News 30/4: I'm a certain starter today

[jamesgould]

I'm a certain starter today

By Andrew Johns
Newcastle captain
April 30, 2006

I WILL definitely play in the game against South Sydney at Telstra Stadium today.

I made it clear when I decided not to make myself available for Origin this season that the Knights would be my number one priority every week from now on.

Nothing has changed. That's why I've decided to take my place in the side.

I guess I could have taken the soft option and sat it out.

People have said to me, "why risk missing an opportunity to play a farewell Test for one game with the Knights".

The answer to that is simple. I believe I'm fit enough to play and will get through it today without too many dramas.

It might only be one game but it is an important game for the club. Every game is.

We're coming off two straight losses and this competition is so tight, two competition points at the end of the season could be the difference between a place in the play-offs or missing out.

Two weeks ago, a flash of brilliance beat us against the Cowboys. Last weekend, it was a red-hot Melbourne who would have beaten us whether I played or not.

Souths are a danger game for us because they will field one of their best sides of the year and will be desperate for a win. If we are down in any department against them, they will find us out.

I want to be out there. I'm a poor spectator at the best of times, so I want to be able to contribute.

I'll worry about the Test if and when I get selected.

I must admit I gave myself no real chance early in the week of playing against Souths, when the ankle didn't seem to be responding to treatment.

It was still swollen and there was still quite a bit of pain there.

But club specialist Dr Neil Halpin put me on these new anti-inflammatory tablets and, from Wednesday on, it started to really improve.

I had a couple of light runs and was reasonably confident on Friday the ankle would stand up provided it felt alright after training yesterday.

I ran for about half an hour with the team and while there is still some pain, there are no problems.

The ligament I partially tore is fine - it is just a little bit of inflammation around the joint which is apparently the cause of the discomfort.

I must admit I've been keeping tabs on all the drama through the week surrounding the surface at Telstra Stadium.

We just have to take it as read that their won't be any dramas with it today.

Shane the great
THE curtain will come down on a great career when Shane Webcke hangs up the boots at the end of the season.

"Webby" is right up there among the best players I have played with or against and I don't say that lightly.

He has been the game's best front rower for almost as long as I can remember and I can't speak any more highly of my admiration for him.

Off the field, you wouldn't meet a better or more genuine guy. He is down to earth and fiercely loyal, the sort of guy you'd feel safe alongside on the battlefield.

On the field, he is tough, inspirational and a great leader. What sets him apart is his passion for the game.

He plays every minute of every game as if his life depends on it.

There is no more gruelling 80 minutes of football than a State of Origin clash.

Webby would start those games at 100km/h and be running as hard in the final minute as he was in the first.

Brisbane, and the NRL as a whole, will be much the poorer for Webby's retirement.

From: http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18969322-23214,00.html

Knights clam up as player's jaw broken
By Robert Dillon
April 30, 2006

THE Newcastle Knights are investigating an off-field incident in which utility forward Luke Quigley suffered a broken jaw.

Knights officials were tight-lipped yesterday but chief executive Ken Conway confirmed Quigley's jaw was broken on Thursday night and he had surgery on Friday.

Knights operations manager Steve Crowe said Quigley had not been injured at training.

Club media manager Stephen Mount said officials were unsure if alcohol had been involved.

"He does have a broken jaw and my understanding is that he was being operated on last night . . . the last time I spoke to him he was with his dental surgeon," Conway said.

"At this stage we have not finished our investigation into what happened, and until we have all the facts I'm not in a position to comment."

Conway said it was possible police charges may be laid.

Quigley's wife Megan said yesterday she was unable to comment.

His manager Todd Buckingham said he was unaware Quigley had been injured.

Quigley, 24, is a member of the Knights' full-time squad and has played 39 first-grade games. The hooker or back-rower has regularly deputised for NSW and Test hooker Danny Buderus.

He has not played in first grade this season and has been captaining Newcastle's premier league side.

