2013 NRL Discussion

Canberra Raiders players fail in bid for Andrew Dunneman to be appointed head coach



CANBERRA'S senior players unsuccessfully pushed for Andrew Dunneman to be appointed head coach, former skipper David Shillington has revealed.

The Test prop claimed players spoke in favour of interim coach Dunneman, who took over for the final three matches after Dave Furner's sacking, when they were consulted about the best man for the job earlier this month.

The call came from club great Mal Meninga, who was part of a four man subcommittee that was formed to appoint Furner’s replacement.Ricky Stuart was eventually poached from the Eels on a three-year deal, and Shillington believes the former NSW Origin and Test coach is the ideal candidate to mend Canberra’s fractured playing group.

However, Dunneman was the players’ first choice because of his strong relationship with the club's bank of young talent."Mal Meninga rang a few of us and asked us who we thought would be best for the job," Shillington said.

"We were all pushing for Andrew Dunneman because of his relationship with the young talent."Obviously we didn’t get it and Mal spoke to us about other coaches like Neil Henry and Ricky Stuart.

"(Ricky) might be just what the doctor ordered in terms of getting the team together and creating a strong environment."That's one of the things I told Mal about Ricky."

Shillington made his NRL debut under Stuart at the Roosters in 2005, but club sources maintain the pair had a cool relationship during their time at Bondi Junction.

Shillington denied any current issues with his former coach."I think it was mentioned that I was not happy to be coached by him," Shillington said.

"Things have changed since then. I've probably grown up as a player to handle pressure and criticism and apparently he’s matured as a coach to change his ways a bit too. "Hopefully it will go well next year."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...inted-head-coach/story-fni3gmmu-1226723082423

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Cronulla captain Paul Gallen rules struggling Sharks playmaker Todd Carney out of Manly clash



PAUL Gallen was sick of question.

"He’s not playing," Gallen roared on Thursday afternoon.And with that, Sharks star Todd Carney was officially ruled out of Friday night’s sudden-death match against Manly at Allianz Stadium.

Carney’s brave fight to overcome a hamstring strain and play has failed.

NSW utility Luke Lewis has been named as the five-eighth replacement.

"He’s not playing – everyone knows he’s not playing so there’s no point mucking around," Gallen said."You can write a story on it but he won’t be playing. I am sick of talking about it – he won’t be playing.

"We don’t play games."But we will be out there to play a game (tonight) against a tough side but Todd won’t be there."Now ask some serious questions."

Strangely, minutes before, Carney refused to rule himself out."You’re always hopeful," Carney said. "But it didn’t go real well today."We will see what happens."

Cronulla went through their final training session on Thursday afternoon at Allianz Stadium.They may be outsiders but Cronulla players are ready to give Manly one hell of a battle."We would like to play a more physical game to be honest," Gallen said.

"I didn’t think we played that well against the Cowboys but we got the win and that’s all that matters."It’s all about Manly and them being battered and bruised but they play that football every week and are used to it.

"It won’t be affecting them or slowing them down one bit. I am fully expecting them to be coming out of the gates really fast."It will be a big challenge for us but I’d like to think if we play to our best we can get the job done."

All week publicity around the game has centred on the violent 1973 grand final, won 10-7 by Manly.Asked would his team watch the game, Gallen said: "No, we haven’t, but I have seen it before."It was more like a fight.

"It was pretty brutal but obviously there will be none of that going on."But it will be just as physical and probably faster."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...t-of-manly-clash/story-fni3gol8-1226723037469

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Major concern for Manly fullback Brett Stewart's hamstring



IT was Manly's traditional Captain's Run at a sunny Brookvale Oval on Thursday morning.

Everything seemed in perfect order until the ball swung wide and there was someone missing.Brett Stewart.Stewart, battling a hamstring injury, was not sighted at Brookvale with replacement Peta Hiku running the entire session from fullback.

Manly coach Geoff Toovey still hopes Stewart will play in Friday’s semi-final against Cronulla at Allianz Stadium.

He will have a fitness test on Friday.Haiku has done an outstanding job in recent weeks as Stewart's substitute. He actually won man-of-the-match honours against Sydney Roosters last weekend. Toovey may have to rearrange his bench if Stewart plays.

Because his forwards can all play big minutes, Toovey could afford to name Hiku as a reserve to cover the possible loss of Stewart.

"He didn’t train," Toovey confirmed."I will run him (today) and take him through his paces. We will try and bring him up to speed and see how he feels."It is too early to make a call. "It is a tough call. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t."We will see what happens and see how Brett pulls up."

Cronulla skipper Paul Gallen has his own thoughts on Stewart."We think he will play," Gallen said. "And we are preparing for him to play."Even he doesn’t play, that young bloke (Hiku) that played there last week went really well. He is a quality player."Manly have strike all over the field."

Asked how his side would stop Stewart, Gallen said: "You can’t relax. We have watched a bit of video on him this week."You just can’t clock-off at all through the whole game."

TAB TattsBet has Manly the $1.26 favourites with Cronulla $4 outsiders.The TAB’s Matt Jenkins said the key on Friday would be whether Stewart or Cronulla's Todd Carney (hamstring) play. Carney is highly unlikely.

"The Sharks have struggled without Carney this season and even lost to Parramatta without their playmaker earlier in the year," said Jenkins.

"The money suggest Carney will miss the clash and punters are wary of backing the Sharks without him."

"Manly are a different team with Brett Stewart at the back and he is set to provide the spark they need to score points."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ewarts-hamstring/story-fni3gnk1-1226723012424
 
No dead beats policy the way of the future for rugby league clubs, says David Shillington



AUSTRALIAN Test prop David Shillington has spoken of the dangers of allowing ego driven youngsters to “think they are bigger than the club” - a malaise that he believes destroyed Canberra’s 2013 campaign.

In a candid insight into his thoughts about the difficult generational change that now confronts NRL clubs, the former Raiders skipper said increased media and public exposure had created a new breed of superstars who need to be “handled properly”.

“I think that empowers them to feel like they are bigger than the team sometimes - that’s a bad thing,” he said.“It depends on how the coach handles you, how the club handles you“Sometimes you create the devil in players.”

Shillington resigned from Canberra’s leadership group mid-season because he felt former coach Dave Furner was too light on errant young stars such as Blake Ferguson.

Ferguson has since been sacked after going AWOL during the competition’s final month, which also saw Furner axed and the team plummet from finals reckoning on the back of six straight losses.

Breaking his silence on the numerous woes that brought Canberra unstuck, Shillington admitted the team finished the season a divided unit both on and off the field.But his biggest concern - across the code - was the trend of weaker clubs being seduced into compromising their culture to appease young superstars.

“I think more and more players are thinking they are bigger than the club, bigger than the team,” Shillington continued.

“If a player mucks up and you don’t drop him from the team, or have serious ramifications and consequences because you are worried that they might leave the club, or you are worried that they might not win the game next week, or you’ve got a contract negotiation and they might flick it and walk away, that’s when you create the devil in players and make them think they are bigger than the club.

“I think we saw that (at Canberra) this year with a few of the younger players coming through.“The increased exposure in the media ... they are full-on superstars, they are bigger than they used to be.”

While Shillington is presumably referring to Ferguson and another sacked Raider, Josh Dugan, he exempted Josh Papalii and Anthony Milford, both of whom were disciplined for breaching the team’s drinking policy prior to their round 25 clash against New Zealand Warriors.

