2013 NRL Discussion

South Sydney star Adam Reynolds reveals how daughters helped him realise Rabbitohs dream



ADAM Reynolds is proof rugby league is a game where dreams can come true.

The South Sydney halfback grew up a few hundred metres away from the Rabbitohs’ spiritual home at Redfern Oval - and on Friday night he has the chance to guide the game’s most famous club into its first grand final in 42 years.

When the 23-year-old runs onto ANZ Stadium for the showdown against Manly, Reynolds will help carry the hopes of every Souths fan who has been waiting for this opportunity ever since they last won the comp in 1971.

But according to the home grown hero his opportunity to play a part in this Rabbitohs’ revival may never have happened if it wasn’t for these little girls arriving in his life.

Growing up around Redfern, Reynolds admits life wasn’t always without hurdles and it would have been easy to take the wrong road at times during his teenage years.But after becoming a dad at just 18, Reynolds credits Nakylah and Aaliyah for giving him the inspiration to be a father they could be proud of.

“It was a change I probably needed in my life," he said. “Being a dad put me on the straight path."

He met his partner Tallara at high school and they only moved out of his parents’ Waterloo home last year.“We lived there until the girls were about two and they were great," he said of his own proud parents, Mark and Kim.

“Mum used to love watching the girls.“She’d always tell me to get out and go to the movies or just get a bit of time away which helped. A lot of people don’t have that kind of support so I was lucky in that sense and my partner’s family were the same.

“They have all been a great help."Just like all Souths fans, Reynolds has had to contend with his share of disappointment.

He missed the entire 2011 season with a knee injury - and of course there was last year’s grand final qualifier, when he tore his hamstring mid-way through the first half when the Rabbitohs were leading the Bulldogs 8-4.

When he left the field Souths’ hopes went with him but that heartbreak has been his motivation ever since.He started working on his injury the day after that game so he could be ready for pre-season training and all year he’s been one of the Rabbitohs’ best players.

His kicking game will again be crucial on Friday night if Souths are going to take the next step.And Reynolds reckons his little girls will also play a vital part in his preparation.

“I don’t like thinking about the game at all until it gets close to game-time and the girls are perfect for that," he said.“I get to spend some time with them and have a muck around which takes my mind off the game.

“I’m like a big kid myself."But when he runs out on Friday night Nakylah and Aaliyah will be cheering like the rest of the Souths fans.“Yeah, they go to the games.

They wear their jerseys, they love it,” Reynolds laughed.“They are massive Bunnies fans."They go around at pre-school telling everyone that they love the Rabbitohs.

"You certainly learn from a young age what this club means to the people of this area."You know, it is just a terrific community. They are the most loyal fans and they will always support us no matter if we are winning or losing.

"A lot of credit has to go to them."It would be wonderful if we could repay them for all their loyalty over all those years."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-rabbitohs-dream/story-fni3gki8-1226727834087

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Sydney-based NRL fans could learn something from the manic support rugby league gets in PNG



NRL fans who refuse to attend matches should be made to read this story.

As rugby league in Sydney fails to attract significant semi-final crowds, Papua New Guinea footy fans are in a frenzy.So much so, some will have actually walked for three days to watch Sunday’s game between Australia’s Prime Minister’s XIII and the Kumuls in Kokopo, south of Rabaul.

The PM’s side arrived in Cairns on Thursday before flying into Port Moresby on a chartered flight on Friday morning and then continuing onto the island of East New Britain.

“Heaps of people will have travelled lot of days to get to Kokopo," said team manager Tas Baitieri.“People will walk three days to come to the match.

“Because it is an island, lots will have got on boats and come from Lae and Madang across the sea.“We had a game in Lae three years ago and people walked for three days to get to the game.“Lae is up in the highlands and the territory is rough."The NRL has ensured security will be tight in PNG.

NRL stars have been warned they will literally be mobbed on arrival.“All the security is sorted, there is no drama," Baiteri said.“When you carry the Prime Minister’s tag, if something was to happen, it would be ‘PM’s team in trouble’.

“But nothing has been left unturned. We’ve got police and guards. We have taken every precaution so we don’t have an incident.“We haven’t had an incident in eight years and I don’t think we will have one this year.

“The fans get overly-enthusiastic seeing their idols face-to-face. All they want to do is get a photo with them. The PNG population appreciate good footy.

“We are going to East New Britain as well which is a little bit different to the PNG mainland."PM’s XIII coach Laurie Daley said his side was excited about their Kokopo visit.

“Some of the guys that have been there before know what to expect and some of the guys that haven’t have been told," Daley said.

