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____________________________________________

TODAYS NEWS UPDATE 07/05/03
Click below for the latest news
http://www.rlcm.com.au/dailynews.htm 



NRL Club News with the SMH - Wednesday 

By Steve Mascord


SOUTH SYDNEY

Coach Paul Langmack has made seven changes for the match against 
Newcastle following last weekend's loss to Canberra, with five 
members of his starting team retaining their positions from last 
week. The most significant change is at halfback, where Brett Kearney 
replaces Willie Peters. Like prop Luke Stuart, Peters has been 
demoted to the bench. Skipper Bryan Fletcher moves from the second 
row to the front row, Chris Walker from wing to centre, Owen Craigie 
from centre to five-eighth, Jamie Russo from pivot to lock, and 
Ashley Harrison from lock to second row. The new faces in the XIII 
are Kearney and ex-Dragons winger Wise Kativerata, while Wade 
McKinnon's inclusion at fullback for Nathan Merritt was forced by 
injury.

BRISBANE

Prop Andrew Gee is back for Sunday's Queensland derby against the 
Cowboys at ANZ Stadium. He's been named on a five-man bench. Coach 
Wayne Bennett has made no changes to his starting side.

BULLDOGS

Fullback Luke Patten returns from a shoulder injury for Friday 
night's match against the Roosters, forcing winger Shane Marteene out 
of first grade, while Adam Perry retains the starting hooker's 
duties, ahead of Corey Hughes. Prop Willie Mason said yesterday of 
his relationship with coach Steve Folkes, the subject of much 
speculation: "I'm not going to say he's my best mate ... he's my 
coach. I respect him, he respects me. I think that's a good sort of 
base ... you don't want to be best mates with your coach and go out 
and party with him all the time."

CANBERRA

Veteran Raider Jason Croker is back from a groin injury for Saturday 
night's Olympic Park game against Melbourne, forcing Tyran Smith back 
to the bench. The newly re-signed Alan Tongue has been ruled out with 
a broken thumb.

CRONULLA

Despite the Sharks having lost their sixth consecutive game last 
Sunday, coach Chris Anderson has made only one enforced change for 
Saturday night's must-win game against Manly. With Paul Franze out 
for the season with a knee injury, Andrew Emelio joins the backline 
and Sam Isemonger is the new interchange player.

MANLY

Aaron Cannings and Solomon Haumono are in the Sea Eagles' starting 
side for Saturday night's tussle with Cronulla.

MELBOURNE

Luckless Storm fullback Robbie Ross is out for a month with a lower-
back problem. Junior Langi is at No.1 for Saturday night's Canberra 
game, with Semi Tadulala coming onto the wing. "I've had a bulging 
disc for a while, as a lot of players do, and sometimes it flares up 
with a bit of pressure and stress," said Ross, who has missed large 
chunks of the past three seasons because of injury.

NEWCASTLE

Lock Ben Kennedy (shoulder/sternum), winger Anthony Quinn (cheek) and 
prop Josh Perry (suspension) are back for Sunday's home game against 
South Sydney. Prop Matt Parsons will captain the Knights after 
delaying back surgery.

NORTH QUEENSLAND

With Matt Bowen back from suspension for a dangerous throw, Ty 
Williams reverts to the wing for the Cowboys' tilt at Brisbane on 
Sunday. John Buttigieg is back from injury, playing off the bench.

PARRAMATTA

New recruit Darren Treacy will make his debut for the out-of-sorts 
Eels in the second row against the Warriors on Saturday night. Coach 
Brian Smith did not consider fullback Brett Hodgson (concussion) or 
prop Michael Vella (chest) for selection, Ashley Graham taking over 
the custodian duties and Daniel Heckenberg coming into the pack.

PENRITH

As expected, Ben Ross will return from an elbow injury to take on his 
former club, St George Illawarra, on Sunday. Despite this, youngster 
Frank Prichard has held his spot on the bench, with Ben Roarty 
returning to premier league.

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA

NSW prop Luke Bailey (back) is out of the Dragons' side to play 
Penrith on Sunday. Ian Donnelly is his replacement; Trent Barrett 
(bruised ankle bone) has been named, pending a fitness test later in 
the week. Amos Roberts returns from suspension to replace David 
Howell on the wing.

