Cooper deed shows meaning of Cup

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

FOR every critic who thinks this World Cup is a waste of time, Ireland captain Liam Finn tells a story that might change your mind.

Finn walked off the field yesterday on the wrong side of a 50-0 hiding at the hands of the tournament favourites Australia.

But on a bitterly cold night in Limerick, Finn then spoke about a moment at the end of the match that he would remember forever.

"Cooper Cronk asked me to swap shirts today after the game," Finn said.

"I play second division rugby league in England and he is probably the best halfback in the world. And he wants to swap shirts with Ireland.

"That's the type of players who play rugby league.

"The message that we get from a lot of the NRL players is they want the game to develop and they are happy to pass on their knowledge and they are secure enough in their own knowledge that they are happy to pass it on."

Jarryd Hayne tackled. Source: Getty Images

Cronk agreed that there was more to this tournament than who wins the final at Old Trafford on November 30.

"The experience to spread the word of rugby league is what it is all about," Cronk said.

"I am just as proud and excited to represent my country as the captain of Ireland.

"It is a chance of a lifetime to come over to Ireland. Play at Wales at Millennium Stadium, one of the biggest venues in the world, and just do as you dreamed of as a kid.

"Now there are guys who play second division, locals from Samoa and Tonga, and you've got guys who are playing professional as well.

"It is a really good mix. It is a great advertisement for rugby league and I hope it continues for the next month."

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

The crowd in Limerick was only 5021, but it was the biggest to attend a rugby league match in Ireland.

And as for the future, Ireland's coach Mark Aston was adamant the tournament was a step in the right direction.

23.01 | 0 komentar | Read More

NBL: no vendetta against Joey

Adelaide 36ers coach Joey Wright (left) speaks to the referee during an NBL game against the New Zealand Breakers. Source: Fiona Goodall / Getty Images

THE Adelaide 36ers today will review technical fouls slapped on Joey Wright while NBL referees boss Mal Cooper insists there is no "vendetta" against the Sixers' coach.

"I must stress there's no vendetta against Joey at all," Cooper said.

"Maybe there have been a couple of unfortunate incidents but I will find out from both officials exactly what was said and I will talk with Joey to try and sort it out."

Wright, who has a reputation for volatility but has shown only passion since being appointed coach of the second-ranked Sixers, was hit with a technical foul by Vaughan Mayberry just 4:46 before half-time of Adelaide's recent 96-93 road win over New Zealand.

Import Jarrid Frye was roughly handled by Breakers' swingman Reuben Te Rangi and no call was made, leading to Wright's protestations.

Mayberry replied by giving him a technical foul.

On Friday as the 36ers saw off Melbourne 90-87 at Adelaide Arena, Wright was hit with a technical foul by Nathan Durant 43 seconds from half-time.

Wright had been animated about a no-call when Gary Ervin was knocked to the floor after releasing a three-point attempt.

Wright already had received what appeared to be an unwarranted earlier warning from referee Michael Aylen, prompting Durant's tech.

In both instances, the technical fouls looked more the work of trigger-happy refs than officials understanding man-management.

"Michael (Aylen) and Vaughan (Mayberry) are our Olympics referees so I will talk with both but I know no-one has any axe to grind against Joey," Cooper said.

Adelaide 36ers general manager Dean Parker said he had no issue with his coach's sideline behaviour and felt the officials may have been overly sensitive.

"I'll speak to Joey first before we look at whether we take it up with the NBL or Mal," Parker said.

"Joey is a vocal, emotive man when he's coaching and we wouldn't want him any other way.

"He's done nothing abusive or nothing incorrect and I do have a concern they're (the officials) jumping on him faster than they need to.

"Are they jumping on him because it's him? Calls like those have the potential to be game-changing."

Adelaide is on the road back to Auckland on Friday to again face New Zealand, the Breakers beaten 91-78 by Townsville this weekend and currently seventh on a 2-5 record.

23.01 | 0 komentar | Read More

Worst jerseys in sport revealed

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

FOLLOWING Penrith's decision to wear pink jerseys for all away games in 2014, we reveal the worst jerseys of all time.

Panthers pretty in pink. Source: Getty Images

PINK PANTHERS

THE Chocolate Soldiers have become the Pink Panthers. Penrith will wear pink jerseys for all 12 away games next year.

