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NRL Teams Round 7

All the NRL teams and squad lineups for ths coming NRL Round Seven starting on Friday (Anzac Day) (all times AEST):

FRIDAY

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS v SYDNEY ROOSTERS at ANZ Stadium, 3.15pm

DRAGONS: Brett Morris, Jason Nightingale, Chase Stanley, Matt Cooper, Michael Lett, Jamie Soward, Ben Hornby (capt), Justin Poore, Dean Young, Jason Ryles, Kirk Reynoldson, Ben Creagh, Stuart Webb. Interchange: Simon Woolford, Dan Hunt, Jarrod Saffy, Beau Scott, Lagi Setu (one to be omitted)

ROOSTERS: Sam Perrett, Amos Roberts, Sia Soliola, Setaimata Sa, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Braith Anasta, Mitchell Pearce, Mark O’Meley, Riley Brown, Nate Myles, Willie Mason, Anthony Tupou, Craig Fitzgibbon (capt). Interchange: Lopini Paea, David Shillington, Mitch Aubusson, James Aubusson.

Referee: Sean Hampstead

BRISBANE BRONCOS v SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS at Suncorp Stadium, 7.45pm

BRONCOS: Darius Boyd, Denan Kemp, Steve Michaels, Justin Hodges (capt), Reece Robinson, Darren Lockyer, Peter Wallace, Ben Hannant, Michael Ennis, Sam Thaiday, David Stagg, Ashton Sims, Tonie Carroll. Interchange: Joel Clinton, Nick Kenny, Greg Eastwood, David Taylor, Joel Moon (one to be omitted)

RABBITOHS: Fetuli Talanoa, Nathan Merritt, Nigel Vagana, Beau Champion, Germaine Paulson, Ben Rogers, Eddie Paea, Manase Manuokafoa, Issac Luke, Roy Asotasi (capt), David Kidwell (capt), David Faalogo, John Sutton. Interchange: George Ndaira, Shannan McPherson, Luke Stuart, Jaiman Lowe.

Referee: Jason Robinson

SATURDAY

MANLY SEA EAGLES v BULLDOGS at Brookvale Oval, 5.30pm

SEA EAGLES: Brett Stewart, Michael Robertson, Steve Bell, Jamie Lyon, Michael Bani, Steve Matai, Matt Orford (capt), Jason King, Matt Ballin, Brent Kite, Adam Cuthbertson, Glenn Stewart, Luke Williamson. Interchange: Josh Perry, Glenn Hall, Jack Afamasafga, Mark Bryant, Heath L’Estrange, Vic Mauro (two to be omitted).

BULLDOGS: Luke Patten, Heka Nanai, Tim Winitana, Willie Tonga, Matt Utai, Ben Roberts, Daniel Holdsworth, Jarrad Hickey, Corey Hughes, Chris Armit, Sonny Bill Williams, Andrew Ryan (capt), Lee Te Maari. Interchange: Danny Williams, Brad Morrin, Justin Tsoulos, Gary Warburton.

Referee: Tony Archer

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS v MELBOURNE STORM at Dairy Farmers Stadium, 7.30pm

COWBOYS: Matthew Bowen, Mark Henry, Ashley Graham, Ben Harris, John Williams, Justin Smith, Johnathan Thurston (capt), Ray Cashmere, Aaron Payne, Carl Webb, Steve Southern, Sam Faust, Jacob Lillyman. Interchange: David Faiumu, Matthew Bartlett, Scott Bolton, Dayne Weston, Anthony Watts (one to be omitted).

STORM: Billy Slater, Steve Turner, Will Chambers, Israel Folau, Anthony Quinn, Greg Inglis, Cooper Cronk, Adam Blair, Cam Smith (capt), Brett White, Jeremy Smith, Ryan Hoffman, Dallas Johnson. Interchange: Matt Geyer, Antonio Kaufusi, Michael Crocker, Clifford Manua, Aiden Tolman, Sam Tagataese (two to be omitted).

Referee: Gavin Badger

SUNDAY

GOLD COAST TITANS v NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS at Skilled Park, 2pm

TITANS: Preston Campbell, Ben Jeffery, Luke O’Dwyer, Brett Delaney, Matt Petersen, Ashley Harrison, Scott Prince (capt), Michael Hodgson, Nathan Friend, Brad Meyers, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Daniel Conn. Interchange: Aaron Cannings, James Stosic, Josh Graham, Brenton Bowen, Gavin Cooper. (one to be omitted).

WARRIORS: Lance Hohaia, Michael Crockett, Brent Tate, Ryan Shortland, Manu Vatuvei, Michael Witt, Grant Rovelli, Sam Rapira, Nathan Fien, Ruben Wiki (capt), Simon Mannering, Logan Swann, Micheal Luck. Interchange: Ian Henderson, Evarn Tuimavave, Epalahame Lauaki, Wairangi Koopu.

