Hoppa sets date for Parra return

Will Hopoate trains with the Eels. Source: DailyTelegraph

PEN this date into your diaries Parramatta fans: November 7.

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

Will Hopoate has confirmed he will join the rest of the Eels playing squad in exactly 40 days, ending speculation the high-profile recruit will back out on his deal at the club.

Currently in the final stages of his two-year Mormon mission, Hopoate's future had become a point of conjecture following the departure of coach Ricky Stuart three weeks ago.

Hopoate signed a deal with the Eels in 2011 that contained a get-out clause if previous coach Steve Kearney was no longer at Parramatta.

There were also reports that Hopoate was set to field interest from Canterbury, but The Sunday Telegraph has learned that was merely a screen from the Dogs camp, who were more focused on trying to lure Eels fullback Jarryd Hayne.

But Hopoate has told Eels officials he will commence his NRL comeback when the Eels entire playing roster returns for preseason testing in the first week of November.

"We've been in contact with him only last week and there's no doubt he'll be here,'' Parramatta chairman Steve Sharp said.

"I've been assured that he's keen to come. Fortunately for everybody he hasn't been reading the papers, which is part of his Mormon mission, so he doesn't have to listen to the stuff that's being said about us.''

The Parramatta playing group broke last Friday ahead of a four-week break. Sharp said he was in no doubt that the players would return with a new head coach to guide them on day one of preseason training.

"Everything else is all settled, we just need to appoint a coach and that's what we'll do,'' Sharp said.

"They'll have a coach when they return.''

Sharp said the club remained focused on also appointing a head of football operations. NRL referees coach Daniel Anderson and Cronulla assistant coach Peter Sharp have both been linked to the role.

Cronulla's Sharp has told the Eels he's staying at the Sharks while Anderson said he had not been contacted by the Eels.

Despite being without a coach, the Eels are also close to signing former Melbourne and Manly half Liam Foran. The brother of Sea Eagles five-eighth Kieran Foran, Liam is expected to sign a one-year deal with the Eels after two seasons in the English Super league with Salford.

Brisbane Broncos recruit Corey Norman's move to Parramatta will also commence this week when he arrives in Sydney to look at property for where he'll live over the next three years.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Manly's weakness now a strength

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

MANLY have turned what many feared would be their weakness into a tremendous advantage going into Sunday's grand final.

When the season started many rated Manly a strong chance, given their form over recent years, but also warned of their ageing roster and the difficulty of trying to nurse that many players through what is always a tough and long season.

Through nothing but toughness and courage, they have emerged, pushing through to Sunday's decider. You can't underestimate the value of grand final experience.

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

It's what got the Sea Eagles home on Friday night.

Few realised that of the 13 players who ran on to the field on Friday night, 10 had grand final experience. So did three of the four on the bench.

And many of them have played two grand finals, and some more.

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

Jamie Lyon was asked after the game how many grand finals this was and, never the kind of bloke who plays for stats, he did a quick calculation and said he thought it was four. Or five.

There's something about grand finals, and the white-hot intensity it brings knowing you are playing for it all, the entire season, that forges something in you.

It's a strength you can't find anywhere else except Origin, but even then it is different. Grand final teams have been together, almost every day, for nearly 11 months.

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

There's a trust and confidence there that can't be manufactured unless you have all, at some point together, had the question put to you.

So when the Sea Eagles were down 14-0 and the Rabbitohs were on a run, that would have been the end of most teams. The Sea Eagles failed to panic. Their calmness was inspiring. And fortifying.

Anthony Watmough put it best. "There wasn't much said," he explained. "Killer (Lyon) said a few words."

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

No big speeches, just a few words from their leader and the Sea Eagles found the confidence to turn it around.

That composure under pressure got the Sea Eagles home. And it's what their opponents should be very worried about come Sunday. You cannot simply manufacture that.

The Rabbitohs started so well that only the Manly players and Geoff Toovey in the coach's box thought they could come back.

Nobody gives Souths a start like that and runs them down.

Yet the Sea Eagles were so courageous.

Glenn Stewart had a poor start, coming up with several mistakes. A lesser player would have retreated, afraid to keep making mistakes.

But he's too tough for that and came back to be one of Manly's best.</p><p>Watmough was in the meat of it all, taking on the bigger Burgess brothers, and monster Souths pack, and by the end of the game stood taller than all of them.

They put in everywhere.

