Saturday, December 31, 2011
Voting may cost Vatuvei All Stars start
NRL fans could be robbed the sight of Warriors giant Manu Vatuvei terrorising opponents in next month's All Stars clash thanks to the vagaries of the voting process.
With 5,068 votes, Vatuvei was the most popular Warrior after the first round, but that alone would not have been enough to secure a start had voting ended there.
Berths are given to the players with the highest amount of votes in each playing position, with a limit of one per club.
Of all the highest-scoring players from each club, Vatuvei was only the seventh-highest outside back.
Fortunately for Vatuvei - and a number of other high-profile players such as South Sydney's Dave Taylor and North Queensland co-captain Matt Scott, voted the world's best prop in 2011 - all the votes from the first round no longer count.
Fans must now vote from four players from each club, with voting closing on the NRL website on January 16.
After the first round, Brisbane's Jack Reed was the surprise overall leader with 7,812 votes and Canterbury's Josh Morris was another shock in second spot.
Reed's chances were boosted after Petero Civoniceva, who registered just 1,400 fewer votes than the England representative, admitted his injured pectoral muscle would likely rule him out of the February 4 fixture against the Indigenous All Stars at Robina.
By far the most tense tussle is for the Parramatta nomination, with Jarryd Hayne, Nathan Hindmarsh and Fuifui Moimoi all finishing in the top 10 overall during the first stage.
Hayne, likely to be pipped for the full-back spot by Canberra's Josh Dugan, registered 6,967 votes, but Hindmarsh (6,519) and Moimoi (6,406) were not too far behind.
All Stars coach Wayne Bennett, who gets two of his own selections once the representative from each club is named, has stipulated he wants two tight forwards and two utilities on his seven-man bench.
AAP
Tags: sport, rugby-league, nrl, new-zealand First posted December 30, 2011 19:07:52Friday, December 30, 2011
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Ryan calls for Hasler backing at Bulldogs
Andrew Ryan has urged Canterbury to give incoming coach Des Hasler free rein to bring success to the NRL club.
The former Bulldogs skipper, who hung up his boots at the end of last season, bringing down the curtain on a stellar 11-year-career, is confident Hasler can bring the good times back to Belmore.
However, he acknowledged the two-time premiership winning coach, who left Manly following a bitter fall-out with the board, will want to change the culture at the club and should be allowed to do so.
"These are exciting times for the Bulldogs and the boys I know are all pumped about working with Des," Ryan said at the Jack Newton Classic celebrity golf tournament in the Hunter Valley.
"I never thought it would actually happen. You associate him so much with Manly, but he's a proven winner and he'll bring that winning mentality with him."
Despite their success on the field, the Sea Eagles off-field difficulties somewhat sullied Hasler's team's achievements.
Continued boardroom power struggles, a PR department that struggled to cope with the modern-day demands of the media and the inability to receive government backing to upgrade Brookvale are not problems Hasler will face at Canterbury.
However, there have been murmurs from some Bulldogs supporters that Hasler, a self-confessed control freak, will want to change the club dramatically.
Ryan does not believe that will happen, but wants the 50-year-old to be given whatever he needs to bring the Bulldogs their first premiership since 2004.
"There will obviously be some changes around and he has brought a lot of staff with him," he said.
"But Des is the head coach and if they want results then they have to let him make some big calls and run the show.
"The expectation from fans, supporters and sponsors is to be in the top four and winning premierships.
"I can't see the Bulldogs not being in the upper echelons next year."
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, canterbury-2193, nsw, australia First posted December 20, 2011 17:02:30Storm mourn death of recruitment manager
Melbourne Storm are mourning the sudden death of recruitment manager Darren Bell who passed away from massive heart attack on Wednesday.
Bell was responsible for bringing rising stars such as Matt Duffie and Jesse Bromwich to the Storm in addition to recruiting the club's under-20s list
Football operations manager, Frank Ponissi, said the club was shocked by the news.
"Darren was very well respected in the industry as a recruitment manager and as a person, Ponissi said.
"As a member of our footy department he has been very important in our recruitment and retention strategy over the last four years and was part of the plans around our future recruitment.
"Darren had a great eye for identifying football talent, but most of all he was a good person.
"His most important recruitment philosophy was to recruit good people first and he certainly led by example in this area."
Bell is survived by his wife Jackie.
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia First posted December 21, 2011 19:25:16Slater could be right for round one: Bellamy
Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy says the early signs are good that Billy Slater will be fit to play in round one of the NRL in March.
The star full-back and international player of the year suffered a broken collarbone during Australia's successful Four Nations campaign last month in England.
Slater and Storm's other key playmakers, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk, are set to resume training on January 9.
The bulk of the squad will return from their Christmas break on January 2.
"He (Slater) has gone to Cairns for Christmas. He came in a couple of times before that," Bellamy said on Tuesday.
"He said the shoulder was feeling pretty good, the collar bone.
"They're reasonably happy with the way it's coming on, but it was a bad break so it will take a little time to get better again.
"Until he comes back and actually starts getting into a bit of training, we won't quite know how the body's adapting to that operation.
"We're very hopeful and we expect him to be right by March for round one (against Canberra).
"He has got a great (fitness) base so it won't take him too long to get back into good condition again to play."
Bellamy is also hopeful high-profile Storm supporter and music industry veteran Molly Meldrum will make a full recovery following a fall at his Melbourne home on Thursday.
Meldrum remains in an induced coma but his sedation levels were reduced overnight.
"It has been a pretty sombre club around here since Thursday night since we heard," Bellamy said.
"It sounds as though Molly is starting to come good and we're just so happy about that. We wish him all the best.
"He's just such an important person to our club.
"He goes out of his way to make sure he comes down after games, whether we've won or lost, to help lift the spirits when we've lost and to celebrate with us when we win.
"He's just such a great personality to have around."
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, australia First posted December 20, 2011 21:32:00Sunday, December 18, 2011
British MPs pay tribute to Beetson
Britain's parliament has honoured rugby league great Arthur Beetson, the first Aborigine to captain an Australian national sporting team, who died on December 1 at the age of 66.
The Parliamentary Rugby League Group tabled an early day motion recognising the achievements and legacy of former Hull KR prop forward Beetson, who suffered a suspected heart attack.
"His loss will be felt by all in rugby league, including those fans of Hull KR who were fortunate to see him play," Kingston-Upon-Hull East lawmaker Karl Turner said.
Rugby League Group Greg Mulholland chairman added: "Artie was one of the greatest Australian players that has graced our shores and the loss of a player of his calibre and iconic status is a tragedy.
"I know all of us in the Parliamentary Rugby League Group were greatly saddened by his passing and offer our condolences to his family."
Beetson was riding his bike on Queensland's Gold Coast when witnesses said he suffered severe chest pains.
Ambulance officers were called to treat him but he died at the scene.
Beetson, a clever ball-playing prop forward who played 28 Tests for the Kangaroos, was a celebrated figure in the game and was named in the front row in Australian rugby league's team of the century.
Beetson toured England and France with the Kangaroos in 1973.
He played in the 1968 and 1972 World Cups and captained Australia for three matches over the 1975 and 1977 World Cups.
He captained Australia in two Tests and went on to coach Australia in two Tests in 1983.
AFP
Tags: sport, rugby-league, england, united-kingdom, australia First posted December 13, 2011 16:47:39Fans, family farewell Beetson
Thousands of people have gathered at memorial services in Sydney and Brisbane to celebrate the life of rugby league legend Arthur Beetson.
Beetson, the first Indigenous Australian to captain a national team in any sport, died from a heart attack on the Gold Coast earlier this month, aged 66.
'Big Artie', as he is affectionately known, played 28 Tests during his career.
More than 3,000 tickets were handed out for today's public memorial service at Brisbane's Lang Park.
Wally Lewis told the crowd Beetson will be remembered as one of Queensland's favourite players.
"When the big fella took to the field for the very first time in a Queensland jersey here at Lang Park, it was the loudest noise I ever heard here at the stadium - the noise was basically deafening," he said.
Queensland Origin great Gene Miles says today was a chance to acknowledge Beetson's contribution to rugby league, as well as his colourful and caring character.