George Rose in camo for Manly. Source: News Limited

CAMO CARNAGE

MANLY wore this camouflage jersey against Canterbury in 2012. Sea Eagles fans are still waking to nightmares of grey beige and brown.

Robbie Slater in 1993. Source: Getty Images

THE SPEW-ROOS

WHO could forget this Socceroos horror in 1993? Robbie Slater is pictured in the disaster strip for a World Cup qualifier against New Zealand.

Jim Dymock for the Blues. Source: News Limited

THE TWO BLUES

NSW pulled the wrong reign by wearing two shades of blue on their jersey for State of Origin in 1997. Thankfully, it was dumped the following year.

Mark Gasnier for Stade Francais. Source: Supplied

PINK POWER

French rugby side Stade Francais - the former club of Mark Gasnier - wear pink jerseys, causing mirth throughout the world.

23.01 | 0 komentar | Read More

Alcohol hell led to Ferguson Islam

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

BLAKE Ferguson has revealed he converted to Islam because his life was spiralling out of control on alcohol-fuelled benders.

The exiled NSW State of Origin star told The Daily Telegraph last night it was also a decision made to save his stalled rugby league career.

"Alcohol is completely forbidden in Islam," he said, "and that's been my problem for the last five years.

"It's brought me down to where I am now. I enjoyed a drink but it just creates problems. I've had enough.

"I really have."

It was revealed in yesterday's The Sunday Telegraph that controversial boxer Anthony Mundine had persuaded his "brother" to make a commitment to the Islamic faith.

They were photographed together praying at Zetland Mosque on Friday afternoon. Ferguson, who earlier this year failed in attempts to give up alcohol, says he is aware of the doubters.

Anthony Mundine and Blake Ferguson. Source: News Limited

"I'll prove them wrong, God willing," he said, "It was always going to be the reaction. I expected that.

"Everyone's out there to watch me fail. I'll just prove them all wrong if you know what I'm saying.

"Living with Choc made me realise what I've done to myself. He clean-living with amazing dedication.

"That's what drew me towards Islam. I've never been baptised before. I was always fearing God."

Mundine previously converted superstar Sonny Bill Williams to the Muslim faith when he was facing similar challenges in his life and footy career.

Ferguson wants to meet with the champion Roosters forward when he returns from the World Cup.

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

"So far it hasn't been hard (off alcohol) because I'm around good influences and good people," he said.

"My face has changed. I'm looking and feeling fresh. My whole physique has changed.

"This will make me strong, God willing. Islam is going to make me a better person and better rugby league player.

"It's going to make me more focused, more dedicated, more devoted. Being an NRL player is really a 24-hour job. I haven't appreciated that in the past.

"I want to play NRL, I want to find a club, play for NSW, and I want to beat Queensland."

Asked if he still planned to fight and make his boxing debut on the Anthony Mundine-Shane Mosley card on November 27, Ferguson said a decision would be made later this week.

"We're working towards that (fight), hopefully," he said.

Mundine said he was confident his 'brother' would stay focused and commit to the religion long term.

"It's pressure for a boy like him to convert," Mundine said.

23.01 | 0 komentar | Read More

Fawad's Test hopes take a spin

NSW duo Steve Smith and David Warner hit Sheffield Shield centuries in their clash with Victoria.

FAWAD Ahmed has bowled himself out of Test contention.

The leg-spinner was always going to be the gamble that Australia could not afford to take once Shane Watson broke down with a minor hamstring strain.

Watson will play in the first Test against England at Brisbane's Gabba next week as a batsman but will not bowl.

Fawad had a bad week of Sheffield Shield cricket for Victoria, reinforcing the view that he is simply too big a risk.

His elimination from the Test candidates leaves just one place in the team up for grabs.

It is a tight tussle between Tasmanians George Bailey and Alex Doolan which will be decided when the selectors finalise the side at a meeting in Brisbane tonight.

Bailey was a standout during the recent one-day series in India while Doolan has been in sublime form at the start of the first class summer.

As by far the most productive one-day batsman in the side since joining the 50-over team early last year, Bailey remains the favourite to collect a baggy green cap.

Fawad shot into Test calculations when he claimed 6-68 for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield match against Western Australia recently.

In his past three Shield innings, including two against NSW last week when he bowled to Test captain Michael Clarke and destructive opener David Warner, Fawad had collective figures of 1-166.

