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The sleeping giant wakes and growls
By Graham Lowe
I spent too long as a footy coach to believe in fairytales.
But I've also idled away many hours in movie theatres around the world and I'm a big fan of a good Western.
One thing the great old heroes of the West taught me was to never go into a dark cave in the middle of winter.
And if you're foolish enough to do so, don't kick whatever's sleeping there.
Now there's a lesson for current NRL coaches because an increasing number of them are suffering the consequences of waking what appeared to be the hibernating Warriors.
Not so long ago the fans in the stands at Mt Smart Stadium could almost hear Ivan Cleary's mob snoring.
But something has certainly riled the sleeping grizzly in the past three weeks. In short order, the Warriors have clinically dispatched Cronulla, the Panthers and the Titans.
And they're even showing they're capable of visiting other caves to hand out a savaging.
Three gutsy wins in a row have put the NRL on notice that the Warriors are back in business and you awaken them at your peril.
Many in Australia see the team as a sleeping giant - and I agree.
It seems like hibernation in reverse - as the winter has come on they are starting to wake up.
I have to agree with Cleary when he said they weren't too far away from getting their act together. Much of their game since the beginning of the season has been good.
But one of the challenges for Cleary and his coaching staff now is understanding how they pulled off the hat-trick.
While previously they looked like they had much of their act together, a critical part wasn't working. For me that was the difference between winning and just dipping out.
It's obvious the ball is being put to better use over the past three weeks, and that must remain in the game plan as the competition heads into the business part of the season.
And staying in Australia since last weekend will have done the side good.
Being away together creates a dynamic that is difficult to reproduce with the week-in, week-out training routine.
They were predictable and beatable because of that.
I still have my doubts over the Warriors' kicking game. It's an area that badly needs improvement if the team are to go to the next level.
What is not a concern, except for opposing sides, is the great running of Wade McKinnon from fullback.
Each time he gets the ball, alarm bells start - or should - in the opposition defence. He is an absolute handful.
His ability to beat the first man immediately puts the defence on the back foot and creates a second phase for the Warriors attack.
Importantly, they are taking good advantage of it.
I said in this column before the Penrith game two weeks ago that I thought the match would spell out what was in store for the rest of the season for both clubs. In less-than-perfect conditions the Warriors found themselves and went on to a great win.
They will still cop the odd loss or two but they won't fall into the abyss again.
The NRL is not a place where any team can afford to take their foot off the accelerator. There are no slow lanes and that is why you need to be good at leap frog. The grim reaper is starting to look around for candidates .
THE Warriors should be too good for the Cowboys in North Queensland. It's a hard place to get an away win but the boys from Mt Smart will not allow themselves to walk into an ambush.
The Cowboys - favourites to win the competition this year - are in trouble and the pressure is all on them.
After watching the Warriors' last few games, Cowboys coach Graham Murray will be well aware there is a new sheriff in town who goes by the name of Wade McKinnon.
He has the form to match any of Murray's gunslingers in broken play and this is where the Cowboys struggle.
They do like turning defence into attack but they can't cop it in return and it is here the Warriors need to pounce.
I'VE had the feeling lately that the Bulldogs' Kiwis second-rower, Sonny Bill Williams, has been on the verge of exploding into another level of football skill.
It happened on Monday night as Williams toyed with a never-give-up Roosters side, scoring two tries and almost getting two more, as well as making two others.
His display was nothing short of astounding, such was his offloading and playmaking skills. I asked myself again: "Is he the greatest I have seen?"
The pendulum has moved further to confirming it - "probably" is where I'm now at. <N>NZ Herald
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Rally with rookies salvages Murray's self-respect
Roy Masters
A crumpled note, listing the Origin games played by each of his players, was all NSW coach Graham Murray retained from the 2007 series, other than the self-respect he salvaged with Wednesday night's 18-4 partial redemption.
The single page of notepaper, written before the Suncorp Stadium match, was headed by Hazem El Masri with zero matches, Greg Bird with one, ditto Paul Gallen, Kurt Gidley, Ryan Hoffman and Brett Stewart before proceeding to Jarryd Hayne with two and the big leap to Matt Cooper on seven, through to Danny Buderus on 17.
