Players risk NRL ban

Anthony Watmough, Sam Burgess, Paul Gallen and Todd Carney at the Launch of the inaugural NRL Auckland Nines. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

PLAYER burnout isn't the only issue for NRL coaches to consider ahead of the inaugural Auckland Nines with players at risk of missing the start of the season if they commit an act of foul play during the tournament.

The Nines concept took a major step towards a reality in New Zealand yesterday at the announcement of the official rules that all 16 NRL clubs will be governed by when the tournament kicks off on February 15-16.

The $2.6m tournament will be used a test case for new rules such as 'golden try' replacing 'golden point' extra time and only one on-field referee, while the Nines will also see the return of the sin bin.

But with concerns, led by Test captain Cameron Smith and premiershp-winning coach Craig Bellamy, over scheduling and the length of the NRL season, just which players are made available for the Nines remains the biggest question for organisers and fans.

It is also a dilemma for coaches after confirmation from the NRL yesterday that any act of foul play during the Nines will be analysed under the microscope of a match review committee.

Carry-over points will also carry over into the NRL season.

Cam King , Braith Anasta , Sam Burgess , Anthony Watmough , Paul Gallen with local junior league players at the Launch of the inaugural NRL Auckland Nines. Source: News Limited

"If players transgress within the Nines tournament they can be potentially suspended within the Nines or further into the NRL competition for more serious misconduct,'' NRL football operations manager Nathan McGuirk said yesterday.

"The vast majority of things we hope will be dealt within the tournament.

"But more serious misconduct can be dealt potentially within the NRL competition.''

Each NRL club is required to send 16 players for the tournament with at least 75 per cent (12 players) of each squad made up of from the club's top-25 squad.

Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter has already declared his club would be going all out to claim the inaugural Nines title while current and former internationals including Australia's Robbie Farah, Paul Gallen, Greg Bird, Sam Thaiday and Willie Mason are already committed to the tournament. England's Sam Tomkins and New Zealand's Shaun Johnson are also certain starters.

England and Warriors fullback Sam Tomkins is a certain starter at the Nines tournament. Source: Getty Images

Former Test prop Steve Price conceded he understood the fine line between supporting the tournament and player welfare but claimed the Nines was a concept he would love to be a part of.

"That's my biggest, not concern, but I suppose question - on who is coming?,'' Price said.

"If it was me personally, I'd look forward to it. It's a fun way to do some pre-season training.

"You've got a weekend of fast, fanatical football. Realistically you're probably only going to play four or five minutes in a half. You're not going to play the whole nine minutes (of each half).

"Leading into the season I think it could be a great freshen up, as a player I'd be looking forward to it.''

While McGuirk said that the Nines 'golden try' extra time rule would be assessed for the purpose of possible introduction to the NRL depending on how it was received, Price claimed the decision to axe the "negative golden point' was a no-brainer for the 2014 season.

"I just think its really negative, you're just setting up for field position or going for a penalty goal or field goal, that's not what footy is about,'' Price said of the current golden point model.

"The refs don't give penalties in golden point, everyone is offside. I'd love to see golden try when everyone is exhausted to promote the footy a little bit and challenge each other.

"That would be a good direction for the game to go in.''

Nines event organiser David Higgins will present a detailed preview of the Nines at today's NRL chief executive conference in Sydney today.

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hewitt still driven to succeed

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QUITTING is not part of Lleyton Hewitt's DNA, whether in a tennis match, training drill and certainly not when he's the healthiest in the past five years.

Hewitt shows no signs of slowing down as he plans a 2014 tournament schedule around the grand slam championships and Davis Cup commitments.

"People once they do retire often tell you you're retired for an awfully long time, to get the most out of yourself while you can,'' he said.

"I was out for four or five years, on and off, with injuries and I feel like now I can actually go out there and compete and enjoy being out there in the battle again.

