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Do or diet attitude changes Sandow

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 19 April 2014 | 22.07

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THE secret is in the Tupperware tucked inside the bag Chris Sandow carries to training each day.

Not so long ago, everybody's favourite halfback would've done almost anything to smuggle a bag of hot chips through the back gate of Pirtek Stadium.

But four weeks prior to Christmas last year, Sandow had to make a decision.

This was a decision that meant a lot more than just football.

JOHNS: EELS AND SANDOW THE REAL DEAL

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It was the type of call young fathers make late at night. when your only conscious thought is the four kids sleeping in the bedroom down the hall.

Do I waste this opportunity because of a few poor life choices, or do I become a man and change the lives of those four kids forever?

Any rugby league fan who has witnessed the most heartwarming sports story of 2014 unfold over the past three weeks knows the answer.

In late November, with reports the $550,000 halfback — who had been forced to overcome gambling issues through counselling — was being shopped to rival clubs, new Eels coach Brad Arthur informed Sandow it would be Luke Kelly who would begin the NRL season in the famous blue and gold No 7 jersey.

Chris Sandow's form improvement is a result of his individual focus and determination. Source: Getty Images

Arthur gave it to Sandow straight. His fitness, his defence and areas of his attack were the three focal points which the coach wasn't ­satisfied with.

Sandow decided the first thing he would change was his diet. Instead of shuffling off after training to the Eels player's favourite cafe on Church St, he began packing his own lunch — healthy alternatives in Tupperware.

It was a crucial shift away from the old shortcut Sandow.

His training improved as he ripped into extra sessions with the Eels. And he never stopped smiling.

That was what impressed the Eels staff most. The desire was dialled in but the larrikin, the lighthearted and infectious character that every footy club craves remained.

Even in those first three rounds of the season, when Sandow stepped out to play in the NSW Cup for Wentworthville in front of 120 people, the 25-year-old found a reason to laugh.

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NRL indigenous welfare officer Dean Widders is a close confidant of Sandow's.

They chat most weeks, but one conversation last month in particular, Widders will never forget.

"It was a funny conversation I had with him," Widders said. "He was telling me how happy he was and it was then that I thought 'you know, if this guy is happy then when he gets into first grade he's going to produce some good form.'

"I was sort of worried that he would have his head down playing reserve grade, but he didn't at all.

"He was like, 'I'm looking forward to playing every week, I'm killing them here bro, killing them in reserve grade.'

"I knew then it wouldn't be long until he was back.''

Dean Widders says Sandow has matured and is happier in his life. Source: News Corp Australia

Once aloof, distant and seemingly lacking self-pride, Sandow has matured into the role-model he never thought he would be, according to ­Widders.

Widders, who like Sandow played first grade for South Sydney and Parramatta, pointed to a three-week stint in September last year at a private rehabilitation clinic as life-changing, not only for Sandow, but the entire Aboriginal ­community.

"You know, I wasn't worried about Chrissy at that time because it's always so positive to see some of our own indigenous boys getting that help. Reaching out,'' Widders said.

"A lot of them come from tough areas and tough upbringings. And they're not too worried if they have to go back to that.

"It's about them realising that they are in a pretty privileged position to do something positive and make a change. It's not until you get older and you realise that I can make a difference to the people where I come from.

"I think Chrissy went through that stuff and he sees that with his own kids, wanting them to be proud of who they are. Sometimes it's a brave thing to do. Especially when your life is in the spotlight. Everyone hears about it and talks about it, but Chrissy has never been a bad kid.

Sandow has been given a second chance by Parramatta and thrived. Source: Getty Images

"He's never been a hurtful person.

"All it was that he had a bit of an issue with gambling and while it's a serious issue, it was about teaching him some life skills around how to deal with that and plan ahead so that he could provide for ­himself and his family.''

When Arthur made the decision to recall Sandow to the top grade in round four against Penrith, his first NRL match in eight months, the coach did so completely aware that not everything the playmaker did would turn to gold.

He knew there would be moments in a match that Sandow would overplay his hand, or fall off a tackle.

But like life, rugby league is about second chances and rewarding those who answer the challenges in front of them.

Sandow got his NRL ticket back because he did what his coach asked him to last ­November.

Now, for Sandow, it's about staying there.


22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Buzz: Roos big guns call on Benny

Wayne Bennett has passed on his advice to FFA boss David Gallop and Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou ahead of the World Cup in Brazil. Source: FoxSports

WAYNE Bennett has done the lot in rugby league. Seven premierships at the Broncos and Dragons, coached the Kangaroos, Kiwis, Queensland and the All-Stars.

Now he's helping out with the Socceroos for their fast approaching World Cup campaign in Brazil.

On Thursday our spies spotted Bennett having lunch with Australia's coach Ange Postecoglou and soccer boss David Gallop.

In the rarefied air at the top of professional sports, there are pressures and challenges that only those in the big jobs can understand.

The lunch was organised by Gallop, who has the odd stoush with Bennett in his rugby league days.

Bennett's history of winning big matches and premierships fits neatly with Ange's thinking.

The Knights coach's renowned ability to constantly regenerate his coaching set up and playing roster would no doubt help Postecoglou in the difficult choices he has to make in picking a World Cup squad.

Who will ever forget Bennett sacking Wally Lewis at the Broncos in 1989.

Now Postecoglou has a similar tough decision to make with his skipper Lucas Neil.

We contacted Bennett to get more detail about what was discussed over lunch but he declined to comment.

■ ■

After the lunch, Bennett visited his stricken Knights player Alex McKinnon in the spinal unit at Royal North Shore Hospital.

Half a dozen Knights players were there too. McKinnon is doing well and making slow improvement.

However it's still too early to determine the long term prognosis.

New Fox Sports presenter Tara Rushton. Picture: Toby Zerna Source: News Limited

TARA HITTING FEVER PITCH

THE face of the Fox Sports 'Kick off' show Tara Rushton has taken the big leap from pundit to player.

Rushton has signed up with a grassroots club and now spends Sunday afternoons honing her skills.

The former model has improved out of sight as a media performer and has wowed audiences since joining Fox Sports for this season's A-League coverage.

Russell Packer's former Warriors teammates have visited him in jail. Source: News Limited

WARRIORS GO BUSH TO VISIT PACKER IN PRISON

Russell Packer's former New Zealand Warriors team mates have visited him in jail.

The players hired a car after the recent loss to the Cronulla Sharks to drive to the prison at an undisclosed country town.

Packer last week won an appeal against the severity of his two-year sentence and is up for parole in January.

TEST TICKETS AT THE RIGHT PRICE

THERE'S not many sporting codes where you can see a TEST match for the price of three coffees.

We found these $12.50 tickets on the livingsocial.com website to sit in the Kiwi supporter's bay for the Test against the Kangaroos on May 2.

Good on the NRL for reacting to the fans' concerns and making the game so affordable.

CHOC WILL FIND STRENGTH TO FIGHT ON

Anthony Mundine says he will fight on. Source: News Corp Australia

ANTHONY Mundine has confirmed he will not retire from boxing. Instead he will probably move up a division where he can fight more comfortably as a middleweight.

"I can't go out like that," Mundine said of his loss to Joshua Clottey, "It was one of my poorest performances. I want to go out on my terms.

"It's taken a toll on my body fighting at super welterweight. I don't have the strength.

"I could put a few more pounds on and move to middleweight. I know I've got more to offer.

"I'll take to my team over the next few weeks and we'll come up with a plan but I definitely want to keep fighting."

GALLOP'S THE MAN TO DRAW A CROWD

FOOD for thought … rugby league crowds have plummeted by close to 20 per cent since the great John Grant sacked David Gallop as CEO.

At the same time soccer's A League crowds have risen by more than 30 per cent since Gallop took charge.

The NRL said goodbye to another of Gallop's old executive staff, Shane Mattiske, at a farewell at The Clock Hotel in Surry Hills on Wednesday night.

RAIDERS REQUEST REF BAN

THE Canberra Raiders have written to the NRL requesting that video referee and former interim coach Andrew Dunemann not be appointed to their games.

There is bad blood between the two parties following accusations Dunemann has approached two Raiders players about the possibility of joining a rival club.

Dunemann knows the contract details of all Canberra players from his time as Dave Furner's assistant. CEO Don Furner has written to the NRL's head of football Todd Greenberg about the situation.

SAINT

A FEAST of fabulous Easter sport with the big races at Randwick, a couple of NRL blockbusters at ANZ Stadium and the A-league finals.

SINNER

THE sad departure of Wests Tigers tragic Barry O'Farrell over a bottle of grog, albeit an expensive one. Never has this state had a premier who cared so much about rugby league.

