Matterson living American dream

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

THREE weeks ago, Brisbane Broncos premiership winner Terry Matterson was about to celebrate his son's birthday on Magnetic Island when one of sport's great fairy tales began.

Matterson's holiday was interrupted by a phone call with the bizarre news that the USA Tomahawks wanted him to coach their maiden Rugby League World Cup campaign.

Since accepting the challenge, Matterson and the Tomahawks have registered 60-plus hours of travel across three continents, engineered three major upsets and booked a Rugby League World Cup quarter-final against Australia.

RLWC officials thought so little of USA's chances they booked them a flight out of England one day before their pool would be officially decided, when the Cook Islands play Wales this Sunday.

USA was 90 to one to make the quarter-finals and now Matterson finds himself in the midst of a history-making achievement.

When he first said "Yes" to Tomahawks' general manager Steven Johnson he knew just three of the 24-man playing squad.

His first day as coach was spent Googling that list to ascertain the talent level at his disposal.

Pulled from all corners of the globe, the Tomahawks have a 6'4" youth worker, a Hawaiian fire dancer, the CEO of a rugby league club in New York, a gas-fitter, a rail-road worker and several personal trainers.

United States rugby league team. Source: Supplied

This unheralded group has become the story of the RLWC.

"I was on my way over to Magnetic Island with my son for his birthday and my wife said I had an email that Brian Smith pulled out as coach and they wanted to offer me the opportunity," Matterson said.

"I had been an assistant coach for two years and thought this would be a great chance to be a head coach again and develop myself.

"Eight days later I was on a plane. I had not spoken to any of the players. All I had was a text from Clint Newton and a phone call from Matt Petersen.

"I had nothing organised. Just thought that I would get over there, see what we had and go from there."

The Tomahawks' have since gained press in the football-dominated back pages of The Sun and The Times in England and the New York Times.

Their Cinderella story even prompted international children's music sensation The Wiggles to film a video tribute to the Tomahawks.

The obstacles Matterson's men have had to overcome are incredible.

They play three pool games in nine days, the toughest draw in the competition, with their game against Scotland tomorrow morning (Friday morning AEDT) their last round-robin match.

Their victory over France in a pre-tournament friendly occurred on the back of four plane flights in two days and one training session.

They beat Wales, in Wales, 24-16 last Sunday just four days after they upset the Cook Islands in Bristol.

Not one player or staff member is being paid. There is not even an allowance.

"As far as expectations, there weren't any," Matterson said.

"I just wanted to coach and teach young men who wanted to learn about rugby league.

"The experienced NRL players we have in Matt Petersen, Clint Newton, Eddy Pettybourne and captain Joseph Paulo are brilliant in how they inspire their team mates."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Young cubs excite veteran Richards

WHEN Pat Richards left Australia for England in 2005 Benji Marshall was the young superstar at the Wests Tigers and Luke Brooks was still in primary school.

Eight years on and Richards says he can't wait to rejoin his old club in 2014 because the talent they had coming through back then reminds him of what he sees emerging today.

Richards was famously on the receiving end of that freakish Marshall flick pass in the 2005 decider that led to one of the most celebrated tries in grand final history.

But after conquering all there is to do in the English Super League, he says the future has him excited about returning home and helping the Tigers get back to where they were when he left.

"I remember when I was at the Tigers before there was a really good crop of kids coming through then and we ended up getting some success out of out," he said.

"A lot of people are very excited about what these kids can do and I'm really looking forward to getting back and playing with them.

"I watched them go last year and they have some great talent."

Richards will run out for Ireland on the weekend in their World Cup clash against Australia in Limerick with a personal cheer squad of about 40 family members in the crowd.

"It is going to be a special occasion," he said.

02 Oct 2005 NRL Grand Final - Wests Tigers vs Nth Qld Cowboys at Telstra Stadium. Pat Richards celebrates a try. Source: News Limited

"My parents are both Irish. They moved to Australia when they were 20 so it's a good opportunity to play against the country from where I was born in Ireland and I have a lot of family coming over from Dublin to watch the game."

