Moves, Rumours,Judiciary, Injuries ...

[Graham]

 

Melbourne Storm have announced their leadership team for 2019. Captain Cameron Smith will  be joined in this season's leadership group by 

L to R: Will Chambers, Dale Finucane (Joint VC), Cameron Smith (C), Jesse Bromwich (Joint VC), Kenny Bromwich

Coach Craig Bellamy said:

“Cameron is one of the greatest leaders to have ever played the game and we have been very fortunate to have him as our captain for more than decade,” Bellamy said.

“It’s important for our club that we continue to develop leaders in our playing group to assist Cameron now, as well as having them attuned to what is required with the captaincy role.

“We are very lucky to have quality players on and off the field ready to step up into leadership positions within the team.

“The new leadership format allows both Jesse and Dale as vice-captains an opportunity to experience the some of the responsibilities of being a captain, and in turn, allow us as a club to witness how they handle the extra responsibility.

Edited January 31, 2019 by Graham

[DiddyDave]

Ben Barba sacked by North Queensland Cowboys after an incident at the Townsville Casino last Friday night.

[Graham]

South Sydney youngster Braidon Burns has re-signed with the club until the end of the 2021 season.

The 22-year has played 15 NRL games for the Rabbitohs after making his first-grade debut in 2017, displaying great versatility through his capacity to play a variety of positions.

“I feel like I’m in a really good spot now and the Rabbits is where I want to play my football,” Burns told the club website.

“I love playing for this Club, for the Members and the fans. They are really passionate about the Club and they give us support all year round.

“It’s really important that we repay that faith that they have in us and for me. That’s about playing and training to the best of my ability and putting something back into the community when I can.

[Graham]

Bellamy  confirms his faith in Brandon Smith at Storm:

Quote

 

Melbourne Storm coach Craig Bellamy has refuted that hooker Brandon Smith wants to leave the club, according to a report by Stuff.

There were whispers that the Kiwi was unhappy when Cameron Smith elected to extend his career into 2020, keeping the 22-year old confined to a bench role.

But Bellamy has revealed he sat down with the youngster and made it clear he is a big part of Melbourne’s future.

“We had a good conversation about a couple of things and I don’t think there was anything to sort out – he needed a bit of a clear mind on what was happening,” Bellamy said. 

“Now he has, he’s very happy and he ain’t going nowhere.”

 

 

[Graham]

All Stars event will see the New Zealand Maoris side clash with the Australian Indigenous side.

The match between to the two star-studded lineups will take place at AAMI Park, Melbourne on February 15.

Sydney Roosters centre Latrell Mitchell has chosen to take part in the All Stars game with the blessing of coach Trent Robinson, foregoing the club’s World Club Challenge match against the Wigan Warriors.

The match also highlights the return of Ben Barba with the North Queensland Cowboys recruit playing his first match on Australian soil since the 2014 NRL Grand Final.

INDIGENOUS ALL STARS TEAM

Ben Barba (Cowboys) - Not necessarily after his sacking from N Qld Cowboys announced today

Blake Ferguson (Eels)

James Roberts (Broncos)

Latrell Mitchell (Roosters)

Josh Addo-Carr (Storm)

Cody Walker (Rabbitohs)

Tyrone Roberts (Titans)

Andrew Fifita (Sharks)

Nathan Peats (Titans)

Ryan James* (Titans)

David Fifita (Broncos)

Adam Elliott (Bulldogs)

Tyrone Peachey (Titans)
Interchange

Will Chambers (Storm)

Leilani Latu (Titans)

Chris Smith (Bulldogs)

Alex Johnston (Rabbitohs)

Jesse Ramien (Knights)

Tyrell Fuimaono (Panthers)

Kotoni Staggs (Broncos).

[Graham]

Following on from the last post:

Latrell Mitchell has chosen to represent the Indigenous All Stars over taking part in the Sydney Roosters’ world club championship tilt.

The superstar centre headlines the Indigenous side which will take on the Maori All Stars in Melbourne on February 15.

The game is played two days before the Roosters take on Wigan in the World Club Challenge in England and Mitchell has been giving the club’s blessing to represent his culture.

[Graham]

Sems like George Burgess is still looking round for a move away from Souths

[Graham]

Trent Merrin admits he was shocked at being pushed out of the door at Penrith and vowed to show NRL clubs what they are missing with Leeds in the Super League.

The NSW and Kangaroos forward was released from the final two years of his contract with the Panthers in November due to salary cap pressures.