The stars of Monday Night with Matty Johns. Source: Supplied

WINNER

MATTY Johns is on fire with his Monday night show on Fox Sports. Last week's show, which followed the Storm-Dragons thriller, was the highest rating show in Fox Sports history outside of live sports broadcasts. CEO Patrick Delaney and program director Gary Burns were spotted celebrating the figures in a Los Angeles bar on the way home from the U.S. Masters. Typically, Johns palmed off the credit to Gorden Tallis, Nathan Hindmarsh and Bryan Fletcher.

SHOOSH

WHO is the rookie coach so paranoid about leaks getting out of his club that he's threatened to check the phone records of his staff? The same coach also had the girlfriend of one of his player's take down a Facebook post congratulating her man for being named in first grade because he didn't want the opposition to know.

SPOTTED

TEST coach Tim Sheens, holding a Storm cap, deep in conversation with his former Raiders five-eighth Craig Bellamy, long after Monday night's controversial Storm-Dragons game.

ANIMAL ACT

FREDDY Fittler wanted his City Origin team to stay at the Western Plains Zoo in the build-up to the match against Country in Dubbo next month. The fear of 17 elite footy stars sleeping so close to lions, tigers and snakes was too much for NRL officials who chose a local motel instead.

WHISTLEBLOWER

ONE TAB punter loved the refereeing blunder which cost the Dragons victory on Monday night. He (or she) had a 16-leg multi needing Storm to win. The outlay — $5, The collect $11,126.90.

GEM STONED

CHANNEL Nine is no longer showing live NRL on Friday night's into Adelaide on digital channel GEM, much to the disgust of NSW and QLD expats now living in South Australia.

All they get is a replay after midnight.

TACKLE COUNTS

We're loving this new line of footy merchandise — NRL undies produced by a company called Balls & Tackles. That's me modelling the Sharks XL version. I wish. You can find the full range at www.nrlundies.com.au


22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

NRL’s study shows ban won’t work

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ON level one of the NRL's headquarters at Moore Park, a small team of four analysts have spent six weeks bunkered down in front of monitors, working around the clock to scrutinise every tackle that has occurred since round one.

Following the devastating spinal injury to Newcastle's Alex McKinnon — and amid pressure to ban the lifting tackle, three-man tackles or both — the task was met with a simple directive: show us the research that proves why the NRL should change the fabric of rugby league forever.

News Limited can reveal the data behind one of the biggest issues in the game. In conjunction with the NRL's official statistics partner, Prozone, the NRL's own operations team assessed almost 12,000 tackles from rounds one to five.

Todd Greenberg says a blanket lifting tackle ban isn't the answer. Source: News Limited

From the study, the statistics indicated:

In rounds one to five, there were 11,977 tackles and, of these, 3606 involved more than two tacklers;

The number of three-man lifting tackles have decreased by 46 per cent from round one (63) to round five (34);

One-on-one tackles represent the greatest percentage (20 per cent) of potentially dangerous tackles;

Two-man tackles are the most common, representing half of all tackles and responsible for the most lifting tackles.

Six per cent of three-man tackles involve lifting

Jack de Belin received a one-match suspension for this tackle on Sam Burgess. Source: News Corp Australia

The research is a code-breaker for the NRL, who has never before dedicated this level of critique and in-depth research into how the game is played.

The NRL now have the ability to enforce rule changes and tackle necessary issues with the supportive data in front of them.

The League has finally caught up to what every NRL club has had at their fingertips for almost a decade where individual tackles were broken up into one, two and three man tackles.

For the purpose of the study, a tackle by definition is when a defender, or number of defenders tackle an opposing player.

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A tackle was also numbered after an offload occurred or when a penalty was awarded during a tackle.

Each tackle was then qualified as "controlled" or "potentially dangerous".

After consultation with the NRL's match review committee, a lifting tackle was classified when a player was positioned past the horizontal and therefore was considered as dangerous.

Over the past month, NRL head of football Todd Greenberg has repeatedly stated publicly that any rule changes or bans would not be meted out until the game had the necessary information and data in front of them.

Cronulla's Ben Pomeroy is on the receiving end of this one against The Raiders. Source: News Limited

With the numbers now in front of him, Greenberg said the NRL would continue to make decisions based on research and facts.

"What the analysis shows is that there is no simple answer. This is a contact sport with multiple moving parts and applications,'' Greenberg said.

"Making blanket decisions that are really prescriptive doesn't work.

"Because it doesn't answer your fundamental problem, you would just be moving a problem from one area to another. We're not going to make decisions in relation to the rules until we have done the work required.

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"We will then consult with our clubs and players to ensure we have all the facts in front of us.

"If we had made a decision immediately then people would've criticised us for being reactionary and we would've created another problem elsewhere.

"The only reason why you would ban the three-man tackle or lifting tackles is if it would significantly change the way injuries are applied and it is obvious from the analysis that is not the case.

"We will continue make reasoned and measured decisions based on facts and data and we will make them with the game's best interests at heart."


22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Riewoldt, Saints stun Bombers

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EVEN in this era of multi-option forward set-ups, nothing beats a viable tall target.

St Kilda ace Nick Riewoldt emphasised the value of that forward pillar to lead his team to glory on Saturday night.

The hard-working Saint set a new club record with his five goals in the 16 points win against a weary Essendon at Etihad Stadium.

Riewoldt's second goal of the match-turning haul launched him past former teammate Stephen Milne's 357 as the highest goalscorer at the Docklands venue.

Jack Billings kicked two goals in his first full game of AFL. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: News Corp Australia

Essendon, in contrast, had no-one who could latch onto the end of the inside 50 entries, with onballer Brent Stanton the leading goalkicker after being sent forward in the last quarter.When Riewoldt goalled from a strong, contested mark for the second time in the third quarter, it underlined the value of a viable forward target.

The Saints at that stage had 10 marks inside the forward 50, while Bomber trio Joe Daniher, Jake Carlisle and Kyle Hardingham had managed only three between them.

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Aside from being unable to contain the Saints' skipper under the high balls, the Bombers paid the ultimate price for untidy turnovers, several that couldn't be attributed to St Kilda's admirable defensive pressure.

It's difficult to allow Essendon the excuse of fatigue from the six-days break after enduring the sapping heat in Perth last weekend. Particularly when the Bombers finished the stronger with two late goals from Stanton given them the faint hope of a late flurry to snatch the game away.

Essendon's abled-bodied options were compounded when Heath Hocking had to be subbed out of the game with a hand injury midway through the third term.

Brent Stanton celebrates a goal but it wasn't enough for Essendon. Picture: George Salpigtidis Source: News Corp Australia

Only when the contest opened up on tired legs from midway through the third quarter did it liven up as a spectacle.

Most of the first half was played, fittingly, between the 50m arcs where the white lines were still visible from the soccer pitch for the Melbourne Victory-Sydney game the previous night.

It looked like Essendon by how far after a stunning start with the first three goals from the early control of the momentum and ball.

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St Kilda didn't go inside the forward 50 for nearly 10 minutes mid-term as the Saints pressed back in numbers to try to contain the dominant Bombers.

And it was only an errant Cale Hooker handpass on the dockside wing that released Jack Billings to fire a left foot shot on the run after 17 minutes for the Saints only goal of that lopsided opening term.

Essendon had five straight goals by quarter time, two in bizarre circumstances.

Nick Riewoldt gives off a handball in front of Brent Stanton. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

Leroy Jetta's toe poke out of James Gwilt's hands on the goalline was granted after a video review.

Ruckman Paddy Ryder then grabbed the ball from a boundary throw-in deep in the forward pocket, threw it onto the boot and watched it take a wicked right angle bounce to roll across the unguarded goalline.

Riewoldt managed just one touch in the first quarter, such was Essendon's monopoly in its forward half of the ground. But he kick-started the Saints' fightback when he converted from an Adam Schneider pass early in the second term.

Jobe Watson gets a handball out under immense pressure from St Kilda. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia

The rest of that quarter was studded with horrendous errors from players on both teams, often prompted by the desperate pressure in this defence-dominated contest.It was virtually 20 minutes of scoreboard stalemate in the second term before an Essendon turnover in the centre square eventually allowed Riewoldt to run into an open goal.

And the Saints were right back in the match after the Bombers messed up a kickout, gifting Jarryn Geary a goal on the run two minutes later in time-on that deadlocked the scores.

St Kilda's late flurry just before half-time at least left fans to ponder which team had the superior collective energy and conversion 'skills in an intriguing second half.