Referee: Steve Lyons

CRONULLA SHARKS v WESTS TIGERS at Toyota Stadium, 3pm

SHARKS: Brett Kearney, Bryson Goodwin, Ben Pomeroy, David Simmons, Luke Covell, Brett Seymour, Brett Kimmorley, Adam Peek, Isaac De Gois, Luke Douglas, Paul Gallen (capt), Fraser Anderson, Greg Bird. Interchange: Danny Nutley, Paul Stephenson, Dustin Cooper, Terence Seu Seu.

TIGERS: Brett Hodgson (capt), Taniela Tuiaki, Dean Collis, Chris Lawrence, Shannon McDonnell, Benji Marshall, Matthew Head, Bryce Gibbs, John Morris, Keith Galloway, Todd Payten, Chris Heighington, Liam Fulton. Interchange: Dene Halatau, Danny Galea, Corey Payne, Ben Te’o.

Referee: Shayne Hayne

Grubbers Power Rankings Tomorrow

After a week in hospital, the Grubber will return to give his NRL Power Rankings tomorrow afternoon - the infamous Rugby League reporter was laid up after a minor stoke, as he watched his beloved South Sydney side crash to another defeat.

The hospital staff rushed him back into the intensive care unit after the completion of the Souths Round 6 game, the Bunnies again falling over and letting the Wests Tigers run riot over them to heap more pressure on the inner-city team.

We expect the NRL Power Rankings by late Tuesday.

Melbourne Storm scrape home 23-16 over Raiders

The Canberra Raiders led the Storm for 70 minutes of the match tonight in the ACT, but didn’t have the experience or the class to close the game out - as last years premiers the Melbourne Storm proved too good.

With a stack of possession and some error free football, the Raiders looked extremely impressive for 3/4 of the match. The Raiders running in several early tries and looking as confident as ever in their home patch.

The Raiders were again helped by a classy performance from Todd Carney, the elusive half finding gaps and kicking astutely most of the time and assisted well by big outside back Colin Best.

When Canberra came out and started the second half confidently, they still looked like winners - but a 50/50 call by video referee Bill Harrigan against the Raiders cost Colin Best another try and with it, any chance of the Raiders keeping their lead safe. Once again, there was no evidence for this to be called a ‘no-try’ the video still frames not minute enough to rule either way - which is a classic case of ‘benefit of the doubt’. For some reason, we never seem to see the benefit of the doubt rule used - we may as well scrap it.

As the wobbles set in for the home side, Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk lifted into another gear. Cronk kicking a match turning 40/20 kick and Billy Slater turning on the after burners to break the line at will and score an explosive try to break the hearts of Raiders fans.

The Storm still look a yard off last years pace, in particular Cameron Smith not having his best game. The Australian hooker seemed to be blowing at times and tended to complain more to the referee for penalties, rather than focus on the game. Any spark lacking from Smith was quickly replaced by the skill and speed of Slater - the pacey custodian asured of an Australian fullback jersey.

For Canberra, coach Neil Henry would still be pleased with the defensive efforts. Scrambling well and battling valliantly at the ruck, the Raiders were certainly well and truly in the game. At times the Storm did tend to get a fast, uptempo roll on that hurt them - but for the majority of the game, the Raiders were doing the little things right.

There were times where the referee’s calls really did hurt the Raiders, in particular - the held call on Dane Tilse really broke the back of Canberra. This was a harsh call on the locals and the Storm took the gift with both hands and made them pay. The other heavy price paid by the Raiders was when half Todd Carney failed to find touch from a penalty - at a time when possession was at a premium.

Regardless, full credit to the Storm. They aren’t quite in their best form, but are doing enough to win the tough games. This kind of tight contest helps put them in good stead for the long season ahead and tough match-ups throughout. Greg Inglis was an improver, but still looks a little lost centre field - but the Storm forwards again put their hand up and rolled over the ad-line when they finally got some ball.

Penrith steam home, pipping Sharks at Toyota 21-20

The Cronulla Sharks were already counting the 2 points they potentially had in the bank, the home side leading 20-10 over the Panthers with only 20 minutes left to play. The plucky Panthers having other ideas, storming home with tries to both their wingers and with some accurate kicking from half Jarrod Sammut - Penrith was able to steal an unlikely victory in the depths of golden point.

The impressive NRL comeback was completed when Panther Jarrod Sammut snapped a field goal five minutes into extra time to steal the win after Sharks half-back Brett Kimmorley thought he nailed a 40m effort seconds earlier only to have the attempt waived away.

