2013 NRL Discussion

Bailey eager to defy Father Time

By Tony Webeck, Chief Qld Correspondent
NRL.com
6:00am Fri 29th November, 2013

His days of being a karate kid may be far behind him but Titans prop Luke Bailey has revealed the training regime that is enabling him to deny Father Time and continue his career in the NRL.

While good friends Ben Hornby and Dean Young finished their playing careers in 2012 and Matt Cooper and Jason Ryles followed suit in 2013, Bailey is the only Dragons player from his debut season in 2000 preparing to line up again in 2014.

And he doesn't want it to end there.

With Craig Gower's future uncertain, Lote Tuqiri's return to rugby union and the retirements of Ryles, Cooper, Danny Buderus, Joe Galuvao, Shaun Berrigan and Nathan Fien, only Fuifui Moimoi has Bailey covered for age in the NRL next season but the Titans workhorse has indicated that if his body feels as good in 12 months time as it does today then he'll be keen to continue playing past the age of 35.

Bailey is not currently engaged in full training with a Titans pre-season squad decimated by World Cup commitments but says the surgery on his ankle may in fact help to prolong his career in the top grade.

"I'm not training with the guys on the paddock but for me personally it's more of a blessing in disguise because come Christmas I'll be eager to run whereas the boys will be looking to get some rest," Bailey said.

"I'll be bouncing around, as it was last year with my Achilles, so it's something of a freshen-up."

As much as he is not completing the gruelling field sessions in the south-east Queensland heat, Bailey credits never giving his body a complete rest in helping to maintain his longevity in the game, confounding even those who have played alongside him.

"They're surprised because I look the oldest; they thought I'd been retiring since I was about 29 so they've become used to me not giving it away," Bailey revealed.

"The body feels good... I think 'Coops' was weighing up his options and thinking about running around again but thought the time was right and I'm sure I'll know when the time is right but it's not in the near future anyway. I'll see how the body holds up this year.

"Over the last couple of years I've just tried to not stop training. I've found it's hard if you stop completely so during the off-season I've just kept training two or three days a week to keep fit and that makes it a hell of a lot easier."

Although effusive in his praise for the contribution the foundation co-captain has made to the club, Titans coach John Cartwright made it clear that it will be performance and not sentiment that determines whether Bailey will remain a Titan in 2015.

"It was the same last year, he wanted to see how his body held up and there are a couple of guys in the same boat who are coming off contract," Cartwright said.

"We're in a fortunate position I suppose in that if those guys are playing well then we're going to want to keep them; if not, it's going to leave us some room in our salary cap."

Two more seasons in the NRL will put Bailey within reach of joining the NRL 300 club and while he admits the 'roundhouse kick' learned at karate lessons as a kid is no longer part of the repertoire, the 251-game veteran says the intensity of cross-training gets his body ready for the rigours of another NRL season.

"Just the cross-fit style of fitness, weights combined with circuit training," said Bailey. "That's all I did last year pretty much in the gym, weights combined with the rowing machine and the bike and chin-ups and all that cross-fit stuff.

"If you do an hour of it it's like two hours of training and keeps your legs a bit fresh as well. That's something I've been doing the past 18 to 24 months and that seems to work."


http://www.nrl.com/bailey-eager-to-defy-father-time/tabid/10874/newsid/75570/default.aspx
 
Joel said:
Whare would have to get a start, they can't just put a NZ rep centre on reserves. But they really do have way too many backs for their own good imo
Click to expand...

This time next year Whare will be in the top 5 centres in the game.

Round 1 next year their back 5 imo will be this:
1. Moylan
2. Simmons
3. Whare
4. Roberts
5. Mansour

By the end of the season I think there would be a couple of changes and look something like this:
1. Naiquama
2. DWZ/Nabuli
3. Whare
4. Roberts
5. Mansour

Said it earlier in the year that they will have a massive chance of winning the premiership within the next few years. They have quality juniors coming out for just about every position. DWZ imo is the best junior talent I have seen come through the grades in years, including Milford. Not including RTS as he only came over and spent 1 year in 20's so didn't see much of him there. Gus has managed to lock up all the top talent on multi year contracts as well so we will get to see them all progress to FG together before they get picked apart by other teams.
 