While Ireland probably won't represent much of a challenge to the tournament favourites, plenty of focus will be on Richards to see where his game is at after an unbelievably successful stint at Wigan.

During his time over here Richards has won two Super League crowns and two Challenge Cups as well as taking out the competition's most prestigious individual honour, the Man of Steel in 2010.

But he says probably the most rewarding experience was the lifestyle his young family enjoyed.

"It's been a terrific experience for us as a family," he said.

"I have enjoyed living over here and the culture and the opportunity to travel is great.

"One day we had the day off on the Wednesday so we flew to Paris on the Tuesday night and just spent the day there. Things like that you can do all the time.

"It is only like an hour away and you can be anywhere in Europe.

"I was married (to wife Kim) before I left but we had both our kids over here.

Sport. Pat Richards with wife Kim and children Aidan and Brianna at Keswick in the lakes district, England. Supplied Source: Supplied

"We had our first son (Aidan) the second year we were here and (Brianna) next.

"My kids have never lived in Australia so they have the little English accents but they are looking forward to being around family, too.

"It will be great for all of us."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Potter begins life without Benji

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

WELCOME to life at Wests Tigers without Benji.

The Concord-based club officially unveiled their new-look coaching team on Wednesday which will start preparing for a new season without Benji Marshall for the first time since 2002.

Head coach Mick Potter has been retained and will be joined by new assistants David Kidwell and Todd Payten.

Marshall wasn't at Concord Oval on Wednesday - but his name still echoed around the arena.

"We are a team again - it's not Benji Marshall and Wests Tigers. It's the team, the Wests Tigers," Potter said.

"Benji has been great for the Wests Tigers and has left a fantastic legacy for the game as well as fans here at the club.

"There are millions of people that have seen him play and enjoyed what he brought to the game.

"In a week or so (when players return to training) he won't be here, it will be a different feel. He was a professional at every single training session. I can't fault him.

"In a way I am bit sad that he won't be here but things change and we move on. We are evolving and it's time for someone else to step in."

Grant Mayer, Boss of the Wests Tigers, talks to his coach, Mick Potter. Source: News Limited

And that "someone" will be Luke Brooks, the new playmaker at Wests Tigers.

Potter sent out a warning to fans about expectations for Brooks.

"Not much fazes Luke," Potter said.

"I am sure he feels the pressure but he takes it in the right spirit of 'it's a game of rugby league. That's what I do well. I go out and play'.

"There will be expectation on him. I don't think that will change and I don't think his attitude will change.

"I am sure he will be tested out and it will be a big test for him. And not just week one, it will be every single week."

Coach Mick Potter point the way during Wests Tigers training. Source: News Limited

Payten added: "We've got no choice but to chuck him in but the members and supporters need to realise he is 18 years old and hasn't got a monster pack around him.

"The kid is super talented but he will have some ups and downs along the way. We need to be patient and support him."

Wests Tigers experienced a horror season, missing the season and battling a wretched run with injury, a split board, new CEO, Marshall's exit and a coach who fought to save his job.

"The fans have been really understanding about what we went through this year,'"Potter said. "They've been really supportive. You don't think the amount of injuries we had will happen again.

"On the flip-side of that adversity is the opportunity being presented to a lot of the young kids.

"It's a new era with the changes that have gone on within the footy department and upstairs (the front office). There have been some enormous changes. The club as a whole is changing, it's evolving."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Titans make play for Karmichael

GOLD Coast Suns are facing a battle to retain Karmichael Hunt after the Titans expressed interest in bringing the former Bronco back to the NRL.

Titans boss Graham Annesley said they have room in the salary cap to make a legitimate play for Hunt, who is off contract at the end of next season.

The Courier-Mail can reveal Hunt has been on the Titans' radar for months, with former chief executive David May first meeting with the three-code athlete's management in June.

Gold Coast Titans and Gold coast Suns at a one-off training session where the clubs traded tips on defence and ball skills. Karmichael Hunt and Nate Myles catch up. Pic Glenn Hampson Source: News Limited

Club sources say May made a preliminary approach with the blessing of Titans shareholder Michael Searle, who has previously snared big guns Jamal Idris, Nate Myles and Dave Taylor.

