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NRL 2008

The NRL in 2008 gets underway with a stack of trial games around the country, as the NRL takes the game to bush and promotes it against strong rival codes. The bush is regularly forgotten as a Rugby League breeding ground and as the AFL continues to push hard into the western states and the remote areas - the NRL and Rugby League in general needs to keep working hard to increase popularity.

Here’s a list of the trial games for NRL 2008 and where they will be played:

Brisbane Broncos:-

16/2/08 v North QLD Cowboys @Browne Park, Rockhampton
23/2/08 v Canberra Raiders @ Wade Park, Orange
01/03/08 v Melbourne Storm @ Dolphin Park, Redcliffe

Canterbury Bulldogs:-

23/2/08 v St George-Illawarra Dragons @ WIN Stadium
29/02/08 v Penrith Panthers @ Telstra Stadium

Canberra Raiders:-

16/02/08 v Gold Coast Titans @ Briggs Rd Sporting Complex, Ipswich
23/02/08 v Brisbane Broncos @ Wade Park, Orange
01/03/08 v North QLD Cowboys @ Brothers RL Park, Mackay

Cronulla Sharks:-

23/02/08 v South Sydney Rabbitohs @ Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
01/03/08 v Newcastle Knights @ Cessnock

Gold Coast Titans:-

16/02/08 v Canberra Raiders @ Briggs Rd Sporting Complex, Ipswich
23/02/08 v North QLD Cowboys @ Barlow Park, Cairns
01/03/08 v Wests Tigers @ Skilled Stadium, Robina

Manly Sea-Eagles:-

16/02/08 v Melbourne Storm @ Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford

Melbourne Storm:-

16/02/08 v Manly Sea-Eagles @ Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
22/02/08 World Club Challenge - v Leeds Rhinos @ Elland Road, Leeds
01/03/08 v Brisbane Broncos @ Dolphin Park, Redcliffe

Newcastle Knights:-

15/02/08 v New Zealand Warriors @ North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
01/03/08 v Cronulla Sharks @ Cessnock

New Zealand Warriors:-

15/02/08 v Newcastle Knights @ North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
29/02/08 v Manly Sea-Eagles @ Kawana Waters

North QLD Cowboys:-

16/02/08 v Brisbane Broncos @ Browne Park, Rockhampton
23/02/08 v Gold Coast Titans @ Barlow Park, Cairns
01/03/0/8 v Canberra Raiders @ Brothers RL Club, Mackay

Parramatta Eels:-

22/02/08 v Penrith Panthers @ Lavington Oval, Albury
01/03/08 v Sydney Roosters @ Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford

Penrith Panthers:-

22/02/08 v Parramatta Eels @ Lavington Oval, Albury
29/02/08 v Canterbury Bulldogs @ Telstra Stadium

South Sydney Rabbitohs:-

26/01/08 v Leeds Rhinos @ Hodges Stadium, Jacksonville, Florida
23/02/08 v Cronulla Sharks @ Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford
01/03/08 Charity Shield - v St George-Illawarra Dragons @ Telstra Stadium

St George-Illawarra Dragons:-

23/02/08 v Canterbury Bulldogs @ WIN Stadium
01/03/08 Charity Shield - v South Sydney Rabbitohs @ Telstra Stadium

Sydney Roosters:-

15/02/08 v Combined Group 1 and 2 @ Coffs Harnour
23/02/08 v Wests Tigers @ Sydney Football Stadium
01/03/08 v Parramatta Eels @ Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford

Wests Tigers:-

23/02/08 v Sydney Roosters @ Sydney Football Stadium
01/03/08 v Gold Coast Titans @ Skilled Stadium, Robina

Anthony Laffranchi Court Case continues

THE rape case against rugby league player Anthony Laffranchi has heard of a secretly recorded conversation, in which his alleged victim was thanked. The woman, who cannot be named, told the Burwood Local Court she used her mobile phone to make the recording moments after she woke up in a strange Sydney apartment in September 2006.

The 26-year-old said she became distressed after she went to the bathroom to discover her vagina was “red and sore”, and her black shorts were inside-out. “I remember waking up on September 4 at about 8am … I was on a lounge with a brown doona cover over me … I was quite dazy,” the woman said today. “I’ve gotten up from my chair and gone into the bathroom and I realised that my pants were inside-out. “In fear, I was so scared, I pushed record on my mobile phone as I was walking out of the bathroom.”