Yeah I'm not saying move Whare. Just has to be 2. Mansour and 5. ?, and like cowboyman said they'll probably start with Simmons, and maybe one on of the young guys might have his position by the end of the year.
 
NRL school program hits 96 per cent success rate

By Matt Encarnacion
NRL.com
10:30am Fri 29th November, 2013
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Wests Tigers graduates from the NRL's 'Learn Earn Legend! School to Work' Western Sydney program.


Almost every student under the NRL's 'Learn Earn Legend! School to Work' Western Sydney program in 2012 has found a job or gained an education outcome.

The program's 96 per cent success rate is a major achievement for the NRL, who have worked in conjunction with the federal government to provide successful career pathways for senior indigenous students across western Sydney.

Additionally, over 92 per cent of the 60 students over the 2012/2013 program have attained their HSC, which is above the national average.

"I am highly impressed at the calibre of this year's graduates. They would be valuable assets to any employer, regardless of the profession or trade they choose," Senator Marise Payne said.

"The 96 per cent success rate of last year's graduates going on to further education or employment is testament to the effectiveness of the 'Learn Earn Legend! School to Work' program. I'm sure this will be a good omen for this year's graduates.

"The NRL does a first-class job in growing not just rugby league but the communities where it is played and I look forward to helping them continue this important work in my role as co-convenor of Parliamentary Friends of Rugby League."

The program began last year and is a combined initiative of the NRL, the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) and western Sydney-based rugby league clubs.


http://www.nrl.com/nrl-school-progr...ss-rate/tabid/10874/newsid/75582/default.aspx
 
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Burnout won't affect Roosters says Mini

By James MacSmith
AAP
12:52pm Fri 29th November, 2013

Sydney Roosters skipper Anthony Minichiello says a clean six-week break from football will ensure the tricolours' World Cup-weary stars will be primed to defend their NRL title when season 2014 kicks off.

The premiers fielded 16 players at the World Cup in Britain, more than any other club, with four - Sonny Bill Williams, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Frank Paul Nu'uausala - all named in the Kiwis' team for Sunday morning's (AEDT) final against Australia.

With the Roosters to face Wigan in the World Club Challenge on February 22 at Allianz Stadium and the NRL Nines to be staged in Auckland the week before, there are fears the Roosters' campaign for back-to-back titles could hit a snag due to player burnout.

But Minichiello, who has returned from playing for Italy in the international showpiece, is confident fatigue won't be a problem.

"It's important to get away from football and freshen up, not just physically but mentally as well," Minichiello told AAP.

"And that's what we will look to do.

"You need to get away from it all and just really relax and then get back into it.

"You don't want to be training or thinking about training in the off-season. You have a good break and then get back into it. And that's how all the boys will approach it.

"To have a good break, to get away from it all and that makes sure that things like burnout won't affect us."

The Roosters' World Cup stars won't return to training until the New Year and their workloads will be monitored on a case-by-case basis by coaching staff.

The 33-year-old Minichiello, who is entering his 15th season of first grade, says the youth in the Roosters' squad should ensure they have another successful season in 2014.

"When you look at our squad, it is still a young squad," Minichiello said.

"There is a fair bit of experience there but there are also some young guys who are coming through who are really going to challenge for spots next year.

"It's a good squad and hopefully we are going to challenge for the title again next year."

http://www.nrl.com/burnout-wont-affect-roosters-says-mini/tabid/10874/newsid/75584/default.aspx


- - - Updated - - -

Josh Hoffman's father uses Facebook to attack Broncos and Justin Hodges




THE father of frustrated fullback Josh Hoffman has torn strips off Brisbane Broncos officials and players as the club prepares to make the disgruntled Kiwi see his contract out.

