CONTACT DETAILS:
Head Office
Suite 1F
First Floor Trust House
3070 Gold Coast Hwy
Surfers Paradise
Queensland, Australia 4215
Tel: +61 7 5538 9377
Fax: +61 7 5538 9388
Email: rlcm@...
New South Wales Office
Suite 111
353 King Street
Newtown
NSW, Australia 2042
Tel: 1800 18 14 14
Fax: 1800 18 14 15
Email: nsw@...
New Zealand Office
RCLM NZ
132 Victoria Road
St Kilda
Dunedin, New Zealand
Fax: (03) 456 3498
Email: rlcm@...
United KingdomOffice
[Mail only]
RLCM
The Conifers
1 New Lane
Skelmanthorpe
Huddersfield West
Yorkshire UK, HD8 9EH
Email: england@... | |
|
|
   
Bailey Campbell Prince Walker
Photography Matt Roberts Queensland Sports Photography
Click here for more photographs.
Gold Coast Titans v Penrith
Carrara Stadium
Gold Coast, Friday 2nd March 2007
Titans on the Attack
By Gary Roberts RLCM
The Gold Coast Titans showed in a trial match at Carrara on the Gold Coast, Friday night before a crowd of 13,457 that they are willing to play an attacking brand of football.
It is comparable to the Wests Tigers premiership style of 2005.
There are similar factors involved, the first being the Titans do not have a big pack, secondly Scott Prince the Titans playmaker was instrumental with this style at Wests Tigers in 2005 and thirdly the Titans have speed and ball players in their back line, Rogers, Walker and Campbell are the Titans assets in this section of the team.
With those assets they showed they are prepared to attack from their own half. This style of play can be unstructured and a gallant way to play. It can create attractive football and bring the fans to their feet when breaks are made from deep in their own end of the field.
But if it goes bad, it can create problems. Lateral running and flat link passing can cause errors in your own 'red zone' and also cause limited go forward on plays two and three thus restricting a team's ability to gain positive field position for their kick.
On five occasions in the first half the Titans had to kick from their 30m.
On three occasions in the first half they 'Knocked On' in their 30m
In the first half they had the ball for 22 sets, although some of the kicks finished with a Positive Statistic, this resulted from the zone of where the ball landed, the above statistic could have resulted into a 33% Negative Statistic.
The turning of this negative into a positive result was from the ability of Scott Prince's kicking game.
In recent years the Broncos were noted for a similar type of play of running and spreading the ball from their own half, but they have abandoned that style of play nowadays.
Passing before the line and spreading the ball from a teams' own half can bring errors and costly opposition restarts in your territory.
This style of play is normally attempted when confronted by a bigger and effective forward pack in front of a smaller attacking team.
One of the aims is to move the bigger pack around the ground; the Titans were confronted with that type of pack on Friday night and although their attacking style created problems at times, it won out in the long term and the new boys on the block ran out comfortable winners to the tune of 28 - 6. Click here for more Gold Coast Titans v Penrith Photographs. RLCM
Plan now for the World Cup in 2008
Telstra Stadium, Sydney.
2008 may seem a long time away, but it's never too early to start planning for a tour like this.
Expressions of interest are now being taken and we will keep you posted on the tour details as they are confirmed.
Click here and send your details to register for the 2008 World Cup
2007 Tertiary Nines
Nine-a-side Rugby League is on its way to Merrylands, with the 2007 Tertiary Nines to be held at Ollie Webb Reserve on Saturday March 24.
The first official tournament of the 2007 Tertiary League season, the annual Nines is a fiercely contested event between teams from throughout Sydney, Newcastle and Bathurst, representing a series of Tertiary institutes in the region.
With twelve of the sixteen available spots already filled, including the entry of last years Grand Finalists, the UTS Jets and CSU Mungoes, the 2007 tournament promises to be one of the largest nines competitions in the league's history.
Any interested clubs or groups of players who would like to enter a team into the tournament are encourage to email secretary@... or visit the Tertiary League website for more information at www.tertiaryleague.com.auThe 2007 Tertiary League Nines tournament is supported by Tertiary League partners, Teach.NSW, Rugby League Review and the NSWRL. Tertiary League RL
An Extract from RLCM Coachtalk Yearbook 1 with Phil Gould [page 19]
The RLCM Ultimate CD-ROM with over 4000 pages of the 36 RLCM Books
is distributed to RLCM Paid subscribers, read below of how to receive your copy.
Written by Robert Rachow
Goals, no matter how desirable, almost always at some point appear unobtainable.
In everyday life these goals may arise in the form of losing weight, finding a better job or any other strain of self-improvement.
In Rugby League though, these targets usually pertain to being placed near the top of the ladder, or when broken down to week-by- week aims, beating the better teams on a regular basis.
At first some sides may seem out of reach and impossible to defeat, particularly at the junior level where physical disparity so often determines the outcome.
However Phil Gould, former Sydney Roosters, Penrith and Canterbury coach has a distinct principle which he believes helps to avoid the enormity of an impending fixture and create a level playing field.
In essence, it revolves around viewing the present time in a reference frame of its own, rather than in relation to an eventual goal.
"Certainly, try to be as good as you can be on any given week, but understand there will be ebbs and flows in the course of a season, both individually and as a team," he says.
"Really do try to keep yourself occupied in the short term, try to keep yourself in the moment.
"If you do that, each day runs into the next and each game runs into the next and each month runs into the next and then in the longer term each season runs into the next season.
It's day in, day out honesty. Review what you have done, work on what you can improve and look forward to the events of the next day.
"Rather than just looking at the end result all the time, concentrate on the job at hand. If you get tied up in the win/loss situation too much and worry what this game might mean later in the year, you carry a whole burden on your shoulders.
"It is the same as what you expect from your players. When they are out on the field, you want them to concentrate on what they're doing right at that moment, not what might happen in the future."
In the dreaded situation of shaping a team at the bottom of the ladder into genuine title contenders, every aspect or avenue of possible improvement needs to be scoured.
And by the same token, every department of vulnerability needs to be either completely overhauled or lessened in its impact.
Gameplans, like the slogan of canned seafood company John West, often revolve around the concept that "the fish that they reject, make them the best".
It is this ethos of selective improvement that Gould carried with him in his first three seasons at Sydney Roosters, taking them from fourteenth, to ninth, to fourth in successive campaigns.
"I think the key thing is that I'm very aware of .................
Join the RLCM Club and receive 4 DVD's/CD's monthly
Click on an image below to view a RLCMTV short from a DVD you will receive.
   
Tim Sheens West Tigers Wayne Bennett Broncos Jason Taylor South Sydney Graham Murray Cowboys
  
Shaun McRae Neil Henry Canberra Brian McClelland NZ Coach
Can you, your club, your coach or your coaching director, really do without this information?
We can supply you with rugby league coaching information.
So, maybe you, your coach or your club's coaching director might be interested in joining the RLCM Coaching Club and starting your clubs coaching library of RLCM resources.
Wayne Bennett Brisbane Broncos Head Coach 1988 - 2007 has said, "I believe all clubs and coaches at all levels should have copies of RLCM as a coaching resource."
See below for the DVD's and CD's you will receive during 2007.
Join the RLCM Club and receive 4 DVD's or CD's every month.
AUS$24.95 per month [overseas orders AUS5.00 monthly added for postage]
[Credit Card only]
Receive the five disks below by return mail to start you off!
* CD-ROM - RLCM Drill Books 1, 2 & 3 - 233 Training Drills
* CD-ROM - RLCM Ultimate - Over 4000 pages of 36 RLCM Books
* DVD - Tim Sheens Wests Tigers Coach [Filmed July 2006]
* DVD - Canberra Raiders 2007 Coach Neil Henry [Filmed 2006]
* DVD - Wayne Bennett Brisbane Broncos Coach
RLCM DVD's and CD's you will receive during 2007
* CD-ROM - Strength and Conditioning without Weights
* CD-ROM - RLCM Junior Coaching Books
* CD-ROM - RLCM NRL Coachtalk Yearbooks 1 and 2
* CD-ROM - 2007 Yearbook [Published January 2007]
* CD-ROM - An Approach to Coaching - Ray Unsworth RFL
* DVD - With Tim Sheens, Royce Simmons & Peter Sharp
* DVD - Canterbury Bulldogs coach Steve Folkes
* DVD - Coachtalk with NQ Cowboys Coach Graham Murray
* DVD - Adrian Hurley Basketball Coach at three Olympic's.
* DVD - Chris Fullarton ex Junior Kangaroos coach.