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``I feel really good at the moment, I'm training really hard and the body's holding up extremely well which is a huge positive. Any time you get to over 30, it gets tougher and tougher. But I've been able to do absolutely everything so far in the pre-season.''

Hewitt, awarded the Newcombe medal on Monday night, is back on court after a heavy training block with fitness adviser Nathan Martin and coach Peter Luczak to prepare him for the summer culminating with the Australian Open in January.

The 32-year-old eventually had a career-saving operation to fuse two toes to correct a nagging foot injury that several surgeons advised would force him to retire.

``The foot injury lingered for a long time until I had the fusion and the screws and metal plate in the foot,'' he said.

Lleyton Hewitt with his maiden Newcombe medal. Picture: Robert Prezioso Source: Getty Images

``I've got absolutely no pain now, but I had to learn to walk and run and move on a tennis court a little differently.

``We do a lot of AFL drills because I love that kind of training, that hard slog out there and tough running.''

While this will be Hewitt's 18th consecutive year in the Australian Open singles main draw, it's a daunting Davis Cup first round tie on clay in France a week later that's squarely in his sights.

``I wanted so badly for us to get back in the World Group before I retire, whenever that may be,'' he said.

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`We go in as massive underdogs, but I believe with the team spirit, we have a fighting chance. Hopefully, we get Bernie (Tomic) in good nick and have a good run at it.

``Bernard does spend long hours on the practice court. It's just about doing those one-percenters all the time and backing it up day after day. If he does that, he's talented enough to have a long and successful career.

``For me last night, sitting there and seeing Rod Laver and Ken Rosewall and Newk and Rochey and all these great players, it hit home how much Davis Cup means to this country and that's what you try to emphasise to the younger guys.''

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Different field for talented Samuels

Sydney Uni Flames basketball player Casey Samuels who is making her mark on the basketball court with four wins from four games at Sydney University Aquatic Centre, Darlington. Pic Brett Costello Source: Brett Costello / News Limited

CASEY Samuels is becoming every bit as good at throwing things as older sister and discus star Dani.

The difference is she is doing it in a completely different sport.

The naturally athletic Samuels said she has never wanted to follow former world champion Dani into track and field with her preferred field of play a basketball court.

"I never really had any interest in athletics,'' said the 19-year-old, who has long term aspirations of playing for the Opals and eventually joining her older sister in the Olympic arena

"It's always been about basketball for me. I love the aggression, the physicality. It's the sport I love the most.''

Samuels older sister Jamie suited up for Dalton and her Flames side almost a decade ago with Dani also a talented basketballer in her youth before switching to discus. The sisters were joined by the sport when they decided to play together recently in a local Sydney league.

"It was great fun,'' Samuels said.

Samuels, part of the Gems side which last year won a bronze medal at the under 19 world championships, is emerging as one of the top young long bombers in the WNBL with Brydens Sydney University coach Karen Dalton rating the teenage basketball as a rising star of the game.

While Samuels got limited minutes with the Canberra Capitals last season, Dalton has elevated the shooting guard to her starting five for the Flames' past four outings of the WNBL.

"She has earned her time,'' Dalton said of her teenage prospect.

"One of her strengths is she is a great three point shooter and she also has a great understanding of the game for one so young.

"But three point shooting is her forte.''

The Flames are hoping to extend their winning streak in the WNBL to five games this weekend when they take on old foes Adelaide at home in round 10 on Saturday night.

"This is a very big game for us in terms of where we will stand on the ladder,'' Dalton said.

The Flames are currently in fourth place on the league ladder with Adelaide in fifth

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Aussies want Bailey to bludgeon Swann

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AUSTRALIA is planning to use George Bailey as a secret weapon to take down struggling England spinner Graeme Swann during the second Test, beginning in Adelaide on Thursday.

England need a big game from their ageing tweaker to claw back into the series but Australia is determined to hammer him out of the attack like they did in Brisbane, forcing the fast bowlers into more backbreaking toil on a flat drop-in pitch.

