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RLCMtv Short Clip Brian Canavan Speaking at the NSWRLCoaching Conference Click on Image to view "RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP 2008 TOURS AND TRAVEL PACKAGES  CLICK HERE  FOR DETAILS Click here for more Rugby League News News Update When Brown knew it was over By Dean Ritchie - Nathan Brown knew he was finished as St George Illawarra coach the moment Wayne Bennett expressed his interest in the job. It was back in February during the pre-season when news leaked that the six-time premiership-winning coach was keen on taking the reins at one of rugby league's proudest clubs. "When I knew Wayne was interested, I got my head around the fact that it would be hard for the Dragons to turn Wayne back,'' Brown said. Yesterday, the axe fell on Brown who, in just six years, has gone from the youngest NRL coach in history to being washed-up at age 34. While Brown said he was keen to continue his career, there seems little likelihood of a new NRL job any time soon. Bennett, 58, signed a three-year deal with St George Illawarra rumoured to be worth $400,000 per season. As the Dragons' legion of fans welcomed the appointment of one of league's most decorated coaches, Brown was left to pick up the pieces and battle on for the rest of the season. "I always knew it would be tough for the club to ignore someone of Wayne's reputation and expertise, whether we were 3-3 (wins, loses) or 1-2 as we are at the moment,'' Brown said. "I got my head around it and explained to my family that I am quite happy with the decision and where life's heading. I said to Peter (Doust, CEO) it's not like someone like Wayne comes along every day. He's won six premierships.'' Brown called his players to a meeting yesterday and told them of his axing - the players vowing to send their coach out with dignity and success this year, starting with local enemies Cronulla at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night. Bennett did not speak publicly about his decision but, in a prepared statement, said: "It is a great honour for me to be appointed as the head coach of the St George Illawarra Dragons, as they are one of the great clubs and brands of the NRL, with a rich history and tradition.'' Dragons chief executive Peter Doust said a board meeting on Monday night ratified Bennett's deal. Read more Daily Telegraph 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 The '80s was like the Enlightenment compared to this era - SINCE when did playing rugby league mean surrendering your moral and civil rights? Bennett was too good to pass up: Brown - EVEN Nathan Brown admits the Dragons couldn't pass up the opportunity to snare Wayne Bennett as coach - and St George Illawarra officials last night predicted his appointment would ensure success on and off the field for the joint venture club. Dogs not bred winners after all - They claim they produce their own talent but the Bulldogs' pedigree is not what it seems, write Andrew Stevenson and Jamie Pandaram. Storm hopes Crocker can shoulder expectations - Michael Crocker will rule himself out of Friday night's NRL clash against Brisbane if his shoulders don't recover. Broncos trio given all-clear to face Storm - BRISBANE have named a near full-strength side for their blockbuster clash with premiers Melbourne at Olympic Park on Friday night. St Wayne cometh, with a mandate to work a miracle - SHOULD Wayne Bennett fail to ignite the revolution he has promised to bring to the Dragons, will an inebriated Allan Langer stagger onto a podium, grab the microphone, look over the crowd and chant "St George can't play"? Discard joins the merry-go-round, keen to coach at another club - DUMPED Dragons mentor Nathan Brown yesterday joined the NRL's coaching merry-go-round, declaring he would seek a job at another club.  Click for NRL round four teams - NRL teams for round four starting on Friday (times AEDT, AEST for Sunday) Read more League HQ Join the RLCM Monthly Club and receive four 2008 DVD's/CD's monthly. AUS$29.95 per month [Credit Card only] Receive the five resources below by return mail today * CD-ROM - RLCM Drill Books 1, 2 & 3 - 250 pages * CD-ROM - RLCM Ultimate - Over 4000 pages of 36 RLCM Books * DVD - Canberra Raiders 2007 Coach Neil Henry * DVD - Wayne Bennett Brisbane Broncos Coach * DVD - Tim Sheens Wests Tigers Coach Then receive four new 2008 resources each month. Contact for more information RLCM PO Box 259, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217 Email: rlcm@... Gary Roberts Mobile 0414 234 718 Phone: 07/ 5538 9377 Fax: 07/5538 9388 Sims proves Bennett's value - ASHTON Sims is one man who convinced the Dragons that Wayne Bennett could deliver the famous Red V Why the Dragons took Bennett - ST GEORGE chief executive Peter Doust and deposed coach Nathan Brown faced the media yesterday after the decision. Tonga to join Cowboys - THE attraction of playing alongside Thurston and Bowen convinced Willie Tonga to sign a four-year contract with the Cowboys. When Brown knew it was over - NATHAN Brown knew he was finished as St George Illawarra coach the moment Wayne Bennett expressed his interest in the job. Frank Pritchard wants out - PENRITH'S drought-breaking victory on the weekend has not quenched unrest at the club, with Frank Pritchard the latest Panthers star wanting out. Rooney tipped to be