Saturday, January 28, 2012
Lui injured at Cowboys training
Controversial North Queensland signing Robert Lui will undergo scans after suffering a knee injury at training.
Lui was helped from the field after hearing something click when he was tackled by Gavin Cooper and Johnathan Thurston during a hit-out in Townsville, a Cowboys spokesman said.
The playmaker is expected to miss the Cowboys' trial against Brisbane in Redcliffe on Saturday week.
Cowboys management said the results of scans would be known on Monday.
North Queensland general manager of football Peter Parr is hopeful Lui's setback is only minor.
"We are confident it's not a serious injury and cannot comment or speculate any further until we have the scan results," Parr said.
Lui was released by the Tigers late last year following an assault charge which has been adjourned until March 21 when the NRL season will be three weeks old.
Lui wants the half-back job inside Thurston - with the Queensland and Australian star keen to move to five-eighth with a view to filling Darren Lockyer's place for the Maroons.
AAP
Tags: sport, rugby-league, nrl, australia, qld, townsville-4810 First posted January 27, 2012 14:56:56Hala headed for surgery
Bright young Brisbane forward David Hala will undergo surgery on his foot next week and is expected to be sidelined for 10 weeks.
Hala's injury, suffered during a training drill on Thursday morning, is similar to that which sidelined Broncos team-mate Matt Gillett early last season.
"It's a tough blow because he's worked so hard on his fitness and was looking really strong," Broncos coach Anthony Griffin said.
The 22-year-old Redcliffe junior played 15 NRL matches last season, impressing with his powerhouse bursts.
He was in line to play in next Friday's preseason trial against the Cowboys at Redcliffe.
The Broncos are likely to run Ben Hunt and Corey Norman as their halves in the trial, swapping positions as they begin the search for Darren Lockyer's replacement at number six.
Meanwhile, recruits Luke Douglas, Beau Champion, Beau Falloon, Javarn White and Louis Fanene make their first appearances for Gold Coast in next weekend's first trial match against the Warriors in New Zealand.
Titans coach John Cartwright included them in a solid 22-man squad for the trial at North Harbour Stadium.
Four of the club's senior players, Scott Prince, Greg Bird, Luke Bailey and Jamal Idris, will play in the All Stars fixture on the same weekend.
Cartwright will fine tune his squad with preseason hit-outs against the Broncos at Pizzey Park on Saturday February 11 and the Cowboys in Mackay on February 18.
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, brisbane-4000 First posted January 27, 2012 18:12:30RLPA expecting gradual cap boost
Rugby League Players Association (RLPA) chief executive David Garnsey predicts a gradual increase to the NRL salary cap over the next five years rather than a dramatic overnight boost if a $1 billion media rights deal is signed.
There has been media speculation that a $1 billion five-year deal would see the cap raised from $4.3 million to $7 million by 2013, but that would surprise Garnsey.
The NRL's last rights deal was for $500 million over five years.
"There's been certain projections bandied around, some famously that were disclosed to club CEOs and then disclosed by media people last year," Garnsey said.
"I would have thought it's probably unlikely the salary cap would go straight up to the adjusted amount to reflect that new media rights deal, as opposed to being stepped for that five-year period.
"The salary cap will grow as the game will grow."
The media rights deal will be the first thing on the table for rugby league's independent commission, which is slated to begin on February 10.
Garnsey admits he is not sure how much the rights deal will be worth or when it will be done but says the RLPA does have some expectations as far as the salary cap is concerned.
"If the figure isn't $5.2 (million) by 2013, I'd be disappointed but it could be a lot more than that. I think it would be at least that ($5.2 million)," he said.
Garnsey is more hopeful than ever the independent commission will become a reality next month.
"This date seems to have been put forward with a lot more conviction than the ones previously and I'm placing a lot of stock in that it will happen," he said.
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, australia First posted January 27, 2012 21:36:49Thursday, January 26, 2012
Bani signs with Raiders
Canberra boosted its depth in the outside backs with the signing of former Manly and North Queensland winger Michael Bani to a one-year deal.
