SBW urges Cooper to switch codes

Updated September 02, 2012 17:47:22

All Blacks centre Sonny Bill Williams says he is trying to convince mercurial Wallaby Quade Cooper to join him in a switch to the NRL.

Williams announced that he would return to rugby league, his old stomping ground, earlier this year after a season with Japanese rugby union side Panasonic Wild Knights, and is heavily rumoured to be joining Sydney Roosters.

The 27-year-old, also New Zealand's heavyweight boxing champion, says he is trying to lure Australia's Cooper to join him in the code switch, with the divisive fly half under a cloud after last month's thrashing by the All Blacks.

"If people are saying he is not wanted in rugby ... if they think he is not good enough to be playing for Australia then I would love to lure him across to rugby league for a year," Williams told Sydney's Sunday Telegraph newspaper.

"I will try. I would definitely love to play alongside him. I think he would be a success - I have spoken to him about it."

Cooper, 24, has been under heavy scrutiny since his inconsistent performance at last year's World Cup, which culminated in a serious knee injury that sidelined him for much of the 2012 Super Rugby season.

The polarising New Zealand-born playmaker was relentlessly booed during the tournament by Kiwi fans who accused him of taking cheap shots at All Blacks captain Richie McCaw.

He was not selected for Australia's first Bledisloe Cup match against New Zealand last month, and had few opportunities despite running on in the second match in Auckland, which the All Blacks won with a crushing 22-0 victory.

Williams says Cooper's skill set is "definitely right up there at the top ... in terms of running, off-loads, kicking" were he to switch to league.

"I don't have to make a case for him, you just have to click on YouTube to see what he is capable of," he said.

"He is such a great talent that he cops a lot of stick, especially in New Zealand. A lot of people have a go at him, but I think that's because he is their biggest threat," he said.

"It is more of a compliment than anything."

AFP

Tags: nrl, rugby-league, sport, rugby-union, australia, new-zealand

First posted September 02, 2012 17:47:22

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Footy codes hail Optus decision

Luke Pentony

Updated April 27, 2012 14:17:59

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou says the Federal Court's ruling that Optus has breached copyright law in broadcasting near live AFL and NRL matches is a victory for Australian sport.

The full bench of the Federal Court of Appeal granted an appeal this morning launched by the AFL, NRL and Telstra against a previous decision that had allowed Optus to broadcast near live matches on its TV Now service.

The Federal Court ruling, handed down in February, had allowed Optus users to watch AFL and NRL fixtures via video streams on mobile devices as close to two minutes behind the live TV broadcast.

The court had ruled that it was the user, as the subscriber, and not Optus who was responsible for streaming the coverage.

The AFL and NRL appealed the decision, arguing it devalued their broadcast rights details. Telstra also appealed, in light of the fact it paid more than $150 million for the right to stream AFL matches on the internet.

The Federal Court of Appeal stated today it was Optus, as well as the user, who was responsible for the recording of matches and therefore it had breached copyright law.

Demetriou says it is not just the AFL who has walked away as a winner following the Federal Court's decision.

"The decision was unanimous, it was clear-cut," he said.

"It was a relief, not just for the AFL but I'm sure for all sporting codes, who rely heavily on these rights and the revenue which come from these rights, which we all plough back into our codes.

"Whether that [is] through the codes itself, facilities, grassroots programs, development. These are significant revenues, which we all rely on and I think today's decision is certainly a win for all sports in this country."

Demetriou feels the AFL is vindicated by today's decision, although he admits the league had experienced some anxious moments.

"The fact we've had to go through two court cases with considerable expense hasn't been a pleasant time," he said.

"The uncertainty hasn't been pleasant, but we were always confident that this decision would come down today because we believe we were right.

"We believe it protects content holders, we believe the copyright act has now withstood this action by Optus and I think we can all move forward and continue to invest in our codes."

Demetriou says Optus' behaviour was "reprehensible" and he has called on the telecommunications rival to "concentrate on their core business".

"I've said previously that I thought Optus' behaviour was unethical, I thought it was improper, inappropriate," he said.

"They've never engaged with the AFL in relation to our rights. I don't plan in the future that they would and it will be a long time before we speak to Optus."