"We certainly wanted to keep bringing their best bowlers back into the game and try and tire them out. That worked," Bailey said of Australia's domination in Brisbane.

With Michael Clarke set to play despite not training Tuesday because of a rolled he suffered last Monday and Shane Watson declaring he is ready to do some heavy lifting to help preserve Australia's pace attack, Australia looks set to take an unchanged side into the match.

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This contrasts with a suddenly unsettled England, which is likely to promote Joe Root to number three in the absence of Jonathan Trott and hand former Zimbabwean Gary Balance his Test debut.

Fit again Tim Bresnan is also expected to play as the third seamer ahead of Chris Tremlett but the possibility of England including Monty Panesar as a second spinner on this dry pitch cannot be discounted.

The understated Clark Kent of Australian cricket, Bailey has the distinction of hitting more sixes than fours in his one-match Test career, having smacked Swann and part time off-spinner Joe Root over the Gabba boundary.

This is no fluke. Since Bailey joined the one-day team almost two years ago he has been superman, smashing 36 sixes in 35 matches as by far Australia's most productive 50-over player in that time.

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His record of more than a six a match puts Bailey ahead of Australia's biggest hitters, with Adam Gilchrist smacking 149 sixes in 287 one-day matches. Andrew Symonds hit 103 sixes in 198 matches, Mike Hussey 80 in 185 games and Shane Watson has 120 in 171 one-day matches.

Bailey's 50-over batting average is a phenomenal 55 and his strike rate of better than 92 also puts him alongside the likes of Gilchrist (97), Symonds (92), Watson (90) and Hussey (87).

It is that potency Australia's team hierarchy wants Bailey to unleash against Swann, particularly if the batsmen above Australia's Twenty20 captain can set the game up and get after the veteran spinner like they did at the Gabba.

Swann was the leading wicket-taker during the recent Ashes series in England on dry wickets specifically doctored for him but at the Gabba he had match figures of 2-215 and conceded four runs an over.

He was completely out-bowled by his Australian counterpart, Nathan Lyon, whose match figures were 4-63 from 29 overs.

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There is unlikely to be a surface in the country more favourable to Swann than Adelaide. If he fails to make an impact here it will be a long and difficult series for him and England.

For Australia Watson must soak up a significant number of overs if pace trio Mitchell Johnson, Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle are to be in reasonable shape for the pivotal Perth Test, which begins just three days after Adelaide.

Siddle failed to back up for Perth last season after bowling his heart out in Adelaide once James Pattinson broke down.

Watson bowled just two overs in Brisbane as he completed his recovery from a hamstring strain.

"If it's what we think it's going to be, the wicket will be flat and the bowlers will potentially have to bowl many more overs compared to Brisbane to bowl the English out," Watson said.

"That's a really important role, especially with back-to-back Test matches and how important it is for our quicks to be able to get through this Test, bowl well and pull up well.

"We certainly know we've got the bowlers to be able to exploit that Perth wicket, so I know how important it is for me to pick up the slack."

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Battered Sonny to rest up

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SYDNEY Roosters coach Trent Robinson has a message for an exhausted Sonny Bill Williams: "See you in February.''

Robinson told The Daily Telegraph yesterday that he planned to give Williams at least eight weeks to rest a body that has not stopped training for nearly two years.

Williams has enjoyed a stunning return season to rugby league.

His Kiwis may have lost the World Cup final but his impact on the NRL was immense this year.

But even the best need a rest.

Williams played for Panasonic in Japan last year before fighting South African heavyweight Francois Botha in February and then shifting directly into a hectic NRL season.

Rather than enjoy a break after the NRL grand final, Williams played on for another seven weeks with New Zealand.

Robinson said he doesn't want to see his star athlete near training or a football for the next two months.

Sonny Bill Williams is tackled by Greg Inglis and Josh Papalii. Source: Getty Images

''He hasn't had a break for one-and-a-half to two years,'' Robinson said.