“Where we are going is very secure and the people of PNG love their footy and their footy stars.“The NRL players over there are gods and will be treated as such.“It will be a great match and something the guys will look back on fondly and see it as a great experience.

The PM’s side trained on Thursday afternoon at Barlow Park, Cairns, before attending a Men of League dinner on Thursday night.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...ague-gets-in-png/story-fni3fbgz-1226727866465

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Manly Sea Eagles get massive boost with Brett Stewart fit to play preliminary final against Souths



IT was the training run on a deserted Brookvale Oval that could propel the Sea Eagles into the NRL grand final.

Star fullback Brett Stewart got through Thursday’s captain’s run and had no issues with his hamstring.

Stewart had to prove he had overcome the nagging injury this week in order to play in the sudden-death clash with the Rabbitohs at ANZ Stadium.

“He came through the session well, he is looking good and we expect him to play,” said coach Geoff Toovey.

Stewart’s presence in the Sea Eagles side cannot be underestimated.

“He is a confident person, he brings confidence to our side," said halfback Daly Cherry-Evans.

“He adds points to us and he also stops them scoring points.“He will be a great inclusion.”

Cherry-Evans will be another key man for the Sea Eagles on Friday night after his outstanding form in recent weeks but is not burdened by carrying a weight of expectation on his shoulders.

“No not all, I’m just trying to do my job as best I can so this team can get the results we are after,” Cherry-Evans said.“So I need to make sure I am on my game just like every other player in this side.”

And he is not thinking about his match-up with Souths halfback Adam Reynolds.

“This whole year has never been a focus on individual battles so it will be no different this Friday night,” he said.

Toovey said in the side’s two previous encounters Souths got the rub of the green a couple of times.“Hopefully we can turn that around,” he said.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...l-against-souths/story-fni3gnk1-1226727884266
 
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The Daily Telegraph's names its five biggest flops of NRL season 2013



THEY commanded big pay cheques but didn't produce when they needed to. Dean Ritchie names the five who failed to deliver in 2013.

BEN BARBA (Canterbury)

Personal issues cut down the Dally M winner’s season.

Barba never went close to reaching the dizzy heights he found in 2012. Subsequently, Canterbury went out in week one of the finals.

Barba had to face gambling, alcohol and assault allegations. His form was patchy at best. Finally he bolted from Sydney for Brisbane. It was a season to forget and a sad departure from Belmore.

BENJI MARSHALL (Wests Tigers)

Horror final season in rugby league. Let’s be honest, his form was terrible.

His kicking game was modest, his running game virtually non-existent.

Even Wests Tigers supporters ended up turning on Marshall. Always had an air of arrogance about him, something fans accepted at the peak of his powers five years ago.

Not anymore though. Signed with rugby union and left the Tigers under a black cloud.

TONY WILLIAMS (Canterbury)

Most thought big T-Rex would revel under Des Hasler, the pair having worked up an explosive combination at Manly. But Williams never seemed to lift out of first gear at Belmore.

Hasler was satisfied with his form throughout 2013 – but fans expected and demanded more.

"He should stand in front of the mirror to see exactly how big he is," roared former Test prop Steve Roach.

CHRIS SANDOW (Parramatta)

Like Barba, personal issues engulfed his season. Sandow was wracked with gambling issues and failed to see-out the season.

The Eels found Sandow professional help for his poker machine addiction. Sandow just couldn’t seem to find his groove under Ricky Stuart this year.

In fact, he hasn’t found his groove in two years at Parramatta. He is proving an expensive flop.

ADAM BLAIR (Wests Tigers)

Cops a hard time from fans – and rightly so. Arrived at Concord from Melbourne last year for a reported annual contract of $550,000.

No-one could deny Blair is trying but he has been completely ineffective for two years now.

Was among the game’s best forwards at the Storm but has failed to make any significant impact at Wests Tigers.

Talk continues that the club may attempt to offload him.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-nrl-season-2013/story-fni3fbgz-1226727833205
 
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Did anyone see that Wolfman try? Phwooarrr!

He might be one of the worst Origin wingers ever, but at club level outside Jamie Lyon he does some good.
 
Woo Hoo, go manly! I'm looking forward to a '97 grand final replay. Good to see souths gone, so we don't have to see one of the only two players to have ever picked up a steeden any more. All we need now is the roosters to go down so we can get rid of the second of these two players. I'm so sick of hearing about SBW & Greg Inglis
 
I hate manly, but for some reason always respected Jamie lyon as a player.. and believe if nsw have a chance to win, daley needs to beg him to come out of retirement and play.