Toovey has done a terrific job at Manly. The Sea Eagles were busted after their opening finals loss to the Roosters. They looked like they limped in against Cronulla and squeaked through, but then they had to face a rested up South Sydney.

Yet Toovey realised you can't make a player any better, any stronger, or any faster at this time of year. You can make him fresher, though, mentally and physically.  

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cowboys add fuel to Bennett rumours

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

THE mystery surrounding Wayne Bennett's future took another dramatic turn Saturday when North Queensland officials declared they would wait until after the grand final before announcing their new head coach for next season.

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

Why?

"Because the person or persons in the short-list could well be involved in the grand final,'' Cowboys chief executive Peter Jourdain said.

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

"It probably wouldn't be fair to either team to have it announced before that.

"We're going to have to go through contract negotiations, so if they're involved in the grand final it's not going to happen that same week.''

Jourdain's frank admission to The Sunday Telegraph did little to silence the consistent rumbling over the past fortnight among rivals NRL clubs that Newcastle's Bennett could be on his way to Townsville.

Jourdain denied Saturday that any deal with Bennett had been done. But clearly, no other coach has been appointed yet either.

"I've always said if Wayne is available of course we'd be interested,'' Jourdain said of speculation that Bennett was their target.

"My understanding is he's got a two-year contract. I don't know any different to that, but if that changed of course we'd be interested.

"But as I said my understanding is he's got a two-year contract, so I would think he's not available.''

At some point Bennett will have to declare his future. Saturday night at Allianz Stadium wasn't the occasion, but last Wednesday was.

Despite being contracted to Newcastle until 2015, Bennett refused to guarantee his future at the Knights beyond the finals series.

"I can't give you an iron-clad guarantee about anything in this game,'' Bennett said.

"Right now, I'm coach here so when that changes, I'll let you know.''

Most saw it as a ploy to deflect the spotlight and focus from his players in the build-up to Saturday night's preliminary final against the Sydney Roosters. And it may have been.

But nine weeks after telling Neil Henry he wasn't wanted for 2014, the Cowboys remain without a coach despite a strong list of applications flooding their inbox over the past two months.

Contenders Paul Green, Kevin Walters and Kristian Woolf have all been interviewed.

It's worth noting that none of them are involved with the grand final.

Bennett's connection to the Cowboys has been widely reported before. His son in-law, Fox Sports commentator Ben Ikin, sits on the Cowboys board and Bennett had agreed to coach the club in 2009, only to backflip on the agreement after the board weren't unanimous in the decision.

The signing of St George-Illawarra hooker Cameron King last week on a three-year deal to the Cowboys also led rivals officials, including some at the Dragons, to believe he was leaving with one year left on his contract at Saints to possibly link up again with Bennett in Townsville.

King, a former junior Kangaroos hooker, was coached by Bennett in 2010-2011 and was then targeted by him to join the Knights not long after the premiership-winning coach had departed St George Illawarra.

Test halfback Johnathan Thurston also added to the speculation surrounding Bennett last week by claiming: "I haven't worked alongside (Bennett) so it would be great to work alongside him.''

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Special One, AVB in stalemate

Grudge match ends in stalemate. Source: Sang Tan / AP

THE first managerial meeting between former colleagues Jose Mourinho and Andre Villas-Boas ended in stalemate on Saturday as Chelsea drew 1-1 at Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League.

Spurs manager Villas-Boas saw his side take a first-half lead through Gylfi Sigurdsson, but in a frenetic and keenly contested second half, Chelsea equalised through John Terry before having Fernando Torres sent off.

The point nudged Spurs above Arsenal at the top of the table, while Chelsea climbed one place to third ahead of the rest of the weekend programme.

Icelandic midfielder Sigurdsson gave Spurs a 19th-minute lead at White Hart Lane when he rode a challenge from the sprawling Terry to gather Roberto Soldado's lay-off before steering the ball past Petr Cech.

Mourinho's half-time introduction of Juan Mata gave the visitors fresh impetus, however, and the Spain midfielder teed up the equaliser in the 65th minute with an inswinging free-kick that was headed home by Terry.

Torres played a key role in Chelsea's second-half revival, but having earlier appeared to scratch Jan Vertonghen in an off-the-ball incident, he was sent off in the 81st minute after being shown a second yellow card for leading with his arm in a challenge on the same player.