“When the care factor is down, you are not respecting your team mates or you club,” the 30-year-old prop said.“You do the wrong thing on the field or not turn up for each other on the field. It happens.Video 2405798850 is not available

“The season like we had wears you out and drags you down. We saw something like that happen when Josh Papalii and Anthony Milford ended up drinking.“They are not bad young fellas. It’s an effect of how it dragged everyone down.”

Shillington pointed to strong clubs such as Melbourne, Souths and the Roosters as standard-bearers for culture.“No one is bigger than the team in those clubs. If someone stuffs up on the field or off the field, no matter who you are, you get dropped to the bench or you’re out of the side.

“We saw Souths stand down George Burgess through ill-discipline, through to Mick Crocker, the captain of the club, because he was down on form.“I think that’s the way of the future — a strong stance on things. When it comes to keeping a team in line, when it comes to keeping a team in line you have to be like that.”

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...avid-shillington/story-fni3gmmu-1226723090207

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Matty Johns predicts either Manly Sea Eagles or Melbourne Storm will be upset this weekend



I CAN sense an upset coming, if not on Friday night then maybe on Saturday.

Yes, Manly and Melbourne have been far superior this season than their respective opponents, but in sudden death football this stands for little.The Sharks and the Knights are coming off a victory, they are confident, they have momentum and will fight with that underdog mentality of feeling as though they have little to lose.

On paper and on form these two games look straight forward, but they ain’t!

MANLY v SHARKS

Manly are the more talented team, but the Sharks have built their season on grinding down and beating more talented teams.

The more talented the opponent, the more the Sharks are up for the fight.Remember back to round 24 when the Sharks met the competition’s form team, the Roosters?

The Sharks attacked them viciously with a rushing defence and the Roosters were never in it.The result was 32-22 to the Sharks, but Cronulla’s dominance was much greater than that.

Manly might have the talent, but it will be their ability to grind away and play patient for long periods which will be of primary importance on Friday night.

The other major factor will be how tired Manly will be after their war with the Roosters last Saturday night.As far as physicality and speed, the Roosters-Manly game was far superior to the Sharks-Cowboys.

On form, that points to a Manly victory, but what was the toll on the Sea Eagles players?

This will be telling because win or lose the Sharks are a side who generally take a game into the final moments.The return of Brett Stewart and how close to 100 per cent fit he is, is another major factor.Manly got a little bogged down in attack last week.

They continually set and reset their attack from the centre of the field and split Kieran Foran and Daly Cherry-Evans either side. The Roosters handled these centre field assaults with relative ease, while Manly’s best attacking movements came from wider field positions where they could use more width and variation.

More of this style of attack is needed against the Sharks, because like the Roosters, Cronulla’s defence handles ball movement from centre field positions very well.

We know what we will get from the Sharks. They are extremely unlikely to score flashy, long distance tries, instead they will, play-by-play, set-by-set, work their way upfield and put together their best attacking movements from close range.

With Todd Carney extremely unlikely to take to the field on Friday night, the Sharkies will steel themselves for trench warfare.They will pour the majority of their energy into a rushing defence in an attempt to rattle Manly. They will kick long to the corners of the field and test Manly’s patience.

They will spoil, they will fight, they will wrestle, they will be desperate. They should not be underestimated.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...set-this-weekend/story-fni3fh9n-1226722998975
 
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Stewart ruled out of NRL final

AAP
12:08pm Fri 20th September, 2013

Manly fullback Brett Stewart will miss Friday night's NRL semi-final against Cronulla after succumbing to a hamstring injury.

Stewart, who missed last week's finals loss to the Sydney Roosters with the injury, failed to pass a fitness test on Friday morning.

Hopes of Stewart featuring for the Sea Eagles in the do-or-die clash at Allianz Stadium were all but dashed on Thursday after the NSW fullback failed to train.

Manly rookie of the year Peta Hiku is his likely replacement.

http://www.nrl.com/stewart-ruled-out-of-nrl-final/tabid/10874/newsid/74765/default.aspx
 
The Panthers shed Penrith allegiance in new logo for next season?



638023-panthers-logo.jpg

Is this Penrith's new logo? Source: Supplied


THE Penrith Panthers seem ready to shed their allegiance to the Western Sydney town, at least on what's purported to be their new logo.

As the battle of the codes in Western Sydney heats up, there’s claims the Panthers have dropped the word 'Penrith' from their new logo.A Penrith spokesperson said they could not "confirm or deny" that this is the new logo or even if Penrith will feature in the name.

A new logo is to be launched on November 1.

Last year, the Panthers registered the name 'Western Sydney Panthers' however the club is yet to reveal their plans behind securing the name. They did fail in an approach to be considered as owner of the Western Sydney Wanderers A-League team recently.

"The Panthers seem set to scrub their suburban identity in an attempt to broaden their base and become a team for all of western Sydney," branding expert Anthony Costa wrote on the Sports Business Insider website.

"The club’s 50th anniversary next season won’t be about marking time. It will be about moving on – delicately easing existing fans into a new commercial era."

It seems smart enough. Throw your brand net across a bigger population pool and you’ll supposedly trawl more support. But I doubt it will make any difference to the Panthers' current plight. Because making your brand more generic doesn’t make you more inclusive.

I don’t know how shaking off a team’s local heritage can possibly make it matter more. Denying who you are helps no one. What is a brand without individual character?

The biggest, most popular sporting brands in the world don’t scupper their past to please everyone. They hold onto their precious heartland and trade on the exclusivity of the fan experience.

"While the club remains tight lipped over whether this is in fact their new logo, the question must be asked – Are the Panthers suffering and identity crisis and is this the worst logo of all time?

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-for-next-season/story-fni3fbgz-1226723638227
 
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Paul Crawley: Geoff Toovey should be front and centre for Dally M coach of the year



LET'S talk about contenders for Dally M coach of the year.

Most people rate Trent Robinson a walk up start for the job he has done rebuilding the Roosters into minor premiers.Michael Maguire is always the next name that gets mentioned given the wonderful work he has done transforming Souths from perennial under achievers into a premiership force.

Gee Geoff Toovey couldn’t be far behind them.How do you rate the job he has done holding this Manly team together over the past two seasons to come up with a performance like they did on Friday night?

So full of courage and grit and determination and everything that is good about this game.A team so tired they could hardly stand up heading into the final 20 minutes yet they just don’t know how to lay down and die.Cronulla had them, they were coming to get them, but the Sea Eagles players simply refused to surrender.

They always say you can learn a lot about a football coach by the way his team goes about their business.

This Manly team is as tough as they come.They remind you of how Toovey used to play the game.When Des Hasler walked out on Manly at the end of 2011 pretty much everyone expected the joint to explode behind him.Toovey held his ground in his first gig as an NRL head coach.

Even given his roster and the experience and quality of the stars, he had a lot of work ahead of him.And not many people expected the Sea Eagles would be still standing going into preliminary finals week because of their lack of depth.But you’d reckon the Bunnies fans will be having some sleepless nights ahead of their showdown at ANZ Stadium this Friday night.

They’re a wonderful football team, Manly.

So brave.But they'll need seven days to get over last night.Towards the end they looked out on their feet, like punch drunk fighters but they simply refused to give up.And as tremendous as their opponents were Cronulla just couldn’t find the knockout punch to take them out.It was a hell of a game.

You think about last week’s 4-0 loss to the Roosters.In 80 minutes Manly didn’t concede a single line break against the Roosters but that effort was always going to play a part in Friday night’s contest.The Sharks pushed them hard in the opening 40 minutes but the class of Cherry-Evans was the single biggest difference.

