Adam SutcliffeNRL Club News, Late Mail, Tips and Predictions NRL Round 18 2008
July 11th 2008 15:22
Brisbane BRONCOS
Peter Wallace is likely to accept a five-year deal with the club next week. Only Sonny Bill Williams and Mark Gasnier have previously signed five-year contracts. Wallace will make his return to the Broncos this Sunday against the Bulldogs at Suncorp Stadium.
Darren Lockyer is on target for an NRL comeback against the Bulldogs on Sunday. "The verdict at the moment is I'm playing unless there's a major hiccup between now and Sunday," said Lockyer. " I was a bit nervous coming to training but I needed to get out there and do that sort of thing for my confidence. Hopefully as the week progresses it will just continue building more and more. It's been a frustrating time. The whole thing has been mentally draining at times. But now I'm feeling refreshed, like I've had a bit of a holiday and I'm keen to get out and play some footy again."
Nick Kenny failed to train again Tuesday, increasing concerns his sprained ankle could force him out of Sunday's game at Suncorp Stadium against the Dogs.
Justin Hodges returns from suspension next week against the Cowboys at Dairy Farmers Stadium.
Joel Moon says the chance to play five-eight is what convinced him to join the Warriors or next year. "Ivan [Cleary] said the number six is there for me," Moon said. "That's what sold it for me, really. I love five-eighth and played there all through my junior grades. I think I play a bit like Braith Anasta. He's strong, is good with the ball and runs a lot. I like doing that." The money that they offered also had something to do with it, just quietly.
Kevin Walters tried to keep his emotions in check after receiving the Peter Jackson Memorial Award for his services to the Maroons. Walters and Jackson were close friends and Queensland teammates in the late 1980s and early 90s. “It's a great honour to get the award named after Jacko because he exemplified the Queensland spirit", Walters said.
Canberra RAIDERS
Neil Henry wants to be allowed to continue his Origin involvement in NRL 2009. Henry has been Mal Meninga's right-hand man during Queensland's three straight series wins. "I'd like to be involved but I'm going to a new club, the Cowboys," Henry said. "It'll be up to the board up there whether or not they allow me to do that. The Raiders have been very supportive. From day one they said if I'd like to be involved they'd support that. I'd like to keep it going if I could. It's a special time. Working with that calibre of players - it's coaching at the next level and that's just as good for my development as well. It's a privilege to be involved."
Andrew McFadden will join David Furner and Ian Millward on the Raiders Coaching staff for next three seasons.
McFadden has spent the past two years as Michael Potter’s Assistant Coach at the Catalans Dragons in France.
Todd Carney says he was embarrassed to have allowed Greg Inglis to score a try under his nose. "It was a bit of an embarrassment play from me," Carney said. "I just dropped off and good players take that. He took it, he took that opportunity and got it. It was poor from me. I'm a bit embarrassed actually."
Canterbury BULLDOGS
The Bulldogs wore pink socks for their clash with Souths. The socks were specially commissioned by the Bulldogs to raise awareness of and funds for the National Breast Cancer Foundation and will be signed by each of the players and auctioned. Monday's match celebrated the involvement of women in the Club with the wives, partners and mothers of players to be honoured at a dinner and in what is believed to be a first for the game, the Bulldogs will use a female ground announcer for the night.
The Bulldogs were dealt a blow ahead of the Souths game with Reni Maitua ruled out with a shoulder injury. Maitua was replaced by Lee Te Maari.
John Kite demonstrated his commitment to the club when he recently paid his own way to Melbourne for the round-12 match against the Storm after playing for the Bulldogs NSW Cup side the night before. He even took his boots in case he was needed for the Toyota Cup fixture. Given the meagre income of players in the under-20s competition outside their club's top-25, it was an selfless act that didn't go unnoticed by those at the Bulldogs. One of 65 grandchildren on his mother's side alone, Kite had a lot of family support at ANZ Stadium, with about 40 relatives attending. "I never expected to play first grade this year but now that I've got the chance, I want to try and cement a spot on the bench for the rest of the season," Kite said.
