . . . there’s not much left for a Wolfman to survive on."

Readers on Wednesday bombarded News Limited with apparent sightings of the former NSW and Australian winger.One was adamant Williams was at bucks party in Newcastle last weekend.

He was also spotted in Bellambi on the NSW south coast and in Wollongong.One Manly fan spotted Williams having a beer at The Steyne Hotel on The Corso.He was also sighted on the Gold Coast and in Canberra.

A Wests Tigers supporter reckons Williams was at the Sackville Hotel in Balmain, while an Australian tourist in Hawaii claims Williams was surfing at Waikiki.

Another was certain Williams was heading to French Rugby union.One fan saw him wandering around Terrey Hills in Sydney’s north.But none could provide photographic evidence.

Williams’ manager George Mimis is overseas, while Sea Eagles coach Geoff Toovey could not be contacted.Bloggers yesterday offered a mixed reaction to Williams’ grand final performance.

Wally from Doonside wrote: "Wolfie, get over it. I know I am and many others have. Let’s get ’em next year . . . Go Manly and Wolfie."

Nick posted: "He did have a stinker in the grand final and probably needs to sulk for a while alone."

Kaz of Sydney added: "Leave the poor guy alone. He needs down time and doesn’t want to chat."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...wolfman-williams/story-fni3gnk1-1226741157953
 
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NRL player manager Paul Sutton on manslaughter charge


  • AAP
  • OCTOBER 16, 2013 6:29PM

NRL agent Paul Sutton has been granted bail after being charged with the manslaughter of a man in a Queensland town.

Sutton, 41, who works for SFX Sports in Sydney, was released on bail following the hearing in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

A 43-year-old man was found dead at a home in Kingaroy, 200km northwest of Brisbane, on the morning of May 24.

The dead man had reportedly been involved in an argument at a local bar the night before.Sutton has been charged with manslaughter over his death.

Sutton, from NSW, is a senior client manager for SFX and according to its website has been an agent for more than a decade.

His clients include Manly's Kieran Foran, St George Illawarra fullback Josh Dugan and Melbourne's Gareth Widdop.

Sutton is due to reappear in Brisbane Magistrates Court on November 25.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...slaughter-charge/story-fni3fbgz-1226741198072
 
NRL season report card: The just-short teams, the Cowboys, Knights, Bulldogs and Sharks



FINALS berths were snatched by the Sharks, Bulldogs, Knights and Cowboys in season 2013 but ultimately none could lift the trophy. We examine their year in full.

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS - 8th

THE Cowboys season can be split into two parts. Before Neil Henry was sacked. And after.With six weeks to go in the regular season, the Cowboys languished in the lower reaches of the table and were rightly considered the biggest underachievers of 2013.

With a roster boasting James Tamou, Matt Scott, Tariq Sims, Johnathan Thurston, Matt Bowen and Brent Tate, a top four finish had to be par.

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS - 7th

The Knights' year will be remembered for their fairytale run through the finals but the regular season was punctuated by inconsistency and a few hidings along the way.

Eventual preliminary finalists, the Knights were dumped out of the competition by the red-hot Roosters who exposed the Knights slight lack of class in key positions.

It was a sad ending for NRL legend Danny Buderus who had to be stretchered off after a sickening collision with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.

CANTERBURY BULLDOGS - 6th

After a grand final appearance in 2012, the Bulldogs won't be looking back on 2013 with too much fondness.The rot set in even before pre-season, with James Graham hit with a massive suspension for biting Billy Slater in the 2012 decider and a Mad Monday controversy involving sexist remarks directed towards a female reporter.

And just before 2013 kicked off, Ben Barba was stood down by the club at an explosive press conference.

CRONULLA SHARKS - 5th

There were two storylines to the Sharks season. First there was the disgrace and humiliation caused by the ASADA doping scandal still unravelling now.