A wonderful 50 metre touch-finder from a penalty deep inside his own half was the catalyst for the opening points.From the ensuing set Brenton Lawrence charged like a buffalo and after busting through two defenders drew a penalty from Paul Gallen.

Lyon drew first blood with the penalty conversion but it was a perfectly place Cherry Evans crossfield bomb that ended up in the hands of Anthony Watmough for the opening try.

But the Sharks were never going to die that easily and a tremendous ball from Luke Lewis put Michael Gordon over to bring the margin back to 8-6.

At that point Manly looked weary and were struggling before Cherry-Evans stepped up again, this time thinking on his feet with a grubber for Foran’s try and at 14-6 up at the break they were always going to be hard to pull back.

Cherry-Evans and Foran are a fabulous halves combination and they needed all their skills to get Manly home.

Together they combined for a premiership under Hasler in 2011 but the 2013 model is far more mature and they are both born winners.But you have to wonder what Manly had left after Friday night.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...oach-of-the-year/story-fni3gnk1-1226724040133

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Dugan mocks Shillington after Raiders fine

By By Ian McCullough
AAP
5:33pm Fri 20th September, 2013

Serial tweeter Josh Dugan has used the social networking site to mock David Shillington after the Canberra prop was fined by the NRL club following comments he made about the Raiders' disastrous season.

Shillington spoke candidly to three journalists, including AAP on Thursday, when he revealed how a lack of discipline and accountability from certain players had derailed the Raiders in 2013.

St George Illawarra fullback Dugan along with Blake Ferguson were sacked by Canberra for serial breaches of club discipline in a chaotic year that culminated in the axing of coach David Furner.

"If a bloke mucks up and you don't drop him from the team because you are worried they may leave the club or you're worried you won't win the game, that's when you create the devil in players," Shillington said.

"That's what you saw at our club this year with a couple of players.

"It's a delicate situation with younger players coming through. There's increased media exposure; they are full-on superstars.

"That empowers them to think they are bigger than the team. That's a really bad thing.

"You look at the really good clubs, the Roosters, Souths and Melbourne ... if you stuff up off the field, you get dropped."

NSW star Dugan joined the Dragons mid-season after being shown the door by the Green Machine for missing a recovery session to sink alcopops on his rooftop with Ferguson in March.

That move only came about after a deal to join Brisbane collapsed following his spat with a Raiders supporter on another social networking site, who he told to "end themselves".

"I think shillington forgets he went DUI twice lol hes done some favors to get that Aussie jersey. Well done mate.", Dugan tweeted. The post was subsequently deleted later on Friday.

Shillington also revealed senior Raiders players, when consulted by Queensland coach Mal Meninga, who was part of a sub-committee formed to find a replacement for Furner, threw their support behind caretaker coach and former U-20s mentor Andrew Dunemann.

However, the 30-year-old said he was happy to work under recently appointed coach Ricky Stuart and said the former Parramatta mentor was the perfect man to rebuild team spirit.

He also denied rumours there was an issue between him and his new boss.

"Mal rang a few of us and asked us who we would thought should be coach and we were pushing for Andrew Dunemann because of his relationship with our young talent," Shillington said.

"But Ricky will be just what the doctor ordered in far as getting the team together ... sort out the off-field stuff and ensure players are pulled into line ... as the care factor has been down."

Raiders chief executive Don Furner was fuming at Shillington's claims and slapped him with an undisclosed fine.

"Comments made today across several media outlets by David Shillington were in breach of the club's media policy that clearly states players may speak on issues relating only to their own performance and that of the team," Furner said.

"They should not comment on issues outside of their immediate responsibilities as a player without prior approval from senior management.

"David is an experienced senior player at this club and should have known better.

"He's been spoken to previously about errant comments he has made to the media and the negative impact they can have."

http://www.nrl.com/dugan-mocks-shillington-after-raiders-fine/tabid/10874/newsid/74761/default.aspx




 
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THE LURKER - NRL RUMOUR FILE - FRIDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER

Jorge Taufua, Ryan James under Kangaroos consideration

Two players who have yet to represent their state have emerged as bolters for Australia's World Cup tour to England.

Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens names his squad for the World Cup after the grand final next month and has Manly winger Jorge Taufua and Titans prop Ryan James under consideration.

'Dice Price' petition gathering momentum

Steve Price looks to have survived to coach the Dragons again in 2014, but the fans aren't happy.

One Dragons supporter, Adrian F of Wollongong, has started an online petition entitled 'Dice Price' that has attracted considerable support from fellow fans.

Des Hasler was sounded out over Brisbane move

The Broncos are jumping up and down about claims they made an approach to Bulldogs coach Des Hasler to take over the reins from besieged coach Anthony Griffin in 2014.

The club is insisting the rumour is completely false but I can tell you there is plenty of truth to it.

Benji could make rugby debut this year

Benji Marshall won't be playing in the World Cup - and there's a big chance he will have his first game of rugby union before the year is out.

I'm hearing authorities of the 15-a-side game are desperate to see Benji turn out for a one-off game for the Barbarians against Fiji in November at Twickenham.

http://www.sportal.com.au/league/news/the-lurkernrl-rumour-filefriday-252761
 
George Piggins Q&A: South Sydney premiership win won't bring former figurehead back



GEORGE Piggins only ever played for one club, South Sydney. He won a premiership with them as a tenacious hooker and took the Rabbitohs to a minor premiership as a straight-talking coach. He also brought the club back from the brink of extinction. But it hasn’t always been a happy association.

How good is the current Rabbitohs team compared with the one you coached to the minor premiership in 1989?

The game is much different to the way it was played then. It’s faster these days, much faster. This Souths team is a great side. The Burgess boys are such big units aren’t they, the four of them. They’re big tough buggers and they play well. It’s a pack as good as the one we had when I was playing in the ’60s.

If you can use those blokes for 15-20 minutes, the big guys Te’o and the Burgesses and Asotasi, straight up the middle and then bring on the quicker blokes after that you can really do some damage.

Can the current guys win the grand final this year?

Yes and I hope they do. They are faster than the pack I played in and every bit as tough.

You played it pretty hard. When a lot of people hear the name George Piggins they think of your brawl with Manly’s Malcolm Reilly in 1973. Is it true that you gouged his right eye out and it popped back into his head?

I saw things that looked like tentacles on the back of my fingers as it was coming out. Malcolm had a big reputation as a tough bloke. He started the fight and it was me or him. We’d had a blue earlier in the match when he kicked me in the face and I put one on his chin.

Then later on as he marked me to play the ball Malcolm struck his boot down my face and tore the bottom of my gums off my teeth. I butted him and threw him onto the ground and got on top of him. He went for my eyes and I gave back as good as I got. I don’t drink but later on we had a lemonade and shook hands.

Your feud with Russell Crowe has been bitter too, though not quite as violent. Will you ever patch things up with him?

I wish Russell all success in the world, but I don’t want to break bread with him. I opposed the takeover of the club by him and Peter Holmes a Court and private detectives were put onto me. They even had people going through my garbage to compile a dirt file on me.

They say Russell will be leaving the club at the end of the year but our leagues club has folded now and we need Russell and the other bloke putting in money to keep the thing afloat. Russell could sell the club to anyone.

Whether it be someone in Perth, Queensland or wherever they can sell the club. It’s their right and that would put us in a very awkward position if that happens.

Have you considered buying the club yourself?

Mate, I’m not that rich. That sort of money is out of my league, I tell you. I’m a millionaire not a billionaire.

