The NRL thread

[Luke]

First topic message reminder :

Following on from other threads to make the RL section easier to follow, we know have this thread. So all news etc from what is in my opnion the best league in RL, views and other things that people want to add or put across about the Aussie/New Zealand leagues, please feel free to put in here.

Parramatta's remarkable skipper Nathan Hindmarsh has announced that this year will be his last. After a fantastic career that has spaned 15 years, and over 300 games, all for the Eels.

Melbourne's Cooper Cronk has signed a 4 year deal to remain at the club.

New Zealand Warriors utility Lewis Brown will be leaving the club at the end of this year. After agreeing a 3 year deal with the Penrith Panthers.

A potential white night has gone public with his intentions to save financially stricken NRL club the Gold Coast Titans.
Billy Rae has said that his consortium are deadly series in there take over bid. Meanwhile media reports say that Scott Hill & 5 other buisness men are a rival consortium to take over the Titans.
Th

[George Hotel1895]

Cooper Cronk pulls out of the AllStars game to try and be fit for the World Club Challenge

Shame, but i guess he must have a slight injury that he dosn't want to aggravate by playing for the ALL Stars.

[Kenny]

HULL FC winger Tom Briscoe is heading to the Cronulla Sharks for the 2014 season, the Hull Daily Mail understands.

The 22-year-old has long been linked with a move Down Under at the end of this campaign, when his current Hull contract expires.And sources have told the Mail that announcement will be to confirm he has turned down the offer of a new three-year deal at Hull in favour of joining Cronulla.

When contacted by the Mail, the Sharks' football manager David Mooney would not deny a deal had been agreed.

[Pal Joey]

Paul Gallen is out of tomorrow's All Stars match.

[Kenny]

I have checked not being shown over here

[Pal Joey]

Not even on delay? Maybe you can see it on youtube on your new tablet?

[George Hotel1895]

HULL FC winger Tom Briscoe is heading to the Cronulla Sharks for the 2014 season, the Hull Daily Mail understands.

The 22-year-old has long been linked with a move Down Under at the end of this campaign, when his current Hull contract expires.And sources have told the Mail that announcement will be to confirm he has turned down the offer of a new three-year deal at Hull in favour of joining Cronulla.

When contacted by the Mail, the Sharks' football manager David Mooney would not deny a deal had been agreed.

Nothing what so ever wrong with a young British player trying to break into the Aussie Rugby League market. More should try.

[Kenny]

Melbourne forward Kevin Proctor has been ruled out of this month's World Club Challenge against Leeds after sustaining a knee injury on Friday.

The 23-year-old second-rower was hurt during Storm's warm-up match in Geelong, suffering medial ligament damage against Canberra.

[Pal Joey]

Indigenous All Stars 32 (B Barba 3, R Robinson 3 tries; J Thurston 3/4, S Prince 2/2 goals) defeated
NRL All Stars 6 (J Hayne try; A Reynolds 1/1 goals)

Indigenous:
1. Ben Barba (Bulldogs) 2. Reece Robinson* (Raiders) 3. Justin Hodges (Broncos) 4. Greg Inglis (Rabbitohs) 5. Blake Ferguson (Raiders) 6. Johnathan Thurston (c) (Cowboys) 7. Scott Prince (Broncos) 8. George Rose (Sea Eagles) 9. Travis Waddell 10. Andrew Fifita (Sharks) 11. Joel Thompson (Raiders) 12. Greg Bird (Titans) 13. Nathan Peats (Rabbitohs)

Interchange: 14. Ryan James (Titans) 15. Aidan Sezer* (Titans) 16. Joel Romelo* (Bulldogs) 17. Jake Foster* (Raiders); Coach’s Selections: 18. Dane Nielsen* (Warriors) 19. Timana Tahu* (Knights) 20. Jack Wighton* (Raiders)

NRL:
1. Jarryd Hayne (Eels) 2. Akuila Uate (Knights) 3. Shaun Kenny-Dowall (Roosters) 4. Josh Morris (Bulldogs) 5. Brett Morris (Dragons) 6. Benji Marshall (c, Wests Tigers) 7. Adam Reynolds* (Rabbitohs) 8. James Tamou* (Cowboys) 9. Cameron Smith (automatic selection) (Storm) 10. Ben Hannant (Broncos) 11. Ashley Harrison (Titans) 12. Willie Mason* (Knights) 13. Chris Heighington* (Sharks)

Interchange: 14. Robbie Farah (Wests Tigers) 15. Tim Grant* (Panthers) 16. David Shillington (Raiders) 17. Feleti Mateo (Warriors) 18. Justin O'Neill (Storm) 19. Kieran Foran (Sea Eagles) 20. Shaun Johnson (Warriors)

8pm AEDT (7pm AEST), Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane QLD
Halftime: Indigenous 18-6. Crowd: 41,021
Referees: Ashley Klein, Jason Robinson, Gavin Morris & Chris James;
Touch Judges: Nick Beachel & Michael Wise; Video Referees: Chris Ward & Luke Phillips