Then there was the amazing strength of the club on the field, as the players tangled with unimaginable mental demons and more often than not still delivered with two competition points.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ldogs-and-sharks/story-fni3fbgz-1226741621105

- - - Updated - - -

Sea Eagles: Wolfman makes contact with club after mystery absence


  • JON GEDDES
  • MANLY DAILY
  • OCTOBER 17, 2013 12:51PM

THE Sea Eagles have revealed that winger David "Wolfman" Williams has been in contact with the club following his mystery disappearance after the NRL grand final.

The star failed to attend an end of season review at the club's Narrabeen headquarters.Since then there have been Wolfman sightings as far afield as Bellambi on the south coast, Newcastle, the Gold Coast, surfing in Hawaii and even at the Steyne Hotel.And there wasn't even a full moon.

"It is true we couldn't get him late last week because he had lost his phone or damaged it," said Sea Eagles football manager Steve Gigg."But a few of the other boys have spoken to him and he is just laying low."Gigg said Williams told them he heading up to Newcastle last weekend.

He said text messages had been sent to all the players informing them of when they would be required to attend their review but Williams did not get it.

"Word must have got around that we were looking for him and he contacted us on Friday morning," Gigg said."He said, 'Mate, I am sorry, I have lost my phone'," Gigg said.

As Williams had committed to go away on the weekend, staff said they would see him when he returned.Meanwhile, the management of Kieran Foran has strongly denied a report that the star five-eighth would head to the Bulldogs next year.

The claim was made in a rumour segment on a Sydney radio station."The rumour is completely unfounded," Foran's management SFX Sports Group told Sea Eagles general manager Dave Perry.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...-mystery-absence/story-fngr8iii-1226741109207


 
Hoffman 'not right' for fullback: Hodges

By Laine Clark
AAP
5:18pm Thu 17th October, 2013

He may be World Cup defending champion New Zealand's first choice fullback, but Josh Hoffman "is not the right guy" to wear the Broncos No.1 jersey, Brisbane teammate Justin Hodges says.

Hoffman has been named fullback for the Kiwis' warm-up clash with the Cook Islands in England this weekend and is considered a key to their title defence.

However, a question mark looms over Hoffman's place in the Broncos backline next year after the signings of Dally M Medallist Ben Barba, Canberra's Daniel Vidot and Cronulla's Stewart Mills.

Hoffman was a shining light at fullback in the final seven NRL rounds in an otherwise dismal season for Brisbane.

But Hodges said the Kiwi speedster must work on his passing game if he was to become a world class No.1.

"Hoffy is a great player, but at the moment I don't think he is the right guy for fullback," he told AAP.

"He's one of the best runners I have seen with the football, but he just has to work on his passing game. That's where I think he falls down.

"You look at guys like Greggy (Inglis) and Billy (Slater), all the great fullbacks we have in our game, they have those real fast hands.

"And Hoffy just hasn't learned that yet."

Hoffman was reportedly upset when told of Barba's three-year deal in August and was believed to have contemplated a release from his contract, which expires at the end of 2015, before backing down.

However, Hodges - battling back from an Achilles injury - believed being kept honest by Barba would only benefit Hoffman's game.

"I think Barba's arrival will be good for him," he said.

"It will be good competition.

"It (picking fullback) will be a real tough choice for Hook (Broncos coach Anthony Griffin).

"But it will be good for the Broncos having those two guys firing."

However, Hodges said Griffin may already possess the blueprint to best utilise Hoffman after Barba's arrival.

Hodges and Hoffman successfully rotated between right centre and fullback this season before serious injury again struck down the Broncos veteran.

The recovering Hodges believed swapping first choice fullback Barba with Hoffman on either the wing or centres would prove a masterstroke for Brisbane.

"Maybe that same role Hoffy and I played towards the end of the year, swapping over, I think they can still do that," Hodges said.

"There's no word that Hoff has to stay on the wing forever.

"Him and Benny swapping all the time will put the defence in two minds."

http://www.nrl.com/hoffman-not-right-for-fullback-hodges/tabid/10874/newsid/75087/default.aspx
 
personally i don't see a way that they can allow barba to be wasted on the wing or whatever, i don't think wing is really hoffman's position(although has played well at there) but i don't think full back really is either especially compared to barba, a marquee signing like barba needs to be utilized to full power and i don't think 5/8 or wing is where he'll be in full gear, imo barba full back or no barba.
 