"He captained the first ever State of Origin side and he set the benchmark that night on how State of Origin should be played," he said.
"I was very privileged and honoured to play my first State of Origin match under the coaching of Arthur Beetson.
"We had instant success and whenever any new bloke came into the team, he made them feel very, very welcome and I think that's a side of him that people didn't often get to see."
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has also attended the service, describing Beetson as a "pioneer."
The Brisbane memorial featured tributes from his son Mark Beetson and team-mate Wally Lewis, while a separate service was held at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Former Sydney Roosters teammate John Peard said Beetson was an inspirational player.
Tags: rugby-league, sport, human-interest, qld, australia, brisbane-4000 First posted December 18, 2011 14:11:04Hodkinson seeing Manly impact at Dogs
Half-back Trent Hodkinson expects new coach Des Hasler to recreate the same style of play at Canterbury that he used to snare two premierships with Manly.
While Hodkinson has not been able to take part in any pre-Christmas field sessions as he continues his rehabilitation from knee surgery, the former Manly playmaker says he sees glimpses of the Sea Eagles in what Hasler is doing in training at Belmore.
"He's won two grand finals, so it definitely works," Hodkinson said.
"He'll want to bring his own style of footy over, the structure.
"I've been watching on from the sidelines and it's been pretty sharp."
A frustrated spectator, Hodkinson says he is been counting down the days until he can get back to working with Hasler.
It was under Hasler that Hodkinson burst onto the NRL scene in 2010, when he earned a City Origin jumper after just a handful of top grade matches.
He came under criticism from Hasler when he flew the Sea Eagles coop after his rookie campaign, but the 23-year-old says he is looking forward to reuniting with his mentor.
He has just returned to running in the gym, and expects to rejoin the squad for field sessions when they return from their Christmas break early in the new year.
"My first year was obviously better than last season. It was a bit quiet," Hodkinson said.
"I'm looking forward to being back under Des. Hopefully I can get my footy back to where it was and improve as well."
Hodkinson is expected to partner Kris Keating in the halves when the Bulldogs open their season against Penrith, but Hodkinson says both Joel Romelo and Josh Reynolds will also be in the mix for a start.
AAP
Tags: rugby-league, sport, new-zealand First posted December 15, 2011 14:58:56Broncs will get by without Locky: Hodges
Brisbane's track record of coping with the loss of champion players over the years will stand the club in good stead for its first NRL season in 13 years without Darren Lockyer.
That is the opinion of Broncos centre Justin Hodges, who notes that the club had regrouped many times in the past after the likes of Wally Lewis, Allan Langer, Gorden Tallis, Kevin Walters and Shane Webcke hung up their boots.
"There's always an adjustment period after you lose a great player," Hodges said.
"You can't replace a Darren Lockyer but we've got young blokes like Corey Norman and Ben Hunt who can come in and play the role.
"When Alfie (Langer) retired it took a little while but we've got Wal (Peter Wallace) here and now we're on the lookout for a five-eighth.
"Obviously Locky's are big boots to fill, one of the greatest players to have played, but we've got those young guys and also Luke Capewell.
"We're not asking them to be another Locky, we just need them to do their job for the team."
Hodges, who re-signed with the Broncos until 2015, says preseason training was always the painful part of a new season.
"You know when you turn up on Mondays you're going to get a flogging," he said after a tough session in humid conditions at the University of Queensland.
"The boys are all counting down till Christmas when we get some time off."
Hodges says he did not have any issues with his dodgy hamstrings and his back feels good on a new stretching program.
"I've turned up every day for training and in the heavy conditions like it was out there, the hammy gets under a bit of load," he said.
"So far so good."
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, brisbane-4000 First posted December 12, 2011 16:28:55Hayne set to benefit from Sandow's arrival
Parramatta veteran Ben Smith claims the arrival of new half-back Chris Sandow could be the catalyst for a resurgent Jarryd Hayne in 2012.
Heralded as the most talented number seven the Eels have had since Peter Sterling donned the jumper 25 years ago, former South Sydney star Sandow has the blue and gold faithful eagerly awaiting the start of the new NRL campaign.
But it is another Eels star Smith has high hopes for, believing Hayne could be the biggest beneficiary of Sandow's arrival.
Hayne was thrust into the five-eighth role in 2011 in a futile attempt to kick-start the Eels' stagnating campaign, but with Sandow and former Canterbury five-eighth Ben Roberts set to take over in the halves in 2012, Hayne will revert to his preferred full-back position.
"It's going to take a lot of pressure off the likes of Jarryd Hayne," Smith said of Sandow's recruitment.
"It will allow Jarryd to play his game without worrying about everything, Chris can take control.
"His smarts and his quickness around the ruck means Haynesy can just step back and chime in when he needs to. He doesn't have to have his hands on the ball two or three times a set.
"Jarryd almost had a target on his head every time he had the ball, and it's hard for one player to carry all that expectation for the whole team."
With Sandow, Roberts and Test centre Willie Tonga all coming on board for 2012, expectations are again high for the Eels.
It was the same this year following the arrival of coach Stephen Kearney, but Smith said the squad would benefit from having had 12 months under the Kiwi Test mentor.
"It's been a learning curve for us," Smith said.
"We took a few steps backwards, but I think we're going to get better. There's a sense within the club that we're going forward now.
"We were probably lacking in key areas of the team, but we've bought really well in the off-season in some key places, crucial positions, and the structure's now there for us to build on."
The Eels will continue preseason training through to next Wednesday, when they have two weeks off for the Christmas break.
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, parramatta-2150, nsw, australia First posted December 14, 2011 17:43:43Saturday, December 10, 2011
Mourners to honour Beetson's 'lasting legacy'
Family and close friends of Arthur Beetson will gather today at the Redcliffe Leagues Club, north of Brisbane, for the rugby league great's funeral.
The 66-year-old, affectionately known as 'Big Artie', died on the Gold Coast last week.
Beetson will be farewelled at the club that recruited him as a teenager from Roma in southern Queensland in the early 1960s.
From Redcliffe, Beetson moved to Sydney and went on to captain Queensland and Australia.
He was the first Indigenous Australian to captain the country in any sport.
Several of his former Eastern Suburbs teammates, including Russell Fairfax, are attending today's service
"That's a mark of respect - he was our skipper," he said.
"Under Arthur's guidance and tutelage, I don't think we lost a thing."
Queensland Rugby League chairman John McDonald says Beetson's legacy is lasting.
"Not only for his playing ability but also for his tutoring of younger players," he said.
"He was just wonderful for so many people in the state."
Mr McDonald says the Redcliffe Leagues Club is an appropriate setting.
"Redcliffe has been a wonderful club, recognising his ability when he was at Roma to get him down there," he said.
Beetson played 28 Tests for Australia.
A public memorial will be held at Lang Park in Brisbane on Sunday, December 18.
People who want to attend will have to make reservations.
The State Government says tickets are required for safety reasons.
They are available at Ticketek or by phoning the stadium.
Tags: rugby-league, people, grief, indigenous-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander, redcliffe-4020, brisbane-4000, roma-4455, toowoomba-4350 First posted December 09, 2011 07:33:50Beetson farewelled at Brisbane service
Family, friends and former team-mates have farewelled rugby league great Arthur Beetson at a service north of Brisbane.
The 66-year-old died from a heart attack on the Gold Coast last week.
A funeral was held on Friday at the Redcliffe Leagues Club where Beetson began his career in 1964.
The turnout of about 600 included former England half Tommy Bishop, retired Australian captains Darren Lockyer, Mal Meninga, Wally Lewis and Gorden Tallis and international players Brad Fittler, Gary Belcher and Petero Civoniceva.
The gathering rose to its feet and applauded as pallbearers carried Beetson's white coffin - draped with an Aboriginal flag, a football and his No.11 Queensland jumper - from the tunnel beside the field to the front of the marquee as a single didgeridoo played in the background.
They heard how at 35, a lion-hearted Beetson provided the fire and pride that gave birth to State of Origin at Lang Park in 1980.
Lewis, who spoke of catching Beetson in his hotel room the night before an Origin game playing cards with rival NSW coach Jack Gibson, read out tributes from every player in the 1980 Origin side.