I also hate Susie bill Williams not just for his hype and his money grubbing and his un-loyalty but alos because I come from a boxing background and how he also has degraded that sport with khoder Nasser and his cheap *** fights fighting bums. I know the bloke is a talent but he is a merc and has no respect for any sport including rugby.
 
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Senior North Queensland players get their say on candidates to be Cowboys next coach



NORTH Queensland chief executive Peter Jourdain has used senior players as informants on candidates as the Cowboys prepare to name their new coach.

Jourdain said he had heeded calls from captains Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott to have input on the club’s next boss, seeking their opinions on coaches through their relationships with players at other clubs.

The main candidates for the job - Kevin Walters, Paul Green, Kristian Woolf, Rick Stone and Brad Arthur - work at clubs where Cowboys players have relationships with rep teammates who they could ask for honest opinions.

Jourdain said he had spoken to some players about the candidates as the club considered the coaching short list.

“Certainly senior players, particularly the guys who have played a lot of rep footy, are fairly close to guys at other clubs, so we would be mad not to at least consult with them,” Jourdain said.

“We have at various times along the way and before we make the final decision we will let them know.”

Despite refusing to guarantee his future in Newcastle this week, Knights coach Wayne Bennett is believed to have told close friends he will not be coaching the Cowboys next year.

It has left the Cowboys with a choice to make from what Jourdain described as an impressive shortlist.

“We’ve been very impressed with them. I think there are probably five or six outstanding candidates at different levels of experience within the game,” Jourdain said.

“There’s some really good young guys coming through. Everyone compares it to the two at Souths and Roosters, but I think there is quite a few good young guys coming through who are going to make really good first grade coaches.

“We just have to pick the best one that is the fit for us.”

North Queensland’s board is expected to make a final decision next week, but an announcement will not be made until after the NRL grand final.The Cowboys are wary that three candidates are still involved in premiership campaigns and they do not want the decision to distract a team in grand final week.

“Even after we’ve made our decision we still then have to do a contract negotiation and the person could well be involved in the grand final so I suspect we would make the announcement the week after,” Jourdain said.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...wboys-next-coach/story-fni3g8pa-1226728749090

 
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South Sydney coach Michael Maguire mourns mother's death, Rabbitohs loss in same day



FOR all the pain that must have been tearing him up inside, Souths coach Michael Maguire wore a remarkably calm expression.

Having endured an horrible day that ended with his team eliminated for the second time at the penultimate hurdle, Maguire left ANZ Stadium as Friday night's most respected competitor.

Earlier in the day Maguire learned his mother, who lived in Canberra, passed away.

Rabbitohs players wore black armbands as a mark of respect, the tragedy lifting their already intense desire to win that little bit more.

So it was no wonder that skipper John Sutton faced the media with red eyes and a shaken voice.

"Madge (Maguire) is a tough bloke and we wanted to go out there and do him proud," Sutton said.

"I'm devastated we didn't get the result for him."

Somehow containing his emotions, Maguire added: "It's been a tough day. But I've got a great footy team and great people in this organisation. It's part of what we are trying to build here. We've got to stick together."

Throughout the season Maguire regularly spoke about what Souths had learned from losing the corresponding match to Canterbury 12 months ago.

But September-seasoned Manly proved a different prospect, blowing the Rabbitohs off the park with a second half exhibition that will leave a nightmarish imprint from Marrickville to Malabar until the chance to atone arrives next autumn.

"I just couldn't believe it," Sutton said. "Just that second half - it's not the way we played."It's so tough. I'm devastated to go out like that."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...loss-in-same-day/story-fni3gki8-1226728912477
 
Code's best players to ensure fight for the Dally M is a photo finish



BLOOD could feature on the red carpet at the Dally M Awards night on Tuesday, with the battle for the top gong one of the tightest in history.

The 2013 Dally M Award is expected to come down to the final vote.

South Sydney’s Greg Inglis and John Sutton, Manly’s Daly Cherry-Evans, Melbourne’s Cooper Cronk, Cronulla’s Todd Carney, Newcastle’s Jarrod Mullen and bookmakers’ favourite North Queensland’s Johnathan Thurston are set to fight out the finish.
Held for the first time in grand final week, the awards have undergone a major overhaul, with a total of 700 players and their partners, officials and celebrities preparing to converge on The Star on Tuesday night.

Fox Sports will broadcast the event live from 8.30pm.

Voting for the Dally M awards went behind closed doors after Round 16 with Cronk leading on 16 points, just one point ahead of Inglis. Sutton and Mullen sat two points behind on 15.

Two players certain to feature in the finish are Thurston and Carney, both previous winners of the award.