NRL season report card: The top four, premiers the Roosters, Rabbitohs, Storm and Sea Eagles



THE Roosters claimed the NRL premiership after winning the JJ Giltinan Shield from South Sydney, Manly and Melbourne this season. We examine the year in full for the top four.

SYDNEY ROOSTERS - 1st

The Roosters’ 2013 premiership is one of the most remarkable of the modern era.A disjointed outfit bolstered by the inclusion of former public enemy number one Sonny Bill Williams plus superstar backs James Maloney and Michael Jennings was united into an unstoppable force by rookie coach Trent Robinson

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS - 2nd

Following a preliminary final knockout in 2012 South Sydney were one of the favourites for this year's title and looked destined at times to break their 42-year-old hoodoo.But again the Rabbitohs fell one game short of the decider when an experienced Manly outfit demonstrated the intensity and the game needed to succeed at the pointy end of the season.

MELBOURNE STORM - 3rd

BUNDLED out in straight sets in the finals, the defending premiers failed to live up to their own lofty expectations in 2013.The early exit meant it was the first time since 2005, with the exception of 2010 when they were relegated to the bottom of the table over the salary cap saga, that the Storm had failed to appear in a preliminary final or grand final.

MANLY SEA EAGLES - 4th

YET again, Manly proved their many doubters wrong with their fourth grand final appearance in seven seasons.The forward pack, in particular, was supposed to be too old to handle a gruelling 26-round season, but after winning five of their first six games it soon became apparent that the Sea Eagles’ golden era had every chance of continuing.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...m-and-sea-eagles/story-fni3fbgz-1226742377261
 
danielyou56 said:
personally i don't see a way that they can allow barba to be wasted on the wing or whatever, i don't think wing is really hoffman's position(although has played well at there) but i don't think full back really is either especially compared to barba, a marquee signing like barba needs to be utilized to full power and i don't think 5/8 or wing is where he'll be in full gear, imo barba full back or no barba.
Click to expand...

Barba did play halves throughout juniors but. If anyone saw him play NYC where he scored a thousand tries and set up another thousand, they'd say he wouldn't be wasted there. I know its NYC but I think he'd succeed at 5/8. In saying that he is a much better fullback than Hoffman. If the Broncos managed to get Milford, they would be one entertaining team to watch.
 
In this Week's issue of RLW The Mole has reported the following...

- Wests Tigers are on the lookout for a halves coach, Similar to Joey's role at Manly

- The Roosters have appointed Adam Hartigan as their Holden Cup coach to replace the out-going Paul Green

- Nathan Brown turned down an offer from the Roosters to join their coaching staff

- Tohu Harris refused an offer from the NZRL of all expenses paid trip to the World Cup, He is devesated

- Steve Sharp is contemplating stepping down as Eels Chairman saying he can't work with the current board unless the in-fighting stops

- Anthony Milford has blasted police via twitter, He posted this after being pulled over "Pulled over 5 times by the cops. 5th time been pulled up by the pigs askn 21 questions on how I got this car. #f**dapopo#blackpeoplehavegoodjobstoo.

He later deleted it saying it wasn't him who posted it
 
THE LURKER - NRL RUMOUR FILE - FRIDAY 18TH OCTOBER


SBW's poor form

Several members of the Kiwi camp are still baffled by Sonny Bill Williams' late inclusion in the World Cup squad at the expense of luckless Storm forward Tohu Harris.

I have learned that Kiwi coach Steve Kearney spoke to SBW day before the team was chosen - and the Roosters superstar confirmed that he was not available.

The decision to dump Harris after he was given the call-up has left a sour taste in many people's mouths, and rightly so - it was very shabby.

Taylor the control freak

Why did Taylor miss out on the job at the last minute?