* DVD - Junior Coaching with Michael Rawiri NT Institute of Sport
* DVD - Shaun McRae 2006 South Sydney Coach
* DVD - Coachtalk with South Sydney 2007 Coach Jason Taylor
* DVD - Coachtalk with Brian McLennan NZ Kiwis Coach
* DVD - Recovery with Steve Nance Fulham Soccer UK
* DVD - Nutrition Leanne Hammond works Wallabies and QAS
* DVD - Defence and Attack Principles with Adrian Suttie
* DVD - Coachtalk with Gavin Judd, Gold Coast Titans
* DVD - Sports Psychologist Wendy Swift Australian Swimming
* DVD - Coaching with Stuart Raper Cronulla Sharks 2006 Coach
* DVD - Sports Psychology with Dr Phil Jauncey
* DVD - Maximising Teenage Talent with Bill Sweetnam
* DVD - Rucks and Restarts with Steve Gough
* DVD - Sprint Training with Paul Watson
* DVD - Shane McNally Manly Wynnum Head Coach.
* DVD - Scott Dickinson, Performance Manager, Newcastle Knights.
* DVD - Paul Molinia, Unless the Core is Strong the Shell will Suffer
* DVD - Kurt Wrigley, St George Illawarra Dragons
* DVD - Greg Culnane, Parramatta Eels
Click RLCMTV
More to be added each month during 2007
For more information contact
Gary Roberts
Mobile 0414 234 718
Phone: 07/ 5538 9377
Fax: 07/5538 9388
Email: rlcm@...
PRINT, COMPLETE and POST or EMAIL ORDER FORM to:
RLCM
PO Box 259,
Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
Email: rlcm@...Name: .............................................................
Address: ..........................................................
...................................................................
...................................................................
Phone: ............................................................
Mobile: ...........................................................
Email: ............................................................
Club: .............................................................
Please debit my credit card AUS$24.95 monthly. Tick [ ]
I am from outside Australia, please add AUS$5.00 monthly for Air Mail postage. Tick [ ]
Credit Card Type: .............................................................
Name on Card: .............................................................
Card Number: ...........................................................
Expiry Date: .............................................................
"I believe all clubs and coaches at all levels should have copies of RLCM as a coaching resource" Wayne Bennett
POST, FAX OR EMAIL TO:
RLCM
PO Box 259,
Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
Fax: 07/5538 9388
rlcm@...
The Dragons brilliant halves step up to fill the Gasnier void
By Jamie Pandaram and Brad Walter
The Dragons need a No.6 and coach Nathan Brown may gamble on one of two small-town 20-year-olds with big dreams who have become contenders to fill the hole left by injured five-eighth Mark Gasnier.
Either Rangi Chase or Richard Williams, halves partners who starred in the Dragons' premier league win over North Sydney last Saturday night, could be first-grade bolters for the first-round clash against Gold Coast Titans on March 18.
While the two young prospects have shown their brilliance, Brown may want to see the pair develop further in the reserves and use an established first-grader in the five-eighth role for the opening rounds - possibly centre Matt Cooper.
The younger options are inexperienced, but full of flair and desperate to play in the NRL.
Chase is a tough halfback capable of playing hooker who was recruited from Wests Tigers at the end of last year. He grew up in the small New Zealand town of Dannevirke - the birthplace of dual international John Timu - and finished his schooling in Queensland before he was picked up by the Tigers.
Williams is a gifted playmaker from Narooma, on the NSW south coast. He has been highly rated for some time and got his chance to play first grade only after Gasnier withdrew from the Dragons' opening trial against the Bulldogs due to the flu.
With Gasnier returning for the Charity Shield, Williams played premier league at Telstra Stadium and was instrumental in the 30-6 win over Norths, scoring two tries, including one from a sensational 20-metre run that made three defenders look like they were trying to catch a shadow.
He also showed a deft short kicking game, with one chip nearly resulting in a try to Chase, who was ruled off-side. According to Brown, only discipline and work ethic stand between Williams and an illustrious NRL career.
Asked if Williams would be his back-up for Gasnier this season, Brown said: "We've got Heady (Mathew Head) coming back, Rangi has had a bit of a taste so it depends on how blokes are playing but Richie's ability is definitely very good.
"Richie has got miles of talent. If Richie Williams doesn't make it, it won't be from a lack of talent. He's got a few things to work on."
Chase felt conflicted about the opportunity that has been presented to Williams and him.
"I would rather be playing with Gasnier than replacing him, but at the same time the door is open," he said. "That is how young guys get a shot at first grade, when someone goes down.
"I'm excited but at the same time you feel for Gaz. I would love to play with him, he is one of the best players in the world. In one way it's a tragedy, but in another way it's good for us young fellas to come through and show what we've got."
He also warned critics not to write off the Dragons' prospects yet. "I don't think just because we've lost Gaz, even the player he is . if we work as a team and do what we're capable of doing we should go well.
"Whoever gets the run at five-eighth will do just as good a job. If I get the spot I will give it 100 per cent."
If the two are held back by a cautious Brown, the odds suggest it is only a matter of time before their remarkable talents force the coach's hand. SMH
Tell the rugby league world your news, click here and submit Your News to appear in RLCM.
Roosters No.7 jumper 'remains unclaimed'
The Sydney Roosters No.7 jumper remains up for grabs with coach Chris Anderson still unable to separate the three players vying for the position following their 30-22 NRL trial win over Parramatta in Gosford.
Incumbent Josh Lewis got the opportunity to press his claims against the Eels after missing the club's only other trial against Wests Tigers, starting the match at half alongside rookie Mitch Aubusson.
Jamie Soward and teenage sensation Mitchell Pearce also received some time at the scrumbase as Anderson continued to experiment with his combinations.
But for all the shuffling the halfback spot remains open, with Aubusson likely to start at five-eighth and former NSW pivot Braith Anasta at lock.
"It didn't answer a lot of questions for me," Anderson said of the three-way halves dilemma.
"Someone will get first shot at it, it doesn't mean to say the other two are gone but it's a tough decision and they're making it harder which is great."
The Roosters led 16-6 at halftime before a spirited Parramatta comeback saw the Eels lead 18-16 after 54 minutes.
The sides traded tries before the Roosters took the lead back for good when Test forward Anthony Topou chased down a grubber in the 71st minute and then laid on another try with a deft pass to Vince Mellars to seal the win with three minutes to go.
While Anderson continues to grapple with his halves pairing, Parramatta coach Michael Hagan continued to back first choice combination of Tim Smith and Brett Finch, despite another indifferent outing.
Smith's night got off to the worst possible start when he gifted an intercept to Roosters Joel Monaghan, who ran 90m to score the opening try of the game, Hagan adamant the pair needed time to work on some teething problems.
"I still think we're a little bit off our best everywhere, but I think they're still going to take a bit of time to work confidently together," Hagan said.
"I think there were some really good signs for the team and I think they're both reasonably happy with what they're doing."
The new Eels coach added that he would have a selection dilemma of his own when star players Nathan Hindmarsh, Timana Tahu and Eric Grothe return from injury, with all three set to be available for the round one match in New Zealand against the Warriors. Yahoo Sport
Do you have a Drills Book? click RLCM Drills on CD-ROM to order.
Dykes still Sharks' first choice
Adam Dykes hasn't played a game of football in six and a half months or tasted victory in almost nine months, but new Cronulla coach Ricky Stuart says he remains the Sharks' first-choice five-eighth heading into the NRL season.
Dykes has missed all three of Cronulla's preseason trials with a strained ligament in the arch of his foot, but Stuart insists his absence has been precautionary more than a serious concern.
The 30-year-old is still rated "touch and go" to be fit for the first round in two weeks, but Stuart is expected to rush him directly into the starting lineup even though new recruit Brett Seymour has filled in admirably alongside Brett Kimmorley in the last two trials.
The Kimmorley and Dykes halves combination copped most of the criticism in last year's 10-game losing streak to end the season, but Stuart is likely to persist with the partnership in the short term.
Stuart said Kimmorley had really impressed him in his two trial performances.
"I'm really happy with the way Brett played over the last two trial matches," said Stuart.
"Noddy controlled the game at halfback in the first half (against Newcastle). He had a tremendous 40 minutes of football... (he) deserved having the next 40 minutes off.
"We lose a bit of direction without Brett but I'd rather lose the direction out there (in a trial) than not have him in the first game."
Stuart used 30 players in the 12-10 trial loss to Newcastle and although his side surrendered two tries in the final five minutes and didn't score in the second half, he remains optimistic about the improvements being made at the Shire.
"I'm happy about the transfer of stuff we are doing at training onto the field," said Stuart.
"I think we are going forward which is important. Out of our three trials I have seen a number of players play now for the club which I haven't seen before.
"It is good to get them first grade experience like that because you'll never know when you're going to need them.
"We've got to keep moving forward. I hope by halfway through the year we've improved even further." Yahoo Sport
RLCMtv Update Click here to view a RLCMtv short of Bill Sweetnam keynote speaker at RFL Coaching Conference, Reebok Stadium Bolton.
Axe is hovering over Broncos
By Steve Ricketts
THE axe is hovering over several of the Broncos 2006 premiership side after a disappointing pre-season.