Paul Vautin played State of Origin when the Maroons were coached by Beetson.
"He was one of the best blokes you'd ever meet, and at the end of a game if Arthur Beetson came up and put his arm around you and said well played, there's nothing better than that," he said.
Former Roosters great and Australian team-mate Ron Coote spoke of Beetson's unmatched feats as a player.
"He was proud to be Indigenous, proud to be a Queenslander and proud to be Australian. He brought honour to all three," Coote said.
"He leaves a mighty footprint on rugby league that will guarantee he is remembered not just now, but forever."
Another former Roosters team-mate, Russell Fairfax, told the gathering Beetson was a talented prop forward.
"We won the pre-season, we won the minor premiership, we won the club championship, we won the competition, we won the night-time competition - we were the first team to win the club challenge," he said.
"Success seemed to follow him and he was like that on the field and off the field.
"I didn't know anyone who didn't like him."
A public memorial for Beetson will be held at Lang Park in Brisbane on Sunday week.
ABC/AAP
Tags: people, rugby-league, redcliffe-4020, brisbane-4000 First posted December 09, 2011 18:01:11Thursday, December 8, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Johns raves over Warriors' potential
Rugby league great Andrew Johns says he is staggered by the potential of young players coming through at the New Zealand Warriors.
Johns has been contracted as a part-time skills coach to the Auckland-based 2011 grand finalists - a similar position to the one he holds with Canterbury and has held with various rival clubs in recent seasons.
Johns told a function in Auckland the players coming through the Warriors ranks could be something special, with particular attention paid to rookie sensation Shaun Johnson.
"I've been blown away by what I've seen among the young players this week. The potential is immense but I stress it's potential," Johns said.
"Some of the young guys at the club are, athletically, without peer.
"They're just so big and really there is no position for a lot of them.
"It's just a case of give them the ball and let them play."
Johns is working mainly with the halves, hookers and full-backs, and has relished the chance to run the rule over talented 21-year-old Johnson.
"There are some people who play sport who have been given a gift and he's one of the lucky ones," said Johns.
"But I come back to that word potential. I've been really impressed with the way he has been working and hopefully Shaun realises he's very lucky and makes the most of the talent he has been given."
Johns will be back for another session with the Warriors early next year and will be called upon by them during the 2012 NRL season.
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, new-zealand First posted December 07, 2011 13:50:22King re-signs with Sea Eagles
Manly has secured the cornerstone of its pack with the NRL premier re-signing co-captain Jason King through to the end of the 2014 season.
Just a day after extending George Rose's stay with the club, the Sea Eagles agreed to terms with fellow front-rower King - Manly doing its best to move on from a tumultuous start to the off-season.
With veteran Brent Kite and young gun Darcy Lussick also on board, new coach Geoff Toovey has a formidable prop rotation at his disposal for the Sea Eagles' title defence.
King, who missed the grand final win over the Warriors due to a torn pectoral muscle, said he never really considered leaving the Sea Eagles.
"Being a local junior I've only ever wanted to play for one club and that's the Manly Sea Eagles," King said in a statement.
"It's a dream to be able to continue playing with them.
"We've had big changes at the club in the last couple of months but I'm very proud of the boys and the effort they put in last season."
King is back training and hoping to be available for Manly's World Club Challenge clash with Leeds at Headingley on February 17.
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, brookvale-2100, manly-2095, nsw, australia First posted December 07, 2011 20:07:50Beetson funeral date announced
A funeral will be held on Friday for rugby league great Arthur Beetson, who died on Queensland's Gold Coast last week.
The service for family and close friends will be held at the Redcliffe Leagues club, just north of Brisbane, where Beetson played some of his early football.
A public memorial will be held to honour Beetson at Lang Park on December 18.
Tags: rugby-league, people, grief, brisbane-4000 First posted December 07, 2011 08:06:46Thurston eyes move to pivot
Indigenous All Stars skipper Johnathan Thurston wants Darren Lockyer's vacant representative number six jumper, with next year's season-opener the first step in what he hopes is a permanent move to five-eighth.
Thurston - last month crowned the best player in the game - is keen to walk away from the half-back position he has dominated the past few seasons.
He claims Lockyer's retirement following last month's victorious Four Nations triumph presents the perfect opportunity to make the shift - as he looks to fill Lockyer's boots for both Queensland and Australia.
And he does not want to stop there - saying he has already spoken to North Queensland coach Neil Henry about making the move for the Cowboys as well.
"I've made no secret that I want to play six - I'm very familiar with that role, I played it all through my juniors, I moved to the Bulldogs as a six, I made my debut there, the Cowboys recruited me as a six," Thurston said.
"Number seven, you're on the ball a lot more.
"Playing alongside Locky so much - he likes to sit out the back and get the ball when he's ready.
"That's what I'd like to do as well."
Thurston's first shot back at five-eighth will be alongside new Parramatta half-back Chris Sandow, who will be looking to make a big first impression on his representative debut.
Yet another Queenslander, the inclusion of Sandow highlights the depth the Maroons have in the halves - with Indigenous All Stars bench player Scott Prince and Test squad members Cooper Cronk and Daly Cherry-Evans also amongst their ranks.
Cronk remains favoured to line up alongside Thurston for next year's State of Origin opener, but as Indigenous All Stars coach Laurie Daley noted, the game will give Sandow a chance to stake his claim.
"That's the opportunity that this game provides - you look at Josh Dugan last year - he stood out and all of a sudden he's being spoken about as an Origin prospect," Daley said.
"If Chris and JT all of a sudden click and they play well, it certainly wouldn't harm their chances."
Sandow, one of five new faces in the Indigenous All Stars side named on Wednesday, admits he has let himself dream of an Origin call-up.
But the former South Sydney playmaker is not getting too far ahead of himself, with his primary focus being to enjoy the build-up to the February 4 clash with the NRL All Stars before his first game for the Eels.
Thurston - who claimed Cronk deserved to be at the front of the queue for both Queensland and Australia - admitted Sandow did present an intriguing option for Maroons selectors.
"He does bring that unpredictability to any team," he said.
"He could certainly fit into that (Maroons bench utility) role, either play a bit of nine, get him out of dummy-half, or play a bit of seven."
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, townsville-4810, qld, australia First posted December 07, 2011 19:34:10Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Cooper backs recruits to replace Gaz
Replacing the retired Mark Gasnier is new St George Illawarra coach Steve Price's first major task and Dragons centre Matt Cooper believes the choice has been narrowed to two.
Gasnier, 30, retired at the end of 2011 after a stellar career with the Dragons, New South Wales and Australia, leaving Price with a major headache of how to limit the loss of the big centre's experience and attacking prowess.
Cooper believes recruits Chase Stanley, who joined the club mid-season from Melbourne but did not play a match due to injury, and former Canberra winger Daniel Vidot are the two stand-outs to fill Gasnier's right centre spot.
Stanley, a Dragons junior, has played in the centres for the bulk of his 49-match career, while the versatile Vidot earned a reputation as a brilliant finisher during his time at the Raiders.
And while Gasnier leaves big boots to fill, Cooper believes that duo - with Kangaroo tourist Beau Scott as a darkhorse - have earned the right to battle it out for first crack to line up alongside winger Jason Nightingale to start 2012.
"Obviously right centre is up for grabs," Cooper said.
"There's a lot of options we can use but it's going to make for good competition for that right centre spot.
"I know the boys are training hard and either Chase or Vidot would love that spot."
Cooper says the group of players Price had recruited, including forwards Josh Miller, Jeremy Latimore, Leeson Ah Mau and Will Matthews and utility back Denan Kemp, could all have immediate impacts in the red and white.
"I think Pricey and the team have done a great job in recruiting," he said.
"I think all the boys who have turned up for the first time are really impressing me and impressing the coaches. There's a handful of them that could play first grade."
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, kogarah-2217, wollongong-2500 First posted December 06, 2011 14:52:51Competition runs hot for Broncos back row
Brisbane Broncos look to have the best back row battle in the NRL taking place within their squad.
With star second rower and incoming Broncos skipper Sam Thaiday having locked one back row spot, New Zealand international Alex Glenn, former rookie of the year Matt Gillett and destructive runner Ben Te'o are all fighting for the other vacancy.
