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SPONSORS NEEDED |
| Monday 31 st January 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 After playing for the Muswellbrook Rams under 16s first division, Quinton received an invitation to attend the Hunter Academy of Sport Transition Squad. Quinton said they travelled to Newcastle thinking it was a trial, but were told when they arrived they were in the team. “The guy said ‘I have 28 players here and that’s all I need - you’re all in’,” he said. “I was over the moon and in shock all the way back to Muswellbrook.” The squad will play four trial matches with players all vying for a spot in the SG Ball squad in the NSW Cup. The first trial match will be held at Scone, where the Knights under 17s will face off against the Bulldogs under 17s team. Quinton has been training since November, and travels to Newcastle three times a week for training. “Being a part of this squad requires a bigger commitment, not only just to make sure you get yourself to training, but also to your team mates,” he said. “It is just a higher level of football, you need to put in more effort, more strength and a new level of discipline - you can’t slack off.” But it doesn’t look like that will be a problem for Quinton who plans to make Rugby League his career. “Some people do it for the money, I just love the game. “ I want to be like my idol Greg Inglis,” he said. Quinton has played for the Muswellbrook Rams, Group 21 and in a trial game for NSW Country under 16s. It’s also a possibility that he will receive an invitation to play for the indigenous side, which will play the curtain-raiser match for the NRL All Stars match. “On the same day I found out about the Knights squad I was going for a position in the Greater Northern Academy Program in Tamworth,” he said. “I was in Newcastle at 8am and had to be in Tamworth at 4pm, but they called and said I can’t play in both, because the sides actually play against each other at one stage.” So Quinton made a choice, the right one he believes to take him further in the game and his career. “I am determined to make a career out of football, I want to be known as a good footballer where I come from,” he said. The talent runs in the family, Quinton’s 16-year-old cousin Aidan Edwards has also been selected in a high profile squad. Aidan, also from Muswellbrook, is playing in the Knights under 16s Harold Matthews Transition squad. |
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 STATE Of Origin coach Ricky Stuart liked what he saw when he flew into Tamworth yesterday and a Wests Greater Northern Academy coaching camp at Jack Woolaston Oval. The former Australian coach, who coached the NSW side in the 2005 State of Origin, is back in charge of the NSW Blues for this year’s State Of Origin. And he believes squads such as the Wests GNA are integral in the advancement of the game in NSW. “This is a real passion of mine, the Country Rugby League,” Stuart said “I believe this is the future.” He is impressed by the GNA and its young squad members. “This has been well run, there’s a lot of preparation gone into this. They have good coaching and they work well in the region, the skill levels are good. “The kids show a lot of discipline too, some of them travel a long way to get here. “That attitude is what can make or break them when they head into the NRL.” Queensland has dominated State Of Origin, winning the last five series, but Stuart doesn’t believe the Maroons possess any more passion than those in NSW, just that they do have some of the best players in the world in a number of positions. “We’ve got the talent,” he said. “It’s just about us trying to find the next best ones. But things like this give the kids the opportunity and a pathway to the next level. I believe the CRL is in good hands when you have programs like this happening.” |
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| Sunday 30 th January 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| KINGSGROVE COLTS SIGN ON DAY
Registration Day- Sat 5/02/2011 SATURDAY 5TH FEBRUARY, 2011 Fee’s are as follows - If the player is new to the game of rugby league he or she must provide a copy of birth certificate a passport size photo and MUST FILL IN AND SIGN A.R.L. REGISTRATION FORM. Players returning to our club after playing somewhere else must also fill in the same form as they need to initial for us to proceed with the clearance procedure. Players returning to re-register who played with us last year only need to pay and let us know if any of their details such as address has changed. |
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| Saturday 29 th January 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NSWRL JUNIOR REP TRIALS SHOWING GOOD SIGNS  As the season quickly approaches in 3 weeks, clubs are putting the final touches to their teams they will take into battle this year. The big improvers this year could be in the Mattys Cup comp with the SWSAS side looking real good this year. GOOD LUCK TO UR FOOTYTEAM from ourfootyteam - Plenty of gr8 action foto's soon (Prob's 2moz) Large teamPhoto's on FaceBook, u guys know where!! OurFootyFoto's Harold Matts - Rabbitoh's v SWSAS Harold Matts - Rabbitoh's v Magpies SG Ball - Rabbitoh's v Magpies |
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| Friday 28 th January 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Canberra Raiders Head Coach, David Furner, has today gone to the extraordinary length of calling a meeting next Tuesday afternoon of the Club’s Junior Representative Players and Staff, their families and media outlets to update them on the status of the Clubs application to be involved in the 2011 NSWRL Junior Representative Competitions. Raiders CEO Don Furner, Development Manager David Hamilton and Furner himself will be on hand to provide an update and answer questions at Northbourne Oval in Braddon from 6.00pm. “Overnight I have learned that a sub-committee of the NSWRL remains opposed to our application of fielding teams in the New South Wales Junior Competitions, because we don’t field a Premier League team in a NSWRL Competition” David Furner said. “Despite positive dealings with the NSWRL Board on this matter in recent times, after providing a written commitment that we will do this from Season 2012, I worry that a small sub-committee that includes Shane Richardson (Souths) and Peter Mulholland (Bulldogs) just to name a few is making a recommendation that is not for the greater good of our game in this region” Furner added. “To this end, I think it is important that we hold a public gathering next week whereby we can talk about this issue and circulate documents outlining our position, and those received to date from the NSWRL” Furner concluded. David Hamilton, the Raiders Development Manager and current Junior Kangaroos Coach followed his Head Coach’s lead by endorsing the meeting. “This meeting will clarify speculation circulating in the community and update all concerned with where the Club is at in its fight to have the Raiders Juniors re-instated into the NSWRL Competitions” Hamilton said. “Of the 3,500 kids we have registered in local competitions, I would imagine that many would look at other codes as better alternatives than ours if we didn’t maintain the elite Junior Pathway via the Raiders. It is a massive leg up for the Brumbies and new Greater Western Sydney franchise” Hamilton added. “The facts show that the Canberra Raiders inject more than most Clubs in terms of Development and Promotion of our game and I would hope that sanity prevails when the NSWRL board next meets on 10 February 2011 to finalise this issue” Hamilton said. Senior Raiders officials have a number of times asked to present their case directly to the NSWRL Board, rather than relying on the recommendation from the sub-committee, but have to date been unsuccessful in this request. I hope this group of men would look favourably at its guarantee and do what is in the best interest of the code in the Southern part of NSW” he said. MEETING DETAILS:Tuesday 1 February 2011 Northbourne Oval, 6.00pm Corner Elouera and Torrens Street, Braddon |
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| ROOS JUNIORS SHOW TRUE AUSSIE SPIRIT The Kangaroos Junior Rugby League Club has shown true Aussie spirit by extending a helping hand to the Karalee Tornadoes, a junior Rugby League club in the Ipswich League. The Cairns based Club has made a $500 donation to the Club and encourages other clubs to also consider assisting affected clubs. The Karalee Tornadoes home grounds were devastated in the recent floods leaving a massive cleanup and restoration task ahead for the Club. Kangaroos Juniors Secretary, Robert McDougall said “Our Club wanted to lend a hand in a practical way to a junior Rugby League Club affected by the floods. We can’t be there to assist with the clean up but hope this contribution helps the Karalee Tornadoes on the road to recovery.” He added, “We can only imagine how devastating this flood damage must be to the volunteers and players of the Club, and hope our donation raises their spirits as they rebuild their club”. The Karalee Tornadoes President, Peter McKewen, on hearing of the donation said, “It made my day”. Kangaroos Junior Rugby League is based at Vico Oval in Mooroobool, and in 2010 had a junior membership of 304 players ranging in age from 5 -16 years. The Club will be holding their 2011 Sign On Day on the 12th February 10am-2pm at Vico Oval. For further information contactKangaroos Juniors Secretary : Robert McDougall 0407 740 003 Karalee Tornadoes President : Peter McKewen 0432 360 998 |
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| Thursday 27 th January 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 SYDNEY rugby league club the Kellyville Bushrangers are helping the Theodore Roosters to get back on their feet after the floods. THESE nine boys will have more to smile about after news their junior rugby league club has been “adopted” by an interstate club. In a godsend, they will be able to play rugby league this season, after being given a helping hand from the 2010 Australian Rugby League Telstra One Community Grassroots Club of the Year, Kellyville Bushrangers. The young Theodore Roosters rugby league players lost their clubhouse and all its possessions during the devastating floods in western Queensland, and before the western Sydney club intervened were left wondering how they would recover. Sitting in front of her television 1200km away, Bushrangers secretary Penny Morgan was moved by the stirring images flashing across her television screen. Morgan knew there was some way she could help and within 24 hours had organised a fundraiser to help the struggling club out. “I was watching the flood relief special on TV and saw football fields under water on the television and thought, ‘How could I play my part and assist these children and get them back playing rugby league again?'” Morgan said. “The next morning I called One Community and by the end of the week we'd adopted a Queensland club.” The Bushrangers held their first fundraising event at a local shopping centre at the weekend, with the entire proceeds going to the Roosters. With the support of Coles supermarkets, which donated a number of prizes and hampers, the Bushrangers managed to raise $3500 for the Theodore junior club. In addition, the $350 in Coles vouchers used as prizes were donated back by the winners of the raffle and will go to the recovering club. Along with the funds raised, the Kellyville Bushrangers have also organised for Classic Sports to provide the Roosters playing jerseys, shorts and socks for all their players for the season, and have provided funds to purchase new training and playing equipment. “We wanted to help them buy all the stuff that you need to run a football club,” Morgan said. David Edwards, from the Theodore Roosters, said the Kellyville Bushrangers' support was overwhelming. “Their one day's fundraising is the equivalent of a year's fundraising for our club,” Edwards said. “From our club's perspective it's gone from a pretty miserable situation to a ray of sunshine.” Edwards said he not only had Morgan and the Bushrangers to thank for their support, but Queensland Rugby League's business development manager Troy Morton, who suggested to Morgan the club should help the Roosters. “If it wasn't for Troy Morgan from the QRL none of this would have happened, so we're grateful to him,” Edwards said. In coming weeks members of the Bushrangers club will travel to Theodore to lend a hand with rebuilding the club, and there are plans afoot to play a State of Origin-style match between the two clubs. This weekend Morgan will be attending the New South Wales Western Sydney Academy's annual conference and will be urging other clubs to follow in the Bushrangers' footsteps. “I'm encouraging all clubs in our area, and beyond, to adopt a club that has been devastated by the floods,” Morgan said. “By the end of the week I'm hoping a club will have adopted one of the many clubs affected.” |
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Story By : QRL QUEENSLAND selectors have today named a strong Murris Under 16 team for the February 12 Indigenous clash against NSW at Skilled Park. Former NRL star Sid Domic will take the reins of the Queensland outfit, which will be eager to impress in the curtain-raiser to the blockbuster between the Indigenous All Stars and the Harvey Norman Rugby League All Stars. The Queensland players will enter camp in Brisbane from February 4-7 before shifting base to the Gold Coast. Along with enhancing their rugby league skills, the players will benefit from a range of educational and cultural experiences, including a visit to Parliament House. |
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Story & Photo BY : NSWRLA The NSWRL Academy conducted a Players Camp for 120 Players aged 12 to 16 Year Olds from Monday 17th January to Thursday 20th January. The camp was a great success with all players learning a variety of skills and gaining valuble knowledge to improve there game. Highlights from the camp included special guests such as Wayne Bennett, Coach of the St George Illwarra Dragons and Manly Sea Eagles Players David Williams and Keiran Foran. The next camp to be run from the NSWRL Academy will be our annual Easter Blues Camp, which will be advertised on our website soon. For more information about our camps, please contact the Academy. Ph: (02) 9971 0877 - academy@nswrlacademy.com.au |