Coach Wayne Bennett yesterday said there was likely to be casualties from among the 14 survivors of last year's 15-8 grand final win against Melbourne.
Bennett, who will next week name his team for the round 1 clash with North Queensland, pinpointed the back row, halfback and wing as areas of concern following Saturday night's 46-0 loss to the Storm at Melbourne's Princes Park.
Cowboys coach Graham Murray was more upbeat after a 14-12 loss to Manly in Cairns on Saturday and declared his side in good shape for the showdown with Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on Friday week.
Bennett said the easy way out was to name a team as close as possible to last year's grand final side.
"I've got to be careful there," Bennett said.
"I don't want to get caught in a situation where I hang on for a while and we play some ordinary footy and then I have to get it right. I don't want to go down that path, thanks.
"I just think there's a few of them under a bit of pressure right now. I've probably got to get my head sorted out about who we should go with.
"My gut feeling this morning is that all the grand final guys won't be there.
"One or two of them aren't playing too well.
"I just need to have a look at some tapes and see what my alternatives are. The other way is just stick with the 14 or so who got the job done for us last year and they'll sort it out.
"We've got a good team and we're in good shape. But we've got to get back to playing the footy we're capable of.
"We've just got to remind ourselves about the things that make us successful and we're not that far away from it. In the two games we've had we just haven't done that. We've had something else on our minds and I'm not sure what it is."
Halfback Shane Perry, prop Ben Hannant and winger Darius Boyd are probably the players most under pressure. But Bennett said the younger alternatives had not stepped up to the mark in the 46-0 loss to Melbourne.
"I needed to see some of these guys play at this level so I had a bit of an idea what was available come Origin time and when we have injuries," he said of his decision to rest a number of his senior players.
"I've got to say they probably didn't put their hand up. Joel Moon did early but outside of him they probably didn't show enough."
Moon was cleared of neck damage after being taken to hospital for scans on Saturday after he landed awkwardly in a tackle but the talented five-eighth/halfback is at long odds to be fit for the Cowboys match because of an ankle sprain. Wingers Tame Tupou (knee) and Gideon Mzembe (rib cartilage) were the other casualties. Courier Mail
Click here and submit your FREE RLCM Positions Vacant advertisement to appear on the RLCM.
NRL to probe Chloe Maxwell's radio job
By Steve Mascord
Model Chloe Maxwell's job with a Gold Coast radio station will be investigated by NRL salary cap auditor Ian Schubert this week.
Blue-chip Titans signing Mat Rogers proposed to Maxwell on her SEA FM program before Friday night's win over Penrith - drawing attention to her paid role with one of the club's sponsors.
SEA FM is Gold Coast's official radio sponsor and cap rules take a dim view of players' spouses being given jobs by companies closely associated with their club.
"Ian is going to the Gold Coast this week and that will be one of a number of things he looks into," the NRL chief executive David Gallop said.
"When I spoke to him he didn't say if it had been previously declared but I'm sure he'll check that out."
Titans managing director Michael Searle said Maxwell had been given the job on her own merits and added the resurrected club had nothing to hide.
"To be honest, we have discussed this internally," said Searle.
"Chloe is a personality in her own right. We can control what Mat Rogers does, to a certain extent, but we have no control over Chloe.
"She was a guest on SEA FM's breakfast show and she was such a natural they offered her a permanent position.
"It has nothing to do with her relationship with Mat.
"I don't think there will be a problem."
Rogers originally signed a 2008 contract with the Titans but then secured a release from his Australian Rugby Union deal a year early.
He is thought to be being paid around $200,000 this season and about $300,000 a year for the following three. Foxsport Online
Click John Monie to view a RLCMtv short with John talking about a Flat Attack on the Short Side.
Mick Turner Names BARLA Tour Team for South Africa
BARLA International Manager Mick Turner has named the Tour Party for the tour of South Africa which includes twenty six players. The party fly out to Johannesburg via Amsterdam and Manchester on Sunday 3rd June returning on the 17th June.
During the tour they will play four matches including Two Test Matches against the South Africa Rhinos and BARLA will be helping celebrate the 25th Anniversary of South Africa playing rugby league.
The players will meet at Shaw Cross Sharks ARLFC on the 11th March for a training session and eighteen of those will be selected for BARLA's first defence of the Skanska Cup against the RAF on the 14th March at Saddleworth Rangers ARLFC.
The full tour party is as follows:
Players
Michael Backhouse (Roose Pioneers)
Anthony Broadhead (Thornhill Trojans)
Kevin Brown (Eastmoor Dragons)
Paul Brown (Castleford Panthers)
David Critchley (Eccles & Salford Juniors)
Matthew Danville (Skirlaugh)
Kevin Dickens (Sharlston Rovers)
Andy Dobson (Blackbrook)
Jon Eccles (Hull Dockers)
Joe Elliott (Barrow Island)
James Fairbank (Elland)
Craig Holmes (Thornhill Trojans)
Simon Kilby (Skirlaugh)
Christopher Lee (West Hull)
Gary Lumb (Sharlston Rovers)
Lee Maskill (Sharlston Rovers)
John McMullen (Wigan St Judes)
Matthew Myers (Shaw Cross Sharks)
Richard Owen (Wigan St Patricks)
Trevor Penrose (Skirlaugh)
Ryan Robb (Kells)
Jim Rogers (Saddleworth Rangers)
Danny Smith (Shaw Cross Sharks)
Tim Sutcliffe (West Bowling)
Kevin Thompson (Wath Brow Hornets)
Scott Woodcock (Thornhill Trojans)
Officials
Mick Turner (International Manager)
John Jefferson (Assistant Manager)
Carl Sanderson (Assistant Manager)
Chris Middlehurst (Coach)
John Fieldhouse (Coach)
Steve Manning (Media Manager & PRO)
Spen Allison (BARLA Chair)
Steve Woodcock (Equipment)
Ray Fleming (Sponsor)
Gordon Grey-Copwan (Physio) BARLA Online
Click RLCMtv CHANNEL 1 to view the complete library of RLCMtv short takes.
Newtown Jets gain redemption through 2nd half resurgence
Newtown's 2007 VB Premier League trials program finished at the Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford on Saturday evening when the Jets went down 36-16 to last year's premiers Parramatta.
Newtown fielded another very young team made up of Jersey Flegg players and Premier League triallists. Several of these youngsters had played in the Roosters SG Ball team last year so they have actually played in three full Premier League trials before they have ever stepped onto the field in a Jersey Flegg fixture.
The Jets trailed 12-0 after ten minutes in this match but then regrouped to put in a very solid 25 minutes in which they really aimed up against the near full-strength Parramatta side.
Newtown pulled back to 12-6 following an exceptional try where the ball was moved through several pairs of hands, first to the left side and then a sweeping movement to the right which saw Jets lock Joseph Cahill crash over in the northern right-side corner.
Hooker Anthony Watts obliged by converting the try from the touchline. A disastrous five minutes late in the first half, with some indecisiveness in the Newtown right-side defence, saw Parramatta pile on three converted tries to go in at the break with a 30-6 lead.
Coach Paul Young emphasised in his half-time address that this trial wasn't about the scoreboard, but about how each player could cope with the pressure of playing against strong Premier League opposition, and how much each man would ensure there were no cheap penalties, no undisciplined plays through frustration and no soft missed tackles.
The team responded in turn with a solid second half which the Jets "won" by 10-6, with Parramatta's only try coming very late in the second half.
Front-rowers Stanley Waqa and Dale Newton led the way in this match with their determined charges and high work-rate while second-rower Danny Williams turned in yet another wholehearted effort in attack and defence.
Anthony Watts looked to be in good touch as a major playmaker and five-eighth Rory Kostjaysn tackled anything wearing blue and gold colours.
Fullback Aaron Lai returned the ball confidently and looks to have recovered well from the bad off-field head injuries he suffered last year.
This was a more than useful trial match played in humid and oppressive conditions that really sorted out those players who are determined to gain Premier League selection.
Newtown Jets supporters please take note - in the next two weeks there will be a large infusion of players who have been turning out with distinction in the Roosters successful NRL trials campaign.
You may be assured that Newtown will be fielding a very strong side in the opening round of the Jets' 100th season in Rugby League football, starting with last year's Preliminary Finalists St George-Illawarra at Henson Park on Saturday, March 17th (St Patrick's Day) with this match kicking off at 4.30pm. Newtown Jets Online
Click here Gold Coast Titans v Penrith Photographs
Leeds 16 defeated Huddersfield 12
Leeds coach Tony Smith praised his side's defensive fortitude after they ground out an ill-tempered 16-12 victory over engage Super League rivals Huddersfield.
Four sin-binnings were dished out by referee Ian Smith as Rhinos sentenced Huddersfield to their fourth straight defeat of the season.
With a little luck, however, the spirited Giants may even have even pilfered the points at the death on a dreadful Headingley playing surface.