He was forced to swap a summer pre-season in Sydney for a freezing cold one in the Yorkshire winter after no NRL club showed any interest in signing a player who was a Blues regular between 2011 and 2015 and part of Mal Meninga’s Kangaroos squad less than two years ago.

[Graham]

Brisbane playmaker Anthony Milford has played down a scare on his surgically-repaired shoulder but stopped short of saying he was in the best shape of his career.

The Broncos’ half revealed he will turn out in the Broncos’ trial against Queensland Cup side Wynnum-Manly later in the month to ensure his shoulder gets a proper workout before the start of the NRL season.

[Graham]

Melbourne Storm forward Kenny Bromwich has been called into the Maori All Stars side after Jordan McLean was forced to withdraw following the flooding in Townsville.

[Graham]

The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting Dylan Napa is set to be suspended by the NRL. Below is a quote extract from their article.

"He won’t be playing for you in round one. In fact, at best, you won’t see him until about round five in April. Maybe not until round seven."

[Graham]

More on Dylan Napa:

Quote

NRL CEO Todd Greenberg has broken his silence on the game's off-season of bad behaviour with a strong suggestion Dylan Napa could be suspended before he has played a game for the Bulldogs.

Napa has been at the centre of a sex tape controversy after several explicit videos were released online, understood to have originated from a WhatsApp group from around four years ago.

The 26-year-old former Roosters prop is believed to be devastated and embarrassed, but may not escape punishment for "stupidity".

 Napa joined the Bulldogs from the Roosters at the end of last season and is yet to play a game for his new club.

"It could cost [the Bulldogs] a player who hasn't played a game yet. I don't know if it's fair or not, but when the game gets damaged by these sorts of things, you have to react and it doesn't matter when it happens," Greenberg said.

After cutting short his holiday to address the problematic headlines and poor behaviour that have been rampant in the game since the end of last season, Greenberg spoke to the captains of all 16 clubs in a conference call on Monday to lay down the law.

He foreshadowed tougher penalties for bad behaviour and life bans for players found guilty of serious offences against women,Greenberg said he had seen the Napa tapes and was stunned players would put their livelihood and reputations in the hands of others.

"I was gobsmacked by the stupidity," he said.

"The message I gave to the players today was, 'If you put something into a WhatsApp group, we will treat it exactly the same as if you put it on social media. Because the propensity and the likelihood of it to get out publicly is high, if not probable. If you're sending video footage around to other people, what you're doing is putting your whole career, your livelihood and the reputation of the game in other people's hands.

"The person who is distributing the content outside of the WhatsApp group, first of all, that's illegal. The police can deal with that. But trying to use someone sending it on as an excuse, is just that: an excuse. You've got to own it. Take some accountability for what you can control. If it's on WhatsApp, it's the same as Facebook. You've got to own it. If you don't make the content, if you don't film the content, if you don't put it out there, people can't send it on."

In the phone call with club captains, Greenberg is said to have called on the leaders to call out poor behaviour and not look to head office to dish out the punishments.

"If you're a senior player at a club and you're in a WhatsApp group, you can tell the difference between "let's catch up for coffee" to something from over the weekend that's vulgar and inappropriate," he said.

"Don't walk past that: stand up and call someone out for it. Say, 'That's not who we are or what we're about. Let's not do that'. Ten years ago, people thought it was funny. It's not funny and we can't do it."

 

[Graham]

Some injury updates today via @nrlphysio

New Zealand Warriors chief playmaker Blake Green has suffered a hamstring injury which will rule him out of both trial games. He is hopeful of a round 1 return. Very concerning for Warriors fans as he is your main man in 2019. Hopefully he can overcome this troublesome hamstring ahead of schedule.

You might have noticed Moses Mbye was missing from my Wests Tigers training story highlight and for an unfortunate reason. Mbye has suffered a ruptured PCL & is expected to return for his sides 2nd trial match.

Brisbane Broncos veteran Matt Gillett has received clearance from his shoulder specialist following a reconstruction. He is aiming to play both his clubs trial games this pre-season.

[Graham]

Melbourne Storm could turn to some rugby league royalty as they attempt to nail down a halfback this NRL season, with teenager Cooper Johns a surprise contender.

The Storm rotated through three halfbacks last year, using Brodie Croft, who played in the grand final loss, as well as Jahrome Hughes and Ryley Jacks, as they sought to fill the hole created by Cooper Cronk’s departure. Coach Craig Bellamy would like to settle on one player in the No.7 jersey this year to play alongside Cameron Munster in the halves.