Bulldogs' coach Steve Folkes looked for positives out of the Souths defeat. "I think it's probably our best performance for several weeks... that's a positive," he said post-game. Souths scored 34 points.
Jarrad Hickey (thigh) was 50-50 to take on Souths. That he made a crucial handling error just before Souths scored the winning points was tough luck for him.
Cronulla SHARKS
There’s been some talk that Paul Gallen may lose the Sharks’ captaincy. "It's a big honour to captain the Sharks, I want to be the first captain to hopefully win a premiership at the club and hold the trophy up,'' Gallen said last week. "Deep down I'd be hurting if they took it off me and I don't want them to do that. I had a really deep and meaningful conversation with Greg Bird about it on Friday morning. He said, 'we love playing under you, we don't want you to give it up. The whole team loves the way you play, we love who you are and what you're about. We're in this position (leading the competition) because you play with your heart and soul. I know Birdy was initially probably upset not to get the captaincy (at the start of the season), so for him to ring me meant a lot.''
David Peachey returned to where it all began last Wednesday. Peachey joined the Dubbo College South Campus teachers for their annual match against the school’s students, and fresh from bagging five tries for Dubbo Macquarie against Nyngan on Sunday, scored two tries in the teachers’ 4 to 3 win. Peachey finished his schooling at South Campus in 1992. Things have changed over the years but there were still a couple of familiar faces watching on. “He was a pretty good kid to teach,” former teacher Allan Storer said. “It was a pleasure to teach ‘Pep’, he was pretty quiet and always well-mannered. It doesn’t seem like much has changed over the years.”
Gold Coast TITANS
Scott Prince is out for the rest of the regular season with a broken arm. His season looks to be over unless the Titans progress well into the finals.
Ashley Harrison is expected to be out for at least two weeks with a rib cartilage injury.
Mark Minichiello is out for a month with an ankle injury.
Brenton Bowen is sidelined for six weeks with a fractured cheekbone.
Luke O'Dwyer is out with a shoulder injury, as is lock Daniel Conn.
Gavin Cooper replaces Luke O'Dwyer in the centres with Will Matthews making his starting debut in the second-row alongside Anthony Leffranchi for injured forward Mark Minichiello (ankle).
Matt Cross has been promoted from Tweed Heads along with lightning speedster Shannon Walker.
Jordan Rapana makes his debut this weekend on the wing, replacing Bowen.
Clint Amos is weighing up a return to North Queensland next season as the Gold Coast's cleanout continues in earnest. "I really just want to be at a place where I can play first grade," Amos said. "It's still up in the air, I don't know what I'm doing yet. My family is here and these guys (Titans) gave me a crack, so I would love to stay. But I'm 24 and I'm really hungry to be playing first grade."
Michael Hodgson, Luke Swain, Gavin Cooper, Josh Lewis, James Stosic and Kris Kahler will all part ways with the Titans in October.
Billy Ngawini has been told he will not be handed a new contract for 2009.
It is understood the Gold Coast would also listen to any release requests by Ian Donnelly and Matt Cross – who are yet to taste first grade action this year.
Manly SEA EAGLES
Sea Eagles management will not stand in the way of Des Hasler taking over the Blues coaching job next year. Hasler was the Blues' assistant coach in 2003.
Brett Stewart played his 100th first-grade game against the Gold Coast last Friday.
Jamie Lyon says he is unlikely to play again for NSW. "It wasn't so much wanting to play for Manly, it was more for myself," he said. "In the end, I just didn't have that passion going into rep footy. I didn't have what you need to play Origin, and it would be wrong to the other guys if I went in there not 100 per cent. I can't see it changing next year. The way I'm going ... I just want to concentrate on club footy. I'm happy doing that and happy here at Manly. I've also got a young family and I would rather stay home. As far as NSW goes, it's probably better that they start looking at younger blokes like Joel Monaghan, who I thought went pretty well the other night. You've got to go into it with great intensity. That's the only way you can do it. You can't go in there and not do your homework."