[Pal Joey]

In other trial matches:

Parramatta 46 Newcastle (NSW Cup) 10
Melbourne Storm 28 Easts Tigers (QRL) 4
Penrith 34 Wests Tigers 32
Canberra 40 Melbourne Storm 8
Cronulla 28 Manly 12
South Sydney 38 Papua New Guinea 12
Gold Coast 42 NZ Warriors 24
NQ Cowboys28 Brisbane 24

Canterbury 32 Newtown Jets 8 (in progress)

[Pal Joey]

Canterbury 36 Newtown Jets 14 (final)

[Kenny]

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has signed a new deal with the club, ending speculation about his future.

Bellamy - whose current contract ends in the summer - has signed a new four-year deal with the NRL champions, rejecting overtures from St George Illawarra, amongst others.

[Kenny]

Melbourne squad for the WCC: Kenny Bromwich, Jesse Bromwich, Will Chambers, Cooper Cronk, Brett Finch, Mahe Fonua, Ben Hampton, Tohu Harris, Ryan Hinchcliffe, Ryan Hoffman, Junior Moors, Bryan Norrie, Justin O'Neill, Jason Ryles, Junior Sa'u, Lagi Setu, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith (capt), Siosaia Vave, Sisa Waqa, Gareth Widdop.

[Kenny]

Luke O'Donnell has been confirmed as a Sydney Roosters player following his release by Huddersfield.

The Super League club agreed to waive the final year of O'Donnell's contract after two injury-hit seasons in England.

And the Australian forward has returned home, as expected, to join Sydney on a 12-month deal.

He said: "I'm looking forward to the challenge of playing in the NRL again and can't wait to meet my new team-mates and getting stuck into training."

Roosters coach Trent Robinson, who has already recruited Sonny Bill Williams, James Maloney and Michael Jennings ahead of the new NRL season, said: "We're looking forward to him starting,

"Luke has plenty of experience and will fit into our system here well. Together with our other senior players in the forwards he's sure to help, not only on the field.

"It will be great to have him mentor the younger forwards we have coming through the ranks."

[Pal Joey]

Just saw Joey Johns smiling around the cafe near Ch 9. The bloke has a real aura.

[Pal Joey]

I've created our very own "v2 NRL" Pool in SuperBru.

http://www.superbru.com/nrl

Everyone is welcome to join up.

Pool Name: v2 NRL
Code: ratedoge

[Pal Joey]

South Sydney star Nathan Merritt has been dropped for Friday night's Charity Shield match against St George Illawarra after "failing to meet team standards", the NRL club has confirmed.

The prolific try-scorer will miss the NRL's most high profile pre-season trial game after reportedly sleeping in and missing training on Thursday.

The club declined to detail why the disciplinary action was taken.

It is understood fellow Rabbitohs players decided that Merritt should be stood down from the side at a meeting on Friday.

Former Bulldogs player Bryson Goodwin was promoted take Merritt's place on the wing for the match against the Dragons at ANZ Stadium.

Merritt may instead line-up for North Sydney in Saturday's NSW Cup trial against Illawarra Cutters and he's expected to be cleared to return to first grade for the Rabbitohs' blockbuster season-opening encounter with Sydney Roosters on Thursday, March 7.

[Pal Joey]

Parramatta coach Ricky Stuart was always convinced his new co-captain Reni Maitua had leadership qualities despite his chequered NRL past.

Maitua and star back Jarryd Hayne are the Eels co-captains for 2013, with forward Tim Mannah the club captain.

The appointment represents the latest up in what Maitua himself describes as a rollercoaster ride.

The highs included winning an NRL title with the Bulldogs in 2004 and playing one Test for Australia.

Among the lows were a drink-driving charge, being sacked by the Bulldogs for repeated breaches of the club's code of conduct and and a two-year NRL ban for returning a positive drug test in 2009 while with Cronulla.

Stuart was coach of the Sharks when Maitua was banned.

When the former NSW coach signed with Parramatta the talented utility was determined "to repay him anything that I let him down with at the Sharks".

Stuart said: "I've never ever seen a reason why people aren't allowed to change and he's never ever had to change from being a bad person.

"He's always had leadership qualities, Reni."

Stuart wasn't initially looking for multiple captains.

However he changed his mind after chatting to former Sydney Swans AFL-premiership winning coach Paul Roos.

"He was probably the guy who created the idea of co-captains," Stuart said of Roos.

"I liked the fact that he said in today's environment of so many media appearances and commitments that are put on the table for a captain, it's a position now that I think has to be shared."

The idea of captaincy grew on Maitua, though as recently as a few months ago he was far from convinced.

"A couple of years ago, I definitely would have said there was no way," Maitua said.

"I wasn't even sure if I was going to come back to the game.