Dragon - WAYNE Bennett is tipped to deliver St George Illawarra its first International recruit - former Kangaroo Luke Rooney. Mason given the green light - ROOSTER Willie Mason has received the green light to "get personal" with those Bulldogs who no longer respect him - from the opening whistle. Read more Courier Mail RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP TRAVEL UPDATE-UK PACKAGES ON SALE NOW Official Travel Packages are On Sale Now for UK Supporters MATCH TICKETS All of our tour packages provide Category 1 Reserved Seating offering great views of the ground. FIVE ORGANISED TOURS AVAILABLE - ON SALE NOW - BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT Click here for details The 2008 Rugby League World Cup to be held in Australia will be the biggest Rugby League event in the 100 year history of the game. The Rugby League Experience is providing a range of packages for local, interstate and international visitors. To be kept up to date with all the latest tournament and tour information you can register your interest here. BRAMLEY BUFFALOES 22 FEATHERSTONE LIONS 22 - Arthur Miller Stadium, Stanningley - Eight points in the final nine minutes by defending champions Featherstone Lions meant that the spoils were shared to open the Rugby League Conference season in a terrific Grand Final re-match. Bramley, who were never behind, forged 22-14 in front with a 71st minute penalty from Shaun Flynn following a foul and looked set to avenge their defeat at Headingley Carnegie Stadium last September. But Lions hung in contention when Cliffton Richardson forced his way through some tired defence four minutes later, Danny Giles converting and then adding a last minute penalty for interference to leave matters all-square. Both sides had newcomers on display and, after Giles had missed an opening shot at goal when the home markers were caught not square, Buffaloes debutant winger Tom T'Sang backed a fine run from John Elliker to cross, Flynn converting. Lions had a try disallowed in the 19th minute for offside from a kick and from the next set Bramley increased their lead, Jon Nicholls crossing after an intricate passing move to make it 10-0. Featherstone touchdowns either side of half narrowed the gap to two points as first Mark Tepper barrelled his way over five minutes before the break and equidistant after it, centre Byron Cooper was first to react to a well placed grubber. Both conversions were missed and that looked costly when Scott Pendlebury secured a 40/20 and from the following set, returning Richard Leese who missed the Northern Rail Cup clash with Warrington, powered across, Flynn adding the extras. Cooper was again on hand to make the most of an excellent cross field kick from Giles to bag his second score, Giles converting to bring it back to 14-12. In the 57th minute strong running back rower Elliker crashed through the cover on an unstoppable charge from 25 metres out to give the hosts what seemed like a winning lead. Fifteen minutes of torrid defence and no line breaches followed before Lions decisively hit back late on for a deserved draw. GAME STAR - Bramley's custodian Shaun Flynn was cool, calm and composed throughout at the back setting a fine lead for his team mates ahead of him. GAME BREAKER - Danny Giles' last minute penalty meant a deserved two points apiece at the end of a highly entertaining opening day clash. RFL Click RLCM Bookshop buy a RLCM eBook and it will be in your PC today. Harlequins submit license for 2009 to 2011 - Harlequins Rugby League is delighted to have submitted their application for a Super League license, for the three years 2009 to 2011, last week to the Rugby Football League. The 620 page document, which forms the Harlequins application, is the culmination of an entire club effort. Lead by Finance Director Paul Wright, the club's commercial, development and football staff have all contributed enormously to the application. Harlequins Rugby League have relished the opportunity to submit what they believe is a high quality application, to be an important member of a world class competition - the engage Super League. While the application process has been an extensive one, Harlequins Rugby League Chief Executive Paul Brown believes it has been an extremely valuable one that has lead the club to examine itself on every level of operation. "We thought the whole process was incredibly valuable as an audit of our club. We want to be a valuable part of a great competition, and this process highlights your strengths, weaknesses and opportunity. "It's highlighted a lot of areas from our scholarship and academy programs, player welfare, marketing and commercial programs that we want to improve - we'll repeat the exercise as an audit on at least an annual basis. It's a great process the Super League has devised," Brown said. "One other thing it did was demonstrate some real quality within the club in pulling together the application and its pieces: Phil Jones, Todd Williams and Bill Peden in player performance, Dan Steel and his community coaches, Greg Whitaker and the commercial team, our partners at Harlequins FC and just as importantly the entire board: David, Keith, Gerry and Paul," he added. "We can't control the result now - we'll just have to wait until July." Achieving a Super League license has been Harlequins Rugby League's primary objective