Steve Matai was coughing up his own blood last Friday night. Matai flew back to Sydney with teammates last Saturday, despite having been hospitalised for a bruised lung. Matai was taken to hospital but later cleared of a punctured lung. Football manager Steve Gigg said Matai's condition had improved over the weekend and if his recovery continues at this speed he could be available to face the Sharks. "There's certainly no long term problems for him," said Gigg. "The chances of him playing this week are probably not good. But if by mid week it has all settled down he could be right to play. We will just monitor him."
Jason King is pushing his chances at selection after missing the past 10 weeks with a foot injury. King has eased back into full training. "He is getting pretty close," said Gigg. "He is probably more of a chance for the week after."
Chairman and co-owner Scott Penn and his wife Nicola have sold their four-bedroom beachfront Narrabeen holiday home through Ray White Manly agent Alicia Ryan. Contracts on the luxury property, which sits metres from the sand, were exchanged on Monday for $4.027 million. Despite falling in love with the weekender two years ago, with Penn's Sea Eagles commitments and the launch of his diet book, The Click Diet, the couple have rarely had enough time to get away and enjoy it.
Melbourne STORM
Cooper Cronk played his 100th game for the Storm against Canberra on Sunday. "It's just a number, it's more the fact that I've got to play 100 games with this club and with a lot of really good mates," he said. "That's probably more meaningful to me, to play 100 games with my mates. It's very hard with the salary cap and longevity in the game but the culture we've got down here - it's something that's ingrained here at the club and makes footy enjoyable."
Israel Folau was Queensland’s players' player after his two-try effort last Wednesday night. Folau escaped punishment after the NRL match review committee did not cite his dangerous throw tackle. Folau had been placed on report by referee Ben Cummins for a 72nd minute lifting tackle on Canberra’s Joe Picker, but the incident was cleared by the review panel.
Michael Crocker (concussion) is the only one of Melbourne's nine Origin representatives who missed Sunday’s game against Canberra. Crocker was a late withdrawal after being knocked out by the ball from a Mitchell Pearce kick during last week's 3rd State of Origin game. Crocker, though, is expected to line up against the Tigers this weekend.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy says Greg Inglis has finally come of age after he shrugged off a knee injury to score two tries in Melbourne’s win over Canberra. "I just thought Greg went to another level today," Bellamy said. "I think he came out of baby stage today and matured into a first-grade footy player. We've seen what he can do when he's fully fit, but playing with that slight injury today was another step for him and the whole club is really proud of him."
Newcastle KNIGHTS
Danny Buderus did receive some consolation on Wednesday night, when he was presented with the Brad Fittler Medal after being chosen by the NSW selectors and coach Craig Bellamy as the Blues' player of the series. Fittler, whose record Buderus broke as NSW's longest serving captain, was on hand to present the award to his former teammate. Buderus was also voted players' player by his Blues teammates for the second consecutive match.
Ben Cross is out for about a month with a grade-two medial ligament knee injury. Cross also had X-rays on an injured thumb, which failed to show a break.
Jesse Royal is out for six weeks with a knee injury.
New Zealand WARRIORS
Liam Foran has been linked to the Warriors. "I'm off contract at the end of this season with the Storm," Foran said. "I'm really looking for an opportunity to start to run my own team as a halfback. I've had two years behind Cooper Cronk and I've learnt what it takes to run a team and how to organise a backline and things like that. At this point I am talking to a few clubs and the Warriors are one of those clubs. I'm trying to play good footy and I'm definitely on the lookout for an opportunity. I'm a Kiwi and I still have a lot of family in New Zealand. I could certainly see myself playing for the Warriors. It's a good club and there's some very good players there in Steve Price and Brent Tate and those sort of blokes." Of the other halfbacks on the market, the Warriors have been linked with Mathew Head. His agent David Riolo refused to discuss how negotiations had progressed but did concede Head would be interested in coming to Auckland if the right deal was offered by the club.