It was both a reminder to himself of the inexperience of nearly half his team and an effective rebuttal to the many journalists who have questioned his ability. "Keep it, if you want," Murray said, extracting the note from his pocket, knowing it would form the basis of this column and offer some balance to a media he believes got it horribly wrong when assessing the three-game series.
NSW were vulnerable at both ends of the age-experience spectrum, with six players having played 0-1 games and five 27- to 29-year-olds playing 11-17 games.
The middle group, the men with 7-9 games' experience, the usual core of a successful premiership or representative team - men who are still keen to make sacrifices but wise enough to minimise the risk - included centre Matt Cooper, who was in the team because NSW doesn't have any centres, Brett Kimmorley because we have no halves, Brent Kite via a dearth of good props, Matt King, who is leaving for England, and Willie Mason, whom the Maroons don't rate.
While Queensland players were talking up a coming dynasty - hooker Cameron Smith, only 24 and playing his 13th Origin match, is more experienced than all but three of the Blues - Murray knew age, inexperience and injury were conspiring against him.
Plus the media.
For most of this series Murray wore the scowl of the man he is not supposed to be. It hung like a dark and wrinkled curtain over a genial, decent face. He searched for hidden meanings in innocent sentences.
Coaching does that to you.
And why wouldn't you, with almost every media outlet clamouring for your dismissal?
Wednesday night's win, and the certainty Murray will be replaced as NSW Origin coach by Melbourne's Craig Bellamy, has caused the volume to be turned down a little but he can limp back to Townsville, taking comfort in a legacy.
Although the NSW selectors had most influence on the make-up of the NSW team, Murray may well be remembered for the birth of the Blues. Other than El Masri, six of the NSW players with two or three games' experience, are aged 22 to 25. They are the NSW young veterans of tomorrow.
Much has been said of Queensland's youth but half their pack are over 30. The Maroons admit their "succession planning" for the retirement of props Petero Civoniceva and Steve Price - the go-to men in this series - has snagged. Fortunes change quickly in Origin football.
After Queensland's narrow loss in the first game in 2006, people were saying the Maroons' lack of competitiveness spelt the end of the interstate series.
Four games later, the Maroons were building a dynasty. Now, the impending retirement of captain Darren Lockyer (30), centre Steve Bell (31) and half the pack, together with the youth of a third of the NSW team, has people talking up NSW. Origin football cackles back at everyone.
Queensland coach Mal Meninga raised eyebrows when he chose only two forwards, rather than the standard three, on the bench for Wednesday night's match.
When lock Dallas Johnson wobbled to the sideline after the first tackle, it seemed his critics were right.
But then followed injuries to wingers Greg Inglis and Brent Tate and suddenly Mal was right choosing fullback Matt Bowen and part-time centre Shaun Berrigan as reserves.
In the final analysis, NSW won because Queensland was down to a one man bench for most of the game.
"I told the players at half-time to attack their weakness," Murray said. "I said to keep going at them because they didn't have anyone left. It's the old story of the wildebeest at the back of the pack and the leopard on the hunt. If you're wounded, you're going to get exploited."
Rugby league, at the very top, is now a 17-man game.
But sometimes, you have to reach back to the past for inspiration. Murray chose former NSW and Australian centre Chris Johns, a Brisbane resident for most of the past 20 years, as his motivator for the final match.
Maybe the NSW management were saving on airfares but there was a touch of wisdom in choosing a man who had spent most of his playing career as a rare Bronco playing for the Blues. Murray raved about Johns's address in his final press conference.
Johns, a fine judge of a schooner, had been to a six hour "lunch" before he spoke to the NSW team.
"Whatever he said worked," NSWRL chief executive Geoff Carr said of what came from the mouth of a man known for his lunchless luncheons.
SMH
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Origin casualties plague Broncos
Luke Turgeon
Bronco Brent Tate is out for the season while fellow stars Justin Hodges and Karmichael Hunt are in doubt for tonight's local derby against the Gold Coast Titans, after Brisbane yesterday felt the full injury fallout from State of Origin 3.
New Zealand Warriors-bound Tate has played his last game in Brisbane colours after scans revealed he ruptured both the anterior cruciate and medial ligaments in his left knee during Queensland's bruising 18-4 loss to NSW on Wednesday.
Tate will undergo a full knee reconstruction tomorrow, meaning he will be sidelined for six to nine months.