Worse than that, he has conceded more than four runs an over.

The only way Australia was going to take a punt on Fawad was if he continued taking bags of wickets and Watson was able to bowl as a fourth seamer.

But with only three front-line fast bowlers, including a sometimes wayward Mitchell Johnson, the selectors are not prepared to gamble with Fawad.

He may still play later in the series if he can begin claiming wickets again and Watson resumes bowling.

Nathan Lyon's start to the Shield season for NSW has been no more than steady but his accuracy will be vital to try and create pressure on England.

Leg-spinners have a better record at the Gabba than off-spinners in Test cricket, largely thanks to Shane Warne.

The game's greatest spinner claimed 68 wickets in 11 Tests at an average of 20, the most wickets ever taken at the Gabba by any Test bowler.

Richie Benaud is the next most successful leg-spinner with 23 wickets in five Tests at an average of 26.

However Lyon is one of just three off-spinners to claim more than eight wickets in a career at the Gabba. He has 11 at 24 in two Tests after a good first game against New Zealand.

The most successful off-spinner at the Gabba is actually West Indian Lance Gibbs, who once held the record for the most number of wickets in Test cricket.

He claimed 14 wickets in two Tests, while Ian Johnson took 12 wickets in six Tests.

Likely team: David Warner, Chris Rogers, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke (c), Steve Smith, George Bailey, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Peter Siddle, Ryan Harris, Nathan Lyon. 12th James Faulkner or Ben Hilfenhaus.

Leg-spinners

Shane Warne - 11 tests - 68 wickets - average: 20 - best figures: 8-71

Richie Benaud - 5 tests - 23 wickets - average: 26 - best figures: 6-115

Doug Ring - 2 tests - 14 wickets - average: 19 - best figures: 6-72

Off-spinners

Lance Gibbs (WI) - 2 tests - 14 wickets - average: 23 - best figures: 5-8

Ian Johnson - 6 tests - 12 wickets - average: 20 - best figures: 3-46

Nathan Lyon - 2 tests - 11 wickets - average: 24 - best figures: 4-69

23.01 | 0 komentar | Read More

Panthers go pink for female fans

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

THE Chocolate Soldiers have turned into Pink Panthers.

In proof that rugby league's image continues to evolve, Penrith will wear hot pink jerseys for all 12 away games next season.

The move is designed to support - and attract - female rugby league fans

It shows just how much rugby league has changed. Could you imagine the response if you asked Tommy Raudonikis or John 'Dallas' Donnelly to wear a pink jersey 35 years ago?

Penrith were the first club to wear a pink jumper in the NRL's Women in League round.

The Panthers continued to wear pink guernseys several times this year but will now take them on each and every road trip next season.

Penrith players who slipped on the famous 'Chocolate Soldiers' jumper in the 1960s and 1970s may cringe - but rugby league is now image conscious.

Kevin Kingston in pink for Penrith. Source: News Limited

Club officials predict male fans will buy the black home jumper, women will get the away pink jersey while kids will buy a third alternate white strip.

Nearly 150,000 women have a direct connection with rugby league though being players, coaches, officials, employees, club members or volunteers.

"Look at sport today, it's all about marketing," Panthers group chief executive Warren Wilson said.

"Fifty per cent of our supporters are female.

"We support the Women in League round and we were the first club to wear pink for that.

"We have embraced it. The club figures that blokes would buy the black jersey and women would buy the pink jumpers.

"Kids might buy the white jersey with the big panther across the front. We have chosen to do it and everyone is behind it."

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

Current players have no complaints about wearing the pink outfit.

No doubt the jumper will draw some criticism though and be compared to the horrid pink jumper worn by French rugby union team, Stade Français, a former club of Mark Gasnier.

Former Panthers prop Lou Zivanovic is old school, playing 116 games for the club between 1979 and 1986.

"In essence the game has stayed the same on the field but has changed in regards to marketing," said Zivanovic.

"In the old days it was about men. The game only seemed to cater for men but these days the marketing is aimed at everyone - men, women and children.''

Asked what might have happened if he wore a pink jersey in the late 1970s, Zivanovic said: "I might have got belted in the bar after the match.

But times have changed and the game has moved forward, as has Penrith."

Mark 'Spud' Carroll, who played at Penrith during 1987 to 1989, said: "It's amazing how the code has changed. These days Penrith are using pink jumpers as a marketing tool and it's not a bad outfit."