May resigned soon after registering interest in Hunt, but his departure has failed to temper the Titans' enthusiasm for one of the most accomplished athletes in Australian sport.

Social media speculation suggested Hunt had already signed a two-year contract with the Titans. Annesley insists that is not the case, but agrees the Titans could strike a major blow in the Gold Coast sporting turf war by luring Hunt from the Suns.

Gold Coast Suns training at Metricon Stadium, Carrara - Karmichael Hunt Source: News Limited

"Karmichael is not off contract until the end of next year but we would certainly be interested in someone of his quality,'' Annesley said.

"Our salary cap situation is tight for 2014, although it is a different ball game in 2015.

"We haven't had internal discussions, but we wouldn't immediately say no to someone like Karmichael.

"There is no rush, Karmichael has another year to go anyway, but we are as interested in him as any other NRL club.''

The push for Hunt to return to the NRL gathered momentum after his turbulent season with the Suns. The former Queensland Origin utility battled hamstring tendinitis and played only nine matches, well shy of the 34 he compiled in his first two seasons in AFL.

Gold Coast Suns training at Metricon Stadium, Carrara - Karmichael Hunt Source: News Limited

The Suns have no intention of losing Hunt and one impediment for NRL suitors could be his $1 million-plus AFL salary.

"A lot will come down to what we have available under the cap and the club's requirements going forward,'' Annesley said.

"But Karmichael is a huge star anywhere in Queensland and in southeast Queensland in particular because of what he has done in the AFL.

"There is no question he would be a massive drawcard for the Titans and rugby league.''

GC Suns players Karmichael Hunt and Gary Ablett. Source: News Limited

A fortnight ago, Brisbane centre Justin Hodges urged his good mate to make an NRL comeback with the Broncos. Hunt's manager David Riolo said the 26-year-old had given no indication he wanted out of the Suns.

"At least this year he is off contract so he can attract offers,'' Riolo said. "I don't want to speculate. His future will pan out as the season progresses.''

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

How Ollie made it happen

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

GAI Waterhouse says Damien Oliver's ride on Fiorente delivered her first Cup win.

"I think that was the crux, that's what won the Cup,'' she said. "The horse was fit and healthy for the Cup, but I had someone who knew the horse.''

Waterhouse dropped a Spring Carnival bombshell when she punted Nash Rawiller and put Oliver on board her favoured runner.

Oliver never once panicked on Fiorente and waited until the 600m to get motoring.

He had the field covered, but took a little longer to reel in the ageing stubborn English raider, Red Cadeaux.

Melbourne Cup favourite Fiorente claims the 2013 crown, pipping Red Cadeaux by a length on the final straight.

THE START

FIORENTE jumps well with Dandino and Brown Panther, who drew either side of him.

The pair kick clear of him in search of a good position.

Brown Panther ends up in a three-way battle for the early lead with Waterhouse's other entrant, Tres Blue, and Rusdhcello steaming over from their wide gates.

1ST WINNING POST

DAMIEN Oliver parks Fiorente midfield with plenty of galloping room.

He has Dandino to his inside and Simenon pushing forward on his outside. Red Cadeaux is in the group just ahead of him.

OUT OF THE STRAIGHT

VEREMA races with Masked Marvel behind Fiorente before the French mare breaks down.

The speed is still solid and Fiorente looks to get into a good rhythm. "I had visions of being in the first third of the field. but I ended up just off midfield. We had a pretty good run,'' Oliver said.

1000m TO GO

RIVALS Mount Athos and Red Cadeaux start to make their runs and roll forward, while Oliver refuses to panic.

Super Cool and Simenon sit just in front of him, with Royal Empire parked half a length behind him on the outside.

Australia's first lady of racing, Gai Waterhouse, has won her maiden Melbourne Cup with Fiorente, but not before a summons to the Stewards sent a scare through the camp.