Sigurdsson and Jermain Defoe both went close to claiming a late winner for Spurs, but Villas-Boas was denied a victory over his former mentor at Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Opponents beware of Bennett's guile

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

SPEAKING to Wayne Bennett a few days before Newcastle took on reigning premiers Melbourne Storm last weekend reminded me of a story I once heard about Walter Hagen, the great American golfer of the 1920s.

Chasing his fourth consecutive US PGA title Hagen made the final of the then one-on-one match play tournament.

In the early hours of the morning of the match the notorious playboy was spotted by the doorman at the players' hotel, weaving up the driveway dressed in his dinner suit and obviously a trifle worse for wear.

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

"Mr Hagen," said the doorman.

"What are you doing? Your opponent has been in bed asleep for hours."

"He may be in bed," slurred Hagen, "but he hasn't been asleep."

Bennett's opponent on Saturday is Roosters coach Trent Robinson. I'm guessing on Friday night the 36-year-old will be getting to bed early. But he won't be sleeping.

Bennett, on the other hand, is so relaxed it was a wonder he stayed awake during my interview.

How can a man so close to another premiership be so calm, you ask? The answer is in the reply he gave when I asked about what motivated him after so many years and so much success in the game.

"Just to see us all come together as individuals," he said.

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

"When I arrived 18 months ago we were way off the pace of being a really good football team. Bringing all that together, getting the mix right, seeing young men fulfil their dreams and being given the opportunity to do that. That pleases me."

And that's why Bennett and his team are the most dangerous combination still chasing the premiership - quite simply, he doesn't need it.

Winning the grand final is meaningless to Bennett personally. He's already been there and done that eight times. Once each in the BRL and Super League and six times in the NRL.

Another premiership won't change Wayne Bennett's life one iota. His reputation as the best coach in the game is guaranteed. Clubs willing to pay whatever it takes for him to sprinkle a little of his magic their way will be knocking on his door until the day he decides he's had enough.

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

Which is not to say Bennett doesn't want to win. Of course he does, but not for himself. For his players.

The same can't be said for Robinson, or fellow semi-finalists Michael Maguire and Geoff Toovey.

They want to get their hands on the trophy and the lifetime title of "Premiership-winning coach" that comes with it so badly it hurts.

And that's what makes them vulnerable.

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

Robinson will have spent every waking moment this week trying to second guess Bennett. Trying to figure out how to counter the master coach's master plan that may or may not even exist.

Bennett says he won't be making any changes to what the Knights have done the past few weeks, but Bennett always says that and then pulls a double-cross like the infamous Brian Smith doctored scouting sheet of 1993, getting Greg Dowling to bag the Queensland forwards in 1998, or flying Alfie back from England in 2001.

Then there's the way he always manages to take the heat off his team by turning it on to himself when needed.

Like his evasive answer to that media conference question about whether he'd be at Newcastle next year.

A few days out from the Knights' biggest game of the year and that was all anyone was talking about.

The real mystery was who actually asked the question. Maybe Greg Dowling had snuck in the back wearing a hat with a press card stuck in the band.

But the real pressure on Robinson, Maguire and Toovey is that all season they have been expected to win.

Bennett and the Knights were supposed to be making up the numbers.

Bennett doesn't have a Sonny Bill Williams, Greg Inglis or Jamie Lyon, just a collection of old-timers, discards and rejects.

So many of his players have long rap sheets that when they fly to games their plane should be called Con Air, not that it concerns Bennett.

"Some of them have a chequered past," he said.

"But the past is not something we dwell on. We worry about what they are doing now, and what their future is."

To which Trent Robinson could say without humour, "yeah, me too."  

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tinkler jets in to rev-up Knights

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

IT'S just the type of heavyweight support that could tilt the scales in Newcastle's favour at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.

Despite rumours swirling around about the health or otherwise of his business empire, a relaxed-looking Nathan Tinkler made a rare flying visit to Newcastle on Thursday in a reassuring sign of stability to wish his team all the best ahead of their preliminary final showdown with the Sydney Roosters.

Now based in Singapore, the reclusive millionaire Knights owner had lunch with Hunter Sports Group boss Troy Palmer, coach Wayne Bennett, Knights chairman Paul Harragon and CEO Matt Gidley at Wests Mayfield before chatting with players including Danny Buderus, Willie Mason and Jarrod Mullen prior to the team's departure for Sydney.

It's understood he is planning on attending the game to cheer his side on.

Knights backrower Beau Scott said Tinkler's surprise appearance was a gesture welcomed by the players. 