For many the big question confronting Broncos coach Anthony Griffin is who will replace champion five-eighth Darren Lockyer in the number six jumper in 2012.
But with veteran prop Petero Civoniceva back in the fold and four players wanting two second-row positions, the make-up of his pack is just as intriguing.
Thaiday and Gillett started 2011, but after Gillett suffered a serious foot injury, Glenn finished the season in the back row with Te'o running into some hot form late in the season after twice breaking his arm.
"The good thing about all those guys - Matt, Ben, Alex and Corey Parker is they're all interchangeable, they can play a number of positions," Griffin said.
Gillett, who showed his versatility playing five-eighth against Manly when Lockyer was not available, would get a start in any other pack in the NRL.
"Depending on his form and the make-up of the side, he's competing for an edge spot," said Griffin, keeping his cards close to his chest.
"He was our starting left edge forward last season but had 12 weeks off with a broken foot.
"It was a positive for us we were able to have a player like Matt Gillett come off the bench."
Griffin says the challenge for him and his players after falling one match short of last season's grand final was to "go up another level".
Returning to finals football under a rookie coach pitched into the job a fortnight before the season kicked off was viewed by many as a success.
"Externally I think it probably got more credit than we (players and coaching staff) gave it because we put ourselves in a good position to win after we beat the Warriors so comprehensively," said Griffin.
"We all look on it as a positive but it still hurts the way that it finished.
"There's definitely a sting in everyone's tail this season."
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, brisbane-4000, qld, australia First posted December 06, 2011 16:54:18Rose re-signs with Sea Eagles
Manly prop George Rose has re-signed with the Sea Eagles for two seasons.
Rose was off-contract after the Sea Eagles' success in the 2011 grand final but has penned a deal that will tie him to the club until the end of the 2013 season.
"It's pretty much a home for me, Manly, and it's the place that I always wanted to stay, even before we won the grand final," Rose said.
"It's just a great bunch of players, great staff and a club that I really enjoy."
Rose debuted for Manly in 2006, having entered first grade with Sydney Roosters, and has played 97 NRL matches.
The 28-year-old, who was thought to have agreed to a deal some time ago, is upbeat his side will defend their premiership under new coach Geoff Toovey.
"We've worked hard for a number of years to get to where we are and I really want to go back-to-back," Rose said.
"Even if we can't I'll have a lot of fun trying to either way."
Rose finished the 2011 season with a one-match ban for a striking charge, due to a hit on Warriors hooker Aaron Heremaia in the grand final.
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, brookvale-2100, nsw, australia First posted December 06, 2011 18:54:54Mal to build Beetson Origin legacy
Mal Meninga has stressed the importance of carrying on Arthur Beetson's legacy after signing a four-year deal that expands his role as Queensland State of Origin coach.
Meninga was speaking on Friday, a day after the death of "father figure" and fellow Maroons legend Beetson from a heart attack.
He says the emphasis in his now full-time job will be identification and retention of talent, while also guiding the Maroons' successful Origin team.
"It was a sad and tragic day yesterday for all Queenslanders in particular with the passing away of Arthur Beetson," Meninga said.
"It certainly reinforces the fact that losing an icon like that, someone else has to step up.
"We don't want to let him down. Arthur resembles the spirit of Origin.
"He was our first captain and our first spiritual leader. It'd be great if we can honour him in some fashion."
Meninga, who has coached the Maroons to six straight Origin series victories, admits his squad will struggle to replace champion five-eighth Darren Lockyer, who retired after guiding Australia to a Four Nations triumph last month.
"Darren's been a great player and a great ambassador for Queensland," Meninga said.
"We're going to sorely miss him. We can't replace him but we move on.
"We've got some great young kids coming through our system and we've just got to make sure they're ready for it."
Meninga says he will focus on a new Queensland high performance unit incorporating the Maroons' emerging squad and the state youth teams.
AAP
Tags: state-of-origin, rugby-league, sport, brisbane-4000, qld, australia First posted December 02, 2011 17:14:13Video gallery: Arthur Beetson tribute
Rugby league great Arthur Beetson has died aged 66 after suffering a heart attack on the Gold Coast. This video collection looks back at Beetson's playing days and his enduring involvement in the game he loved.
Tags: rugby-league, indigenous-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander, indigenous-culture, redcliffe-4020, coogee-2034 First posted December 01, 2011 12:57:43Surebetmaker
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Monday, December 5, 2011
Tandy guilty of lying over NRL betting scandal
Former rugby league player Ryan Tandy has been found guilty of lying to the New South Wales Crime Commission.
Tandy was facing three charges but was found guilty of only one earlier today in Sydney's Downing Centre District Court.
The investigation related to an NRL game in Townsville in August last year between Tandy's then club, the Canterbury Bulldogs, and the North Queensland Cowboys.
Tandy's false evidence conviction was in relation to evidence on whether he had placed bets with jockey manager John Schell.
The former forward could be given a jail term when he returns to court for sentencing in January.
Tandy's contract with the Bulldogs was torn up in the wake of the scandal, and he has been given a life ban from the NRL.
Tags: courts-and-trials, nrl, rugby-league, sport, sydney-2000, townsville-4810 First posted December 02, 2011 14:57:36Thurston wins Golden Boot
North Queensland co-captain Johnathan Thurston has won the 2011 Golden Boot award.
The Golden Boot is awarded to rugby league's best international player of the year, as judged by Rugby League World Magazine.
Thurston's man-of-the-match performance in Australia's 30-8 triumph over England in last month's Four Nations final helped get him over the line in voting, ahead of Kangaroos team-mates Cameron Smith and Darren Lockyer.
The mercurial half-back polled 175 votes, five ahead of Smith, while the retiring Lockyer managed 141.
All three were included in Rugby League World Magazine's annual World XIII, as were fellow Australians Billy Slater (full-back), Akuila Uate (wing), Greg Inglis (outside centre), Jamie Lyon (inside centre), Anthony Watmough (lock), Sam Thaiday (second row) and Paul Gallen (prop).
Tags: rugby-league, sport, australia, townsville-4810, qld First posted December 02, 2011 11:22:00NRL to review judiciary loading
The NRL will look to reduce the lasting impact of minor infringements as part of a review of judiciary procedures ahead of the 2013 season.
A gathering of club representatives at the second and final day of their annual conference was told a competition committee would be established to review rules and trends within the game.
Among the issues they will address will be the maligned finals series structure and extra time in finals.
They will also look at player safety issues arising from emerging tactics such as the 'cannonball' tackle, where a defender dives at the legs of an opponent.
But while efforts will be made to clean up the game, the committee will also consider a proposal to reduce the loading period for grade one charges from two years to 12 months.
"It's a fundamental deterrent of the system that a repeat offender will get an additional loading on future charges," NRL director of football operations Nathan McGuirk said on Wednesday.
"Currently, every offence stays on the player's record for two years.
"Looking at the trends in the game, we believe a two-year loading period for a grade one (charge) is becoming harsh.
"Reducing it to one year, we will provide both an incentive for lesser offences and a deterrent for the more serious charges."
The committee will include two current NRL coaches to be elected by the clubs, as well as rival State of Origin coaches Ricky Stuart and Mal Meninga, Daniel Anderson, John Lang, Andrew Ryan, Trent Barrett and McGuirk.
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, australia First posted November 30, 2011 19:12:29Marshall named NRL All Stars skipper
Benji Marshall is to replace retired Darren Lockyer as captain of the NRL All Stars team for the annual clash with the Indigenous All Stars on the Gold Coast on February 4.
All Stars coach Wayne Bennett revealed Marshall's promotion on Friday when it was also announced the All Stars trophy will carry the name of rugby league legend Arthur Beetson, who died on Thursday.
"Darren Lockyer is a significant loss to us," Bennett said.
"But Benji Marshall has been a part of the All Stars since its inception and I have every confidence in his ability to lead the team."
As well as acknowledging Beetson on the trophy, players from both sides will wear jerseys carrying a tribute to the first indigenous Australian player to captain a national team in any sport.
And the Federal Government will sponsor two $5,000 education/training scholarships in his honour.
