Revenge on Reds’ coach Graham’s mind

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AS soon as Reds coach ­Richard Graham said, "This is not between me and the ­Western Force", he established that this week very much is.

There is an inevitable point-to-prove feistiness any time a coach coaches against his ­former club, which is exactly what has landed on Graham's plate this week.

It's no different to when Force coach Michael Foley coaches against the NSW Waratahs. He wants that win a little bit more.

By player vote, Graham was stood down mid-season as Force coach in 2012 as soon as the news broke he was defecting to the Reds in 2013.

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The same senior players who felt jilted then are at the forefront of the Force revival this season. Think skipper Matt Hodgson, Pek Cowan and Ben McCalman.

Those niggly undercurrents are what build meaningful ­rivalries. There's nothing wrong with Graham saying this week means something more than normal.

Privately, we all know it does. It should, because the Force won bragging rights last year with an upset win at ­Suncorp Stadium and a draw in Perth when Graham was sidekick to Ewen McKenzie.

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Force figures Luke Morahan, Solomoni Rasolea, Angus Cottrell, Nick Cummins, Heath Tessman and Ian Prior all have strong Queensland roots.

They all have extra reasons to fire up against the Reds at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday night.

Go on, shout it out Richard Graham. You do too.

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The battle to be top dog in the Australian Conference is the most enthralling ever, with the Brumbies (17 points), Waratahs (16), Force (14), Reds (14) and Rebels (10) all jostling.

That's why the grinding win over the Stormers was so valuable when the Brumbies and Waratahs both tripped up.

The Waratahs won't want another game without Israel Folau.

They were half the team without him on Sunday in Durban, where they took 77 minutes to score their only try in the 32-10 loss to the Sharks.

No Izzy and maybe no playoff appearance. He means that much.

Thankfully, he's back from his throat knock to play the Stormers next weekend.

23.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Roberts joins Titans, Proctor next

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SACKED Penrith flyer James Roberts will sign a three-year contract with the Titans today as it emerged the Gold Coast has been offered Melbourne Storm's Kiwi international Kevin Proctor.

Roberts and his management will meet with Titans hierarchy today to finalise the details of a long-term deal at his third NRL club.

The 21-year-old has been punted by South Sydney and Penrith over off-field issues and is seeking what could be a final shot at the NRL.

Roberts' signature, which will allow him to play this season, comes as the Titans weigh up whether they will launch a poaching raid on local product Proctor for 2015.

James Roberts during his time at Penrith. Source: Getty Images

Proctor is off-contract this year and has strong ties to the Gold Coast, having graduated from Palm Beach Currumbin's renowned league nursery in 2007 and playing his junior football for Tugun.

The 25-year-old back-rower has been a key part of Melbourne's recent dominance, playing 108 games since making his NRL debut as a teenager in 2008.

Proctor's manager, Chris Orr, said his client was keen to stay in Melbourne but the Gold Coast was an attractive option.

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"We're talking to a number of clubs who have shown interest," he said.

"His best football is in front of him and everyone acknowledges that. He's a six-foot-four, 105kg back-rower who can ball-play.

"There are a lot of attractive things about Kevin coming home.

"He's starting a family this year. Him and his partner are from the Gold Coast and their families are here too.

"But he's also made it apparent that if Melbourne are within striking distance then he'd like to stay at the club."

Kevin Proctor of the Storm. Source: Getty Images

Titans boss Graham Annesley said the club had been approached about Proctor and was yet to decide if it would pursue the two-Test forward.

"We've been approached about him, rather than the other way around," he said.

"At this stage we haven't really indicated our position.

"We've got a number of players coming off contract at the end of the year and haven't really formulated a position.

"It hasn't gone anywhere. There's been no discussions."

The Titans have some tough decisions to make with veteran forwards Luke Bailey (34), Mark Minichiello (32) and Ashley Harrison (32) coming off-contract.

"We have got players coming off at the end of the year and we have to see what happens with performances this season," Annesley said.