Shane Hoffman has written several anguished posts on Facebook about the alleged treatment of his son.

One even labels Origin veteran and Josh’s teammate Justin Hodges a “dog” for stating Josh was not fullback material.

While Hoffman is desperate to be a full-time fullback, even if that means a move to the Canterbury Bulldogs, the Broncos will ensure he commits to the club until his contract ends in 2015.

Josh, in England on World Cup duty, has continued to pose for photos with the Canterbury contingent of the New Zealand team who refer to him as a “doggie”.

One image even features ex-Bulldogs chief executive Todd Greenberg with Hoffman and Canterbury players and is captioned “team foto”.

The Broncos are unhappy with his behaviour while on tour but Anthony Milford signing from 2015 onwards ensures Hoffman is a must have at Red Hill next season.

Milford remaining in Canberra next year means star recruit Ben Barba is in line to play five-eighth which would end Hoffman’s animosity anyway.

Shane Hoffman has posted three pointed attacks at the Broncos in the past month, initially sparked by Hodges stating “Hoffy is a great player, but at the moment I don’t think he is the right guy for fullback”.

“Hodges u dog,” Shane wrote on his public Facebook page in October.“Wait for ur so called team mate to leave da county then publicly dog em.

“Who made u an expert on fullback play. Bad form Justin. Should keep ur negative opinions to urself or at least in house while ur team trying to rebuild.”

Two weeks later he slammed Broncos coach Anthony Griffin.

“Griffin rekons Hoffman and Barba will have to take a “team first approach” like it is something new to em,” Shane wrote.

“Joshy been putting his team first ever since he started with da broncs.

“Let’s hope dis same approach extends to da coaching ranks. We saw the “Fruits” of dis approach in season 2013.........very soar!

“From the time he was named youngest “player of the year” winner from fullback he has fought hard and put up with disappointment in silence.

“Josh continue to chase your dream NEVER yield believe in it. Don’t listen to anyone only your heart son.”

Josh yesterday cleared the air on social media about his interest in the Bulldogs, stating he is still a Broncos player but does want to play fullback.

“Can’t understand how some people can be so judgmental? #youdontknowme” he wrote on Twitter.

“Nothing has bin said! So still a bronco.

“I still feel I haven’t challenged myself enough at FB.”


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...nd-justin-hodges/story-fni3gv5x-1226771166949
 
Dugan looks to take leadership role

By Chris Kennedy
NRL.com
2:31pm Fri 29th November, 2013


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Josh Dugan wants to take on more of a leadership role in his first full season at the St George Illawarra Dragons.


Former Canberra fullback Josh Dugan says he is looking to take a leadership role at the St George Illawarra Dragons going into his first full season at the club.

Dugan, who joined the Dragons in mid-2013 amid some controversy after falling out with then Canberra coach David Furner, told reporters that at 23 he now considers himself one of the senior players.

"Personally, I'm looking to stay on the field a lot more and give that leadership role and take control a little bit more," Dugan said.

"Only being 23 I'm still one of the senior guys now. We've got a pretty young side so I think there's a few boys that have played a few games now that can take that role as well."

On-field talk and leadership is a natural part of the fullback position, Dugan added.

"I've always had to take that leadership role and speak up when it comes to certain things; it's really second nature to me now and just trying to use a bit more of my actions rather than words," he said.

Dugan arrived at a media event two weeks ago weighing 101 kilograms and today conceded the extra weight was taking some getting used to.

"Yeah it's a bit heavy, weighing a few more kilos, so just trying to get used to that. It's going good though, all the boys are putting in their 100 per cent and we're getting through the weeks."

The Dragons have a younger side in 2014 following the departure of a raft of senior players including Matt Cooper, Michael Weyman, Jamie Soward and Nathan Fien, and Dugan said the team would be better for it.