22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Johns: Eels and Sandow the real deal

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 17 April 2014 | 22.07

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THE NRL are pleased. For the first time in a number of seasons some of Sydney's most important heartland teams are firing, or at the very least, showing enough improvement to suggest finals football is a real possibility.

The season is starting to take shape and true form is being established, so let's run the rule over the Sydney sides and rate their prospects.

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THE BULLDOGS

Have simplified their style and returned to a more direct, aggressive brand of football. Last year there was far too much passing for passing's sake amongst the forwards and they were frighteningly short on punch.

Are they capable of winning this competition?

If Sam Kasiano comes back into the team and gets back to 2012 form, it will provide a huge boost, however the Dogs appear one playmaker short and although I can see a top 4 finish, I believe they lack the attacking potency to win the whole thing.

Luke Brooks has six weeks to prove he can full in for Robbie Farah. Source: Getty Images

WEST TIGERS

After their 2005 Premiership win, the Tigers, year by year, moved further away from the basic fundamentals required to win big games.

When Mick Potter was bought in he recognised this but inherited a side that was either unable to change or refused to.

With Benji Marshall as the focal point of their attack, the Tigers were predictably sideways.

Marshall's move to rugby has forced change. The Tigers have rediscovered direct, aggressive football and power running.

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As a result Robbie Farah has been in career-best form and Luke Brooks, on the back of forward momentum, has the time and space to show he's a champion of the not-too-distant future.

What next?

The six-week injury to Robbie Farah is a huge test. But if the Tigers' forwards continue to rip, tear and dominate, this period could be the making of Luke Brooks.

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MANLY

Gonna take a lot of stopping again. Paul Gallen rates them as the toughest team in the competition, and that toughness, combined with the class they have in crucial positions has kept them as a premiership contender since 2007.

Have the best halves in the competition, which carries any side a long way.

What could go wrong?

The Stewart brothers' contract negotiations has the potential to be an issue that could derail their season. I'm told Glenn has his head around the probability of being elsewhere next year, but Brett is seriously hurting and has made it clear, if Glenn goes, he will follow.

Chris Sandow's return to form has been one this season's great sights. Source: News Corp Australia

PARRAMATTA

Brad Arthur has only taken six weeks to prove he is a very, very good head coach. Parramatta's Round 2 hammering at the hands of the Roosters could've spelled disaster for a team desperate for confidence.

Instead it's acted as a positive turning point. Since that loss the Eels have been fantastic. Their defence is well organised and gritty and their attack a breath of fresh air in a competition where too many teams try to attack the same way.

The resurrection of Parramatta and Chris Sandow is one of the major stories of 2014 so far.

Can they make the Finals?

Did you see them beat the Roosters last week? Of course they can. How they fare with injuries and the loss of Hayne during Origin will be telling.

South Sydney are looking forward to Luke Keary's return. Source: News Limited

SOUTH SYDNEY

Have had a bumpy start to the year but recent signs are good.

There have been rumours of in-house fighting and a bit of player division. Do I think there's any truth to those rumours?

There's some truth in there somewhere. Even in the most successful sides personality battles often take place. The crucial thing is that these issues can be resolved and watching Souths play over the last two weeks tells me, these issues are behind them.

Have Souths got what it takes to win the comp?

I picked them to win the comp before Round 1 and I'm even more confident now.

The extra speed in the rucks caught them by surprise in the early rounds, but recently they've played a more direct, momentum-based game rather than the structure, which made them look slow and laborious. Luke Keary returns in the back half of the year and expect big things.

Gareth Widdop has proven a great acquisition for the Dragons. Source: Getty Images

DRAGONS

One of the competitions most improved sides, who deserve a better ladder position than ninth. Last Monday night must've been devastating for all involved. Rarely has a side been so dudded, a complete embarrassment for the NRL.

But even the Dragons will admit, it's a game they should've won regardless. Their nervousness in the closing stages, in trying to protect their lead, shows a side yet to fully rediscover that real confidence, after several disappointing years.

How far can they go?

They are certainly capable of sneaking into the eight, they do a lot of things very well. They are however, a quality playmaker short. Gareth Whiddop has made a huge difference and Glenn Stewart, with his skill, toughness and winning nature, would be an ideal signing for next season.

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PENRITH

A very tough squad. Like the Titans, they've developed a style that makes them difficult to play and that's going to carry them a long way.

Ivan Cleary has recruited a squad which is a nice blend of experience and youthful confidence.

How far can they go?

I'll be very surprised if they miss the top eight. Last weeks loss to Souths could be a positive catalyst, given that it's a match that showed them some areas they need to address. Their attack under pressure was too sideways and giving away crucial penalties against the top teams gets punished.

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ROOSTERS

Like Souths, have been caught off-guard by how the speeding up of the rucks has meant bigger side; unless they adjust, they will be disadvantaged.

Last year they were the most penalised side in the comp, but they still managed to come out on top. This year the penalties are catching up with them and they need to really address this area.

Alarm Bells?

Not yet. There's too much class in this squad for them not to come good — however they are finding out how difficult the Premiers tag is. Regardless of where they sit on the ladder throughout this season, they will face an opposition primed and well prepared to take them down.

The Sharks season appears to be going from bad to worse. Source: Getty Images

CRONULLA

Find themselves in an awful position. A club ravaged by injury, down in confidence and looking as though the ASADA saga has finally taken its toll.

Best result

One way or another the Cronulla Sharks deserve to be told the ASADA findings, then at least they can move forward and get on with the job of playing football. They are playing poorly but it's hard to be critical of the players; it must be nigh impossible to get up for games.


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Maroons plotting south of the border

Queensland's Sydney-based players start the State of Origin planning at Paddington Bowls Club. Source: Stephen Cooper / News Corp Australia

NO five-star hotels or expensive harbour cruises here.

Queensland look to have gone back to grassroots in their quest for an unprecedented ninth straight State of Origin series win.

Maroons coach Mal Meninga organised a quiet dinner for their Sydney-based stars on Wednesday night at Paddington Bowling Club, known as Paddo Bowls.

The mood was relaxed and the conversation light as Queensland started to plot yet another series win. Some of the big stars in attendance included South Sydney's Greg Inglis, Newcastle's Darius Boyd and Manly's Daly Cherry-Evans.

Others who attended included Dane Gagai, Korbin Sims, Brenton Lawrence, Chris McQueen, Dave Tyrrell, Ben Lowe, Pat O'Hanlon, Moses Mbye, Kevin Kingston, James Segeyaro and Tom Humble.

Queensland will continue their relaxed Origin build-up at the Sanctuary Cove Resort. Source: News Corp Australia

Meninga was also there along with former Queensland champions Adrian Lam and Mark Coyne.

"It wasn't just Origin players — it was for any Queenslander living in Sydney," Coyne said. "It makes them feel part of the Origin experience if they come into the team.

"The main thing was to get together, have some fun and get to know each other."

Comedian Carl Barron was also spotted at the Queensland meeting.

"We do it each year," Meninga said. "It's an annual get-together for our Sydney-based Origin people."

Lawrence was thrilled to have been invited. "I am a Queenslander and always consider Queensland home," he said. "Every kid dreams of playing Origin and I would love to do it.''


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Pom pair to make it a long Good Friday

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SAM Burgess and James Graham, swapping yarns over a pot of tea.

Can you see it? No, neither could we.

Yet when it comes to one of the great NRL rivalries — a 220kg collision of pasty English flesh — Burgess insists it all comes down to cups of Earl Grey.

"Jammer, he's great at making a brew,'' the Rabbitohs enforcer insists. "When we're on tour, he makes a pot of tea for us every night. It's the one thing I'm really going to miss when I leave at the end of the year."

International roommates since 2007, Burgess and Graham are set to rock the foundations of ANZ stadium when they renew hostilities in a Good Friday clash between South Sydney and Canterbury.

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Apart from clashing violently back in June, 2012, the Pommy pairing are also alleged to have traded blows during an off-field dispute at the recent World Cup.

Yet despite regularly belting seven shades from one another, Burgess insists he and Graham are actually the best of mates. Rooming together for the past seven years as internationals, the duo also chat regularly, catch up for dinner monthly ... Burgess even going all Pat Benatar when asked about their battlefield.

"Love him to bits,'' the Rabbitohs enforcer grins. "Jammer is a great bloke and we're the closest mates.

"But I also love playing against him because he's a great competitor — you always know what you're going to get."

And what you get is fireworks.

England teammates Burgess and Graham put their friendship to one side. Source: News Limited

Like back in 2012 when, during a match the Bulldogs would eventually win 23-18, these two hulking forwards produced a clash so heated, the headline writers had no option but 'Battle Of Britain'.