Thurston was on 13 points and Carney 12 when the votes went private.On the back of superb form with their respective clubs in the final rounds of the regular season, the two five-eighths should poll well, collecting a series of man of the match awards.

Thurston was dynamic in the Cowboys’ charge towards the finals which saw them win their last six matches of the regular season.

The Cowboys skipper, who won the award in 2005 and 2007, is attempting to join rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns as the only player to have won the medal on three occasions.

Betting agency Luxbet enlisted Thurston as the $1.90 favourite before they were forced to close their books at the end of Round 26.

As for Carney, a hamstring injury which left him sidelined in Rounds 25 and 26 could prove fatal to his hopes of adding to his 2010 medal.

“It’s so difficult to know if missing those two matches will hurt my chances, I’m hoping they didn’t," Carney said.

“Personally, I’m happy to be in with a shot as I know how good the feeling is when you do win it."

But it could be Inglis, who has never won the prestigious award, who bowls everyone over.

Despite being plagued by a knee injury, the South Sydney superstar has enjoyed a stellar season, which has guaranteed he will be named fullback of the year.

Ever consistent Cronk is also likely to feature in the finish, but what impact Melbourne’s stop-start season had on his ability to collect vital points could be a determining factor.

As the $11 fourth-favourite with the bookies before betting was suspended, Mullen is the dark horse of the pack with his form unquestionable in steering the Knights into the finals series.

The Dally M Medal will be broadcast live Tuesday night on Fox Sports 1 from 8.30pm. Don’t miss live coverage of the red carpet with Elle Halliwell on thetelegraph.com.au from 6.30pm.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...s-a-photo-finish/story-fni3fbgz-1226729140458
 
What's the Buzz - Australia's best sports gossip with The Sunday Telegraph's Phil Rothfield



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Source: The Sunday Telegraph


THE NRL and ASADA have known about a major drug problem in the sport for more than 15 years.

This newspaper splashed it over the front page of the sports section in a headline point-size impossible to miss.

Adam Hawse and Cameron Bell conducted the poll of 100 NRL stars in June 1998. Not the usual anonymous survey but one where the players actually put their names forward. It found that 25 per cent of the players were convinced performance-enhancing drugs were in widespread use across the code.

“In a survey that will send shock waves through the sport, nearly one in three players regularly use body building drugs,” it was reported.

At the time, former Balmain Tigers stalwart Neil Whittaker was chief executive of the NRL, not long after the Super League war.

Testing in those days was hardly consistent with 22 of the 100 players admitting that they hadn’t been tested in more than 12 months.

Others such as Panthers forward Matt Adamson revealed he had been tested 10 times in one season.

It’s a shame the NRL and ASADA didn’t take it more seriously when the alarm bells were ringing all those years ago.

It’s not a bad starting point to have so many players admitting to a problem.

Players such as league Immortal Andrew Johns used party drugs for much of his career and got away with it.Just a handful of players were caught in those days, including Robbie O’Davis, Wayne Richards and Rodney Howe.

A few years later, Andrew Walker, Craig Field and Kevin McGuinness were done for party drugs, including cocaine and ecstasy.

In those days, anabolic steroids were all the rage and no one had ever heard of peptides.

We almost certainly wouldn’t have this current ASADA scandal to deal with if the game and the drug testing agency had been more vigilant back then.

RENEE'S A DALLY M KNOCKOUT


SHE is the daughter of a Manly rugby league legend who mixes the glamour and style of fashion with the power and punch of boxing.

Meet Renee Gartner, daughter of Russel, who is showing off the stunning outfit she will be wearing to Tuesday night’s Dally M Awards.

The former Gold Coast Titans media director and television sports commentator has now turned her hand (or fists) to boxing.

Renee took up boxing a year ago and won her first state amateur boxing title last weekend — the NSW welterweight. It was only her second competition.

She will be doing her next fight in November at the NSW Open Titles at Richmond.

She is a fanatical Manly fan and was MC at Anthony Watmough’s wedding.

Her dad didn’t get to see her fight last weekend but plans to watch the next one.

PANTHERS, DOGS SHOW THAT FOOTY PLAYERS REALLY DO HAVE A HEART

THIS time of year we’re normally reading about footy players disgracing themselves on Mad Monday or end-of-season trips.

A lot of the great work NRL stars do often gets lost in the backwash. Both Bulldogs and Panthers players have spent time in recent weeks with some seriously ill young fans.

We’ll start with the Panthers. brooke Fretwell, 14, is fighting cancer. The Panthers found out about it through an email from her godfather. Ten players turned up to Westmead Children’s Hospital and gathered around her bed.

“It’s been a little while since Brooke has smiled that much,” said Joe Verzi, her godfather.