Smith, whose side had lost to Catalans Dragons the previous week, said: "The pitch was certainly a leveller, but there was some great desperation in our defence and in the end that probably told.
"Huddersfield tested us and that shows how close Super League is this season.
"They were desperate for points and they played that way.
"But the teams at the top also have to be desperate to beat those teams at the bottom.
"The teams in Super League are more even this year and every team will be tested."
Jon Sharp's men remain the only side without a single point this season but they could hardly be accused of lacking fighting spirit.
Giants veteran Paul Reilly and centre Jamahl Lolesi were both shown the yellow card either side of the break, while Leeds full-back Brent Webb was also sin-binned twice.
The action taken by referee Smith epitomised the niggling undercurrent which flowed throughout a hard-fought encounter in which neither side gave an inch.
Three first-half tries from Clinton Toopi, Jamie Jones-Buchanan and Lee Smith handed Leeds a 14-8 interval advantage.
Skipper Kevin Sinfield kicked two goals but Eorl Crabtree's first-half try and Chris Thorman's late touchdown meant the Giants were always in contention.
Sharp said: "We've played three really good sides now in St Helens, Bradford and Leeds, and we've gone toe to toe with them.
"There's only been one score in it and, even when we lost to Hull KR it was the same.
"We were poor against Hull KR and that defeat left a sour taste in our mouths.
"We were back on track today after a two-week break and I felt we were a match for a very good team."
Despite being reduced to 12 men for two periods following the yellow cards given to Reilly and Lolesi, Giants never buckled and largely dominated the second period.
Sharp added: "I thought we were magnificent today and although we've had four defeats, we know we're not far off.
"The players are devastated in there because we may even have nicked it at the end, but we're pretty pleased with the overall process of what we're doing.
"It's not a bad effort from our lads to keep Leeds to two points and that's something to take encouragement from." Sporting Life
Click here for RLCMtv short with Steve Folkes Canterbury Bulldogs coach.
Wakefield 19 defeated Hull FC 6
Wakefield coach John Kear refused to get carried away with his victorious return to the KC Stadium but admitted his side deserve their spot at the top of the Super League table.
Kear, who was acrimoniously axed as the Black and White's boss in April last year saw his side post three tries on their way to a third straight win, with Jamie Rooney adding seven points with the boot in a 19-6 success.
"I thought it was a very good performance from my team," he said.
"We thought we knew how to beat Hull, we came here with a plan, how to beat them and they executed it very well despite adverse conditions.
"I'm very pleased for the players. I thought they performed outstandingly well."
Kear was also delighted to learn of his side's rise to the top of the league ladder but urged for a degree of perspective to be applied.
"That's the best way to do it, sneak up on the blind side and not realise," he said.
"It's only round four which is a seventh of the way through the season. We're fully aware that there's a lot more hard work to be done.
"What we have to do is not believe any publicity, which we never get anyway. We need to realise why we have made this good start and the reason why we have made the start is due to the hard work we're putting in preparing for games. Then when we play games we work hard for 80 minutes during games."
Kear did have some back-handed criticism for the Hull board that prematurely released him for his contract.
"It's two points," he said.
"The same as you get from any game. They (Hull) have got some really good players and a really good squad. It depends whether the board will panic."
In turn, Hull coach Peter Sharp admits that his side turned in their worst performance since he succeeded Kear but pledged to find an answer to his side's poor run of form.
Last season's Grand Finalists have still to register a win from their four outings this term, with the Australian pointing at several key factors as to why.
"It's a fair estimation to say it's the worst performance since I came here," he admitted.
"They're trying hard but occasionally it just doesn't happen for a team and it's just not happening for us as a team or individually at the moment.
"We just need to work hard and chip away at it. There's no other way to do it. We had poor discipline, poor ball control and all those things add up don't they?
"We're making errors that we never made last year, they got down the middle of us a couple of times which is uncharacteristic of us. Or was last year, it's not at the moment. We need to rectify that and gain a bit of confidence. We haven't got a lot of points in us."
Sharp was also quick to point to the absence of stand-off Paul Cooke as a fundamental reason behind his side's poor attack. The 25-year-old has only featured in one game this season and is now set to miss a further month with a hamstring injury.
"Paul will be another four or five weeks we think," he revealed.
"He has a grade two hamstring tear which he suffered in training at the end of the week which is unfortunate but that's life. It's a massive hole to fill but some people will get the opportunity to show their stuff. They need to take them.
"But Cooke's a quality player, you need to understand that, he's one of the best offensive players in the country so any team is going to miss a player of his quality." Sporting Life
Tell the rugby league world Your News, click here it will appear on RLCM.
Classy Seu Seu set for spot in Knights lineup
Terence Seu Seu, consider yourself seen.
The 19-year-old New Zealand hooker who couldn't even break into premier league last season is set to win a spot in Newcastle's National Rugby League side for the opening round clash against the Bulldogs after starring in both of the Knights' trial wins over Penrith and Cronulla.
With Australian test rake Danny Buderus suspended and regular replacement Luke Quigley picking up an ankle injury on Saturday which could sideline him for two weeks, Newcastle coach Brian Smith said Seu Seu's blinding performances had earned him an NRL debut.
"Terence Seu Seu has played himself into first grade I can tell you that right now," said Smith.
"He is a player, that boy."
A stunned Seu Seu, who has represented New Zealand A, was speechless after hearing Smith's accolade, but quickly put pressure back on the new coach and urged him to hurry up and finalise the teenager's contract negotiations.
Seu Seu is off-contract this season and although he knows he'll be second-choice hooker behind Buderus, he is desperately keen to stick around and learn from the best.
"That's good news. I have been waiting for him to sign me during the week too," said Seu Seu when told of Smith's compliment.
"I come off contract this year and hope to sign up for another couple of years.
"Danny is the number one. He is the one I look up to and watch videos on. "[Buderus] is the best ... Anything he says goes for me."
NZ Herald
Do you have a Drills Book? Click RLCM Drills on CD-ROM to order.
Jamie Lyon impresses at five-eighth
Star recruit Jamie Lyon put his hand up for the five-eighth job at Manly with an encouraging hit-out in the Sea Eagles' 14-12 NRL trial win over North Queensland.
Manly are yet to make a final decision on whether Lyon or Travis Burns will wear the No.6 jersey for their NRL season opener against Canberra but the former Parramatta centre's display in Cairns will give coach Des Hasler plenty to think about.
Heading into the game, Hasler had said performances in the trial could be the deciding factor on who would join captain Matt Orford in the halves.
But speaking after the match, Hasler said he was not about to make decisions until some in-depth, post-match analysis.
"I thought they all performed admirably," Hasler said.
"They were good so we'll go back and assess it, have a look at it and make a call then."
After making the top eight last season, Manly open their 2007 campaign in two weeks at Brookvale Oval against the Raiders, who were surprise 26-4 victors against the West Tigers in Brisbane.
Hasler would have been optimistic about the season ahead after the Sea Eagles' defensive effort, which allowed just two Cowboys tries.
This was despite many attacking opportunities, spearheaded by North Queensland fullback Matt Bowen who made a strong return to form.
"It was great defensive effort, it was very good," Hasler said.
"It was probably a little bit messy, but the conditions made it hard.
"But we came up defensively because they had a fair bit of ball, but that's something we worked on hard over the off-season, so I was pleased."
Despite finishing on the wrong side of the ledger, Cowboys coach Graham Murray could still extract several positives from the game, including the blending of his own new halves combination, Johnathan Thurston and Jason Smith.
In his second game for the club, Smith played the perfect pivot role, pressuring the Manly line with some probing in-goal kicks and several precision cut-out passes that gave his team-mates room to move.
"He's got great vision and I still think him and JT (Thurston) can work better again," Murray said.
Interchange player Jackson Nicolau, originally from Innisfail and recruited off-season from the Melbourne Storm, relieved both Smith and Thurston at times and showed some positive signs.
Murray also praised Bowen and hooker Aaron Payne.
"I thought Payne was one of our better players there too and he played long minutes," Murray said.
"So there's all those positives coming out of it - Payne long minutes, Bowen back to a bit of running form and Thurston and Smith coming together."
Thurston captained the side but Murray is still to decide on who will take on the full-time leadership duties following the retirement of Travis Norton, with Thurston and Payne the likely candidates.
"I got to speak to the ref a bit, which was alright, but the board will make their decision during the week and we'll just go from there," Thurston said.
The Cowboys play defending premiers Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium in round one. SMH
Click here Gold Coast Titans v Penrith Photographs
Knights reject Johns' Origin comeback
Newcastle officials remain adamant Andrew Johns will not turn out for NSW this season - despite the Knights maestro receiving in-principle support from coach Brian Smith for a State of Origin comeback.
Johns, who stepped down from rep football following last year's Anzac Test against New Zealand, has a clause in his deal with the Knights precluding him from playing Origin and Test football in the final two years of his contract.