My Parra spies tell me the former star halfback wanted too much control at the Eels across a variety of areas. In the end, the board decided Arthur, who filled in as caretaker coach when Steve Kearney was punted 12 months ago, was a safer option.

As you may have read, Arthur had given up on the role when the board appeared certain to give the job to Taylor - so much so that he jumped on a plane to Bali and is there for the next week holidaying with his family.


http://www.sportal.com.au/league/ne...umour-file---friday/hqj2hedm009g1hm1gwofn43on
 
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Shaun Kenny-Dowall miracle continues with speedy recovery



THE Shaun Kenny-Dowall miracle continues.

After undergoing surgery for a broken jaw, the Sydney Roosters centre now expects to be back training in just three weeks.The premiership-winning three-quarter fractured the left side of his jaw in the Roosters 26-18 win over Manly in the NRL grand final.

He played-on for 60 minutes and courageously finished the match, etching his name into club folklore. Kenny-Dowall had a plate inserted into his jaw to stabilise the fracture. Roosters officials say Kenny-Dowall refused to tell medical staff of his injury during the match.

He will not be able to resume full contact training until January but the Roosters website says Kenny-Dowall can resume light training - including weights and running - in three to four weeks.

After the grand final, Kenny-Dowall refused to be labelled a hero.

"I didn’t want to let my team-mates down and that’s all I was really thinking about," he said."I knew something was wrong - I started spitting out blood. I concentrated on doing my job for 80 minutes and that’s all I was thinking about."

The injury forced Kenny-Dowall out of the New Zealand World Cup squad.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-speedy-recovery/story-fni3gn3s-1226743408241

- - - Updated - - -

Manly great Max Krilich heads rebel Sea Eagles ticket



A GROUP of former Manly stars - coupled with a popular female Olympian - has formed a powerful rival ticket for the looming Sea Eagles' district club elections to overthrow a board of "faceless men".

The Daily Telegraph can reveal a six-member ticket will include former Australian captains Alan Thompson and Max Krilich along with ex-Manly and Test hooker Ray Brown and former first grade prop Warren Jowett.

The trump card may be ex-water polo Olympian Debbie Watson, a passionate Manly fan. Manly junior league life member Warwick Bulmer is also on the ticket, which will, if successful, install former club hooker Wayne Honeywood as club secretary.

"It is about time some Manly players took back our club," Krilich said."This current board is full of faceless men. I don’t know one of them and neither do any of the former players.

"That’s the problem we have at the moment. These people are making decisions on a football club they have have no history with. None at all. "A new board would also stop all the disharmony that has destabilised our club for years. It is time for a change.

"I know some former Manly players, some of them internationals, who won’t go to a game while this current board is in power."We want to give the football club back to the footballers. Aside from when I have been sick or overseas, I have been to every game at Brookvale Oval for the past 50 years."

The district club board has two directors on the major Sea Eagles board.Watson, an Eagles Angel, captained Australia to Olympic gold at the 2000 Olympics and was the first female water polo player to be inducted the Australian Sports Hall of Fame.

Jowett is a senior executive at Aristocrat while Brown was a NSW sales manager with the gaming giant.

The current board, chaired by Bob Reilly, came under fire for pushing Sea Eagles players out of their traditional home, Manly Leagues Club, to rival licences premises, Harbord Diggers, for a post-grand final function.

"The players were at Manly Leagues for 45 minutes - that was a disgrace," Krilich said. "Manly Leagues Club has tipped $50 million into the Sea Eagles down through the years."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ea-eagles-ticket/story-fni3gnk1-1226743421020
 
Buzz: Boozy refs in the sin bin



A group of senior NRL referees have been sin-binned by hotel security while staging their own ‘Mad Monday’ celebration over the weekend.

The first incident in an otherwise scandal-free NRL off-season emerged at a south coast Hotel in the sleepy beachside town of Huskisson.

Under responsible service of alcohol laws, the referees were ordered to leave the local pub on Saturday evening.

And not just for ‘10 in the bin’ as hotel staff order them ‘off’ for the rest of the night.