THE 600M MARK

OLIVER is surrounded by runners, but still has plenty of galloping room and starts to quicken. He knocks Royal Empire out of the way and swings wide, following Ethiopia into the straight as Fawkner starts his own run down the outside, and Red Cadeaux and Simenon do their best to reel in Mount Athos up front.

"I slowly eased the horse to the outside and actually got closer to the lead than I expected to,'' Oliver said.

Early leaders Tres Blue and Ruscello have run out of gas and called it a day, dropping back through the field.

250M TO GO

FIORENTE quickly sweeps past Ethiopia and Simenon, but Red Cadeaux is proving to be a bit more stubborn. Red Cadeaux almost looks to fight back for a second, before Fiorente digs in. "I knew Red Cadeaux would take me a fair way, I picked him off at the 200m, but the last 200m seemed to take a long time,'' Oliver said.

100M FROM HOME

FIORENTE starts to get the better of Red Cadeaux and Oliver has his third Cup in the bag. Fawkner and Dandino finish down the outside.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

The dollar that paid off handsomely

Gai Waterhouse's year has ended in triumph with Fiorente giving the trainer her first Melbourne Cup win.

IMAGINE turning $1 into $118,652 after getting the Melbourne Cup first four straight out?

Well, one lucky Victorian TAB punter did just that when he correctly selected Fiorente, Red Cadeaux, Mount Athos and Simenon to be the first four horses over the line in the Melbourne Cup at Flemington yesterday.

He was one of the big winners on the race that stops a nation as punters wagered $90.6 million through the NSW and Victorian TABs on the Melbourne Cup.

Fiorente was the first favourite to win the great race since Makybe Diva in 2005 but the Gai Waterhouse-trained champion has already been installed as the $10 favourite for a repeat triumph in next year's Melbourne Cup.

Fiorente paid $7 for the Win on the NSW and Victorian totalizators, as well as $7.00 in TAB Fixed Odds betting.

One NSW TAB punter had $27,500 at $7.00 on Fiorente just before the race and collected $192,500.

The $90.6 million in turnover on the Melbourne Cup race, which was down 2.0% on the previous year, included:

#$47.5 million in NSW TAB betting.

#$34 million in Victorian TAB betting.

#$9.1 million in TAB Fixed Odds betting across both states.

Total NSW and Victorian TAB turnover on the 10 races at Flemington was $133.7 million, down 4.8% on 2012.

A punter at Sportingbet $24 into a life changing $107,190 after correctly picking the first four across the line in the 2013 Melbourne Cup.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

The punter from Dampier in Western Australia, who requested to be known only as Jados, selected Fiorente, Red Cadeaux, Mount Athos and Simenon in a boxed first four, which costs a total of $24 as it allows for 24 possible winning combinations.

Jados placed the bet online at Sportingbet.com.au on the morning of the Melbourne Cup.

"I'm Big Kev excited," said Jados. "The kids picked two horses and I picked the other two so I suppose I have to give them some of the credit.

"I've told all my mates but none of them believe me. My missus is completely stoked and she's already got a new car picked out.''

Sportsbet said one punter placed a $40,000 bet at $7 on Fiorente and collected $280,000.

Other big bets on Fiorente include $25,000 and $15,000.

"The punters got this one right with Fiorente. He had the best form, and punters who stuck with him were rewarded,'' Sportsbet's Shaun Anderson said.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ponting secure with legacy

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

FORMER Test captain Ricky Ponting is at peace with his legacy despite disparaging leadership comparisons with successor Michael Clarke from Shane Warne.

Far from lamenting three Ashes losses as skipper, Ponting concedes it was his 'destiny'.

Warne has unloaded on old teammate Ponting - citing the 168-Test batsman's criticism of close friend Clarke in his autobiography At The Close of Play as driven by 'jealousy' at losing three Ashes series to England.

Asked about Warne intermittently questioning his regimented tactical style while lauding Clarke's innovative approach, Ponting said: "At the end of the day I think my captaincy record will stand up for itself."

Ponting led Australia to 48 Test wins in 77 starts - bettered only by South African Graeme Smith with 51 from 104.