Having collected a spilt Steeden from his own in-goal, Burgess wound up, cocked the elbow and motored straight from the man who makes his tea — wonderfully oblivious to the referee's whistle that had seen Graham drop his guard. Cue pandemonium.

Back in November, too, whispers again emerged of these two going at it — this time off-pitch during the World Cup. Apparently, the pair argued over a night on the turps which, following England's shock loss to Italy, eventually saw Gareth Hock sent home in disgrace.

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"But it's funny what gets written,'' Burgess shrugs. "Me and Jammer, we're honestly the best of mates.

"I spend a lot of time with him away from footy, catch up for dinner once a month, we're proper mates.

"And for England, we've been roomies since 2007. When you live with someone for five weeks like that, you get to know them pretty well."

How well?

"Mate, he's got some weird habits," Burgess laughs. "Jammer can't sleep at night unless he's listening to his podcast.

"That's weird, when you've got to listen to his podcasts with him. And then there's the brews ... he really is a quality bloke."

Burgess rates Graham's tea-making abilities, as well as his footy. Source: Getty Images

Can play a bit too?

"He's been mega for them,'' the Rabbitohs forward continues. "Has been for the last few years.

"I always knew he'd be great but I think it took It took a while for people to realise what he brought to the club.

"Great competitor, outstanding soft hands and he does the hard yards when needed. I see Canterbury have just re-signed him to a big contract too so hopefully he'll shout me a feed soon."


22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tigers claw to second win of year

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CATFIGHTS are rarely pretty affairs.

But the four premiership points were a thing of beauty for Richmond which clawed its way to a 43-point victory over Brisbane at the Gabba.

In a horribly mistake-riddled affair, the Tigers managed to repel a serious Lions surge in the third term in which Brisbane briefly hit the front.

FULL STATS, SUPERCOACH POINTS AND MORE

HARDWICK: I NEVER LOST FAITH

COTCHIN, RIEWOLDT TAKE A STAND

Tigers stars Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt stood tall when their team needed them most.

The star duo were strong early and were dominant figures again when the game was in the balance in the third term to guide the Tigers to their second win of the year.

Cotching finished with 32 disposals, seven clearances and one goal while Riewoldt had four goals and nine marks.

Dustin Martin was also influential for the Tigers with three goals and 18 disposals playing as a forward.

Jack Redden wins a hard ball ahead of Dustin Martin. Source: Getty Images

A flurry of late goals blew the game open for Richmond to the point where the final margin probably flattered the Tigers, who were too big and too strong for the undermanned Brisbane outfit in the dying stages.

In his 250th match for the Lions, Jonathan Brown did his best to lift Brisbane to their first win of 2014 with four inspirational goals and nine marks.

Brown walked through the banner with daughter Olivia and son Jack before crashing through the packs in trademark style but it was not enough as Brisbane crashed to its fifth loss in five outings in 2014 to be last on the ladder.

Brisbane did win its first quarter of the year by just shading the Tigers in the second term but it will be of no comfort to senior coach Justin Leppitsch and his men.

Brisbane hit the lead for the first time on the night when first-year player Lewis Taylor kicked a running goal midway through the third term after earlier goals to Ryan Lester and Brown had the Gabba jumping.

Brisbane champ Jonathan Brown (right) celebrates a goal with young teammate Lewis Taylor. Source: Getty Images

But the Tigers quickly and emphatically seized the momentum back.

Two goals to Riewoldt and majors to Cotchin, Ricky Petterd and Matt Arnot put Richmond back in front and one the march to victory as the Tigers brutally exposed Brisbane's time-on woes to take a 19-point buffer into the last change.

Lions Darcy Gardiner and James Aish have an issue with Dustin Martin. Source: Getty Images

Quite incredibly, Brisbane was just 14 points behind Richmond at the main break.

The Tigers could have three times further in front if they kicked straight and capitalised on their superiority for significant portions of the first two quarters.

The Lions won the second quarter — their first of the season — to roar back into the contest that should have been over.

Graphic by Champion Data. Source: Supplied

Richmond led by 19 points at the first break after dominating inside 50s (19-5), total disposals (103-67), marks (29-17) and clearances (11-7) in the opening term.

Jack Riewoldt had the first goal of the match after less than 60 seconds and it took another 15 minutes before the second major of the match through Dustin Martin.

Graphic by Champion Data. Source: Supplied

Brisbane's only scoring shot came through Dayne Zorko in the 26th minute.

If the first term was hard to watch, the second quarter was terrible.

All it needed was the theme music from the "Benny Hill Show'' over the PA system to complete the comedy of errors.

Sam Lloyd tries to get away from Sam Mayes. Source: Getty Images

Richmond sunk to Brisbane's level and the Lions pounced.

Brown kicked Brisbane's first goal of the match in the seventh minute of the quarter as Brisbane scrapped and scraped.

Martin kicked a superb goal from the boundary line to settle the ship for the Tigers but goals to Rohan Bewick and Jackson Paine kept the home side well and truly in the contest.

BEST:

Richmond: Cotchin, Riewoldt, Martin, Jackson, Petterd,

Brisbane: Brown, Rockliff, Lester, Zorko, Robertson,

REPLAY ALL THE ACTION IN OUR LIVE BLOG BELOW


22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Titan Mead: I’m just getting started

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 16 April 2014 | 22.07

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HE has been a shining light in the Gold Coast's brilliant start to the season but Titans flyer David Mead says he can become even better after snaring the No. 1 jersey he's craved for so long.

Titans coach John Cartwright will keep Mead at fullback in Monday night's clash against Penrith despite the return of regular custodian William Zillman.

Mead has been electric since shifting to the back three weeks ago for Zillman (hamstring) with his blinding speed helping the Gold Coast to a hoodoo-snapping victory over the Broncos last Friday that saw them retain top spot on the NRL ladder.

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It was his third stellar appearance in the No. 1 jumper, prompting Cartwright to retain the Papua New Guinea international even with his vice-captain returning to the team.

Zillman trained in the centres yesterday but is a good chance of replacing Anthony Don (finger) on the wing.

There is also some doubt over halves pairing Aidan Sezer and Albert Kelly, who are on restricted duties because of minor thigh injuries.

Mead, who is the club's all-time leading try-scorer (53), said he was determined to prove to Cartwright he was the right man for the job.

Mead says he's far from the finished product, despite his good form this season. Source: Getty Images

"I'm very happy but there's still a lot to work on and a lot of areas to improve. I don't want to get complacent," he said.

"I've spoken to Neil (Henry, assistant coach) and Carty about where they can help me out with positional play and stuff like that.

"The feedback from them has been positive but I know there's areas I need to improve.

"They've said defensively I'm playing well but I can be a lot better in attack. I feel I can improve and help the team out."

Mead's shift to fullback has seen the 25-year-old score two tries, bust 12 tackles and average 166m a game.

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He ran for 256m against the Broncos, which included a scintillating 99m solo try, and said he was brimming with confidence after earning the role.

"It does give me confidence (being kept at fullback) but I want to go out 100 per cent focused on the job and not thinking about anything else," he said.

"I do enjoy it a lot more than I do playing on the wing. I'm not saying I don't enjoy playing on the wing but I just enjoy fullback a lot more.

"You have a lot more control in how the team's playing.

"It's something I'm willing to work very hard on."

Mead's only blemish at fullback has been his inability to run out 80 minutes in the high-intensity position.

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He has rotated with winger Kevin Gordon in the closing stages of the past few games because of cramping but said there were no issues with his fitness.

"It's weird because I'm not actually tired but my legs just cramp up. I'm doing everything I can to avoid it," he said.

"I've done a lot of research on it and it's unknown what the cause is or how to prevent it.

"I'm staying hydrated, getting electrolytes in and those types of things but there's no definite answer. I've tried eating bananas at half-time, before the game.

"It's been happening since I was playing under-13s. I definitely think it will improve over time."

Prop Ryan James, who will make his second NRL appearance of the season against Penrith, said Mead was potent from any position on the ground.

"Everything he's done has been great," he said.

"He's always pushing up and running hard. Meady's lethal anywhere he plays.

"We've got a couple of great fullbacks at the club.

"I'm sure it's going to be a headache for Carty."


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Sterlo: Sorry, but Dugan’s the one

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LAST weekend, NSW coach Laurie Daley's State of Origin selection task became that ­little bit tougher following the performance of Dragons fullback Josh Dugan in their controversial loss to Melbourne.

In just his second game of the season, there were a couple of handling errors but overall he was superb in helping to steer St George Illawarra to what should have been one of their more impressive victories.