"The players were absolutely fantastic. Please let people know. I can’t commend them enough. Some of the players have even made inquiries about coming back to see her.”

The Bulldogs have a long relationship with Camp Quality.Nathaniel Micallef is just two. He was diagnosed in March this year with Ewings Sarcoma (a childhood cancer of the bone).

the Bulldogs invited his family to the final game of the season and into the dressing sheds afterwards.

The players treated him like one of their own.

In another week when drugs have dominated the headlines in the sports pages, we can’t get enough of the feel-good yarns that these guys have provided.


SINNER

ANY suggestions the Cronulla Sharks should be relocated to Queensland are absurd. Membership, sponsorship, hospitality, merchandise and crowds all increased this year to record levels. And unlike many of their rivals, there has been no need to get a cash advance from the NRL.

Growth will be the key to any club’s long-term survival. The club is guaranteed $28 million from development sales in the next five years and $500,000-a-year from shopping centre rental.

They are safer than a Todd Carney kick from in front.

BOSS IN EARL’s COURT

Dave Smith has joined Twitter and picked up thousands of followers in his first few days. One of the players he started following immediately was banned Canberra Raiders winger Sandor Earl.

SPOTTED

THE great Ken Arthurson made a rare trip from the Gold Coast to the football on Friday night to watch Manly’s stirring semi-final victory over the Rabbitohs. Interestingly, he chose to sit in a private suite with majority shareholders Rick and Scott Penn, not with Quantum or football club officials.

South Sydney’s part-owner Peter Holmes a Court also returned from overseas for the big game.

FOOTY SHOW REVIVAL

THE 2013 Dally M Comeback of the Year award goes to The Footy Show. Executive producer Glenn Pallister has turned a stale old show into must-watch television with the right mixture of fun, footy, and brilliant interviews such as Sandor Earl and Sonny Bill Williams.

BLAKE’S FIGHT NIGHT

BLAKE Ferguson is now certain to fight on the undercard of Anthony Mundine v Shane Mosley at the Sydney Entertainment centre on October 23. ”He goes all right and dad will be in his corner,” Mundine said.

Match makers are in the process on finding him an opponent.

TIME WARP

GOT a quiet Sunday afternoon with nothing to do? Head out to Leichhardt Oval to watch the Sharks’ NSW Cup team in their grand final qualifier against the North Sydney Bears. It’s a 3pm kick-off, like the good old days.

WESTS' BRAND HOT PROPERTY

IN another boost for the Wests Tigers, property tycoon Harry Triguboff has renewed his sponsorship with the struggling club.

Triguboff has become one of league’s longest and most loyal sponsors, renewing his deal for 12 months. CEO Grant Mayer is a commercial expert who is making a big difference at the Tigers.

BENNY'S A SHINING KNIGHT

WAYNE Bennett is going nowhere according to Nathan Tinkler’s right-hand man, Troy Palmer.

The boss of Hunter Sports Group describes reports that the super coach will leave the Knights as “pure, utter rubbish and absolute bulls…”

I also spoke to Palmer on Friday about Tinkler’s commitment to the club given his recent financial struggles.

“Nathan is absolutely committed to the Knights long term,” he said.

“He’s doing this for Newcastle. The town hasn’t been this excited for more than a decade.

“His commitment is rock-solid.”

SNEAK PEAK AT SANDOR TAPES

PHILLIP Ronald Gould was so concerned about the Sandor Earl interview on Channel Nine that he drove into the network the day before to catch a sneak preview.

Penrith came out of the interview poorly, with Earl confirming the club had paid the bills for his peptides and that he had been introduced to sport scientist Stephen Dank while he was at Panthers training. If Earl gets four years, it’s a disgrace. He deserves six months for naivety.

KANGAROOS SPLIT DOWN STATE LINES

THERE is very strong mail that a number of NSW players are not keen on playing for the Kangaroos in the upcoming World Cup.

Why? Because they don’t get on with the Queensland players following a falling out last year.

This is potentially the biggest interstate split in the Aussie team since Terry Fearnley’s ill-fated New Zealand tour in 1985.

NO BENJI BUT TIGERS A HIT

WHO needs Benji Marshall?

The Wests Tigers put season tickets and 2014 membership on sale last week and transactions were up eight per cent year on year.

It’s not bad for a team that ran 15th and is moving to ANZ Stadium next year.

We’re also hearing Braith Anasta is determined to have one more season at the Tigers to help out with a young roster.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...s-phil-rothfield/story-fni3fbgz-1226729107237
 
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Manly Sea Eagles prop Richie Fa'aoso ruled out of NRL grand final with broken neck


  • NEWS LIMITED
  • SEPTEMBER 29, 2013 6:58PM

MANLY'S Richie Fa'aoso will miss the NRL grand final due to a broken neck.