"The last couple of years this club has been great to me, they gave me an opportunity after my suspension.

"Three months ago I would have said no to the job.

"Two weeks ago, I made a decision that I personally probably would have been a little bit disappointed if I wasn't one of the captains, so I'm really happy with where I'm at at the moment."

Hayne said the captaincy was the biggest responsibility of his career and he's looking forward to the challenge.

[Pal Joey]

Canberra will head into their last trial game of the NRL pre-season minus two more players and with a cloud hanging over the future of young enforcer Josh Papalii.

Coach David Furner has decided to not to play Joe Picker and Matt McIlwrick against Canterbury in Goulburn on Saturday to give the duo an extra two weeks' rest before round one against Penrith.

"I gave (McIlwrick) a test yesterday and he had injured a rib cartilage there and that's something that doesn't settle so quick," Furner said.

"Joey Picker won't be starting as he still has a little back problem from last week."

Furner said Jarrad Kennedy and Michael Picker would get more game time as a result of the duo's absence.

The two late withdrawals join the injury ward of Glen Buttriss (ankle), Terry Campese (knee), Jarrod Croker (knee), Hayden Crockett (knee) and Jack Wighton (hand).

Meanwhile, the future of Papalii remains at stake with Parramatta reportedly putting in a bid of $1 million for the New Zealand-born heavy hitter.

"He's been pretty clear on his intentions that he wants to stay," Furner said.

"Look, we want him to be a big part of the Raiders so, as I said, it's always a process and it's not clear cut."

If successfully lured from the Raiders, it will be a big blow for the franchise, who might feel a sense of ownership over the 20-year-old after developing him through their Souths-Logan feeder-club pathway.

Furner played down questions that it had become a distraction for the side just before the season kicked off.

"I don't think you're going to go through a season where you're not going through this process and I think both club and player just need to concentrate on their football," he said.

Stand-in captain David Shillington said the team would support Papalii in whatever choice he made.

"It's been spoken about (among the players) and we'd love Papa to stay, but it's a huge decision for him and probably the first big one he's had to make in his career," Shillington said.

"Everyone's pretty professional these days with the way we handle contracts so he'll get on with business this weekend and hopefully put on a good performance for us."

[Kenny]

I obviously want the Eels to be there or there abouts but i think Canterbury are the team to beat this year

[Pal Joey]

Souths looked ruthless tonight. They seem even bigger than last year.

[Pal Joey]

Ben Barba has been stood down by the Bulldogs due to 'behavioural issues'

Big news!

[Pal Joey]

The NRL forgot to invite league legends Johnny Raper, Graeme Langlands and Reg Gasnier to Wednesday night's gala season launch.

The three Immortals were inexplicably left off the invite list before the NRL was contacted on Wednesday afternoon to enquire about the oversight.

Read more: http://www.foxsports.com.au/league/nrl-premiership/immortals-johnny-raper-graeme-langlands-and-reg-gasnier-snubbed-from-nrl-season-launch/story-fn2mcuj6-1226586962530#ixzz2M4t8mEYA

[Pal Joey]

The NRL will launch its season tonight minus the headline act following the suspension of Dally M medal winner Ben Barba over behavioural issues.

Barba was due to officially launch the season prior to the ban, with that honour now falling to Test and Queensland Origin star Johnathan Thurston.

Thurston will share the stage at Sydney casino The Star with Jessica Mauboy, the voice of rugby league's new anthem.

[Pal Joey]

Manly confident Stewart will play
Updated: 16:26, Wednesday February 27, 2013
Manly confident Stewart will play

Manly are confident Brett Stewart will play in the Sea Eagles' NRL opener against Brisbane next Friday despite a salary cap drama.

The four-year contract signed by the NSW fullback last year is still to be registered with the NRL after it was knocked back by salary cap auditor Ian Schubert.

As it stands, Stewart will be unable to run out at Suncorp Stadium, but a club official told AAP that Stewart's deal will be rubber stamped this week.

'Brett Stewart will play in round one, there's no doubt,' said newly-appointed head of corporate affairs, Neil Evans.

'It's only a minor thing we are working on, and we're pretty confident it will be signed off very soon.'

The club were left with a number of players off-contract after winning the 2011 grand final but key players Kieran Foran, Steve Matai, Daly Cherry-Evans and Matt Ballin all re-signed.

However, Tony Williams, Darcy Lussick, Dean Whare, Michael Oldfield and Daniel Harrison, Vic Mauro and Liam Foran were offloaded as the club battled to meet a number of back-ended contracts agreed to under former coach Des Hasler.

[Pal Joey]

No-one could accuse the ‘reinvention’ Roosters of inactivity over the off-season: there’s a new coach on board, as well as some exciting roster additions, all designed to recapture the blistering form of 2010 when the tri-colours came within 80 minutes of premiership glory.