How much does it cost to run a football team?

To be a contender for the comp it’s going to cost between $10m and $15m a year.

The seven-tackle controversy that robbed the Cowboys against the Sharks last weekend must have brought back painful memories?

Yes. In 1989 I coached Souths to the minor premiership. We played Canberra in the preliminary final and we suffered because of refereeing errors. In one of them Bill Harrigan disallowed a try by Mark Lyons in a scramble over the line.

Mark was the first one to get his hand on the ball and when you analyse it frame by frame it should have been a try. Canberra scored off a forward pass too. If the wrong decisions were reversed, the game could have gone our way.

Whether we would have won the grand final or not is a different story, but we should have played in it.

The Cowboys have had crucial calls go against them two years running. Is there a conspiracy against them?

They have got some cause to be whingeing, don’t worry about that. Billy Slater had a try disallowed the night before against Souths. If they can disallow that try, why can’t they disallow one because of a refereeing error? They should have nullified the seventh-tackle try straight away after they realised the mistake.

They can check the video of other things like forward passes and grounding the ball – why not check the video for seven tackles. They should have stopped the play and said "no try – we’ll go back to the 25m or toss a coin and kick off again." But I don’t go along with the theory that Sydney is dirty on Queensland. That’s going too far.

You have been a Souths man all your life. Do you have any memories of the Rabbitoh men who kept the battlers of Redfern alive in tough times.

Yes. We still had a Rabbitoh man coming past our house in Mascot in the 1950s. I would have been about 12 or 13 then. His name was Mr Penfold and he would have been in his 60s. Mum would send me out with a plate to buy a pair of fresh rabbits for tea.

It was a tough area then?

It was, but no tougher than anywhere else, really. It had its ups and downs. My father worked on the railways and later on was a wharf labourer.

What are your first memories of rugby league?

Playing in the 4stone 7s (29kg) at school at Gardeners Rd, Rosebery, not far from Redfern Oval.

But you didn’t stay at school long?

I was 14 when I went to work at a boiling down factory called Gearin O’Riordan in Mascot. They made tallow from animal fat. I was the offsider on the truck and we would drive all over the place in a big old Dodge Fargo picking up fat and bones from slaughterhouses and butcher shops.

We’d go up to the Blue Mountains, down to Canberra, out to Picton. It sounds like a hard job but I found it quite enjoyable. Then I worked on the wharves for three years like my dad down at Woolloomooloo.

You must have been at Redfern Oval all the time watching Clive Churchill and all those great Souths players of the 1950s?

No. I didn’t really see Souths play until I played for them. I never had time to watch. I started as a Mascot junior in 1956 when I was 11 and I would play two or three games a weekend. I was too busy to be a spectator and in any case I always enjoyed playing the game more than watching it. Later on I probably played 20 games with Clive as my coach at Souths and I’m still friends with his family.

You made your first grade debut for the Rabbitohs in 1967 but then spent the best part of five years in the reserves. Were you ever tempted to move to another club?

I had offers but I never wanted to leave Redfern, partly because I was building up a trucking business and I was making a lot more from it than I was playing hooker. I was having a tough time getting to training at Redfern Oval let alone having to go out to Parramatta or somewhere like that.

Frank Facer offered me a contract at St George and I had offers from Easts, Wests and Balmain. But I wasn’t interested. I played 16 first grade games straight in 1967 but I got injured and Elwyn Walters took over. Souths won three of the next four premierships so I couldn’t get my spot back.

But you did get a start in the 1971 grand final and played a blinder?

Yes. St George were one point behind near the end but Bob McCarthy scored for us. Taking the ball off Graeme Langlands at the end of the game was a great feeling. I played for Australia in the 1975 World Cup too.

I remember being really homesick in England and the Welsh players really getting stuck in to me in Cardiff until Terry Randall and Ray Higgs ran in to back me up.

You finally retired in 1978. After having spent your whole life playing rugby league it must have been a wrench?

Aw Geez, Jack Gibson, our coach came to me and said "can you do another year for me, mate?" and I said "not even for Jesus Christ, Jack. I’m gone." My knees were gone and my hips were going. You know when you’ve come to the end of your tether and I knew when I’d come to the end of mine.

But I’ve always loved rugby league because it gave kids like me an opportunity in life to get something they might not have had otherwise. Not everyone can be smart. I also made a lot of friendships on the footy field that remain to this day.

John Sattler says if there was no George Piggins there’d be no South Sydney. How did it feel marching alongside Sattler and 80,000 supporters when you fought to get the Rabbitohs back in the NRL in 2000?

It was the sort of turn out you might never see again. People came from as far away as Queensland and Western Australia. The most pleasing thing was that everyone was united because we all wanted to see the team back. And we won. At one stage I took out a mortgage on my house and my farm for $3.2 million to keep the club afloat and my money was in jeopardy.

After all that, everything you went through, is it true you don’t go to Souths games anymore?

That’s true. The current board cut their ties with me. They cut my life membership five or six years ago. They told me I had to reapply and I wouldn’t do it on principle.

Anyway, I’m getting up in years now and I have all sorts of aches and pains. Most of the games are at night time. I’ll be 70 next year and I don’t fancy going out into the cold winter’s night for any length of time. When you get to my age it’s just nice to sit in front of the fire and watch the footy on TV.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ge...-figurehead-back/story-e6freuy9-1226724400490

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Ben Barba injury to keep him out of Brisbane Broncos pre-season as Corey Parker faces reality



BEN Barba's career at the Broncos has suffered a blow before he even arrives with the troubled big-name recruit facing almost three months on the sidelines.

Brisbane warhorse Corey Parker has warned Barba is not the one-man solution to curing the club's ills as the Canterbury import comes to terms with his own well-being.

Barba, who injured his ankle in Canterbury's season-ending finals loss to Newcastle, underwent surgery on Thursday. He will miss the start of Broncos pre-season, but is hopeful of training at full capacity before Christmas.

The Broncos are banking on Barba's instinctive brilliance to be their X-factor next year after a dismal 2013 campaign in which they struggled to unearth a regular game-breaker.Former Test centre Tony Currie has hailed Barba's signing as one of the greatest coups in the club's history, but Parker insists the 24-year-old cannot rebuild the Broncos on his own.

"Ben Barba is a very classy player, he proved that to everyone last year but let's get one thing straight, Ben Barba's inclusion all of a sudden won't turn the Broncos around," Parker said.

"It's certainly exciting to have him on board. I'm looking forward to him playing for the Broncos as much as any Brisbane fan, but there are a number of things we have to work on as a group."Ben Barba won't solve all our issues."

Barba will arrive at Red Hill in November in a fragile state. Aside from assault allegations hanging over him, the Queensland Origin hopeful is facing a lengthy rehabilitation from his ankle injury.

Barba's quest for redemption will be mirrored by Broncos stars, with Parker admitting Brisbane's finals wipeout in 2013 cut deep for a squad accustomed to success.

The 31-year-old is struggling as a finals spectator - he won a premiership ring in 2006 and has missed the finals just twice in 13 seasons at the Broncos.

"It hurts enormously," Parker said of Brisbane's 12th-placing."I've played 13 years at the Broncos and barely missed the finals. It is something that I'm not quite used to but you learn a lot about yourself and you learn a lot about each other in terms of character building.

"One thing I can't question is the effort that was put into games. If you were questioning our passion, you would be scratching your head quite a bit."But there were quite a few games where we just fell short and a lot of that came down to execution.