Knights football manager Steve Crowe said the NRL club had not considered allowing Johns to once again play rep footy because no request had been made.
Johns has continually played down talk of a return to the arena he once dominated, but a question posed in his weekend newspaper column has again heightened speculation of a comeback.
In a "Q and A" with coach Smith, Johns asked: "What about me playing Origin?"
Smith replied: "I would never do anything to make a bloke hesitate about playing rep footy. It's a great honour and I would do anything for any bloke in that regard - even old blokes."
Johns rejected an SOS to play for the Blues in last year's Origin opener, but it is believed watching the Maroons' dramatic series win has sparked the fire in his belly for one last hurrah in the sky blue.
But Crowe said the club's position had not changed.
"There's a clause in his contract precluding him from playing rep footy and he hasn't asked us to change that clause," Crowe said.
"Until that happens there's no use speculating.
"Our position isn't cut and dried, but we haven't had anything to do yet because there hasn't been any formal or informal approach.
"His public comments have always been that he doesn't want to play (Origin), he certainly hasn't made any approach to the club about playing it.
"I probably take (Johns' question in the column) as tongue in cheek."
Johns will definitely play one game of rep football in 2007, with the 32-year-old to play for the New Zealand All Golds when they re-enact the end of season tour to the UK that spawned the birth of rugby league in the southern hemisphere.
"We've given him permission for that because it's out of season," Crowe said.
"It's a great promotion for the game."
While the Origin series may be some way off, of greater concern to Johns would be getting back on the field for the Knights.
He missed both of the club's pre-season trials after withdrawing from Saturday night's encounter with Cronulla in Cessnock due to hamstring soreness, and is now in doubt for Newcastle's season opener against the Bulldogs in just under two weeks.
"I could sense it in him, I didn't think he felt within himself that he was right," Smith said.
"He would be in some doubt (for the Bulldogs match).
"He will need to get cracking with some harder training over the next two weeks. We'd certainly like him to be doing that as soon as possible.
"It will help the team too if he is able to train in the middle or latter part of this week.
"It will help us to get some rhythm and hopefully put on a better performance than we did last tonight." SMH
Click here Gold Coast Titans v Penrith Photographs
Rugby League Trainers Online
Risk of Hepatitis B infections
From Doug King
In a pre-release article from the British Journal of Sports Medicine (1st March 2007) on the Risk of Hepatitis B infections in Olympic wrestling, it was identified that, although Hepatitis B is classified as a blood-borne pathogen and one of the 10 leading causes of death, it is not just found in blood placing people more at risk of infection of Hepatitis B without blood exposure.
The research was done on 70 Olympic wrestlers and although none of those studied had experienced Hepatitis B, 12.9% of them had positive results for detection of Hep B DNA.
This could have occurred as a result of the surprising finding that Hepatitis B DNA was detected in 11.4% of those studied through their sweat.
The incidence of sweat Hepatitis B DNA (11.4%) is reportedly close to that reported to occur in blood (12.2%). This has huge implications on how we deal with injured players.
As a result of this finding it has been identified that transmission of Hepatitis B may also occur through sweat.
Based on this I highly recommend that you have your Hepatitis B status reviewed and if your not covered have the vaccines.
If you have had them and, if you have not been tested in the last 5 years, you should go and check your Hepatitis B status to ensure your covered. It may just mean one more shot to complete this conversion.
Something to consider about those sweaty bodies we all care for
Doug King, Rugby League Trainers Online
Click here for RLCMtv short with Steve Folkes Canterbury Bulldogs coach.
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie wants league World Cup final
Queensland Premier Peter Beattie has met with rugby league chiefs to discuss a proposal for Brisbane to host the 2008 Rugby League World Cup final.
Mr Beattie said a meeting with ARL chairman Colin Love last Friday in Sydney was "very productive."
"From our point of view we regard the Rugby World Cup as about jobs for Queenslanders," he said.
"And I think Suncorp (Stadium), which is regarded as the best rugby league ground in the world, should be the ... host for the final of the Rugby League World Cup."
Mr Beattie said a negotiating team had been established to ensure Brisbane clinched the event.
"The negotiations were very productive and obviously we'll do more," he said. SMH
Sea Eagles 14 defeated Cowboys 12
An impressive defensive effort from Manly led to a two-point victory against the Cowboys in their trial match at Barlow Park last night.
A sturdy wall of Sea Eagles resistance nullified almost every attacking run the Cowboys made as they attempted to come back from a 10-0 half-time deficit.
Two tries in six minutes meant a parochial Cowboys crowd nearly got the result they craved, but Manly centre Steve Matai's second try of the night put them ahead by two, a margin they held until the final siren.
The Cowboys had been blessed with numerous opportunities all night with several major line busts and constant attacking waves. But Manly held firm. SMH
Do you have a Drills Book? Click RLCM Drills on CD-ROM to order.
Raiders 26 defeated Tigers 4
Dismissed as wooden spoon favourites, a depleted Raiders received a welcome confidence boost by downing a near full-strength Wests Tigers 26-4 in their trial in Brisbane last night.
The Raiders were the joke of the NRL when they were downed by a combined Redcliffe-Broncos feeder side last weekend in a crushing blow for new coach Neil Henry.
But they had the last laugh by comfortably brushing aside a Tigers side boasting stars Benji Marshall, John Morris and Robbie Farah in their starting side for the first time.
Tigers back-rower Liam Fulton - who has re-signed until the end of 2010 - was stretchered in the second half after being concussed in a tackle. SMH
Tell the rugby league world your news, click here and submit Your News to appear in the RLCM Latest News.
New bar for Leeds Rhinos 2000 members
Rhinos 2000 members will now be able to gain access to the Carnegie Café Bar pre and post match on production of a valid Rhinos 2000 membership card.
The Sports Bar in the Main Stand will now be open to the general public and will be free admission to all supporters. The Carnegie Café Bar will also be used by the Leeds Rugby Foundation to welcome clubs and schools from Leeds and surrounding areas to selected games to enjoy a uni! que night out at Headingley Carnegie Stadium.
If you would like further details about how to join Rhinos 2000 call Nadine Burgess on 0113 2033261 or if you require information about the Leeds Rugby Foundation and our partnership with amateur clubs, organisations and schools call General Manager Chris Rostron on 0113 2399185.
There are still tickets available for the South Stand for Sunday's game but they must be pre-purchased from the ticket office and fans are advised to book early.
The ticket office will be open from 9am until 12 noon on Saturday and will re-open at 10am on Sunday. You can buy in person or phone 08700 606050 however customers at the counter will have priority over phone orders.
The quickest and most convenient way to book your tickets is online. Any tickets ordered before 1pm on Sunday will be left for collection at the ticket office.
There will be cash turnstiles for ground entry at St Michael 's Lane and Kirkstall Lane but there will be no cash turnstiles on the South Stand. Leeds Rhinos Online
Click here to view a RLCMtv short of Bill Sweetnam keynote speaker at RFL Coaching Conference.
Andrew Chalmers to take control of NZ Rugby League
By Steve Kilgallon
At lunctime yesterday, clad in black and smoking a cigarette outside the Quality Inn in Manukau, Andrew Chalmers didn't look happy.
By tea time last night, rugby league - with a few modifications - had embraced the brave new Chalmers world.
The interim chairman of the New Zealand Rugby League had pushed through the majority of changes he had demanded to the sport and was considerably more cheerful, calling it a "historic day".
"Rugby league is united, the right decisions have been made," Chalmers said.
"It was hard work, but we got there in the end."
Chalmers presented a package of constitutional reforms to a Special General Meeting of the NZRL, but a midday poll gave him just 14-8 support - short of the two-thirds majority required.
But after lunch, fresh debate and eight alterations to his new constitution, changes Chalmers considered to be relatively minor gave him unanimous support. He now has what appears to be enough voting muscle to take decisive control of the sport at next month's annual meeting.
There were suggestions last night that gaming trusts - league's biggest individual financial backers - had been pushing behind the scenes for reform of this nature after a Pricewaterhouse Cooper's report into the sport's governance found what has been reported as substantial mismanagement.
Chalmers said all the league's sponsors had demanded change after the Nathan Fien 'grannygate' affair. "All our commercial partners want to see reform and governance, not just them," he said.
One of the new clauses means Chalmers and the suspended director Peter Douglas must step down at the annual meeting, where it seems likely Chalmers will stand again and seek board support to take the chairmanship on a formal basis.
But he would still not reveal his hand, saying: "I'm delivering what I said I would, that I would stand down as a director and acting chairman at the AGM. I haven't even contemplated my position after that."
Chalmers' move to wrest control of the sport from its traditional administrators had seemed precarious earlier in the day.
From 9.30am to 12.30am, sat in serried rows behind blue name badges, delegates at the SGM had debated a rewrite of the constitution.