Thompson, who returned to the field with three minutes left in regular time after spending most of the second half on the interchange bench, scored his first try in almost 18 months in the first half to give Cronulla a 10-6 half-time lead.

The 30-year-old retired after the match, his 239th first grade game, after doctors told him his dodgy knee had only one game left in it.

Thompson pounced on a Luke Rooney mistake to score uncontested in the 15th minute to put the Sharks up 10-6 after Greg Bird had scored to cancel out Nathan Smith’s opener.

When Fraser Anderson scored four minutes after the half-time break it looked like the Sharks could run away with the game, but they failed to put away a stubborn Panthers side.

Penrith began their comeback when Jennings crossed out wide in the 52nd minute.

Several times on the last tackle, Penrith looked like they would be forced into a turnover but kept the ball alive and Smith fired a lovely cut-out pass to Jennings, who did well to stay in the field of play to score.

Bird restored the Sharks advantage when he powered his way over for his second try of the game in the 59th.

But it wasn’t enough to deter the Panthers, with Gordon crossing after a brilliant Rhys Wesser run and then Rooney scoring for his first of the season with just minutes remaining.

Sammut then stepped up under pressure to slot a sideline conversion into a strong southerly in cold and wet conditions at the Sharks’ newly-renovated home ground.

Despite the shock loss, the near 14,000 fans stayed to cheer Thompson on a lap of honour after he thanked the crowd.

Panthers coach Matthew Elliott said after the match he knew his young half-back would produce the goods when it mattered most.

“You’ve actually got to know Jarrod to understand my feelings … but when it came to getting us back in the game I had no doubt he’d kick it (the sideline goal),” Elliott said.

“He’s just that sort of kid, same as the field goal. It was a pretty special effort, two special plays from him.”

Elliott was proud of the way his men refused to give in.

“I wouldn’t say it was a fantastic performance but it was really gutsy, it showed some desperation in the first half.

“We came up with some last ditch plays to score some tries and I’m just really pleased with the boys, it was fantastic the way they kept hanging in there.”

Sharks coach Ricky Stuart and half-back Brett Kimmorley both played down Kimmorley’s 40m effort in extra time - most in the stadium had thought it went over.

“I think it went to the right, I was hoping it would come back further but I’m pretty sure it went behind the posts,” Kimmorley said.

Stuart was more disappointed about surrendering a ten-point lead.

“We can’t afford to be giving eight-, ten-point leads away in game’s like that,” Stuart said.

“That was a costly game, we didn’t do enough in the second half to go along with it.”

The Sharks were also lamenting the chance to send Thompson out a winner but the man himself said he couldn’t be prouder of his teammates.

“I couldn’t be happier to finish with a better bunch of blokes, I’ve got a lot of mates in this team now which is terrific and something I’ll cherish,” Thompson said.

“I feel relieved; it was the toughest week I’d ever had to go through.”

Cowboys back on track, belt Warriors 48-20

The North Queensland Cowboys have gotten their 2008 NRL campaign well and truly back on track after a slow start in the early rounds. The Cowboys hit top gear last night and blew away the Warriors, led admirably by their fullback Matt Bowen who had a hand in most of the action. The Cowboys winning out 48 - 20.

Bowen, returning to the field after two games out with a knee injury, was the architect for the home side, grabbing three tries and adding some flair to the backline.

Cowboys half-back Johnathan Thurston gave Australia selectors notice of his representative intentions for next month’s Test against the Kiwis, playing a hand in four tries.

His most spectacular effort of the night came in the 68th minute, when he found space before chipping infield for flying Bowen, who touched down for his third try.

Steve Southern provided Bowen with a neat offload for his first in the eighth minute while the Hopevale product did it all himself for his second near half-time, bamboozling Warriors centre Brent Tate with some fancy footwork.

The Cowboys could pay a heavy price for the win with inspirational back rower Luke O’Donnell forced to the bench with hamstring soreness, however the move was seen as a precautionary measure.

The Warriors did well to fight back from an early Cowboys onslaught, with the home side leading 10-0 after 12 minutes and then 16-6 in the 23rd.

First-half tries to Simon Mannering and Ian Henderson had the Warriors trailing by just two points, 16-14, nearing the break.

But Bowen’s second try stretched the margin to eight points at the break.

And the Cowboys then started the second half on fire, with backline recruits John Williams latching onto a Thurston bomb to score before Ben Harris charged onto yet another Thurston pass for an 18-point lead.

Harris crossed for his double late in the game after scooping up yet another dropped Warriors ball to extend take the final margin to 28 points.

Warriors coach Ivan Cleary was left searching for answers following yet another away loss at the hands of the red hot Cowboys.