"The reality is we didn't make the finals and I think we need to concentrate on executing for the full 80 minutes."There were a number of games where we were in a position to win and we just didn't execute right."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...er-faces-reality/story-fni3gv5x-1226724368830
 
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Former Parramatta legend mick Cronin gets fairy tale grand final



MICK Cronin looks every inch a man whose grand final fairy tales are done.

Standing on the sideline here at Nowra Showground, hands wedged deep into grey, trouser pockets, the ageing Gerringong coach glances across to that digital clock which, on a scoreboard showing his side down by one, is now racing through those final seconds.

Call it a position The Crow knows well.

Like back in 2011, when his Gerringong Lions lost to the very club they’re trailing now, the wonderfully named Warilla Gorillas, by a point.

Or last year when despite scoring on full-time, their conversion hit the crossbar and bounced out . . . this time leaving them short by two.

"So I’m no stranger to losing ‘em,’’ Cronin will tell you about 10 minutes from now. "When I coached Gerringong first time around, straight after I finished in Sydney, we made three consecutive Grand Finals and lost them all. "So yeah, you do start to wonder if maybe there is a limit on luck."

And hasn’t the Gerringong coach enjoyed his share?For proof, think back to the eighties when, with his Eels more popular than desert boots, it seemed this bush publican, a centre who represented Australia from the same club he now coaches, was kissed by the Rugby League Gods.

Cronin not just lifting the Winfield Cup four times, but carrying it with Ray Price as together, and with Tooheys cans in hand, they lapped the SCG to create something of a blueprint for footy fairy tales.

But now?

Well, now those little boys who joined Cronin on such premiership laps are also trailing by one. Eldest son Patrick trying to conjure a miracle from five-eighth while Peter, having converted both tries, can only watch from centre as the clock hits 20 seconds . . . 10 seconds . . . down through six, five, four and . . . holy %$#@.

With the Warilla crowd, and there are thousands of ‘em, up and preparing to swarm the field, Gerringong lock Brad Davidson suddenly scoops up the Steeden and from 20m out, maybe more, boots a wobbly, old kick that sails straight between the uprights. The Lions crowd erupts. The Gorillas curse. And Cronin, well, he never moves.

Sure, this 62-year-old may be on a run of three consecutive Grand Final losses. All up, having lost six of seven as Gerringong coach. But still he remains an Easter Island Statue.

Indeed, when a TV crew approached Cronin about following him around, the retired sharpshooter apologised before saying no. Same deal 10 minutes from now when, with the game done and some old bloke requesting his signature on a pair of collector cards bearing his image, the Eels great continually deflects questions from The Daily Telegraph back to halfback Rixon Russell, playing on one leg.

Or Davidson, the forward no less than Ron Massey once tipped to Wayne Bennett. Footballers who will tell you how, as a coach, Cronin is best defined by what he doesn’t say."Speeches? No, not for me,’’ the publican grins when we first call his bar for a chat late Friday afternoon.

"I played under a few coaches who insisted everything required for winning football games is done through the week. What you said on Sunday, they reckoned it didn’t count for much."

So no Big Jack pearlers then?

"Oh, I’m not too proud to quote Jack Gibson,’’ he smiles. "Occasionally I’ll quote him for emphasis because if you couldn’t learn from what he had to say, well, there probably isn’t much help for you.

"I’ve also had Wayne Bennett come speak to the boys which never hurts. The interest sparked up a bit at training that night."

And so it has again now as, in Golden Point with the scored locked 13-all, Warilla attack.Twice the Gorillas will get into field goal position. Twice the attempts sail wide.

A dramatic chain of events that eventually sees Gerringong go the length and - with crowd screaming, the clock ticking and Cronin, hands deep in those grey trousers, looking absolutely no different -- Davidson boots the ugliest drop goal in history to win it.

Cue South Coast bedlam.

And so afterwards, with seemingly all of Gerringong encircling, backslapping and kissing its players, Cronin stands off to the side with a handful of assistants, and smiles. Savouring a win, you suggest, that will earn plenty over the hotel bar tonight?

"Oh, no," he says without pause. "After a win like this one we’ll all go up to the oval. This is a when for the entire town so you’ve gotta go where everyone can celebrate."

And with that he turns walks towards his boys. Hands tucked deep into those grey trouser pockets.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...tale-grand-final/story-fni3fbgz-1226724729026

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JT's Sydney conspiracy now an odd-on bet according to TAB



​
JOHNATHAN Thurston's all-Sydney grand final conspiracy theory is now odds-on to become reality according to the TAB.

A Souths-Roosters grand final is considered the most likely scenario heading into this week’s preliminary finals with the TAB yesterday listing JT's "dream" match-up as a $1.89 chance of happening.

That scenario probably won’t excite the fans in Queensland or North Queensland supporters in particular but one punter would be sweating on the outcome.

When the season kicked-off a Souths-Roosters grand final was rated a $29 hope and one fan had $2,000 on that and now stands to collect $58,000 if the arch rivals square off in the all-Sydney decider.

"We have already taken over $500,000 on both Souths and the Roosters winning the Grand Final," the TAB’s Matt Jenkins said.

"They have easily been the most popular teams and the grand final most punters want to see."

The Roosters are $2.25 premiership favourites ahead of Souths at $2.75, Manly are $6 and Newcastle $9 outsiders.

In this week’s games Souths will start $1.45 favourites on Friday night to beat Manly who are paying $2.75, while the Roosters are $1.30 to beat Newcastle who are paying $3.50 for the upset.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...according-to-tab/story-fni3fbgz-1226724715337

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Brett Stewart struggling, but Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai and Anthony Watmough cleared



INJURED Manly stars Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai and Anthony Watmough have all been cleared to play Friday night's grand final qualifier against Souths.

Lyon (leg), Matai (leg) and Watmough (knee) collected injuries during Friday evening’s win over Cronulla at Allianz Stadium.“But everyone is okay,’’ said Manly coach Geoff Toovey.“We have a few bumps and bruises but they all should be right for this Friday night.’’

Fullback Brett Stewart (hamstring) will be monitored again this week.Stewart missed the Sharks game but was again ably replaced by Peta Hiku.“The only one we are waiting on is ‘Snake’ (Stewart),’’ Toovey said.

“We will wait and see how he runs later in the week.’’Manly again showed enormous courage to beat Cronulla a week after a gruelling loss to the Sydney Roosters.The Sea Eagles are now just 80 minutes from the club’s fourth grand final in seven years.

“It should be a good atmosphere on Friday night,’’ Toovey said. “We’re fine.’’


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...watmough-cleared/story-fni3gnk1-1226724688411



 
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Paul Crawley's five best games of season 2013



EVERYONE has their own favourites and Telegraph league writer Paul Cralwey has pin-pointed what he views as the five best games of the season.


Rd7: Sea Eagles v Rabbitohs

Michael Maguire said it was "madness" that no Manly player was sent off and the Rabbitohs coach probably had a point.Greg Inglis was dropped on his head three times, George Burgess was ironed out by a Steve Matai special and of course there was an all-in brawl just to keep everyone happy.

It was definitely the most brutal match of the year and arguably the best after the Rabbitohs weathered an almighty Manly onslaught to finish 20-12 winners.

The politically correct might not approve but there wouldn’t have been one spectator in attendance that night who didn’t spent the next day talking about what a great game they’d witnessed.

Rd8: Knights v Sharks

In a year from hell the Sharks put in some extremely brave performances but it’s hard to argue any of them were more courageous than the effort against the Knights in Newcastle back in round 8.