Manu Vatuvei admits he may have "come back too early" to the NRL arena but hopes to be back on the Warriors wing in a few weeks. Vatuvei made his return against Manly a fortnight ago after six weeks on the sideline with a broken leg. He scored the game's opening try. "But I reinjured myself," Vatuvei said. "It's the same injury, a fracture to my tibia. It had healed around the bone, but it wasn't actually healed inside. I think I came back a bit early, but I was happy to play. I just want to get back on the field, but it won't be for a few weeks now."
North Queensland COWBOYS
Manase Manuokafoa has signed with North Queensland. Manuokafoa, 190cm and 115kg, will play for the Cowboys for three seasons from 2009.
The Cowboys continue to be linked with Melbourne’s Sika Manu and Canterbury’s Reni Maitua.
Carl Webb's ankle injury not as serious as first feared. MRI scans showed a grade 3 ligament sprain which will sideline Webb for 4-6 weeks.
Matthew Scott has also been cleared to make his return from an ankle injury.
Parramatta EELS
Chad Robinson withdrew from the Panthers game after hurting his back.
Timana Tahu has been named in his first Australian rugby squad for the forthcoming Tri-Nations tournament. Tahu was picked on Monday in Australia's 30-man squad after starring for Australia A in the Pacific Nations Cup, scoring twice in Sunday's 21-18 loss to New Zealand Maori. It is Tahu's first selection for the Wallabies since converting to union this year.
Penrith PANTHERS
Luke Rooney will join French rugby union club Toulon after agreeing to terms for a lucrative two-year deal. Rooney was close to signing with Canberra but couldn't refuse the French offer. Rooney's deal is understood to be worth $300,000 per season, after tax, plus living expenses, including accommodation and a car. "Luke was favouring going to Canberra but then this came up and it's something he couldn't really refuse," his agent Allan Gainey said. "It's not just the money but the lifestyle is pretty good too and I think we'll see more and more guys head over there."
Petero Civoniceva received the Ron McAuliffe Medal as Queensland's player of the series.
Craig Gower has ruled out returning to the NRL and is poised to sign a new $2.4million contract with French rugby union club Bayonne. "Craig and Amanda couldn't be happier over in France, they love the lifestyle,'' Willett said. "He's just about to sign a new three-year deal with Bayonne.''
South Sydney RABBITOHS
Coach Jason Taylor says his side's second consecutive comeback win only serves to highlight the team's poor starting form. Taylor could not hide his disappointment after the game despite the win. "We talk about being in control of what we were doing before the game and we just weren't," he said. "That's the real disappointing thing... all the players are disappointed that we had to win the game like we did." Captain Roy Asotasi echoed the sentiment. "The boys have got to turn up with the right attitude, you know the last couple of weeks we've started off slow and we were fortunate," he said. "We've just got to make sure that we turn up."
Souths co-owner Russell Crowe believes rugby league is being short-changed by an unfair television deal compared to other codes. Crowe said he felt league was "the poor cousin" in Australian sport. The NRL’s television deal is worth around $500 million over six years, compared to the AFL's which is worth $780 million over five years. "I just don't think the game is balanced correctly with how the money the game can generate is divided," Crowe said in an interview on Sydney radio station Triple M. "The TV deal we have - based on the figures of who watches the game - I don't think it's fair in comparison to what AFL can generate or other sports. We've got the greatest TV game but we're in the situation where we're the poor cousin when it comes to money and that's not good. But we'll work on that as we build to the next negotiation (in 2012) and it simply won't happen again.”
St George-Illawarra DRAGONS
Matt Cooper was ruled out of the Dragon’s clash with Newcastle after suffering a knee injury in the third state of origin game last Wednesday night.
Mark Gasnier missed the Knights game with a back injury.