Cleary’s side have now lost all three of their away games this season after bowing out of last year’s finals with a 49-12 drubbing at the hands of the Cowboys in Townsville.

“Matt Bowen and Johnathan Thurston were on another planet to us tonight,” Cleary said.

“They are great players and if you are off they make you pay.

“We were just flat, we just didn’t really have any sting in what we did at all.

“It is very disappointing. There are obviously some problems. We will just have to work a bit harder and come up with some answers.”

Cowboys coach Graham Murray couldn’t help but praise the performance of his returning full-back.
“He wasn’t right for the past two games, he improved his fitness training with us and doing a little cross training, but he needed to right mentally and he was,” Murray said of Bowen.

“Matty was very good - three tries and he was menacing every time he touched the ball.

“He got up and played dummy-half to give people a spell and he was very active.”

Johnathan Thurston, struggling with a virus, was lucky to take the field according to Murray.

“It was a pretty big effort by him. I was only thinking he was 60-40 when I got the phone call this morning. We left him to sleep,” Murray revealed.

“He has played a leading role at not quite 100 per cent tonight. It is amazing what he has done.”

Dragons caught in Ground-Dog Day, losing 30-18

The Dragons might as well start planning their end of season trip at this rate, putting in a another poor performance last night. This time going down to the Bulldogs 30-18 at ANZ Stadium.

In a very dour affair, it was a case of the Bulldogs making slightly less errors than the hapless Dragons to win ‘ugly’ - a comment pretty much backed up by Dogs coach Steve Folkes at the games end.

Supercoach Wayne Bennett, who will arrive next year appears the only ray of hope for Dragons fans despite current coach Nathan Brown insisting better days are just around the corner. Bennett will need to perform miracles at this rate and it will be interesting to see his effect on the stale club.

That corner is looking more like a roundabout at the moment; dropped balls, poor passes, missed tackles and ill-discipline killing any hopes of a Dragons win.

It was only when the Bulldogs put the cue in the rack that they hit back with two late tries, the 30-6 scoreline after 71 minutes more an indication of the home side’s dominance.

“We just can’t get any flow, we can’t get all 17 people heading in that one direction playing reasonable well at once,” Brown lamented.

“Any time we start to get some momentum, someone comes up with an error or someone comes up with a poor pass.

“Confidence is a wonderful thing, if you sold it by the schooner, you’d get them to all go out and buy it. It’s a great thing to have and when you don’t, it’s not good.”

What’s worse is they have to play the high-flying Sydney Roosters on Anzac Day, Brown claiming he had little choice but to keep faith in the incumbents.

“Making mass changes is not what’s going to fix our problem,” said Brown, who appeared quite composed given his side’s dire situation.

“I can sit here and rant and rave, it ain’t going to change anything, I’m not going to wake up tomorrow and we’re going to be 3-2 or 4-1, that won’t happen.

“Me ranting and raving and talking rubbish trying to make out I’m intelligent ain’t going to help the case neither.”

The Dragons actually started well enough, leading 6-4 before four errors led directly to four Bulldogs tries and a 26-6 lead three minutes after half-time.

While possession and position were handed to them, the Bulldogs deserve credit for turning that into points.

Doubles to Tim Winitana and Matt Utai and another try to Willie Tonga on the stroke of half-time, when a Rangi Chase chip kick fell right in the hands of the centre who raced 70 metres to score, eased some of the concerns over the blue and white strike power out wide.

After building up a 24-point lead, the Bulldogs seemingly decided they’d done enough as the Dragons scored long range late tries to Matt Cooper and Simon Woolford.

It was enough to leave coach Steve Folkes more than a little agitated.

“The last 20 minutes was pretty diabolical … to get to 30-6 we didn’t play too badly, it would have been nice to finish them off I guess,” Folkes said.

“You can’t do that … we need to learn to put sides away.

“We probably used to do that but with a few younger blokes in the team they need to learn you’ve got to put the foot down the whole time otherwise it will come back to bite you on the arse.”

Titans too tough, beat Broncos 26-24

The Gold Coast Titans have again showed their class and flexed their premiership muscle, holding out the Brisbane Broncos to record an impressive home victory at Skilled Park, Robina.

The Gold Coast are genuine premiership contenders and Prince deserving of a spot in the Australian team to play New Zealand in the Centenary Test at the SCG on May 9.

The 28-year-old playmaker had a hand in all but one of Gold Coast’s five tries and his kicking game kept the Broncos on the back foot all game.

Still, Prince had to survive a nervous end to the match after dropping the ball two minutes from full-time in a rare mistake and being unable to stop opposite Peter Wallace from scoring under the posts.