That wasn't to be, but in no way did it detract from Dugan's involvement, which featured some remarkable efforts when running the football.

Jarryd Hayne's form means he will deservedly be the first player chosen by Laurie Daley. Source: News Corp Australia

The quandary is that when Daley sits down to select his 17 for game one, Jarryd Hayne will deservedly be the first player chosen. His form for the improved Eels this year and his 17-game experience for NSW demand that to be the case.

Which begs the question: what to do with Josh Dugan? Both men were used during last year's series, but not at the same time. Jarryd was the first-string fullback for the opening encounter and when he was injured Josh came in for the ­remaining two matches.

I'm also sure that, at the moment, fullback is their best position. Which means Hayne may be forced to take one for the team and be chosen away from the No. 1 jersey, as he was in Australia's World Cup triumph. In the final three matches he starred in the centres.

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If he were chosen at right centre, the battle then changes to one between Michael Jennings and Josh Morris, who are the incumbents and who both play on the left for their respective clubs. Neither has been in poor touch, which makes the time between now and selection absolutely vital in making the right impression.

This is, of course, not taking into account the credentials of Manly fullback Brett Stewart, who is also an outstanding Origin performer.

However, in my opinion room must be found for both Hayne and Dugan.

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On the subject of men at the back, their job at club level is being made much easier by an apparent turning of a blind eye to interference on players chasing through on kicks.

The rule allows for defenders to give protection as long as they move directly to where the ball is coming down and take up a position before the ball being caught.

In recent weeks, there have been blatant instances when defending players have gone completely out of their way to run illegal obstructions in front of those in pursuit of the football.

ORIGIN WATCH: DALEY'S KEY CONCERNS

In some cases contact is also being made, which takes away any chance of a chaser being involved in a fair contest with the man catching.

It is something of a fine art to give legal protection to the targeted man defusing the bomb, and it seems some teams have also turned illegal coverage into something of a fine art.


22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Craig Bellamy wanted to quit

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MELBOURNE coach Craig Bellamy became so disillusioned with the NRL's handling of the hugely-sensitive Alex McKinnon-Jordan McLean affair the premiership-winning coach tendered his resignation with the Storm's owners.

Sport Confidential can reveal Bellamy was so torn over the injury suffered by McKinnon and the way the NRL was looking to hang McLean out to dry, the Storm coach told the club owners he was quitting his post effective immediately.

Craig Bellamy tendered his resignation over the NRL's handling of the Alex McKinnon — Jordan McLean affair. Source: News Limited

Bellamy made the call after McLean was handed a seven-week suspension at NRL headquarters — three weeks for his role in the lifting tackle and four weeks added due to the injury suffered by McKinnon.

But after considering his position over the course of the following 24 hours, Bellamy had a change of heart and decided he had an obligation to McLean and the Storm.

When contacted yesterday about tendering his resignation, Bellamy declined to comment.

Bellamy has had a long-running feud with NRL headquarters dating back to when David Gallop was CEO and the Storm were stripped of two premierships and made to play an entire season without contesting for competition points.

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The NRL's handling of the very serious McKinnon-McLean issue is believed to have been the last straw for the Storm coach, who is currently contracted until the end of 2016 with the option of a two-year extension if he chooses to take it up.

It's difficult to fathom how one player can be given a four-week suspension for another player suffering a career-ending injury. If the NRL really wants to be fair dinkum about taking player injuries into account at the NRL judiciary, then it could be argued that McLean should have been banned for years, not weeks.

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But McLean has become another victim of this very sad story and the corner in which the NRL has backed itself.

The entire rugby league community is right behind McKinnon, who continues his recovery in a Sydney hospital.

FOR PEATS' SAKE, FIRE UP YOU BLUES

SHOULD Laurie Daley take a punt on Nathan Peats for NSW Origin duty this year, he certainly won't be wanting for pure passion.

As these tweets from Peats' account during Origin II last year demonstrate, the Eels rake has cultivated a hatred for Queensland.

Nathan Peat tweets his passion for Origin. Source: Twitter

Peats was so pumped before the second match that he even ripped into Channel 9 for daring
to cross from the pre-match coverage to Canberra, where Kevin Rudd had just orchestrated a leadership coup over Julia Gillard.

"I think Origin is more important than our next Prime Minister," he fumed. "Get off the TV you Dereks."

The fact Rudd was also a Queenslander didn't appear to improve Peats' mood, which darkened further as the Maroons blew NSW off Suncorp Stadium to level the series.

Eel's Nathan Peats shows his passion for the Blues via his Twitter. Source: News Corp Australia

"I've never been more angry in my life," he groaned.

Peats declined to discuss his tweets yesterday. "I don't regret anything I tweet, but I don't need to put any more pressure on myself."

AFL WILL HAVE NEW CEO BY YEARS END

THE talk about Andrew Demetriou making an early exit from the AFL's top office over the next couple of months refuses to go away.

Remember where you read it first, the man the NRL pursued last year, Gillon McLachlan, will be the new AFL CEO before this season is finished.

RYAN TO MAKE RETURN

FOOTY Show funnyman and NRL flyer Beau Ryan is back in full training with Cronulla and is hoping to make a return against the Penrith Panthers next weekend. If Ryan is cleared to play his first game of the season, he'll be lining up against Jamie Soward.

Beau Ryan during a Cronulla training session. Source: News Limited

Of course, Soward has been very vocal about the Sharks winger impersonating him on Channel 9's Footy Show.

PANTHERS FLAG AWAY BIG SAM'S 'ALTERCATION'

THE female fan involved in last weekend's flag-in-the-face altercation with South Sydney forward Sam Burgess has escaped an immediate ban because Panthers officials believe the Englishman brought the mishap upon himself.

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Penrith yesterday announced their investigation was complete, but declined to reveal the results or the woman's punishment.

We can reveal she was only given a suspended ban from attending matches, which will only come into effect should there be another complaint.

The woman has also been moved away from the tunnel area, where the incident occurred after fulltime, and will be free to assume her new seat in Monday night's clash against Gold Coast.

Sam Burgess warms up during a South Sydney Rabbitohs training session. Source: Getty Images

Although she has apologised to Burgess, the woman claimed he was partly to blame for being struck in the eye with a flag pole.

After handing herself in on Saturday, she told Panthers officials she was dangling the flag over the tunnel while both teams were leaving the pitch.

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Burgess was the last to exit and, according to the woman, grabbed the flag downwards.

She claims that motion flipped it over so the stick hit him in the face.

DUGAN BACK IN THE GOOD BOOKS

AFTER falling foul of NSW coach Laurie Daley in January, St George Illawarra fullback Josh Dugan has rocketed into contention to be the Blues fullback on the back of a brilliant all-round game against Melbourne.

Dragon's Josh Dugan is contention to be the Blues fullback. Source: News Corp Australia

Dugan recovered from making an early error to finish as St George Illawarra's best.

Where to play Jarryd Hayne for the Blues then? Pick him at right centre.

FOOTY'S MUST WATCH SHOW

THE Matty Johns Show on Monday night has emerged as this year's must-watch program. The banter from Bryan Fletcher has proven a masterstroke alongside Nathan Hindmarsh and Gorden Tallis. After last Monday night's Melbourne-Dragons match, the Johns Show scored a record audience of 185,000 viewers.

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CAMPBELL SISTERS POOL THEIR TALENT

AS soul music legend Aretha Franklin told us many moons ago, sisters are doing it for themselves.

And it might just become the new theme song for Australia at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this year.

Sisters Bronte and Cate Campbell are the glamorous new faces of the Australian swimming team. Source: News Corp Australia

Cate Campbell and Bronte Campbell are the glamorous new faces of the Australian swimming team and two of the hot favourites to come home with a full swag of medals.

Born in Malawi but raised in Brisbane, the Campbell sisters are part of the new wave of swimmers hoping to put Australia back on the map in
the pool.

WINNING

HOW good are the Parramatta Eels travelling? From the depths of two wooden spoons, the Eels have given the blue and gold army reason to believe with some entertaining and gritty form over the opening six rounds. Bravo, Brad Arthur.

'WE HAVEN'T ACHIEVED ANYTHING': ARTHUR

DUNCE CAP

THE Australian Rugby Union for putting the kibosh on Israel Folau's return for the Waratahs last weekend against the Western Force. Congratulations to Izzy for having the courage to publicly question a ridiculous decision.

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AXE-FACTOR

THE mutiny among the Australian women's soccer team is set to come to a head next week with Matildas coach Hesterine de Reus poised to be given the sack. The Dutch disciplinarian is expected to be given her marching orders after a revolt from players and staff.