Cronulla lost inspirational skipper Paul Gallen to a knee injury after just three minutes but his teammates rallied and went on to clinch a gutsy 21-20 victory in golden point courtesy of a wobbly Jeff Robson field goal.

The win snapped a four-game losing streak for the Sharks and led a jubilant Shane Flanagan to declare after the game:"They’re a tough bunch and they’re getting tougher with all the stuff going on externally.

"We’re not the most skilled team in the competition but games like that we’ll stick in there and on our day we’ll have a fight with anyone."

Rd24: Dragons v Wests Tigers

It was hardly a year Wests Tigers fans will want to remember but one match they won’t forget is round 24 on a glorious Saturday afternoon at the SCG when a star was born.Teenage sensation Luke Brooks produced a memorable debut to lead the Tigers to a 34-18 win over the Dragons that snapped a six-game losing streak.

After a steady start to the game Brooks turned on a blinder scoring a try, setting up two others and showing a maturity that went way beyond his years.In that match Benji Marshall also put in his best performance for months but even the outgoing superstar was blown away by the performance of this special young talent that everyone is tipping to be the game’s next superstar.

"Outstanding I thought," Marshall said."Not only for his age, but for a first game to stand up, lead the team at halfback, kick well, run well, he scored a try and set-up a couple."

Rd25: Wests Tigers v Rabbitohs

Johnathan Thurston might think this is another Sydney-conspiracy by us picking all these Rabbitohs matches but how do you ignore the night Julie Burgess jumped for joy as her four boys etched their names in rugby league history.

It was the first time since 1910 that four brothers had played a first grade game together but even they’d admit Julie stole the show with her performance in the stands and the late charge onto the field.

What a wonderful night this was for rugby league at home and on the international stage.The Bunnies copped a terrible call early when big Sam was sent to the sin bin and while he was off the field the Tigers charged to an 18-0 lead.

But when Sam returned so did order as the Burgess boys turned Friday Night Football into their own family show.Sam and Luke both crossed for tries but Julie finished best on ground in the eyes of most fans as she joined her boys on Allianz Stadium after the match for a moment they will be talking about in another 100 years.

Rd 26: Rabbitohs v Roosters

It was a case of saving the best for last for the Sydney Roosters when they beat their arch rivals in a final round blockbuster played in front of a regular season record crowd of 59,708 fans to clinch the minor premiership.

Back in round one the Rabbitohs dominated the Roosters in the season-opener at Allianz and Sam Burgess’ scored a knockout victory over Sonny Bill Williams when he flattened the returning superstar with a thunderous charge.

But in the return bout it was SBW who took the points victory with probably his best performance of the season and that’s taking some pretty fantastic performances into account.

The Rabbitohs led 12-10 at halftime before the Roosters raced in 14 unanswered points to claim first spot and end a worrying two game losing streak heading into the finals.

It also set the scene for a fantastic finals series with the Roosters and Rabbitohs now just 80 minutes away from a third and deciding match in the grand final.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...s-of-season-2013/story-fni3fbgz-1226725462552
 
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Cronulla's golden point win over us? I can only assume he meant to title the article top five rorts of the year.
 
Brett Stewart trains, set to play for Manly Sea Eagles in NRL preliminary final clash


  • STEVE JANCETIC
  • AAP
  • SEPTEMBER 24, 2013 1:06PM

BRETT Stewart has given the strongest indication yet he will be right to play in Friday night's NRL preliminary final after taking part in Manly's first training session of the week on Tuesday.

While Anthony Watmough watched on as he rested his injured knee, Stewart ran at three-quarter pace through a series of running drills with the remainder of the squad.

"We're hoping, you'll see him train today,'' Manly coach Geoff Toovey said of Stewart's chances ahead of training."It's one of those things like last week, if he's not right he's not right but we're fairly confident he'll be okay.''

While replacement Peta Hiku has been tremendous at the back during Stewart's absence, the Sea Eagles backline has not look as threatening in attack without the prolific No.1.Asked about Stewart's desire to play in the sudden-death encounter against South Sydney, Toovey said:

"He was really eager last week as well but that doesn't help the fact that he's got that problem, if he's not right he's not right."We're hoping he is (right), we've got a couple of training sessions this week and hopefully he'll get through them and be right to play.

"The bloke who filled in for him, Peta Hiku, has done a great job but Brett Stewart's been in and out in these situations quite often in previous years."We're pretty sure and confident, the quality player that he is he'll bounce back and fit straight in.''

Toovey indicated he would give Stewart right up until game day to prove his fitness, as he did ahead of last week's game against Cronulla.

Back-rower Watmough is considered certain to play despite aggravating his knee injury against the Sharks.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...nary-final-clash/story-fni3gnk1-1226726135527
 
Rugby league legend Ron Coote gets well-deserved honour after life of giving



RUGBY league has produced so many great champions - but you could make a case that none rate above Ron Coote as a man.

That was the argument George Piggins put forward on Tuesday when we phoned to tell him his old teammate from Souths was set to be inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

As a footballer, Coote was known as the "prince of lock-fowards".He won four comps playing for Souths in 1966,67,70 and 71 - and two for Easts in 1974 and 75 under Jack Gibson.

Then when he finished with football his life really kicked off.By his own admission, he left school knowing how to read and write and not much else - but he went on to become an extremely successful businessman, owning a chain of McDonalds restaurants.

And still some say his greatest work was helping to establish the Men of League foundation, that has helped so many old footballers who have fallen on hard times over the past decade.

As Piggins explained: "I don’t know how Ronnie and Norm Provan aren’t Immortals to be quite honest."It doesn’t make sense to me."Piggins admits he might be biased.He and Coote have been knocking around together since they were little kids playing footy against each other in the Souths juniors back in the early 1950s.

Even today, at 68, that competitive streak still stirs inside them both.In the mid-1980s, Piggins, Coote, John O’Neill and Gary Stevens bought 100 acres of prime land down at Lake Conjola on the south coast and subdivided it between their families.

"It’s on the second biggest salt water lake in NSW," Piggins explained.And while O’Neill has since passed away and Stevens has moved on, Coote and Piggins still live close by and share plenty of fun times.Like recently when they went on an overnight horse ride.

"We went with this polo-cross group," Piggins laughed, "and Ronnie prides himself on his fitness."So anyway, we’d been riding all day and it was getting towards the evening. We were coming up a hill so we jumped off to give the horses a bit of a break but Ronnie couldn’t get back on.

"I got straight back on my horse."So anyway, later on in the night he says to me: `You must be pretty fit’."And I said; `Well, yeah, I keep myself in shape’."I think Ronnie was taken aback ... but he didn’t know I was taking painkillers.

"George had a good old laugh at that, but he didn’t laugh about the honour that is about to be bestowed upon the man who you can just tell he truly respects."It’s nice to see Ronnie getting the recognition he is getting here," he said.

The Sport Australia Hall of Fame was established in 1985 when 120 members were inducted including Sir Donald Bradman and Dawn Fraser - and over the years the list has grown to 518 legends from across all sport.

Coote will the 19th man from rugby league to join this honour role of champions when he heads to Melbourne next month for the celebration dinner on October 10.

"It’s certainly a great honour and I’m very humbled," Coote said when we caught up with him on Tuesday as he took a break from fishing on a holiday up near Townsville.

"They told me about two or three months ago and they said I couldn’t say anything about it."But really, to be in the company of the people who are on it, I am certainly chuffed and it is certainly a great privilege. I’m really over the moon."