The court then heard details of the phone recording, in which an unidentified man is heard to say “thanks for the orgasm”. “You’re gonna be sorry, your mate will be sorry” the woman says in the recording. The woman had woken up in the inner western Sydney apartment of Wests Tigers player Ryan O’Hara, where overnight end-of-season celebrations had involved a number of players. Laffranchi, who has since transferred to the Gold Coast Titans, has strenuously protested his innocence to a charge of sexual intercourse without consent. He sat silently in the courtroom as his committal hearing got underway, and he did not look at the TV screen showing the woman giving her evidence by video-link today.

The woman also said she had been drinking heavily and dancing with friends at clubs in Kings Cross the night earlier, and she had no recollection of how she came to be in the apartment. She said she was crying when she left the apartment to catch a cab to a friend’s home. “I told him to ‘hurry up, I think I’ve been raped’.”

Under cross examination by Laffranchi’s lawyer, the woman denied the rape allegation was payback because she felt “disrespected” the morning after she had consensual sex with one or more of the men. “You wanted to pay him back,” Tony Bellanto QC said. “No,” the woman replied.

The court also heard the woman made 21 calls on her mobile phone, and caught several cabs, during the hours she said she could not remember. The committal hearing is yet to hear from the doctor who gave the woman a medical check-up. Magistrate Caroline Barkell adjourned the committal hearing to March 27.

Craig’s Wing and a Prayer at Souths in 2008

The resilient and proud South Sydney club finally came out of the wilderness in 2007, making the finals and proving a true contender on the NRL field for the first time in decades.

In recent times, South Sydney were the cash cow for big name players wanting an easy ride. The likes of Adam McDougall, Bryan Fletcher, and Chris Walker probably didn’t treat the club with the loyalty and passion it deserved. On the flip side, you had up and coming Souths players such as Craig Wing and Nathan Merritt walking away from the club during it’s darkest hours. To their credit, Wing and Merritt are now both back on deck at the Bunnies - Merritt proving his value many a time and looking the superstar in sometimes a beaten team.

For Wing, 2008 is unquestionably a big year. Craig Wing is nearing the end of his career and while his time at the Roosters has been fruitful, the talent Wing boasts surely deserves more accolades and representative jerseys should he find a position he could call his own.

Over the past 5 years Craig Wing has probably played every position except that of a front rower and while versatility is a handy asset for any NRL club - the onus on the player grows and really reduces his ability to improve and grow within a certain spot.

Not only will Craig Wing want to prove himself as a true and consistent rep player in his chosen halfback position, but he needs to excel not only to exit his Rugby League career on a high - but repay the faith of his former club and assist them to the lofty goals they have set under the new regime of Crowe, Holmes A Court and Jason Taylor.

The new infrastructure South Sydney boast will be the perfect vehicle for Wing to flex his on field muscle and take on a senior role within the growing club. With the likes of Roy Asotasi, Nathan Merritt and Issac Luke surrounding him - the crux of a premiership winning team is certainly there.

Will there be added pressure on Wing? Sure, as a former golden boy of South Sydney and a highly experienced campaigner both internally and externally many will expect big things from Craig Wing.

The burning question remains, is Craig Wing looking for the pension card that Souths have too often handed out to high profile players or is he looking to finish his career with the respect and admiration that many know is possible?

Is it do or die for your NRL team in 2008?

Is your club under the pump to perform in 2008? While every NRL club feels the pressure to perform in this current day and age, there is a trio of clubs that finished outside the NRL Top 8 in 2007 that will be under more intensity than most as kick off for 2008 approaches.

The Penrith Panthers, Newcastle Knights and new boys the Gold Coast Titans are the NRL clubs facing the acid test this year as all three clubs back-up from varying reasons of disappointment last year.

For Penrith, the taste of victory they had in 2003 seems light years away. Fast forward to now, the mountain men have a new coach and plenty of new personnel trying to put it all together and have the added baggage of a wooden spoon for their troubles last year. The addition of new coach Matt Elliott promised so much, yet all the Panthers felt all year was internal turmoil. Favourite son Craig Gower leaves the fold in humble circumstances, talented players Joel Clinton and Peter Wallace were let go and the only notable aquisition was former Bronco Petero Civoniceva who will have to carry the hopes and dreams of the West as he tries to lead his troops into battle. Coach Elliott will potentially wear more accountability in 2008 as he made some big changes since his arrival and another year of failure will leave him in a sticky position.

Up at the Gold Coast Titans, with the first season under their belt it now gets serious and the new boys have to perform under much more pressure. The Titans started extremely well and went within a whisker of making the NRL finals in 2007, however poor games towards seasons end saw them finish on less points than strugglers the Sydney Roosters - who in most peoples eyes had a shocker season. The predicted problem with the Titans of poor depth ultimately rang true and unfortunately for the young club, they still haven’t added a lot of starch to their overall squad. They have quality players, but should injury hit again and it usually does - the Gold Coast boys will be hitting the Cavill Avenue strip early and missing the finals yet again. The opening of their new stadium at Robina will be a healthy boost and coach John Cartwright isn’t directly under pressure - however the club as a whole must set the standard for future years and make this one count.