Contrary to reports, his career is not over, with the tough prop set to return to NRL football for round one next season.

The Sea Eagles said in a statement:

"Scans today revealed that Richard Fa'aoso has sustained a fracture of his C7 vertebrae and will miss the 2013 Grand Final.

"X-Rays taken at hospital after the Sea Eagles' win over the Rabbitohs on Friday night did not show any damage, however an MRI scan subsequently identified the broken bone in Richard's neck.

He is stable and continues to improve. He will however miss the grand final and will be in a neck brace for six weeks".

"The Sea Eagles medical staff are confident there will be no long-term issues and Richard will be back to 100 per cent by the start of the 2014 season.

"Understandably Richard is devastated about missing the game and we ask that his privacy be respected at this time. The club will be making no further comment at this stage.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...with-broken-neck/story-fni3gs8m-1226729507799
 
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Monday Buzz: NSW Blues coach Laurie Daley was right about Adam Reynolds



LAURIE Daley was right after all. Adam Reynolds is not ready for State of Origin football.

All those, myself included, who wanted him chosen in a Blues jersey ahead of Mitchell Pearce were wrong.

The bubble burst on Friday night in the grand final qualifier against Manly at ANZ Stadium.This is not supposed to be a criticism of the boom Rabbitohs number seven, who has the genuine ability and developing game to play for his state and his country.

But right now his football is not at the same level as Cooper Cronk and Daly Cherry-Evans, or even Pearce for that matter.

Friday night proved that when Cherry-Evans absolutely smacked his backside.

Semi-finals are a bit like mini Origins for speed and intensity.Fox Sports statistics tell the full story: one run, 12 metres, no linebreaks, no tackle busts, no linebreak assists, no try assists.

The youngster has now gone two consecutive games without registering any of the above statistics.

During the season he averaged 8.5 runs a game and 31.5m.

In comparison, Pearce had six runs for nearly 70 metres against the Knights on Saturday night.He played exactly the type of game NSW have been waiting five years for.Speed, a step, beautiful passing and great skill in shaping all the attack.

The pressure will be on Reynolds next season when young Luke Keary, another of the game’s talented rookie half-backs, presses for regular first grade game time at the Rabbitohs.Reynolds needs a good off-season and probably some specialist tutoring from a great half-back.

Someone like Andrew Johns, who has put the spit and polish on Cherry-Evans in his role as an assistant coach at the Sea Eagles.

The young half-back is a much better player than what we saw on Friday night. He just needs to develop his running game.

***

MANLY have made few mistakes since Geoff Toovey took over from Des Hasler as the Sea Eagles coach.The one blunder is not signing cult-hero front-rower George Rose on a new contract.

Like at all clubs, salary cap pressure left the Sea Eagles in an impossible position to keep the jolly giant at Brookvale.His finals form has been outstanding and his explosive charges will be missed in 2014.Melbourne Storm have got a great buy.

***

MANLY'S grand final halves combination of Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran is as good as any we’ve seen in the past 30 years.It’s a big statement considering Peter Sterling and Brett Kenny, Ricky Stuart and Laurie Daley, Steve Mortimer and Terry Lamb, Allan Langer and Kevin Walters and the Johns brothers, Andrew and Matthew.

Foran 23, and Cherry-Evans, 24, have already won a premiership and played for their countries.They have carved up every combination they have faced during the finals series.Only Cooper Cronk’s combination with Cameron Smith and Billy Slater will stop DCE forcing his way into the Kangaroos’ starting World Cup team.

***
JAMIE Lyon kicked 77 goals from 115 attempts at an ordinary success rate of 66.9 per cent during the premiership rounds.Not good enough to win a premiership and way behind the NRL’s top kickers Adam Reynolds (90 per cent) and James Maloney (87 per cent).

Then along comes Graham Arnold, one of Australia’s finest soccer coaches.Arnold is the A-League’s premier coach, having steered the Central Coast Mariners to victory in last year’s A-League Grand Final.

He also loves rugby league and watches the games every week.His advice has made a phenomenal difference. Since the finals started, Lyon has kicked 9/9 attempts at 100 per cent success rate.

Typically, Arnold didn’t want to take any of the credit when I texted him over the weekend for a comment.“One session two weeks ago,” he said, “

Zorba (Peter Peters) called me to help out.“Just a few tips but he’s always been a good kicker. It’s his good work and his handling of the pressure.“He deserves all the credit mate.”Arnold makes a great point about Lyon’s ability to handle finals pressure.