SPOTTED

SHARKS flyer Nathan Gardner sporting the same Eminem hairdo as teammate Todd Carney. Not only do the pair share a liking for peroxide and a razor, but they are also living together in the Shire.

Todd Carney is sporting an Eminem hairdo. Source: Getty Images

BACK CHAT

DO St George Illawarra have a right to blow up about Hooter-gate?

Hoops (Yes): As stuff-ups go, the NRL deciding to publicly admit it robbed the Dragons of two points was a faux pas of Olympic class. Why did the Dragons get an apology this week, but the Melbourne Storm didn't the week before against the Gold Coast? The solution is a pineapple.

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Josh (No): Dragons CEO Peter Doust needs to take some lessons from how Cowboys opposite Peter Jourdain dealt with last year's seventh-tackle debacle. The stakes were much higher and the mistake much clearer, yet Jourdain did not whine about rematches or compensation. The fact Doust was recently handed a $1 million loan from the NRL makes his carping even harder to cop.


22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Black Jack has wind in its sails

Black Jack skipper Mark Bradford on board his boat, which is the Brisbane to Gladstone favourite. Source: Chris Higgins / News Limited

BRISBANE to Gladstone favourite Black Jack's greatest threat for line and handicap honours is itself.

Or, more precisely, owner Peter Haburg's new Volvo 70 design must see off its predecessor to raise The Courier Mail Cup as overall winner in the 66th running of the race which starts at 11am tomorrow off the Shorncliffe Pier.

Skipper Mark Bradford last year guided the previous Black Jack, a 66ft former American pocket maxi, to second place behind super maxi Wild Thing.

It had been rated Australia's fastest 66ft bluewater yacht and had won line honours in the 2008 and 2009 Brisbane to Gladstone races.

Bradford is back, this time skippering a faster Black Jack, a 70ft two-time Volvo Ocean Race entrant formerly known as Telefonica.

The previous model, now owned by Phillip Turner and skippered by Duncan Hine, will race as Alive.

The two maxi-chasers are set to shadow each other up the Queensland coast in pursuit of the record of 20 hours, 40 minutes and 50 seconds.

"The boat we've got has the potential to break speed records. We're talking about 500 or more nautical miles in a day," Bradford said.

With no entry from Wild Thing this year, the two ocean racing sloop's will be free to launch a major assault on the race record.

Bradford is enthusiastic over the capabilities of Black Jack, having finished fourth behind winner Wild Oats XI in December's Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

A month later, Black Jack smashed the Surf to City record by three hours, completing the inshore journey from Southport to Brisbane in less than seven hours.

Expected light conditions could, however, thwart attempts to create history as the fastest boat in the 570km (308 nautical miles) race.

Unless local conditions change dramatically, the 30 entries are facing no more than a 10-knot wind, raising hopes of the smaller entries who, with some tactical nous, could stage a shock result.

"Anyone can sail a boat downwind in heavy conditions," said race director Herb Prendergast.

"You just have to hang on.

"But it looks like being the lightest conditions in years, anda very tactical race."

Prendergast is hoping the fleet will make it out of Moreton Bay on the ebb tide.

The big decision for skippers overnight will be whether to hug the coast or head offshore, with a wind shadow from Double Island Point to Sandy Cape likely affect those close to the coast.

"There's an advantage if you get out at the front of the fleet," Bradford said.

"If you're not out clearly, the light air and chop from the spectator craft can be a problem."


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Not over for dudded Dragons

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 15 April 2014 | 22.07

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ST GEORGE Illawarra have sensationally called on the NRL to give them the two competition points they were robbed of in Monday night's fulltime siren blunder.

Asked if he wanted the result of the Melbourne Storm game overturned, furious Dragons chief executive Peter Doust last night declared it was a serious option.

He also revealed the mistake could cost the club up to $500,000 in lost revenue if they miss the semi-finals by two points.

"My suggestion is that we should get the competition points and so should they (Storm)," Doust said. "It's not their fault this happened.

KENT: WHY CAN'T THE NRL RUN LIKE CLOCK-WORK?

BUZZ: NRL RUN BY A PACK OF AMATEURS

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Lozza stays true to his Origins

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THERE he was, sitting in a battered old 1985 Nissan Skyline worth about $300.

There is no glitz or glamour in the Riverina town of Junee. These are the real people, battlers, bush folk.

And there was NSW coach Laurie Daley being driven to Wagga Airport for a return flight to Sydney. No limo, no hire car.

DALEY TELLS DISHEARTENED FANS, WE WILL SUCCEED AGAIN

DALEY CHALLENGES MALONEY TO LIFT HIS FORM

Laurie Daley visiting all the sights of Junee. Pictured with the Ray Warren statue Source: News Corp Australia

He was in the back seat of a 29-year-old blue Skyline owned by best mate Scott 'Scooter' Duncan. The left back door doesn't open. It just rattles and shakes.

But there are no airs and graces here. You do as the locals do.

When in town, Daley is simply the local kid who played for the Junee Diesels. He isn't the superstar footballer who became NSW coach.

"Scooter's car — we often laugh about it," Daley said. "It is a classic."

There is something special about Junee; that is the people. They are hospitable, warm and natural.

The Daily Telegraph spent three fascinating days with Daley in Junee, a railway town of about 4000 people.

He is a different person there. The pressure and weight of State of Origin seems to lift, albeit temporarily.

He finds his old schoolboy mates and hangs out with two sisters still in Junee, Jacqui and Kate.

Laurie Daley in front of the Laurie Daley Oval Source: News Corp Australia

"We didn't have much but our family was always big. You would play with your mates, your next door neighbours, your cousins," Daley said.

"I love getting back there — it was where I grew up. It's a place where you feel comfortable, safe and proud that you're from there. I know most of the people in town and back there, you are who you are, rather than trying to be someone else.

"People see me as the person that grew up here with friends and family rather than the guy who played footy and now coaches. It's relaxed there and you forget about the worries of the world.

"They are good people, friendly country folk. They just appreciate life."

Daley grew up in a small cottage-style home in Robert Street.

His seven sisters crammed in one long room, Daley had his own room, as did his parents, Frances and Lance.

The family's cousins lived next door. They also had eight kids.

Laurie Daley catching up with his old next door neighbour Noeline Sloan Source: News Corp Australia

When we arrived at the house Noelene Sloan popped out from next door. She and her husband 'Stumpy' watched the Daley clan grow up.

"I'm not quite sure what age I was when we moved but I think I was about 10," Daley said.

Lance Daley took his family across town to Edward Street, to another cosy home just near the old Junee Hospital with a paddock next door.

"We used to play cricket and footy there every day — before school and after school, weekends," Daley said.

"They were great times and great memories. They were quaint, tight houses — not a lot of room to move but it felt like a home."

His mates — Duncan, Craig Bradley, (former NRL player) Jason Lidden, Barry Deakin and all his cousins — would join him in that paddock each day, generally mucking around playing sport.

Daley caught up with Bradley and Duncan in that very same paddock while we were in Junee.

"They are great mates," Daley said.

"They come up to Sydney twice a year and I try and get down there once or twice a year."

Laurie Daley with his old school buddies, Scott Duncan (light shirt) and Craig Bradley (dark shirt) Source: News Corp Australia

Duncan, Daley's best man when he married Michelle, said: "Loz is a champion bloke. He never forgets where he came from.

"He is the kind of bloke who will always cross the street to say hello. That is why we love him."

There are four pubs in Junee. Francis and Lance ran the Commercial Hotel for years. Lance also worked as a train driver.

"They leased it for a number of years, about five or six I think," Daley said. "Dad had the lease at the pub and was also a train driver. He worked hard.

"Even going back now you run into people you went to school with and know you see their kids. You can't believe how time flies."

About a kilometre from the Commercial is Laurie Daley Oval, the old Willow Park renamed after the former Canberra and Test champion.

Laurie Daley in front of the Commercial Hotel, the pub that his mum and dad used to run Source: News Corp Australia

It was where Laurie Daley learned his trade.

"It was a great honour — you never think something like that would be named after you," Daley said.

"I used to love playing footy there. Now to go there and see your name is pretty weird.

"You never want anything like that but when it was offered to me I accepted. It's great to show my kids and family. That is where I learned to play."

Laurie Daley visiting all the sights of Junee. Source: News Corp Australia

Jacqui still remembers the scallywag kid who loved his footy.

"Laurie was a quiet kid who played outside from daylight to dusk kicking a footy around," she said, adding cheekily: "When he wasn't he was inside with us playing dolls and dress-ups with his sisters.

"Junee is very friendly town with a lot of characters."