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| Wednesday 26 th January 2011 - !! HAPPY AUSTRALIAN DAY AUSSIE !! | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Story & Photo's BY : & Brian JohnsonAfter the success of the 2010 AIS Tour and the OurFootyTeam coverage of the January AIS Players Camp, we have been recieving quiet a few enquiries about how do you get picked for the AIS rugby league program. So we asked AIS Rugby League Head Coach Mr. Brian Johnson, once again Brian was only too happy to help and send the following statement. The AIS Program selects players from areas outside the NSW junior rep system. We cannot scholarship anyone who lives within that area. To clarify – we cannot scholarship anyone from Sydney, Newcastle, Canberra, Wollongong. On occasion however, when we are preparing for the overseas tour we are allowed to offer places on the tour to players whom we feel would “plug a gap” for us in our playing roster. This happens occasionally as some clubs don’t want their players that have been involved in the program to go on the tour. Scouting for the program: Players are selected on the basis of their performance in representative games. By watching the rep games we get a chance to watch the good players compete against other good players. The higher up the rep ladder a player is the more likely he is to be offered a scholarship. The system of rep matches that currently exists allows us to look at players at different levels and make a determination on which of those players we would like to offer scholarships to. Coaches and Scouts are watching these rep games in all Australian States. |
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| Monday 24 th January 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Story & Photo's BY : & Dave Fry Rugby League is alive and well in the West with the WA Reds SG Ball team readiing for the on slaught which is the toughest u18 competition on the planet. The NSWRL league junior reps competition has produced most of the top flighorriest NRL and International players over the past half a century "Brett Kimmorley visited the WA Reds, SG Ball (red jerseys) and Junior Development (grey jerseys) squads on Saturday morning at Belmont's, Centenary Oval. It's not often that the West gets so close to players or coaches of Brett's caliber and the boys listened intently to his every word." |
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| CHARITY EVENING OF RUGBY LEAGUE FOR AUSTRALIAN FLOODS VICTIMS ANNOUNCED Rugby League in the Northern Hemisphere is coming together for a unique evening of fundraising for the victims of the Australian floods. The event, which has the backing of all sectors of the sport, will take place at Headingley Carnegie Stadium on Wednesday 16th March. Lifelong rugby league fan and journalist Ricky Wilby came up with the idea following a conversation with Bradford Bulls coach Mick Potter. “It was something we discussed and certainly an issue I felt strongly about,” Wilby said. “The following day Toowoomba got ravaged and I saw on the internet that Chris Walker, who is from there, was raising awareness and funds in Australia and thought that we could do the same over here.” “I suggested the idea to him, Gary Hetherington and Michael Maguire who all thought it was something we could run with and raise significant funds for those affected,” Wilby continued. “We have all seen the horrific scenes on the news and on the internet and the sight of Suncorp Stadium under water just a few months after it hosted the Four-Nations final really brought home the fact that the people – in staunch rugby league areas particularly – are really suffering over there.” “We are still finalising the full details but given the interest and support we have from players and coaches already, it promises to be a special night. We have already been offered a great deal of memorabilia from NRL clubs, individual players and all the Super League clubs we have spoken to have bought into the cause. There are a number of auction and raffle donations that will be one-off, unique items.” Wigan head coach Michael Maguire, who took the Warriors to the 2010 title, is keen to back the dinner. “Being so far away from the floods back home is difficult but that doesn’t mean that we’re not thinking about them,” he commented. “To be able to help in any way that we can shows that between us we all have a real rugby league spirit that we’re all willing to help out such difficult circumstances.” |
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| Saturday 22 nd January 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jetstar Gold Coast Titans players today wound back the clock to their junior days as they helped teach the finer points of rugby league to kids attending a Titans coaching clinic at Palm Beach. Five days after helping the people of Ipswich in the clean-up operation following Queensland’s devastating flooding, Jetstar Titans trio Ashley Harrison, Luke Capewell and Esi Tonga gave back to the Gold Coast Community by joining in the fun with over 100 kids at a Titans coaching clinic at Palm Beach Currumbin High School. The day provided a great chance for the budding young stars to interact first hand with their heroes, while also proving a reminder of where it all began for the Titans. “We used to have the Brisbane Broncos come down to the school and it is something you really remember,” said Titans and Queensland Maroons back rower Ashley Harrison, a Norths Aspley junior. “I remember the first grade guys that used to come up and say hello and the next minute they are your favourite players. It is just the little things like that, that makes kids who they are and we are more than happy to do that.” As a youngster, Harrison spent his school days moulding himself off the likes of Bradley Clyde and Brad Fittler and eventually went on to play alongside both of his heroes. Over the last two days, just under 200 starry eyed boys and girls have been given the same opportunity while attending Titans School Holiday Clinics at Logan and on the Gold Coast, with Titans players Michael Henderson, Bodene Thompson, Jordan Rankin and Luke Page also appearing at a clinic at Logan Brothers Junior Rugby League Club on Wednesday. The kids were put through their paces mimicking the on field actions of their NRL idols, from the ‘chip and chase’ of Preston Campbell, to the tackling techniques of Luke Bailey. Jetstar Titans Development officer, Darren Robb said “The clinics are all about getting the kids outside and having heaps of fun with a ball in their hands, learning to kick, pass, catch and tackle, all the basics of Rugby League.” “The players come down and they see themselves in the kids, they were once one of them running around and having fun with their friends and seeing their idols come down and having a kick with them.” The Jetstar Titans operate around six School Holiday Clinics each year for boys and girls aged from 5 years old up to the age of 12, with the next clinic scheduled in the Easter break. For more information on any of the clinics or school visits, head to www.titans.com.au. |
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| UPDATED - NEW YEAR EVENTS AT THE NORTH SYDNEY BEARS Story & Photo BY : Steve LIttle - North Sydney Bears As the World heads in to the New Year, all three grades of the North Sydney Bears head into the trial and selection stage. The NSW Cup, under the guidance of Coach Wayne Lambkin will trial against the Corrimal Cougars on 29th January, the Macquarie Scorpions on 12th February and the Cronulla Sharks on 20th February. The North Sydney SG Ball squad headed by Kingsgrove High School Sports headmaster Shane Millard and the Harold Matthews coached by Kevin Nicholls, will trial against the Roosters on 22nd January, Central Coast on 29th January and the Western Sydney Academy team on 12th February. The Bears NSW Cup are also expected to field some players in the South Sydney side to take on the Newtown Jets in the Return to Redfern match at Redfern Oval 5th February. Central Coast Bears As the Central Coast Bears forge ahead for inclusion in the NRL for 2013, the Central Coast Bears Bid Team has committed to having a presence in the North Sydney District. In the New Year the Bears will have a membership stall at Westfield Shopping Centre, Chatswood on 28th and 29th of January and the 5th and 6th of February with hope of hitting the 6000 members mark. FULL LIST OF EVENTS TRIAL JNR REPS V ROOSTERS TRIAL JNR REPS V CENTRAL COAST 29th January 2011 Time: 5:00 pm |
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| Friday 21 st January 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
THE WESTS Greater Northern Academy returned to the training paddock after its holiday break on Sunday and made Farrer High School its base for the day, which included fitness testing and a video session. Players showed how much they had improved since the start of the program when they underwent fitness and strength testing in the morning. The under 17s then watched their game against the Central Coast Centurions to analyse where it went right and where it went wrong and the under 18s then had a look at their game from December 9. Head coach Jamie McCormack said it was a valuable exercise to show each player the areas where they need to improve. It may be the holidays but a number of Farrer players were back at school for the day. The school always provides plenty of players to the GNA. In the under 17s squad there are five Farrer boys in 17-year-old Ethan Gaffney from Tamworth and 16-year-olds Dan Boland (Coonamble), Keegan Loughrey (Gunnedah), Alex Abra (Bingara) and Will Gooch (Dungowan). Quirindi’s Andy Saunders will also become a Farrer student in 2011. In the senior squad Jack Broughton (Bendemeer), Jack Pawsey (Condobolin), Joe Lockwood (Tamworth), Edin Blewitt (Gunnedah) and John Brady (Gunnedah) are all involved. The GNA will be back at Farrer in two weeks for another training session and will be joined by NSW State of Origin coach Ricky Stuart. Stuart will fly into Tamworth for the day to offer some advice and McCormack said it was a massive coup for the GNA to have someone of his experience to speak to the players and watch them train. The squads are preparing for games against the Hunter (February 19) and Western (February 26) academies and will train twice before those games. |
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Story By : RFL Photo By : KT8 PHOTOGRAPHY & England Academy Head Coach Dave Elliott has named his 38 man squad for the 2011 season Elliott led the Academy side to an historic series victory over the Australian Schoolboys in 2010 and he will be hoping to emulate that success in 2011, when the Academy side travel to France for a Test series against their European counterparts. Ten of Elliott’s 2010 squad have returned to the Academy fold for 2011 with Warrington Wolves providing the largest contingent of players, with six young Wolves selected for the squad. Wigan Warriors, Bradford Bulls and St Helens have had five players each selected with Leeds Rhinos providing four members of the squad. Both Hull clubs and Harlequins have had two players each selected, with Salford City Reds and Castleford Tigers providing one player each. Co-operative Championship side Widnes Vikings have had four players selected for the squad with Championship One side Whitehaven also having a representative in the squad. “It’s great that 10 of the squad that played and beat the Aussies last year are still eligible for under 18 this season,” said Elliott. “But we’ve got a lot of new, talented young players who have come up from our youth programme and players who have forced their way into the squad after performing well in 2010, so it’s an exciting time for us. “The series against France will be a big test because the French are constantly improving and some of our young players have never beaten France before. It will be a big incentive for them to secure a starting position and it’s a challenge for the older players to perform like they did last season.” Despite leading the 2010 side to a famous series victory, Elliott is keen to focus his squad on the upcoming challenges rather than rely on the achievements of last season and he feels the atmosphere around the Academy set-up is helping take these young players to the next level. “It was fantastic to beat Australia,” said Elliott. “But we need to put that to bed now and re-focus our minds on the next 12 months. “It’s part of the players development to learn how to re-focus their goals and set themselves new targets and that’s what they all need to do because we know the French games will be tough. “It’s also important that the players come into the England set-up with good behaviour and good values. A lot of our focus last year was to reinforce what it means to play for England and ensuring our players want to wear the England shirt at every level. “We achieved that last year. The squad all had a real desire to play for England and I think we’re creating a good culture within our England set-up that breeds good performance, good preparation and good winners, which I think can only be for the good for the game.” 2011 England Academy 38 man Squad John Bateman (Bradford Bulls)Michael Bishay (Harlequins RL) Daniel Bridge (Wigan Warriors) Alex Brown (Widnes Vikings) Greg Burke (Wigan Warriors) Liam Carberry (Wigan Warriors) Jordan Chase (St Helens) Daryl Clark (Castleford Tigers) Jack Cockerham (Bradford Bulls) Ben Crookes (Hull FC) Ben Currie (Warrington Wolves) Ben Evans (Warrington Wolves) Rhys Evans (Warrington Wolves) Thomas Gilmore (Widnes Vikings) Bobbie Goulding (Warrington Wolves) Robert Hawthorne (Bradford Bulls) Daniel Jones (St Helens) Josh Jones (St Helens) Reece Lyne (Hull FC) Liam McAvoy (Bradford Bulls) Andrew Morris (Salford City Reds) Adam O’Brien (Bradford Bulls) Gene Ormsby (Warrington Wolves) Jack Owens (Widnes Vikings) Jay Rossi (Whitehaven RL) Matthew Russell (Wigan Warriors) Liam Salter (Hull KR) Daniel Sarginson (Harlequins RL) Declan Sephton-Hulme (Widnes Vikings) Ryan Shaw (Warrington Wolves) Louis Sheriff (Hull KR) Brad Singleton (Leeds Rhinos) Daniel Smith (Leeds Rhinos) Jared Stewart (Leeds Rhinos) Chris Taylor (Wigan Warriors) Steve Ward (Leeds Rhinos) Greg Wilde (St Helens) Daniel Yates (St Helens) |
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| Thursday 20 th January 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Story By : Photo By : East Leigh Footy Club (thanx Lesley) The AIS rugby league program helps more that just Aussie kids. On last years AIS tour of England the AIS squad helped the mighty East Leigh Under 14's footy team by spending a training session with the East Leigh boys The East Leigh boyz were so impressed that such a quality Aussie team spent time with them that they have gone on to win their local footy comp, and now East Leigh are into the 2nd round after defeating the Premiers in the National Cup. Good luck to the East Leigh players and staff in your chase for National glory |
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| Monday 17 th January 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
21 Jan - TG Milner Field 6.00PM Balmain SG Ball vs Balmain U17 22 Jan - DORA CREEK OVAL – GARDINER ST 22 Jan - TG Milner Field 22 Jan - THE KINGSWAY Field 2 22 Jan - THE KINGSWAY Field 1 SAT 30 Jan - CABRAMATTA STADIUM SUN 06 FEB - Albury Melbourne STORM v Parramatta EELS - UNDER 17's & SG Ball |
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| Sunday 16 th January 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| OHHH WHAT A FEELING - AIS 50 very lucky young Australian Rugby League players have been enjoying World Class facilities of the Australian Institute of Sport over the past week. This AIS provides opportunities to Athletes to learn world class techiniques and improve thier sporting skills. This week the AIS rugby league program is in full swing under the expert guidence of Head AIS Rugby League Coach Mr. Brian Johnson and his keen and experienced coaches.