''I think his Japanese season finished in either the last week of January or first week of February.

''We want him back feeling right. And it's not about feeling right when he comes back...it's about feeling right and fresh at the back-end of the season.

''He won't be back to training until February.''

Robinson can recall reading a pre-season story in the media questioning the worth of Williams this season.

The journalist asked whether Williams would be a distraction and flop.

''The story asked whether the sideshow (surrounding Williams) would ruin our season. I think we were supposed to run 15th,'' Robinson said.

''Twelve months later and it has been a remarkable season for Sonny. His impact has been big for the Roosters and for the game.

''Sonny has been great for both and he should be proud of what he has done.

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''The questions (about Williams' return to rugby league) were definitely out there from a lot of people. And they were entitled to ask the question.

''But to do what he has done inside a season, it a credit to him.''

Robinson said Williams off-field preparation was a key fact in his on-field brilliance.

''Some guys are different in how their motivation works and what influences them and improves their game,'' Robinson said.

''Sonny analyses really well. He is very clear about what works for him and he adjusts so quickly.

''Each games he quickly works out what he needs to do to improve.''

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Kearney undecided on future

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Stephen Kearney says he will take some time to think about whether he wants to continue as Kiwis coach in the aftermath of their heavy defeat to Australia in today's World Cup final.

Kearney said in June he wanted to continue beyond the World Cup, saying he didn't want to step away from the progress they had made and that the "journey is just beginning", but said yesterday he was undecided after his side's 34-2 defeat at Old Trafford.

"It is probably a bit raw for me at the moment," he said. "I will go home and have a good think about it, do a bit of reflecting. It has been five years at the helm, so I need to have a bit of a think and just see."

Kearney took over in 2008 and, with the help of Wayne Bennett, soon orchestrated New Zealand's first world title but his side were comprehensively outplayed today by a relentless Kangaroos outfit at the peak of their powers.

Stephen Kearney consols Sonny Bill Williams after the Kiwi lost in the RLWC final to Australia. Source: Getty Images

The Kiwis have enjoyed some good success under Kearney's watch - they added the 2010 Four Nations title to the 2008 World Cup - but they have won only two games against Australia in that time and were poor in both the 2009 and 2011 Four Nations campaigns.

It's likely the NZRL will want Kearney, who is also Broncos assistant coach, to continue. At 41, he is still a young coach but with plenty of NRL experience, and there aren't many viable alternatives. He also has the overwhelming support of the players.

"I can't throw my support behind Steve enough," five-eighth and vice-captain Kieran Foran said. "I think he's done a tremendous job with the side. He shows support for his players and always gets the best out of them. He's the right man for the job to keep leading us forward."

Assistant coach Ivan Cleary said he was keen to be involved in the future if it fitted in with his club commitments with Penrith.

"I have loved being part of it and, if we can somehow work it out [with the Panthers], I would certainly welcome the opportunity if it came up again," Cleary said.

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"Steve has been fantastic. He has been doing this for five years and they have had some great victories in that time. Australia have been the dominant force in rugby league for as long as I can remember and it hasn't changed and won't change in the near future.

"As a whole, I think the New Zealand team is getting closer. You need to remember there are some once-in-a-generation players in that Australian team and it's not always going to be that way. While it seems doom and gloom at the moment, in context, I actually think the gap is getting closer."

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Buzz: World Cup horror show

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Rugby league is a tough enough body-contact sport without subjecting our players to the dangerous conditions of Old Trafford at the World Cup final.

Whoever was in charge of the Kangaroo touring party should never have allowed the game to start without protective padding in the in-goal areas.

It's an absolute miracle no one was seriously hurt or even killed.

BLOG WITH BUZZ ALL DAY MONDAY

Brett Morris lies injured after crashing into the advertising signs after scoring a try. Source: Getty Images

When 100kg footballers are competing at high speed for the football in the in-goal areas, anything can happen.