"I thought I might have just done my medial ligament, so it hit me like a ton of bricks in the dressing room when the doctor told me what he thought I had done," said 25-year-old Tate, who played 115 first grade games for the Broncos.
"All I can say is that I am bitterly disappointed because I realise I have probably played my last game for the Broncos.
"Now all I want to do is get the surgery done as quickly as I can and then just see how it goes."
Fullback Hunt (corks) and centre weapon Hodges have been given until kick-off to prove their fitness while backrower Dane Carlaw, who was called into the Maroons side on Wednesday after Neville Costigan broke his hand, has been ruled out with a neck injury.
Winger Darius Boyd will also not play due to a hamstring strain.
Craig Frawley has been brought into the side to replace Boyd, while David Stagg will shift from the backrow to the centres for Tate.
Forwards Corey Parker and Brad Thorn will move off the bench into the backrow.
Broncos captain Darren Lockyer and Queensland teammates Petero Civoniceva, Tonie Carroll and Shaun Berrigan have all been ruled fit to play.
Despite Brisbane's injury concerns, Titans coach John Cartwright said he was wary of the Broncos.
The Titans will be looking to topple the defending premier for the second time this season, following their emphatic 28-16 victory over 'big brother' in round five.
After looking well off the pace at the start of the year, the Broncos have surged into finals contention and can leapfrog the Titans into the top six with a win.
Livewire Gold Coast fullback Preston Campbell made it through a field training session yesterday and looks set to shake a lower back injury and take his place in the starting side, while Luke Bailey will back up from NSW Origin duty.
Tweed product Luke O'Dwyer will take Mat Rogers' spot in the centres after it was revealed this week the star dual international had suffered a fractured knee cap during last week's loss to the Warriors.
"We are going to miss him (Rogers)," said Titans co-captain Scott Prince. "He is a real strike weapon in our side, when you go to Matty you know he can spark something out of nothing.
"We have just got to start well and make the Broncos work hard coming out of their own end. Hopefully they will start to think about Wednesday night and the amount of work they got through."
GC Bulletin
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LONDON SKOLARS RUGBY LEAGUE CLUB
HONOUR FOR HONOR AS GRINCH APPROACHES CENTURY
GARETH HONOR of London Skolars is two matches off becoming the first player to make a century of appearances for the club since it gained senior status in 2003.
His 98 appearances at hooker or scrum half, he has scored 16 tries and a drop goal, started 76 matches and come on as a substitute 22 times. He should reach the ton against Keighley Cougars at New River on 14 July so long as he plays against Celtic Crusaders in Wales on Saturday night.
Honor, a 26-year-old teacher, originates from Orpington in Kent and was signed from London Broncos, where he was an Academy player. He also played five senior games for Batley Bulldogs.
Nicknamed 'Grinch', Gareth made his debut for Skolars as a substitute in National League Two at Gateshead Thunder on 22 June 2003. He made one other substitute appearance before starting at scrum half in a League defeat at Barrow Raiders on 13 July 2003.
Fellow London teacher Jermaine Coleman should also reach the 100 mark for Skolars before the summer is over.
Another record-breaker for Skolars is centre Pete Hodgkinson who has scored tries in five successive matches.
The previous record for the club was three games in a row by Mark Cantoni and Bounds Green resident Austen Aggrey. Hodgkinson has scored eight tries in five games, including one in the 30-10 defeat at NL2 leaders Featherstone last Sunday.
Hodgkinson's Touchdowns:
1 try v Featherstone Rovers 1/7/07
2 tries v Swinton Lions 24/6/07
2 tries v Blackpool Panthers 16/6/07
1 try v Gateshead Thunder 11/6/07
2 tries v Hunslet Hawks 3/6/07
London Skolars
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RFL AWARE OF BULLS SALARY CAP POSITION SINCE MARCH 2006
Commenting in response to The Rugby Football League's announcement today that a number of Super League clubs, including Bradford Bulls, are to face disciplinary action in relation to alleged breaches of the 2006 Salary Cap, Bradford Bulls' chairman Peter Hood said,
"Since March 2006 Bradford Bulls has kept the RFL in the picture as regards its Salary Cap position and has at all times co-operated fully with the Compliance Commissioner's investigation.
"Insofar as the detail of any alleged breach is concerned, Bradford Bulls reserves its position for the appropriate Tribunal and in the meantime will be making no further public statement."