for 2008. While the success of the club's application will not be known until early July, Harlequins are confident that the application submitted this week has been a very positive step towards achieving that goal. Harlequins Click for Leaguecoach Discussion eGroup Australian Rugby League's centenary plaques program - The Australian Rugby League's centenary plaques program moves to NSW country towns Bathurst and Griffith on Saturday before expanding its reach to Queensland locations from next week. The Griffith unveiling will be preceded by a 500-strong junior clinic tomorrow while at Bathurst former Test international Paul Dunn will be on hand to unveil a plaque honouring his hometown's Sportsground, which first hosted a Rugby League match in 1913, and Carrington Park. Clive Berghofer Stadium in the Rugby League nursery of Toowoomba will be honoured with a centenary plaque as part of the second Harvey Norman Regional Celebration, to be held at the venue on Wednesday April 9. Toowoomba's unveiling follows last Friday's Queensland Rugby League 100th year celebration in Brisbane where a plaque was presented to commemorate the site known as "Courier Mail Corner" - the first meeting place of the QRL, then known as the Queensland Rugby Association. "The reach of the centenary plaques program is really quite impressive," Livermore said today. "Plaques are being unveiled from townships as far north as Cairns, Mackay, Proserpine and even Thursday Island all the way down to Brisbane, Toowoomba, Roma and Ipswich. "Country towns such as Gayndah, Mundubbera, Cloncurry, Capella and Hughenden, among many others will also have their respective grounds and foundation sites honoured. "The plaques are a way for us to pay tribute to sites of historical significance to Rugby League and throughout the year it will give fans the chance to be a part of celebrating their town's place in Rugby League history." Fifteen out of a national total of 174 plaques have so far been unveiled at various club foundation sites, grounds, leagues clubs and town halls. Unveilings are set to continue throughout the year in NSW, Queensland, South Australia, Northern Territory, Victoria and Western Australia. UPCOMING PLAQUE UNVEILINGS Bathurst Where: Carrington Sports Ground, Bathurst Who: Former international Paul Dunn to unveil plaque When: Saturday 5 April, 1.10pm Griffith Where: Griffith Ground and Leagues, Griffith Who: President of CRL Group 20 Terry Brady and Secretary Rocky Di Salvatore to unveil When: Saturday 5 April, 5pm Toowoomba Where: Clive Berghofer Stadium, Toowoomba Who: QRL Chairman John McDonald AM, Toowoomba Mayor Peter Taylor When: Wednesday 9 April, 6.30pm ARL Online RLCM we will reproduce some of the questions and answers which featured on the LeagueCoach website. Feel free to use the forum link to barter thoughts on coaching and training drills and philosophies. Thanks to all those who contributed during the month. Toulouse, Widnes, Salford, Leigh, Featherstone, Halifax and Celtic Crusaders apply for Super League licence - The Rugby Football League has begun sifting through a mountain of paperwork after confirming the line-up of bidders for Super League places from 2009. As expected, Toulouse have been joined by National League clubs Widnes, Salford, Leigh, Featherstone, Halifax and Celtic Crusaders in seeking a three-year licence to run to the end of 2011. All 12 current Super League clubs also met Monday's deadline to submit their applications for a franchise and a decision on the make-up of Super League XIV will be made by the RFL board of directors and announced in July. Although it is widely expected that Super League will be expanded to 14 clubs, a final decision has yet to be made, according to Rod Findlay, the RFL's in-house lawyer who is co-ordinating the review process. "Certainly there is a commitment to go to 14 in 2009 but a decision hasn't been finally made yet," he said. "It's been an uncertain landscape over the last few months. We want to make sure, if the competition is expanded, that it is done so on a sound footing." There are no plans to increase Super League to 15 teams until 2012 at the earliest. The 19 applicants will be expected to meet minimum standards in four basic areas - facilities, finance and business, commercial/marketing/community and playing strength - and awarded marks out of 10. Clubs with at least five points out of 10 will be awarded category A or B status and guaranteed a place in Super League, with category C clubs at risk of losing out in 2009. "The RFL will now carry out an exhaustive assessment of each application using the criteria and methods agreed by the clubs during an extensive consultation period," said Findlay. "This process will include visits to each club to review their stadium and other facilities. "We did a dummy run in 2006 and then again last year so clubs have been able to address areas that had perhaps not been addressed previously. It's been a gradual process. "There is a finite number of places available. It's likely that those clubs which have A or B licences will be given a position and the remaining positions will be allocated to category C clubs. "Certainly in future years, clubs will be seeking to move themselves out of category C to make their position more secure." Salford, Widnes and Celtic Crusaders are thought to be heading the bid to secure the two