"Everyone can improve a lot more, everyone's sticking together a lot more I've found in the couple of weeks we've been together. Everyone's pushing each other through the drills and that sort of thing, it's a little bit tough but everyone's getting each other through it," he said.

Dugan nominated former Rabbitohs outside back Dylan Farrell and Storm and England five-eighth Gareth Widdop as new players he was most looking forward to playing alongside.

"I think me and Gareth could form a pretty lethal combination and I'm pretty excited about it," he said.


http://www.nrl.com/dugan-looks-to-take-leadership-role/tabid/10874/newsid/75588/default.aspx
 
Restless NRL star Josh Hoffman embarrassing himself and disrespecting the Brisbane Broncos



JOSH Hoffman is writing his own ticket out of Red Hill and straight to Redcliffe.

He is embarrassing himself, disrespecting the club and the fans that worshipped his every move by publicly trying to pressure Brisbane to release him to Canterbury.

The stupidity he is wilfully participating in on social media with the Canterbury players on the New Zealand team is shameful.

Funny hashtags such as #releasehim might get a few laughs in camp, but it puts you further from the Kennel and just leaves you sitting in the dog house.

Brisbane has complete control over his future and Corey Norman's exit last season may be an indication of where this is headed.

It says a lot about footballers today that the second a coach recruits some competition for positions, they want to break contracts.

It happened last year with Norman and Peter Wallace hunting deals elsewhere after being told Scott Prince was joining the club.

Whatever happened to sucking it up, putting your head down and earning the right to wear the jersey you desire?

No one is entitled to anything.

It's that sort of attitude that sees a football team compile the worst season in club history.

Brisbane's premiership teams of the past were filled with more talented players than Hoffman who had to play off the bench or out of position because it was best for the team.

Ben Barba and Anthony Milford had genuine family issues and Marty Kennedy's exit eased massive salary cap concerns at the Sydney Roosters.

Hoffman just wants the easy option.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...brisbane-broncos/story-fni3gv5x-1226771399109
 
i think he has the right to want to be released he knows he's not wanted at fb and that's what he wants so i think it's very fair for him to say i wanna go if anyone is being disrespectful it's them for not allowing him to leave.
 
Revealed: Brisbane Broncos backline star Josh Hoffman's fall from favour



IT was October last year when Josh Hoffman's relationship with the Brisbane Broncos really turned sour.

Away with the Kiwi Test side in Cairns, Hoffman made some comments in an interview with The Courier-Mail that enraged coach Anthony Griffin.

The Broncos had lost seven of their previous eight games to fade from top-four title contenders to a finals elimination in week one.

Hoffman, having returned for 2012 pre-season training several kilograms overweight at 99kg, would agree he did not have his best season subsequently.

He compounded that with some brutal honesty about the imminent arrival of Stephen Kearney as an assistant coach that ruffled feathers at Red Hill.

"We weren't really putting in (at the end of last season)," Hoffman said at the time.

"We weren't looking each other in the eye and being honest about our efforts. I know myself, I wasn't digging in like I could have.

"I think he (Kearney) will really help bring the team closer."

Talk at the time was that Griffin was so upset that Hoffman was almost sacked on the spot.

He already had one strike from Griffin in August when he was dropped to Redcliffe for arriving late to training.

Then a week before pre-season training started, Griffin signed Scott Prince from the Titans.

At the time it was seen as a broadside to existing halves Peter Wallace and Corey Norman, who both began canvassing options to leave Brisbane.

But Griffin had hinted at his motives at the time when he said it could allow Norman to move to fullback.

Hoffman was out of favour and had to wait until round 20 this year to wear the No.1 jersey again.

In that time, the Broncos almost signed Josh Dugan, until a social media rant from the sacked Canberra star ended negotiations, and Ben Barba's plans to move to Brisbane literally fell in the club's lap.

In the same week Barba's deal was finalised, Hoffman had told The Courier-Mail he was willing to fight for the No.1 jersey and remain a "one-club player".