The All Stars match will feature an innovative "power play", in which each captain can nominate a five-minute period in both halves, where the opposing side must drop two players.
The defending team will nominate which of their players must leave the field and if the team that has called the power play scores a try in that five minute period, the power play will end immediately.
The two teams cannot call a power play simultaneously.
In another innovation, infringements in the ruck area will lead to an immediate restart of the tackle count, as opposed to a kick for touch.
The 40-20 rule has been expanded to include 20-40 kicks in play.
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, robina-4226 First posted December 02, 2011 15:11:52Friend to stay a Rooster until 2015
Sydney Roosters hooker Jake Friend has agreed to a three-year extension to remain with the NRL club until the end of 2015.
Friend was awarded the club's highest individual honour, the Jack Gibson Medal, after a 2011 season of consistent performances.
The 21-year-old has already played 69 first-grade games and expressed his delight at extending his contract.
"I love this club ... I have made some great mates here and I'm excited to extend my stay at the Roosters and continue to grow with this group of guys," Friend said in a statement on Wednesday.
The Queenslander joined the Roosters on a scholarship when he was 15 and, in 2008, progressed from SG Ball through to Toyota Cup to the NRL in just four months.
"We see Jake Friend as integral to our future," Roosters coach Brian Smith said.
"Jake has worked tirelessly to develop himself on and off the footy field, and he's to be commended for that.
Friend joins fellow young Roosters players Mitchell Pearce, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Martin Kennedy, Tom Symonds and Mitchell Aubusson on long-term contracts.
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, bondi-junction-2022, nsw, australia First posted November 30, 2011 20:26:08Broncos prop Kenny quits NRL
It was not surprising Brisbane prop Nick Kenny's retirement this week came without fanfare - that is the way he played his football.
But it should be noted the 29-year-old forward managed to grind out 78 NRL matches for the Broncos despite frequently battling back and shoulder injuries since making his debut at Lang Park in July 2005.
With Test veteran Petero Civoniceva back in the front row fold alongside Origin prop Ben Hannant and talented youngsters Josh McGuire, Mitchell Dodds, David Hala and Dunamis Lui all lining up to play in the engine room, Kenny has retired with a season left on his contract to "get a real job".
As a qualified physiotherapist, that will include treating rugby league players for some of the injuries he battled through his six seasons with the club.
After undergoing back surgery a few years ago to allow him to continue his NRL career, Kenny was restricted to just nine matches last year because of injury and the stunning form of McGuire.
A Rockhampton Norths junior, Kenny was discovered by the Broncos while playing university rugby league.
A strong defender with a terrific work ethic, he made the 2009 Kangaroos train-on squad following his best season with the club.
While coach Anthony Griffin respected Kenny's role within the team, he also praised his work off the field with charities and community groups.
"Nick always gave you his best and he could sting blokes in tackles," said Griffin.
"He was a lovely guy, the players enjoyed his company.
"He didn't always say a lot but he always gave you everything."
AAP
Tags: sport, rugby-league, nrl, brisbane-4000 First posted December 02, 2011 13:12:30Beetson to be immortalised at Lang Park
The late, great Arthur Beetson will be memorialised in bronze so he can continue to inspire generations to come.
Queensland Premier Anna Bligh says "Big Artie" was an iconic Queenslander who will be farewelled with a public memorial on December 18 at Lang Park, where the rugby league legend is to be immortalised with a bronze statue.
"This bronze likeness of Artie Beetson will be positioned at the northern plaza and provide future generations of sports fans with a meeting place to pay tribute to his amazing career both on and off the field," Ms Bligh said.
Beetson, 66, the first indigenous Australian person to captain a national sporting team, died from a massive heart attack while riding a bike on the Gold Coast on Thursday.
Ms Bligh says Beetson was not only a league legend but was also a pioneer for indigenous Australian athletes and his loss has been felt across the country.
"We are very pleased the Beetson family accepted our offer of a public memorial," she said.
"There are many people that want to say an appropriate goodbye to this great man, and this will be their opportunity to do just that."
Beetson's eldest son, Brad, says the family will hold a private funeral in the coming week.
"Once again the family would like to thank everyone for their support, condolences and contributions over the last 48 hours," he said.
Beetson played 28 Tests for Australia and was captain in two.
One of his greatest and proudest moments was captaining Queensland to victory in the historic first State of Origin game at Lang Park in 1980, belting his Parramatta team-mate and New South Wales centre Mick Cronin to give birth to "mate against mate".
Beetson went on to coach the Maroons to series wins in 1982, 1983, 1984 and 1989 and "team bonding" was his speciality.
He played 235 club matches between 1963-81 in the New South Wales Rugby League and Queensland Rugby League competitions.
In Sydney he played for Balmain, Eastern Suburbs and Parramatta.
He was named in Australia's Team of the Century, Queensland's Team of the Century, the Indigenous Team of the Century and inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame in 2003.
He was also named an Immortal by Rugby League Week in 2003.
AAP
Tags: rugby-league, sport, brisbane-4000 First posted December 04, 2011 16:21:53Wednesday, November 30, 2011
NRL can handle funding demands: ARL
Australian Rugby League (ARL) chairman John Chalk has extended an olive branch to disgruntled NRL clubs, conceding their demands for extra funding are "affordable and sustainable".
It was not immediately clear, however, if Chalk's comments referred to an up front payment clubs are seeking in 2012 as well as their demands for a TV rights bonus payment adding up to $36 million.
Some of the 16 NRL clubs have reportedly threatened not to sign club agreements to play in the 2012 competition without assurances of extra funding.
They are seeking an extra $8 million ($500,000 per club) paid in quarterly instalments next year and also want a $1.6 million advance payment on the next broadcast rights TV deal, which will be thrashed out next year.
The partnership committee of News Limited and the NRL, which controls the financial arm of the game, met last week and rejected plunging the game into debt by taking out an $8 million loan.
Their view was they were not prepared to put the game into debt to get some clubs out of debt, which did not sit well with some club bosses.
Chalk says that in his personal view the NRL clubs' funding request represented an affordable and sustainable increase for the 2012 season.
"Contrary to reports, the ARL has not taken a position to oppose NRL club requests for additional funding for the 2012 season," he said in a statement.
"I have called for an urgent meeting of the ARL (board) tomorrow (Tuesday) to discuss the issue and for a position."
The cash-strapped clubs have adopted a hard line approach, saying they either get a $500,000 payment or they will not be signing any agreements for 2012.
But there are fears the stand-off could seriously harm the incoming independent commission's ability to get on with the job and also make administrators look amateurish in their dealings.
Some NRL clubs already on the financial brink say they cannot hang on until a new TV deal is stitched up and need the funding now to survive.
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, australia First posted October 24, 2011 19:25:00Ayoub betting case adjourned
The court case into NRL player-manager Sam Ayoub's alleged involvement in a rugby league betting scandal has been adjourned until February.
Ayoub is the third NRL identity to appear in court in relation to a betting plunge on a first scoring play from a North Queensland-Canterbury match last year.
Ayoub's counsel argued at the Downing Centre Local Court on Monday it should be given time to view transcripts of the previous two cases before the matter proceeded to trial.
The magistrate agreed with Ayoub's counsel and adjourned the case until February 13.
Former Bulldogs prop Ryan Tandy and ex-rugby league journeyman John Elias have completed their trials.
Elias was last week found not guilty of attempting to gain financial advantage by deception, while Tandy is appealing his conviction of the same charge.
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, sydney-2000 First posted November 28, 2011 13:15:43Cleary banking on youth to revive Panthers
It was the secret behind his success at the Warriors, and now new Penrith coach Ivan Cleary is banking on the Panthers' rich nursery of junior talent reviving the club's NRL fortunes.
Cleary's six years with the Warriors were characterised by his ability to develop talented youngsters into NRL footballers.
Of the Warriors' 17-man squad which played in this year's NRL grand final, Cleary had brought eight players through the system, while seasoned internationals Simon Mannering and Manu Vatuvei were fledgling first graders when he arrived at the club in 2006.
Panthers officials have long been frustrated by the club's inability to transfer its junior rugby league dominance to the NRL - and have entrusted Cleary to finally make it happen.