SYDNEY ROOSTERS

Roosters skipper Brad Fittler says he's not interested in re-signing 
with the club for any more than one year. "My manager keeps telling 
me it's sweet," Fittler said. "I would only sign for one year - I 
think it would be unfair on the club to ask for more." Coach Ricky 
Stuart has named un unchanged team for Friday night's Bulldogs game.

WARRIORS

Exciting utility Brent Webb has held his spot in the Warriors 
starting side, despite the return of Motu Tony from a shoulder 
injury, for Saturday night's home game against Parramatta. Tony 
replaces Justin Murphy on the bench, PJ Marsh (thumb) is back for 
Mark Robinson at hooker and Evarn Tuimavave supplants young Thomas 
Leuluai on the bench.

SMH

____________________________________________


Leeds 24 Wigan 24 

By Ian Laybourn: Danny Sculthorpe produced a performance of Superman 
proportions to help patched-up Wigan end Leeds Rhinos' 100% record in 
the Tetley's Super League.

The 24-year-old prop, younger brother of Man of Steel Paul, was 
forced to play the full 80 minutes because of a chronic shortage of 
front rowers and the loss of Great Britain international Terry 
O'Connor before half-time.

It was an achievement almost unheard of in the days of the 12-player 
interchange yet Sculthorpe was still going strong at the end and came 
up with the 70th-minute try - his second of a memorable match - that 
tied the scores.

The drama continued right up to the final whistle with Wigan captain 
Adrian Lam sending a drop-goal attempt wide of the mark and Leeds 
scrum-half Danny McGuire hitting an upright with his attempt to break 
the deadlock.

Read more Sporting Life 


____________________________________________


Dogs warn rivals off Thurston 

By Steve Mascord: Bulldogs officials have told young five-eighth 
Johnathan Thurston they are exercising an option over his services 
next season and that he's "not going anywhere".

Called up by Queensland yesterday, Thurston, 20, is at the centre of 
a tug of war just days out from one of the biggest games of his life -
 Friday night's showdown with defending premiers the Sydney Roosters 
at Telstra Stadium.

"I can't believe all these people going around saying he is a free 
agent," Bulldogs chief executive Steve Mortimer said.

"There is an option on Johnathan's services our way, and it has been 
spelt out to him over the past couple of days that we will be taking 
up that option.

"We see him as a long-term player. The option was based on the 
percentage of games he played in first grade, and he is already over 
that percentage.

"We are going to discuss the terms but, one way or another, he isn't 
going anywhere."

Mortimer's hard line comes despite his determination to play down the 
issue of contract talks until after the showdown between the premiers 
and the team kicked out of the finals for salary cap abuse.

Because of that controversy, the Belmore club faces an uphill battle 
to retain Nigel Vagana, Willie Talau, Brent Sherwin, Travis Norton 
and Luke Patten; Mortimer has put all talks on hold until next week.

SMH

____________________________________________


Ross facing surgery 

By Barry Toohey: Melbourne fullback Robbie Ross will learn later this 
week if he requires back surgery which could sideline him for up to 
three months.

The uncertainty over Ross comes only a day after Melbourne lost 
injured prop Rodney Howe for the rest of the season. 

Howe was hopeful of returning within a month from a knee injury but 
an arthroscope on Monday revealed the former Test prop will now have 
to undergo a full knee reconstruction. 

Ross has been troubled by a bulging disc in his back for the past few 
seasons and the problem flared up again after the Storm's big win 
over Newcastle on Saturday night. 

With Ross out of Saturday night's clash against Canberra at Olympic 
Park, coach Craig Bellamy has shifted Junior Langi back to fullback 
and brought Semi Tadulala on to the wing in the only change. 

Read more Daily Telegraph

____________________________________________


Bulldogs fear Wing 

By Dean Ritchie: Canterbury captain Steve Price has overlooked 
Roosters stars Brad Fittler, Brett Finch and Justin Hodges to 
nominate Craig Wing as his side's greatest danger in the season's 
biggest game so far.

On a day when the Bulldogs brushed aside questions on the grand final 
that never was and the Roosters opened up their training sessions to 
the media after pressure from the NRL, it was Price who provided the 
promotional lines for Friday night's blockbuster. 

The Bulldogs captain singled out Wing from the Roosters' line-up of 
stars. 

"Craig Wing is so dangerous and quick off the ground," Price said. 