Daley added: "Junee is a great little town. It hasn't changed a great deal over the years."

And for that we can be thankful.


22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

DCE in frame for Test half selection

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DALY Cherry-Evans has surged into the Test frame as Australia's youth policy and the Cowboys' poor form puts pressure on halves Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston.

Thurston's scrumbase showdown with Cherry-Evans in the Cowboys-Manly clash on Friday night has taken on added significance for the Anzac Test on May 2.

The Thurston-Cronk halves alliance steered Australia to World Cup glory last November but Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens says Cherry-Evans, Australia's utility in the World Cup final, is now an option for a starting role when the Test side is named on Sunday week.

Statistics obtained by The Courier-Mail show Cherry-Evans is outperforming Thurston and Cronk in a number of key areas.

Daly Cherry-Evans celebrates. Source: News Limited

While axing one of the Kangaroos' incumbent halves would be a major shock, Sheens said Cherry-Evans was Australia's poster boy for generational change.

Cronk is still searching for peak form after his return from shoulder surgery, while Thurston has been patchy in the Cowboys' slump to 12th place after six rounds.

"Cherry-Evans is keeping them (Thurston and Cronk) honest," Sheens told The Courier-Mail.

"There is always pressure there, I'm not going to say it's on Cooper Cronk specifically, it's on the halves.

"Cherry is our third option with Cooper and Johnathan and the fact is Cherry's form has been very good.

"He was our utility player last year and did a good job filling in there.

"There is competition with nearly every position and I'm sure the current two will do their best to beat Cherry off.''

Daly Cherry-Evans makes a break against Wales. Source: AP

Fox Sports Stats data shows Cherry-Evans (8.8) is making more runs a game than Thurston (8) and twice as many as Cronk (4.2) this season.

Cherry-Evans has more tackle busts (18) than Thurston and Cronk combined (16), produces more offloads and averages more running metres.

However, Cronk and Thurston are clearly superior in try assists. They have set up nine and five tries respectively this year, compared to the Manly playmaker's meagre tally of one.

Test selectors are acutely aware of the need to inject fresh blood. Of the 17-man squad that won last year's World Cup, only Cherry-Evans, James Tamou, Andrew Fifita and Josh Papalii were under 25. Thurston turns 31 on Friday week, while Cronk's 31st birthday is in December.

Manly's Daly Cherry-Evans tries to beat an attempted tackle. Source: News Corp Australia

"There is no doubt for the next World Cup there is a bit of transition happening," Sheens said.

"I supervised Petero (Civoniceva) and Darren Lockyer's retirement and when we played England last year, we were the oldest team to play for Australia.

"That doesn't mean we're Dad's Army but there is so many guys in that late 20s-early 30s range that there's going to be some transition over the next few years.

"Without injury, you could see a lot of guys wanting to play on but there is the pressure of other guys coming through and Cherry-Evans is a classic example.''


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I’m no thug or dirty player: Burgess

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RABBITOHS superstar Sam Burgess has labelled "Squirrel Gate" the one great regret of his NRL career, admitting the unsavoury tackle on Melbourne centre Will Chambers could see him branded a thug forever.

Once a poster boy for rugby league, on Tuesday Burgess conceded his new 'bad guy' image is completely the result of one moment, eight months ago, which saw him convicted, and suspended, for grabbing the testicles of Chambers.

In a revealing interview, the 25-year-old also strongly denied claims of on-field thuggery, saying: "I don't think I'm a dirty player, no".

South Sydney's Sam Burgess squirrel grip on Will Chambers. Picture Fox Sports Source: FoxSports

He also shrugged off suggestions he is unpopular among fans, and even urged NRL boss Dave Smith to go easy on the Penrith female who attacked him with a flag stick as he left the field last Friday night.

Asked about growing criticism of his playing style, Burgess replied: "I don't think I'm a dirty player.

"But if there is one incident in my career I could take back, it would be the Chambers tackle. That's what has labelled me, that one tackle.

"And I've had it done to me a few times in games, too. You know, accidental ... stuff happens.

"So people can have an opinion of me, it is what it is. My job is to get on with it."

And as for just how he gets on with it?

South Sydney's Sam Burgess passes the ball at training. Source: News Corp Australia

"Look, football, it's a tough game, a contact sport,'' Burgess continued.

"At times it is going to get heated and you've got to accept that.

"But for me, what's on the field stays on the field. I'm not one to come away and talk about it, hold grudges.

"Fans come to the games every week for the contact. That's what I like as well."

Souths superstar Greg Inglis agrees, strongly refuting suggestions Burgess plays the game illegally.

"We love what Sammy does because we want our forwards to be aggressive, to get under people's skin - that's what footy is,'' Inglis said.

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"And he knows what's right from wrong.

"Sam's an aggressive player ... and there's a big difference between a dirty player and an aggressive player."

Once ranked among the most popular players in the NRL, Burgess has endured a tumultuous past 12 months of broken contracts, broken hearts and, supposedly, a breaking of the brotherhood that is South Sydney's playing roster.

The hulking Englishman has also suffered criticism for his release of a Grand Final week documentary, his regular Sydney Confidential appearances and those running battles with everyone from Sam Thaiday, Mitchell Pearce and Aaron Woods to the entire Manly Sea Eagles pack.

South Sydney's Sam Burgess leads the run during South Sydney Rabbioths training. Source: News Limited

So has the Burgess bubble burst?

"Ah, I'm not too worried,'' the Redfern enforcer shrugged.

"There are always going to be things written, good or bad, that you have to take it with a pinch of salt.

"It's quite comical at times, (but) with the media stuff, I don't regret it at all. I think as a player, it's your duty to promote the game.''

Elsewhere, Burgess insisted he had not been keeping track of Benji Marshall's unhappy switch to rugby - "to be honest I haven't seen a thing" - and also urged the NRL to go easy on the fan who whacked him over the melon.

"I'd feel pretty crappy if she was banned,'' he said.

"I don't want that to happen. Let's forget about it. Don't let it happen again but move on."


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What you missed on TV last night

Written By Unknown on Senin, 14 April 2014 | 22.07

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TEAMS under the microscope was at the top of Monday's agenda.

Carlton, Sydney, Richmond and Brisbane dominated the Round 4 wash-up after devastating wins on the weekend.

The Blues were the major talking point after a shock loss to Melbourne, which saw them fall to 0-4.

"It was the doomsday scenario. A season that started with a quest to get better now has a realisation that they are much, much worse," AFL 360 host Gerard Whateley said.

Whateley and Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson dissected the Blues with six big questions.

1. What is the No.1 priority for Carlton?

"They're core business is playing footy, so I'll say No.1 winning games of footy," Robinson said.

"We've got verbal bombs being dropped everywhere. It's got to stop and people have got to get off their back."

2. What is the challenge for Mick Malthouse?

"He has to earn his money, he has to call on all his experience to find the trigger to bring that confidence," Robinson said.

"He has to find the confidence ... he has to find a way to get these players playing good footy again."

Whateley agreed: "This get's to the heart of coaching. He's got to give them cohesion."

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3. Is the criticism of captain Marc Murphy fair?

"Yes it is. Mark Murphy has to reach within and find something," Robinson said.

"He was confident today saying 'I've been a leader all my life' so it's there. He's just got to find it on the ground."

Whateley agreed he deserved criticism but the level had been too harsh

"Yes. It is a failing," he said.

"Look at the Bulldogs on Saturday. Brendan McCartney would have said to his leaders 'don't you dare let this happen'. And they didn't."

4. Will Greg Swann and Stephen Kernahan see out the season?

"Not a chance in hell," Robinson said.

"There's a lot of talk Swann will be gone at the next board meeting. Bruce Mathieson said he's got to walk now and I think Swann knows that.

"Kernahan is going after the 150 celebrations and I think he'll see that through."

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5. Could the powerbrokers tear the club apart?

"Not could, the powerbrokers are tearing the club," Robinson said.

"I think it is a disgrace that Bruce Mathieson is talking about the club. It's disrespectful.

"I don't think Bruce understands that footy is about people. He's treating some good people really badly under the name of 'I'm a fierce business man and I contribute to this club'."

6. What becomes of season 2014?

"There must be strategy now. They should aim to get four draft picks inside the top 20," Whateley said.

"Carlton needs to beat the Western Bulldogs but it needs a strategy more than immediate results."

Robinson said the club's fan just wanted to be told the truth.

"At the start of the season, Mick Malthouse said they were approaching 11pm on the premiership window. Then we walks into a board meeting with grave concerns about the list," he said.

"Can you understand the frustration of the Carlton supporters?

"Carlton tells furphies to their members. The club is telling them we will rebuild. They just want the truth."