“We thought in the circumstances we were in last year that we did what was best for the team with three guys filling that position but that’s not ideal,” Bellamy told AAP.

Bellamy said he’d been impressed by Johns, who is the youngest son of Newcastle great Matthew Johns, and nephew to eighth Immortal Andrew Johns. The 19-year-old played in the Storm’s under-20 side last year and also had seven matches for Storm feeder team Sunshine Coast Falcons.

[Graham]

Former Gold Coast, Parramatta and Leeds Rhinos back-rower Brett Delaney has announced his decision to retire from rugby league at the age of 33.

Delaney, who won four English Super League titles during his eight-year spell with the Rhinos, joined Championship neighbours Featherstone at the end of last season but has now hung up his boots.

Featherstone say the Australian, who made 18 appearances for the Eels and 63 for the Titans, suffered a facial injury playing for Leeds last July and saw it flare up again during a pre-season friendly against Halifax in January.

"I'm hugely thankful to Featherstone for giving me the opportunity to continue in my career," Delaney said.

"Unfortunately it's not worked out and it looks like I will have to have another operation but I've still really enjoyed the short time I've had here.

"I've had a great career, where I've done everything and don't have any regrets."

Delaney will continue his work with the Leeds Rhinos foundation and says he hopes to take up coaching.

[Farmduck]

Didn't Delaney have some broken face injury that threatened his eyesight? I'm sure I read that somewhere.

 

[Graham]

Yes, he had a face injury last season at Leeds. Had it sorted and then had a recurrence in a friendly pre-season game for Fev. He has taken stock and decided that's it.

Sensible decision.

Pity though as I'd have liked to see how he went in the Championship with us.

[Graham]

With a new coach, two experienced heads in Marshall and Farah seemingly riding off into the sunset after season 2019, a few fresh faces and arguably the most dynamic backline in the competition, Wests Tigers could do really well this season.

[Graham]

St George Illawarra Dragons maintain their desire is to re-sign Matt Dufty until the end of 2021, even though the fullback is unlikely to retain his No. 1 jersey in 2019.

Dufty has drawn attention from a number of clubs after the Dragons brought in Corey Norman over the summer, opening up a move to fullback for Gareth Widdop.

Eight times Super League Champions Leeds Rhinos were showing good interest in the 23-year-old, while his name has also been linked to the position at North Queensland vacated by Ben Barba.

[Graham]

Canberra Raiders have announced the signing of New Zealand Warriorsback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.

Penning a two-year contract with the Raiders, Nicoll-Klokstad will begin training with the club immediately.

[Graham]

 Sydney Roosters have announced a 23-man squad to travel to England for the World Club Challenge.

The Roosters will take on the Wigan Warriors at DW Stadium.

The match will be played on Sunday, February 17 at 7.00pm GMT (Monday, February 18 at 6.00am AEDT).

The Roosters will name a final lineup of 17 one hour before kickoff.

Sydney Roosters 23-man squad

Mitchell Aubusson
Nat Butcher
Lindsay Collins
Boyd Cordner (c)
Angus Crichton
Cooper Cronk
Poasa Faamausili
Jake Friend (c)
Ryan Hall
Matt Ikuvalu
Luke Keary
Asu Kepaoa
Lachlan Lam
Isaac Liu
Joseph Manu
Brett Morris
Victor Radley
Siosiua Taukeiaho
James Tedesco
Zane Tetevano
Daniel Tupou
Sitili Tupouniua
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves

[Graham]

Canterbury back-rower Rhyse Martin will make the trip home to Townsville this weekend to help with the aftermath of the devastating floods that have rocked North Queensland.

The natural disaster is officially the worst on record in the area with thousands of lives lost and two casualties.  

Martin, who played two seasons for the Townsville Blackhawks in 2015, went to school at Kirwan State High School.

The Ross River, which runs through the centre of Townsville, peaked at 250% on Sunday, leaving Martin's old school and old residence facing an emergency evacuation.

[DavidM]

11 minutes ago, Graham said:

Canberra Raiders have announced the signing of New Zealand Warriorsback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.

Penning a two-year contract with the Raiders, Nicoll-Klokstad will begin training with the club immediately.

Useful pick up that , got something about him that kid . Just couldn’t force his way to a regular spot 

[Graham]

Yes, I spotted him as a good prospect. Hope he gets a regular spot.

Edited February 8, 2019 by Graham

[Graham]

Israel Folau has re-signed with Rugby Australia in a deal that will see his future secured for the next 4 seasons. He will be 33 years old at the end of this contract which means we may never see Issy back in the NRL.