likely vacancies, although Wakefield and Castleford will need to prove they are on track to move to new grounds in the foreseeable future in order to preserve their Super League status. "We will take into account current facilities," added Findlay, "the facility they will be playing in at the start of the 2009 season. "If a club, as part of its application, says it intends to have a new stadium down the track, then we'll take that into account. "How much we take into account will depend on how secure those plans are. Some grounds are closer to having their grounds opening and there may be some merit in inspecting a ground which is about to open." Leigh are currently putting the finishing touches to their new stadium which they intend to occupy from the start of next season. RFL chief executive Nigel Wood said: "The licensing process has already had a tremendously beneficial effect for the whole sport as clubs have undergone their own searching assessments of their organisations in order to make progress and deliver significant improvements." Read more Sporting Life Click here and send your POSITION VACANT advertisement, it will be sent worldwide. This is another service by RLCM. Raiders could run hot or flop - FORMER Raider Michael Hodgson believes Canberra's NRL team will either lift to new heights or spiral into self-destruct mode in the wake of a week of off-field drama in the nation's capital. Atkins signed, sealed - BOOM NRL rookie Jordan Atkins has inked a new contract with the Titans that will take him through to the end of 2010. Read more GC Bulletin Create your own Animated Drills for Rugby League with Rugby Pro 2006 from TruStorm Software. Rugby Pro is an easy to use coaching tool to design rugby league drills and plays, click here to read more. Cleary cool in debris of Manly carnage By Peter Jessup - How do you pick up a team after a demoralising thrashing? Warriors coach Ivan Cleary yesterday chose to keep faith with the players who lost so miserably in Manly when he named the side to face the Newcastle Knights on Sunday. There is only minor tinkering with the 17 and it will be business as usual this week as they build to round four of 26. Specialist centre Ryan Shortland will start in the left-centre spot in just his second game in the NRL and his first for the Warriors, while Wairangi Koopu is relegated to the bench with Logan Swann whose starting spot goes to Sonny Fai. The post-mortem on the 52-6 hiding began at the team hotel immediately after the game. But after reviewing their build-up back to pre-season, then the match itself, nothing was identified as a major reason for the collapse. "I think Ivan hit it on the head after the game when he said we just have to forget this and get on with it," said Warriors CEO Wayne Scurrah. No one saw it coming. There was no sign beforehand that they were not ready. "We all knew Manly were desperate and would come out firing." There was no point in recriminations. "It is unacceptable, of course it is. What we have to accept is that there were a lot of players out there who won't play like that again. It is not a reflection of where we thought we were at, or where we are at. "There is probably no one hurting worse than the players. We just have to move on," Scurrah said. There would be no interference from management in the coaching. It is Cleary's worst defeat since taking over in 2006 (36-6 to the Panthers at Penrith 2006, 30-6 to the Eels at Parramatta 2007, 49-12 to the Cowboys at Townsville 2007). But it has never been his nature to roll out wholesale changes, even when searching for a reversal of fortunes after six consecutive losses last season. Lack of leadership when captain Ruben Wiki was interchanged was not seen as a big factor. Rather, it was a collective failing and the players had to accept responsibility for the loss - and for turning it around. A positive: They have no injuries and no judiciary issues. The Knights come having been beaten by one point in extra time by the Eels, who had been beaten 30-16 by the Warriors the previous week. But those results mean nothing in terms of a comparative for this weekend - the Eels had a short turnaround and admitted they were still bruised after the Warriors game, while the Warriors completion rate was so poor in Manly that they would lose by a similar margin every week if they kept repeating it. The Knights have injury concerns with prop Daniel Tolar (shoulder) and bench forward Cory Paterson (calf), although both are named in a side unchanged after the one-point extra-time loss to Parramatta. Centre Adam MacDougall is 18th man but will come into the team if he continues recovery from a knee injury. This year's big buy prop Ben Cross is out one more week with a broken wrist. Promising Warriors under-20s player Scott Jones is out for a long period after suffering a wrist injury as the side gained its first win from three games in the new Toyota Cup competition, beating Manly 22-14. Warriors Lance Hohaia, Patrick Ah Van, Brent Tate, Ryan Shortland, Manu Vatuvei, Michael Witt, Grant Rovelli, Sam Rapira, Nathan Fien, Ruben Wiki (captain), Simon Mannering, Sonny Fai, Micheal Luck. Interchange (one to be omitted): Ian Henderson, Evarn Tuimavave, Epalahame Lauaki, Logan Swann, Wairangi Koopu. Read more NZ Herald Click for RLCM's Junior Coaching Book 2 Penalties a pain says Wigan Warriors chief By Ian