We're talking head and brain injuries or broken arms and legs. Brett Morris and Manu Vatuvei had lucky escapes.

I rarely agree with Phil Gould but his comments on Twitter in the early hours of Sunday morning pretty much summed it up.

"Absolute disgrace playing this level of rugby league on a field this small. Absolute disgrace. Terribly dangerous.

"Whoever responsible for approving ground and those in-goals should be sacked immediately. Typical RL management. Zero care for player welfare."

The NRL had its most senior leaders at the game. At great cost to the sport, Dave Smith, John Grant, Todd Greenberg and Andrew Hill were all there.

Flying business class of course and staying in the top hotels and watching from corporate suites.

These men are in charge of not just the NRL but the ARL under the game's new management structure.

The fact none of them acted on the situation is just appalling.

They not only have an obligation to protect the players but also the clubs that pay the stars millions of dollars in salaries.

Luke Lewis dislocated his shoulder when he crashed into an advertising sign at Langtree Park in St Helens. Source: Supplied

Player safety has to be the number one concern every time these gladiators take the field.

Could you imagine the consequences for a struggling club like the Parramatta Eels if their superstar Jarryd Hayne had broken his leg, shoulder or arm.

Their whole season is over. It affects their crowds, their membership and their sponsors.

Imagine the Roosters losing Sonny Bill Williams for half the year, or the Rabbitohs losing Greg Inglis.

Imagine if SBW got injured and the millions he could lose from not having an off-season fight.

The Sharks have already lost Luke Lewis for half the season over an in-goal injury from earlier in the tour.

It's time the 16 clubs stood up to the NRL and International Board.

Not just in World Cups but in State of Origin and all representative games.

They need to properly compensated when their superstars are injured while "on loan" to the head body.

And they need an assurance that their players will have safe working conditions like any other form of employment in this country.

Parra might finally take off if Hayne plane keeps cruising

MY highlight of the entire World Cup was Jarryd Hayne's sensational form for the Kangaroos.

Johnathan Thurston won man-of-the-match but my choice was the Eels superstar.

We haven't seen him play anywhere near as consistently or brilliantly since he won the Dally M award in 2009.

It's fabulous news for Parramatta who, with an in-form Hayne and the addition of Will Hopoate, should climb off the bottom of the ladder next year.

Jarryd Hayne breaks away from Bryson Goodwin to set up a try scored for Brett Morris. Source: Getty Images

Broncos can't have it both ways

They signed superstar fullback Ben Barba because he was unhappy at the Bulldogs.

They tried to sign boom rookie Anthony Milford because he's apparently unhappy at the Raiders.

It didn't matter that Barba had a contract at Canterbury and Milford still has one year to go at Canberra.

At the same time one of their own players, Josh Hoffman, says he's unhappy and wants out.

The Broncos says he can't go and threaten to relegate him to QLD Cup rather than release him to the Bulldogs.

Josh Hoffman poses with Bulldogs players at the Rugby League World Cup. Source: Twitter

This is a contract squabble that will require the NRL to step in.

There is huge concern in the game about the Broncos talking to under-contract players.

It's time for Dave Smith to put a stop their very questionable recruitment methods.

HIGHLIGHT

A crowd of 74,468 at the World Cup final without even the host country on show. Take three weeks of blowouts out of the tournament and it's a winner.

The players line up prior to the Rugby League World Cup Final at Old Trafford. Source: Getty Images

HIGHLIGHT II

The speedy weekend recovery of glamour jockey Kathy O'Hara from her fall at Randwick on Friday. She is one tough woman.

LOWLIGHT

The fact the World Cup final was never an edge-of-your-seat contest. The Kiwis played their grand final the week before.

The Australians played with State of Origin intensity, something the Kiwis never get to experience.

YOU BE THE JUDGE

Can someone please explain the judging format of the official International Rugby league awards that allowed Danny Brough to be named five-eighth of the year ahead of Johnathan Thurston.

One word: farce.