Ponting insists he had no free ride as skipper of a golden side - emphasising the exodus of titans including Justin Langer, Warne and Glenn McGrath in 2006-07, Adam Gilchrist in 2008 and Matthew Hayden in 2009.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

"A lot of people only think of me captaining a great team. I only had that team for three years. I took over in 2003 and they all left in 2006," said Ponting, whose revered predecessor Steve Waugh enjoyed a 71 per cent Test winning rate.

"I took over a young team and we were still able to maintain some pretty high standards and be competitive in every series we played."

Ponting led Australia to a gripping, revenge Test series win in South Africa during 2009 and noted England prevailed here in 2010-11 to eventually clinch No. 1 Test status.

"The only time I lost a series was against the No. 1 ranked side at the time," said Ponting, who has been promoting his book across Australia.

Ricky and Rianna Ponting attend the Melbourne Cup. Getty Images. Source: Getty Images

Australia's failure against England in 2005, 2009 and 2010-11 cut Ponting deep, a proud man and true Mowbray scrapper - but that was his lot in a stellar, 13,378-run, 20-year career.

"People can be critical, that's fine. I will be defined by the three Ashes losses I had and as a leader that is your destiny sometimes," said Ponting.

"In 2005 they beat us and in 2006-07 we were able to bounce back and play some of the best Test cricket that has ever been played."

Ponting isn't fretting about the controversy his book has generated saying he had been open and 'honest'.

Ponting will be itchy when the first Ashes Test starts at the Gabba from November 21 and will 'probably be sitting on the couch with his whites on' but knows his time has passed.

Ponting has also come in for a baking from Mark Taylor over his book but said the former Test skipper was also on Cricket Australia board during the national side's period of decline from 2004.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ricciardo: Abu Dhabi a letdown

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

That wasn't a great race, definitely not one for the scrapbook. We had a good grid spot but couldn't get the car off the line.

Our starts have been a bit hit and miss this year. The last few have been good but today was a miss. We got swamped on the way to Turn One and in the end I went wide to avoid a collision - though JEV (Scuderia Toro Rosso teammate Jean-Eric Vergne) and myself may have had some light contact.

After that things didn't look too clever. The position we're in at the moment is that the car isn't fast enough to mount that sort of major recovery. If we start in the top 10 and stay there on the first lap, we have the ability to race and defend a good position - but if we're out of sequence it's hard. Unfortunately that's the race we had today.

Coming into the race, the nominal strategy was to attempt a one-stopper, albeit with the hedge of pushing on the first stint and seeing how far we could go with the tyres. One consequence of getting away poorly was to come out of the mix behind Esteban Gutiérrez. He was on the prime tyre and as we've seen in recent races, the Saubers have really good straight line speed. I couldn't get past and sitting behind him we weren't really making good use of the tyres.

At that point I asked if we could go onto Plan B, and the next lap I was called into the pits. A two-stopper was the way forward, but ultimately it didn't improve our situation much.

When you're in that situation the race in front of you looks very long. A poor start tends to play on your mind for a few laps. It's very frustrating. It doesn't show up in the driving: it's not like I start locking brakes or driving like an idiot - but it's there, in the back of your mind. It's a couple of seconds when the lights go out but you can't take it back. All you can do is think about contingencies like a safety car and how you might be able to shoehorn-in a viable strategy around something like that. Beyond that you just try to have the best race you can - but it's definitely not got the same buzz as when you're hunting down points.

Racing aside, it's been a good weekend. This is one of my favourite venues. We haven't really done anything out of the ordinary but it's nice to sit out on the terrace, enjoy the heat and people-watch. Here that's mostly people on boats, which is a bit of a novelty. One regret is not getting to any of the live gigs that have been going on over the weekend. Everyone who's been down to the arena has raved about how good they've been, but we've had too many hours at the track to get away.

Hopefully I'll get to rectify that in Austin. We're going out early and I'm planning a proper night out before the grand prix: have some ribs, go see some live music and soak it all up. After that I'm going to nail the weekend. It'd be nice to be going there right now: I've got plenty of surplus energy to channel.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ashes dark days sparked fire

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

ENGLAND'S current Ashes dominance was born in the repeated humiliations delivered by Warne, McGrath, Ponting and Co.