Their inconclusive vote came after what was, said Wellington delegate Peter Mellars, an "intense debate".
One of the few to declare his hand, Mellars had earlier read a statement from Wellington clubs saying a vote against Chalmers' package was to "accept the status quo of mismanagement that has also been identified by Pricewaterhouse Coopers".
Others were more guarded. Canterbury GM Duane Fyfe said everyone wanted change, but agreeing on how to do it was the debate.
West Coast's Peter Kerridge said the vote had gone "as expected"; former Kiwis international Don Hammond settled for calling it an "interesting debate".
Chalmers emerged into the lunchtime heat, puffed on his durry, and was collared by one delegate about the Kiwis before hustling the rest back inside to continue the debate.
"These are landmark changes, and there is always going to be active debate and discussion and consultation, which is exactly what happened," he said later.
Originally, the changes were to be accepted or rejected en masse. After lunch, they were open to fresh debate. Chalmers had, said one critic, "learned a bit of a lesson".
Auckland had circulated seven pages of opinion from their legal counsel Peter Macky about the changes before the meeting, counselling caution, and while the original ballot was secret, it was widely assumed they led the eight dissenters. But their chairman Cameron McGregor later declared himself happy with the adjustments.
"It couldn't have gone any better," he said.
"We got to debate all the things we wanted in an open forum ... I think Andrew would have been pretty disappointed this morning, but he can be really happy this afternoon."
The new constitution expands the board from six to nine directors, three of them non-elected independent "professionals", but more importantly, marks what could be a distinctive moment in the NZRL's history. NZ Stuff
Click here and submit your FREE RLCM Positions Vacant advertisement to appear on the RLCM website.
Mark Gasnier to miss entire 2007 season
St George Illawarra's 2007 National Rugby League (NRL) campaign is in tatters with the news Mark Gasnier will miss the entire season after rupturing his pectoral muscle in the Dragons 16-14 Charity Shield win over South Sydney last night.
Gasnier left the field and ran straight up the tunnel clutching at his right shoulder after coming off second best in a tackle on former Kiwis international Nigel Vagana in the 63rd minute.
It came midway through what had been a positive first game in the No.6 jumper for the test centre, the Dragons entire pre-season campaign which had been devoted to acclimatising him to five-eighth now a complete waste of time.
"I'm absolutely shattered, I can't believe it," Gasnier said.
"But I'm going to be there for the rest of the team and I'm going to work hard to get back as soon as possible."
Dragons coach Nathan Brown tried his best to remain positive after the match, but it was obvious in the tone of his voice that he knew the injury blow would have a devastating impact on the club's finals fortunes.
"It's a tragedy, he's one of the world's better players... she's a rough game and we're not going to be the only club that goes through it," Brown said.
"In the past we've shown when we've lost key players and gone well.
"We've just to work really hard as a group of blokes and push on and feel positive that our year can be good." NZ Herald
Click John Monie to view a RLCMtv short with John talking about a Flat Attack on the Short Side.
Warrington 19 defeated Harlequins 12
Warrington coach Paul Cullen saluted his players' character after they came back from 12-0 down to win 19-12 and end Harlequins' unbeaten start to the season.
New Zealand winger Henry Fa'afili was the star of the show with a try either side of the break to turn the tide as Wolves went level at the top with Bradford and Hull KR.
Quins had romped into a 12-0 lead thanks to tries from Matt Gafa and Scott Hill but Cullen was thrilled with his side's never-say-die attitude.
"We learnt lessons from Harlequins in the first 15 minutes and were making passes we had no right to make," said Cullen.
"If you give them the ball they will make you pay and they did that. But it was a remarkable show of character from my boys yet again.
"We played some good rugby after the first 15 minutes - we never entered the Quins half until the 17th minute and within 30 seconds of being down there we scored a try.
"Quins always make you work hard for the win and it's great to go to the top.
"But I'm not overly concerned with the league table because I'm not overly satisfied with this performance.
"We'll be working hard on our opening 15 minutes of matches in training this week."
Quins coach Brian McDermott admitted his side had been second best after their stunning start.
Martin Gleeson and Stuart Reardon also crossed for the visitors and McDermott had no complaints with the result.
"The game went in the second half and Warrington fully deserved to win," he said.
"They invested more effort than us and there are areas that we've got to work on in training this week.
"It's the third week on the bounce where I've got issues about our second-half performance.
"We were poor at Hull KR last week after the break as well but I'm not panicking.
"We were good defensively and Warrington had to produce good play for their tries."
McDermott left new recruit Richard Villasanti on the sidelines following his arrival from Cronulla this week but the Quins coach warned fans not to expect too much too soon of the forward.
"There's been a perception that Richard's the messiah for this club but there's no way we have brought him for that.
"We're excited that we've got him on board and he's going to add to a hard-working front row but he's got to earn his place in the squad first.
"This game came too soon for him but he will be in contention for Wigan next week." Sporting Life
Click RLCMtv CHANNEL 1 to view the complete library of RLCMtv short takes.
Salford 10 defeated Catalans 0
Salford coach Karl Harrison was delighted to see his side rediscover their defensive steel to grind out their first win of Super League XII on a filthy night in Manchester.
The Reds, who were the surprise packet of 2006, conceded more points than any other club after the first three rounds but nullified the threat of the dangerous Catalans to keep the first blank sheet of 2007 with a 10-0 win at The Willows.
Stand-off Luke Dorn scored an early try - his first for Salford - but the home side had to wait an hour before finally securing the points when inspirational captain Malcolm Alker grabbed the match-winner nine minutes from the end.
"I thought we were defensively outstanding," said Harrison. "It was reminiscent of last year's efforts.
"Catalans have been playing pretty well this season and they took Leeds apart last week but we nullified their attack. I don't think they looked like scoring all night.
"It was not pretty but it was desperate that we got the result and that's what matters."
The Dragons sorely missed the creative skills of Aaron Gorrell, who is out for the season with a knee injury, and the conditions were hardly suited to free-flowing rugby.
"We did miss Aaron but that's not the reason we lost," said Catalans coach Mick Potter.
"They defended really well and handled the conditions better than us. We played a little too much and didn't value possession enough. We came up with far too many errors."
Potter hopes to have captain Stacey Jones back for next week's trip to Wakefield as he continues his recovery from knee surgery.
"I have been pleased with Thomas Bosc and Casey McGuire but you can't replace Stacey Jones," he said.
"He is a world-class player and it will be a boost if he is back next week." Sporting Life
Click here for RLCMtv short with Steve Folkes Canterbury Bulldogs coach.
Junior Ravens off to a flier
The first training session for the Junior Ravens Rugby League was a major success for the club, all the teams had a mix of returning players and new faces that joined in, the club had players that had never played before to players that had followed Warrington or Wigan for example all their life, though everyone enjoyed the session which was held in artic conditions in the heart of Dartford.
All the coaches came away happy as they commented on how much all the Juniors enjoyed the session, even the one's that braved the weather by wearing shorts and T-shirt were happy running around Acacia Hall.
Next Saturday will see the start of the RFL Southern Leagues for all our teams between ages 12 and 16 (school year 7 to 11) as they take on St Albans at Acacia Hall, as the session closed Club director Vicki Bacon commented that "The hope is that the success of today (last Thursday) will add to the Junior Ravens recruitment and next weeks session will be even bigger".
With that in mind the Junior Ravens will be continuing their recruitment drive is looking for juniors between 6 and 16 to come along and take up Rugby League, this simple but spectacular sport seems to be perfect for children as after every match our players can not wait for the next one even if it's their first ever bit of sport.
The Junior Ravens are looking for children of all ages to come and join in even if you have no experience; it is great fun with also the chance for players to work through representative honours too.
So if you are interested in playing, training or helping out then do not hesitate to get in contact with the Kent Ravens by emailing vicki@... calling 07707 852 952 or by seeing our web site at www.kentravens.co.uk
Tell the rugby league world your news, click here and submit Your News to appear in the RLCM.
Doncaster Lakers building for a Super League future
Since Doncaster Lakers moved from Belle Vue at the end of the 2006 season so many changes have taken place that it is hard to recognise the club.
The Lakers who moved to the new Keepmoat Stadium this year on a 25 year licence now employ 15 full time staff headed by Chief Executive Dave King plus a full time playing squad of 17 senior players and 22 Academy players.
"We have the chance of a lifetime at the Keepmoat and it was essential that we had the right people in place to capitalise on the opportunity.
"Business is about people and we have plenty of excellent working models in sport to learn from and I believe we have done so. We now have an excellent commercial department in place headed by Tony Hannan and after just two months at the new stadium the support we are getting from local business is better than expected.
"The community programme being delivered by Dave Marshall and his staff combined with the Arena of Life project from Dave King's team is something totally new to Doncaster and is being welcomed by everyone", says the Lakers Chairman, John Wright.