Nathan Tinkler chats to his players today. Picture: Peter Lorimer Source: DailyTelegraph

"It was good to see," Scott said.

"It was just a friendly chat to show his support."

Gidley said the players would have received a boost out of seeing Tinkler on the eve of the game.

"They always do get a bit of a kick out of seeing him whenever he is in town," Gidley said. 

Nathan Tinkler chats to his players today. Picture: Peter Lorimer Source: DailyTelegraph

"I'm sure he'd like to get back here more often if he could but he's obviously busy.

"Nathan and the boys - they all like spending time together and it was just a good opportunity for him to get into town today and catch up with the guys before our big game."

Gidley said the success the Knights are enjoying is what Tinkler envisaged and has strived for since becoming Knights owner

"Nathan's in great spirits and is as excited as anyone in Newcastle about how the team is going," Gidley said.

"He's just happy that we are doing well for the city as much as anything because he knows the sort of impact it has on the people here when the club is going strong.

"It's why he got involved in the first place."

Winger James McManus is the only injury concern for Newcastle heading into the game.

Bennett will give him as much time as possible to prove his suspect ankle will stand up to the rigours of a finals match.

But you would think he would have to get through a fair portion of the club's final training session today at St Josephs College at Hunters Hill.

Kevin Naiqama is again on standby.

Scott is convinced all the pressure is on the Sydney Roosters and says the Knights will take the same relaxed approach into this game as they have against the Bulldogs and Melbourne.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mystery over Crowe's Playboy promise

Playboy Magazine publisher Hugh Hefner (C) poses with playmates Holly Madison (L) and Bridget Marquardt (R). Source: VALERY HACHE / DailyTelegraph

IT might be the biggest Chinese whisper in South Sydney history, but that's what makes it all the more interesting.

In 2002, long before Russell Crowe bought the Rabbitohs and as South Sydney prepared for their return to the NRL, an incentive was issued to the group of misfits cobbled together for the club's glorious comeback.

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

No one is sure whether the offer came directly from Crowe, but the story has ­certainly been repeated over the past 11 years.

If the ­Rabbitohs made the finals, Crowe would organise a party for the players at the Playboy Mansion in Los Angeles.

"I heard the same, but I don't think it ever came out of Russell's mouth," former prop Paul Stringer said.

"It may have come out of some coaching staff's mouth that Russell had said it but I don't think it ever came out of Russell's mouth."

History shows the Rabbitohs never reached the finals. Three wooden spoons in their first five years meant Hugh Hefner's kingdom, much like the NRL finals, remained the promised land players could only dream about.

Over time the legend has grown. Some say for the Bunnies to party with the Playboy Bunnies now they must deliver South Sydney a premiership.

Craig Coleman was the coach of the 2002 Bunnies side and laughs when you ask him about the Playboy Bunny carrot.

"It's one of the great stories, people just like to believe it," he said.

Backrower Bryan Fletcher arrived at Redfern a year later and certainly believes there's an element of truth to the tale.

"Apparently he promised (the 2002 team) if they made the eight he would take them to the Playboy Mansion," Fletcher said.

"In my years there I did ask him about it and he didn't really say yes or no."

Russell Crowe surrounded by red and green at a Rabbitohs game this season. Picture: Mark Evans Source: DailyTelegraph

It is indisputable that Crowe's influence on the club and players is beyond measure.

"Russell is very passionate about his football team," former centre Adam MacDougall said.

"He was very hands-on in the early days, and would often be part of training sessions with the boys and encourage them.

"He has been very generous with his pockets and his time and he deserves all the success he is experiencing at the moment with Souths."

Russell Crowe and Mario Fenech in the crowd. Picture: Mark Evans Source: DailyTelegraph

Crowe's involvement did not start in 2006 when he and Peter Holmes a Court officially bought the club. Before their return to the competition in 2002, Crowe invited Coleman's team to Coffs Harbour for a training camp.

The players dined at Crowe's Nana Glen farm alongside Sydney Olympic stars including Kerri Pottharst, Lauren Burns and Jane Saville.

"He took the whole team to his farm and invited all our Olympic gold medallists to have dinner for us," Coleman said.

"He did a lot of things behind the scenes that he didn't want people to know about."

Slowly over time Crowe's influence began to increase, even if it was only in the background without fanfare.

Fletcher remembers his "chalk and cheese" experience of going from a premiership at the Roosters to training at Erskineville Oval on a pitch covered in holes and using outdated gym equipment.

Then, suddenly, new weights arrived.

)Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner and wife Crystal Harris. Picture: GABRIEL BOUYS Source: AFP

"I don't know if Russell actually did, I just presumed he did because all of a sudden we got new weight gear," Fletcher recalled.

"When I was there he was just like a sponsor. After the games he would say let's go for a feed and put a feed on.

"He was just a genuine supporter, just a little bit different in the sense he had won an Oscar."

The respect from the rest of the league world was a long time coming. Fletcher, a Test and NSW star, was on the team bus when the Newcastle gatekeeper turned the team away because he did not believe they were first graders.

"We had to park around the corner and walk in," Fletcher said.

"He said 'I don't recognise anyone, you must be the reserve grade side so you have to park around the back'."

It was not that way to their fans though. Stringer's greatest memory is how the Bunnies faithful embraced their team, even in defeat.

"It was crazy, it was hard not to get caught up in it," Stringer said.

"We would get beaten by 40 and go back to the club and there'd be three or four thousand people in the auditorium cheering at us.

"They treated you like a bit of a rock star."

And if the Playboy offer is still on the table?

"If it is, I will be coming with them," Fletcher said.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Five biggest flops of the season

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

THEY commanded big pay cheques but didn't produce when they needed to. Dean Ritchie names the five who failed to deliver in 2013.

BEN BARBA (Canterbury)
Personal issues cut down the Dally M winner's season. Barba never went close to reaching the dizzy heights he found in 2012. Subsequently, Canterbury went out in week one of the finals. Barba had to face gambling, alcohol and assault allegations. His form was patchy at best. Finally he bolted from Sydney for Brisbane. It was a season to forget and a sad departure from Belmore.

BENJI MARSHALL (Wests Tigers)
Horror final season in rugby league. Let's be honest, his form was terrible. His kicking game was modest, his running game virtually non-existent.  Even Wests Tigers supporters ended up turning on Marshall. Always had an air of arrogance about him, something fans accepted at the peak of his powers five years ago. Not anymore though. Signed with rugby union and left the Tigers under a black cloud.

TONY WILLIAMS (Canterbury)
Most thought big T-Rex would revel under Des Hasler, the pair having worked up an explosive combination at Manly. But Williams never seemed to lift out of first gear at Belmore. Hasler was satisfied with his form throughout 2013 – but fans expected and demanded more.  "He should stand in front of the mirror to see exactly how big he is," roared former Test prop Steve Roach.

CHRIS SANDOW (Parramatta)
Like Barba, personal issues engulfed his season. Sandow was wracked with gambling issues and failed to see-out the season. The Eels found Sandow professional help for his poker machine addiction. Sandow just couldn't seem to find his groove under Ricky Stuart this year. In fact, he hasn't found his groove in two years at Parramatta. He is proving an expensive flop.

ADAM BLAIR (Wests Tigers)
Cops a hard time from fans – and rightly so. Arrived at Concord from Melbourne last year for a reported annual contract of $550,000. No-one could deny Blair is trying but he has been completely ineffective for two years now. Was among the game's best forwards at the Storm but has failed to make any significant impact at Wests Tigers. Talk continues that the club may attempt to offload him.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ford's V8 team 'not in turmoil'

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

Since buying a majority stake in Ford Performance Racing (FPR), the factory-backed Ford powerhouse, the former driver has gritted his teeth and held his tongue as people claimed a "civil war" raged and "turmoil" threatened to rip apart his team. FPR's on track performances have also been described as disastrous.

Nash (R) with co-owner Rusty French. Source: Supplied

Nash has finally hit back, the usually reticent team owner setting the record straight. In an exclusive interview with the Daily Telegraph as Bathurst nears, Nash opened up about in-fighting at his team, the future of off-contract star Will Davison and his team's performances.

He also revealed the truth behind the negotiations with major sponsor Ford, whose future with the team remains uncertain after this year.

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

CIVIL WAR? WHAT CIVIL WAR?

Nash candidly admitted his drivers had blues, but laughed off claims a "civil war" had been sparked by a team pit-stop decision that saw Davison plummet out of contention at the Sandown 500.

"Our drivers have disagreements," he said. "I am not going to lie. I mean we saw vision on TV of Mark Winterbottom and Alex Davison having words earlier this year.

"But you know what? All drivers blue and I would be worried if they didn't. They do it because they are so competitive and want to win. They get fired up in the heat of the moment because they are hungry. But that is where it stays.