"We have to see how the team performs and who's on the market."

23.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Knights to visit improved McKinnon

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IF the 30-0 thumping handed out to the Sharks by the Knights yesterday wasn't tonic enough for him, Alex McKinnon will be further buoyed by a visit today.

Captain Kurt Gidley and teammates Darius Boyd and Beau Scott will fly to Melbourne with coach Wayne Bennett this morning to try and further lift the young back-rower's spirits.

After two operations to repair fractured vertebrae in his neck suffered in his side's loss to Melbourne seven days ago, McKinnon is out of an induced coma and was yesterday breathing for the first time without the aid of a ventilator.

Crowd support for Alex McKinnon. Picture: Peter Lorimer Source: News Corp Australia

"He's improved and breathing on his own and communicating so that's picked all the boys up a bit," Gidley said after yesterday's win.

"None of us have seen him since he was stretchered off but we're going down tomorrow morning. It's probably going to be a little confronting for us but hopefully, it will give Macca a lift."

The Knights said in a statement: "Alex McKinnon has made a small advancement in his recovery on Sunday. He has had his assisted ventilation removed and can now communicate with his family. His breathing will be monitored while undertaking intense physiotherapy before the next stage, which will hopefully involve a transfer to Sydney."

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McKinnon's father Scott said in the statement: "It has been a highly emotional day for us and this is just a small stage in a long journey. Once again, we can't thank everyone enough for the prayers and well wishes we have received for Alex and our family."

Sharks coach Peter Sharp knew better than most what his side was walking into yesterday at Hunter Stadium.

"I was born up here and I know the town and I coached here," he said. "It's a great town and it's a great town in adversity. They are in adversity at the moment.''

23.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

Myles from brat to business tycoon

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THIS is the Nate Myles you don't see. The human side. Stronger and wiser for the times when he endured a fractured "relationship" with rugby league, the Maroons enforcer is giving back.

He is redressing sporting inequities. And, in the process, learning lessons about himself.

On the field, the Titans co-captain has always been all business, but now off it Myles is dipping his toe into the corporate realm, leveraging his status as a Test and Origin forward to educate the next generation of athletes.

Welcome to Nate Myles Inc.

This Sunday, Myles and business partner Mark Gee, brother of Broncos legend Andrew, will launch the Talent Sports Academy, hailed as Australia's first high-performance program for athletes as young as 10.

Nate Myles gets his business brain going at the Titans Centre of Excellence. Source: News Corp Australia

Myles is so determined for the Academy to flourish it has been registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, with the Titans co-skipper installed as a company director.

Under Myles and Gee's plan, an intake of 150 children aged between 10-15 will attend a series of camps, the first held this Sunday at the Titans' training base at Robina.

Myles will play a hands-on role, with TSA sourcing coaching specialists from a multitude of sports.

Titans legend Preston Campbell and former Olympic swimmer Alice Tait have signed on as ambassadors.

The high-performance program is not sport specific, instead covering areas such as strength-and-conditioning, speed, mobility, flexibility, visual training, nutrition, body management, leadership and life skills.

Organisations such as the Australian Institute of Sport and Queensland Academy of Sport already provide high-performance systems for the nation's elite athletes. But TSA is targeting a wider audience, chiefly lesser-talented individuals or those in remote country areas with limited access to coaching and performance resources.

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Myles can empathise with the average sporting Joe. Growing up in Cairns, he concedes he not only lacked the natural ability of others, but also the opportunities to maximise his talent in his chosen field.

"Kids look up to heroes. They are more likely to listen to a guy like Petero Civoniceva than mum or dad," Myles says.

"To have something like this academy when I was a kid in Cairns would have been incredible. "This will help pave the way for kids in remote areas.

"You have the AIS and the QAS, but this program will give kids of lesser ability a chance to fulfil their potential.

"It is difficult for clubs and sports to be able to reach certain areas, funding and expenses can only be taken so far.