Bradford Bulls
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Greens Gauntlet - Round 6 CQ Extended League Preview
By Carl Green.
The Extended League heats up this weekend with a full round of crucial matches that could make or break the season for a number of teams.
Testament to the tightness of this years competition, going into round 6 it is still possible for 7 of the 9 teams to make the top 4.
Rockhampton Brothers vs Tannum Sands at Victoria Park Rocky Brothers are at home to the unbeaten Tannum side who have yet to play a top 4 side in the extended league this year.
Tannum Seagulls face an acid test over the next four weeks taking on Rocky Brothers this weekend, followed by Norths, Yeppoon and Gladstone Brothers. Yoren Major is back in Brothers colours and is sure to take plenty of confidence out onto the field after an extended stint playing Qld Cup.
Tannum will look to go-to man Damien Major to steer them to the win. Tannum may well be the fittest side in the extended league under the rigorous training regime of Coach Gary Larson. This shapes as an intriguing encounter that could well secure the winners place in the Top 4.
CQU Norths Chargers vs Gladstone Valleys at Browne Park Eighth placed Valleys will travel to Rockhampton to take on the 2nd placed CQU Norths Chargers.
Norths will be firm favourites for this clash with Anthony Toby at the helm and key players like Bradley Cameron, Mitch Porter, Bradley Toby, Anthony Munns all available.
Norths have the best roster in the competition by far so Valleys will be hard pressed to spring an upset if Norths bring their A- game. Valleys will look to representative players Jackson Crangle and Rick Gibson to provide the spark for what would be a massive upset.
Gladstone Wallabies vs Fitzroy Gracemere Sharks at Marley Brown Oval(Saturday) Last placed Wallabys will return home to take on Fitzroys after a 66-point thumping at the hands of Yeppoon.
Last years grand finalists are a shadow of the team they were in 2006 and appear to be just struggling for survival.
Fitzroys have reached desperation point after a narrow loss to Norths in a fiery encounter. The Sharks will now need to win all of their remaining games and post a good for and against to be a chance of playing finals footy.
Wallabys will look to veteran Grahame Ward, Ronnie Craig and Gary Brown to lead them around the park, whilst Fitzroys will be hoping they can travel better than in round 1 when a severely undermanned side got dusted by Tannum. Cheyenne Motu, Mitchell Smith and inspirational Captain-Coach Rex Gamble will lead the way for the Sharkies.
Gladstone Brothers vs Yeppoon Seagulls at Marley Brown Oval(Sunday) Third placed Yeppoon will travel to Gladstone to take on the 5th placed Gladstone Brothers side who will be rested and ready to go after having the bye last week.
Gladstone Brothers will look to key players Ben Platt and Trevor Huth to secure this vital win.
Former Comets flyer Brendan Gibb will also line up in the centres and is sure to be hard to stop.
Yeppoon go into the vital clash with one of the youngest sides in the extended league.
Big Comets forwards Kristian Mene and Mark Sinuala will need to step up and lead the inexperienced outfit who will be missing Ben Bromley and Christian Davies who have both been called up to the Comets side as well as Steve Nelson who will be away on representative duties with the Qld Rangers.
Gladstone Brothers will also be without prolific point-scorer James Radloff who is also away with the Rangers.
For full competition ladders in all three grades and top try scoring, goal scoring and point scoring ladders check out the Extended League Ladders and Statistics section on Sharks website
Click here for a RLCMtv short video of Ian Thomson ex player, coach, CEO of Manly Sea Eagles speaking at the NSWRL Level Two Coaching Conference.
Wigan Warriors V Bradford Bulls
Venue: The JJB Stadium, Anjau Boulevard, Robin Park, Wigan, Lancashire - Kickoff: 8:00 PM
BULLS EYE
In Bulls Eye this week Head Coach Steve McNamara, looks forward to Friday's engage Super League round 19 game at the JJB Stadium when the Bulls travel across the Pennines to take on Wigan Warriors.
STEVE McNAMARA
YOU MUST HAVE BEEN PLEASED WITH THE WIN LAST WEEK AT LEEDS
I was very happy with the result but it wasn't as good a performance as most people seemed to imagine but we showed a lot of character and ability to score points when we did do things right and that is what won us the game. You always look at games, whether wins or losses and you try to improve. We have been working to cut out some of the errors we made and get some combinations working better but I was delighted to go there and win in that manner.