He was man of the match days later but after the game it all exploded again when the club media manager pulled Hoffman away from Channel 7 cameras just as the topic of Barba was raised.

It was coincidental, but the images which went to air embarrassed him and the club.

Hoffman stormed out of the sheds, and was overheard telling teammates he was furious the club had not shielded him from the media.

Since the season ended, Hoffman has asked for a release from his contract and is now provocatively parading himself with Canterbury players in the Kiwis camp at the World Cup.

He responded to yesterday's story in The Courier-Mail which quoted Facebook comments from his dad, by tweeting: "My father doesn't speak for me."

Privately, Broncos officials have not had a bad word to say about Hoffman but it is clear they have a major issue on their hands.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...fall-from-favour/story-fni3gv5x-1226771700755
 
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Brisbane Broncos search for Darren Lockyer's heir to the five-eighth role



DARREN Lockyer's shadow is looming increasingly large over Red Hill as the club prepares to launch take three of the search to replace the legend.

The difference this time is that the six contenders for the No.6 jersey next year have a combined eight games of five-eighth experience in the NRL.

All eight of those games belong to Broncos' first-choice fullback and star recruit Ben Barba.

Forget the Josh Hoffman and Anthony Milford sagas; the biggest drama facing Brisbane is the absence of an established five-eighth for next season.

The Broncos lost three of their four playmakers after their worst season this year.Now the contenders to partner halfback Ben Hunt are fullbacks Barba, Hoffman and Jordan Kahu and rookie playmakers Zach Strasser, Ashley Taylor and Marmin Barba.

It is understood Strasser, 21, and Kahu, 22, are front-runners to begin the year outside Hunt, who is the last half standing after the retirement of Scott Prince, the loss of Corey Norman to Parramatta and Peter Wallace being released to Penrith.

Broncos coach Anthony Griffin admitted the position was far from being settled."It's something we've got to figure out,'' he said of the No.6 jersey.

"We've got guys like Kahu and some young guys in our squad as well.

"Zach Strasser from the Queensland Cup is having a very good off-season with us. Ben Barba can play in the halves, Josh Hoffman can play in the halves.

"That is something we will have to sort through over the off-season

'Kahu is the one player who could really explode for the Broncos this season.Thwarted by knee injuries in 2011 and 2012, the young gun finally got to taste first grade last season and now has the confidence to reach the levels expected from his schoolboy days.

Kahu's coach at Keebra Park, Greg Lenton, believes the 22-year-old could handle a move to five-eighth but is adamant he is best suited to fullback where he could deliver "Karmichael Hunt'' like performances.

Kahu led Keebra Park to the 2009 Arrive Alive Cup national title from fullback and was awarded the Peter Sterling Medal.

"He had some very intelligent ball playing about him but I didn't see him as a natural six,'' Lenton said.

"There's no doubt about it the kid is a gifted footballer. I think he is one of the better fullbacks I've ever seen. He could definitely handle the six position, but that's for bigger brains than me to work out.

"I would have Jordan Kahu at fullback. I just think he will give the Broncos what Karmichael Hunt gave them.''

Barba has 97 NRL games under his belt and should have the confidence to thrive on the responsibility of playing in the halves at this level.

He turned heads with the No.6 on his back during his under-20 season at Canterbury in 2008, when he was named five-eighth in the team of the year after scoring 28 tries in 26 games.

Barba's eight NRL games at five-eighth for the Bulldogs in 2009 and 2010 resulted in five tries and four wins.

While he has since established himself as one of the competition's most dangerous fullbacks, Barba often played second receiver in the Canterbury backline and created much of their attacking play.

Strasser has made a major impression in his first pre-season with the club after an excellent year in the Intrust Super Cup with the Redcliffe Dolphins.

A lanky five-eighth, Strasser has been honing his skills with Broncos premiership winner Shane Perry.Perry compared Strasser's frame and willingness to take the line on to ex-Redcliffe junior turned Kangaroos star Daly Cherry-Evans.