"I know I was playing alongside kids who were so much more talented than me, but because they lived further out it was harder for them to succeed and a program like this can close the gap.

Nate Myles is known for being a combative physical presence on the field. Source: News Corp Australia

"Hundreds and thousands of kids from all sorts of sports will get the best coaching tools. It's an awesome idea. I don't know why it hasn't been developed before."

While TSA's primary goal is to help at grassroots level, it is fair to say Myles has also helped himself. It wasn't long ago that his NRL career was at the crossroads after a tumultuous stint at the Roosters, but the 28-year-old's move to the Gold Coast coincided with serious self-analysis.

He may be a prop but Myles is nobody's fool. A self-confessed deep thinker, Myles has a forensic eye for real estate and while reading bores him, he could read the signs he had to grow up.

Entering a business venture is an extension of the personal growth that has seen him ascend to the co-captaincy at the Titans.

"I don't really think about being called a company director because I just see myself helping kids in sport," he said.

"But I know I'm changing. I'm thinking about different business opportunities, and my own development.

"There's been a couple of hair-raising moments in my career and I'll be honest ... I still took too long to realise the opportunity we have as league players.

Nate Myles prepares to put a hit on Raiders skipper Terry Campese. Source: News Corp Australia

"Some guys get it early. Some guys never learn. Some guys go off the rails and come good.

"It depends on the person. I don't know if any one person said grow up Nate, you're a bloody idiot, but I see things differently now and appreciate my place in the game.

"I remember Craig Fitzgibbon (former Roosters teammate) giving me a spray one day. The one line he gave me I will never forget ... 'Nate, you can't have an excuse for everything'.

"If you have an excuse for everything, you will end up being the excuse."

Gee, a former Titans development manager who played first-grade for the Gold Coast Giants, believes the Academy will find a key niche in the sporting landscape.

"The top two or three per cent of athletes get elite development, but what about the other 97 per cent?" Gee said.

"Any kid is available to come along and try to improve their individual abilities.

"Young athletes develop mentally and physically at different ages and rates. I always had a feeling something more needed to be done at grassroots level and to have an athlete of Nate's standing is invaluable."

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Myles isn't eyeing retirement anytime soon but the Academy's anticipated success could open doors to a corporate post-football career.

They say things happen for a reason. Once at rock bottom in rugby league, Myles, having searched within for answers, hopes the Academy takes kids to the top.

"It's quite funny my relationship with rugby league and I how I feel towards it since I moved to the Gold Coast," he said.

"I don't think Sydney was the problem, I think it was me. I loved where I lived, but I was to blame for the stupid choices I made.

"You don't get long to do well in this game, so you can either jump on the boat and do great things, or waste the lot of it, which I don't plan on doing.

"It's early days for the Academy ... but to be part of something that can develop is really rewarding."

For more info visit talentsportsacademy.com.au

23.02 | 0 komentar | Read More

NZ outclass England in Sevens final

New Zealand's Sherwin Stowers, left, side steps England's Tom Mitchell. Picture: Philippe Lopez/AFP Source: PHILIPPE LOPEZ / AFP

NEW Zealand defeated England 26-7 in a drenched cup final in Hong Kong, surging to the top of the points table after the seventh tournament of the IRB Sevens World Series.

Leap-frogging South Africa, whose disappointing final day saw them knocked out of the Cup quarter-finals by England, New Zealand now boast 136 points after their third tournament win of this year's series.

South Africa is in second place with 129 points, Fiji in third with 112 points, and England in fourth with 104 points.

"It's a great, great victory in real challenging conditions,'' said coach Gordon Tietjens, who like his players was caught in a deluge in the dying moments of the game on Sunday.

Describing England as a "quick side'' and a "dangerous team'', he nevertheless showered praise on his players — one in particular.

"Our captain DJ Forbes was just, simply, simply outstanding... You know, without singling out individuals, he was just quite amazing, I just can't say enough about the guy.''