WIGAN ARE COMING OFF THE BACK OF A BAD DEFEAT AT WAKEFIELD. WILL THAT MAKE THEM EVEN TOUGHER?
Without a doubt it will. Their Coach and their players will be desperate to put things right. When you are coming off the back of a performance like that you just want to bounce straight back. You often put in your best performance on the back of a very poor one and we are aware of what will be waiting for us this week.
They have a top quality squad; full of international players with speed all over the field. They will certainly be a handful on Friday night.
SQUAD
Steve McNamara has named the following 18 man squad. Iestyn Harris has not recovered from his hamstring injury and misses out but namesake Ben is back in the Squad
The Squad is: St Hilaire, McAvoy, Evans, Vagana, Henderson, Solomona, Halley, McKenna, Burgess, B Harris, Lynch, Morrison, Tupou, James, Deacon, Platt, Langley, Newton
MILESTONES
PAUL DEACON has kicked 100 goals from 121 attempts this season for an average of 82.64%.
TERRY NEWTON needs three tries for a career century of touchdowns in club and representative matches. He has scored 6 for Leeds Rhinos, 74 for Wigan Warriors, 13 for Bradford Bulls and 4 in representative matches. He also played two matches on loan at Bramley without scoring. His 97 tries have come in 328 appearances
Bradford Online
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Cowboys support Secondary Schools 18 Years Carnival
The 2007 Australian Secondary Schools 18 Years Rugby League Championships will be played in Townsville from July 9 to July 14.
As current national champions, the Queensland team will be keen to defend the title won last year.
Venues for the Carnival will be the Townsville Sports Reserve on Monday and Tuesday, Brothers Rugby League Ground (Jack Manski Oval) from Wednesday to Saturday and Dairy Farmers Stadium on Friday.
Teams from all the States of Australia are participating with the opening ceremony Monday 9th July at the Townsville Sports Reserve at 9am.
Players such as Matt Bowen, Carl Webb, Jacob Lillyman, Shane Tronc and Luke O'Donnell have all played in this carnival and are now playing in the NRL for the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys.
CEO of the North Queensland Toyota Cowboys Peter Parr is pleased that the club has been able to assist Australia's premier Schoolboys League Carnival. "This week is a wonderful opportunity to see the future stars of the game. We are happy that the Toyota Cowboys can contribute in some way and look forward to the semi-final that will be played at Dairy Farmers Stadium."
On Friday 13th July one of the semi-finals will be played at Dairy Farmers Stadium as a curtain raiser to the Toyota Cowboys v Brisbane NRL fixture. The final will be played at 3pm Saturday 14th July at Brothers Townsville Oval.
NQ Cowboys
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QRL Wizard Cup Preview
ASPLEY v BURLEIGH
Suncorp Stadium, Friday July 6, 5.15pm.
Referee: Gavin REYNOLDS (NSW)
A CRACKING Friday night game to start the round at Suncorp Stadium. The clash in the halves is particularly interesting. Ben Black of Burleigh has been in sensational form through the representative period, scoring two tries for Queensland Residents in a 52-28 win against NSW Residents on Wednesday.
His opposite man, Brent McConnell, took the Bears to successive grand finals in 2003-04, but has been quiet in recent weeks after ongoing ankle troubles. Both are busy players and will want to dominate. Burleigh's teenage substitute Alex Glenn joins the Broncos next year and is another with desires to impress.
Currently Aspley is in fifth and Burleigh is seventh. Bears coach Jimmy Lenihan last week said he believed his team could only lose one more game for the remainder of the season.
REDCLIFFE v EASTS *Live on ABC TV
Dolphin Oval, Saturday July 7, 2pm.
Referee: Gavin MORRIS
ANTHONY Griffin has named an unchanged side from last week, without including representative stars Shane Perry, Nick Emmett, Michael Roberts and Danny Burke.
Griffin said Perry was an unlikely starter, while Roberts and Burke are also a possibility of being rested. Emmett has been training with the Brisbane Broncos following the season-ending injury to Brent Tate.
Easts have also indicated minimal changes, merely calling upon Anthony Boyd, a late scratching from the Tigers' 26-22 win over league leaders the Young Guns last week. Luke Capewell, 18, will come off the bench for Easts but is a former Redcliffe junior.