With the dismal results of 2011 (11th) and last season (13th) still ringing in their ears, the focus has been on change. Certainly it’s been more hectic than a florist on Valentines Day around Bondi Junction, as they’ve added representative stars Michael Jennings and Luke O’Donnell late in the piece to go with the also late but very expected arrival of superstar Sonny Bill Williams.

Finally they get to hand James Maloney the No.6 jersey after signing him what seems eons ago. Former captain Braith Anasta is off to the Wests Tigers – although experience remains in the shape of veteran Anthony Minichiello who has been handed the leadership duties. In other changes, they released BJ Leilua to the Knights; Brad Takairaigi’s offloading skills have been snapped up by the Titans; and Anthony Cherrington and Mose Masoe’s big hits have gone to the Panthers.

Crucially though they have invested in a new mentor, with Trent Robinson – an assistant under ex-mentor Brian Smith in 2010 – returning after a stint with the Catalan Dragons in the UK Super League. Will he be able to bring the quick results expected by the fans?

Sydney Roosters:

Gains: Sonny Bill Williams (rugby union), James Maloney (Warriors), Michael Jennings (Panthers), Luke O’Donnell (Huddersfield), Michael Oldfield (Sea Eagles), Nafe Seluini (Panthers), Samisoni Langi (Bulldogs), Sam Moa (Hull FC).

Losses: Braith Anasta (Wests Tigers), Mose Masoe (Panthers), Brad Takairangi (Titans), Justin Carney (Castleford), Curtis Rona (Cowboys), Peni Tagive (retired), Mose Masoe (Panthers), Anthony Cherrington (Panthers), BJ Leilua (Knights).

[Pal Joey]

Mick Potter has taken over the reins at perennial underachievers the Wests Tigers, and believes his NRL players can learn valuable lessons from the Bradford boys he coached last year, who gave everything despite not getting paid.

Potter's final few months at Bradford were on a volunteer basis as the English Super League club plummeted into administration.

However, the attitude of his Bulls players, who didn't know when their next pay cheque was coming from, reminded him that it's not money but a desperation to win which should motivate the game's stars.

Since 2005, the Tigers have struggled to match their enormous potential with results, despite having stars like Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah on their roster.

Potter says his team need to be accountable for their own performances and set an aim to retire with no regrets.

"Not taking anything for granted is a key message there," Potter told AAP.

"These opportunities don't come along all the time.

"You're not going to be there at the top level for ever so you need to make every year count.

"Perhaps people have some regrets but you don't want to have any regrets about your performance."

Potter says his experience coaching for the love of it at Bradford, who have since been resurrected, made him a better coach.

The former Canterbury premiership winner says he's gained a unique insight into what really drives success at football clubs.

"When it went into administration, you realise that your motivating factor is you love the game," he said.

"You still did the same thing with your preparation.

"There were no shortcuts, just your drive and will to win is the motivation, whether you get paid a lot of money or you don't get paid.

"Our ability to achieve had been taken away from us because we were deducted points that put us out of contention for the semi-finals.

"But it was a learning experience for me that the players still want to win regardless that at the end there was going to be no prize for them."

After six years coaching Catalans, St Helens and Bradford, Potter is feeling good about his Australian coaching debut.

Despite the step up in standards and the extra pressure and scrutiny involved, Potter is confident the NRL will in fact be easier to coach than the Super League.

"The players (in the NRL) are pretty intelligent... In England it's virtually yourself and an assistant coach," he said.

"Here you have staff to help you and you're more in a managing type role where your assistant coaches and performance guys are doing a lot of hands on, individual stuff."

[Pal Joey]

For so much of Steve Price's short tenure as St George Illawarra coach, the role hasn't been about Steve Price.

Called on to succeed coaching great Wayne Bennett, Price was on a hiding to nothing last NRL season when success was always going to be measured against his predecessor's results.

He managed to guide an ageing Dragons squad - whose premiership window had clearly slammed shut - within one win of a fifth straight finals appearance, but it hardly put a dent in the insatiable appetite of the success-hungry club.

It prompted the Dragons to again go in search of proven coaching talent, as they chased Melbourne premiership winner Craig Bellamy with a fist full of dollars.

When Bellamy stayed put, Price was left to carry on in the clear knowledge he was the second choice.

From one shadow to another, Price remains desperate for his moment to shine.

"I wouldn't say the shadow, but it's important that I coach the way Steve Price wants to coach," Price said of moving on from the Bennett era.

"I definitely feel I'm a lot more mature in certain aspects and I'd like to think I could be a lot better the second year around."

He would want to as well, as he attempts to avoid being the first coach in the joint-venture's short history to oversee consecutive campaigns without finals football.

What Price will definitely have to improve on in 2013 is his side's impotent attack, the worst in last year's competition when they scored just 74 tries in 26 games.

That his side finished two points outside the top eight hardly seemed to matter when stacked up against their inability to get over the stripe.