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| ACADEMY SQUAD GETS BACK DOWN TO BUSINESS THE HOLIDAY is over for Wests Greater Northern Academy players who head back to the training paddock on Sunday. Following a break over Christmas, the squad will undergo more fitness and strength testing to see how they shape up against results they recorded back when the program started in early November. Unlike in previous summer programs, the squad will also have its on-field performances examined following its games against the Central Coast Centurions on December 11. Coaches have had a look at the video from those games and will use them to pinpoint areas of improvement for all players. GNA showed up well in those games, especially the under 17 team, but there is always room for improvement. “Individually and as teams, the boys need to improve areas of their games,” head coach Jamie McCormack said. “These areas of their game will be tested if not correct before they take on the likes of the Hunter Academy and Western Academy in February.” The games against the Hunter side will be played on February 12 and then the players will take on Western at Tamworth’s Scully Park on February 26 in the curtain- raiser to the Canberra/Canterbury NRL trial. That means training sessions over the next few weeks will be full-on as coaches try to prepare the two teams for the challenges ahead. With Scully Park unavailable, the squad will train at Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School from 10am on Sunday. |
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The Rugby League European Federation’s Middle East North Africa regional directorate has announced the dates and venue for the second annual MENA U16s Championship which will be staged in Lebanon later this year. After the runaway success of last year’s inaugural event, attended by British Ambassador Frances Guy when Saudi Arabia RL Schools was crowned champions following a thrilling final against the host Junior Cedars, the 2011 tri-series promises more of the same. The future stars of the game in the region will display their skills at the American University of Beirut’s world class sporting facilities, located along the Mediterranean coastline in the heart of lively West Beirut. The Charles Hostler Student Center will host the tournament from March 20-April 2, an event that is expected to deliver a festival of international rugby league and culture. Lebanon RLF Development Director, Faysal Jaber is eagerly anticipating the forthcoming competition. “I have no doubt the MENA U16 Championship will be a gala event that will help spread awareness and interest in the game throughout Lebanon and the Middle East,” he said. “It will attract new players, coaches, referees, and fans to our rugby league family. We will see the most talented youngsters playing in our country and there is no doubt we will enjoy a great rugby league party.” Encouragingly, all three participants have experienced steady growth in their youth structures in the intervening 12 months since the debut competition. Lebanon’s federation has taken on a new development officer and started its Beirut schools development project in earnest and Palestine RL, still based around the refugee camps, has taken the sport to more UN schools and now has a considerable Under 14s presence as well. Moreover, officials there are also making progress obtaining recognition from the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah, a process the legally mandated Palestinian RL is undertaking with the UN’s assistance. Popular demand for rugby league in Saudi Arabia has seen the sport spread to a fourth school in Jeddah. MENA UNDER-16S CHAMPIONSHIP:Lebanon v Palestine RL XIII, 20th March 2011, 2pm Palestine RL XIII v KSA RL Schools, 31st March 2011, 2pm Lebanon v KSA RL Schools, 2nd April 2011, 2pm |
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| Friday 14 th January 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Story BY : HANNAH FLANNERY  Photo's By : They're fast, powerful and full of promise but head coach Brian Johnson said it's not only the skills they learn on the field that will turn this year's AIS squad into NRL stars of the future. The Australian Institute of Sport and Australian Rugby League scholarship program has been running since 2002 and has produced NRL stars including Israel Folau, Dave Taylor, Daniel Mortimer and Joel Reddy. Raiders Joel Thompson, Daniel Vidot and Drury Low are also graduates of the program that identifies talented players from rural and regional areas in the 16- to 18-year age group. This week's camp at the AIS is one of three the squad will participate in, as well as travelling to France and England this year. Johnson, assisted by his former Dragons teammate Rod 'Rocket' Reddy, has been putting the players through a series of on-field drills. As representative rugby league players it's a familiar scenario for the young stars, but at future camps Johnson will take the boys out of their comfort zone. ''We want to work on the players' time management and media skills,'' Johnson said. The 25 players selected to travel to Europe will be expected to fine-tune their public presentation skills by preparing a speech to present to the squad prior to their departure. ''Their speeches will detail the life of selected First World War soldiers,'' Johnson said. While in France the squad will visit war grave sites. In the meantime their footy skills will be put to the test tomorrow when the AIS players take on the under-17 Canberra Raiders side at Northbourne Oval. The camp concludes on Monday. |
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| Monday 10 th January 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra will tomorrow welcome the 2011 AIS Rugby League Squad for a year going through the footy program which has included players like Israel Falou, James McMannis, Tommy Leroy Lars, the Aubusson Bro's, Jordan Rankin, Cale Hobday and Steve Coombes and 201 Australian Schoolboys captain Paul Carter The Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra will tomorrow welcome the 2011 AIS Rugby League Squad for a year going through the footy program which has included players like Israel Falou, James MacMannis, Tommy Leroy Lars, the Aubusson Bro's, Cale Hobday and Steve Coombes. As the new inductees gather in the Nations Capital for camp, the 5o odd players who turn up this morning will be in for a good first week of intence trianing. Some of the north queensland boyz may be late, some of the Rockhampton boyz are stuck on their farms surrounded by water and can't make the Canberra trip. "The past 9 or 10 years we have shown we have a very viable program, i really believe we (The AIS Program) have made the difference between playing NRL football and not playing NRL football" AIS Head coach Brian Johnson told ourfootyteam by phone last nite. "We have four camps a year, this is the first camp for the 2011 squad", said legendary team manager Col Matthews, "we have had about 50 players from the AIS program go on to play NRL football" The first camp this week is all about basics, "we teach basic skills, a set of basic skills we teach, we think it is important players pick up these skills", said Brian Johnson. The highlight for the AIS squad for those selected is a European Tour at the end of the years which includes international matches in France and the United Kingdom. The AIS have invited ourfootyteam up to the camp this year, so not only will we be covering the AIS squads European tour, but we will be following the progress of all the squad members. We will have more good news about the AIS Program later in the week and through out the year |
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| Saturday 8 th January 2011 - Happy Birthday ELVIS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 After playing for the Muswellbrook Rams under 16s first division, Quinton received an invitation to attend the Hunter Academy of Sport Transition Squad. Quinton said they travelled to Newcastle thinking it was a trial, but were told when they arrived they were in the team. “The guy said ‘I have 28 players here and that’s all I need - you’re all in’,” he said. “I was over the moon and in shock all the way back to Muswellbrook.” The squad will play four trial matches with players all vying for a spot in the SG Ball squad in the NSW Cup. The first trial match will be held at Scone, where the Knights under 17s will face off against the Bulldogs under 17s team. Quinton has been training since November, and travels to Newcastle three times a week for training. “Being a part of this squad requires a bigger commitment, not only just to make sure you get yourself to training, but also to your team mates,” he said. “It is just a higher level of football, you need to put in more effort, more strength and a new level of discipline - you can’t slack off.” But it doesn’t look like that will be a problem for Quinton who plans to make Rugby League his career. “Some people do it for the money, I just love the game. “ I want to be like my idol Greg Inglis,” he said. Quinton has played for the Muswellbrook Rams, Group 21 and in a trial game for NSW Country under 16s. It’s also a possibility that he will receive an invitation to play for the indigenous side, which will play the curtain-raiser match for the NRL All Stars match. “On the same day I found out about the Knights squad I was going for a position in the Greater Northern Academy Program in Tamworth,” he said. “I was in Newcastle at 8am and had to be in Tamworth at 4pm, but they called and said I can’t play in both, because the sides actually play against each other at one stage.” So Quinton made a choice, the right one he believes to take him further in the game and his career. “I am determined to make a career out of football, I want to be known as a good footballer where I come from,” he said. The talent runs in the family, Quinton’s 16-year-old cousin Aidan Edwards has also been selected in a high profile squad. Aidan, also from Muswellbrook, is playing in the Knights under 16s Harold Matthews Transition squad. |
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| Thursday 6th January 2011 - | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NRL Indigenous Legends Preston Campbell, Wendell Sailor, Jamie Soward, Scott Prince, Jamal Idris, Greg Bird, Ben Barba, Ryan James, Jonathan Wright, Nathan Merritt and two Broncos will play against the hottest young Indigenous cricketers largely comprised from the Cricket Australia Indigenous Development Squad under lights in a Twenty20 on Sydney Cricket Ground. World Cup member Dan Christian was a member of last year’s CA Indigenous team. Pre-match entertainment will feature special guest, Jessica Mauboy. This exciting new concept (sponsored by the federal government's Learn, Earn, Legend scheme) celebrates Indigenous cricket and will be played for the Jack Marsh Cup, a highlight of the Primary Club’s two day Marathon cricket event at the SCG on January 13/14. The match continues the federal government's recent and excellent initiatives in the area of Reconciliation. It is hoped that the event will draw a large Indigenous crowd to SCG. Jack Marsh was a legendary Bundjalung cricketer and sprinter from cricket’s Golden Age whose talents were compared to the great English bowler SF Barnes by former Test captain Warren Bardsley. Marsh was denied national honours despite being the premier fast bowler of his age. The match will take place on the fiftieth anniversary of the famous 1960-61 series between Australia and the West Indies when Richie Benaud and Sir Frank Worrell revitalised the national game, breaking down racial and cultural barriers with spirited, attacking cricket. Can the NRL Indigenous Legends revive the spirit of Jack Marsh’s athleticism when they swap a leather football for a leather cricket ball? Will the inner confidence remain? Can the NRL Legends really cross every sporting code? The inaugural NRL Indigenous Legends and Australian Indigenous Team go head to head in a Twenty20 on SCG at 6.30pm, 13 January 2011. Tickets available through ticketek for $12.50 each. Family of four: $25.00 |
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| Saturday 01 January 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bradford Bulls youngster George Burgess has joined brother Sam in Australia's NRL by signing a two-year contract with South Sydney. Bradford Bulls youngster George Burgess has joined brother Sam in Australia's National Rugby League by signing a two-year contract with South Sydney. The 18-year-old prop, who has yet to make his Engage Super League debut, has secured a release from the two years remaining on his contract with Bradford and will be reunited with his brother in Sydney later this week. Burgess, whose twin brother Tom remains at the Bulls, will play in the Under-20s Toyota Cup but train full-time alongside the Rabbitohs first team squad, including star new signing Greg Inglis. "I can't wait to make the move and get started at the Rabbitohs," he said. "Sam has been raving about the Rabbitohs and living in Sydney all year so I'm looking forward to coming out and training and playing in Australia. "I'm grateful to Bradford for the opportunities they've given me over the past few years and also the release to come to Australia and play with the Rabbitohs. "I'm very excited about pulling on the red and green jersey and getting started on my career at Souths." Burgess, whose other brother Luke plays for Leeds Rhinos, featured in England Academy's recent Test series triumph over Australian Schoolboys and is regarded as one of the best prospects in Super League. South Sydney chief executive Shane Richardson said: "The Burgess brothers are all talented footballers and we're delighted to have two of the boys playing for the Rabbitohs over the next two years. "George is a great prospect and a real project for our club. We'll work with him over the next two years and during that time we're aiming to develop him into an NRL footballer in the red and green." Burgess junior will be aiming to become the sixth Englishman to ply his trade in the NRL in 2011. England forward Gareth Ellis and former Wigan Warriors back rower Mark Flanagan are at Wests Tigers, former Halifax academy full-back Gareth Widdop is with Melbourne and Bradford second rower Michael Worrincy has joined Penrith. |