He has been contracted by the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Dolphins lock Nathan Tutt was judged his team's best against Burleigh last week and has NRL experience with three clubs.
NORTH QLD v NORTHS
Dairy Farmers Stadium, Saturday July 7, 5.30pm
Referee: Justin DAVIS
EXPERIENCING a hiccup last week in losing to Easts, North Queensland welcomes back inspirational captain Shane Muspratt from Residents duty.
Coach Matt Parish has also seen fit to give a start to uncompromising backrower Keiron Lander, who to this point has had limited opportunities with the Young Guns. After making his NRL debut this year, Scott Bolton is back in jersey 17 for the Gunners. Norths has made a flood of late changes, in part due to the luckless run of Melbourne players in this week's Origin.
Will Chambers, Anthony Perkins, Sika Manu, Sam Tagataese and Garrett Crossman are all out from the original side, making way for James Crombie, James Sharkie, Jay Aston, Aiden Tolman and Luke Samoa. North Queensland is in first spot, while Norths is in eighth.
TWEED HEADS v CENTRAL
Piggabeen Complex, Sunday July 8, 3pm
Referee: Michael WISE
One of Steve Anderson's first remarks after the big upset against Norths in Round 15 was, "It's hard to put a finger on what performance we'll get next week though isn't it?"
He finds out what his young side is capable of this Sunday at the Piggabeen Complex in what is among the hardest road trips in the competition.
Tweed's Shannon Walker was the star of the show in Wednesday's Residents match, scoring an outlandish 70m try. The Comets will need to contain him if that's possible, though they can give little room to the likes of Nat Barnes, James Wood, David Myles or Josh Vaughan either.
Central's team has only five players over the age of 22 in it, while Tweed is still to lose a game since late April. The Comets are last and the Seagulls are third
WYNNUM MANLY v IPSWICH Live on BAY FM 100.3 (bayfm.org.au)
BMD Kougari Oval, Sunday July 8, 3pm
Referee: Justin EASTWOOD
IT will be a day of mixed emotions by the Bayside as well-respected Ipswich skipper Danny Coburn brings up 200 QLD Wizard Cup games for the Jets, only the second man behind Troy Lindsay to reach the milestone for one club.
While the representative lock is sure to be applauded, there will also be an element of sadness in the air for Wynnum Manly's first game since the death of backrower Joe Clarke. Clarke trained with the team just hours before his passing last week.
The Seagulls have named Steve Irwin to make his return to the club, but he will have to do so in the FOGS Cup curtain-raiser at 1.15pm. Irwin will be in good company in the top-of-the-table 'reggies' clash alongside Wizard Cup regulars Daniel Frame, Ron Troutman, Herewini Rangi and Gareth Turton, back from France.
The main game sees an Ipswich team fighting for its spot in the top five against a Wynnum Manly side that could well be leapfrogged by Souths Logan this round. The Jets' representative trio of Coburn, Chris Walker and Isaak Ah Mau are all back. QRL
The aim of GoodFootball.com is to give a deeper analysis of clips that have been uploaded. Rather than just look solely at the scoring move itself we will try to give a broader picture, perhaps go back a little further and highlight key factors that we feel have helped to shape the try. Click GoodFootball.com
Inaugural Western Union Pacific Rugby League Day
Sydney Roosters duo Sia Soliola & Setaimata Sa and Parramatta star Nathan Cayless will be amongst a host of NRL stars with Samoan, Maori, Tongan and Fijian heritage who are set to put on their coaching hats at the inaugural Western Union Pacific Rugby League Day at St Mary's Western Weekender Stadium.
A joint initiative between the NSW Rugby League Academy and Western Union, the Pacific Rugby League Day will provide 160 competition-winning youths (aged 9-15) from the Pacific community with a chance to learn Rugby League skills from their NRL heroes in a fun-filled, festival themed day on Monday July 9, 2007.
The kids will be taught skills from first-grade players from the Roosters, Parramatta Eels, Penrith Panthers and Wests Tigers, while NRL chief executive David Gallop will also be on hand to help launch the event.
The Western Union Pacific Rugby League Day will also feature a free community sausage sizzle, Pacific entertainment, trivia, fun games and free face painting, with NSWRL Western Sydney Development staff on hand to conduct skill clinics alongside the NRL stars.