Of the 17 that took to the field for the Panthers in their round 26 loss to St George Illawarra, only five players were local juniors.
"It's no secret it's a huge junior league out here and there's lots of kids playing," Cleary said on Tuesday.
"Over the years some of the juniors that have come out of here have gone on to become great players.
"It's certainly a key area in building the club ... but that's going to take time.
"It's a key strategy of the club to build from within."
It is why Cleary is not too concerned by the departure of veteran forwards Petero Civoniceva and Trent Waterhouse, or his club's limited recruitment drive which has netted the likes of fringe first-graders Chris Armit, Cameron Ciraldo and Clint Newton.
While he would obviously like to achieve success a bit quicker than the six years it took him to get the Warriors to a decider, Cleary admitted there was no quick-fix to rebuilding a Panthers side which has played finals football just once in the past seven seasons.
"I'm happy with the squad that's here - I'm more than happy with some of the juniors we've got and the depth coming through," he said.
"It's all just about improving - just turning up each day and getting better.
"There's a long way to go and a lot of work to do, but you've got to start somewhere."
That somewhere was the training track on Tuesday, where new trainer Ron Palmer put the squad through a torturous workout in humid conditions.
"It was a tough session," centre Michael Jennings said.
"It's good to know where you're at and what you can expect for the coming weeks."
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, penrith-2750, nsw, australia First posted November 08, 2011 17:36:29Bunnies searching for new Sandow
South Sydney officially welcomed coach Michael Maguire into the fold on Monday, with the rookie NRL coach handed the onerous task of removing the Bunnies' "underachievers" tag.
With internationals Sam Burgess, Roy Asotasi, Dave Taylor and Issac Luke on the books, Souths certainly has the forward pack.
Add Greg Inglis, Nathan Merritt, John Sutton and new signing Matt King to the team and the club has got a backline that can score plenty of points.
In Maguire, the Rabbitohs believe they have found a coach that can bring them success.
But one giant question mark remains over South Sydney's chances for a successful 2012 - just how does the club replace the mercurial talents of half-back Chris Sandow?
Parramatta-bound Sandow was a shining light for the Rabbitohs this year, nearly guiding them to the finals despite manning a roster savaged by injuries.
Maguire, who learned his trade under Craig Bellamy at Melbourne before a successful two-year stint in the English Super League with Wigan, ran his first training session with the club on Monday before turning his attention towards who will fill the number seven jersey next season.
"I'll soon find out," Maguire told reporters when asked how tough it will be to replace Sandow.
"At the moment I haven't got any names. I'm just looking forward to seeing what I've got in the squad.
"I'm aware of the depth but haven't seen a lot of it.
"At the end of the day there's a number of players here that are going to have an opportunity. So we'll assess things here as soon as we start training."
Maguire may have been tight-lipped on the early favourite for the job, but he refused to rule out recruiting a half-back before the season starts.
"I'm always looking at certain things," he said.
"We'll wait and see what's available but at the moment I'm happy with what we've got."
Backrower Jason Clark, who captained Adam Reynolds in the under-20s team, says the youngster has the qualities to develop into a first-grade footballer.
"He's a great player. He's got a great football brain (and) if he gets the opportunity I'm sure he'll take it with both hands," Clark explained.
Skipper Roy Asotasi said the players would spend the next few weeks getting to understand Maguire's coaching mantra, but admitted they had a fair idea of what to expect based on his stints at Wigan and as an assistant at the Storm.
"We're just getting to learn about him and what he expects from us for this off-season," Asotasi explained.
"And all he wants from us is 100 per cent effort and to constantly improve in the off-season and not worry about what's going to happen at the start of the season.
"He's really big on the off-season and how everyone's going."
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, redfern-2016, nsw, australia First posted October 31, 2011 22:11:02Tupou called up by Kiwis
Winger Bill Tupou is the latest Warriors grand finalist to be added to New Zealand's Four Nations touring party.
Tupou replaces clubmate Krisnan Inu, who was brought into the squad as one of three replacements after Manu Vatuvei, Shaun Johnson and Steve Matai were ruled out on medical grounds.
The Kiwis meet Australia in a one-off Test in Newcastle on Sunday before travelling to England for the Four Nations tournament beginning in Warrington on October 28.
Inu withdrew on Monday for personal reasons.
Tupou joins fellow Warriors' Kevin Locke, Lewis Brown, Russell Packer, Simon Mannering, Ben Matulino and Elijah Taylor in the Kiwis squad.
After 12 matches in his rookie NRL season in 2010, Tupou made 17 appearances this year, scoring five tries.
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, new-zealand First posted October 12, 2011 13:46:20NRL asked to sort out Moltzen dispute
St George Illawarra boss Peter Doust has asked the NRL to sort out the protracted dispute with Wests Tigers over star utility Tim Moltzen's contract.
Doust has written a detailed statement on the Dragons' website, saying the club is exploring its legal options and claiming Moltzen and his manager Martin Tauber have gone missing as the wrangling drags on.
The Dragons signed Moltzen on a three-year deal in July, saying they had assurances he would be released from his contract with the Tigers.
At the time, Tigers chief executive Stephen Humphreys expressed his disappointment at the timing of the announcement.
A release is still to be finalised and Doust has accused the Tigers of not acting in good faith amidst reports Moltzen has had a change of heart and after a request from Humphreys for "further discussions".
"Our suspicions were raised earlier last week when both Martin Tauber and Tim Moltzen did not return phone calls to Dragons staff and Tim also failed to front for a pre-arranged meeting prior to his departure for an end-of-season overseas trip with other Wests Tigers players," Doust wrote.
"It is quite obvious that some circumstances at the Wests Tigers have changed in recent times, otherwise why only now three months later are we made aware that there is an issue?"
Doust said the Dragons had investigated their legal position.
"Certainly some sections within the NRL rules are worth exploring in protecting the Dragons' interests," he wrote.
"Clearly this is not something that we have been able to resolve with the Wests Tigers and we will now continue to press our contractual position in relation to Tim Moltzen and his manager's intentions for the 2012 season and beyond by formally referring the matter to the NRL."
Moltzen was among several contracted stars the Tigers allowed to explore their options mid-season as the club sought to free up some salary cap room.
The full-back starred during the side's late-season surge into the finals, finally rediscovering his best after a knee reconstruction in 2010.
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, wollongong-2500, campbelltown-2560, balmain-2041, nsw, australia First posted October 13, 2011 07:12:07Lawrence wary of England forwards
Australian centre Chris Lawrence claims England will have the strongest pack in the Four Nations after Wests Tigers team-mate Chris Heighington was named in the squad.
Heighington was picked in Steve McNamara's 22-man panel for the tournament, which gets underway on October 28, and will pack down with fellow Tiger Gareth Ellis.
Australia meets England at Wembley Stadium on November 5 with no fewer than four NRL players likely to start for the Lions, along with prop James Graham, who joins Canterbury for the 2012 season.
Ellis and Heighington will be joined by Melbourne five-eighth Gareth Widdop and Brisbane's Yorkshire-born, Queensland-raised centre Jack Reed.
Former Sydney Roosters enforcer Adrian Morley, who was infamously sent off after just 13 seconds in a clash with the Kangaroos in 2003, was also included, as was New Zealand-born playmaker Rangi Chase, who spent two years with St George Illawarra.
Chase won Super League's Man of Steel Award this season after a fine campaign for Castleford but his selection was met with criticism by English great Garry Scofield.
South Sydney prop Sam Burgess is not available due to a shoulder injury.
Heighington has been one of Wests Tigers best performers in recent seasons, but has only two NSW Country Origin appearances to his name.
He opted to pledge allegiance to the country of his father's birth after constantly being overlooked by NSW selectors.
Lawrence is fully expecting the hosts to be a difficult proposition in home conditions.
"I'd say they have the best pack out of all three nations, you have Chris, Gareth, James Graham, Jamie Peacock and Adrian Morley, that is a pretty formidable set of forwards," Lawrence said.
"With that pack and Gareth Widdop playing good footy for Melbourne, they are going to have some good halves playing in their conditions they are going to be very hard to beat.".