Johnathan Thurston keeps Issac Luke of New Zealand at arms length during the Rugby League World Cup Final. Source: Getty Images

FRANKLY, I WAS WRONG

Six weeks ago I reported Frank Farina's job was on the line at Sydney FC. This is one case where it's nice to be proven wrong. He is a good man and has done a sensational job to get four wins in a row

22.07 | 0 komentar | Read More

Slater's performance inspired by family

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BILLY Slater ended a month from hell with a World Cup final straight out of a fairytale - answering his daughter's request with two tries as Australia thrashed New Zealand.

Slater was talking with his daughter at home in Australia on the morning of the final when Tyla Rose asked her dad if he could send a present home for her and little brother Jake.

"I was about to go and she said 'hang on Daddy, can you score one try for me and one try for Jakey'," Slater said in the aftermath after the Kangaroos' thumping 34-2 victory at Old Trafford.

After a horror World Cup that included a nightclub fight and the knee injury that almost ended his tournament, Slater could not have hoped for a more perfect ending.

Billy Slater scores his second try during the RLWC Final. Source: AP

In front of an international rugby league record crowd of 74,468 at the home of Manchester United, the Kangaroos produced a team performance many are hailing as among the greatest ever from an Australian team.

They scored five tries to nil and also maintained their outstanding defensive record that has seen them keep their opponents try less for their past five games.

All over the field there were stars for the Kangaroos.

The unsung heroes were the forwards who totally dominated the bigger Kiwi pack and that allowed the master minds of Johnathan Thurston, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith to orchestrate a famous victory.

Slater and Brett Morris both finished with doubles after Morris nearly did himself serious damage scoring one try when he collided with the fence dangerously positioned behind the deadball line and Jarryd Hayne also had a match to remember after suffering a heavy knock early in the game.

But the man who owned the spotlight was the bloke who had been under so much pressure for most of the tour.

And Slater later conceded even he wasn't sure if he would last the match before he ran out.

The Kangaroos celebrate with the Rugby League World Cup after victory over New Zealand in the Rugby League World Cup Final. Source: Getty Images

"It was probably the most nervous I have been going into a game for a long time," he said.

"Just the uncertainty of how (the knee) was going to hold up.

"I had trained and to be perfectly honest I didn't really convince myself at training. I probably looked okay but it didn't feel great."

But then the first try in the 19th minute when he hunted down a Thurston kick and out-jumped Kieran Foran put the demons to bed.

"I was probably just happy that I could get out there and do that sort of stuff again," he said.

"I couldn't walk a week ago and even a couple of days ago I was uming and arring whether I would put my hand up to play.

"I wasn't lying to you, I was telling the truth when I didn't know if I was playing or not so it was probably just a bit of emotion and to get out there and perform the way we did and be a part of the side we have was very special to me."

Billy Slater celebrates after scoring his second try. Source: AP

As much as Slater's performance was also about redemption for that pass he threw for Benji Marshall that handed the Kiwis the 2008 World Cup, this was also about now and the future _ and settling a debate that has been going on in recent months about just who is the number one fullback in the game.

As Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens said: "A lot of contenders have challenged him.

"A couple of them are playing in the centres for us at the moment with Jarryd Hayne at one stage and GI but Bill is still the premium number one in the game."

But if the gamble to play Slater had backfired, Sheens is also pretty sure it would have been the end of him also.

"On Wednesday we tested Billy and the staff were pretty confident," Sheens explained.

"They had been running him privately up until that point.

"The Wednesday we decided that if Bill was going to play he had to get bashed and I mean bashed.

"We threw them in tackle suits and just about everybody had a shot at him in one way or another through the session including Greg Inglis who I think secretly wanted the fullback role.

"But Billy came through it.

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"The next day there was no swelling on the knee and I was pretty confident.

"He really flew through training on Friday and I think that gave him the confidence and it did me too.

"My career and my medical staffs' careers swung on the balance, I can tell you.

"But he came through it well and his performance was brilliant."