Despite Prince being controversially shouldered to the ground by Brisbane hooker Michael Ennis, video referee Tim Mander gave the benefit of the doubt to the Broncos and awarded the try to leave the capacity 27,176 crowd on the edge of their seats.

After trailing 16-0 midway through the first half, the Broncos alway appeared unlikely to overcome the loss of star fullback Karmichael Hunt with a knee injury in the 25th minute and snatch victory but their enterprising play in the second term ensured a contest to the end.

With Hunt off, Darius Boyd shifted to fullback and he scored one of the tries of the season in the 43rd minute to narrow Brisbane’s deficit to 16-14 after the Broncos shifted the ball wide on their own line and Steve Michaels sprinted 80 metres in a run reminiscent of Steve Renouf.

But the Broncos fell short and there could be more worries ahead for Brisbane management, who are in a desperate search for a coach to replace Wayne Bennett next after Craig Bellamy’s re-signing with Melbourne, with stand-in captain Justin Hodges placed on report for up-ending Ashley Harrison in back play during the first half.

The Titans’ performance was even more impressive given that they were without the injured Luke Bailey and Mat Rogers, whose four-match suspension for a dangerous throw dominated discussion on the Gold Coast right up to kick-off. Even Rogers’ children got to express their opinion on the judiciary verdict, with his daughter Skyla telling the dual international’s wife Chloe Maxwell during a live broadcast outside Skilled Park for Sea FM: “It’s gay.”

Rogers’s son Jack added: “I think the people who made that decision must be blind.”

Bailey was also engaged in some media work before the match, but by the time he had taken his seat for the game, the home side were already on the scoreboard after winger Matt Petersen outleapt his opposite Denan Kemp to pull down a Prince bomb on the last tackle of the opening set and dived over in the corner.

After crossing in the same spot in the 10th minute following an Anthony Laffranchi offload and long pass from Nathan Friend, Petersen’s nickname should be changed from “Sideshow Bob” - after The Simpsons character - to “Sideline Bob”.

When Prince put Harrison, playing five-eighth in the absence of Rogers, over seven minutes later with a perfectly timed pass that cut out Mark Minichiello, the Titans led 16-0 and Brisbane appeared destined for a long night - particularly after losing Hunt shortly after.

The way Prince was organising his side and conducting the play had shades of Andrew Johns, while the Broncos appeared to lack the energy they had shown in recent weeks.

But the visitors finally got on the scoreboard in the 31st minute when Petersen failed to bat a Peter Wallace kick dead and Kemp scored.

Broncos hooker Ennis, who upset Prince with a late shoulder charge after he kicked in the 37th minute, then narrowed the gap to 16-8 at half-time with a penalty goal after a high shot by Friend.

GOLD COAST 26 (M Petersen 3 A Harrison A Laffranchi tries S Prince 3 goals) bt BRISBANE 24 (D Boyd 2 D Kemp P Wallace tries M Ennis 4 goals) at Skilled Park. Referee: T Archer. Crowd: 27,176 (ground record)

Manly in gutsy win over Eels, 20-16

The Manly Sea Eagles overcame massive injury problems to claim a late victory over the Parramatta Eels in a tight contest at Parramatta Stadium. In cold, slippery conditions - the Sea Eagles got back in front with minutes remaining, holding the Eels out for long periods and eventually getting the gutsy win.

The Sea Eagles played the final 20 minutes without a fit player on the interchange bench and trailed 16-14 when Luke Burt scored and converted on the hour.

But somehow they managed to lift to the occasion with substitute hooker Heath L’Estrange sliding over for the winning try in the 74th minute.

The Sea Eagles lost veteran Steve Menzies (hamstring - fifth minute), winger Michael Bani (neck injury - 40th minute) and lock Luke Williamson (concussion - 60th minute) to injury throughout the match.

Mark Bryant also gallantly played on despite a knee injury.

Yet despite the setbacks, Manly still managed to outscore the Eels four tries to two in front of 14,025 fans to claim their fourth win of the season.

It was a heart-breaking defeat for the Eels, who now have just two wins from their opening six games after starting the NRL season as premiership contenders.

This ht was also their first game since halfback Tim Smith was granted indefinite leave midweek to overcome his battle with bipolar disorder.

Manly led 10-4 at halftime. And when fullback Brett Stewart crossed just six minutes after the break the visitors looked like they could kick on with the match.

Parramatta had thrown everything at the Sea Eagles defence in the first half without success and Stewart’s early try could have easily deflated the home side.

But the under-siege Eels responded, with Nathan Hindmarsh providing a desperate grubber in the 55th minute that Matt Orford fumbled in goal allowing lock Chad Robinson to pounce and score.