Simply put, the criticism of Price was more about style than results.

He tinkered with the left edge play that had become so predictable under Bennett, but with disastrous results as key playmakers Jamie Soward and Ben Hornby lost their way.

With Hornby joining fellow stalwart Dean Young in retirement, Price has little choice but to overhaul rather than just tinker.

He believes he's made the necessary adjustments, which along with the recruitment of ex-Bronco Gerard Beale to play fullback, has Price confident the Dragons will be a much more dynamic attacking unit in 2013.

"We're in a better place than we were at this stage last year - where we are in terms of our skill," Price said.

"It (the attacking structure) has definitely worked a lot better this pre-season, the guys have really bought into it.

"It's a changing in the guard with the likes of Ben Hornby and Dean Young going, but I'm really comfortable with the younger players coming through that have been in the system a few years now."

And while Soward and veteran halfback Nathan Fien will be asked to carry the load, Price said it was time for some of his younger brigade to go from promising footballers to top level NRL stars.

"It's an opportunity for the Mitch Reins, the Jack de Belins, the Cameron Kings to really take this club forward," Price said.

"Their time has to arrive. They have to step up. They need to take it by the balls.

"Matty Prior's another one. He's been in the system a few years now. He's got to step up.

"I'm confident they can all do that."

Without a contract beyond this season, Price had better hope so.

[Pal Joey]

Melbourne relish the challenge presented by a brutal schedule to start their NRL title defence, says skipper Cameron Smith.

Just back from the successful World Club Challenge campaign in England which disrupted their pre-season, the premiers must now prepare themselves to play their first three competition matches within the space of just 12 days.

After opening against St George Illawarra at home on Sunday, March 10, they travel to Townsville to play the Cowboys six days later, then have just five days turnaround before a Thursday home clash with their 2012 grand final foes, Canterbury.

"We're up for it," said Smith on Wednesday. "We're pretty keen for that challenge.

"The coaches and medical staff have had plans for a long time on what we need to do when we get back (from England) to be ready for those matches because we've got a pretty tough start."

The Storm took out the WCC title when they defeated Super League champions Leeds 18-14 last weekend and while Smith said the club was proud of the victory he admitted it wasn't an ideal way to gear up for the NRL season.

"In some senses it's always a disruption, travelling over to England before the start of your season," Smith said.

"It cuts your pre-season short and ideally you'd like to be in Australia playing against some NRL sides before you start the competition.

"But our club fully embraces the World Club Challenge and we really enjoyed going over there for two weeks and obviously coming back with the trophy."

Smith said the WCC presented a great challenge which made winning it more rewarding for a team which was introducing several new members following off-season player movement.

"It's particularly tough given the time of the year for the Australians," he said.

"Everything is against you - the conditions that you go into and the (Storm) team that played on Friday night hadn't played together," he said.

"There were a couple of us away at the All Star game, (who missed the club's NRL trial game against Canberra), and Cooper Cronk was playing his first match of the year.

"It was pretty hard to get some sort of rhythm with the team, but that's why we went over there fairly early.

"We went 10 or 11 days before the match and we had some really good training sessions and the preparation was spot on," Smith said.

He said the team's defence was the most pleasing part of the performance.

"That's what (coach) Craig (Bellamy) was pretty disgusted with in the trial against Canberra so they way we turned that around and trained all week was great."

[Pal Joey]

It was all looking so good for the Bulldogs: 2012 minor premiers and grand finalists; a forward pack the envy of the league – bolstered further this season by the arrival of Tony Williams; and a coach that will leave no stone unturned to ensure his side’s success.

Then comes news of Ben Barba’s suspension – and suddenly Canterbury’s whole world has been turned upside down.
At the time of writing there was no word on exactly how long Barba’s personal issues would absent him from rugby league and the Bulldogs, other than the statement by CEO Todd Greenberg that the 23-year-old was a sick young man in desperate need of help. Early indications are that it could be anywhere from six weeks to six months.

And while Canterbury is anything but a one-man team, there is no doubting just how big an influence Barba has on the side’s attack.

The 2012 Dally M Medal winner was simply unstoppable last season – scoring an NRL-high 22 tries to go with 27 line-breaks, 23 try assists, 21 line-break assists and 171 tackle-breaks. You can’t replace those numbers.
So what now for the Bulldogs? Well, while they will certainly miss Barba’s game-breaking ability, it’s not all doom and gloom out Belmore way.

In fact, the foundations for their surge up the NRL ladder last season were very much built around the power and skill of their forward pack and the likes of Aiden Tolman, James Graham, Sam Kasiano and Frank Pritchard. Their props were particularly damaging, with opposition sides struggling to cope with their ball-playing at the line.