An important criteria for the granting of a Super League licence is the catchment area and support a club is getting and Doncaster is well placed to attract support of the highest level.
The first home game at the Keepmoat Stadium against Castleford on the 11th February attracted a crowd of 4,180 and if the Lakers can maintain that level of support a Super League licence is almost assured for the South Yorkshire club.
The Lakers Chairman oozes confidence when asked about the chances of a Super League licence and had this to say "I always maintained that providing the Council delivered a great stadium for Rugby League then the Lakers could compete with the very best in the game.
"We have the stadium and a Super League Licence in 2009 is next. Once in Super League we will have a very strong business and every chance to win trophies for the town.
"This is the first business I have run which has been given a £32 million asset at no cost and that is thanks to the people of Doncaster and I won't let them down. All we need now is for the people of Donny to get down to the Keepmoat Stadium and enjoy the fun." Doncaster Online
Click here for RLCMtv short with Steve Folkes Canterbury Bulldogs coach.
RFL unveils dates for NZ series
The Rugby Football League has announced the venues for the Test series between Great Britain and New Zealand.
Huddersfield's Galpharm Stadium will host the opening Test on 27 October.
The other matches will take place at Hull's Kingston Communications Stadium on 3 November and Wigan's JJB Stadium on 10 November.
The Centenary International, with Andrew Johns guesting, will take place on Saturday, 20 October at the Halliwell Jones Stadium in Warrington.
Details of ticket availability for the centenary match and the following Test series will be available from the official Rugby League Tickets website at www.rugbyleaguetickets.co.uk when available. RFL Online
Tell the rugby league world your news, click here and submit Your News to appear in RLCM
Sydney Roosters 30 defeated Parramatta 22
Anthony Minichiello and Braith Anasta have both made promising returns from injury to lead the Sydney Roosters to a 30-22 win over Parramatta in an NRL trial at Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium.
The Roosters led 16-6 at halftime and managed to stave off an Eels fightback in the second stanza before scoring two unanswered tries in the final 10 minutes to claim the win.
The game marked the return of injured stars Minichiello and Anasta, who were both impressive in the win.
Anasta scored a try and combined with Minichiello to score another.
Anasta missed the final five games of the last season after groin surgery, while Minichiello had not played a game since last April after undergoing back surgery.
The former Australian fullback was solid in all aspects of play before being replaced in the second half.
The Roosters overcame the 14th minute sin-binning of captain Craig Fitzgibbon to lead 16-6 at the half.
Parramatta stormed back into the contest in a second half that saw the lead change four times.
The Eels led 22-18 in the 65th minute through a try to rookie Krisnan Inu, before Australian Test forward Anthony Tupou scored a spectacular try and set up another to seal the win for the Roosters. NineMSN Online
Do you have a Drills Book? Click RLCM Drills on CD-ROM to order..
Dragons score 16-14 Charity Shield win
St George Illawarra's first Charity Shield win in three years may come at a high price, with star five-eighth Mark Gasnier suffering a shoulder injury in the dramatic 16-14 win over South Sydney at Telstra Stadium.
Gasnier ran straight up the tunnel in the 63rd minute clutching at his right shoulder after coming off second best in a tackle on Souths centre Nigel Vagana, ending what had been a promising start to life in the No.6 jumper, though the seriousness of the injury was not yet known.
The Dragons, before a stunning turnout of 23,053-fans on a balmy Sydney night, stole the victory thanks to a 70-metre intercept from halfback Ben Hornby seven minutes from time after a Joe Williams pass to David Fa'alogo went astray.
The big crowd that had turned up for the annual pre-season clash had come to see two things; whether Gasnier - the world's best centre - could play five-eighth and if a host of big-name recruits could turn the Bunnies into winners overnight.
While the jury is still out on Souths, there was enough in Gasnier's first run at pivot to excite the Dragons faithful.
Gasnier and Hornby played leading roles in both of the Dragons' first-half tries, the first to Wes Naiqama following a long ball from Gasnier before the Test centre ran a decoy for Josh Morris to go over.
For the Bunnies, their best work came at the beginning and end of the opening stanza, Williams delivering a beautifully delayed pass for Luke Stuart to dive over after two minutes before a remarkable try just before the hooter.
Given the ball 20 metres out after a fumble by schoolboy winger Chase Stanley, the Bunnies played ad-lib football at its best with three flick passes - one from David Peachey a behind-the-back effort - leading to a Shannon Hegarty four-pointer, the video referee giving Souths the benefit of the doubt.
The benefit of the doubt came back to haunt the Dragons again on the hour mark, a Williams cross-field bomb tapped back by Peachey before Vagana acrobatically put the ball down before falling into the corner post.
Souths looked headed for what would have been a deserving win, Williams ruining what had been an encouraging start to his battle with Jeremy Smith for the Souths No.7 jumper with his wayward pass. NineMSN Online
Tell the rugby league world your news, click here and submit Your News to appear in the RLCM Latest News.
Andrew Johns in doubt for NRL season start
Newcastle's Adam Woolnough stole a dramatic 12-10 NRL trial win over Cronulla in Cessnock, but the Knights could be robbed of skipper Andrew Johns who is in doubt for the season start in two weeks.
Johns was ruled out only hours before kick-off with left hamstring soreness, the 32-year-old admitting he is concerned about his lack of match fitness heading into the NRL season.
The champion halfback has not played either of Newcastle's two trials and must be in some doubt for the March 18 season opener against the Bulldogs at EnergyAustralia Stadium.
"It's a worry, I have not run for two weeks," said Johns.
"I wanted to have a hit out before the competition but I would like to think I know my way around a football field by now.
"Hopefully I'll be right to play (in round one)."
Prop Woolnough, having carried Newcastle for most of the night, carried four defenders across the line in the 75th minute to ensure a tense finish.
He then stepped up again with 20 seconds on the clock to carry another pack of Sharks across the line and under the posts, Daniel Abraham slotting his second easy conversion to steal the late win.
It wasn't the best display for either team however.
The Knights - who were also without Danny Buderus (suspension) and Adam MacDougall (jaw) - appeared lost without inspirational leader Johns in the opening 40 minutes as the Sharks scrambled to a 10-0 lead.
Cronulla's Adam Dykes (foot) was also ruled out prior to kick off, but it didn't affect the starting halves combination of Brett Kimmorley and Brett Seymour who showed plenty of control and were dangerous in attack.
Sharks centre Ben Pomeroy learnt from his mistakes by scoring a low-diving try in the corner to open the game's scoring in the 27th minute.
Four minutes earlier he had been tackled into touch trying to bust through some desperate defence from Knights fullback Kurt Gidley.
Lock Greg Bird, in for injured Paul Gallen (ankle), spun his way over just three minutes from halftime with Luke Covell's conversion giving Cronulla a handy buffer at the break.
Knights coach Brian Smith said he was "embarrassed" by some of the play, however he knows his biggest headache is the hamstring trouble surrounding Johns.
Johns said he would have liked to have played, but ultimately Smith overruled, unwilling to risk his best player only two weeks out from the season start.
"I trained all week and I'm a bit sore today and the coach just said `if you do it again you could miss the start of the season'," the 32-year-old said.
"The coach just did not want to risk it."
Johns, perhaps hinting at his retirement plans at the end of the season, said he was shattered to miss his last chance to play in front of his home fans at Cessnock.
"I'm bitterly disappointed," he said.
"I'm shattered because I pushed that hard to try and play and knew it would be my last chance to play in my home town.
"It is a trial match but sentimental value it would have been great to play in my home town."
Yahoo Sport
Click here to view a RLCMtv short of Bill Sweetnam keynote speaker at RFL Coaching Conference.
Warriors 36 defeated Bulldogs 6
The New Zealand Warriors have crushed the Bulldogs 36-6 in their NRL trial match at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland.
The Warriors performed strongly in their final hit-out before the start of the season, taking an 18-6 halftime lead before scoring three more tries in the second half to run out comfortable winners.
The Warriors claimed the lead in the fourth minute when winger Manu Vatuvei scored off a Michael Witt bomb.
Barnstorming Bulldogs forward Jarrad Hickey levelled the scores soon after when he strolled through some flimsy defence.
The Warriors, though, gained control in the final five minutes of the first half, scoring twice through Michael Crockett and Logan Swann to open up an 18-6 advantage.
Fullback Wade McKinnon, hooker Nathan Fien and winger Todd Byrne then scored tries in the second half to complete the win.
The Warriors play Parramatta in the first round of the season in Auckland on March 17, with the Bulldogs beginning their 2007 NRL campaign against Newcastle the following day.
New Warriors signing McKinnon said the win was a confidence boost for the side, but it was too early to read too much into the victory.
"There were still a few things we need to work on for round one," McKinnon said.
"Even though the result was pretty big we know there were times we stuffed up.
"These are just trials, things are going to work for us. We just need to make sure it works for us in round one."