Williamson was then sent to Disneyland when attempting a tackle on Eels winger Eric Grothe, prompting Eagles officials to call Bryant back from the changerooms to sit on the empty bench.

Seconds later makeshift five-eighth Feleti Mateo provided a perfect banana kick for Burt to score, the fullback’s fourth goal giving the Eels a 16-14 lead.

Manly coach Des Hasler rated the win one of the greatest in the club’s history as the side also overcame a massive 7-1 penalty count against them.

Although he couldn’t find the right words to compare where the victory stood, he may described where the win came from.

“That is what makes this job so enjoyable, you get experience and be part of a win and it will go down as one of the best wins the club has had,” said Hasler.

“It was very courageous. We certainly had some obstacles to overcome, three players out and only one left on the bench who was injured and we were probably on the wrong end of the penalty count.

“We are all very proud of the way they performed against some pretty formidable odds.”

Orford said the win was better than the Eagles 52-6 thumping of New Zealand in round three.

“Ten times I would rather have this win than the Warriors (win) any day,” said Orford.

“Our middle men played the majority of the game with no changes. That was just guts. It mightn’t have been pretty but geez it’s a very important two points.”

Of the Eagles injury worries winger Bani was the biggest concern after he was rushed to hospital in a brace after a heavy tackle just 15 seconds before half time left him with neck tenderness and a tingling sensation in his fingers.

Eels coach Michael Hagan was also left with a numb feeling after the loss, he was visibly shocked at the result and could barely find the words to explain where his talent-laden side is going so horribly wrong.

“It is probably hard to know how to react to that one,” said Hagan after several seconds of stunned silence to open his press conference.

“The game was there to be won at the end. We gave ourselves a chance to win the game and I think we lost it more than they won it to be fair.

“Defensively we dead set gave them 16 points in their 20 which I am not very happy about.

“We have got the bye next week, that is a fair starting point (to recover). I don’t think I could face up to it again next week with some of the things we’re tossing up at the moment.

“I cannot explain it and certainly cannot understand it.”

Team of the Century Named

The 7 Rugby League Immortals were all named in the Team of the Century as fallen hero Andrew Johns won the contentious half-back position and Mal Meninga claimed a shock inclusion in the centres.

Meninga and St George Immortal Reg Gasnier relegated fellow Dragons Immortal Graeme Langlands to the interchange bench as the best 17 players of the game’s first 100 years were named at a Gala ball in Sydney on Thursday night.

Big Queenslander Meninga, a pioneer of State of Origin and the current Maroons coach, was the big surprise selection from the secret ballot held last December by a panel of 28 former players, coaches, officials and historians.

The team includes the very first superstar - Herbert ‘Dally Messenger’ (interchange) - to the recently retired great Johns - and is coached by legendary master Jack Gibson.

“I must confess I’m bewildered by it all,” Meninga said.

“Having a look at the array of centres who have played the game for 100 years and to be recognised like this, I feel great.

“I’m stoked, it’s an honour and a privilege. It doesn’t get much better than this.”

Langlands wasn’t the only member of the ’seven greats’ pushed to the interchange.

Manly five-eighth Bob Fulton was overlooked for a starting role for Queensland ‘King’ Wally Lewis in the battle between two Immortals.

It was always inevitable that one of league’s seven luminaries would not make the starting side, however the other greats Clive Churchill (full-back), John Raper (lock) and Arthur Beetson (prop) all won starting honours.

Beetson was the only chosen player not represented at Royal Hall of Industries where 95 of the game’s top 100 players of all-time were represented.

Johns was the game’s most recent player picked in the side.

His selection at half-back came despite his shock arrest for drug possession in London late last year and his subsequent confession of substance abuse during his stellar career which many thought could cost him his place among the most elite team in league history.

“I feel like tonight the game has forgiven me,” Johns said.

“I was nervous, it’s a very big occasion in the game and also I have some other issues from last year.”

The recently retired Knight and game’s greatest pointscorer, who quit the NRL in April 2007 with a career-threatening neck injury, beat fellow half-back champions Allan Langer and Peter Sterling for the key playmaker’s role.

“It’s probably the most humbling moment of my life,” Johns added.

“Rugby league is everything in my life so this is such an emotional moment.”

Tryscoring machines Ken Irvine and Brian Bevan claimed the two positions on the wings.

North Sydney (1958-70) and Manly (1971-73) flyer Irvine remains the highest tryscorer in Australian league history with 212 tries in 236 games and 33 tries in 31 Tests.

Bevan, the only member of this illustrious team never to play for Australia, played just seven games for Eastern Suburbs before he forged his career in England with Warrington and Blackpool from 1945-64 and holds the world record for 796 career tries.