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| Thursday 30 th December 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ITALIA RUGBY FOOTBALL LEAGUE - HALF YEAR REVIEW The Italia Rugby Football League began with a bang similar to an Independence Day fireworks event as the public announcement was officially published on July 4th – with the formation of this Rugby League Federation in Italy, hence the ITALIA RFL and the pathway for growth set. The Campionato Italia Rugby League (iRFLeague) brought our code - Rugby a XIII to Central and Southern Italy for the very first time, involving teams from Roma, Tuscany (Florence) and Sicily (Catania). The creation of strict Rugby a XIII teams had been produced - seeing Gladiators Roma Rugby League, Magnifici Firenze Rugby XIII and (Spes) Spartans Catania Rugby XIII. With the fourth team being invited in the latter stages due to certain circumstances and very willing to take part in the rebirth of Rugby a XIII, which was a Serie C (amateur) Rugby club formed in 1980 known as Arvalia Villa Pamphili Rugby Roma’. The iRFLeague was formed through the divide of an inaugural Italian (exhibition style) League with only 3 rounds allocated for the Northern and Central-Southern Conferences by the FIRL Federation, which teams were unhappy with. The majority of the stronger teams (together with 2 former members of the FIRL) quickly disagreed with the management behind it through many major and minor reasons, which than soon began the initial formation of the Italia Rugby Football League. Despite disruptions – the ITALIA RFL were able to effectively organise the historic Television Coverage through a number of National and Local TV Companies for the iRFLeague Championship Grand Final in July. A huge outcome for a new or developing Rugby League Federation anywhere that helps spread the game of Rugby League and an awareness of the game. CHAMPIONSHIP (CAMPIONATO) OVERVIEW: The first round saw the momentous debut of Rugby League into the Central and South of Italy with the Magnifici Firenze Rugby XIII playing the Spes Spartans Catania XIII on Saturday 19th June 2010 (when Rugby League was strong in the 50s and 60s it was only in the North until the game was lost, until now!). The match was played in Florence at ‘Padovani’ - the home ground of the ‘Magnifici’ (Magnificants) with the home side earning victory against the travelling Spartans from Sicily – 28 to 16. The attendance was close to 300 interested new supporters. The second round set the scene with the historic first match for a team representing Rome. The Gladiators Roma were ready to play their debut match at their home ground ‘Campo dell'Unione’ – against the Magnifici Firenze Rugby XIII on 26 June. The result showed the added benefit of having experience with the ‘new sport’ with Pierluigi Gentile guiding his new players - the Gladiators Captain/Coach who has played in the top Union Competition, but represented Italy for Rugby League previously. However Magnifici possess a Coach and Manager who has strong experience and contacts in Rugby also, currently playing for Aironi (a top Italian franchise). Gladiators won over Magnifici 58-22. The third round of the iRFLeague installed a Sicily and Roma rivalry at the Spartans Catania home field (Campo Cittadella Universitaria), however it was not to be for Spes Spartans as they lost 38 to nil against a sharp Gladiators outfit, who sealed an iRFL Grand Final birth in their home city of Roma. The result set an iRFLeague Gran-Finale battle between Gladiators Roma XIII and Magnifici Firence XIII in 2 weeks in Rome. A pre-Grand Final match was played with Arvalia Villa Pamphili Roma and Spes Spartans Catania XIII. GRAN-FINALE: The Gran-Finale Day was played on July 18 at Campo dell'Unione Capitolina in Rome – with a modern Roman battle set in the form of Gladiators Roma XIII and Magnifici Firenze XIII – with the winner being crowned Campioni Italia (iRFLeague Champions) and the ‘curtainraiser’ was between the newly invited Arvalia Villa Pamphili Roma Rugby and Spes Spartans Catania XIII for the right of 3rd place. Admission for the match was free to ensure a better attendance, however the end crowd was affected by scorching and abnormal European temperatures upward to 40*C in Rome! The Spes Spartans Catania fielded a determined team against debutants Arvalia Villa Pamphili Rugby Roma that was were motivated to earn third place in the 'iRFLeague Championship' and managed to control most of the match. But Villa Pamphili earned respect to fight back late in the match. The final result was 42 - 14 to Spes Spartans Catania. Just before the Grand Final kick-off - the Italia RFL had a minute silence in memory of Mr Giorgio de Angelis who was a man of any Rugby and Namau founder (died March 26), Namau is a kind sponsor of the Gladiators. The Grand Final match was a tight tussle with the score at half time 16 to 10 for Gladiators. After the break through the leadership of captain Pierluigi the Romans showed good attacking displays to increase their lead, until the Ferraro coached Magnifici increased their determination and grit to score two tries in 5 minutes – locking up the scores at 22-22 with 15 minutes to go. The teams than reach boiling point minds began to heat up and ignite Italian fire, outcome was a temporary sin-binning on a Gladiators player and 5 minutes later a Magnifici player receiving a sin-bin. The match was heading into a MAGNIFICO ending, until Gladiators scored with 5 minutes left and 1 minute to go. The final result was 36-22, but a close and exciting match to show the attendance and beneficial for the live and delayed TV Coverage set for the Italia RFL. THE COACHES WERE REPORTED WITH THESE STATEMENTS MADE: Magnifici Firenze, Coach-President - Luigi Ferraro - "We did very well in terms of attitude, we didn’t let go until the end when we stayed with a man short for a yellow on our Captain Mafara. Also from the physical point of view we have held up well in the impact of the eighty minutes and one to one in both attack and defense we were able to keep up and sometimes exceed the gladiators though many of them play all season with more technical and athletic than ours. As a coach I am very satisfied with the evidence of all the guys, nobody has pulled back and put all that extra that was missing in the first ever trip to Rome with the Gladiators, and there has allowed to remain always in the game, we even passed the first lead and 15 minutes from the end we lost by 24-22." Gladiators Roma, Captain-Coach - Pierluigi Gentile "I am very pleased with our performance and how we played throughout the league. The Magnifici in just a few weeks have been able to improve so much and this does nothing but increase in me esteem for my fellow players, despite the resistance of opponents to hold on and take home the match. Now that the door is open, we hope to continue and develop this version of Rugby." The first championship cup of iRFLeague was delivered by Mrs de Angelis for the Gladiators, while a special award was presented to Mafara Simone for his playing closure "as a thirteen" after his long Rugby career. IRFLEAGUE GRAN-FINALE DAY TV COVERAGE: Historic live and delayed TV coverage for both of the Rugby League matches were invested in (despite barriers) and achieved by the Italia RFL that consisted of a number of local digital TV channels, including t9, teleroma56, supernova, Canale Zero, Telepontina and National Companies, which included Sport Italia and Sky Italia (highlights shown at later dates and interviews). The popular ‘Sport Italia 2’ showed highlights (coverage) on Sept 16 at 11.30pm for National TV Coverage. The delayed (Rome Local) TV coverage was shown between the 1st and 14th of August with a series of broadcasted sessions of the iRFL Championship Grand Final between Gladiators and Magnifici. The TV coverage dates were set for 9pm Monday on Supernova, Wednesday 9pm Supernova, Friday 10pm on Canale Zero, Thursday 10.30pm on Telepontina and Sunday 3pm Telepontina. FOUR NATIONS TV COVERAGE: Another exciting move for TV coverage was the 2010 Four Nations Rugby League tournament being picked up in an arrangement with EUROSPORT 2 for not only Italy, but other countries in their network, including the likes of Germany and Spain (original press release on RLIS). This further benefited the IRFL cause by deliverering steady exsposure, promotion and knowledge of Rugby League in the country, while again spreading the game into the Italian Population. Round 2 – Gladiators Roma Vs Magnifici Firenze Round 3 -Gladiators Roma Vs Spartans Catania The Italia Rugby Football League (IRFL) want to again thank everyone who was involved and committed to our cause of Rugby a XII. The players, technicians, medical staff, spectators, the RU clubs for allowing all players, blogs, all Italian and Rugby League media, sponsors and fans that gave us visibility and support this year! The doubters will be proven wrong in 2011 as planning has been well underway since August. We are looking for even more Team Sponsors, but also new Federation sponsors for 2011, in particular jersey provider / sponsor – see this link for details. Our new Website will be online soon at the current location – www.irfleague.it |
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| Tuesday 28 th December 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Story By : Photo By : NEWCASTLE Knights coach Rick Stone says the club won’t be strangers to Tamworth following this week’s three-day training camp at Farrer High School. With a deal in place with Farrer that will help local players gain an opportunity at the Knights and a commitment to develop the Tamworth area into a true Knights area, the city may see a lot more of the club’s players and coaches in the future. “We’re the closest club for people,” Stone said. “This pre-season camp is a start but we see Tamworth as being part of our catchment area, the western edge of that catchment. “We’re working with Farrer and want to work with them so it’s a good deal for us and them. “The best kids in the area will generally be there.” The camp that ran from Monday to Wednesday was a chance for the 37 players in the senior squad to get away from their usual training environment. They held weights and conditioning sessions, skills and ball work and even a full contact opposed session at Scully Park on Wednesday. “Coming up to Christmas we wanted three days where they would be really focused,” Stone said. “So we thought we’d get away from the city. “By changing the environment we think we’ll do that. “We get into our attack right from the very start. “We’ve done some tough stuff as well as weights and conditioning but also ball work as well.” On Monday night Stone and his assistant coaches also conducted a seminar for local coaches and held a junior clinic on Tuesday. Stone said the club hoped to continue that kind of work in the future. “We’re also looking at maybe starting a coaching course for local coaches,” Stone said. “It would be a bit like they used to have up in Armidale quite a few years ago. “They have one in Sydney every year but it’d be good to have one up here so the coaches can get their accreditations and things like that.” Assistant coach Andrew Duneman was impressed with the roll-up of local coaches, especially the 11-strong contingent from Narrabri who made the trip. The whole coaching and playing staff are confident about the side’s chances in 2011. Stone said the expected return of Chris Houston would add more forward depth to the squad, having already picked up Neville Costigan and Steve Southern. In fact every position now has several players competing for starting spots. “I’m very happy with what we’ve got,” Stone said. “If Chris Houston comes back I’ll be very happy and that will finish the squad off. “He resigned from the club but he’ll be able to come back, as long as the board allows it, which should be a formality. “We’ve got some good young players coming through so we’re pretty confident.” The Knights will be back at training in the new year and will prepare for their trial games in February. |
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 Five young footballers from Glen Innes High School had the opportunity to sharpen their footballing skills and make big improvements to their game, by learning from the best players and coach in the business earlier this month. Wade Campbell, Jay Gallagher, both under 15’s and Jayden Ehsman, Brock Simpkins and Mitchell Cook all under 13’s, travelled down to Sydney on Sunday December 12 to begin a three day trip of a life time, training with and learning from the St George Illawarra Dragons in Wollongong. Through the high school’s partnership with the Dragons, through the Gifted and Talented Rugby League Program (GATRL) the boys began the trip bright and early with a 6am start on the Monday morning to head to the Dragons training centre to watch the NRL squad undertake a sprint session and later a tackling session on the beach. Here they met a number of Dragons NRL players and Dragons super coach Wayne Bennett. Following the tackling session Bennett addressed boys and he gave them a number of football tips, emphasising the importance of a strong tackling technique. In the afternoon the boys undertook their first training session with some of the Dragons assistant coaches, where their tackling techniques were videoed and reviewed by the coaches. Later that afternoon, they had the opportunity to train with the Dragons High Performance unit. They were put through a number of agility and speed tests. The players started Tuesday morning taking a closer look at how an NRL squad trains during an off-season. Following this they went back to the ground and met with the Dragon’s strength and conditioning coach. He talked to the boys about what techniques and exercises they should be doing at their age. The boys were accompanied on the trip by GATRL coordinators Ben Creighton and Richard Taylor. After meetings with Dragons administrators, it was decided the GATRL program would be changed to the Dragons New England High Performance Unit. Mr Creighton and Mr Taylor will be heading back down to Wollongong in January for further improvements to be made to the program. Mr Taylor said it was a great opportunity for not only the boys but for himself and Mr Creighton. “It is a fantastic opportunity to be welcomed into a well organised and elite club,” he said. “We were thoroughly impressed with every aspect and function of the club.” Mr Taylor said Glen Innes High School is very grateful for the opportunity to be linked with the Dragons. “We are very grateful for the professionalism of the club,” he said. “The five young boys that attended the trip were inspired by the three day experience.” Taylor said that squad could only go forward in the future with access to those types of resources. “We look forward to having access to these resources and to see the Dragons New England High Performance Unit grow and further develop.” |