Newly-crowned Super League champion Leeds has seven players in McNamara's squad, but grand final man-of-the-match Rob Burrow is not included due to a rib injury.
Exciting young St Helens' half-back Jonny Lomax, 20, rated as one of the best prospects in the English game for many years, is also included for the first time.
England squad: Carl Ablett (Leeds), Ryan Bailey (Leeds), Tom Briscoe (Hull), Garreth Carvell (Warrington), Rangi Chase (Castleford), Leroy Cudjoe (Huddersfield), Gareth Ellis (Wests Tigers), James Graham (St Helens), Ryan Hall (Leeds), Chris Heighington (Wests Tigers), Ben Jones-Bishop (Leeds), Jamie Jones-Buchanan (Leeds), Jonny Lomax (St Helens), Michael McIlorum (Wigan), Adrian Morley (Warrington), Jamie Peacock (Leeds, capt), Jack Reed (Brisbane), James Roby (St Helens), Kevin Sinfield (Leeds), Sam Tomkins (Wigan), Ben Westwood (Warrington), Gareth Widdop (Melbourne), Jon Wilkin (St Helens), Kirk Yeaman (Hull).
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, england, united-kingdom, australia First posted October 11, 2011 09:05:18Balmain great Killeen dies
Wests Tigers have announced the passing of Balmain great Len Killeen.
The former goal kicking winger, 72, died last Friday in South Africa.
Born in Uitenhage near Port Elizabeth, Killeen joined the Balmain Tigers in 1967 on a transfer from St Helens.
He played with Balmain for five seasons, racking up 78 first grade games for the club, scoring 36 tries, 270 goals and eight field goals for a total of 664 points.
In 1969 he was a member of the grand final-winning team where he kicked two goals in the 11-2 victory over Souths.
His points tally of 207 in that year is a club record for most points in a season.
A member of the St Helens Hall of Fame, Len was inducted into the Balmain Hall of Fame in 2009
AAP
Tags: rugby-league, sport, balmain-2041, nsw, australia First posted October 31, 2011 22:03:32Interview: Anthony Watmough
This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced.
AEDT = Australian Eastern Daylight Savings Time which is 11 hours ahead of UTC (Greenwich Mean Time)
Rookie Johnson named in Kiwis squad
Rugby league world champions New Zealand has named a powerful line-up boasting nine players from Sunday's NRL grand final for its Four Nations title defence later this month.
Rookie sensation Shaun Johnson was one of seven Warriors named in the 23-man squad to head to England and Wales, his selection along with that of captain Benji Marshall and Manly pivot Kieran Foran giving coach Stephen Kearney a potent playmaking mix.
Johnson was joined in the squad by fellow Warriors stars Kevin Locke, Russell Packer, Lewis Brown, Simon Mannering, Ben Matulino and winger Manu Vatuvei, while the team that beat them in the NRL decider, Manly, will provide Foran and centre Steve Matai.
Six players in the squad - Johnson, Locke, Packer, Brisbane duo Gerard Beale and Alex Glenn and Melbourne's Kevin Proctor - have yet to make their Test debuts.
"There's evidence again that our playing depth is building," Kearney said.
"As usually happens we've had a significant number of players, who couldn't be considered due to injury, but we've still been able to bring together a strong group of players, one we're really pleased with.
"It's a benefit as well that so many of them have played deep into the finals."
The Kiwis were denied the chance to select second rower Frank Pritchard, with the 21-Test veteran opting to switch his allegiances to Samoa ahead of the 2013 World Cup.
The squad will assemble in Sydney on Sunday ahead of the October 16 Test against Australia in Newcastle.
New Zealand, which upset Australia in last year's Four Nations final, will open its title defence against the Kangaroos in Warrington on October 28.
New Zealand: Gerard Beale, Adam Blair, Lewis Brown, Nathan Fien, Kieran Foran, Alex Glenn, Thomas Leuluai, Kevin Locke, Shaun Johnson, Issac Luke, Sam McKendry, Simon Mannering, Sika Manu, Benji Marshall (captain), Steve Matai, Ben Matulino, Fuifui Moimoi, Jason Nightingale, Russell Packer, Kevin Proctor, Jeremy Smith, Manu Vatuvei, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, new-zealand First posted October 04, 2011 17:25:30Bennett offers Knights no promises
Wayne Bennett has made it clear he wants to deliver on Nathan Tinkler's Newcastle dream, but the seven-time NRL premiership winner refuses to put a time limit on its arrival.
The mining magnate has made it his mission to use a seemingly bottomless bank account to transform the Knights into a force the envy of their rivals ever since assuming ownership of the club.
At the top of Tinkler's wishlist is a third premiership for a club that tasted success in 1997 and 2001.
Speaking after Tuesday's first training session with the Knights, Bennett said he had bought into Tinkler's vision, but warned fans not to expect instant success.
"(Tinkler) has got big dreams, and I like his dreams. I just hope we can get it done for him," Bennett, who signed a four-year deal with the club, said.
"Realistically a premiership may not be forthcoming in the near future.
"More importantly we just want to build something that will provide them with long-term success.
"There's a great opportunity to build something pretty special."
Bennett's arrival at the club has led to some bookmakers installing the Knights as favourites for next year's premiership.
That move no doubt flows on from his immediate success at St George Illawarra, having guided the joint-venture to the minor premiership in his first season there before ending the Dragons' 31-year premiership drought the next.
But Bennett warned it may not be as simple a project at the Knights.
"We've got a plan for here. It won't be in fruition the first 12 months," he said.
"The first 12 months will just be to make us the best footy team we can (be) and not go too quick. Because you can get lost in all that."
Bennett is well accustomed to coping with expectations, and said he had been dealing with them since he was a young man.
That experience will come in handy at Newcastle, with former skipper Paul Harragon saying the sky was the limit for the club's future.
"We want excellence," Harragon said.
"Newcastle's always been a town that's been renowned for battling away. Tough, resilient.
"We want to keep all those things but the sky is the limit. We're not worried about premierships, but we want to be the best."
Meanwhile, Bennett confirmed that Australian representative Darius Boyd, who followed Bennett from the Dragons to Newcastle, would play full-back - forcing captain Kurt Gidley into a playmaking role.
"He can play half-back, five-eighth and hooker," Bennett said of Gidley.
"He's destined for one of those I'd think."
AAP
Tags: sport, nrl, rugby-league, newcastle-2300, nsw, australia First posted November 29, 2011 10:51:51Morris, Yow Yeh in Four Nations duel
Josh Morris and Jharal Yow Yeh will audition for a wing spot in the Four Nations final when the Kangaroos meet minnow Wales on Monday (AEDT).
With Australia's place in the following weekend's decider already safe, coach Tim Sheens named a new-look line-up to meet the winless Welsh at Wrexham with Daly Cherry-Evans, Corey Parker and Beau Scott all set to make international debuts.
While skipper Darren Lockyer is rested ahead of his career-ending appearance in the final, the match looms as a big test for Morris and Yow Yeh.
They will battle for the wing berth left vacant by the injury to Billy Slater that has forced Darius Boyd's move to full-back.
Morris starts on the left wing with Yow Yeh on the right but Sheens is considering switching certain selection Akuila Uate from right to left for the final, depending on who impresses most against Wales.
"I've mentioned it to both boys but whether it's left or right I go with, I'm not sure yet," he said.
"I played Akuila on the right to start with against England and then he went to left in the second half.
"Morris plays left centre but started out as a left winger, so I'll experiment with that one and see where we come out."
The Welsh have been gallant but ultimately outclassed by England and New Zealand in their first two games.
Sheens gave his players three days off this week, with a place in the final against England or New Zealand secured.
However, the veteran coach admits maintaining the players' focus was always likely to be a concern this week and he is looking to the newcomers in the team to help maintain intensity ahead of the title decider.
"The enthusiasm of the younger ones picked up today's training. That was good," Sheens said.
A Wales win would be one of the biggest shocks in the history of sport.
Although the coach will not contemplate the idea of defeat, he does fear any drop off could set the team back going into the final at Leeds.
"We have to be careful we don't go and drop our attitude," he said.
"We fired up to play New Zealand and then again for the England game so we have to maintain our enthusiasm.