Wendell Sailor has been dumped to Queensland Cup, but will use the next few weeks increasing match fitness to push his claims for a bench utility role. "I will probably play at Burleigh (Queensland Cup) next week”, Sailor said. “I don't mind that because I came in late, I didn't do the preseason and at the end of the day this is a squad effort. I know that I probably only play one position at the moment but Browny asked me would I play backrow and I said `mate when I've gotten fitter I would certainly do that job. I will just do whatever he wants and whatever the club wants. I've still got a little bit of work to do but I just enjoyed being out there, there's nothing better than playing NRL."
Kirk Reynoldson's future looks just as clouded as it did 12 months ago. Reynoldson doesn't know where he will be next year. "Hopefully something will be sorted out in the next few weeks," he told The Daily Agenda. "I'm talking to clubs here, in the UK, everywhere. There's a little bit of interest. There's nothing yet. We've won seven in a row so it was all about the team being effective but it was also a bit special for me, playing the old club and playing against the boys. That was the hardest thing I found all week, trying not to get too emotional. I had nothing to prove. I just had to go out there and play my game and contribute to the team like I do every week. I just tried to focus on that rather than the other stuff."
Sydney ROOSTERS
Nate Myles has accepted a six week suspension for his spear tackle on Ben Cross in last Wednesday's State of Origin decider. Myles entered an early guilty plea to the grade three dangerous throw charge and will be sidelined until the Roosters' round 24 clash with Cronulla.
Anthony Minichiello's says the one thing missing from his CV is the Roosters captaincy. "I'd love to be captain of the club," Minichiello said. "I've been there since '97 but I'll have to see what happens. I love the club and I've reached every other goal I've set, but this would be the ultimate goal: to captain the club."
Willie Mason says he has done enough to silence his critics and earn another shot at Origin. "I played my best game of the series," Mason said. "If I'd come out and played like shit, I'd have a good look at myself. You've got to learn to cop a bit of criticism, but it wasn't all justified. I didn't read many papers or watch much TV but I knew something was going on in the background with Tommy and a few ex-players. It doesn't really bother me. It was a bit disappointing, but I won't bag them. They've got a right to their opinion and it's not the end of the world. If we won, they'd sit back and say, 'Look, we fired him up'. I can cop criticism sweet. If I had came out and played awful, I would've been pretty disappointed in myself. I thought I played all right, we just didn't get any reward in the end."
Wests TIGERS
Mathew Head has been ruled out for two weeks due to shoulder and thumb injuries.
Todd Payten is still out with a hamstring injury.
Keith Galloway returns this week from a foot injury.
Brett Hodgson is preparing to play his last NRL match at Campbelltown Stadium. "I love the place, it's where I grew up," Hodgson said. "As a kid I always wanted to play there in the finals and things like that. Even when I was younger, in under 11s and 12s, we played our grand finals there so it's always held something special for me that ground. On top of that I debuted there and started off at Wests Magpies there so it's definitely a place I love. It's going to be a little bit sad there's no doubt about that, although I don't think there'll be any tears or anything of that nature. It gets a little bit sadder the more you get to knowing and realising that it is my last year in the NRL."
Steve Roach stood down as NSW assistant coach after abusing referee Tony Archer following Wednesday night's Origin series decider at ANZ Stadium. Roach said he would not be seeking any further roles with NSWRL representative teams after admitting to calling Archer a "f---ing cheat" as the referee ran up the tunnel to the dressing rooms at the conclusion of the match. Archer heard the comments as he ran past Roach but was not aware who had made them. Despite apologising to Archer and referees' boss Robert Finch, Roach was left with little option but to resign and would have been sacked if he had not taken it upon himself to quit first. He personally contacted Archer yesterday to apologise and passed on a similar message to Finch. "They both accepted my apology and I am thankful they were so understanding of the situation, but it still doesn't excuse what I did," Roach said in a statement. "I would hate to think my actions would ever be repeated by junior players. It's not the kind of example I've tried to set during my career."
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