Noted speedster Bani struggled to cement a place at the Cowboys since he joined them from the Sea Eagles in 2009 and battled injury during his time up north, particularly last year.
The 27-year-old says the opportunity to join the Raiders may reignite his career.
"It's a fantastic opportunity for my career," Bani said in a statement.
"... I'll be taking the opportunity with two hands to work my way up to first grade."
Bani's signing will help the Raiders cover the departure of Daniel Vidot to St George Illawarra.
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, canberra-2600 First posted January 25, 2012 18:30:05Smith, Hornby out of All Stars clash
Cameron Smith and Ben Hornby have been ruled out of the NRL All Stars team with injury.
Melbourne captain Smith (shoulder) and St George Illawarra skipper Hornby (thigh strain) suffered injuries in training this week and will miss the match with the Indigenous All Stars on February 4 at Skilled Park.
Smith is now not expected to feature in the Storm's preseason trials, while Hornby will undergo further scans in the coming days to assess the extent of the injury.
"Cameron suffered deep bruising to his shoulder during a contact session earlier this week," Storm football manager Frank Ponissi said.
"He aggravated that same injury during training today, therefore unfortunately ruling him out of the upcoming All Stars match.
"The injury is likely to prevent Cameron from playing in the trials, however we don't anticipate any long-term issues that will prevent him from starting the season."
New Zealand international utility Nathan Fien will replace his Dragons team-mate on the interchange bench after Hornby was named as a surprise coach's pick last Thursday, while Smith was an automatic selection as an Australia representative.
A replacement has yet to be named for Smith.
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, robina-4226 First posted January 25, 2012 22:55:09Sharks player Gordon pleads guilty to assault
Cronulla Sharks player Isaac Gordon has pleaded guilty to assaulting his former girlfriend, who was seven months pregnant at the time.
Gordon appeared at Sutherland Local Court today and agreed to the plea in exchange for the Crown withdrawing a more serious charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The 25-year-old was also handed a 12-month apprehended violence order (AVO).
The court heard that Gordon returned home after a booze-fuelled night and became involved in a confrontation with Karen Lee Davison, who has since given birth to their child.
A request by Gordon's legal counsel that the magistrate not record a conviction for the common assault was denied.
Gordon was given an 18-month good behaviour bond.
AAP
Tags: law-crime-and-justice, nrl, assault, crime, sydney-2000, nsw, australia First posted January 25, 2012 12:15:04Tonga faces Origin ban
The Queensland Rugby League will give young Parramatta centre Esi Tonga an opportunity to explain why he should not be banned from playing Origin football for two years after his "no show" at Wayne Bennett's emerging Origin camp at the weekend.
The 23-year-old younger brother of Queensland origin centre Willie Tonga is in hot water after he defied an 11.30pm curfew on Saturday night.
Players had gathered for dinner and a few drinks and Tonga failed to attend training the next morning under Bennett and Origin coach Mal Meninga.
Tonga will be given the chance to appear before a special three-man panel, headed by QRL chairman, John McDonald, before a decision on his Origin future is made.
Esi and his brother Willie, who has played five Origins for Queensland during the Maroons record six-year reign (seven overall), will both play for Parramatta this season.
Esi was in Brisbane at the weekend along with other players identified as future Origin representatives attending a special two-day camp under Bennett, the Queensland Academy of Sport's head rugby league coach.
He trained impressively with the squad on Saturday afternoon before joining team-mates for dinner.
Meninga has taken a hard-line stance on players representing Queensland since allegations some members of his 2009 side experimented with mixing sleeping tablets and energy drinks prior to playing poorly and losing the third Origin game to NSW.
Meninga met with QRL chief executive Rob Moore on Tuesday morning to discuss a course of action over Tonga.\
It's expected Tonga will be invited to present his case to the panel which will then make a decision on his punishment.