Lenagan - The Wigan chairman has called on RFL bosses to listen to fans' concerns and cut down on the number of penalties being dished out. RFL chief executive Richard Lewis was at the JJB Stadium on Friday to watch Warriors take on Wakefield and witness a new Super League record. Referee Ian Smith blew up for 32 penalties - 16 to each side - during a drab, stop-start encounter, beating the previous record of 29 set by Steve Ganson in Wigan's clash at Warrington less than a month earlier. And Lenagan hopes Lewis' presence will mean less interference from the man in the middle. He said: "We have to reduce the number of penalties and our own chief executive Joe Lydon spoke to Richard Lewis about this after the Wakefield game. "I have no doubt all the penalties being given are technically correct and that a referee could probably blow up for 40 or 50 infringements during one game. "But this is not in the spirit of our sport. "Fans pay to watch fluid and fluent rugby league and we should listen to them because they're telling us that the game is in danger of becoming boring. "We run the risk of driving them away if this continues." In particular, Lenagan wants to see the number of free-kicks reduced by at least 50%. He added: "It just needs referees to use their discretion more and temper the number of times they step in and stop the game. "About 10 or 15 penalties each game is surely a workable figure and one that we can all work towards together. "Too much focus at the moment is on referees and how many penalties they've been giving and this means we're all suffering. "I appreciate referees are under pressure after new guidelines and rules, but they're going too far at the moment. "It was also much the same in the St Helens and Leeds game last Friday, so it's not just about Wigan. It's the story of the season so far." Wigan Today 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 Aussie league legend Steve Renouf speaks out on diabetes - Nearly a 160,000 New Zealanders have diagnosed with diabetes, but as many as that again may have the disease without ever having been diagnosed. Diabetes spreading in our population so rapidly that it has become known as the epidemic of the 21st century. The ministry of health says much of it is preventable with a healthy diet and exercise and this week that is a message that has been brought here by a visitor from across the Tasman who is attending a major conference in Wellington on diabetes in the Pacific. Steve Renouf made his living as a top sportsman. He is one of Australia's great rugby league players. But 14 years ago when he was a 22-year-old making his way in the game, he thought his career was over after his doctor told him he was diabetic. "I was like 'oh my god,'" Renouf recalls. "There's just this hollowness goes through you. But like I said before, he said don't think your rugby league career is over, look after yourself and you'll be good." And Renouf certainly was that. He became know as the pearl of centres and scored a record number of tries for the Brisbane Broncos - 142. Now six years after retiring he is playing a no-nonsense game for diabetes with good reason - he has type one - which means his body cannot produce insulin. He has to inject it everyday. On top of that, three of his five children also require careful management. They are also type one diabetics. "We make sure that they have serves right," Renouf said. "We cut the bad options down." Whether like Steve Renouf you are born with a predisposition to the disease, or it is a result of poor diet and lack of exercise, he says you can get on top of it - it is a matter of focus. NZTV3 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 Wayne Bennett confirms St George Illawarra Dragons appointment - Wayne Bennett has confirmed he has signed on as coach of NRL club St George Illawarra for the next three seasons. Bennett announced last year that he was leaving the Brisbane Broncos at the end of 2008. He has been with the club for over 20 years, taking it to six premierships. The Dragons will be the third first-grade club for Bennett, who coached Canberra before moving to Brisbane. The Dragons board met yesterday and decided to end the six-year tenure of Nathan Brown. "Whilst respectful of the contributions and achievements of Nathan as head coach for the past six years, the board decided that it would be time for a change at the end of this season," Dragons chief executive Peter Doust confirmed. In a statement released this afternoon, Bennett said, "It is a great honour for me to be appointed as the head coach of the St George Illawarra Dragons, as they are one of the great clubs and brands of the NRL, with a rich history and tradition. "Yesterday I met with the board of the Dragons, we had a very meaningful discussion about a number of issues in relation to the club and the direction for 2009 and beyond, but I won't be making any appointments until later in the year. "I advised the Broncos this morning of my decision and I won't be making any further comment until the completion of the 2008 season for both the Broncos and the Dragons." Brown will remain as Dragons coach for the rest of the season. He says while he is disappointed, he is still focussed on the rest of this season. "I'm quite comfortable and at the end of the day, I'm still coaching for the rest of the year," he said. "Basically