Facing a tougher task than anyone this year is the Newcastle Knights. Belted and dragged through the NRL 2007, they were the whipping boys of the Rugby League. Reports constantly sprung out of Newcastle that Brian Smith while talented, was simply not the personality for the job and many players revolted - leaving morale on the floor and created constant week to week floggings on the football field. With Danny Buderus seeming unhappy, the major cog in the Knights machine is certainly not well oiled and this may put a tonne of pressure on the rest of the crew. Struggling for talent, the Knights and Brian Smith personally face a major test of character. When A.Johns retired, his move to assist in coaching at other NRL clubs and not the Knights was a prime example that Newcastle wasn’t a totally happy or comfortable base.

The blow torch fires up in around a months time; will your club perform?

Telstra Stadium becomes ANZ Stadium

Under the cover of Christmas, the premier sporting stadium in the state of New South Wales - Telstra Stadium became ANZ Stadium for the next 7 years. Home to many sporting codes, the change has a larger effect on the NRL as several Rugby League teams base their campaign out of the high capacity stadium.

Telstra have held naming rights to the stadium since 2002 and it took a $4.5 million a year injection from ANZ to secure the new rights in what is the largest ever stadium sponsorship deal inked in this country. Owner operator Stadium Australia was no doubt pleased with the deal that will ensure the stadium remains a premier sporting icon for NSW and Australia in the years ahead.

Telstra will continue to be the flagship sponsor of the NRL, however it will take Rugby League fans quite some time to get used to the new name ‘ANZ Stadium’. Adding to the confusion, is the fact that ANZ previously sponsored the QE2 Stadium in Brisbane, which was the home of the Broncos from 1993-2003. Once considered a top quality, high capacity stadium - sadly QE2 Stadium in Brisbane (now known as the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre) is now mostly retired. Few events are held at the former landmark and it’s mostly used for school athletic meetings and similar small events.

As the Rugby League clubs continue their drive for cash, the future may see more stadiums use naming rights as a revenue raising vehicle. Clubs such as Cronulla have sold their stadium naming rights for years, Endeavour Field the Sharks home turf has been known as; Caltex Field, Toyota Park, Shark Park and various other names and more recently the Penrith Panthers inked a large deal and lent their stadium naming rights to the large Credit Union Australia (CUA) Group for a handsome sum.

Bulldogs still not a happy home

It seems life at the Bulldogs is still far from perfect, as the NRL club battles to keep current players happy, the problems arising after losing Willie Mason earlier in the off-season and experiencing several discipline issues with other players soon after.

While publically the players appeared to back the Bulldogs management in their stance against Mason, it’s looking increasingly likely that it was a forced front that wasn’t a true representation of the players morale. Luke Patten was the player to front the media soon after the Mason exit and explain it was Mason not the Bulldogs at fault - however, prior to this public statement and the eventual sacking, it seemed the majority of the Bulldogs players were backing their mate Willie Mason.

Speculation was rife over the weekend that Bulldogs club captain Andrew Ryan has spoken privately of his desire to return to the Parramatta Eels to escape the low morale of the Bulldogs in their current form and to like with old mate Nathan Hindmarsh in their final NRL years. If this proves to be true, it’s obvious the current state of affairs at the Bulldogs might be driving Andrew Ryan away from his once happy home. The other factor however might be the fact that Brian Smith no longer reigns over the Eels, the coach that continued to use Ryan as a substitute during his Eels days - with Michael Hagan at the helm it makes the possibility of the move more realistic.

The loss of Ryan for 2009 would be a huge blow for the struggling Bulldogs, already losing plenty of experience in recent times with the likes of Steve Price, Jonathan Thurston, Braith Anasta, Brent Sherwin, Mark O’Meley and Willie Mason all moving on. Price has grown an extra leg at the Warriors, Thurston is pressing his claims continually to be the best player in the world and the hard working Anasta is enjoying a senior role at the Roosters.

It seems that the players leaving Belmore are feeling much more engergized at new clubs and the old guard, including coach Steve Folkes might be due for a spring clean.

The timing of speculation isn’t ideal for the Bulldogs with the 2008 kick-off under 6 weeks away. In previous years they have responded admirably to critisim, however more recently they have buckled under the constant pressure and expectations of the media and their own fans.