AAP
Tags: rugby-league, state-of-origin, sport, brisbane-4000, qld, australia First posted January 25, 2012 15:49:29Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Rabbitohs' Sutton assaulted in Bondi brawl
NRL player John Sutton has been assaulted in a brawl outside a nightclub at Bondi Beach in Sydney's east.
The South Sydney five-eighth was at the exclusive White Revolver nightclub when two groups got into an argument about 11.30pm last night.
Police say say security guards escorted 12 people outside and a brawl broke out.
Four of the men threw punches and hurled metal poles at the front door, while the rest of the group tried to break them up.
Officers say the South Sydney player is a friend of the nightclub's manager.
They say the pair followed the brawlers out and the 27-year-old was set upon.
Police are searching for the attackers.
They say they have spoken to a number of witnesses but are waiting for a statement from Sutton.
A spokesman for the Rabbitohs has declined to comment.
Tags: assault, crime, law-crime-and-justice, rugby-league, bondi-beach-2026 First posted January 22, 2012 14:39:21Saturday, January 21, 2012
Graham will be a hit in NRL
Englishman Adrian Morley is tipping compatriot James Graham to be an NRL sensation at Canterbury.
One of the most respected and feared players in the NRL during his time with the Sydney Roosters between 2001 and 2006, Morley knows what it takes to make it in Australia.
The highly-touted Graham signed a lucrative three-year deal to play with the Des Hasler-coached Bulldogs from 2012.
Morley admits there will be plenty of pressure on the former St Helens prop but he thinks Graham will cope with anything thrown at him, including a bit of sledging.
"I think he'll go very well ... the spotlight is always on England internationals who come over, I can speak from experience on that," said Morley, who is in Sydney on a pre-season camp with his UK Super League club Warrington.
"But the way he plays the game I think he's going to be a sensation over here.
"He's one of those players who can play many minutes, which is loved over here for a prop, but he's also got some great ball skills.
"He's definitely going to be a cult figure too with his ginger hair and his thick Scouse (Liverpool) accent."
Morley said English players are more respected in Australia now especially since the recent successes of Gareth Ellis and Sam Burgess in the NRL.
"I think now the fact those boys are here it's probably easier for an Englishman now ... when I came over it weren't that common and I probably got a bit more stick," he said.
"But now having English players is part of the NRL make-up now ... there'll probably be a few boys out there who might try and take him on but I he'll handle whatever is dished out."
Morley will line up against his old foes South Sydney in a trial match at Redfern on Saturday week.
AAP
Tags: sport, rugby-league, canterbury-2193, nsw, australia First posted January 19, 2012 21:49:03Thursday, January 19, 2012
Gallen tops voting in NRL All Stars team
NSW and Cronulla captain Paul Gallen has topped the voting for the second straight year to be named at lock in the NRL All Stars team announced on Thursday.
Gallen finished 333 votes ahead of Melbourne half-back Cooper Cronk to be recognised as the most popular player amongst fans, who picked 16 of the 20 players for the February 4 match against the Indigenous All Stars at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast.
For his two coach's selections, NRL All Stars mentor Wayne Bennett nominated the captain of his former club St George-Illawarra, Ben Hornby, and fellow utility, Penrith's Luke Lewis.
Australian captain Cameron Smith and New Zealand skipper Benji Marshall were automatic selections.
Bennett said he is happy Marshall, who played at half-back for the All Stars last year, has replaced the retired Darren Lockyer at five-eighth.
"I'm pleased Benji is playing five-eighth because it is his natural position," said Bennett.
Almost 30,000 rugby League fans had their say via two online voting stages to select a representative from each of the 16 NRL clubs in the 20-man squad, which includes 10 NRL All Stars debutants.
All Stars: Josh Dugan (Canberra), Jason Nightingale (St George-Illawarra), Jack Reed (Brisbane), Michael Jennings (Penrith), Manu Vatuvei (NZ Warriors), Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers, capt), Cooper Cronk (Melbourne), Kade Snowden (Newcastle), Cameron Smith (Melbourne), Luke Bailey (Gold Coast), Nathan Hindmarsh (Parramatta), Dave Taylor (South Sydney), Paul Gallen (Cronulla).