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| Monday 27 th December 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Muswellbrook’s Jacob Pottinger and Zac Collett, Denman’s Isaac McCormick and Aberdeen’s Ethan Christiansen all made the cut and will now have the chance to train with the region’s best in Tamworth. Selectors were on the look out during two trial matches in early October with around 40 players in with a shot of making the squad. The players attend the academy every second weekend for training and drills that provide them with the opportunity to be coached by some very experienced coaches, fitness and medical staff. The players have already seen the rewards of being part of such an elite squad as they had the opportunity to play in the curtain raiser to the match between NSW Country and Cook Island. The Greater Northern team played their first trial game on December 11 against the Central Coast Centurions and they were winners very convincingly. The game marks the halfway point of training in the academy. The players will resume training on January 16 ahead of games against Newcastle on February 19 and Western Academy on February 26 which will be a curtain raiser for the Canterbury Bulldogs and Canberra Raiders match at Scully Park in Tamworth. Following the two matches they will return to training for their respective teams in the local rugby league competition. |
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| Friday 24 th December 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 THESE are the teenage victims of the so-called turf war between the NSW and Queensland rugby leagues - three young Canberra footballers who could be denied the chance to represent the Raiders next year because of bureaucracy. In a decision that has left Raiders chief Don Furner fuming, the NSWRL last week barred Canberra juniors from playing in next year's Harold Matthews and SG Ball competitions. They did so because of the Raiders' reluctance to take part in an exclusive joint venture with St George Illawarra to send their players to Shellharbour in the NSW Cup. The Raiders had insisted on sending a portion of their playing talent to Souths Logan in the Queensland Cup but the NSWRL, which does not want to be seen to be propping up a Queensland competition, rejected that proposal. And because of a recent move to ban any club's players from the junior competitions if there is no representation in the NSW Cup, up to 60 young Raiders have been left stranded. ''It's disappointing,'' said Jack Ahearn, who would have been the SG Ball team's fullback. ''This is what we've been working for. When Don told us [before training last Friday], it was hard to believe. It's really upsetting. I'm just praying they change their minds. I want to play.'' Furner has been scathing in his criticism of the NSW administration, not only because of the original decision but because of several apparent backflips. After the board voted to reject his proposal on Thursday night, NSWRL general manager Geoff Carr softened his stance on Saturday, telling ABC Radio: ''If they [the Raiders] can come up with a mutually agreed position … I would certainly open the discussion. What happened Thursday night has nothing to do with it because today's a new day.'' So, clearly, was Tuesday, because an email subsequently lobbed into Furner's inbox which again made it clear that his ''proposal doesn't go far enough to warrant a new meeting of the board to revisit the issue''. Thus, after a glimmer of hope, the Canberra juniors were left stranded again. ''I don't know who's running the show in there,'' Furner said yesterday. ''I've got to say, I do understand why other codes laugh at us. ''These last four days … nobody in there knows what they're doing.'' Ahearn, meanwhile, said some of his teammates were considering switching codes as a result of the ban. But he won't. ''I love the game and I'll still play it,'' he said. However, Ryan Gowing admitted the decision had clouded his future. ''It's a weird feeling that all the powers above me can make one little decision which could affect me making the NRL one day,'' he said. |
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| Wednesday 22 December 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Australian Schoolboys arrived at Sydney's International Airport today after their 'Trip of a Lifetime' playing in 3 countries on 2 continents. An unexpected 9 hour stop over in Hong Kong last nite due to a 3 hour delay in Paris led to a few blokes having to rush to connect to their domestic flights for home sweet home. WELCOME HOME BOYZ - U DID US PROUD |
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| Tuesday 21 st December 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Australian Schoolboys will arrive home tomorrow at about 12:10 PM at Sydney's International Airport . Cathay Pacific Flight CX 101 will bring the squad home after a long tour which the boys experienced the UK and France in the cold, played in the snow, met some lifelong friends and played some great schoolboys rugby league in trying conditions. 2010 ASSRL TOUR |
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| Monday 20 th December 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Canberra Raiders hope a major backdown from the NSW Rugby League will allow them to keep their best junior players in the Harold Matthews and SG Ball competitions next year. Having announced on Friday the exclusion of Canberra teams from the NSWRL-run development competitions because of the Raiders' refusal to supply all their senior non-NRL players to NSW Cup team Shellharbour, NSWRL chairman Geoff Carr said the league had softened its stance. He said on ABC radio yesterday the Raiders would be allowed to send four players to Shellharbour and the rest to their Queensland feeder club Souths Logan. While Carr later refused to confirm that number of players, it is understood he later told the Raiders that four players would be acceptable to the league. ''If they [the Raiders] can come up with a mutually-agreed position ... I would certainly open the discussion,'' Carr said. ''What happened Thursday night has nothing to do with it because today's a new day. ''I spoke to Don at Byron Bay [two weeks ago] and JR [Raiders chief executive John McIntyre] at Byron Bay, and I made it clear I'd talk about Souths Logan if we could resolve NSW.'' Four players is precisely the number the Raiders had proposed sending to Shellharbour as a compromise position. They had also agreed to contribute $60,000 towards Shellharbour's costs. However the NSWRL insisted in emails last week that the Raiders commit all players to the NSW Cup. While Raiders chief executive Don Furner was angered by the NSWRL's confused stance on the issue, he welcomed Carr's apparent backflip on the exclusion of the Raiders from the under-16s and under-18s competitions. ''I still hold out hope. To discriminate against our junior players would be unbelievable and I don't think they really want to do that,'' Furner said. |
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| Saturday 18 th December 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Story By : Glenn Jackson Photo's BY : CANBERRA chief executive Don Furner has attacked the NSWRL's ''short-sightedness'' in banning the Raiders from junior representative competitions next year, saying it would hand some of the district's best youngsters to other codes, and that the next Laurie Daley could end up playing for Queensland as a result. In what Furner called a ''crazy'' decision, the NSWRL board decided on Thursday to ''exclude'' the Raiders from the SG Ball and Harold Matthews competitions next year because the club would again not be fielding a team in the NSW Cup, because of the costs. That would end 29 years of involvement in the junior competitions. Furner said up to 60 juniors, who are due to play a trial against Wests Magpies Goulburn this weekend and who have already been given playing equipment, might now be lost to the code - forced to Super 15 club the ACT Brumbies, or even the AFL, which recently announced that the new GWS franchise would play matches in the capital. He said the squads would have to be disbanded, play in a country competition or even in Queensland. Furner has already held talks with QRL managing director Ross Livermore about the prospect of Canberra's best juniors competing in Queensland's school-age competitions - making some of them eligible for Queensland. ''There's going to be 60 kids who are very disillusioned with league, along with their parents and relatives,'' Furner said. 'It's going to deny kids their chance to play rep footy, and these kids could be lost to the Brumbies or GWS. Laurie Daley, Ricky Stuart and Josh Dugan all came through our junior reps. Could you imagine if the next group were playing for Queensland? They could be handing some kids straight to Queensland. We feel we've been better treated by Queensland through all this.'' The NSWRL had encouraged the Raiders to form a joint venture with St George Illawarra to play with Shellharbour in the NSW Cup. But the Raiders, believing a shared feeder club would be unworkable, had proposed to send some players not involved in the NRL competition to Shellharbour and others to Souths Logan. But NSWRL officials maintained they could send their players to Shellharbour only - which Furner described as being akin to ''putting a gun to our head''. ''We've been part of these competition since 1982 - we've been developing juniors for 29 years. I just can't believe they have done this,'' he said. The NSWRL said the decision had been made to stop NSW players strengthening Queensland competitions. Manly had been given the same ultimatum, having been previously linked with the Sunshine Coast Queensland Cup side. |
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Junior rugby league players now have new opportunity to reach their potential with the Knights joining forces with Complete League Player to launch a new and interactive system at Balance Mayfield today. The Coal and Allied Newcastle Knights is the only NRL club to provide the “Complete League Player” system to its juniors. The system is a world first in best practice information, conditioning program and skill demonstrations for the game’s grass roots with enthusiastic endorsement by the NRL, ARL Development and CRL. The Newcastle Knights have teamed with Complete League Player founder Graham Windeatt Australia’s Olympic, Commonwealth Games medalist and world record holder to create this wonderful opportunity for kids to reach their goals. The Knights Complete League Player system brings together the latest in sports science conditioning, instructional skill, drill and play demonstrations, general nutrition and sport nutrition information. It is a one stop system of personal development for junior players aiming to be the complete league player. The system includes Knights NRL players demonstrating over 150 skills drills and plays all narrated by Knights coaching staff. There are skills drills and plays for all levels and ages from 10 to 18 years. Knights’ playmaker Jarrod Mullen has endorsed the system after spending some time as a mentor recently. “I wish I had a resource like this when I was in the junior ranks,” said Mullen. “If you stop learning in the game of rugby league then you can fall into a trap, I know I’m still learning every day and this system is a great way to learn.” The Newcastle Knights playing group feature throughout the Knights Complete League Player with hundreds of player insights presented in streaming video. Including insights from Akuila Uate about what motivates and drives him, Jarrod Mullen talks of his training activities from a junior to becoming an NRL player, Matt Hilder explains when at 13 years of age he realised that making more of a commitment to his training was required to perform at his best. The Knights player insights provide a firsthand account of how they have dealt with a full range of topics including handling nervousness, maintaining their motivation and confidence in the ups and downs of their playing career, along with methods to help them focus on good nutrition and training. The player insights provide strong mentoring messages to juniors that are not available anywhere else. Each month a personal activity plan is sent to each player based on their level of conditioning they select within the system. More than five years in the making and with four decades of personal sporting experience Windeatt said the Complete League Player was borne out of his “listening to parents and coaches along with his observations that best practices and information were not getting to the grass roots”. The Knights Complete League Player team includes the system’s Conditioning Director, Dr John Williams (PhD Sports Science), immediate past applied Research Centre Manager at the AIS and Masters qualified exercise specialists, general nutritionists and sport nutritionists. The System includes the ability for parents and players to ask questions of any of these specialists “It provides best practices opportunity for everyone irrespective of location – whether city or distant country.” |
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| JUNIOR REPRESENTATIVE DRAWS ANNOUNCED NSWRL MAKES TOUGH DECISION The Board of the New South Wales Rugby League has today expressed its disappointment with the Canberra Raiders’ decision not to compete in the 2011 NSW Cup which will make their juniors ineligible to play in the NSWRL’s Junior Representative Competitions. The NSWRL has spent considerable time and energy with all Clubs to engage them in the NSW Cup because the competition is a critical platform for Rugby League in the state as it links directly with NSW elite junior programs. 18 months ago the NSWRL worked to strengthen the NSW Cup as well as all representative pathways and the League made it clear that all Clubs needed to provide clear pathways within NSW. NSWRL General Manager, Geoff Carr, said despite months of negotiations with the Raiders, the club has today announced they will not field a team in the NSW Cup with the full knowledge that this would make their juniors ineligible for Harold Matthews and SG Ball. “It just impractical for us to develop junior players only to have them strengthen competitions interstate,” Mr Carr said. “We have the best junior development programs of any sport in Australia and the continued commitment to these pathways is key to that success. “We don’t want to see anyone miss out on football but Clubs have to commit to a strong game wide structure that will improve development across the state rather than focus on short term financial savings that weaken the game’s structure. “Manly were faced with the same decision and ultimately felt that our junior programs were worth supporting. “We have received countless correspondence from Clubs supporting our stance and they have all stressed the importance of a direct pathway for junior development through to open age football in the state of NSW.” DRAWS SOON |