"He has a lot of time with the ball in hand, that's his best attribute," Perry, who tasted premiership glory in 2006, said.

"He's similar to Daly Cherry-Evans in size and build and he loves going to the line.

"He has a lot of talent. If the Broncos didn't pick him up and it would not have been long before another NRL club got him."

The Broncos will be sweating on playmaking prodigy Anthony Milford receiving a late release from the Canberra club he no longer wants to play for, although that would further alienate Hoffman.

Hoffman is the untested and unproven option being considered.He showed promise at times as a centre in 2013 and a move to pivot is supported by former club champion Darren Lockyer.

Lockyer floated the prospect at the end of last season when he wrote in his Courier-Mail column that Hoffman would make a better No.6 than Barba.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-fiveeighth-role/story-fni3gv5x-1226772119622
 
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Australian amateur heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Andrews returns to league



BIG bruising Tyson Andrews is ready to add real punch to the Sea Eagles forwards next season.

Unlike some rugby league players who make cameo appearances in the boxing ring, the new Manly recruit is the real deal who became the undefeated Australian amateur heavyweight champion.

Andrews had a successful stint as a boxer in 2010 when he had a break footy after two years with the Broncos under 20s.

"It was my goal when I had a year off to clear my head about rugby league because I just didn't think I was good enough," Andrews said.

"It was probably the best thing for me."

Andrews had previously only done some boxing to keep fit but quickly discovered that the gloves were a perfect fit.And the skills he honed in boxing have seen return to rugby league a more confident and better equipped player to achieve his football dreams.

The mental and physical demands of the sport transformed the former apprentice boilermaker.

"I've struggled a bit through my career discipline wise on the field - that was one of my biggest challenges- and boxing has helped a lot," Andrews said.

In 2011 Andrews returned to rugby league because he didn't want to be left with the lingering question "what if".

"I regained a bit of hope in myself and a bit of belief in myself and the boxing put a lot of things into perspective for me," he admitted.

"At 23 I am just starting to find my way."

He has spent the past two seasons with the Mackay Cutters and was 2012 player of the year in their Queensland Cup premiership winning side.

Now settled into the northern beaches Andrews focus is totally on working towards making a knockout NRL debut with the Sea Eagles.

Manly recruitment manager Dave Warwick got the tip about Andrews and expects him to really develop next season.

"Tyson is a powerful lad and technically he is very good," Warwick said.

"I just like the way he plays, he is a strong defender and hits the line hard.''


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...eturns-to-league/story-fni3gnk1-1226773649790

- - - Updated - - -

Sydney Roosters don't blame New Zealand Rugby League for Roger Tuivasa-Sheck injury


  • STAFF WRITERS
  • AAP
  • DECEMBER 03, 2013 8:56AM

THE Sydney Roosters say they have no issue with the New Zealand Rugby League despite Roger Tuivasa-Sheck suffering a suspected broken leg in the World Cup final after he was cleared to play.

Tuivasa-Sheck was a late inclusion in the Kiwi side that was trounced 34-2 by the Kangaroos in the final in Manchester.

But after being cleared of a fractured leg by coaching staff prior to the match, he suffered a broken leg in his first hit-up of the game.

The superstar winger is facing an extended stint on the sideline and the injury has raised concerns over the value of care he received under the NZRL medical staff.

A lax approach to injuries in the tournament even prompted a tweet from former Roosters medico Dr John Orchard who wrote: "rugby league in general should be putting a higher priority on medical and injury issues."

But Roosters football boss Brian Canavan said the premiers are happy with the level of care Tuivasa-Sheck received.

"We had been in close contact with the Kiwis and were monitoring his case day-by-day," Canavan said.

"Craig Walker, who is also on our staff was working with the Kiwis and we are happy the correct procedures were followed.

"He was right to go ... unfortunately it was just one of those things.""We are satisfied every precaution was taken."