my main goal is for the rest of this year to do the best we can and have a successful year, just like it was a week ago." Read more Yahoo Sport RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP TRAVEL UPDATE-UK PACKAGES ON SALE NOW Official Travel Packages are On Sale Now for UK Supporters MATCH TICKETS All of our tour packages provide Category 1 Reserved Seating offering great views of the ground. FIVE ORGANISED TOURS AVAILABLE - ON SALE NOW - BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT Click here for details The 2008 Rugby League World Cup to be held in Australia will be the biggest Rugby League event in the 100 year history of the game. The Rugby League Experience is providing a range of packages for local, interstate and international visitors. To be kept up to date with all the latest tournament and tour information you can register your interest here. NRL Warriors call up Fai, Shortland - Sonny Fai and Ryan Shortland have been called into the Warriors' starting line-up for Sunday's NRL match against Newcastle at Mt Smart Stadium. Injury worries continue for Souths - South Sydney's injury crisis has worsened ahead of Sunday's NRL clash against Manly with Issac Luke ruled out for a month and Roy Asotasi in doubt. Bennett, Furner set for new roles - After months of speculation, departing Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett was confirmed as St George Illawarra's mentor for 2009. Tonga keen to reunite with Thurston - The attraction of playing alongside Johnathan Thurston and Matt Bowen convinced Willie Tonga to sign a lucrative four-year contract with North Queensland. Manly's Lyon stays at centre, for now - Manly NRL coach Des Hasler refuses to rule out a return to five-eighth for Jamie Lyon despite the Test star's claim he feels most comfortable at centre. Saffy pleads not guilty to 'bite' claim - A lack of conclusive video evidence is expected to form part of Jarrod Saffy's defence at the NRL judiciary after he pleaded not guilty to biting Todd Carney. Bellamy is the man for Broncos: Carroll - Brisbane should be doing everything to sign Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy as Wayne Bennett's replacement at the NRL club, says Broncos enforcer Tonie Carroll. Furner to coach Raiders from 2009 - Canberra have confirmed current assistant coach David Furner will take over the reins at the NRL club from next season after agreeing to a three-year deal Read more Yahoo Sport RLCM we will reproduce some of the questions and answers which featured on the LeagueCoach website. Feel free to use the forum link to barter thoughts on coaching and training drills and philosophies. Thanks to all those who contributed during the month. Officials confident Hallidays Point will field two grades - Group Three Rugby League's new season kicks off this weekend with officials yesterday confident that Hallidays Point would field first and reserve grade sides. The Makos will play Forster-Tuncurry on Sunday at Tuncurry. "They say they have 32 players on their books so that's obviously enough for two senior grades,'' group secretary Barrie Smith said yesterday. However, he was waiting on word from club president Joe Ashton on how many grades Hallidays Point would nominate. Taree City have nominated for three grades. "They're still a bit light on for senior players but I was talking to their coach, Dean Simpson at our season launch and he's confident they'll sign a few more this week,'' Mr Smith said. The Bulls face a tough task in the opening round when they meet last season's grand finalists, Port City at the Jack Neal Oval. This game will be played on Sunday. Meanwhile, former internationals Harry Wells and Ron Boden were special guests at the group's season launch held at the Wingham Services Club. Both ended their distinguished careers in Group Three - Wells with Port Macquarie and Boden with Taree United, while he later coached Taree Old Bar. Wells still lives in the Hastings area while Boden is on the Central Coast. Earlier this year Wells was named as one of the game's 100 best Australian players as part of rugby league's centenary celebrations. Boden wished all the players and clubs well for season 2008 and was enthusiastic in his praise for the administrators who keep the clubs and group operating. Manning River Times Click here and send your POSITION VACANT advertisement, it will be sent worldwide. This is another service by RLCM. Jim Jones returns to Penrith Panthers By Kylie Stevens - Michael Jennings, Peter Wallace, Tim Grant and Geoff Daniela these stars are just some of the club juniors that St Marys Leagues Club coaching and development officer Jim Jones has seen crack into Penrith Panthers first grade. He will soon make the dreams of many more league players across the district come true after being recently appointed as the new Panthers coaching and development manager. Panthers general manager Michael Leary said Jones had great credentials to take on the role as he was well-known in the Penrith district in junior league and rugby league development. His role will involve working closely with Panthers first grade coach Matt Elliott and recruiting elite talent who have the ability to play at the highest level. This includes identifying juniors in the under 18s and under 16s, right down to the under 12s. Jones has big shoes to fill, replacing Peter Mulholland, who