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| Friday 17 th December 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ENGLAND RUGBY LEAGUE ANNOUNCE 2011 YOUTH SQUAD England have named a 39-strong squad for 2011, a year which will see the country’s top young Rugby League players play Test matches against France and Wales. England Youth Coach Dave Elliott recently led the England Academy to a famous series victory over the Australian Schoolboys and is hoping for similar success with the Under-16s against European opposition in 2011. The squad of 39, which features 22 newcomers, consists of eight Wigan Warriors scholarship players, seven from Leeds Rhinos, six St Helens, six Hull FC, three Harlequins RL, three Warrington Wolves, three Bradford Bulls, two Castleford Tigers and one Hull KR player. “It’s early doors for these guys,” said Elliott. “There are 17 who were in the squad last year and they showed some potential so it will be interesting to see how they perform 12 months down the line. “It’s will also be good to see how the newcomers handle the step up from community clubs and scholarship programmes to international level and how they all progress during the season.” England Youth will play a two-Test series against France along with proposed Tests against Wales during the 2011 season and Elliott believes the recent success of the England Academy can help spur the Youth side on. “I’m hoping the Academy success against Australia will be a catalyst for these younger guys,” said Elliott. “They have seen what can be achieved with hard work. “The Academy side worked hard all season, both on and off the field, to improve themselves as players and as people and that is the message we want to send to the Youth side that hard work can be rewarded by playing for England and gaining international success. “Only one member of that Academy side wasn’t on a full-time contract and that is a big incentive for the Youth players. “We’ve got systems in place to help give the players the tools to develop both mentally and physically and enable them to become better players which we hope will translate to International success come 2013 and 2017.” England Youth 39-man Squad:Alex Abbott-Tavener (Harlequins RL) Jack Anderson (Hull FC) Jordan Baldwinson (Leeds Rhinos) Josh Casey (Bradford Bulls) Oliver Davies (St Helens) Bradley Day (Leeds Rhinos) Jake Dehal Clark (Castleford Tigers) Kyle Dempsey (Wigan Warriors) Zak Dewhirst (Warrington Wolves) Kane Ditchfield (St. Helens) Lewis Galbraith (St. Helens) Gabriel Gatu (Hull FC) Oliver Gildart (Wigan Warriors) Ryan Hampshire (Wigan Warriors) Jordan Harper (Leeds Rhinos) Ali Ibrahim (Hull FC) Joe Keyes (Harlequins RL) Ryan Langton (Hull FC) Bradley Lawrence (Wigan Warriors) Michael Learmonth (Leeds Rhinos) Scott Lee (Leeds Rhinos) Arron Lewczenko (Wigan Warriors) Harry Lightfoot Brown (Harlequins RL) Jack Logan (Hull FC) Ryan Maneely (Warrington Wolves) Matthew Marsh (Hull KR) Alex Mellor (Bradford Bulls) William Milner (Warrington Wolves) Curtis Naughton (Bradford Bulls) Ben Parry (St Helens) Greg Richards (St Helens) Andre Savelio (St Helens) Jake Shorrocks (Wigan Warriors) Liam Sutcliffe (Leeds Rhinos) Connor Taylor (Castleford Tigers) Lewis Tierney (Wigan Warriors) Bobby Tyson-Wilson (Hull FC) Ben White (Leeds Rhinos) George Williams (Wigan Warriors) |
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| Thursday 16 th December 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
NEW SET-UP FOR JUNIORS IN REGION The G4 JRL has a new executive for 2011 – Michael Gleeson (Narrabri president) is the new G4JRL president, Stuart Hatton (Gunnedah) is vice- president and Paul Richards (Tamworth) is the new secretary-treasurer, G4JRL publicity officer Gavin McCrohon said. “The positions on the committee have been spread across the group which is very pleasing and gives all Leagues strong and even representation,” McCrohon said. “Recently the three Leagues expressed a desire to have a Group-based competition for the 13, 14 and 15 years age groups. “The new Group committee will oversee the new competition plus the new structure for representative teams for 2011. “The 2011 rep sides will have a new selection process, with each League supplying one selector for each age division and applications for coaches are now open and close on February 16.” Gleeson believes the new structures will show the selection process as a lot more transparent and spread the responsibility. “In the past, the coach of the team selected the team, organised training and did just about everything,” Gleeson said. “Now he only has to coach the team – a program has been set out for the selection and training of the teams by the newly-appointed rep coordinator Jamie McCormack.” “The three Leagues are to be commended on the process and the manner in which they have worked to bring this new approach to Group 4 Junior Rugby League. “Also the guidance of CRL has been excellent, with both Scott Bone and Jamie McCormack giving us a clear path on which is the best option to take.” The new G4JRL committee is well under way, with the organising of the competitions and rep program for 2011 and is excited about the future of Junior Rugby League it is taking in 2011. |
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 Snails and frog’s legs were on the menu and the weather was so cold a footy match had to be cancelled, but Daley Boney says his recent trip to France and the UK was a fantastic experience. Boney travelled to Europe as part of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) under 19s rugby league squad, returning home on Tuesday after almost a month overseas. The team flew out on November 12, arriving in France where they spent their first days sightseeing and training. “When we got there it was freezing,” Boney said. “It was hard trying to talk to people, we had an interpretor but they weren’t with us all the time. “In France we spent a fair bit of time looking around and we visited war memorials, castles and churches and in Paris we visited the Eiffel Tower.” The 17-year-old, who plays second row for the Muswell-brook Rams under 18s, said the food was not exactly what he was used to. “I ate frog’s legs and escargot – it was pretty good actually,” he said. “In France every morning for breakfast we would make up hot chocolate in a bowl and dip bread and jam into it, it was good at first but after a couple of days I was sick of it.” The squad’s first match was against the French under 17s on November 16, with the AIS team defeated 23 to 16. A few days later the boys backed up to take on the French under 19s in what was a much closer match, losing 14 to 12. On November 23 the team travelled to Fromelles to pay respect to the fallen Australian soldiers buried there. Although the local museum is normally only opened on a Sunday, the townspeople opened it to allow the boys to see the war relics and hear stories from the local historian. On November 25 the AIS team had its first game in English when it took on the Warrington Academy Wolves. The AIS dominated that match, with Boney scoring a try to add to the 44-6 winning margin. With the UK suffering unseasonably early snow and a massive cold snap, the fourth scheduled match of the tour, against the Widnes Vikings, was cancelled because the ground was frozen. Boney said the trip was a great experience, and he enjoyed playing alongside so the many talented players in the squad. |
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| Wednesday 25 th December 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
GUNNEDAH Bullpup Heath McIlveen hopes a memorable European tour experience will boost his 2011 first grade prospects. McIlveen headed straight back into rugby league action last weekend after spending three weeks touring France and England with the Australian Institute of Sport squad. The 17-year-old tested his skills alongside fellow budding talents, endured sub-zero temperatures and saw some of the two countries’ world-famous sights. The front rower said the trip would boost him ahead of the 2011 season, which will climax with a move to NRL giants Newcastle Knights. “It’s every kids’ dream to play for a side like Newcastle,” he said. “I’m definitely in Gunnedah for the season first though. “Hopefully I will have a crack at first grade [in 2011]. “It was great to see what the rest of the world has to offer. I didn’t want to come home.” The 25-man squad, comprising some of rural Australia’s most promising young players, travelled first to France for two matches against the country’s under 17 and under 19 sides. McIlveen started the first match – a 23-16 loss – and was sub for the second, a 14-12 defeat. The squad also took time to visit popular tourist sights during matches, including the Eiffel Tower and the Australian War Memorial at Fromelles. They then travelled to England, where they were met with icy temperatures and snow from a harsh autumn cold snap. “The first day I wore shorts and t-shirt,” McIlveen said. “That didn’t last! “Everything would ache [after playing in those conditions]. You got hit in the face and it felt like your nose had been splattered. “The coaches have been going for more than ten years and they said it was the worst they had ever known it.” Based in the north-west city of Manchester, the group had scheduled two matches against nearby English sides. McIlveen was a sub as his side thrashed the Warrington Wolves under 18s 44-6 in the first match. A frozen pitch meant the second match against Widnes Vikings Youth was postponed. The squad enjoyed further expeditions, including a trip to “spectacular” 75,000-capacity Old Trafford, home of Manchester United FC. They also visited historical English areas including Stratford-upon-Avon and York before returning home. St Mary’s College student McIlveen has now resumed off-season training with the Wests Greater Northern Academy. The squad, comprising more than 40 of the region’s best young players, played two matches against Central Coast Centurions in Tamworth last Saturday. McIlveen said he hoped the trip would spur his preparations for the 20l1 campaign, which will culminate with him joining the Knights’ Toyota Cup under 20s side. “There’s always room for improvement,” he said. |
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| Tuesday 14 th December 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Photo's By : & Ian LOVELL CENTRAL West products Jack Wighton and Harry Siejka will look to finish their Australian Schoolboys tour of the UK and France on a positive note after losing their second match in a row on the weekend. After going down 38-30 to the England Academy in last weekend’s first Test, the young green and golds were unable to turn the tables on Saturday morning despite the best efforts of Orange junior Wighton and Bathurst product Siejka, who have teamed up in the halves this tour. The England Academy completed their first series victory against the Australian Schoolboys in six years after a comprehensive 34-22 win in the second Test at Leigh Sports Village on Saturday morning (AEST). The tourists took the advantage early on when fullback Henare Wells scored in the opening stages but from that point on the first half was all England, who received a standing ovation after racing to a 22-4 half-time lead. Sam Powell, Jordan Thompson, Ben Evans and Matthew Russell all crossed the line with Russell scoring the pick of the tries after an excellently executed back line move saw the young Wigan player power over in the corner. The second half began much the same for England with Jordan Thompson scoring his second of the game early on. It could have been more as Evans and Ryan King both touched down only to have their efforts disallowed by referee Ben Thaler. Australia capitalised and two opportunistic tries from Jacob Gagan and captain Paul Carter brought them back to 26-16 with 20 minutes remaining. England’s Rhys Evans scored a magnificent solo effort 15 minutes from time to help him seal the man-of-the-match award. A consolation try from Trent Jennings and a third conversion from Siejka wasn’t enough to stop England sealing an historic win. While missing out in this match, it was another strong performance from Siejka who is relishing his playmakers’ role. At the start of the week against the English Academy side, he made a number of line breaks and well-executed movements to put his team-mates into space. The Australians have now headed to France where they will take on the Tricolours’ under 18s this morning (AEST) and the France under 19s on Friday morning (AEST). |
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| Monday 13 th December 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 RETIRED Titans five-eighth Mat Rogers says he would love to see highly touted rookie Jordan Rankin get first crack at his vacant No. 6 jumper next season. The search is on to find a halves partner for skipper Scott Prince, with Gold Coast coach John Cartwright admitting the spot is up for grabs heading into 2011. Rogers yesterday threw his support behind 18-year-old Rankin. "I'd love to see Jordan get a shot at it," Rogers said. "He's obviously got some defensive things he needs to work on and he knows that. "He's young, so he's only going to get stronger and better. He really wants it and that's half the battle." Rankin became the third-youngest player in the code's 102-year history when he sensationally made his first-grade debut back in 2008. The prodigious Titans talent was aged just 16 years and 238 days when he played his one and only NRL game, against the Newcastle Knights in round 22. Along with Rankin, Souths recruit Luke Capewell shapes as a readymade replacement, while former NRL playmaker Richie Williams has earned a training contract after impressing with Burleigh Bears in the Queensland Cup. If Rankin, Capewell and Williams struggle to step up, Greg Bird and Preston Campbell can play there. "I know Birdy would like to play five-eighth and Presto is so courageous that the hardest thing for him, if he was to play a full season there, is he would smash himself," Rogers said. "He could play there and hide [in defence], but he wouldn't do that. "It will be interesting to see how Carty uses Presto next year because he is an integral part of the side." Rogers will shift into a sponsorship role next year, but is likely to be registered as a player in case he's needed. |
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| RUGBY LEAGUE EUROPEAN FEDERATION BOLSTERS STAFF The Rugby League European Federation staff has been expanded to include new development managers in Scandinavia, Ukraine and the Caribbean. Warren Heilig, who was responsible for bringing the code to Norway in 2009 and Artur Martyrosyan, the driving force behind rugby league in Ukraine, will both commence their roles in January while Romeo Monteith, who has overseen the growth of the code in Jamaica, will now have a brief covering the whole region. Norway has made significant strides in a short period of time, with clubs from the capital city Oslo and neighbouring Lillestrom participating in domestic competition in 2010, with an expansion planned for 2011. The Ukrainian competition is slightly older and more established, with clubs in Kharkov, Donetsk and Dnepropetrovsk, the three biggest cities in eastern Ukraine currently playing and with plans to move into the capital, Kiev, at an advanced stage. “It is a real honour to become a part of such an organisation,” said Heilig. “I really hope that I can be a good member of the team that brings our wonderful sport to the attention of Scandinavia. There is clearly an appetite for the code in the Nordic countries.” Heilig will be charged with developing the fledgling Swedish and Danish rugby league and, along with Martyrosyan, primary strategic objectives will be to develop national championships, increase participation numbers and strengthen the governance, administrative and operational capability of the associations in their region. Martyrosyan commented on his appointment, “I am sure that rugby league will make a real impact, it is the true sport of athletes and gladiators which appeals so much to us. It is an honour for me to be able to help to spread that message.” |