NSW Rugby League general manager Geoff Carr said the day would be specifically focussed towards the thriving western Sydney Pacific community.
"Participation numbers from the Pacific community are on the rise, from grassroots level right up to the National Rugby League, and that has added an exciting flavour to Rugby League at all levels," Mr Carr said today.
"We're excited about [the event] as it further encourages Pacific youth to participate in our game and offers the kids a chance to meet and learn from their favourite NRL players who they look up to.
"It's a terrific initiative and we're thrilled to partner Western Union in staging what will be a fun and beneficial day for kids in the Pacific rugby league community."
Following the July 9 event, which is free of charge and open to all families and friends, a second skills day will take place in September. St Mary's Rugby League Club, Pacific Unity and SWYPE are also partners in the program.
What: Western Union Pacific Rugby League Day - Skills clinics and fun with NRL stars and mascots, free community sausage sizzle and face painting plus Pacific entertainment.
Who: The skills clinics feature Children aged 9-15 with NSWRL instructors (and family and friends - the event is free and all are welcome)
When: 9am-2pm, Monday July 9th, 2007 (second week of school holidays)
Where: Western Weekender Stadium, corner of Forrester and Boronia Roads, North St Mary's, Sydney (Next to St Marys Rugby League Club)
EXPERIENCE THE CHALLENGE CUP FINAL Saturday 25th August 2007, Wembley Stadium. Click here for more details.
Storm brewing over Johnson
Todd Balym and Adam Cooper
Melbourne officials have criticised their Queensland counterparts for allowing knocked out forward Dallas Johnson back into the State of Origin finale.
Storm has ruled Johnson out of NRL action for an indefiinite period after he was knocked senseless in the opening seconds of the Origin finale at Suncorp Stadium.
The lock was clearly still dazed when he returned after half-time to make 26 tackles as injury-ravaged Queensland lost 18-4 to New South Wales but claimed the series 2-1.
The dead rubber ended with a massive casualty list headed by Brisbane wing Brent Tate Sharks halfback Brett Kimmorley (knee, 4-6 weeks) and Storm five-eighth Greg Inglis, who all sustained knee injuries Tate has been ruled out of action for the remainder of the season, Kimmorley is expected to miss four-six weeks and Inglis is awaiting medical results.
Melbourne officials are fuming over the treatment of Johnson, and they have asked for an explanation from the Queensland doctors who gave him permission to re-enter the field of play.
Storm chief executive Brian Waldron said that Johnson should have been sent to hospital, while Queensland and Melbourne teammate Greg Inglis thought the lock was unfit to continue playing.
"We will be asking for an explanation from the Queensland Rugby League to determine that the correct duty of care was taken with the player," Waldron said.
"If it had have been a boxing match, he would have been put on a stretcher and taken to hospital for observation.
"After what was displayed publicly, it was clear to all and sundry that he was clearly out (unconscious) for a sustained period.
"Dallas wanted to go back on, but of course he's going to want to go back on ... whether that was the right thing, I don't know.
"Given he is our player and we employ him, I think we have a right to ask the questions when people borrow him on occasion.
"Whether he was playing for Australia or playing for Queensland or playing for Melbourne Storm or anyone, there is a duty of care.
"I'm presuming everything was safe but we have an obligation to him, his family and club to ask the question."
Inglis, who will miss the NRL match against South Sydney this weekend, at the very least, meanwhile said that Johnson should not have returned to the field.
Inglis was in the dressing room with Johnson during the first half, and he said it was clear the 25 year old was heavily concussed.
"Me personally, I don't think he should have gone back on," Inglis said.
"It was a pretty heavy concussion and I was in the sheds with him when I came off, and he's one of those people where it's pretty hard to convince him to stay off.
"You can tell he was really concussed.
"But like I say, he's a tough bloke and he's got to deal with it."
Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy weighed into the debate, questioning whether Queensland would have sent Johnson back into battle if he were a family member.
"I'm no doctor so I'm not going to be too critical but, at the end of the day, I think the people that made that decision, they should be asking themselves if Dallas was their son would they have put him back on," Bellamy said.
"With head injuries, that's the sort of questions you've got to ask yourself.
"The way he collapsed to the ground there in that first minute looked quite ugly to me.
"I think when he went to the bench, he nearly fell off the chair again."