For all he’s done in his life, we asked him on Tuesday if there is one thing above all else he rates as his greatest achievement?The fact it took less than a second to respond explained a lot about him.

"We have a great family relationship and I think that is my proudest achievement," he said."I have never thought too much about what I have done. I have always taken it with a grain of salt.

"I never thought I was anything special.“I always enjoyed what I did, but I never sort of stuck my chest out about it."I was just lucky enough to have a bit of talent and I could use that talent.

"There were a lot of areas where I didn’t have much talent, like school."I could read and write and do all that but I was not much good at school."But I used my life to learn what I could from other people so I could improve myself and try and help my family. And I was always respectful and courteous."And that’s what it’s all about really, isn’t it.

"I’ve got a great family and to be with them all the time and to be around them, that what it is about."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/rugby-league-legend-ron-coote-gets-well-deserved-honour-after-life-of-giving/story-fni3fbgz-1226726514340
 
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League writer Josh Massoud selects his five best tries of the season



EVERYONE has their own favourites and Telegraph league writer Josh Massoud has pin-pointed what he views as the five best tries of the season.

Blake Ayshford (Tigers v Storm R16)

Even in dry conditions, this 103-metre Wests Tigers pearler would been a prohibitive favourite. But in a deluge that reduced Leichhardt to an ice skating rink that Steve Bradbury would have struggled to negotiate upright, it rates as one of the best tries in NRL history.

Displaying the balance of a tight rope walker on the lip of the Grand Canyon, Tigers centre Tim Simona collected the ball inside his own in-goal and skirted past three Storm chasers to embark on a 60-metre run up field.

With the dilapidated Latchem Robinson Grandstand threatening to shake off its termite infestation amid the growing roar, Simona found Benji Marshall, who in turn linked with skipper Robbie Farah to breach the Storm’s quarter.

As soaked fans held their breath in anticipation of something truly magnificent, Farah held his nerve to turn Blake Ayshord through a gap on the inside. The woeful surface did the rest, with Ayshford wisely diving three metres before the chalk to slide across for a muddy marvel that used to only exist in the imagination.

Tim Simona (Tigers v Warriors R19)

In 2001, Dragons cult hero Nathan Blacklock stole his team victory over Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval with a mesmerising chip-and-chase try on the fulltime siren.

Blacklock is now long retired, but his exhilarating spirit was revived on the same patch of turf in mid-July when Tim Simona unleashed an identical movement down the western touchline.

The only difference was that it came in the shadow of halftime. But the result was the same, with Simona chipping over the top of Kevin Locke before leaving the Warriors custodian with windburn to post the season’s best individual try.

Andrew Fifita (Sharks v Tigers R17)

Unless there’s a call for second helpings at the buffet, front rowers have no right to move like this. But as he’s demonstrated this year, Andrew Fifita is no ordinary beast.

With the barrel chest of a Bulldog and the legs of a greyhound, the NSW Origin prop accelerated into a gap behind the ruck on his own 40 metre line and had Tigers defenders sending out memos for his whereabouts with an instant.

The 115kg dynamo came to James Tedesco, and, in a move not seen since the opening credits of The Fat Albert Show, danced past the hapless fullback to score untouched. A lawn mower man celebration completed a moment that made highlights on all the clippings.

Will Chambers (Storm v Raiders R21)

Mahe Fonua is the NRL’s first genuine product from Victoria, but he could have just as easily graduated in AFL on the evidence of this acrobatic effort.

Chasing through an innocuous Ryan Hoffman grubber, Fonua launched himself from an imaginary catapult in pursuit of the Steeden, which more than a metre over the dead-ball line.

In a movement that would make a glowing audition for the Harlem Globetrotters, he scooped the ball directly over his head without looking and straight into the grateful arms of team mate Will Chambers, who was standing just centimetres inside the field of play.

David Nofoaluma (Tigers v Sea Eagles R20)

Sergei Bubka and Steven Hooker needed a pole vault to get this high. The only thing Nofoaluma had was his own momentum as he pursued a Benji Marhsall chip that looked destined to sail over the touch-in-goal line on the full.

Throwing his feet over a metre off the turf, the rookie grabbed the ball above opposite winger Jorge Taufua in suspended animation, not unlike Keanu Reeves in The Matrix.

Showing pure athletic instinct, Nofoaluma lowered his arms before his feet to plant the ball just inside the touchline and claim a four-pointer worthy of replication in the next Cirque du Soliel production.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...es-of-the-season/story-fni3fbgz-1226726382384
 
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Kevie Walters is also a Queenslander... The lurker has no idea and just says every possible outcome and then claims it when one eventuates...

Although I do hope he is right with this one. I want either Green or Woolfe as coach.
 
THE LURKER - NRL RUMOUR FILE - WEDNESDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER


Parramatta powerbrokers cause Eels more trouble

Parramatta's off-field dramas have actually managed to worsen. We hear chairman Steve Sharp and former CEO Denis Fitzgerald have now fallen out.

Fitzgerald was the brains behind Sharp's ParraFirst ticket that swept to power earlier this year. But the two are no longer mates after Sharp failed to publicly support Fitzgerald on several issues.

There is also drama over former coach Brian Smith's possible appointment as head of coaching next season. Powerful figures want him back but are finding a lot of resistance.

English coach Steve McNamara is part of the Smith regime but the whole thing is turning ugly and could be knocked on the head altogether.

Some players just can't help themselves

One massive name in the game was spotted drinking at a pub on a Wednesday night - before his team played a recent semi-final. It seems our man has a history of enjoying the odd beer. His coach remains unaware of the midweek booze session.

But there he was, right in the middle of the public bar - with the joint packed.

A prominent official on the way out?

One prominent official at a big club might be a tad nervous. It appears an email has emerged questioning our official's business credentials and morals. If confirmed, expect the official to be shown the door - ASAP.

Time heals all wounds in Canberra

Canberra prop David Shillington went on the front foot the moment Ricky Stuart was appointed Raiders coach, ringing his former coach to ensure there was no lingering bad blood. The pair clashed when at the Roosters in 2005, but it appears time heals all wounds and 'Sticky' is willing to forgive and forget and start afresh.

Ban, what ban?

If Peter Peters was banned from the Manly dressing room last Friday night, it was news to the big man. The larger-than-life Zorba was there to congratulate the players after their tremendous win over Cronulla despite reports he was persona non grata due to a legal stoush with fellow board member Darrell Williams. Williams sensibly stayed away.

http://www.sportal.com.au/league/news/the-lurkernrl-rumour-filewednesday-253060
 
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More fresh blood brought in for Brisbane Broncos as Anthony Griffin swings the axe again



BRONCOS coach Anthony Griffin on Wednesday injected fresh blood to his support unit by luring respected Melbourne strength-and-conditioning coach Alex Corvo.

Corvo will oversee Brisbane’s high-performance program after 11 seasons with premiership heavyweights the Storm.Corvo, who has also worked with Australia for the past five years, replaces Tony Guilfoyle, who was terminated last week by Griffin as part of the club’s annual review.

“We are very pleased to have acquired the services of Alex,” Griffin said. “He brings a wealth of experience at the highest level of his profession, having worked at the NRL level for nearly 15 years.

“He will build on the systems that Tony Guilfoyle has put in place over the past three seasons.”

Corvo will be part of the Kangaroos’ upcoming World Cup campaign before taking charge of the Broncos in November.

The acquisition of Corvo came on the day the Broncos discarded Lama Tasi - just 74 days after the hard-hitting prop made his debut for the club.