Interchange: Adam Blair (Wests Tigers), Frank Pritchard (Canterbury), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Sydney Roosters), Tony Williams (Manly), Brent Tate (North Queensland).
Two coach's selections: Luke Lewis (Penrith), Ben Hornby (St George-Illawarra).
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, australia First posted January 19, 2012 14:42:56Tandy loses appeal over betting scandal
Former NRL player Ryan Tandy has lost an appeal against his conviction for match fixing.
Tandy was fined $4,000 and handed a 12-month good-behaviour bond in October for attempted fraud.
The former Bulldogs forward was found guilty of giving away a penalty to the Cowboys in 2010 in an attempt to make more than $100,000 for his associates.
In Sydney's District Court today Judge Laura Wells dismissed his appeal, saying there is no doubt he was trying to manipulate the match.
"The prosecution proved elements of the offence beyond reasonable doubt," Judge Wells said.
"Such is the strength of the circumstances in my view, the account of the appellant in that his actions were innocent and he had no knowledge of the betting plunge are rejected."
Judge Wells said Tandy was motivated by a debt of more than $30,000.
Tandy was handed a six-month non-custodial sentence last week for lying to the Crime Commission.
Tags: nrl, fraud-and-corporate-crime, corruption, courts-and-trials, sydney-2000 First posted January 19, 2012 15:42:39Chambers seals NRL deal to return to Storm
Will Chambers will return to his former NRL club Melbourne after a two-year dalliance with rugby union.
The tall centre has signed a three-year deal with the Storm, who the 23-year-old played 42 games with between 2007 and 2009 before switching codes to play with the Queensland Reds.
Chambers had a topsy-turvy stint in Brisbane, making a quick impression in his first season to be touted as a Wallabies contender before a shoulder injury halted his development.
However, on return from surgery, Chambers spent more time on the bench than on the field as the Reds swept to the Super Rugby title last year.
Chambers was subsequently released by the Reds and joined Irish club Munster on a short-term deal before the Storm's operations manager, Frank Ponissi, travelled to Limerick to discuss a return to Melbourne.
"I have been following Will's progress over the past two years and when I caught up with him in Limerick, it was clear he had a desire to come back to rugby league," said Ponissi.
"Pleasingly we (have completed) our 2012 roster, adding quality depth to our centre position with Dane Nielsen, Maurice Blair and Justin O'Neill."
Chambers, whose last game for Melbourne was in the 2009 grand final-winning team who beat Parramatta - a title later stripped due to the Storm's salary cap rorting - is excited to have sealed a long-term deal following the uncertainty of recent months.
"This was a very difficult decision with several things to consider," Chambers said.
"The overriding factor was a return to Melbourne to be coached by Craig (Bellamy) and being part of the Melbourne Storm culture once again."
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, rugby-union, sport, melbourne-3000, vic, brisbane-4000, qld, australia First posted January 19, 2012 13:58:33Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Judge stands down from Tandy appeal
The judge presiding over former NRL player Ryan Tandy's appeal against a match fixing conviction has disqualified herself from the case.
Tandy appeared confident as he faced Downing Centre District Court this morning, dressed in a dark business suit.
A simple cup of coffee led Justice Helen Murrell to announce she would be standing down from the case.
Justice Murrell made the decision after it was brought to her attention that she had been seated near Tandy and his lawyer when she had coffee this morning with a friend in the court's cafe.
Tandy was found guilty in October last year of trying to manipulate the first points scored in a game between the Canterbury Bulldogs and North Queensland Cowboys in August 2010.
The 30-year-old, then playing in the forwards for the Bulldogs, conceded a penalty early in the game that would have allowed an easy Cowboys penalty goal.
The option was heavily backed with bookmakers, but did not pay out because the Cowboys instead opted to take the tap and score a try.
Tandy was given a 12-month good behaviour bond and fined $4,000 for his role.