Queensland doctor Roy Saunders said after the game that it had been a tough decision to let Johnson play. "It's always a very uncomfortable feeling, and always a very difficult decision," Saunders said. Foxsports
Click for RLCM's Junior Coaching Book 2
Hull left waiting for King's call English rugby league club Hull Kingston Rovers face a three-week wait to find out if their bid to sign Australian Test back Matt King will be successful.
Rabbitohs' Peachey retires from NRL Souths fullback David Peachey has announced he'll retire from the NRL at the end of the 2007 season.
Storm brewing over Johnson's Origin KO Queensland called it courageous but Melbourne officials claim it was dangerous to send knocked out forward Dallas Johnson back into the Origin fray.
Wallace keen to avoid Elliot's axe Penrith playmaker Peter Wallace has vowed to do all he can to remain in first grade for the rest of the season after being recalled to the Panthers' NRL ranks.
Bird hungry for more Origin at No.6 He's had a taste and now Greg Bird wants to feast on State of Origin football - in the sky blue No.6 jumper. Read more Yahoo Sport
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Brisbane Second Division Under 22s win at Suncorp Stadium
The Brisbane Second Division Under 22s defeated Queensland Universities at Suncorp Stadium in the first curtain raiser to the third State of Origin.
In a tight first half, Second Division scored three tries to two to lead 16-12 at the break.
Second Division were far stronger in the second half, scoring four tries to one in the half and seven tries to three overall to win the match 38-18.
Player of the match for Second Division was full back Steve Halligan who scored three tries and kicked five goals. Other try scorers for Second Division were Ian Aokuso, who scored two, and Jay Latumahina and Vincent Silulu, who scored one each. For Universities, Dan Fraser, Phil Breslin and Liam Wright scored one try each, while Justin Hoggart kicked three goals.
Read more Brisbane Second Division
The LeagueCoach Discussion eGroup gives coaches an opportunity to ask questions, seek knowledge and discuss with other rugby league coaches topics or seek information. All members are to willing to help you. Ask a question or join in on the discussions. It may be helpful.
CARE OF THE INJURED PLAYER Written by Doug King
ON CD-ROM
Has your club thought about it yet?
Contents
Before the competition starts
Emergency Management Preparedness
Injury Prevention - Some Training ideas
Injury Prevention Strategies
Stop Those Injuries - Some ideas on pre-habilitation training
Injury Statistics in Rugby League: What now?
Functional Stretching
Nutritional Considerations of the Younger Player
The Injured Player: Emergencies in the game
Concussion
The Positive side of an injury
"The CD-ROM will ensure this valuable coaching information
is kept as a resource for future years within a club, school or
organisation at all levels."
AUS$55.00 plus P&H
CLICK HERE TO ORDER YOUR COPY
An Extract from Wayne Bennett's RLCMtv DVD
Written by Hanna James McCarthy
Every coach has a coaching philosophy.
Whether it is a mantra they swear by or a quote from a mentor, this philosophy is the foundation of their game strategy, allowing them to provide the support, structure and discipline necessary for the workings of a rugby league team.
More often than not, this philosophy will remain the same throughout a coach's career; adjustments may be made and new ideas will be implemented, yet the main premise will remain the same.
Coaching rugby league for over 30 years, Wayne Bennett has produced a formula for what he deems 'a good coach'. Time management, critical analysis of your own coaching technique, continually adjusting the way you coach and making a difference are all important factors of Wayne Bennett's philosophy; yet possibly the most important part is not simply coaching, but teaching.
To essentially be a teacher, and not just a coach, Wayne Bennett emphasises the need to realise that coaching is not primarily about the coach, but about the team.
While the thought of winning the next game might be the main thing pre-occupying the coaches' mind, what needs to be their initial focus is creating the right environment to teach in.
Simply observing and delivering criticism constantly, finding fault and demonstrating little organisation or correction is not coaching, nor is it teaching.
Bennett agrees, "It is about finding a better way to teach, [and] the ability to teach.
"Showing how to do a particular skill, seeing how they grasp that skill, develop that and improve on that. If you're doing that, you're coaching."
However, while the coach should concentrate on teaching the team, it is important that they continue to learn themselves. As the game evolves, a coach's style must adjust to suit the pace of the game. To keep going forward, a coach's strategy must remain current.
RLCMtv
Click RLCMTV or click on a image below to view a RLCMtv video
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