Fox Sports stats reveal that since 2007 Lyon has missed just four shots at goal from 32 attempts in finals footy.

In fact the only times he hasn’t kicked at 100 per cent in a finals match were against the Broncos in the 2011 semi-final (3/5) and the Cowboys in the 2012 qualifying final (3/5).

That leaves him with a total of 28 goals from 32 attempts at an 87.5 per cent success rate in the finals since 2007.

***

HIGHLIGHT

THE Jake Friend story of redemption. The last time I saw the Roosters hooker in person he was out the back washing dishes at a Surry Hills sandwich shop.This guy is an absolute example to every young footy player for how you can make a mistake but learn from it.

LOWLIGHT

THE sad farewell of Knights legend Danny Buderus on a stretcher at Allianz Stadium.No words can adequately describe his contribution to the game for the Knights, NSW and Australia in the 17 years since he arrived as a youngster from Taree.

***

THE finals always throw up bolter selections for Kangaroo tours or World Cups. Roosters second-rower Aidan Guerra could be another one.He was unstoppable for the Roosters on Saturday night, making 224 metres and scoring two tries.

***

WHAT will be the best individual clash of the grand final. Pearce v Cherry-Evans, Maloney v Foran, Stewart v SBW?Personally, I can’t wait to see Jamie Lyon v Michael Jennings.

***

WHAT'S going on with the NRL’s official broadcasters? Channel Nine was yesterday promoting a “blockbuster Knights v Rabbitohs grand final Sunday" with live performances from Ricky Martin and Jessica Mauboy during Wide World of Sports.

We can only presume they pre-recorded several versions but played the wrong one.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/monday-buzz-nsw-blues-coach-laurie-daley-was-right-about-adam-reynolds/story-fni3fh9n-1226729451009
 
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Queensland in Dally M box seat

By Ben Blaschke
NRL.com
7:19am Mon 30th September, 2013

Allan Langer believes the magnificent Dally M-winning run by Queensland players is set to continue on Tuesday night, with either Johnathan Thurston or Daly Cherry-Evans the most likely to salute.

They secured a record eighth straight State of Origin victory this year and legendary Maroons halfback Allan Langer believes Queensland will add another notch to their belt when the 2013 Dally M winner is named on Tuesday night.

This year’s Dally M medal count looks like being one of the closest on record with at least half a dozen players in contention.

They include 2010 winner Todd Carney, Newcastle playmaker Jarrod Mullen and South Sydney five-eighth John Sutton, however the strongest challenge is likely to come from north of the border with Queensland stars Johnathan Thurston, Greg Inglis, Cooper Cronk and Daly Cherry-Evans among the favourites for the top gong.

Should any of those claim the medal it will be the third year in a row a Queenslander has been named Dally M Player of the Year after Billy Slater in 2011 and Ben Barba last year.

Langer, who won the Dally M medal in 1996, told NRL.com he expected the Maroons contingent to have a big say in this year’s Dally M battle.

“It’s been another great year for Queensland and it will be a big fight on Tuesday but I think it will be a great night for one of them,” he said.

“The only thing I’m sure of though is that there won’t be a runaway winner. I think there will be a lot of players in contention.”

When Dally M voting went behind closed doors after Round 16 it was Cronk leading the way on 16 points ahead of Inglis, Sutton and Mullen all just a single point behind.

However, it was the presence of Thurston and Cherry-Evans on 13 points that has piqued Langer’s interest given both North Queensland and Manly enjoyed particularly strong finishes to the regular season with their star playmakers at the helm.

“Certainly Johnathan Thurston will be up there,” Langer said. “He didn’t start the year off so well but he finished off great and you’ve got to look at the teams still around so Cherry-Evans will be in contention too.

“He has come such a long way in such a short space of time. I’ve been involved with him for the Origin side and he just has a bright future ahead of him. He’s got a great head on his shoulders and he loves his footy. That’s the way he plays. You see on the field he always has a smile on his face and is joking around. He’s a really impressive young player.”

Others to keep an eye on include Roosters duo Sonny Bill Williams and James Maloney although they have some ground to make-up after sitting six points behind Cronk when the voting went behind closed doors.

WHERE THEY STOOD

16 C Cronk (Storm)
15 G Inglis (Rabbitohs)
15 J Sutton (Rabbitohs)
15 J Mullen (Knights)
13 D Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles)
13 J Thurston (Cowboys)
13 R Farah (Tigers)
12 C Parker (Broncos)
12 J Reynolds (Bulldogs)
12 T Carney (Sharks)
12 A Woods (Tigers)
11 C Smith (Storm)
10 G Bird (Titans)
10 A Kelly (Titans)
10 I Luke (Rabbitohs)
10 J Maloney (Roosters)
10 S B Williams (Roosters)

OTHER AWARDS

Fullback

Greg Inglis would appear to be a lock given he sat six points clear of next best fullback, Jarryd Hayne, after 16 rounds.