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| Saturday 11 th December 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ENGLAND WIN SERIES The England Academy completed their first series victory aganist the Australian Schoolboys in six years after a comprehensive 34-22 win in the second Test at Leigh Sports Village. The tourists took the advantage early on when full-back Henare Wells scored in the opening stages but from that point on the first half was all England. Sam Powell, Jordan Thompson, Ben Evans and Matthew Russell all crossed the line with Russell scoring the pick of the tries after an excellently executed back move saw the young Wigan player power over in the corner. The second half began much the same for England with Jordan Thompson scoring his second of the game early on. It could have been more as Ben Evans and Ryan King both touched down only to have their efforts disallowed by referee Ben Thaler. Australia capatalised and two opportunistic scores from Jacob Gagan and captain Paul Carter brought them back to 26-16 with 20 minutes remaining. England's Rhys Evans scored a magnificent solo effort 15 minutes from time to help him seal the Man Of Match award and a consolation try from Trent Jennings wasn't enough to stop England sealing an historic win. MORE SOON INCLUDING ACTION PHOTO's & INTERVIEWS |
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| Friday 10 th December 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| QAS EMERGING ORIGIN SQUAD Story By : QRL MEDIA RELEASE Nine new players were today named in the QAS Emerging Origin squad that will be put through its paces by Academy Head Coach Wayne Bennett next month. The impressive 14-man squad will take part in numerous sessions at the Queensland Sport & Athletics Centre (QSAC) in Brisbane from January 21-23. It includes Matt Gillett – the 2010 Dally M Rookie of the Year. Gillett enjoyed an outstanding year in the NRL after forcing his way into the Broncos side following a bumper season with the Norths Devils in the Queensland Cup. He is one of the nine players who will experience the highly-regarded QAS Emerging Origin camp for the first time. The other newcomers are Ben Barba, Dane Nielsen, Justin O’Neill, Daly Cherry-Evans, Robert Lui, Martin Kennedy, Jake Friend and Ben Te’o. Cherry-Evans starred for the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles in the Intrust Super Cup this year, taking out the Courier-Mail Best & Fairest as well as the Carbine Club Rookie of the Year. The Emerging Origin squad has played a pivotal role in Queensland’s stunning recent domination of the Harvey Norman State of Origin series. Boom forward David Taylor played in all three games of the 2010 Origin series after taking part in the Emerging Origin program. Jharal Yow Yeh and Ben Lowe were selected as 18th men for the second and third games of this year’s Origin series respectively after also attending the Emerging Origin camp alongside Taylor. Yow Yeh and Lowe have retained their spots in the squad. Daniel Vidot, Matt Bell and William Zillman will also return. 2011 QAS EMERGING ORIGIN SQUAD Ben BARBA (Canterbury Bulldogs)Daniel VIDOT (Canberra Raiders) Jharal YOW YEH (Brisbane Broncos) Dane NIELSEN (Melbourne Storm) Justin O’NEILL (Melbourne Storm) Daly CHERRY-EVANS (Manly Sea Eagles) Robert LUI (Wests Tigers) Martin KENNEDY (Sydney Roosters) Jake FRIEND (Sydney Roosters) Matt BELL (Penrith Panthers) Matt GILLETT (Brisbane Broncos) Ben TE’O (Brisbane Broncos) Ben LOWE (South Sydney Rabbitohs) William ZILLMAN (Gold Coast Titans) |
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 AUSSIES KEEN TO MAKE AMENDS The Australian Schoolboys will be looking to put a full game together to win the 2nd test against the successful England Academy team tomorrow morning Australian time. This years Australian Schoolboys team is once again made up of some of the best junior rugby league players in the land and are capable of defeating the England Academy on home soil once again. The Academy boyz haven't won a series against the schoolboys this millennia and the tourists will look to keep that fine record intact. Starting underdogs in the 2nd test, the Aussie Schoolboys will do what all Aussies do when they have their backs to the wall, we dig deeper. The 2nd Test should be a cracker, so stay tuned from about 8:00 am for the latest pre game news and regular updates and scores throught the match We wish both Nations the best of luck for the 2nd Test |
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| Thursday 9 th December 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MCNAMARA IMPRESSED BY ACADEMY TALENT England Head Coach Steve McNamara believes the future of English Rugby League is bright after seeing England Academy defeat the Australian Schoolboys in the first of a two-Test series at Leigh Sports Village last Saturday. McNamara was watching from the stands as the Academy fought back from a 12-point deficit to secure an impressive 38-30 victory over the Schoolboys and feels the performance shows promising signs for the future of England Rugby League. “Every time we beat Australia I think it’s good for our game,” said McNamara. “It’s the first time many of these players have played against an Australian representative side and there is always an element of the unknown. “I think the team did very well and showed some tremendous spirit to come back from behind, even though they were very dominant throughout. “We get a lot of access to the players at this level and I think the players are understanding what is required from them. “They’ve had some exposure now and I think that performance shows the future of England Rugby League is very promising. These players will all be striving to get in the senior side in the coming years and it’s great to see such a talented crop coming through.” With England also dominating in the current Ashes Cricket series, the Academy will be determined to complete the first sporting victory over the Australians this winter and complete a 2-0 whitewash against the Schoolboys in what would be their first series victory over the Kangaroos since 2004. “To beat Australia you have to have a team performing well and not just individuals,” said McNamara. “Everyone was very pleased with that performance and I’m looking forward to seeing how they perform again next week. “The boys will have earned a confidence boost from the result but both sides will play better next week. The first time you ride a bike you fall off, but next time you get on better and I think both teams will come out stronger next week and it promises to be a great game.” Tickets for the second Test between England Academy and Australian Schoolboys at The Jungle, Castleford on Friday, December 10 are available on the day and cost £3 Adult and £2 Concession. |
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| Wednesday 8 th December 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
After leading the England Academy to a 38-30 victory over the Australian Schoolboys in the first of a two-Test series, Academy captain Adam Milner is hoping for a repeat performance when the sides meet in the second Test at Leigh Sports Village, Friday December 10. (K.O 7:30pm) Milner was instrumental in helping England complete a dramatic turnaround to come from 12 points behind and secure an impressive eight point victory in the final stages of the first contest between the sides and he is confident that England can emulate that performance on Friday. “We played well to beat the Aussies,” said Milner. “But we know it’s only half way. We still have another 80 minutes to play but it’s good to be on the front foot. Everyone played well in the first Test. It was a physical contest but that’s the spirit of the game and we know there will be more of the same to come. “Personally I was disappointed with my performance in the first half, I missed a few tackles and I didn’t really control the game like I wanted to but the whole team stepped up in the second half and found an extra bit of spirit which seen us through to the end. “The result has given us a great confidence boost, but going into the second game I’m hoping everyone can give even more than they did in the first game.” Victory in the second Test would secure a 2-0 series whitewash for England and their first series victory over the Schoolboys since 2004, but Milner knows the Australians will be more determined than ever to defeat their perennial foes. “We’ll need to be ready for the second Test,” said Milner. “The Aussies will come out fired up next week and they’ll be determined to beat us so we’ll have to be on the ball and at the top of our game to get the win. “It would be great to get a series win, it’s been a few years since an Academy side has managed to do that so hopefully we can put in the performance we need and get the result.” The second Test between the England Academy and the Australian Schoolboys takes place at Leigh Sports Village on Friday December 10 (K.O. 7:30pm). Tickets for the contest are available on the day and cost £3 Adult and £2 Concession |
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 CONGRATULATIONS TO SIMON HUNTLEY Congratulations to Mr. Simon Huntley who was recently elected a life member of the NSW Combined Catholic Colleges Rugby League for outstanding service to the NSWCCC and to rugby League. Former Australian Schoolboys coach, Simon loves his footy |
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| Tuesday 7 th December 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 AIS ARRIVE HOME SAFELY The AIS rugby League Team arrived safely in Sydney this morning after a fantastic tour which saw them play in 2 different countries. Well done boyz, time to de-frost and get back in an Aussie lifestyle. The Brian Johnson lead AIS squad arrived in Sydney this morning to a packed Sydney Airport, it seems Oprah had her 300 Americian audience flying to the land down under on their tax payer funded jount, but we were not there to see Oprah, we had much more important people to meet, the AIS footy team The boys all looked tired but wrapped to be home, they hit Sydney on a beautiful sunny summers day. A real big thank you to all the familes and friends of the touring AIS party for all your messages of support, i know it ment a lot to the boyz over there in freezing old England. Once again it has been our privilage to cover the AIS tour, thanks you Brian, Dave, Rocket and all the squad. The AIS program continues with a new group of young footballers who go into camp at the AIS in Canberra in early January for a week, then they will get it on with the Canberra Raiders SG Ball team |
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| Saturday 04 th December 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
England Academy Head Coach Dave Elliott has named his 19-man squad for the first Test against the Australian Schoolboys to be played at Leigh Sports Village on Saturday, December 4. (K.O 2:00pm) The squad is dominated by academy players from 2010’s silverware winning sides, with 11 of the 19 players coming from Warrington Wolves and Wigan Warriors and Elliott is confident that this side will be more than a match for the tourists. “We know the Australians are big, strong lads who’ll make things tough for us,” said Elliot. “So we’ll be going into this game expecting the same type of physical game we always get from Australia. “But we’ve got a group of very talented players to chose from ourselves. Several of our squad have already had Super League experience and that combination of talent and experience provides us with a team capable of putting in some really good performances and getting a result. “There is a confident mood in camp and the conditions could prove tough for the Australians so we’ll have to exploit that on the day.” |
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| Friday 03 rd December 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
England Academy captain Adam Milner is relishing the opportunity to lead his country from the front when they face the Australian Schoolboys in the first of a two Test series at Leigh Sports Village on Saturday, December 4. (K.O 2:00pm) Milner will join a list of past England Academy captains which includes England’s recent Four Nations captain James Graham. Graham’s international teammates Sam Burgess and Luke Robinson are just a selection of other players who have recently represented the England Academy side before progressing to senior level and Milner is hoping to follow their footsteps. “It’s a great privilege for me to be named as captain of the England side,” said Milner. “It’s also a bit of a surprise. I’ve never really been a captain before but I’m really honoured to be given the captains role and I can’t wait to lead the boys out to face the Schoolboys.” “If I can be anything like some of the players who have previously played for the Academy then I’d be delighted. To be mentioned in the same breath as guys like Burgess and Graham is an honour for me, but I know I have a long way to go before I can be considered in their class. But it’s a great confidence boost to know so many academy players have gone on to become England players.” On the eve of the Academy's first Test against the Australian Schoolboys, Milner and his squad know they have the opportunity to prove themselves against their counterparts from Down Under and he says there is a confident mood within the Academy camp. “Training so far has been going good,” said the Castleford Tigers player. “We’ve worked hard at getting the squad to blend together and the team spirit now is fantastic. “We’re expecting the games against the Australians to be very tough and we’ve heard rumours about the players coming over here, but we've been studying their team to see what exactly we’re going up against and what we need to do. “We’ve got some very talented players in this side and I’m confident that we can perform well on the day and get the result that we all want.” Tickets for the England Academy versus Australian Schoolboy on Saturday, December 4 at Leigh Sports Village (K.O 2:00pm) can be purchased on the day and cost £3 |