Warriors coach Ivan Cleary also played down the win, saying his players' improved as the night went on in a "tough game".
"We have tried to improve the depth. We have certainly been working on that," Cleary said.
"The results are on the board. I think we actually improved as the game went on in certain areas... our defence improved."
Bulldogs coach Steven Folkes said he was not too concerned at the final score but admitted his team needed to work on basic skills.
"It was certainly a really physical game. Overall we can improve a fair bit, and we will need to," Folkes said.
"Second half they had a lot of ball and we made a couple of errors. We can work a lot harder, we sort of let ourselves down in the really finer points of the game I guess. The real basics.
"But everyone had a great hit-out and it was injury free." Yahoo Sport
Click here and submit your FREE RLCM Positions Vacant advertisement to appear on the RLCM website.
Storm 46 defeat Broncos 0
Melbourne's experiment with emerging superstar Greg Inglis at five-eighth reaped dividends tonight as he scored a try and set up another in the Storm's crushing 46-0 win over Brisbane in their NRL trial at Princes Park.
It was hard to read too much into the scoreline as the Broncos were backing up from the World Club Challenge in England and rested four of their backline stars, including skipper Darren Lockyer, against a full-strength Melbourne.
But coach Craig Bellamy will be delighted with his side's defence, keeping the premiers scoreless in their NRL grand final rematch.
After a shaky start by both sides with numerous handling errors, the Storm found their feet with Inglis setting up the opening four-pointer.
He threw a simple cut-out pass to Ryan Hoffman out wide, with the second rower diving across the line at the 11 minute mark.
The Storm's second try was scored in almost identical fashion, but this time halfback Cooper Cronk threw the ball wide to find centre Matt King, who found another gaping hole in the Broncos defence.
Inglis, playing only his second match at No.6 after spending last season at fullback and in the centres, looked more comfortable as the match continued and surely did enough to earn a start at five-eighth for Melbourne's opening round NRL match against the Wests Tigers in a fortnight.
He showed his freakish timing to post his own try midway through the first half.
Hooker Cameron Smith passed to a rampaging King and as he was tackled into touch the centre threw a ball which bounced off Brisbane centre Nick Emmett and into Inglis waiting arms.
Just before the halftime break Cronk got his first of a double as he showed his pace and skill to slip through the Broncos defence and race 30 metres to the line.
The second half started in much the same fashion as the first finished as fullback Billy Slater, reserve forward Jeff Lima, winger Matt Geyer and Cronk, again, all got on the scoreboard as the Storm piled on the misery for Brisbane.
The only blight on Melbourne's night was injury concerns in their already depleted forward stocks.
Hard-working lock Dallas Johnson was knocked out early in the first half while making a tackle and suffered concussion while Matt Rua limped off just before the break. Yahoo Sport
Click John Monie to view a RLCMtv short with John talking about a Flat Attack on the Short Side.
Titans have achieved nothing yet says Mat Rogers
Gold Coast have raised expectations with their impressive pre-season form but dual international Mat Rogers says the NRL newcomers have achieved nothing yet.
Just two weeks shy of their season-opener against St George Illawarra on March 18 in Brisbane, the Titans sent a strong message they could pose a genuine threat in the NRL following their 28-6 win over a near full-strength Penrith at Carrara on Friday.
The Titans can be proud of their defensive effort during their trials, including a win over 2006 semi-finalists Parramatta, but their attack still lacks polish and their ball control has been woeful at times.
"I'm looking forward to the day we do start to gel with the ball in hand," coach John Cartwright said.
Rogers, 31, said he was delighted at the sight of his teammates hurling themselves into the Panthers in a solid defensive effort.
"It's inspirational, it really is," the former Wallabies star said.
"I think we can get better without a doubt but it's a good platform for us to start with.
"We have to keep a lid on it. We haven't done anything yet.
"We've won a couple of trial matches."
Rogers had a special day on Friday when he proposed to partner and model Chloe Maxwell and later scored a try in the 22-point thrashing of the Panthers.
"She said 'yes' so it's been a pretty good day," a sheepish Rogers told reporters.
He is loving every minute of playing for the Titans following a five-year stint in rugby union.
"I'm just happy to be playing rugby league again to be honest," he said.
"Out on the field I've got a smile from ear to ear pretty much the entire game."
It's no coincidence that Gold Coast's tries all came from their marquee players - Rogers, co-captains Scott Prince and Luke Bailey, dynamic utility Preston Campbell and Chris Walker, who will sign a one-year deal with the club this week.
They form the backbone of the squad and need to stay fit and firing, especially considering the Titans' lengthening injury list.
Luke O'Dwyer, Jake Webster, Mark Minichiello, Brad Meyers, Michael Henderson, Nathan Friend, Daniel Conn and Michael Hodgson are all recovering from various injuries.
Kiwi international Webster (hand) and utility O'Dwyer (ankle) will undergo scans on Saturday to determine the extent of the damage. Yahoo Sport
Click RLCMtv CHANNEL 1 to view the complete library of RLCMtv short takes.
St Helens 34 defeated Bradford 22
Bradford coach Steve McNamara admitted St Helens were "white hot" in Friday night's 34-22 victory in a combative Super League clash at Knowsley Road.
Saints picked up from where they left off against Brisbane Broncos in the World Club Challenge, running in five tries in the first 23 minutes to establish an unassailable 28-0 lead.
The Bulls, who went into the game as the only team with a 100% record in Super League, hit back with a brace of tries just before half-time but they gave themselves too much to do after a one-sided opening.
"We came here with a lot of expectation but we came up with some fundamental errors at the start," said McNamara.
"We touched the ball once in eight or nine sets. Saints were white hot in that period. We did okay after that but we were too far behind.
"As good as Saints were on attack, they were very good defensively when they needed to be and made four or five try-saving tackles."
Winger Ade Gardner scored the 100th try of his career and loose forward Jon Wilkin marked his 100th appearance with a touchdown in Saints' blazing start.
"We completed our first 11 sets, which is superb," said St Helens coach Daniel Anderson.
"It was a fantastic defensive performance but I thought we got a little cocky at the end of the first half. We started to play the trick-pass routine and went away from the game plan."
Teenage centre Steve Tyrer added an 80-metre try in the second-half, to go with his five goals and cap a fairytale full debut while Anderson also singled out hooker James Roby for special praise.
"He was superb," said Anderson. "He's growing in stature and developing so fast. I was one of the first to congratulate him. He had an enormous game."
Saints went into the game without four regulars, including captain Paul Sculthorpe, and suffered another crop of injuries during a fierce second period.
They lost Wilkin and second rower Lee Gilmour with concussion and at one point had just 10 players on the pitch.
Bradford hooker Terry Newton was put on report for an alleged late tackle on Wilkin in one of a series of what Anderson called "unsavoury incidents".
"There were plenty of incidents that need looking at," said the coach. "We had 10 men on the field at one point and had to form a six-man scrum, which is not in the rules. We had 11 men on the field for the last seven or eight minutes."
Anderson was critical of the new ruling preventing water carriers entering the field of play.
"The whole thing has become shambolic," he said. "It's just not working." Sporting Life
Click RLCMtv CHANNEL 1 to view the complete library of RLCMtv short takes.
Hull KR 26 defeated Wigan 16
A brave second-half comeback was not enough to save Wigan going down to a hugely-disappointing 26-16 home defeat at the hands of Super League new-boys Hull KR.
Five unanswered first-half tries had seen the visitors go in at half-time with an unbelievable 26-0 lead over a Warriors side who were roundly booed off at the interval by a disbelieving JJB Stadium crowd.
Byron Ford (2), Ben Fisher, Luke Dyer and Gareth Morton crossed for Rovers and, if Morton's goalkicking had been a little more accurate, it could have been even worse for the shell-shocked Warriors, who were without Trent Barrett - and how it showed.
Mark Calderwood, Shane Millard and Sean O'Loughlin crossed in the space of eight minutes after the break to raise hopes of an unlikely victory. Sporting Life
Click here and submit your FREE RLCM Positions Vacant advertisement to appear on the RLCM website and and sent worldwide to over 25,000 RLCM Newsletter internet subscribers
Do you have a Drills Book? Click RLCM Drills on CD-ROM to order. Compiled from RLCM Drills Books 1, 2 & 3 and offering 233 Training Drills a neccessity for coaches at all levels of the game.
2007 NRL Grand Final
 Expression of interest are being taken for 2007 NRL Grand Final for overseas visitors.
The details of the tour will be ready soon but you can get in early by registering interest.
Click here and send your details to register for the NRL 2007 Grand final.
Suite 1F First Floor Trust House 3070 Gold Coast Hwy
Surfers Paradise Queensland Australia 4215
Tel: +61 7 5538 9377 Facsimile: +61 7 5538 9388
Email: rlcm@...
© Copyright Shamrock Books 1998
| | |
Having problems with message search?
Offline 
Send Email