23.01 | 0 komentar | Read More

Test stars stood down from Shield

Hello, you either have JavaScript turned off or an old version of Adobe's Flash Player.

AUSTRALIA captain Michael Clarke and fast bowlers Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle will be rested from the next round of Sheffield Shield matches to prepare for the first Test in Brisbane, beginning next week.

A full round of Shield matches begins on Wednesday but the vital trio will complete their Ashes preparation at the Centre of Excellence in Brisbane.

Clarke struggled through the opening Sheffield Shield match of the summer for NSW with back and hip problems but felt much better yesterday after his second game, against Victoria, which ended on Saturday.

Coach Darren Lehmann is pleased with Clarke's progress.

"The plan for his Ashes build-up was to play two Sheffield Shield matches, which he has done successfully," Lehmann said.

"He has spent valuable time in the middle batting and fielding. Importantly his back has coped well in both matches, but we will continue to take a sensible and cautious approach to managing him.

"On the fast bowling front, Ryan and Peter are both in great condition. As part of their management plan they will continue their preparation under the guidance national coaching staff in Brisbane over the coming days."

23.01 | 0 komentar | Read More

Tigers prove point

The Melbourne Tigers' Mark Worthington can't stop the Hawks' Rhys Martin from driving to the basket. Source: George Salpigtidis / News Limited

THE Melbourne Tigers haven't had the league's leading scorer since Andrew Gaze was still doing his thing more than a decade ago.

Yesterday Chris Goulding again showed why he is the man to change that statistic.

After an indifferent start - his first points came from a three-point bomb on the quarter-time buzzer - the Tigers scoring machine flicked the switch and then when the game was on the line delivered to get his team home 81-76 against a dogged Wollongong Hawks.

Goulding finished with his first NBL double-double - 29 points and 12 rebounds - as the Tigers withstood a last quarter comeback to close out their third victory of the season.

While there were several other important contributions including 20 points from Mark Worthington, some improved output from Canadian centre Scott Morrison (12 points, eight rebounds and three blocks) and valuable defensive minutes from youngster Owen Odigie, it was two big plays from Goulding which decided the contest.

With less than two minutes to go the Tigers star drove to the basket, sucking two defenders to him before producing a brilliant no-look behind-the-head pass to Morrison for an easy dunk.

Then with 34 seconds to go and the lead only two points, Goulding wandered into the corner and despite defenders all over him nailed the winning jumper.

Hawks guard Rotnei Clarke, a former US college star with Butler University who led his team with 17 points, summed it up best afterwards: "He (Goulding) is a great player, he takes some tough shots and they go in."

Tigers coach Chris Anstey was happy to mention Goulding, who is averaging 26.6 points this season to lead the NBL in scoring, in the same sentence as Gaze afterwards.

"I don't think this club has had a scorer like him since Andrew Gaze," Anstey said. "That's what he is to us right now at the offensive end, you put the ball in his hands and he creates something.

"Even the bad shots he takes you still expect to go in, and when I say that, they are a bad shot for others but not for him."

It has already been a big year for the Tigers reigning MVP after a workout with NBA star Kyrie Irving earlier in the year led to an invite to the Cleveland Cavaliers' pre-summer league camp and then a spot on the team for its series in Las Vegas.

Worthington, who previously played with Goulding at the Gold Coast, afterwards praised the maturing of his teammate which the man himself admitted was a factor in overcoming his tardy start.

"It is something I have been working on," Goulding, 25, said. "I've realised over the last couple of years that it is a long game, 40 minutes is a long time.

"I think in my earlier years I would have got a bit antsy and tried to force it a little bit but the same thing happened in Adelaide (on Friday night) as well, personally I didn't get off to a great start but it's a long game.

"So I just had to stay in that mindset, try not to force it, take the opportunities when they come."

The victory over the Hawks, who now slip to 1-5, was important for the Tigers given they came up short, 90-87, to the Sixers in Adelaide on Friday night.

Anstey praised his charges for willing themselves over the line given they were once again hampered by injuries with Lucas Walker (illness) sitting out while Nate Tomlinson also battled through a stomach ailment.

"We needed a win, and we ground it out," he said.

The Tigers next game is against the Cairns Taipans on Saturday night at The Cage.

23.01 | 0 komentar | Read More