Billy Slater and Darius Boyd are his most likely challengers while Brett Stewart’s injury-plagued season will likely count against him.

Wing

One of the hardest fought positions this season. Roosters winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has stunned all with his athleticism while the Knights’ James McManus managed to overshadow the Newcastle’s Fijian Flyer Akuila Uate in 2013 with 19 tries.

Penrith winger David Simmons is a great chance after also scoring 19 tries while David Williams has been in great form for Manly during the back-end of the season.

Centre

There is every chance the winner of this award will be looking for a double celebration come grand final day with Manly duo Jamie Lyon and Steve Matai having both excelled in 2013 and Roosters star Michael Jennings back to his best since changing clubs in the pre-season.

A dark horse might be Melbourne’s right centre Will Chambers who proved nearly unstoppable over the closing rounds.

Five-eighth

A battle royale looms here with two-timer Dally M winner Johnathan Thurston a great chance of making it three.

But first he’ll have to ward off the challenge of his fellow No.6s – and plenty have put their hand up in 2013. John Sutton, Todd Carney, Kieran Foran and James Maloney all have reasonable claims to the title of Dally M Five-Eighth of the Year.

Halfback

This looks like a race between Maroons teammates Cooper Cronk and Daly Cherry-Evans.

Cronk was the overall points leader after 16 Rounds with Cherry-Evans three points behind but the form of the latter during the second half of the season is hard to resist.

Remember, too, that Cronk also led the way after 16 Rounds in 2012 but eventually finished a full seven points behind winner Ben Barba!

Roosters half Mitchell Pearce and Warriors dynamo Shaun Johnson produced enough big games to make things interesting.

Lock

It’s tough to pick a clear winner here – a cause not helped by the tendency of some coaches to swap their players around from week to week.

Rabbitohs enforcer Sam Burgess is an example given he has played front row, second row and lock in 2013. Still, he should be a leading contender for at least one of those positions alongside Manly’s Glenn Stewart and tireless Broncos veteran Corey Parker.

Second Row

Can anyone stop Sonny Bill Williams? His impact this season has been profound and alongside Greg Bird he was the leading back-rower after 16 Rounds with 10 points.

SBW missed some games through suspension later in the year which could hurt his cause although it is likely this will be a race between the Kiwi superstar and Bird.

Smokeys could be fellow Rooster Boyd Cordner and Canberra’s Josh Papalii.

Front Row

What an impact the big men have had on this 2013 season. Grand finalists the Roosters might have been strong all year but they have looked a very different side when Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has been missing.

His presence has been crucial all year but he faces some tough challenges for this award with Cronulla’s Andrew Fifita, North Queensland Matt Scott and South Sydney giant George Burgess all superb this year.

Fifita in particular emerged as one of the best forwards in the game with a series of match-winning performances in which he ran for well over 200 metres.

Hooker

Cameron Smith will be tough to beat – as usual. Even when the Storm’s form was patchy, Smith was consistently their best player.

He will face some strong challenges though from South Sydney’s Issac Luke and the ultra-impressive Jake Friend.

Robbie Farah actually topped the list of hookers on 13 points after 16 Rounds with Smith on 11 and Luke 10 but the Tigers’ woeful year and the cheek fracture that sidelined him mid-season could have cruelled his cause.

Smith looks to be the leading contender again.

Rookie

The NRL’s production line of young talent produced some crackers in 2013 with the likes of George Burgess, his South Sydney teammate Dylan Walker and Canberra’s Anthony Milford among the standouts.

Burgess must be an early favourite given he is also a contender for Prop of the Year although Milford certainly made his presence felt in an otherwise forgettable season in the nation’s capital.

Coach

Although super coach Wayne Bennett won the sentimental vote as Newcastle made a late charge through the finals, it’s hard to go past his other three “final four” rivals to fight it out for this award.

Leading the way is the Roosters’ young coach Trent Robinson who has taken his side from 12th to the minor premiership and grand final in just 12 months.

Michael Maguire continues to work wonders at South Sydney while Manly’s Geoff Toovey has done a remarkable job to guide his team through to the decider.

Notably, he is just the sixth Sea Eagles coach to achieve a top-four finish in each of his first two seasons in charge.

http://www.nrl.com/queensland-in-dally-m-box-seat/tabid/10874/newsid/74895/default.aspx
 
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