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MEET the Sydney Roosters' teenage bulldozer. He might only be 17, but schoolboy rugby league talent Tai Tuivasa packs a knockout punch. The Mt Druitt product stands 190cm tall and hits the scales at 136kg. Sydney Roosters recruitment manager Peter O'Sullivan describes Tuivasa as a "raw talent". "He is bit like Mark Tookey. They both wind-up and hit-up the ball at full speed," O'Sullivan said. "I've been watching his age group for some time now and he scores an inordinate amount of tries in junior league. "He's got terrific leg speed and great footy awareness. If he trims down the kilos and keeps up the hard work I have no doubt that he will play first grade. He will play under-20s next year if he keeps up the form." When The Daily Telegraph caught-up with Tuivasa at the Redfern PCYC gym, he dwarfed the heavy bags and the doorway. Fighting and footy is all he has known growing up as a young kid in western Sydney. The former St Dominic's student made his fight debut with a stunning 22-second knock-out against Daniel Fawkes at Penrith RSL. Tuivasa has spent the past 18-months training at the Elite Fight Gym, sparring with cult figure cage fighter Lucas "Big Daddy" Browne. Five experienced MMA fighters didn't want to fight him because of his size. "Half of the people in the crowd that night were my family," Tuivasa said. "I remember feeling pretty calm before and during the fight. I kneed him a couple of times, he got up and came at me and I knocked him out." Tuivasa, who has a Samoan father and Aboriginal mother, was poached by the Sydney Roosters from Penrith Panthers last year. He has dropped 9kg since joining the club, which put him on a strict new diet and training regime. While Tuivasa's second MMA fight hasn't been scheduled, the giant lad said he was keen to step back in the ring next year. |
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| Thursday 02 nd December 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Having spent every winter in scorching conditions back home, a group of Australian rugby stars were mesmerised after seeing snow for the first time during a visit to Cumbria. The Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League team were scheduled to play a match at Whitehaven’s Recreation Ground tonight, which was cancelled. But this didn’t dampen team spirits as most of the teenagers were excited by Cumbria’s snowy weather - as it was the first time they had seen it. Coach Brendan Barlow told the News & Star: “The snow’s been great and the team have been pretty excited about it. “It is lovely in Cumbria and we are all enjoying it.” Yesterday the squad - which consists of 24 players and seven staff - trained at the Cumbria Sports Academy at Hensingham, Whitehaven, before having a swim in the nearby pool. As well as keeping their fitness up to standard, they let loose with a snowball fight. The team is staying at the Seacote Hotel in St Bees before heading down to Barrow on Saturday where they play England Academy at Barrow’s Craven Park at 2.30pm. The Australian team come to England and Wales every four years, with the England Academy visiting in between. “This is the most snow I have ever seen here,” said Mr Barlow. “I have seen some pretty heavy snowfall in York, but nothing like this, it’s constant. This was the first time that most have them have ever seen snow. There were a lot of snowball fights.” After playing at Barrow, the team will head to Castleford to play England on Monday, December 13 before flying to France for two matches. |
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| Wednesday 01 st December 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The 2013 Rugby League World Cup has been officially launched after the RFL hosted a ‘kick-off’ event at Manchester’s new MediaCityUK development on Tuesday November 30. The 2013 competition, which will be contested in venues throughout England and Wales, will be the 14th staging of the Rugby League World Cup and has already been backed by Rugby League legend Ellery Hanley and former Olympic medal winner Iwan Thomas. . Speaking at the tournaments kick-off event held at MediaCityUK, in what was the first event of its kind to be held at the new venue, RFL Chairman Richard Lewis said, “It is a great boost for Rugby League in this country to secure the World Cup in 2013. The last tournament staged in Australia in 2008 was an enormous success. “Our aim is to build on that success and to deliver a profitable tournament that further enhances the international game across the globe and raises the profile of the sport in the UK.” Having been awarded the rights to host the event in June 2009, the RFL utilised the kick-off event to make a series of major announcements about the tournament, including the identity of 12 qualified teams and to outline the scale of its ambition to host the most successful Rugby League World Cup of all time. Australia, Cook Islands, England, Fiji, France, Ireland, New Zealand, Papa New Guinea, Samoa, Scotland, Tonga and Wales have all been confirmed as competing nations and they will be joined by one qualifier from a European Qualifying group consisting of Italy, Lebanon, Russia and Serbia and one qualifier from an Atlantic Qualifying group consisting of Jamaica, South Africa and the USA. The competition’s structure will consist of two groups of four, with England drawn alongside perennial foes Australia, Fiji and Ireland in Group A and World Cup New Zealand facing Pacific Island rivals Papua New Guinea, Samoa and France in Group B. Scotland will face Tonga and the European qualifiers in Group C and joints hosts Wales have been drawn against the Cook Islands and the Atlantic Qualifiers. Speaking in the events promotional video, Prime Minister David Cameron also put the weight of the Coalition government behind the RFL’s announcement, emphasising the sporting potential the next decade offers. “This government is right behind the RFL,” said Cameron. “As one of the sports that this country holds closest to its heart, we know what a privilege and honour it is to host this tournament and I’m fully confident that the RFL will do the United Kingdom proud and I look forward to working closely with them to make sure it is a great success. “The next decade promises to be one of the most exciting in our countries history. There will be the Olympics, the Cricket World Cup, hopefully the Football World Cup and the Rugby League World Cup. Coming so soon after the Olympics, the RFL have the opportunity to ride on the crest of that wave and host and truly memorable tournament.” First Minister of Wales Carwyn Jones added: “It is a privilege for Wales to be given this opportunity. We saw tremendous success during the 1995 World Cup when Wales was host to numerous fixtures and the Welsh public came out in force to support their home team and to witness some of the world’s greatest players. “With Rugby League enjoying a new found growth in Wales in recent years and with the sport having been played in schools throughout the country for the past eight years, we are confident that hosting games in venues such as the Millennium Stadium will be a great way of helping boost the sport in Wales. “Hosting such an event will also provide a welcome financial boost to those towns and cities who secure the right to host fixtures, training camps and house the playing squads and with the potential for many visitors set to be attracted to these shores, the economic impact has the potential to be great.” |
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 2011 JANUARY CAMP - PLACES STILL AVAILABLE The NSWRL Academy will be conducting its annual January Players Camp from Monday 17th January to Thursday 20th January 2011 for players aged 12 to 16 years. All players receive: - · Top class coaching and instruction from NSWRL Development Staff, guest coaches and the opportunity to meet current NRL players (subject to availability). · Dormitory room accommodation with dining, recreation, video, seminar rooms and use of all the Academy’s facilities; pool, ropes course and canoeing. · All meals · 3 nights’ accommodation, a football, 2 training shirts, 1 pair of shorts, Cap, Water bottle, Camp Photo, Individual Skill Assessment and a Certificate of Attendance DOWNLOAD THE FORM |
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| Tuesday 30 th November 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bradford Bulls prospect George Burgess has expressed his determination to emulate his older brothers and become one of England’s top Rugby League stars, ahead of his England Academy debut at Barrow’s Mark Coward Stadium on Saturday, December 4. Burgess will have his first opportunity to follow the path of brothers Sam and Luke when he takes to the field to represent the England Academy side against the touring Australian Schoolboys in the first of a two Test series. Burgess’s brothers both progressed through the Academy system to go on and forge successful professional careers and with twin brother Tom coming through the Bradford ranks as well, the Burgess family dynasty looks set to continue. “It’s a great honour for me to be part of the Academy and to be able to follow in my brothers footsteps,” said Burgess. “It’s great to be able to play for your country and hopefully that will lead on to even bigger things like my brothers have done, so hopefully I can go on to do the same. “This is the first block in most of our careers and hopefully we’ll all be able to go on from here and play for the senior England side and it would be a great honour for all of us to be able to do that.” Burgess is joined in the Academy squad by Bradford teammates Cain Southernwood and Adam O’Brien and he knows that the game against Australia will be a tough test for everyone involved within the Academy setup. “I’d really like to put in a big performance against the Aussie’s,” said Burgess. “I think everyone always seems to think that they’re better than us but I feel this is our time to show people that we can perform as well and we can beat them. “The Australian side will have had a lot of warm-up games before they come to play us so we’ll be expecting them to be able to play good football, but we’ve got a good side here with plenty of talent and we all feel like we can match them. “There are lots and lots of talented players in this side and it’s one of the best groups of players that I’ve seen in a while.” Tickets for both England Academy versus Australian Schoolboy on Saturday, December 4 (Barrow. K.O 2:00pm) and Friday, December 10 (Castleford. K.O 7:30pm) can be purchased on the day and cost £3 adult and £2 concession (Under 16, Students and Over 65) |
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| Sunday 28 th November 2010 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ROOKIES KEEN ON SUCCESSFUL CAREERS Everyone wants to play for Australia (execpt a few kiwi's) and as the future stars found out at this year NRL Rookie Camp, there is more to a footy career than putting a pair of footy boots This weekend saw the 1st of the NRL'S toyota Cup Induction camp ran at Sydney Uni's Village. The clubs attending the Sydney Rookie Camp were the WestsTigers, Canterbury Bulldogs, St. George Illawarra Dragons, Penrith Panthers and South Sydney Rabbitohs. There are two more camps this year, the next one is in Brisbane next week which will be attended by the 3 Queensland Clubs, the Bronco's, Titans and the Cowboys along with the Newcastle Knights and the Canberra Raiders The final Induction Camp will be in Auckland in New Zealand where the mighty Cronulla Sharks, Manly SeaEagles, Sydney Roosters, Melbourne Storm will join 2010 Toyota Cup Champions the NZ Warriors. ourfootyteam would like to thank Mr. Paul Heptonstall, Nigel Vagana and Mr. John Brady from the NRL for allowing us to cover this years Sydney Induction Camp, and the Boyz for all their support over the years - thanx boyz !
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FARRER GIVES MASTER CLASS IN SMASHING UNI SHIELD TRIUMPH
MUSWELLBROOK'S STATE CHAMPIONS
![Daley BONEY dives in for a 4 pointer - Australian Institute of Sport v Warrington Wolves Academy (Photo : KT8 Photography) [thanx TONI]](/images/school_players/ais/2010/players/v_warrington/ais_v_warrington_wolves_tryTime_02_s3.jpg)
2010 ASSRL TOUR 
| RUN @ ME 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
JUNIOR RUGBY LEAGUE NEWS |
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| NEW RUGBY LEAGUE BOOK A DECISON NOT REGRETTED.  THE EARLY YEARS FO RUGBY LEAGUE IN SYDNEY SCHOOLS A MUST FOR ALL THOSE INTERESTED IN RUGBY LEAGUE Life in the city of Sydney from the 1880s to the 1930sThe beginning of Rugby Union, Australian Rules, Soccer and Rugby League in Sydney The problems faced by schools wishing to play Rugby League The first school to play Rugby League The first schoolboys Rugby League competition in Sydney and Australia Profiles of the pioneer schools The development of Rugby League in Catholic schools during World War One, the 1920s and the 1930s The beginning of Rugby League in Country NSW and Brisbane schools A great story on an area of Rugby League history about which little was previously known DOWNLOAD ORDER FORM |
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 2009 AIS TOUR |
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 DOWNLOAD THE OFFICIAL NSWCCC CUP MANUAL |
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2010 NSWRL JANUARY PLAYERS CAMP |
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| NSWRL SG BALL CUP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NSWRL HAROLD MATTHEW'S CUP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CYRIL CONNER CUP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MEL MENINGA CUP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 30 YEARS of NSW CCC SCHOOLBOYS RUGBY LEAGUE BOOK LAUNCH The NSW CCC have launched a brand new book. 30 years of NSW CCC Rugby League. Its a fantastic book filled with great stories & photos of the history of the NSW CCC rugby league system. This book is available for sale at the bargain price of only $20.00, if you would like a copy, contact us and we can point you in the right direction. | LeaRN MoRe | ORDER NOW |
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 2010 STRUDDY'S CHALLENGE DRAW & TEAM LISTS |
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WANT TO GET OURFOOTY NEWS Well then JOIN HERE |
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| NATIONAL SCOREBOARD | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
QUEENSLAND SCOREBOARD |
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NSW SCOREBOARD |
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 CHEERLEADER of the WEEK |
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GRAND FINAL 
Sat 11 Sept @ CUA Stadium 
Friday 03 Sept @ SunCorp
Fri 20 AUG @ Liechhardt Oval 
Fri 20 AUG @ Liechhardt Oval 
Friday 13 Aug @ Toyota Stadium 
COCA - COLA CUP 
2009 
| NATIONAL SCOREBOARD |
| CONTACT US |
SPORT IS ABOUT THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE, NOT THOSE WHO WISH TO ORGANISE GAMES |
 CRONULLA JUNIORS |
COMMUNITY SCOREBOARD |
| G8 GIFT IDEA'S |
| NATIONAL SCOREBOARD |
 ARRIVE aLIVE CUP |
COMMUNITY SCOREBOARD |
| CHEERLEADER OF THE WEEK |
ASSRL | PROFESSIONAL WEBSITE HOSTING & EMAIL SYSTEMS BY : |
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