Last season he was hailed for a remarkable display of courage and toughness after he continued playing for 20 minutes in a match against the Canberra Raiders despite having a split testicle that required surgery.

Quigley also attracted unwanted publicity in the 2005 pre-season when he was one of 12 Newcastle players fined and disciplined after a night out in Bathurst that led to the sacking of Dane Tilse.

From: http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/k...yers-jaw-broken/2006/04/29/1146198390455.html

Knights keep insurance
By Michael Cox
April 29, 2006

ANDREW Johns is set to return from an ankle injury against South Sydney tomorrow but Newcastle coach Michael Hagan will keep youngster Jarrod Mullen in the side as insurance over the questionable ground surface at Telstra stadium.

Johns completed a half hour ball work session at Newcastle this morning, clearing the path for him to make a return sooner than expected against the winless Rabbitohs.

Mullen was originally named at halfback in the Knights team but the return of skipper Johns has shifted the 19-year-old onto the bench.

He has come off the bench several times this season to replace Johns as the Knights nurse their star through the year.

Mullen could find increased game time tomorrow with Johns's suspect ankle to face a serious test with the Homebush stadium's surface coming under serious fire this week following player complaints and a knee injury to Bulldogs centre Andrew Emelio.

Over 1000sq m of turf was re-laid during the week and while Hagan said that the Knights had been keeping an eye on the progress of the repairs, he would still inspect the field tomorrow morning before finalising his starting line up.

Telstra Stadium's new surface will face its first test tonight when AFL premiers Sydney host Geelong.

"We've been advised by them all week (on the state of the surface) and we just hope it stands up tonight alright and I guess tomorrow morning, (NRL officials will) make sure that it's suitable for us tomorrow afternoon," said Hagan.

Test selectors will also watch the game with interest as Johns was tipped to be named at halfback, even if he didn't play this weekend, when the team is announced tomorrow.

Johns completed most of the session today before handing over the halfback duties to Mullen for the final 10 minutes.

Johns missed last week's humiliating 52-6 loss to the Storm in Melbourne and had indicted his main reason for coming back ahead of schedule was to stop the Knights two-game losing streak.

"He got through the session pretty well, so he's right to play," Hagan said.

"We thought he'd miss one week and it's settled right down. He's done a little bit yesterday and again today, so he's more than confident (of playing). He's keen to play."

The Knights were desperate to have Johns back having lost their past 10 matches without the champion halfback on the paddock.

While everyone at Newcastle bristles at suggestions the Knights are a one-man team, Hagan admitted that having the influential playmaker back on deck had given the side a tremendous lift.

"He's good fun to be around and directs things so well for us, it allows everyone to just focus on doing their job well and we can hopefully go into the game with a bit of confidence," he said.

Sports TAB have re-opened betting on the fixture after suspending betting on the match on Thursday afternoon when a flood of money for the Knights alerted bookmakers to the possibility Johns might play.

After today's confirmation that Johns would play, the Knights where installed as $1.18 favourites with South Sydney $4.40 outsiders.

From: http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,18968009-23214,00.html

Missed this reports a few days ago, oops!

Knights cry foul over salary cap rulings

Newcastle Knights chief executive officer Ken Conway has indicated the club will appeal the National Rugby League's decision to fine it more than $11,000 for salary cap breaches.

Newcastle was one of four clubs issued with a salary cap breach notice by the NRL yesterday, and is facing a fine of $11,097.

St George Illawarra ($19,976), the Bulldogs ($8,611) and Canberra ($1,339) were the other clubs penalised.

Mr Conway said the club's massive injury toll and player suspensions were to blame for its difficulties meeting salary cap obligations last season.

He said the club warned the NRL it was in trouble early in the season and believed the ruling was being unfairly enforced.

"Obviously the NRL don't think so, so we're going to defend our position, but the other thing that concerns me about it, and I expressed my concern to [NRL CEO] David Gallop yesterday, the fact that we're not given an opportunity to mount a defence before they make the breach public," he said.

From: http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/200604/s1625874.htm