It was the talk of the town among stunned locals yesterday who normally only watch and boo these guys on TV on their weekend rugby league coverage.

“I can confirm a number of patrons were asked to leave due to them approaching intoxication,” said hotel manager Mick Mclean last night.

“That’s just standard procedure. There was no misbehaviour.”

Among the referees in attendance were Chris James, Adam Devcich, Gavin Morris, Brett Suttor and Phil Haines although it has not been confirmed which ones were asked to leave.

Like players on their end-of-season booze-ups, the referees had travelled south to stay at the Huskisson Beach Tourist Park on the South Coast, 12 of them in three cabins.

I received an email from a park guest yesterday complaining about their drinking and noise level the night before.

The manager of the tourist park yesterday confirmed that he too had spoken to the referees late on Friday night.

He denied he had threatened to evict them.

“They were fine and completely compliant once I’d spoken to them,” the manager said.

Is this a major scandal? Of course not. Should they have known better? Probably.

Boys will be boys and we’ve all been guilty of having one too many.

Whether the NRL passes the case onto the judiciary remains to be seen.

Probably a warning letter would be considered sufficient.

Blood in the water

The best Mad Monday rugby league stories are just beginning to emerge.

At the Sharks, Beau Ryan finished with a bloodied face after being belted by Paul Gallen.

It all happened at the skipper’s newly renovated waterfront home in the Shire three weeks ago. The Footy Show star was up to his usual tricks, attacking his team mates with plastic golf clubs.

“Yes, Gal whacked me,” Ryan confirmed yesterday, “but there’s no drama. He’s fine and we’re joking about it now.”

At the time it was no laughing matter with reports of a hole in the wall as a result of the fisticuffs.One of the players took a photo of Ryan, covered in blood. It has since been circulated to players at other NRL clubs.

Hollywood drama

The NRL has dumped an annual award named in honour of its most capped referee, Bill Harrigan.

And the man who refereed 392 NRL games is furious, claiming criticism of referees in his role as a radio commentator was behind it.

The Bill Harrigan Encouragement Award was launched a number of years ago by former referees boss Robert Finch.It was scrapped this year.

“I think it’s a disgrace,” Harrigan said, “In my role in the media I’ve had certain things to say that have obviously upset a few people.

“But I’m paid to have an opinion and if I see something that’s wrong, I’ll say it.”

Former referees boss Daniel Anderson denied the award was scrapped because of Harrigan’s media comments.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...s-in-the-sin-bin/story-fni3fbgz-1226743511525
 
Olympic gold medallist Debbie Watson to help calm Manly waters



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Dee Why beach - Deb Watson, former Olympian part of a new group looking to form a new ticket on the Manly District Football Club. Source: DailyTelegraph


SHE captained Australia to Olympic gold and was the first female water polo player inducted into Australia’s Sports Hall of Fame.

So why the hell would successful sportswoman Debbie Watson want to jump into the political hot-bed that has engulfed the Manly Sea Eagles for years.

“That’s a very good question and one I have asked myself many times," she said.“I am a very loyal person — passionate, sensible — and I want to see everyone going in the right direction and same direction.

“There are enough people who hate Manly. We don’t need to hate each other. Let’s be one and move forward."

As revealed in Monday’s The Daily Telegraph, Watson has joined a powerful rival ticket for Manly’s district club elections, to be held either later this year or early next year.

Watson, 48, will be joined by former Manly players Alan Thompson, Ray Brown, Max Krilich, Warren Jowett and Manly junior league life member Warwick Bulmer.

Watson is best known for famously leading Australia’s water polo team to gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

“I understand people have differences of opinion but hopefully I can be involved in everyone doing the right thing by the club,’’ said the long-term Eagles Angel, who has watched Manly games at Brookvale for nearly 40 years.

"I have been on previous boards and think this could be a real positive experience. -->I think we need to go back to the basics about what the board is supposed to be there for.”

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...alm-manly-waters/story-fni3gnk1-1226745058218
 
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