"All of our drivers get on well. They leave it all at the track. I can say that hand on heart. There is zero disharmony. There have been total fabrications out there and nonsensical claims that are just plain wrong. Some of the stuff that has been reported has been hysterical.

"I have never, honestly, seen a team with such good morale. From the shop floor up."

WE DON'T FAVOUR FROSTY, DAVO DEAL WILL HAPPEN

Nash slammed suggestions the team favoured established driver Winterbottom over Davison, and revealed the latter was about to sign a new deal.

"The team does not favour Mark," Nash affirmed. "We have a clear policy of equal opportunity. Any other suggestion is 100 percent wrong.

"We are very close to closing the deal with Will. On both sides, no one has any other alternative than to cut a deal and move on. It is not complete but it will be."

FORD SET TO LOCK IN NEW DEAL

Nash also confirmed he was close to securing a new contract with Ford, a major coup that will see the famous brand remain with the sport.

"The negotiations are absolutely positive," Nash said. "FPR and the Geelong Football club are their big properties and we are important to them.

"I can confirm we have had discussions about a one-year deal, and also talks of a longer term deal. We are also looking at a three-year contract. We are not too far away."

The Daily Telegraph understand the deal has been signed off in Australia and is awaiting approval from HQ in the United States.

Nash accused the media of trying to kill off the deal.

"All the negativity has been unhelpful," Nash said. "We have sat back and copped it, but not anymore.

"We can't work out why we have been a punching bag. We are knocked down all the time even though we are in championship contention.

"People have just written stupid things. I mean our two boys moved up into second and third (in the championship) prior to Sandown. It is hardly a 'fall apart' season. It has been a bashing.

"I'm quite sick of some media outlets writing up, not just us, but the sport as negative. These are tough times and it is doing us no good. Ford's name has been canned by false information.

"Ford have to make a huge decision and people have been ripping into them. It is time it stops."

---

Watch SPEED's 2013 Bathurst 1000 preview show, Thu 10 Oct at 7:30pm EDT (Channel 512).

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Dragons need NRL bail-out

The Dragons struggled for form on the field in 2013. Source: Mark Evans / DailyTelegraph

THE once mighty St George Illawarra Dragons have appealed to the NRL for urgent financial assistance to maintain their extensive junior development programs as the joint venture reels from two poor seasons and enormous cuts to its Leagues Club grant.

The Daily Telegraph understands Dragons officials are seeking an advance in the vicinity of $1 million to meet debts and expenses, including $250,000 in outstanding rent for the use of Kogarah's WIN Jubilee Stadium.

St George Illawarra boss Peter Doust on Wednesday declined to specify figures, but did confirm the club had requested advances of its monthly grant.

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

The Dragons are also sweating on help from the NRL's discretionary fund, believing they have a right to additional resources because they support four junior representative teams across southern Sydney and the Illawarra.

But the traditional revenue streams are drying up. The St George Leagues Club grant has been slashed by about 75 per cent from two years ago, when $2.5 million was handed over.

This season the Dragons received a letter guaranteeing just $550,000 in Leagues Club funding, which has posted a total loss of more than $2 million over the past two years and is looking to renovate its Princes Hwy premises.

The huge drop, coupled with falling merchandise and ticket sales from back-to-back failures on the field, has created a tough climate for the Dragons to contend as the barren off-season approaches.

The Dragons are desperate to learn whether the NRL will lift its annual grant from $7.1 to $7.6 million in 2014, a rise the clubs claim was promised to compensate salary cap increases.

A committee of club chairmen on Wednesday met ARLC chairman John Grant and NRL CEO Dave Smith to discuss their need for additional funding.

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

For Doust, frustration is building as the uncertainty continues.

"The Leagues Club grants have been diminishing over the past couple of years from a multi-million dollar level to this year being under one million," Doust said.

"Notwithstanding the Dragons have been encouraged by the NRL to continue delivering the full range of services within our business, including junior development and community programs across our region.

"The whole sustainable funding structure of NRL clubs was to be reviewed by the NRL at the end of the calendar year.

"Like all NRL clubs we are keenly awaiting the outcome on the NRL grant for 2014 and also the discretionary funding model for 2014 and beyond."

Should the NRL advance St George Illawarra a loan, it first needs to be satisfied the club has the capacity to pay it back.

Wests Tigers are set to be given $1 million to cure their financial headache from the Balmain side of the joint venture, but only in exchange for a complete overhaul of the factionalised board.  

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More