Demetriou says Optus will have think "very carefully about challenging the decision", suggesting an appeal will prove "costly".

Optus spokeswoman Clare Gill says her organisation may proceed with an appeal to the High Court.

"We have to look at all our options, which will include an appeal," she said.

The Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) has also welcomed today's ruling, as it looks to negotiate its next broadcast deal and take advantage of its solid TV ratings.

"We have always believed there was a clear principle in play here: that the sports are entitled to control who shows their events and who profits from those events," ARLC chief executive David Gallop said in a statement.

"Companies should not be able to profit from our content without investing in the sport itself."

Tags: australian-football-league, sport, rugby-league, nrl, australia

First posted April 27, 2012 13:29:06

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Codes divided on response to gambling

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Australian Broadcasting Corporation

Broadcast: 05/06/2011

Reporter: Barrie Cassidy

The NRL is cracking down on betting during games but the AFL believes this would send betting underground.

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Footy codes move to keep gambling in check

Published:Sunday, May 22, 2011 7:03 AESTExpires:Saturday, August 20, 2011 7:03 AEST

The four Australian football codes have launched an advertising campaign to encourage awareness of the issues associated with gambling in sport.

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Tags: family-and-children, gambling, federal-government, federal-state-issues, advertising, law-crime-and-justice, australian-football-league, rugby-league, rugby-union, football, australia, adelaide-5000, melbourne-3000

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Rugby League Memorabilia Affected As Karmichael Hunt Switches Codes

The Rugby League Memorabilia machinery will probably shift into overdrive this year with the much publicized transfer of Karmichael Hunt, currently of the Brisbane Broncos, to AFL Gold Coast Football Club.

This is an unprecedented move, the first time in Australian Rugby that a player has changed codes from Rugby League to Australian Rules Football. It is a very significant move, and if it is successful, (and there is every reason to suspect that it will be), It could signal the beginning of a future period of more raiding from Rugby League in the months and years to come.

Broncos signed Hunt, voiced self doubts regarding his ability to be able to transfer his League skills to those needed for AFL, and still remain at top flight player; but a recent trail he undertook has done much to quell his fears. GCFC scouts and training staff firmly believe that he will make the transition smoothly, and with a lot of hard work and dedication, relatively easily.

In terms of the memorabilia industry its very much a first for them too, and it opens up opportunities to both the Rugby League in general and the Brisbane Broncos in particular. Broncos signed Hunt, is set to complete the transfer to Gold Coast Football Club is May 2010 until when he is expected to play in Rugby Union.

Hunts talents will be sorely missed by the Broncos and it remains to be seen what effect (if any) this move will have on his future International playing career with the Kangaroos.

There will be an undoubted rush to snap up whatsoever memorabilia is being planned for the occasion, be it signed shirts and shorts, or some signed match balls. Online memorabilia specialists , are scheduled to be busy boys. You want a memorabilia company that specializes for many sports including soccer, NRL memorabilia, Boxing, Cricket, Gold, and of course Rugby League memorabilia. As demand for Rugby League memorabilia runs very high normally, what with the up and coming transfer of the Broncos signed Hunt, you would be well advised to consider placing any order before their stocks of products runs out.

League memorabilia is very much in demand at the best of times. This up and coming transfer is likely to spark a feeding frenzy. A lot of Rugby fans love to buy memorabilia to commemorate special occasions anyway. Special matches, special events, and extra special players are all good reasons for the ownership of memorabilia. Fans take a great pride in that they have been able to collect, and are always on the look out for new occasions that will offer further opportunities to expand their collections.

Rugby league memorabilia is due to add a new chapter to its history with the transfer of Broncos signed Karmichael Hunt to AFL Gold Coast Football club.

If all goes well, Rugby Leagues loss is going to be AFL and GCFS gain, but it is hoped he will grace the ranks of the Kangaroos on many occasions in the future. Good luck Karmichael Hunt. If you are looking at Rugby League Memorabilia then Framed4U is your first stop. They have not only current teams but the specialize in the greats of the game as well. Framed4U have ready to buy Sports Memorabilia across a whole range of sports.