South Sydney’s Ron Coote (1964-71) and St George’s Norm Provan (1951-65) form the imposing back-row combination after leading their clubs through two of the most dominant periods in premiership history.

Coote played in nine grand finals in 11 seasons with Souths and then Easts (winning six times) while Provan led the red and white era playing in 10 of 11 grand final victories, the last four as captain-coach.

Roosters premiership captain Beetson (1974-75) was joined in the front row by fellow Queenslander Duncan Hall.

Hall, who played his entire career in the Brisbane competition, played 22 Tests for Australia (1948-55) and is regarded as one of Australia’s greatest post-war props.

Western Suburbs rake Noel Kelly won the position of hooker, ahead of Canberra’s Steve Walters.

Kelly played 25 Tests for Australia (1959-68) during the game’s roughest period and is still believed to retain the record for the most send offs in the game today.

Joining Messenger, Fulton and Langlands on the interchange bench was one of the game’s early pioneers Frank Burge, who was labelled the “greatest forward Australia has produced” long after he retired.

AAP

 

Team of the Century

Full-back: Clive Churchill
Wingers: Ken Irvine, Brian Bevan
Centres: Reg Gasnier, Mal Meninga
Five-eighth: Wally Lewis
Half-back: Andrew Johns
Lock: John Raper
Second row: Ron Coote, Norm Provan
Front row: Duncan Hall, Arthur Beetson
Hooker: Noel Kelly
Reserves: Dally Messenger, Bob Fulton, Graeme Langlands, Frank Burge
Coach: Jack Gibson

NRL Teams Round 6

The NRL Teams and Lineups have been announced for NRL Round 6 2008. All NRL Teams listed below.

Gold Coast Titans vs Brisbane Broncos @ Skilled Park, 7.30pm

Gold Coast –
Preston Campbell, Ben Jeffrey, Luke O’Dwyer, Brett Delaney, Matt Petersen, Mat Rogers, Scott Prince (c), Ashley Harrison, Mark Minichiello, Anthony Laffranchi, Brad Meyers, Nathan Friend, James Stosic
Reserves - Aaron Cannings, Daniel Conn, Josh Graham, Brenton Bowen, Michael Hodgson, Gavin Cooper

Brisbane -
Karmichael Hunt, Denan Kemp, Steve Michaels, Justin Hodges ©, Darius Boyd, David Stagg, Peter Wallace, Tonie Carroll, Ashton Sims, Sam Thaiday, Joel Clinton, Michael Ennis, Ben Hannant
Reserves – Corey Parker, Nick Kenny, Greg Eastwood, Dave Taylor, Joel Moon

Referee – Tony Archer

Parramatta Eels vs Manly Sea-Eagles @ Parramatta Stadium, 7.30pm

Parramatta –
Luke Burt, Taulima Tautai, Joel Reddy, Jarryd Hayne, Eric Grothe, Feleti Mateo, Brett Finch, Chad Robinsn, Daniel Wagon, Nathan Hindmarsh, Fuifui Moimoi, Matt Keating, Nathan Cayless (c)
Reserves - Kris Keating, Josh Cordoba, Weller Hauraki, Junior Paulo

Manly -
Brett Stewart, Michael Robertson, Steve Bell, Jamie Lyon, Michael Bani, Luke Williamson, Matt Orford (c), Steve Menzies, Glenn Stewart, Adam Cuthbertson, Brent Kite, Matt Ballin, Jason King
Reserves - Josh Perry, Glenn Hall, Jack Afamasaga, Mark Bryant, Heath L’Estrange

Referee – Shayne Hayne

SATURDAY

Canterbury Bulldogs vs St George-Illawarra Dragons @ ANZ Stadium, 5.30pm

Canterbury Bulldogs -
Luke Patten, Heka Nenai, Tim Winitana, Willie Tonga, Matt Utai, Ben Roberts, Daniel Holdsworth, Lee Te Maari, Andrew Ryan (c), Sonny Bill Williams, Chris Armit, Corey Hughes, Jarrad Hickey
Reserves - Danny Williams, Brad Morrin, Justin Tsoulos, Gary Warburton

St George-Illawarra -
Brett Morris, Jason Nightingale, Chase Stanley, Matt Cooper, Michael Lett, Rangi Chase, Ben Hornby ©, Dean Young, Ben Creagh, Kirk Reynoldson, Jason Ryles, Stuart Webb, Justin Poore
Reserves – Simon Woolford, Dan Hunt, Lagi Setu, Beau Scott