The last time Carlton started a season 0-4 was 1989 and then-coach Robert Walls was sacked.

The Blues play the Western Bulldogs on Sunday, followed by West Coast and Collingwood.

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■ SYDNEY were outmuscled and outwilled in the wet at the SCG by North Melbourne, leading to more questions about star recruit Lance Franklin and the team's mentality.

Whateley said there were serious concerns about the Swan's mental strength.

"The will to win has always been a given for the Swans," he said.

Robinson pointed to an alarming statistic that suggests the Swans have been down for some time.

"They've won three of their past 11. That is alarming," he said.

"Don't tell me you're playing badly just because Buddy is in the team. It's the collective."

It doesn't get any easier for the Swans, who face Fremantle at the SCG this weekend.

■ BRISBANE are also struggling and sit winless at the bottom of the ladder.

Robinson said it was very frustrating seeing honourable losses against Hawthorn and Geelong, followed by such disappointing losses to Gold Coast and Port Adelaide.

"They lost Daniel Rich and then (Matthew) Leunenberger went off on the weekend.

"We're living in a situation were there are concerns about the market. There isn't a strong team in Queensland.

"They've got nothing. It's such a worry at Round 4."

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■ VICTORIOUS Melbourne coach Paul Roos and Essendon mentor Mark Thompson then joined the boys to look back at the weekend's results.

Whateley started off by asking Roos 'what is a win worth?'.

"For the club and the players, it's a lot," Roos said.

"We've been playing reasonably well but you've got to have a win. It keeps you going forward is a really tough period.

"Even though I've only been there seven months. You still carry the load. You deal with it and it's hard. It's the worst part of the job.

"You know what the fans have gone through and to see them enjoying it was great."

Roos said having key forward Chris Dawes return to the team and James Frawley up forward was a huge plus.

"I'd say (it made) a fair bit (of difference)," he said.

"The Dawes goals were critical. It's just his enthusiasm and he just wanted to play.

"Just to have him up there, it helped Chip Frawley and (Lynden) Dunn so much.

■ THE Bombers weren't as lucky and suffered a big defeat at the hands of Fremantle in the Perth heat.

Thompson revealed he had stopped worrying about the result and how his players would recover ahead of their Round 5 clash with St Kilda on Saturday.

"I was thinking during the game, not how do we win this game, but how do we recover and win the next game," he said.

Losing Brendon Goddard was another blow for the Bombers but Thompson believed he would be right to play.

"I didn't know he came off (during the warm-up)," he said.

"He's had it five or so times during his career. He knows when it comes - it's quite painful when it happens and - he knows how to get rid of it ... but he couldn't.

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ON THE COUCH

FORMER Richmond champion Kevin Bartlett joined the boys in place of Mike Sheahan.

Carlton president Stephen Kernahan was the special guest.

The former premiership captain said his club deserved all the criticism it received after the loss to Melbourne.

"The loss to Essendon was one of our worst performances since the mid-2000s - when we were down - and the game against Melbourne ... was one we expected to win and we were poor," he said

"Our players are lacking a bit of confidence at the moment."

Jason Dunstall asked whether Kernahan had walked out of the board meeting Malthouse had presented his doubts on the club's list.

"I've never walked out of a board meeting in my life," he said.

"I've never over-rated our list. We made finals the last couple of years.

"There is hope for our supporters, Dylan Buckley won the Rising Star (nomination) after the loss to Richmond. Patrick Cripps played on the weekend, Nicky Graham, Troy Menzel will be a really good player for us."

Carlton president Stephen Kernahan talks to the media. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia

He was also asked when Carlton's next premiership would come.

"It gets bandied about too much, premierships," he said.

"Yeah, we got Mick Malthouse in because he was the best coach available in our eyes.

"Quite clearly we didn't get into the top four to give ourselves the best chance and at the moment we're 0-4, so things aren't great.

"When's our next premiership? We need to get over the Bulldogs on Sunday, that would be a start."

Blues powerbroker Bruce Mathieson has been a vocal critic of the club but Kernahan paid no heed.

"I haven't spoken to (Bruce Mathieson), one of my board members has," he said.

"I've got no problem with Bruce having an opinion, he's an integral part of the football club.

"I understand Bruce's philosophy is to throw the bomb in and nuke everybody, I've got no problem with that but it is a bit counter-productive to what we're trying to do down there.

"At the moment, we can only look forward to next week. I understand people want to nuke the place but at the end of the year we can do all that.

"We just need to stick fat."

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■ WITH Bartlett on the couch, Richmond came under the microscope after a disappointing loss to Collingwood on Friday night.

"The skills against Collingwood were a major concern," he said.

"The thing I've been big on for a long time is, Richmond midfielders need to kick goal. Collingwood's midfielders kicked 10 goals.

"Richmond have got some quick players but when they're in space they don't accelerate and they don't back themselves in.

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■ ON Trent Cotchin's battle with Brent Macaffer, Bartlett said it was vital the AFL looked after the star players.

"You've got to protect the good players in the game," he said.

"They can look at you but they can't touch you, they can't hold you.

"I understand a tagger has a job to do - to shut down the opposition's best player - but the game has a responsibility to protect the star player.

"The fans come to see the star players."

■ SYDNEY also came under the blow torch for their poor start to the season.

Dunstall questioned several aspects of their game.

"Their age, pace, work rate and forward structures ... I think all these things would be worrying John Longmire," he said.

"It's not just the players, I think it is some of the structures. If you look at how they were going forward. It was just awful."

"The Swans had an extra 18 inside 50s ... but they would just bomb it long and Scott Thompson stayed back.

"Nick Maxwell was best on ground a couple of weeks ago as the loose defender."

Bartlett wondered if the Swans' gameplan was finally starting to catch up with some of their stars.

"You wonder. There's been a lot of battles for a lot of their players," he said.

"On Sunday, there were conditions that in the past they would have relished with their big bodies."

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■ BARTLETT is perhaps best known recently for his role on the AFL Rules Committee.

He said the game was no longer recognisable and the AFL needed to make some big decisions about the game's direction.

"For me the big question is ... what is Australian rules football?" he said.

"Do we want a hybrid game of rugby, basketball, netball, ice hockey? I don't think we do.

"The interchange is such a critical part of the game and is changing the game so much.

"In 20-25 years time, if we don't have a point of difference people coming to the country will look at our game and say 'I don't want to play rugby, I'll play soccer'.

"It was a unique game once."

In fact, Bartlett suggested the interchange should be scraped all together.

"One of the historic things about AFL is we play on this huge oval with 36 players, so that the game is spread out," he said.

"The idea of the interchange was to replace injured players and it has insidiously crept up and crept up."

Dunstall disagreed saying he like watching the current product.

"I enjoy watching the game. I think there are a lot more elements," he said.

"I think teams are getting better at working out how to beat the press and the game is constantly changing."

■ FINALLY, the boys looked ahead to the blockbuster Easter Monday clash between Hawthorn and Geelong.

Bartlett said it was going to be one of the games of the season.

"It's going to be a great game," he said.

"In a side like Haw, imagine how dangerous they'd be with Buddy Franklin in the team."

Dunstall agreed suggesting Geelong were ready to re-start the Kennett Curse.

"Make no mistake, Geelong are building as well," he said.

"They just disposed of West Coast in clinical fashion.

"All these young players have had to earn their place. They have to make good decision and have good skills, otherwise they won't keep their spot."

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FOOTY CLASSIFIED - CHANNEL 9

CARLTON coach Mick Malthouse was the show's special guest and remained defiant despite his team's winless start to the season.

"I have the utmost faith in our footy club," he said.

"At the moment, I have every confidence I have the players all pulling in the right direction.

"All I do week in-week out is send the best players out there to win games and unfortunately you're going to lose games."

Malthouse admitted his team were lacking confidence and his leaders needed to pick up their game to drag the team out of the mire.

"I have been through periods like this before and at the end, the team does go up.

"When you lose confidence, it goes. We need to find a way to get that back.

"Maybe it's a lack of confidence in their abilities.

"It's the quietest club I've ever been at. We're a very quiet club on the ground.

One of the greatest coaches in recent history was still bullish about his club's chances this season.

"I don't think I over-rated the list. This is a good football club and a good football team," he said.

"We had shots on goal against Richmond that I believe professional players should kick.

"We dropped marks at centre half-forward that we should take. For me, that's a confidence thing.

"The players are basically devoid of confidence.

"In 1987, when I was coaching Footscray, we lost the first three games by 42 goals. The next week, we played the reigning premiers, and we won. There has never been a game that I'm not confident we can win."


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