Bedsey_is_the_best
Adam MacDougall
Civoniceva handed Panthers captaincy
Former Brisbane warhorse Petero Civoniceva has been named Penrith captain for the 2008 NRL season.
The Test prop, who joined the Panthers in the off-season after ten seasons with the Broncos, takes over the reins following the departure of former skipper Craig Gower.
"I guess everyone here is really well aware of Petero's well-credentialled past as a player, both at club and representational level," coach Matthew Elliott said.
"You're not going to get a better CV in the game.
"In the old adage 'a picture paints a thousand words' well, Petero's actions paint 10 pictures.
"It's just fantastic what he's brought to the group in that respect."
Civoniceva was initially believed to be reluctant to take on a leadership position in his first year at the club, but the veteran big man said the faith shown in him by his teammates convinced him to take on the role.
"Obviously it's a fantastic privilege for me and I'm very grateful to the club, Matty and the players for giving me this opportunity," Civoniceva said.
"My role is just leading from the front as I always have in my career."
Civoniceva is contracted to the Panthers through to the end of 2009.
Gasnier named sole Dragons skipper
Having been anointed as sole St George Illawarra skipper for 2008, Dragons centre Mark Gasnier said he would be honoured if given the opportunity to lead NSW in this year's State of Origin series.
Gasnier was elevated to the role of Dragons club captain after sharing the title with Ben Hornby and Jason Ryles last year.
The Test three-quarter didn't get too many opportunities to show off his leadership skills in a season ruined by a torn pectoral muscle suffered in the pre-season.
But he obviously did enough to convince club officials that he was ready to take on the role fulltime, Dragons coach Nathan Brown claiming his strike centre had shown a marked progression in his attitude and maturity.
And with the sensational 2007 form of West Tigers hooker Robbie Farah raising doubts over Danny Buderus' guaranteed selection in the NSW side, Gasnier has emerged as a candidate to lead the Blues under the guidance on new coach Craig Bellamy.
"It's a dream come true being captain of St George - NSW and Australia would be an unbelievable dream," Gasnier said.
"But it's more about setting the sights on making that Origin team first.
"I'd love to (captain NSW), without a doubt, if the opportunity arises.
"I just want to lead St George Illawarra the best I can and Craig Bellamy's obviously been appointed and his record speaks for itself ... whatever decision he makes I'm sure leadership-wise the team will be run very well."
Despite being injured in last year's Charity Shield clash against South Sydney, Gasnier said he had no qualms about playing in this year's version at ANZ Stadium on March 1, which he helped launch on Thursday.
Once bitten, twice not shy, Brown said he was likely to give all his fit stars a run in the traditional season curtain raiser, which this year celebrates its 25th anniversary.
"At the end of the day it's a contact sport and things are going to happen," Brown said.
"Hopefully for both sides it's a good contest and we both come through unscathed.
"For half a dozen guys there's going to be blokes who need a good game in the Charity Shield to force their way into the side for the first competition game against the Tigers."
The match will most probably be Gasnier's one and only pre-season hitout, with the 27-year-old set to be rested for the game against the Bulldogs at WIN Stadium on February 23.
But even with the `c' next to his name on a permanent basis in 2008, Gasnier is likely to find himself under less pressure than he was heading into last year's Charity Shield.
That game was the first in what was supposed to be a new career as five-eighth, but Brown confirmed Gasnier would return to the centres in 2009.
"He's been training in the centres all this pre-season," Brown said.
"With Jamie Soward coming during the year and Rangi Chase developing so well last year and Benny Hornby there, it was a natural move for Mark to go back there."
Tickets for the Charity Shield go on sale to the general public on Friday.
Asotasi keen to retain Kiwi captaincy
Roy Asotasi feels vindicated after his role in Kiwis rugby league coach Gary Kemble's demise, and hopes to remain as captain at this year's World Cup.
As New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) officials prepared to fly to Brisbane to offer Wayne Bennett a coaching role, Asotasi insisted his scathing public criticism of Kemble was for the good of the game in New Zealand.
"It was obviously a good result," Asotasi said after a fortnight in the United States with his South Sydney NRL club.
"I'm not the type to go out there and do a Willie Mason, but it's different when it's your country. You want to do the best for your country and expect the best results.
"If you're going to hold back, nothing will be done."
Kemble resigned on January 19 after Asotasi and fellow senior Kiwi David Kidwell told reporters the team felt Kemble wasn't up to the task at international level, five months after he succeeded Brian McClennan.
Asotasi said they fronted former NZRL chairman Andrew Chalmers with their concerns during last year's disastrous tour of Britain and France, but felt they had to go public after Chalmers was sacked.
"It's just a good thing to know the NZRL is willing to listen.
"That was our only concern, to express what the players thought. We didn't expect anything out of it, we just wanted them to hear us," Asotasi said.
The NZRL had taken its time to approach Bennett, but officials were reportedly on their way to meet the Brisbane Broncos coach on Thursday or Friday.
Asotasi has consistently labelled Bennett his preferred choice.
"It'd be awesome, his name speaks for itself," he said of the former Queensland and Kangaroos coach who impressed the New Zealand players during his guest role with the All Golds last year.
"I'd definitely like to have him involved in some role with the Kiwis. You've also got (former Kiwis captain) Stephen Kearney who's interested."
Asotasi was confident the Kiwis would be a force at the World Cup, with the spirit McClennan developed in recent seasons when they won the 2005 Tri-Nations and lost narrowly to the Kangaroos in the 2006 final.
Retired duo Ruben Wiki and Stacey Jones could also be used in mentoring roles.
"Regardless of what happened, whether (Kemble) was on or not, we always manage to stick together," Asotasi said.
"That's what the Kiwi bond was in the last 3-4 years, we've been so successful because we all stuck together."
Despite NZRL chairman Ray Haffenden hinting Asotasi could face disciplinary action for his comments, the man rated one of the world's premier forwards said he wanted to retain the captaincy.
"Definitely, it's always a privilege to captain your country. A lot of people would love to be in that position."
Kidwell, who is trying to shake off knee tendonitis in time for the NRL opener in March, also endorsed the Bennett/Kearney coaching union.
"It hasn't been finalised but we're feeling a little bit more confident. Speaking to all the other boys they're a bit more upbeat," Kidwell said.
Meanwhile, Asotasi said he met McClennan last week in Florida when Souths played McClennan's Leeds.
Despite McClennan being quoted as saying he would never work for the NZRL again, Asotasi felt he may be persuaded to have a role in the future.
"He'll be interested but he's just too busy right now in his first year at Leeds, so that's all he's concentrating on."