The 2008 squad features a range of new faces which will take some time to gel; with the potential loss of Andrew Ryan and a high probability that Reni Matuia won’t be at the Dogs forever - there is some seriously tough times ahead for the Sydney based club. Ever growing pressure in the NRL market and new clubs such as the Titans are making it much more competitive for clubs and keeping their players happy is of the utmost importance.

It seems this time that the Bulldogs underestimated the pull that Willie Mason had amongst the players. He may have been a badboy at times, but his larrikin personality and years of experience may have been something that held the player group and the club in general together.

Luke O’Donnell a Loaded Gun

Recovering North Queensland Cowboy Luke O’Donnell has been open about his anger towards the Wests Tigers and in particular Liam Fulton. The upcoming match between the Tigers and the Cowboys is shaping to be one of the biggest early season matches.

Put simply, O’Donnell is one of the few remaining true hard heads in the game. While some NRL players can pull the bluff about their biff and others assert their authority through physical defence, with Luke O’Donnell there is no mucking around.

For those that can remember a running battle O’Donnell had with Danny Nutley in 2007 you’ll understand the fierce timebomb that ticks inside Luke O’Donnell. After a stoush with Nutley, O’Donnell hunting him down and really had Nutley running for cover - something that is rarely seen from a tough man like Nutley.

Adding fuel to the fire is the fact that Luke O’Donnell used to play for Wests Tigers and actually went to the same school as Liam Fulton, albeit a few years ahead of him. There is absolutely no doubt fireworks will erupt when these teams meet, regardless of coaches instructions to O’Donnell - he will be like a hunter in the woods, chasing the man that killed his mother.

Maybe it might be convenient for Liam Fulton to get an injury before the Tigers meet the Cowboys in Round 2? There would be no shame in that, because many a man has feared O’Donnell and this time he really wants no prisoners.

Bring on the League I say. This will be nice entree to what should be an awesome main course in 2008.

Tonie Carroll to retire from NRL

Has Tonie Carroll picked the right time? The Broncos and Queensland Origin hardman, has announced he will not play State of Origin in 2008 and will retire from NRL duties at the end of this year.

It’s been an interesting journey for Carroll. While always being close to Queenslanders hearts, the experienced Carroll has spent time in the UK Super League, played for Australia and even played at International level for the New Zealand Kiwi’s side. Very few can claim such a long list of achiements in Rugby League.

His physical presence alone dominated opposition players; with Carroll regularly driving attackers into the dirt and creating nightmares for his enemies when he had the ball in his hand. It’s easy to see why; the thought of the heavy but mobile Carroll running at you would give anyone night terrors.

While given the task of protecting Darren Lockyer more recently when Lockyer was moved to five eighth, Carroll has taken on a new role of the senior mentor within the Broncos side. His faultless defence and high workrate have regularly helped Brisbane win matches. His change in role has also helped prolong his career, as previously the amount of work in both attack in defence from Carroll would have easily nullified his impact and his longevity.

The problem for Tonie Carroll of late has been the injury factor. Like so many other experienced NRL players; Tonie Carroll just can’t seem to keep his aging body together for long periods. So often his dynamic and exciting work on the NRL field would be punctuated by an agonizing injury and long spell on the sideline. While Wayne Bennett would have not wanted to lose Carroll, surely everyone in the Broncos camp has agreed it’s time to freshen the crop for future years - with Carroll to mentor the juniors this year and put his bulky frame on ice and retire in 2009.

While achieving so much in the game; it would be fitting for the likeable Carroll to end the year on a high note. Certainly a tough ask with Brisbanes green crop of players - however some smart buys at the Broncos might just give Carroll and his team the boost it needs for NRL 2008.

Joey Johns to give Tim Smith the edge

The Parramatta Eels have offered troubled halfback Tim Smith the olive branch; allowing the crafty no. 7 back into the squad to resume training.

Smith has not only had to battle the bottle, but is still overcoming his shoulder surgery and hurriedly trying to piece everything together to be ready for 2008. At the insistence of coach Michael Hagan, Joey Johns will remain close to Smith and aid his recovery on top of teaching the promising half the finer tricks of the trade.

The private battles Andrew Johns fought in his own corner would surely be of help to Tim Smith who at 22 has seen more than most on and off the field. Adding to the chorus of help Tim Smith has had, reformed bad boy Chris Walker has reportedly been in touch with Smith to lend him some advice.

For all his skill, Tim Smith still remains lucky to be at the Eels. While we did feel his initial blow up with a pub patron prior to his suspension from Parramatta was a little blown out of proportion, continued offending has seen the blame keep coming back at Smith.

Well past his last chance, the young halfback obviously needs to really put his best foot forward or risk throwing away what could be a stellar career.

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