"We just can't afford to be left on the ground. We have to dominate 
in tackles otherwise he'll take full advantage. 

"The form he is in makes Wing a massive danger. If there are no 
markers there, he will punish us. 

"Craig is so deceptively strong - that strength comes from his hips 
and legs. We just can't give him any space." 

Wing has emerged as one of the great dummy-half runners in the NRL - 
racking up 440 metres from 44 runs out of the play-the-ball area this 
season. 

The players find themselves matched up in the biggest game of the 
season to date. 

A crowd of more than 30,000 is expected at Telstra Stadium for the 
clash between last year's premiers and the team that many considered 
the best last year before they were exposed as salary cap cheats. 

Daily Telegraph


____________________________________________

Schifcofske thrown lifeline 

By Andrew Fraser and Stuart Honeysett: QUEENSLAND named four 
newcomers and gave second chances to two players they dumped last 
year when they named their 22-man State of Origin squad yesterday. 

The biggest surprise was rookie Bulldogs five-eighth Johnathan 
Thurston, who was one of four newcomers, alongside in-form Penrith 
fullback Rhys Wesser and Sydney Roosters duo Shannon Hegarty and 
Michael Crocker.

Queensland and Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett, who named 10 of his 
Broncos in the squad, also has thrown a lifeline to Canberra fullback 
Clinton Schifcofske and Roosters centre Justin Hodges after dumping 
them during last year's series.

Schifcofske was made a scapegoat after the Maroons lost game one 
while Hodges suffered a similar fate after throwing two wild passes 
that led to NSW tries in game two.

The 22-man squad assembles on Sunday in Brisbane and chairman of 
selectors Gene Miles said yesterday players outside the 22 could 
still force their way into the final 17 before the opening game at 
Suncorp Stadium on June 11. 

Read more The Australian 

____________________________________________


Thurston tipped at Origin half 

Steve Ricketts and Ben Dorries: Steve Price yesterday backed Bulldogs 
teammate Johnathon Thurston to handle the defensive demands of State 
of Origin football after the 80kg Junior Kangaroos star was earmarked 
by Queensland's selectors as the Maroons halfback or five-eighth 
saviour.

Price, Thurston and Travis Norton were the three Bulldogs chosen in 
the Queensland Preliminary Squad of 22 yesterday with the final 17 to 
be named on June 2 after four more rounds of the NRL. 

In that time notable omissions such as Chris Walker, Daniel Wagon and 
Corey Parker could play their way back into calculations with 
Queensland chairman of selectors Gene Miles taking the unusual step 
of phoning Walker yesterday to tell him he had not been forgotten 
after his try-scoring feats last year. 

But in the short term Miles and fellow selectors, coach Wayne Bennett 
and Des Morris, will base much of their selection strategies on the 
performance of Queenslanders in Friday night's Telstra Stadium 
blockbuster between the Bulldogs and the Sydney Roosters. 

Miles made it clear yesterday he hoped Broncos halfback Shaun 
Berrigan and five-eighth Ben Ikin also developed into the Queensland 
pair, but if injuries or form dictated a change he was confident 
Thurston could do the job. 

"The sides the Bulldogs have played have all targeted Thurston 
defensively, but he's handled everything that has been tossed at 
him," Miles said. 

"These young guys don't know the meaning of fear." 

Price, the Bulldogs skipper, said a lot of people believed Thurston 
was too small, but the same thing had been said about Queensland 
Origin legend Allan Langer. 

"Johnathon is smart like Alfie (Langer)," Price said. "Some of the 
things he has done this year have been quite amazing. He's made more 
line breaks already than many blokes make in a season. 

"He plays above his weight in defence as he showed against Newcastle. 
Johnathon made 25 tackles in that match and I reckon 20 were on (Test 
forward) Ben Kennedy who ran at him all night." 

Read more Courier Mail 

____________________________________________


GAME BEGINS TO SPREAD ITS WINGS 

By Ian Laybourn: Rugby league made some capital gains at the weekend 
which went some way towards justifying the game's claim for 
recognition as a national sport.

The inclusion of South London Storm in the new National League Three 
means the capital was able to boast teams in three of the game's top 
four tiers.

And all three were undefeated at the weekend, proving their existence 
is not merely tokenism.