He is appealing against his conviction and the sentence.
Tags: sport, courts-and-trials, fraud-and-corporate-crime, nrl, rugby-league, sydney-2000, townsville-4810 First posted January 16, 2012 13:29:59Tandy escapes jail over NRL betting lies
Former rugby league player Ryan Tandy has escaped a jail sentence for lying to the New South Wales Crime Commission over the NRL betting scandal.
The 30-year-old faced sentencing in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court today after being found guilty in December of lying to the commission.
The former Canterbury Bulldogs player could have faced two years in prison, but Magistrate Claire Farnham instead gave Tandy a six-month intensive correction order.
The order can include community service, strict supervision and curfews.
Ms Farnham told the court the sentence needed to deter others from lying under oath, but she had also considered Tandy's prior good character and prospects of rehabilitation.
She warned Tandy he will go to jail if he breaches the order's conditions.
The commission was questioning him as part of its investigation into the betting scandal surrounding a 2010 NRL game between the Bulldogs and the North Queensland Cowboys.
The court found Tandy gave false evidence about placing bets with jockey manager John Shell.
Tandy had already been placed on a good behaviour bond and fined in October last year after being convicted of conspiring to obtain financial advantage for others.
That court found Tandy had tried to manipulate the first points scored in the game, played in Townsville in August 2010.
The then Bulldogs player conceded a penalty which gave the Cowboys the opportunity to kicked a penalty goal as the game's first points, an option that had been heavily backed with bookmakers.
The bets did not pay though, because the Cowboys instead opted to take the tap and score a try.
Tags: courts-and-trials, corruption, nrl, rugby-league, sport, sydney-2000, townsville-4810 First posted January 13, 2012 10:48:56David Williams cleared to play for Manly
Manly winger David Williams has been given the all clear to resume contact training, five months after suffering a serious neck injury in the NRL.
Williams fractured a vertebra in last year's Round 25 match against Melbourne at Brookvale Oval, ruling him out for the rest of the season.
After a number of weeks in a neck brace and some intensive rehabilitation, the 25-year-old was given the go ahead to start training again, the club said in a statement on Tuesday night.
"The surgeon told me I'm clear to start contact training and will be right to play if I get selected for the World Club Challenge," Williams said in the statement.
"I've been feeling okay for a while now.
"I've been training at a certain level and it'll be great to be able to take it to the next level."
The Sea Eagles do battle with Super League champions Leeds Rhinos in the World Club Challenge at Headingley on February 17.
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, brookvale-2100, manly-2095, nsw, australia First posted January 18, 2012 07:21:46Broncos re-sign five youngsters
The Brisbane Broncos have boosted their stocks by re-signing a handful of young guns who are set to lead them into the future.
Test winger Jharal Yow Yeh, Kiwi forward Alex Glenn, hooker Andrew McCullough, playmaker Ben Hunt and forward Dave Hala have all extended their contracts at the club.
Broncos chief executive Paul White hailed the announcement as a "great day" for the Broncos.
"We're absolutely thrilled that they have all signed upgraded and extended contracts with our club.
"These players are a large part of the core of the talent we have developed, and that we believe will take us into the next chapter of success for the Broncos."
Brisbane coach Anthony Griffin was particularly pleased as Yow Yeh, Glenn, McCullough and Hunt were all members of Brisbane's Toyota Cup outfit he guided to the 2008 grand final.
"The club has worked hard to give these guys the opportunity to play NRL football and they have proven their ability to compete in the best rugby league competition in the world," he said.
Yow Yeh, Glenn and McCullough have all signed three-year extensions until the end of 2015.
Hala has re-signed until the end of 2014 while Hunt, who is the leading contender to take retired great Darren Lockyer's number six jersey, has signed a one-year extension until the end 2013.
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, brisbane-4000, qld, australia First posted January 18, 2012 12:01:12Thursday, January 12, 2012
Campese in Emerging Blues squad
Canberra five-eighth Terry Campese heads a list of 23-players named by New South Wales coach Ricky Stuart for an Emerging Blues camp next week.