Referee -Bernard Sutton

Cronulla Sharks vs Penrith Panthers @ Toyota Park, 7.30pm

Cronulla -
Brett Kearney, Bryson Goodwin, Ben Pomeroy, David Simmonds, Luke Covell, Brett Seymour, Brett Kimmorley; Greg Bird, Lance Thompson, Fraser Anderson, Luke Douglas, Kevin Kingston, Adam Peek
Reserves - Jacob Selmes, Bryan Norrie, Isaac De Gois, Paul Stephenson, Misi Taulapapa

Penrith -
Rhys Wesser, Luke Rooney, Michael Jennings, Brad Tighe, Michael Gordon, Maurice Blair, Jarrod Sammut, Nathan Smith, Luke Lewis, Frank Pritchard, Petero Civoniceva (c), Luke Priddis, Tony Puletua
Reserves - Paul Aiton, Joseph Paulo, Brandon Worth, Matthew Bell, Geoff Daniela, Frank Puletua, Junior Moors

Referee - Sean Hampstead

North QLD Cowboys vs New Zealand Warriors @ Dairy Parkers Stadium, 7.30pm

North QLD -
Ashley Graham, Ty Williams, Mark Henry, Ben Harris, John Williams, Justin Smith, Johnathan Thurston (c), Luke O’Donnell, Jacob Lillyman, Steve Southern, Carl Webb, Aaron Payne (vc), Ray Cashmere
Reserves - Anthony Watts, Sam Faust, Shane Tronc, Dayne Weston, Matthew Bartlett

New Zealand -
Lance Hohaia, Patrick Ah Van, Brent Tate, Jerome Ropati, Manu Vatuvei, Michael Witt, Grant Rovelli, Michael Luck, Logan Swann, Simon Mannering, Ruben Wiki (c), Nathan Fien, Sam Rapira
Reserves – Ian Henderson, Evarn Tuimavave, Epalahame Lauaki, Wairangi Koopu, Sonny Fai

Referee -Jason Robinson

SUNDAY

Sydney Roosters vs Newcastle Knights @ Bluetongue Stadium, 2pm

Sydney Roosters -
Sam Perrett, Amos Roberts, Mitchell Aubusson, Setaimata Sa, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Braith Anasta, Mitchell Pearce, Craig Fitzgibbon (c), Anthony Tupou, Willie Mason, Nate Myles, Riley Brown, Mark O’Meley
Reserves - Lopini Paea, Frank-Paul Nuuausala,Sia Soliola, James Aubusson, David Shillington, Brent Grose

Newcastle -
Wes Naiqama, James McManus, Keith Lulia, Adam McDougall, Cooper Vuna, Chris Bailey, Kurt Gidley, Zeb Taia, Cory Paterson, Chris Houston, Ben Cross, Danny Buderus (c), Daniel Tolar
Reserves – Matt Hilder, Jesse Royal, Richard Fa’aoso, Danny Wicks, Cameron Ciraldo

Referee - Steve Lyons

South Sydney Rabbitohs vs Wests Tigers @ SCG, 3pm

Souths -
Fetuli Talanoa, Nathan Merritt, Germaine Paulson, Beau Champion, Shannon Hegarty, John Sutton, Jeremy Smith, Ben Lowe, David Fa’alogo, David Kidwell (c), Roy Asotasi (c), George Ndaira, Manase Manuokafoa
Reserves – Beau Falloon, Dean Widders, Luke Stuart, Shannon McPherson, Eddie Paea, Ben Rogers

Wests Tigers -
Brett Hodgson (c), Taniela Tuiaki, Dean Collis, Chris Lawrence, Shannon McDonnell, John Morris, Matthew Head, Liam Fulton, Chris Heighington, Todd Payten, Keith Galloway, Stuart Flanagan, Bryce Gibbs
Reserves – Dene Halatau, Danny Galea, Corey Payne, Ben Te’o

Referee – Ben Cummins

MONDAY

Canberra Raiders vs Melbourne Storm @ Canberra Stadium 7pm

Canberra -
Bronx Goodwin, Colin Best, Marshall Chalk, Joel Monaghan, Adrian Purtell Terry Campese, Todd Carney, Alan Tongue (c), Nigel Plum, Joe Picker, Dane Tilse, Lincoln Withers, Scott Logan
Reserves – Trevor Thurling, Tom Learoyd-Lahrs, Ben Jones, Troy Thompson, David Milne, Joel Thompson

Melbourne -
Billy Slater, Steve Turner, Will Chambers, Israel Folau, Anthony Quin, Greg Inglis, Cooper Cronk, Dallas Johnson, Ryan Hoffman, Jeremy Smith, Adam Blair, Cameron Smith (c), Jeff Lima
Reserves - Matt Geyer, Antonio Kaufusi, Michael Crocker, Clifford Manua, Sika Manu

Referee -Jared Maxwell

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