Of course, England international Graham will miss the opening two months of the season through suspension and, like Barba, his presence will be missed; however there is plenty of excitement in Sydney’s west about his likely replacement – hulking 19-year-old prop David Klemmer. The 120-kilogram giant was named Dally M Toyota Cup Player of the Year in 2012 and was the only player to run more than 4000 metres (4134 all up) at a whopping 180 per game! And let’s not forget that the addition of wrecking-ball Williams – another prize recruit from old rivals Manly – adds yet another imposing figure on the edges.

Canterbury can also boast a near identical backline, with the exception of Barba, to that which ran riot last season, with boom youngster Josh Reynolds looking to build on his superb 2012 while out wide veteran winger Steve Turner returns from injury (in place of Cronulla-bound Jonathan Wright) to partner Josh Morris, Krisnan Inu and Sam Perrett. Inu and Perrett are the early front-runners to replace Barba in the No.1 jersey.

All eyes will inevitably be on the Bulldogs over the coming weeks to gauge the impact of the loss of their star fullback. In all probability, crossing the stripe won’t come quite as easily as it did in 2012. But with the majority of their squad returning to do it all again, they will be eyeing another top-four finish.

Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs:

Gains: Tony Williams (Sea Eagles).

Losses: Jonathan Wright (Sharks), David Stagg (Broncos), Bryson Goodwin (Rabbitohs), Luke MacDougall (retired), Jake Foster (Raiders), James Gavet (Tigers), Tupou Sopoaga (Sharks), Corey Payne (retired).

[Pal Joey]

Very sad news.

http://au.sports.yahoo.com/league/news/article/-/16269743/wests-tigers-player-found-dead//

[Kenny]

Whats the problem with Sonny Bill Williams and the salary cap ?

[Pal Joey]

All fixed now. They just left all the paperwork a bit late.

[George Hotel1895]

Tony Abbot offers Brookie a lifeline
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/abbott-promises-brookie-a-lifeline-20130302-2fd27.html

[Pal Joey]

Luke O'Donnell says fellow Sydney Roosters recruit Sonny Bill Williams has trained as though he'll take his place in Thursday's NRL season opener against South Sydney at Allianz Stadium.

Williams is in doubt for the match and will have to pass a fitness test later on Sunday to allow him to make his debut for the tri-colours against the Rabbitohs.

The star back-rower's build-up to the season was restricted by a pectoral muscle injury suffered playing rugby in Japan.

Former NSW and Australian enforcer O'Donnell, who is making his first NRL appearance for the Roosters against Souths, admits he'd be disappointed if Williams didn't play in the match.

"He's trained like he's going to be playing," O'Donnell said on Sunday.

"Team selection and his fitness and that sort of thing is up to the coaches and probably Sonny himself but like I said, he's been training pretty well.

"I can only speak from a player's perspective and it would be disappointing not to be running out there with him. But we've all got a job to do so everyone's mind will be 100 per cent on playing well I suppose and not too much on Sonny and whether he's there or not."

The 32-year-old O'Donnell signed a one-year deal with the Roosters after being granted a release from English side Huddersfield and is pleased to be home.

"It's great to be back. The family is happy and I could be happier to be at the Roosters," he said.

"We've got a good squad here with a good mix of young guys and a bit of experience there too ... it's going to be a good year I think."

[Pal Joey]

Coach Anthony Griffin had a reassuring message for disappointed Corey Norman after preferring new arrival Scott Prince at five-eighth for Brisbane's NRL season-opener against Manly.

Norman was hoping to hold onto the No.6 jumper after inheriting it last season following champion Darren Lockyer's retirement.

But former Test halfback Prince's trial form, work ethic and attitude since lobbing from Gold Coast in the off-season edged him ahead of Norman for a halves spot alongside Peter Wallace in the team for Saturday week's clash at Suncorp Stadium.

Griffin still wanted Norman in his starting 13 and a serious knee injury to Dale Copley allowed him to move Josh Hoffman to the wing to accommodate the talented youngster at fullback.

The coach pointed out that Lockyer had spent seven seasons at fullback before taking over at five-eighth in 2004.

"He (Norman) is a bit disappointed at the moment because five-eighth is his preferred position but he understands it is about what is best for the team," said the coach.

"There's another good five-eighth who finished his career a few years ago who played a lot of fullback when he was younger and it didn't hurt him.

"He (Norman) has never let the club down there. He was the first guy who took over (at fullback) from Karmichael (Hunt) as an 18-year-old and got man of the match."

Griffin had some other selection surprises.

He named representative prop Ben Hannant on his bench, again pushing skipper Sam Thaiday into the front-row to accommodate edge runner Matt Gillett in a powerhouse back-row along with Alex Glenn and lock Corey Parker.

Griffin was coy about what side of the field Prince would play on against the Sea Eagles, quipping "Brisbane".

Prince said he arrived at the Broncos with no promises and his starting role was welcome reward for his commitment since.

"I've had to work really hard throughout the pre-season and I've played some really good games throughout the trials," said Prince.