Forbes — fresh from a team performance of the Maori "haka" dance to celebrate their victory under the pouring rain — downplayed his role.

"That's what I am there for — all the horse work," he said.

"There's a couple of us out there putting our heads in dark places. There's a place for that and I am glad I am still able to do my job. We've got all the flair and the fast guys out wide. But it was definitely a 12-man performance.

The New Zealand team celebrate their win over England. Picture: Philippe Lopez/AFP Source: AFP

"Every time the heavens open up we've been successful so maybe it adds an element to our game,'' he added. "We're happy to do the contact stuff so maybe the conditions fell into our hands a little bit.''

Tietjens praised his team for picking themselves up after a fourth-place finish in Tokyo last week, but insisted the New Zealanders would not be resting on their laurels despite leading the table.

"Yeah it's great, seven ahead, but that's nothing, we led after Wellington then the lead changed again... You've got to just keep playing well.''

Fiji, whose attempt to take a hat-trick of titles in Hong Kong was blocked in the semi-finals by England, took on Australia for third-place honours, winning 21-12. The win netted the Pacific islanders an all-important 17 points as they close in on South Africa in the table.

"We definitely looked a little bit tired there in that game,'' said Fiji coach Ben Ryan, who was until last year the head coach of the England sevens team. "It was just too much in the end.

"Fair play to England, they're a full-time professional side, their set piece was good against us, moved us around.''

23.01 | 0 komentar | Read More

Buzz: Draw debacle robs top teams

Roosters Origin stars James Maloney, Michael Jennings, Boyd Cordner and Mitchell Pearce. Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited

A DETAILED analysis of the NRL draw has uncovered alarming discrepancies which have turned the race for the finals into a raffle.

There is no guarantee the best sides will be there in September because some clubs will get a rails run from the lopsided draw.

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The Roosters will be without Mitchell Pearce, James Maloney, Boyd Cordner and Michael Jennings for all three games before Origin because the NRL didn't give them a bye.

Roosters Origin stars Mitchell Pearce (L) and James Maloney (C). Source: News Limited

It's the same with South Sydney, who will be left without Greg Inglis, Ben Te'o and Chris McQueen for three vital games.

At the same time, the Warriors inexplicably get two byes during Origin, yet won't provide a player to NSW or Queensland.

So too wooden-spooners Parramatta, who will probably only provide one player, and the Canberra Raiders, who will be flat out having anyone ­selected.

The Warriors also get the benefit of an incredible draw anomaly by having to play the competition's top three clubs — the Roosters, Sea ­Eagles and Storm — only once in 26 rounds. It's almost like the New Zealand team is getting a six competition-point advantage over its rivals.

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Also, Penrith and the Raiders have to play last year's grand finalists the Sea Eagles and Roosters only once.

The Wests Tigers get to play the Broncos and Souths without their Origin stars, while others have to play them at full strength.

Canterbury play the Sea Eagles and Roosters without their Origin players, again while other clubs have to play them at full strength.

It makes you wonder why we bother to have a salary cap to keep clubs on a level playing field when the draw does exactly the opposite.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson says it's not fair on his club during Origin.

"To have the incumbent State of Origin halves and miss them for all three games, I think it could have been better planned," he said.

"They could have given us at least one game where he had use of them. Missing them for all three is too much. Origin is our biggest product but we also want to protect the clubs that offer the players."

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The draw during Origin has also robbed fans of at least two blockbuster games.

The Bulldogs play glamour clubs the Roosters and Sea Eagles before Origin matches, ruining the showpiece events.

No Pearce, no Maloney, no Jennings, no Cordner, no Cherry-Evans, no Watmough, no Stewart — and maybe no fans.

Sadly, Bulldogs CEO Raelene Castle is not concerned about losing the gate takings.

Showing the typical self-interest club mentality, she says the Bulldogs have a better chance of getting ­competition points against weakened outfits.

"It affects our bottom line for those two games but you have to balance the commercial return and the football return," Castle said.