was with the Panthers for 10 years before he went to the Bulldogs. "It's a very exciting challenge to be working at the top level," Jones said. "Penrith is one of the biggest and best areas in NSW in terms of junior rugby league." Jones spent 5 years nurturing talent at St Marys Leagues and will also step down from his role as co-ordinator for the Western Sydney Academy of Sport Harold Matthews and SG Ball teams, a joint co-operative between Penrith and Parramatta. He listed as the highlight St Marys winning a record 11 premierships last season. "The club achieved a lot while I was there, particularly with the local schools," Jones said. "The standard of coaching has improved, with some of them going on to coach at representative level. "We had some good young talent now coming through the Panthers ranks, including Greg Waddell, who's just signed a very nice contract. "There are a lot more juniors coming through the ranks. It's a good place to work and on the whole, a great football club." St Marys Star 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 Island influence stands out When all NRL playing squads gathered for the Centenary Fans Day at ANZ Stadium last month, the Pacific Islanders asked if they could gather for an historic photograph. Suddenly, the banquet room seemed half-empty. Admittedly the indigenous players had already vacated for a similar shot but the three-wide line-up of Polynesian and Melonesian buddies down the corridor was indeed a daunting sight. This anecdote can now be supported by hard cold statistics one in four players in the NRL are of Pacific Island descent. That's right, no less than 100 NRL players come from Samoan, Tongan, Maori, Fijian or Cook Island backgrounds. And don't think the home-grown Warriors players have distorted the facts. Of the 15 Australian clubs, 22.5 per cent have Islander backgrounds (86 players) with 46 born in New Zealand or the Pacific. And it is a trend more than likely growing. One in five players in the new national under-20 competition, the Toyota Cup, are also confirmed as Island boys by birth or parentage not including the Warriors. The Rabbitohs have the most (of Australian clubs) with 11 - of which eight were born overseas and a further seven in the Toyota Cup. On the other end of the scale, the Raiders have none in their top squad. A look at the quick-maturing giants in the strongest junior representative sides and the dominant schoolboy outfits is further evidence that it is a revolution that has far-reaching effects on the game. The NSWRL Academy reports that 52 per cent of SG Ball (under-18s) and Harold Matthews (under-16s) players are of Pacific Island background. "They are just made for rugby league,'' says Peter O'Sullivan, Sydney Roosters, and former Melbourne Storm, recruitment manager, who has been "adopting'' 16 and 17-year-olds from New Zealand for years. "It's their pure athleticism. They are naturally bigger, stronger and faster than Australians and suited to our explosive game. I have always been a big believer too that if they're from New Zealand grab them when they are 16 and give them the right training and education as soon as possible, and improve their aerobic base.'' O'Sullivan would visit New Zealand four to six times a year when at the Storm and brought current NRL players Adam Blair, Sam Tagalatese and Sika Manu to Australia at age 16. He liked to give them at least two seasons of schooling and elite junior football before lifting them into the NRL structure. But these days talent scouts don't need to travel far. Strong communities in Sydney's west particularly, and in southeast Queensland towns of Toowoomba and Ipswich, are producing explosive Pacific Island footballers who dominate under-age competitions and are ready-made for the NRL. Just look at state age teams. The Parramatta junior league reports that 60 per cent of its players are of Pacific Island descent. Penrith have tracked the ethnic origin of all players this year but have not yet collated the figures. NSWRL Academy coaching and development manager Martin Meredith says there are strong pockets of Pacific Island footballing families in Hurstville, the Manly area and South Sydney while Bulldogs juniors have extremely high percentage Arabic and Pacific Islander numbers. Some recruitment managers and welfare officers liken it to the African-American influence in US basketball; with big, athletic kids, in many cases from low socio-economic upbringings, hell-bent on using rugby league as their meal ticket. League's ethnic explosion has seen the NSWRL appoint its first development officer, Samoan David Lakisa, assigned purely to promote the game to the Pacific Island communities as it tries to better understand the cultural differences of the growing proportion of its players. NRL clubs too are increasing the resources put into educating the Polynesian flood of players. South Sydney welfare manager John Hutchinson says the care and cultural understanding of clubs can "make or break these kids'', many of whom leave their homes to relocate. Fiji Times Join the RLCM Monthly Club and receive four 2008 DVD's/CD's monthly. AUS$29.95 per month [Credit Card only] Receive the five resources below by return mail today * CD-ROM - RLCM Drill Books 1, 2 & 3 - 250 pages * CD-ROM - RLCM Ultimate - Over 4000 pages of 36 RLCM Books * DVD - Canberra Raiders 2007 