"I've noticed New Zealand and England kicked away to a start against Wales and then cruised for a bit before they got hold of the game.
"We want to be more clinical than that."
Sheens has named David Shillington and Keith Galloway as his starting front rowers, with Cameron Smith to skipper the side from hooker.
Scott and Luke Lewis make up the second row with Parker, at the age of 29, making his international bow at lock.
Sheens confirmed Cooper Cronk would play the full 80 minutes, maximising his skills as a utility.
"I want Cooper to get some game time," he said.
"He'll start at five-eighth then move to hooker to give Cam a break.
"I'll then move Thurston to five-eighth to give Daly a run. Then return Cronk to half-back to give JT a rest."
Kangaroos: Darius Boyd, Jharal Yow Yeh, Greg Inglis, Chris Lawrence, Josh Morris, Cooper Cronk, Johnathan Thurston, David Shillington, Cameron Smith (c), Keith Galloway, Beau Scott, Luke Lewis, Corey Parker. Interchange: Paul Gallen, Daly Cherry-Evans, Matt Scott, Anthony Watmough, Sam Thaiday, Akuila Uate (two to be omitted)
AAP
Tags: sport, rugby-league, wales, united-kingdom, australia First posted November 11, 2011 17:36:36Sandow not feeling the pressure at Parra
Star Parramatta signing Chris Sandow is still coming to terms with his new surroundings, but says he is not feeling the pressure to deliver on his team change just yet.
Sandow joined his Eels team-mates on Monday for his first preseason training session at the club and impressed everybody with his ability to fit in comfortably.
But the talented dynamo does not believe he is the only man in charge of turning Parramatta's woeful 2011 season around.
"I'm not thinking about the pressure, just about playing good footy and doing the right things for the team and see how we work as a group," Sandow said.
"I'll just play off the back of that, it should be really good."
Sandow is the most high-profile of the Eels' new recruits, with Australia Test centre Willie Tonga and former Canterbury five-eighth Ben Roberts also linking with the club in a bid to revitalise the roster.
"It was a bit different coming into this preseason, I don't think I've had this many changes since I've been at Parra. It's something different," star full-back Jarryd Hayne said.
One of the biggest decisions for coach Stephen Kearney to make before next season will be who lines up alongside Sandow in the halves.
Roberts signed with the Eels in a bid to lock down a starting spot in his favoured number six jersey, but Hayne has also been tried in the halves with some success in the past two seasons.
Sandow is not concerned with who wears what number - he just sees a blossoming attacking trident that should make opposition defensive lines nervous.
"It's hard to say (whether Roberts or Hayne will play five-eighth). They're both good players of the NRL," he said.
"Jarryd Hayne is always dangerous popping up - whenever he wants the ball just give him the ball.
"It's up to the coach mate, not up to me ... it will be good to play alongside both of them."
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, parramatta-2150, nsw, australia First posted November 01, 2011 13:08:18Sea Eagles retain T-Rex
Australia Test forward Tony Williams has officially put pen to paper and re-signed with premiers Manly for a further two seasons.
Williams, who made his Kangaroos debut in Sunday's 42-6 demolition of New Zealand, shunned interest from rival clubs to stay with the Sea Eagles until the end of 2013.
The news will come as welcome relief for the Sea Eagles, who have witnessed the club being pulled apart since they won the club's eighth premiership by beating the Warriors earlier this month.
But while young winger Will Hopoate will link with Parramatta and coach Des Hasler, who joins Canterbury at the end of 2012, have announced their futures lie elsewhere, Williams stayed loyal.
"We are a really close-knit family here at the Sea Eagles," he said.
"I always wanted to stay and I'm enjoying my footy here and want to stay as long as I can.
"Des and all the coaching staff have played a big part in the improvement in my game.
"I see Des as a mentor and look forward to next year playing under him. Hopefully, we can go back to back in 2012."
Manly chief operating officer David Perry is pleased to have retained the monster second rower.
"It's great news for the club to secure a quality young player like Tony for two more seasons," he said.
"He's taken his game to another level this year and we're confident he'll continue to develop under the great coaching staff here at Manly."
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, nsw, manly-2095, australia First posted October 18, 2011 17:45:05Experience gives Sea Eagles the edge
Manly is convinced its wealth of grand final experience will give it the upper hand in Sunday's NRL grand final against the Warriors.
The Sea Eagles will have a staggering 10 players with grand final experience running onto Sydney's Olympic stadium, including eight survivors from the club's 2008 premiership, ready to guide a host of young blood.
In contrast, the Warriors have just three - Lance Hohaia, who was a utility for the Warriors in the 2002 grand final against Sydney Roosters, and former Parramatta pair Krisnan Inu and Feleti Mateo, who played in a losing effort in 2009 alongside current Sea Eagle Joe Galuvao.
Manly's first-time grand finalists are Will Hopoate (19), Kieran Foran (21), Jamie Buhrer (21), Tony Williams (22), Daly Cherry-Evans (22), Darcy Lussick (22) and 28-year-old George Rose, who would have played in deciders in either 2007 or '08 if not for a gruesome broken leg which sidelined him for 18 months.
Veteran forward Shane Rodney, who won a grand final with Galuvao at Penrith in 2003, said the disparity in experience was something Manly should take advantage of.
"I think (having more experience) will be an advantage," Rodney explained.
"A lot of guys (in the team) have been in grand finals before so they know what to expect from the week.
"We had a little talk about it the other night after the (preliminary final win over Brisbane) ... we know what to expect."
Crafty hooker Matt Ballin, who scored the opening try in Manly's 2008 win over Melbourne, said the senior Sea Eagles would shield their young counterparts during the week and on the field to ensure they could then capitalise on the energy the new breed would bring on grand final day.
"I think it's good to have a mix of both. There's the experience of guys who have been there before but the guys who haven't just enjoy it and bring that enthusiasm because they haven't had it before," Ballin said.
"They're lapping it up and bringing the energy to the side. I think to have that blend and mix of players is a really good thing."
Rodney was a bright-eyed 20-year-old when he picked up his premiership ring with the Panthers, and he explained this week what advice he would give the likes of Cherry-Evans, Foran and Hopoate.
"One thing I'll be telling these younger guys, is when I was a younger bloke, you don't really appreciate it too much that it's hard to get to here," Rodney said.
"I'm going to make sure those guys enjoy the week and make the most of it come next weekend.
"They're all pretty level-headed and know what's ahead of them.
"They're all pretty grounded and appreciate where they are now.
"We'll have a little chat in between when I see blokes, but I'm sure they'll be fine."
Meanwhile, a Manly official said it was a precautionary move from his side for back rower Anthony Watmough to leave Wednesday's training session early due to a cold.
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, manly-2095, nsw, australia, new-zealand First posted September 29, 2011 07:17:03Interview: Pita Godinet
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Roosters sign Eels discard Mortimer
The Sydney Roosters have signed Parramatta five-eighth Daniel Mortimer on a two-year deal, potentially filling the void left by Todd Carney's departure.
The 22-year-old Mortimer, a grand finalist in 2009, was granted a release by the Eels, having been used by new coach Steve Kearney in only nine first-grade games in the 2011 season.
Roosters recruitment manager Peter O'Sullivan believed Mortimer would prove a useful asset.
"Daniel suits the Roosters' style of play and with his ability to play five-eighth or half-back, we see him playing a key utility role, adding great depth to our halves alongside the likes of Braith Anasta and Mitchell Pearce," O'Sullivan said.
"Daniel is widely regarded as a quality person on and off the footy field and we are looking forward to watching him develop as part of our team over the coming seasons."
Eels chairman Roy Spagnolo praised Mortimer's contribution to the club.
"Daniel has been a terrific member of our club and everyone here has an enormous respect for him," Spagnolo said.
"It's obviously been a tough period for him over the past season but he's shown his class throughout.
"Although he had a couple of players ahead of him for a spot this year, he continued to work hard on and off the field and his positive attitude in doing so is a credit to him and his upbringing."
Carney, who won the Dally M Medal after an outstanding 2010 season, was released for disciplinary breaches this year.
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, bondi-junction-2022, nsw, australia, parramatta-2150 First posted October 24, 2011 14:58:12