While London Broncos made it three wins from their four away games in 
Super League by beating Huddersfield Giants, London Skolars secured 
their first point in National League Two with a draw at York City 
Knights and the Storm opened their campaign with a notable win over 
Huddersfield-Underbank, a team based on one of the oldest amateur 
clubs in the country.

The impact of the presence of the London clubs cannot be over-stated 
as rugby league continues to break out of its traditional confines of 
the M62 corridor.

The magnificent Powergen Challenge Cup final in Cardiff raised the 
game's profile to new heights and the presence of the trio of London 
clubs in the game's new pyramid structure will further its awareness 
on the national stage.

For more than two decades the Broncos, in their previous guises as 
Fulham and London Crusaders, ploughed a lone furrow for rugby league 
in the south but the roots are gradually starting to show.

In the pioneering Rugby League Conference which also got under way at 
the weekend, West London Sharks played a derby against Kingston 
Warriors and Greenwich Admirals took on Crawley Jets. Such fixtures 
would have been a figment of an enthusiast's imagination a decade ago.

Even more encouragingly, youth rugby appears to be making marked 
progress in the 13-a-side code south of Sheffield and London Leisure 
College, based at the Broncos' former home at Charlton, recently beat 
the famous Cowley School from St Helens to reach the final of the 
Colleges Cup.

According to the League's statistics, the game is played in 23 of 
London's 32 boroughs and the startling progress looks certain to 
continue with the imminent appointment of four new development 
officers in the capital.

Read more Sporting Life

____________________________________________


Russia and France to clash in Victory Cup Final 

THE BARLA Great Britain Lions went down to defeat against France 30-
24, while Russia comfortably defeated the USA in a sun drenched 
Olympic Stadium in Moscow.

France will now take on Russia in the Final of the Victory Cup, after 
the host nation defeated USA 44-14 in the afternoon's second game.

BARLA Lions will face the USA in the Victory Bowl, with both games 
being played on Friday, which is a Bank Holiday in Russia. 

It was a committed display from Great Britain against a French side 
including Warrington's Jerome Guisset. 

Read more Total RL

____________________________________________


Walker and Parker still in Origin running 

Queensland selectors sent messages to more than just the 22 players 
they named in their preliminary State of Origin squad. 

While they named four rookies -- Roosters teammates Michal Crocker 
and Shannon Hegarty, young Bulldog Johnathon Thurston and Panther 
Rhys Wesser -- the final 17-man outfit for Origin I may yet include 
players from outside the group such as Chris Walker and Corey Parker. 

It could also include three fullbacks after Brisbane's Darren Lockyer 
and Canberra's Clinton Schifcofske were named alongside the red-hot 
Wesser. 

"It was very tough finalising the 22 with so many players in such 
good form," said chairman of selectors Gene Miles. 

"But there's nothing to say guys outside that 22-man squad can't 
force their way into the final 17. 

"There's still a month to go and most of the guys have four games to 
press their claims so there's really no reason why we can't pick a 
player from outside that 22." 

Miles said while Queensland didn't have the talent depth of NSW, they 
probably had 35 players who were in top form early in the season 
which made life a lot easier. 

Read more NRL

____________________________________________


Thurston to put it all on the line 

Bulldogs youngster Johnathan Thurston was hanging out the washing 
when he received the phone call he'd been wishing for most of his 
rugby league life. 

It came from his girlfriend. 

The message? 

"(She) rang me to tell me `you're in the squad'," Thurston explained 
before Bulldogs training. 

The squad Thurston referred to was of the Maroon variety - the 22-man 
Queensland outfit for this year's State of Origin series. 

The 20-year-old five-eighth had been selected alongside the likes of 
Gorden Tallis, Shane Webcke and Darren Lockyer. 

What was his reaction? 

"I threw the washing on the floor and I was jumping up and down," 
Thurston admitted. 

"I was very happy about it. I'm very excited. I don't really know how 
to explain how I am feeling at the moment." 

Read more NRL

Queenland State of Origin Squad

Shaun Berrigan
Paul Bowman
Dane Carlaw
Tonie Carroll
Petero Civoniceva
Michael Crocker
Chris Flannery
Shannon Hegarty
Justin Hodges
Ben Ikin
Darren Lockyer
P.J. Marsh
Brad Meyers
Travis Norton
Steven Price
Clinton Schifcofske
Matt Sing
Gorden Tallis
Brent Tate
Jonathon Thurston
Shane Webcke
Rhys Wesser


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