Campese, who made his sole State of Origin appearance in 2009, managed just one half of football last year before re-injuring the knee which ended his 2010 campaign.
The 27-year-old will be joined in the camp by Raiders team-mates Jarrod Croker, Blake Ferguson, Josh McCrone and Joel Thompson.
The camp gets underway next Friday at Coogee with Blues legends Glenn Lazarus and Steve Roach taking the players through a weekend of skills sessions, lectures and team-building activities.
Emerging NSW Blues squad: Terry Campese, Jarrod Croker, Blake Ferguson, Josh McCrone, Joel Thompson, Andrew Fifita, Luke Douglas, Ryan James, Darcy Lussick, Tony Williams, Ryan Hinchcliffe, Tariq Sims, Lachlan Coote, Michael Gordon, Tim Grant, Dan Hunt, Trent Merrin, Kyle Stanley, Joseph Leilua, James Maloney, Blake Ayshford, Tim Moltzen, Aaron Woods.
AAP
Tags: state-of-origin, rugby-league, sport, nsw, australia First posted January 12, 2012 12:21:30Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Slater's recovery ahead of schedule
Melbourne star Billy Slater is confident he will be ready for an NRL round one start after recovering from a smashed collarbone.
The Australia Test full-back hit the training track in Melbourne this week following surgery to insert a plate and screws after suffering the injury during the Kangaroos' Four Nations clash with England in November.
The 2011 Dally M medallist was able to complete all but full-contact training and believes he will be ready to take on Canberra in the Storm's season opener on March 3.
"I think I'm ahead of schedule at the moment," Slater said.
"I'm pretty happy with where the shoulder is at the moment and it's going good for round one."
Despite the extensive surgery, Slater says the injury has not given him a lot of pain and he did not believe it will affect his tackling style in the coming season.
"It hasn't scarred me yet, in those situations you've just got to put your body on the line so I can't see it changing my game too much.
"You've just got to get over it as quickly as you can and get out there and make a couple of tackles."
Cameron Smith and fellow Test representative Cooper Cronk also resumed training this week.
AAP
Tags: sport, rugby-league, nrl, melbourne-3000 First posted January 10, 2012 20:41:02Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Burgess ruled out of All Stars clash
South Sydney forward Sam Burgess will miss next month's NRL All Stars match after the Rabbitohs ruled he had not recovered sufficiently from an ankle injury.
Burgess endured a torrid 2011 campaign, injuring his shoulder in the season opener against Sydney Roosters in March and then sustaining a season-ending ankle injury that required surgery in May.
The problem forced the England international out of the Four Nations campaign in the United Kingdom late last year.
New Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire is desperate to have the 23-year-old available for the start of the new season and ordered him to withdraw from being available for selection for the team that will face the Indigenous All Stars on the Gold Coast on February 4.
Burgess is currently the top-ranked Rabbitohs player, marginally ahead of David Taylor in overall votes for the one South Sydney position on the team.
Michael Crocker will now replace Burgess as one of the four Rabbitohs short-listed players in the 64-man list.
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, redfern-2016 First posted January 09, 2012 17:18:04Monday, January 9, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
NTRL floats idea of move from Richardson Park
The Northern Territory Rugby League says it will consider moving from its traditional home ground to a more sustainable stadium.
NTRL general manager John Mitchell says Richardson Park in the Darwin suburb of Ludmilla is "tired" and in need of repairs and upgrading.
He says the NTRL is preparing a submission to the Northern Territory Government on whether it should move to better facilities like those at the Marrara sports complex.
"The NT government could well come back to us and say, 'We'll assist you financially to bring the stadium back up to a level'," he said.
"That is one option.
"Obviously, other option is relocation, but relocation to a new facility is going to take considerable time."
There were poor crowd numbers for games at Richardson Park last season.
Mr Mitchell says the venue is having minor upgrades, including renovation of the kitchen and canteen area.