Forwards Alex Glenn (medial) and Josh McGuire (hip flexor) were rested from training on Friday but neither is in doubt for round one.

[Pal Joey]

Manly veteran Joe Galuvao admits the Sea Eagles will have to alter their game plan when they open their NRL season next weekend.

The Eagles will take on Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium minus back-row mainstays Tony Williams and Glenn Stewart, Williams now with Canterbury and Stewart nursing a knee injury expected to sideline him for the first six rounds of the season.

The likes of Galuvao, Anthony Watmough and Jamie Buhrer will be called on to shoulder more of the load, but Galuvao said the team's attacking style would also change with the different personnel.

"We've trained for a while expecting those guys not to be around and the guys that have stepped in have done really well," Galuvao said.

"Obviously having Glenn and T-Rex not playing in the team makes our game plan a little different ... so we've had to change our structure as a team.

"But nothing changes in terms of intensity and the way we're going to approach games or in terms of our attitude."

The loss of Williams on top of fellow forwards Darcy Lussick and Daniel Harrison (both Parramatta), along with an ageing side, has some critics believing the Sea Eagles' premiership window may have closed.

Manly have played finals football every year since 2005, a run which has included two premierships and another grand final appearance.

But Galuvao said the Sea Eagles have heard the same talk before.

"That's what they were saying to us last year but we were one game away from a grand final.

"We're always going to have our knockers but for us we've had a really good trait of proving our knockers on and just getting on with it and that's been our attitude."

[Pal Joey]

Australian coach Tim Sheens will be looking to get back into club football in 2014 and has not ruled out the prospect of working in Super League, but warns potential suitors to hold off until after the World Cup.

The 62-year-old, free of club commitments following his departure from Wests Tigers at the end of last season, has taken the opportunity to make a whistle-stop trip to England and Ireland to check out facilities ahead of the Kangaroos' visit later this year.

"I've made it clear I will be looking to coach again, whether that's in Australia or England," Sheens told Press Association Sport.

"I will have to see what might be available but all my focus at the moment is on preparing the national team. I don't want to take my eye off the ball."

Sheens was re-appointed as Australian coach for a fifth term in December to spearhead their bid to wrest the World Cup from New Zealand.

They get their campaign under way against England as part of a tournament-opening double-header at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium on October 26 and meet Ireland at Limerick's Thomond Park a fortnight later, and Sheens has used his visit to look at both venues.

[Pal Joey]

Replacing Nathan Hindmarsh is no one-man job.

Forget the subtleties like heart and soul and just think pure statistics, the retired Parramatta great acknowledged as the NRL's most prolific tackler.

No longer can the Eels rely on 'Hindy' to clean up the mess, like he did on so many occasions.

His levels of endurance and perseverance almost seemed super-human, which is why asking one player to fill the role would be a request too great.

"We're definitely going to miss him out there when we're playing," back-rower Joseph Paulo told AAP.

"I'm not the only one that knows they've got to pick it up - there's Tim Mannah, there's Darcy (Lussick), there's Mitch Allgood.

"We know he was a major part of our forward pack but now it's time for us young guys to take that next step and take our game to the next level.

For Paulo, that means adding some substance to his obvious style.

A obvious candidate to come into the second-row position vacated by Hindmarsh, Paulo was one of few bright notes in an otherwise dreary wooden spoon campaign for the Eels in 2012.

[Pal Joey]

Anthony Cherrington is only 24, but by the time Penrith open their season against Canberra, it will have been three years, seven months and 19 days since he last played in the NRL.

That was with the Sydney Roosters against the Warriors in 2009, a Warriors team that was coached by now Panthers coach Ivan Cleary - who has thrown Cherrington an NRL lifeline.

Three successive knee reconstructions - two to his left and one to his right - have stalled a career which had stardom written all over it when he burst onto the scene as a barnstorming back-rower in 2008.

He showed enough to earn a new three-year deal with the Roosters midway through 2009, despite injury and trouble with the law already threatening to derail his career.

But with a plethora of backrow options following the signing of Sonny Bill Williams and Luke O'Donnell, the Roosters offloaded Cherrington to the Panthers ahead of the 2013 season - offering a new start for the former Junior Kiwi.

"It's a fresh start, it's a new environment for me," Cherrington told AAP of his move to the Panthers.

"I grew up in the east, the west is all new to me. The travelling out here, you could almost say I feel like a rookie."

While a spot in Cleary's final 17 for the round one visit of the Raiders to Centrebet Stadium would be a "dream", Cherrington knows he may have to bide his time in the NSW Cup.

At the moment, just playing footy, any footy, is an accomplishment.

"Playing a full season - staying injury free is my No.1 concern," Cherrington said.

"I'm pretty confident now that if I stay on top of my rehab, it will all fall into place.

[Pal Joey]

Luke O'Donnell says fellow Sydney Roosters recruit Sonny Bill Williams has trained as though he'll take his place in Thursday's NRL season opener against South Sydney at Allianz Stadium.