Ian Bell, England's middle-order maestro, said the lessons learned, particularly in the 2006-07 whitewash in Australia, still resonate with the current team and has been a catalyst in the turn around as the visitors aim for their fourth successive Ashes win this summer.

"Coming on tours when I started with England it wasn't the feeling of winning a series, it was trying to not make it as bad as it possibly can,'' Bell said yesterday in Hobart preparing for tomorrow's tour game against Australia A.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

"Now, there is no doubt that obviously the one (last series) in England and here we've come as favourites, which is a different pressure all together.

"It is a lot different culture in the English team now, not just against Australia but generally against whoever we play people from our side of things media-wise and people at home expect us to win."

He said the lessons of success were rammed home by the great Australian side that didn't lose an Ashes series from 1989 until 2005 and then retook the prized urn with a drubbing in the '06-07 series.

Bell initially struggled in the Ashes contests, being dubbed "the Sherminator" by perennial England baiter Shane Warne, but has now become arguably the visitors most consistent batsman, highlighted by his series high 562 runs at 62.4 during the winter in England's 3-0 win.

"Certainly in 2005, I think it was my fourth Test match, mentally and technically I wasn't ready for Test cricket but in a way it gave me a good lesson because I was playing against Warne, McGrath, Ponting _ you go from one to 11 (they are all) legends of the game," he said.

"They showed me certainly when we came here and lost 5-0 what proper Test cricket was all about.

"If I wanted to make a career in Test cricket I had to improve in a lot of areas and they were the lessons I took away from it.

"I wouldn't say I looked back with bad memories, they were just massive lessons I learned in my career.

"And I can honestly say I was lucky to play against some of the best players who have ever played the game, hopefully I've tried to learn a little bit from each of those guys and put it into my game."

England did not train yesterday but confirmed captain Alastair Cook and batsman Kevin Pietersen would both play against Australia A after sitting out the tour opener in Perth.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Poms praise Aussie influence

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

AS if losing consistently to England was not bad enough, a lot of the old enemy's success has been built on Australian coaching and know how.

In former Victorian and Tasmanian quick David Saker as England's bowling coach and with Jason Gillespie in charge at Yorkshire, Australia's influence is high.

And to top it off, even current Australian coach Darren Lehmann coached at Yorkshire and has had current squad members Joe Root and Monty Panesar refining their craft at his Adelaide cricket academy.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

England spearhead James Anderson rated Saker as the best bowling coach he has played under.

"I think just the way he works out a batsman and comes up with plans for me, we are on the same wave length for that sort of thing," Anderson said yesterday in Hobart.

"We build up the pressure around that.

"He's probably more tactically minded than technical from a coach's point of view.

"He's probably the best bowling coach I've worked with tactically.

"At the stage of my career, I don't really need any technical help, it is more the tactically side I need help with."

While on his first Ashes tour of Australia, opening batsman Root was down under during the last Ashes campaign attending the Darren Lehmann Cricket Academy and playing Adelaide club cricket for Prospect.

"He (Lehmann) didn't spend a lot of time at the Academy but it was good to get his thoughts on a few things about batting," Root said.

"He's obviously had a very good career as a player and had a good start to his coaching career as well so it was good to get some tips and help from him."

Root has also benefited from Gillespie's tutelage at Yorkshire, as has fellow tourists Jonathan Bairstow and Gary Ballance.

"He's been brilliant, he's done a fantastic job at Yorkshire, he's just a really nice bloke," he said.

"He's a fantastic coach and I've learned a lot from him.

"All the lads at Yorkshire respect him very highly for what he did in the game as a player but more so as a coach as well."

However, Root said Gillespie had not turned complete traitor when it came to national secrets.

"Australians don't like to give too much away but he's been very good in helping me develop my game over the past two years and he's done everything he can to try and progress my cricket as you would expect from your coach," Root said.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More