"I would love to see a bitumenised car park but, of course, there is no point in spending $200,000 on a facility if we are moving in 12 months' time," he said.
Tags: rugby-league, community-organisations, sports-organisations, ludmilla-0820, marrara-0812, darwin-0800 First posted January 06, 2012 12:57:14Ennis rates Hasler as Bennett's equal
Six weeks into their union and already Canterbury captain Michael Ennis rates Des Hasler alongside NRL super coach Wayne Bennett.
Hasler arrived at Belmore in November following an acrimonious departure from Manly, the club he guided to a second NRL premiership just a month earlier.
And Ennis made it clear on Friday that Hasler has quickly made a big impression, with the hooker predicting the next few years will be a special time for the club.
"He's a special man. I've been coached by some good coaches and he's certainly at the top of the list with those guys," Ennis said.
It is quite the accolade given 27-year-old Ennis has played under the likes of Bennett at Brisbane, Craig Bellamy and Ricky Stuart for NSW and Laurie Daley for NSW Country after starting his career at Newcastle under Michael Hagan.
"He's a very, very impressive person other than a coach," Ennis said.
"It's just great to see his work ethic around the club and his passion towards where he wants to take this team.
"I think that's building a lot of enthusiasm around the club."
Before leaving Manly, Hasler was considered a Sea Eagle through and through after spending almost all of his playing and coaching career at the club.
But despite still living on Sydney's northern beaches, Ennis believes Hasler has already embraced life at the Bulldogs.
"It's a culture that's really suited him, to be honest," the hooker said.
"It's very similar to Manly, I suppose, with all the history that both sides have had.
"They're both known as hard-working, tough clubs and at times disliked by a lot of fans."
Ennis said the combination of a new state-of-the-art facility at Belmore and the staff Hasler brought with him was helping the new coach to get the best from players.
"For me personally, in the middle of my career, I think under a coach like Des and his staff he's got there, it's going to be a time I'll look back on and remember how much I enjoyed it.
"You can just feel that you'll know that you've done everything possible.
"He doesn't leave any stone unturned in terms of your preparation and that's something the whole group will thrive on."
Ennis was reluctant, though, to promise Bulldogs fans instant premiership success under Hasler after the side missed the finals for the past two years.
"A lot needs to go into a premiership," he said.
"I saw what was required in 2006 with Brisbane and you need a lot of things to fall your way as well as a lot of hard work.
"The latter we're covering but it's a long season and there's a lot of good sides in this competition.
"But I'm certainly confident with the group that we've got that we can be very competitive.
"There's a belief more so than an expectation now, knowing that you've got a guy like Des who is so passionate and hard-working at the forefront of us.
"I just think the next few years are going to be a special time for the club."
AAP
Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, new-zealand First posted January 06, 2012 18:40:39Thursday, January 5, 2012
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Monday, January 2, 2012
SBW on verge of NRL return: report
All Black Sonny Bill Williams is reportedly considering joining the Sydney Roosters in 2013 for double the pay he left rugby league for in 2008.
Williams is on the verge of signing a $4 million five-year deal to return to the NRL with the Roosters, The Sunday Telegraph reported.
An agreement was all but finalised over a breakfast meeting in Circular Quay in Sydney on Saturday with Roosters chairman Nick Politis and Channel Nine executive David Gyngell.
Williams was a member of the All Blacks team that won the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
He has a one-season deal with rugby union Super 15 franchise Waikato Chiefs but there has been speculation he will return to league.
He will join the Roosters in 2013 on $800,000 a season, double what he was on when he walked out on the Bulldogs in 2008 to join Toulon in French rugby union, The Telegraph reported.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that a clause in his deed of release from the Bulldogs prohibits him from playing with a rival NRL club until this year.
The All Blacks midfielder is also taking on veteran fighter Richard Tutaki for the vacant New Zealand heavyweight belt on February 8.
AAP
Tags: sport, rugby-league, nrl, rugby-union, australia, nsw, bondi-junction-2022, new-zealand First posted January 01, 2012 11:11:43