Coach Neil Henry * DVD - Wayne Bennett Brisbane Broncos Coach * DVD - Tim Sheens Wests Tigers Coach Then receive four new 2008 resources each month. Contact for more information RLCM PO Box 259, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217 Email: rlcm@... Gary Roberts Mobile 0414 234 718 Phone: 07/ 5538 9377 Fax: 07/5538 9388 Dunghutti Broncos captain coach Paul Davis back helm - Dunghutti Broncos captain coach Paul Davis will be back at the helm of the Group 2 representative squad in 2008. The former Balmain five-eighth is keen to reinvigorate the representative side's fortunes, which have failed to live up to expectations in recent years. After a year off to concentrate on work and study commitments, Davis is keen and raring to go and feels 2008 could be the year the Group retains some bragging rights. "In the centenary year of league, I wanted to be part of a rep team in the bush," he said. "It's up to the coach to pick the right team and come up with a side that's going to win you the comp." With the Group 2 season kicking off this weekend, Davis will have his first chance to see the players in action. Having led Macksville to the premiership last year, he proved he still has what it takes as a player and his coaching credentials have been done no harm either, the Sea Eagles won three grand finals with Davis as captain coach. He said this year's representative squad would be built around a core group of players including NSW Country star David Pickvance and former Central Coast rep Robbie Trembath, but indicated a place in the side wasn't guaranteed. "We'll look at the form of the players after round two and go from there," he said. "Obviously we look at the players who were in the side last year, but it depends on whether they're still in the area and their age, they might have retired in the off season and there might also be some young up and comers. "All these things have to be taken into account." Davis, a level two coach, said he was looking at the Group 2 position as a stepping stone in his bid to become a full time rugby league coach within the next three to five years. "I'm slowly moving up the ranks," he said. "I'm looking to perhaps head back to Sydney and take up a coaching job. "I've already had a couple of people approach me and a job coaching SG Ball or Toyota Cup would be ideal." Macleay Argus Click for RLCM's Junior Coaching Book 2 Tingha Tigers turn up the heat Amy Slessor - The Tingha Tigers have continued their winning streak, disposing of the Glen Innes Magpies 52-18. The Tigers played a brilliant 80-minutes of rugby league in the first game of the season, scoring nine tries at their home ground on Saturday. At half time the Tigers were leading 18-12 and after the break completely pulled away from the Magpies. Coach Nathan Blacklock said he was pleased they captured a win for the first game of the season. "The boys went really well and just keep improving each week," Blacklock said. "Everyone worked hard as a team and they just really stuck together. "They all supported each other and we are happy with the win. "After our undefeated preseason we are hoping to continue this on and are looking forward to the rest of the season." Club secretary Chris Curtin was also impressed. "The Tigers really muscled up and the forwards Luke Buxton, Justin McIlwain and Marcus Woodbury really put in a good job," Curtin said. "In the backs Macca (Blacklock), Ray Craigie and Will Jerrard all had a brilliant match. "Paul Leitinger scored two tries as hooker and went really well. "Braydon Dwyer also had a terrific game." Curtin said in the second half; the boys' preseason training efforts and fitness just took over. "Glen Innes had no comeback in the second half and the Tigers were just too strong. "They absolutely hammered the Magpies in the second half, by the end they were just out of puff. "We couldn't have asked for a better start to the season." The Magpies forfeited in the President's Cup competition and the Tigers U-18s were defeated 26-12. The Tigers have another two weeks until they play their next match against the Inverell Hawks at the Tingha Sport and Recreation Ground on Saturday, April 19. This weekend five Tigers players Nathan Blacklock, Ray Craigie, Luke Buxton, Jade McIlwain and Braydon Dwyer are playing in the Group 19 trial in Tamworth. Tries Will Jerrard (2), Nathan Blacklock (2), Paul Leitinger (2), Jeremy Tickle, Luke Buxton, Chris Pout and goals Jeremy Tickle (7) Inverell Times Under 16s Selection Trial for Far North Queensland - Saturday 05 April 2008 Atherton JRL Club Grounds, Golflinks Road, Atherton 11.00am - Eacham v Cairns 11.40am - Cairns v Innisfail 12.20pm - Innisfail v Eacham All games are 30 minute duration with a 10 minute break FNQ Zone Under 16 team to be announced approximately 1.30pm FNQ v South North Queensland (Townsville DJRL, Mackay JRL and Mid West & Mount Isa JRL) at Townsville DJRL grounds at 4.00pm, 25th April 2008, where the Northern under 16 side will be picked to play in the state QRL Division 16/18 Carnival in Proserpine on the 3rd, 4th & 5th May 2008. QRL Northern Online

   
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Upton ARLFC - A top amateur club in the Yorkshire League [Est 25 years] are looking for a couple of players, a half back and a centre, are the main priority.

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