Early diagnosis had the International Winger of the Year out for three months, which would rule him out of the Roosters World Club Challenge with Wigan on February 22 in Sydney, and even the first few rounds of the 2014 NRL season.

Tuivasa-Sheck will have scans in London on Tuesday and Canavan said it was hoped he would not be out for that long.

"It could be three months or it could be three weeks," he said.

"We will know more when the scans are done but until then everything is just speculation."


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...vasasheck-injury/story-fni3gn3s-1226773944666

 
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Cherry-Evans gets NRL press award

AAP
7:09am Tue 03rd December, 2013

Manly halfback Daly Cherry-Evans has added another trophy to his cabinet after being voted Player of the NRL finals series by the Rugby League Writers Association.

The 24-year-old, who won this year's Clive Churchill Medal following his side's NRL grand final loss to the Sydney Roosters, was presented with his latest trophy in Manchester as he celebrated Australia's World Cup win over the Kiwis on Saturday.

Previous winners of the association's award include Billy Slater in 2012 and 2009, and Jeremy Smith in 2010.


http://www.nrl.com/cherry-evans-gets-nrl-press-award/tabid/10874/newsid/75626/default.aspx
 
Daley says All Stars will return

By Ben Horne
AAP
5:15pm Tue 03rd December, 2013

Laurie Daley says he holds no fears for the future of the All Stars concept, despite rugby league's celebration of Indigenous culture taking on a vastly different form in 2014.

Due to the anticipated toll the recently completed Rugby League World Cup will have on the game's star players, it was decided the annual All Stars match should be "rested" and in its place a non-elite Indigenous team will play the Newcastle Knights in a trial match on February 8.

Instead of the NRL's premier Indigenous talent taking centre stage this coming pre-season, the showpiece event will be the Auckland Nines tournament, taking place on the following weekend in February.

The Nines is the latest addition to a rugby league calendar already criticised for being too clustered, but Daley said the NRL was in the "entertainment business" and argued there was room for both the All Stars and the Nines concepts going forward.

Daley has been assured the Indigenous All Stars v NRL All Stars match, which promotes Aboriginal issues and culture, is a priority for the game and will return in 2015.

"All the indications I've been given is it's a big part of the rugby league calendar, so I certainly don't hold any fears," Daley told AAP.

"They are pretty committed to staging it into the future. The timing of the game is for the powers that be to decide, but in terms of the game itself it's here to stay. I don't think there are any worries there."

Newcastle coach Wayne Bennett, has been one of the most vocal supporters of the Indigenous All Stars' concept, having coached the NRL All Stars since inception in 2010.

Bennett said next year's switch to promoting emerging talent was a good compromise and believes NRL clubs could potentially add a young Indigenous player to their roster based on performances in the match.

"The Indigenous game is not a trial match, believe me. It's a full on game of rugby league," Bennett said.

"I'm really happy with the concept."


http://www.nrl.com/daley-says-all-stars-will-return/tabid/10874/newsid/75646/default.aspx


- - - Updated - - -

Slater's knee concern here to stay: Storm

By Roger Vaughan
AAP
5:57pm Tue 03rd December, 2013

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy is resigned to star fullback Billy Slater having to nurse his knee problem for the rest of his rugby league career.

Slater overcame a knee injury to be one of standout players in Australia's World Cup final win over New Zealand in England at the weekend.

He had hurt his left knee a fortnight before the final and only made the decider after intensive treatment.

"When he first hurt it in Origin last year, the medical advice then was that it's going to be an issue for the rest of his career," Bellamy said on Tuesday.

"It's going to take some managing and that's what it is at the moment."

But Bellamy said he never had concerns about Slater playing in the final.

"We were very confident that Tim (Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens) and the medical staff wouldn't let him play unless he was (right)," Bellamy said.

Bellamy also took the chance for a quiet dig at NRL referees ahead of next season.

"It was really good to see he got a couple of penalties as well," Bellamy said of Slater in the World Cup.