In a bizarre recruiting strategy, the Broncos permitted Tasi to join English club Salford on Wednesday, less than three months after brokering his release from the Sydney Roosters in July.

Tasi is headed for the Red Hill exits after one of the shortest stints in NRL history.During his brief tenure at Red Hill, Tasi played seven games and compiled just 32 hit-ups and 47 tackles in his 100-minute contribution to the Broncos.

Critics of Brisbane’s recruitment methodology will further question why the club bothered signing a player who was rarely used by coach Griffin.But it is a clear sign the Broncos are overhauling their roster amid speculation the club is building a war chest to target Storm skipper Cameron Smith and Manly playmaker Daly Cherry-Evans for 2015.

The club has already offloaded halves Scott Prince and Peter Wallace for next season and off-contract prop Ben Hannant faces a $200,000 pay cut to remain at Red Hill in 2015.

Salford coach and former Great Britain mentor Brian Noble confirmed Tasi’s signing on the club’s website on Wednesday night.

“I bumped into Lama when he was at the Roosters,” Noble said.“Not only is he an impressive man, but he is an impressive presence and he can play too.“At 23, we have got an emerging talent from Australia and he will do really well for us. I’m excited.”

Salford finished last in the Super League in 2013, but are predicted to hit back next season after signing 13 players headlined by Tasi, Rangi Chase, Gareth Hock and former Roosters enforcer Adrian Morley.Tasi will turn out for Samoa at the upcoming World Cup.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...gs-the-axe-again/story-fni3gv5x-1226727205673

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Kevin Wlaters makes move to succeed Mal Meninga as Queensland Origin coach



COWBOYS coaching hopeful Kevin Walters will join Queensland's Origin setup next season in another step towards eventually succeeding Mal Meninga.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Maroons coach Mal Meninga has made a formal submission to the Queensland Rugby League to have Walters on his coaching staff next year.

Pushing for Walters’ inclusion also confirms Meninga will be on board for a ninth campaign next year after he indicated in July he may step aside. While hopeful of clinching the Cowboys job, Walters said on Wednesday he would relish joining Camp Maroon with a view to succeeding Meninga at some stage.

"I love everything about State of Origin and I’d love to be involved in some capacity," Walters said."I was working with the Maroons before I went to coach in France and one of the things I missed was walking away from my Origin role.

"I spoke to Mal earlier in the year about his plans and he spoke to me about my potential, which was pleasing. "It would be an honour to coach the team. You have your club jobs, but the Origin stuff is very special and I would certainly be willing to take over from Mal.

"If the Queensland Rugby League approve it, I’m ready to go whenever Mal wants me."Meninga suggested it was only a matter of time before Walters became Queensland coach. He is also a fan of Green, who has impressed Cowboys board members Laurence Lancini and Ben Ikin with his development.

"We need to ensure that our coaching stocks continue to be replenished and that is why I will be recommending to the QRL board that Kevin Walters joins the Maroons coaching staff next year," Meninga said.

"Kevvy has been earmarked as a Queensland coach-in-waiting."He is a former Queensland captain, a very astute tactician, (did) a tremendous apprenticeship under Craig Bellamy at the Storm and has coached our Queensland under-20s. "It is important for us to have someone like Kevin as part of our setup."

Newcastle's Rick Stone was ruled out of the North Queensland coaching race on Wednesday and it appears either Paul Green or Brad Arthur will coach the Cowboys next year, with Brisbane assistant Kristian Woolf considered an outside hope.

Neil Henry’s successor is expected to be finalised within the next two days. North Queensland’s seven-strong board has received a recommendation, but the one certainty is that Stone will not be calling the shots in Townsville next season.

Had Stone been appointed, the Knights assistant would have resigned as Fiji’s World Cup coach to ensure he was on deck for the Cowboys' pre-season starting in November.

But Stone has informed the Fijian Rugby League he will lead the Bati squad to England, meaning he is out of the race for the Cowboys post.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...and-origin-coach/story-fni3fbgz-1226727134441
 
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Rugby league writer Nick Walshaw selects his five top rookies of the NRL season



EVERYONE has their own favourites and Telegraph league writer Nick Walshaw has pin-pointed who he views as the five stand-out rookies of the season.

5. MATT MOYLAN

WHEN this kid ran out for his NRL debut, Andrew Johns likened him to a member of One Direction.Yet 80 minutes later, and with no less than Panthers great Mark Geyer tweeting about ‘the best debut since Freddy’, the Australian touch footy player had certainly confirmed the Panthers had a keeper.

We have the Panthers fullback pipping David Nofoaluma, the Wests Tigers winger who, after contorting like some tattooed street performer through a tennis racquet, scored what was hailed the Try of the Decade against the Sea Eagles in Round 20.

4. PETA HIKU

SIGNED for just $70,000, Hiku is the NRL equivalent of a Coles Red Spot special.

With NSW Origin star Brett Stewart sidelined for large chunks of this season, Hiku hasn’t just warmed the Sea Eagles No.1 jersey - he’s starred. In two finals matches, this New Zealand Warriors reject has run for 517 metres and is averaging, per game, 143m.

Given the Sea Eagles have got within 80 minutes of a decider, Hiku gets the nod ahead of countryman and Melbourne forward Tohu Harris - who was called on to make his New Zealand Test debut back in April following a string of injuries to the Kiwis.

3. DYLAN WALKER

CENTRE, the experts say, is a position that takes years to learn. Then along comes Walker.Scoring five tries in his first six games with the Bunnies, the youngster has showed a maturity that belies his 18 years.

A local junior who was expected to cover once or twice for injury this year, Walker has instead made 15 NRL appearances . . . before mum organised a three-year contract extension.

2. ANTHONY MILFORD

CANBERRA should place Parliament House into hock if it means keeping this bloke.In a year when they missed the eight, punted two NSW Origin stars and sacked a coach, 19-year-old Milford’s rise and rise has been the undisputed highlight.

Apart from making 17 linebreaks in just 18 matches this year - easily the most for any Raider - the rookie who replaced fullback Josh Dugan also made seven linebreak assists.If he heads to Brisbane, any hope of making the top eight will disappear with him.

1. GEORGE BURGESS

REMEMBER when everyone thought South Sydney had only signed the Burgess brothers to keep Sam happy?

Starting the year with just three interchange appearances, which still qualifies him in this category, George is surely odds on favourite to score the Dally M Rookie gong after an incredible season in the Bunnies engine room.

According to Fox Sports Statistics, the hulking forward crams an unfathomable amount of work into the 46 minutes he plays each week - averaging a whopping 140 metres and 26 tackles per game.

Elsewhere, Georgie has also busted 95 tackles, made eight linebreaks and scored seven tries.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...f-the-nrl-season/story-fni3fbgz-1226727145920
 
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In this week's issue of RLW The Mole has reported the following...

- Kangaroos Coach Tim Sheens and selector Bob Fulton have been told by the NRL that Australia's World Cup campaign is unlikely to be affected by the ASADA investigation

- The Integrity unit is investigating a Sydney based NRL player after he apparentlt sent nude pictures of himself to several women, The player is no stranger to strife in his career

- Matt Parish has said he wants to stay put at the Eels

- Gareth Ellis may miss the World Cup due to an on-going foot injury that requires surgery

- This is the WTF moment for me, Parramatta face a fine for salary cap breaches lol, They need to offload 3 more players including Chris Sandow

- Jarryd Hayne has predicted a Knights vs Manly GF....Hope he is right !!!


 
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