AUSTRALIA 34 (B Morris 2 B Slater 2 C Cronk tries J Thurston 7 goals) NEW ZEALAND 2 (S Johnson goal) at Old Trafford. Referee: Richard Silverwood.

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Four clubs on hunt for Hoffman

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JOSH Hoffman is a man in demand with four NRL rivals, including the Titans, ready to pounce on the disgruntled Broncos fullback.

But Brisbane have issued a hands-off edict to suitors, insisting the Kiwi Test custodian will not be granted an early release under any circumstances.

Hoffman will return from the World Cup this week and walk straight into crisis talks with Broncos management.

The hunt for Hoffman is intensifying, with Canterbury, Cronulla and the Gold Coast having contacted his management since The Courier-Mail revealed his disenchantment last month.

Canberra officials have also informally expressed interest, but none of the quartet can lodge formal offers as Hoffman is contracted to Brisbane until the end of 2015.

Broncos officials are deeply concerned by social media images of Hoffman being pictured with a posse of New Zealand's Canterbury contingent, but are determined to keep him.

Broncos coach Anthony Griffin is due to meet with Hoffman in the next fortnight to address his concerns and has not ruled out handing him the No.1 jumper next year.

"I'm not concerned,'' Griffin told The Courier-Mail before Anthony Milford's officialsigning.

"Whether it is Josh Hoffman or Ben Barba, they are players in a team and they will play where it best suits their team at the time.''

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Inside Hoffman's fall from grace

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IT was October last year when Josh Hoffman's relationship with the Brisbane Broncos <span channel="!Print">really</span> turned sour.

Away with the Kiwi Test side in Cairns, Hoffman made some comments in an interview with The Courier-Mail that enraged coach Anthony Griffin.

The Broncos had lost seven of their previous eight games to fade from top-four title contenders to a finals elimination in week one.

Hoffman, having returned for 2012 pre-season training several kilograms overweight at 99kg, would agree he did not have his best season subsequently.

He compounded that with some brutal honesty about the imminent arrival of Stephen Kearney as an assistant coach that ruffled feathers at Red Hill.

"We weren't really putting in (at the end of last season)," Hoffman said at the time. "We weren't looking each other in the eye and being honest about our efforts. I know myself, I wasn't digging in like I could have.

"I think he (Kearney) will really help bring the team closer."

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Talk at the time was that Griffin was so upset that Hoffman was almost sacked on the spot.

He already had one strike from Griffin in August when he was dropped to Redcliffe for arriving late to training.

Then a week before pre-season training started, Griffin signed Scott Prince from the Titans.

At the time it was seen as a broadside to existing halves Peter Wallace and Corey Norman, who both began canvassing options to leave Brisbane.

But Griffin had hinted at his motives at the time when he said it could allow Norman to move to fullback.

Hoffman was out of favour and had to wait until round 20 this year to wear the No.1 jersey again.

In that time, the Broncos almost signed Josh Dugan, until a social media rant from the sacked Canberra star ended negotiations, and Ben Barba's plans to move to Brisbane literally fell in the club's lap.

In the same week Barba's deal was finalised, Hoffman had told The Courier-Mail he was willing to fight for the No.1 jersey and remain a "one-club player".

He was man of the match days later but after the game it all exploded again when the club media manager pulled Hoffman away from Channel 7 cameras just as the topic of Barba was raised.

It was coincidental, but the images which went to air embarrassed him and the club. Hoffman stormed out of the sheds, and was overheard telling teammates he was furious the club had not shielded him from the media.

Since the season ended, Hoffman has asked for a release from his contract and is now provocatively parading himself with Canterbury players in the Kiwis camp at the World Cup.

He responded to yesterday's story in The Courier-Mail which quoted Facebook comments from his dad, by tweeting: "My father doesn't speak for me."

Privately, Broncos officials have not had a bad word to say about Hoffman but it is clear they have a major issue on their hands.

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