"He was taken without the ball a couple of times and the English referee picked that up.

"Hopefully there's a couple of signs there that our referees might be able to see the same thing next year."

But Bellamy was less pleased about the scheduling pressures on the game's biggest stars like Slater.

He would like to see a shorter World Cup format in future and would prefer no NRL games during the State Of Origin schedule.

The Storm's World Cup representatives won't resume training with the club until late January.

"All of us here at club-land are worried about the workload of our elite players," Bellamy said.

"Us coaches have been going on about that for a while."


http://www.nrl.com/slaters-knee-concern-here-to-stay-storm/tabid/10874/newsid/75647/default.aspx
 
Not looking forward to seeing Sowards fugly face back in the NRL but in a strange way it looks like he's changed from a baby into a man in the time he's been gone. Interesting to see if he plays like it.
 
Rabbitoh's John Sutton says he is finally over Souths failure to make the Grand Final



JOHN Sutton couldn't tell you what happened in this year's grand final, because he flatly refused to watch the game.

Consumed by the pain of South Sydney's second straight elimination on the weekend before the decider, the Rabbitohs skipper was still consoling himself with a few beers as the Roosters and Sea Eagles did battle."I couldn't really watch it . . . it was just too hard," Sutton revealed.

"Even Mad Monday, we just had a drink and a team get together, but that was pretty depressing. Everyone was sitting around, bummed out.

"The week leading up to the grand final, driving around seeing all the Manly and Roosters stuff everyone, that was very hard to take in.

"It got better after the grand final was over. I went to Bali for a few weeks with the family, did some surfing and felt a lot better. Now it's behind me and I'm ready to go again."

As stand alone captain, Sutton knows he has to set an optimistic mindset if Souths are to overcome the trauma of letting their first grand final appearance in 42 years slip after leading Manly 14-0 in the first grand final qualifier.

From being maligned for his inconsistency two just years ago, the 29-year-old is now the keystone upon which Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire has elected to rebuild the side following a mass exodus of senior players.

Departed veterans Matt King, Michael Crocker, Roy Asotasi and Jeff Lima boasted 643 NRL appearances between them, leaving Sutton and fellow local junior Nathan Merritt as the two elder statesmen of Redfern.

"We were all just talking about who the oldest player is the other day," Sutton said.

"It makes you think how quick your career goes. I can still clearly remember coming into grade as a young pup, and now I'm suddenly the second oldest in the whole team.

"It's going to be hard to replace guys like Crock and Roy. The rest of us need to stand up more.

"I've always been a bit of a leader, but I'm probably not as talkative off the field as I am around the boys. I'm still getting used to the interviews and this side of it.

"Madge (Maguire) has kept pushing me to keeping stirring the boys. He's shown so much faith in me and really made a difference to my career."

With Maguire in Arizona for a high altitude training camp with Adam Reynolds, Luke Keary and Dylan Walker, and six star players on World Cup duty, the first weeks of pre-season training have boasted few familiar faces.

Even the settings are foreign, with field sessions split between Mascot and Erskineville Oval due to resurfacing at Redfern.

For Sutton, however, the disruptions make no difference to his No. 1 career priority of leading the most successful club back to glory.

"Straight after that game against Manly, I wanted to get out there and play again," he said.

"In the second half we just went through the motions and it cost us. You don't get opportunities like that very often.

"Manly came out and did what they do best; they threw the ball around and played some footy.

"That's what we should have been doing and what we just have to do next year - for the whole 80 minutes."


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-the-grand-final/story-fni3gki8-1226773671555
 
Last edited:
Jekk said:
Not looking forward to seeing Sowards fugly face back in the NRL but in a strange way it looks like he's changed from a baby into a man in the time he's been gone. Interesting to see if he plays like it.
Click to expand...

I reckon he is going to have a big year, him and Segeyaro.
 
I hope Soward kills it next year. All the dragons fans just blamed him on their losses and when he left they were still losing.
 
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