Williams is in doubt for the match and will have to pass a fitness test later on Sunday to allow him to make his debut for the tri-colours against the Rabbitohs.

The star back-rower's build-up to the season was restricted by a pectoral muscle injury suffered playing rugby in Japan.

Former NSW and Australian enforcer O'Donnell, who is making his first NRL appearance for the Roosters against Souths, admits he'd be disappointed if Williams didn't play in the match.

"He's trained like he's going to be playing," O'Donnell said on Sunday.

"Team selection and his fitness and that sort of thing is up to the coaches and probably Sonny himself but like I said, he's been training pretty well.

[Pal Joey]

2013 NRL Player Transfers

http://www.nrl.com/TelstraPremiership/PlayerTransfers/tabid/10248/Default.aspx

[George Hotel1895]

Luke O'Donnell says fellow Sydney Roosters recruit Sonny Bill Williams has trained as though he'll take his place in Thursday's NRL season opener against South Sydney at Allianz Stadium.

Williams is in doubt for the match and will have to pass a fitness test later on Sunday to allow him to make his debut for the tri-colours against the Rabbitohs.

The star back-rower's build-up to the season was restricted by a pectoral muscle injury suffered playing rugby in Japan.

Former NSW and Australian enforcer O'Donnell, who is making his first NRL appearance for the Roosters against Souths, admits he'd be disappointed if Williams didn't play in the match.

"He's trained like he's going to be playing," O'Donnell said on Sunday.

"Team selection and his fitness and that sort of thing is up to the coaches and probably Sonny himself but like I said, he's been training pretty well.

I will be disappointed as much as the next man if Sonny Bill doesn't play in the season opener.

[Pal Joey]

Pretty sure he will play in the opener, George.

[Pal Joey]

You're right GH. He'll come off the bench.

http://www.theroar.com.au/2013/03/05/sbws-pectoral-benched/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+theroar%2Frugby-league+%28The+Roar+-+Rugby+League%29

[Pal Joey]

Breaking News....

Bookmakers have suspended betting on the Cronulla Sharks' NRL opener against Gold Coast Titans as the Sharks were being investigated by sports anti-doping agency ASADA.

The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) has begun interviewing officials and players who were at Cronulla during the short period in 2011 when controversial sports consultant Stephen Dank was involved with the club.

It's understood ASADA began its interviews this week, with a particular interest on at least six players who were involved with Dank.

There was speculation Wednesday that ASADA was preparing to stand down up to 14 players, although no official statement had been made.

Glenn Munsie, spokesman for TAB, told foxsports.com.au: "We have suspended the betting because we don't know if there is any truth to the rumours and until there is concrete proof we have to protect the punters.

"Ninety-nine percent of the population doesn't know what's happening and we don't either. The correct information is vital."

Other betting agencies have also removed the game from their markets.
Cronulla was one of six clubs implicated in the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) report into drugs, match-fixing and organised crime in Australian sport.

All six clubs had a relationship with Dank, although in the cases of Canberra, Penrith and North Queensland, the link was only tenuous.

Dank was at the Sharks for a short period in 2011 before a fallout with the club's medical staff led to his departure.

The ASADA investigation shapes as an unwanted distraction for the club as they prepare to open the season against Gold Coast Titans at Sharks Stadium on Sunday night.

The Sharks are also in deep negotiations with a prospective sponsor and the negative publicity surrounding the ACC report and ASADA investigation has already proved costly, with the club still seeking a ground sponsor.

Cronulla has been among the most active clubs in the off-season, securing the high-profile signings of Chris Heighington, Beau Ryan and Michael Gordon.

All three are set to be unveiled on Sunday night in a game which should also feature five-eighth Todd Carney as he makes his return from off-season surgery on a torn Achilles tendon.

[George Hotel1895]

Russell Crowe thinks again on Rabbitohs sale
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/crowe-thinks-again-on-sale-of-rabbitohs-20130304-2fgzr.html

[Pal Joey]

Yeah, he's picked up some 22 y.o. bird so no doubt she'll be at the games with him.

[Pal Joey]

South Sydney Leagues Club in administration.

Weird... I thought they were one of the more successful ones but may they just need some re-financing to pay for the recent fit-out of the club, which is looking really quite nice now.

http://www.smh.com.au/business/south-sydney-leagues-club-in-administration-20130307-2fnny.html

[Kenny]

All this band substance stuff must be causing clubs no end of problems

What will happen to the Cronulla game ? will it go ahead ?

[aucklandlaurie]

Kenny
Yes at this stage the game will go ahead (Sunday) and much to the glee of the Gold Coast.

The issue which I havent seen anyone else address, what happens to all those Cronulla players from 2011 that are now with other clubs - possibly even playing in the UK? Are they being asked to suspend them selves for 6 months? I cant imagine their new employers being too impressed.

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