"Because of the number of Kiwi boys we have, we're unlikely to have half our team missing like some others. When you play the tough teams when they've got a lot of stars in Origin, you get a better crack at winning the game."

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The Bulldogs can afford to be blasé about gate takings because they get an open cheque from their thriving Leagues Club at the end of each ­season.

But it's hardly a good look for the game or fair on the fans who buy season tickets hoping to watch the best against the best.

Outside of Origin, the Knights aren't happy either.

Their biggest home crowds are traditionally against the Rabbitohs and the Sea Eagles.

Yet for the second year in a row, the Knights don't get to host either club. Their one game against Souths is in Cairns.

Channel 9's television coverage is the other big issue.

All but six of the Broncos' games are in prime time on Friday nights, allowing them to sell jersey and ground sponsorship at a much higher rate than the other clubs. Plus they get the seven-day turnaround.

Incredibly, the Tigers get 11 Channel 9 games, while the Dragons get only one. The Warriors don't get any.

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The NRL's head of football Todd Greenberg concedes: "It's very difficult to have a perfect draw.

"There are limitations with the broadcast deal and stadium availability. Still, this year's draw is an improvement on what we did in 2013.

"But there's certainly more room for improvement.

"We'll continue to try to tweak it as best we can. We are working very hard on it."

The situation would be almost understandable if we were talking about an amateur sport but in a ­billion-dollar business that is the NRL it's unsatisfactory and unacceptable.

HOW YOUR CLUB IS AFFECTED

Broncos

Only have to play the premiers Sydney Roosters once.

Get two byes before Origin games while the Roosters don't get any.

All but six of their games on Friday night free-to-air gives them seven-day back-ups and prime time exposure for their sponsors.

Bulldogs

Two of their biggest games at ANZ - against the Roosters and Sea Eagles – will be missing the Origin players.

Potential blockbusters become second rate matches.

Get no byes during Origin. Have to play all the top sides twice.

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Raiders

Only have to play the Roosters and Sea Eagles once.

Get two byes during Origin while they'll be flat out getting anyone selected.

Get only one Friday night game in the prime time television slot.

Cowboys

Only have to play the Storm and Roosters once.

Only get one bye during the Origin series.

Titans

Only have to play the Roosters and the Sea Eagles once – and not before round 22.

No byes before Origin games means they'll be missing Greg Bird and Nate Myles for key matches.

Get five Monday night games which is more than any other club.

Sea Eagles

Have to play all the top clubs twice.

Get two byes during the Origin series.

Get good exposure from seven Friday night games.

Storm

Get two byes during Origin series while the Roosters don't get any.

Five of last seven games away from home.

Despite being a successful side, they get have only four free-to-air matches and only two Friday night games.

Knights

Get two byes during the Origin series.

Miss out on huge dollars by not hosting biggest rivals Rabbitohs and Manly at home.

Only play the Sea Eagles once - Cairns.

Get only two Friday night games.

Eels

Get two byes during Origin series even though Jarryd Hayne is the only certain selection.

Only have to play Melbourne Storm once.

Panthers

Only have to play last year's grand finalists the Roosters and Manly once.

Get a bye before Origin I but unlikely to have a player selected.

Who said Phil Gould had influence at Channel Nine? Get only three free-to-air games, the second lowest in the competition.

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Sharks

Have to play last year's grand finalists Roosters and Manly twice.

Lose Luke Lewis, Andrew Fifita and Paul Gallen for two games during Origin.

Just two Friday night matches.

Rabbitohs

Don't get a bye before any of the three Origin games, meaning they'll be without Greg Inglis, Chris McQueen and Ben T'eo for three games.

Only have to play Melbourne Storm once.

Dragons

Only have to play the Sea Eagles once – and not at Brookvale Oval.

Get one bye before Origin. Get terrible free-to-air coverage with only one Friday night match.

Roosters

Could provide up to five NSW and Queensland players but don't get a bye before Origin matches.

Have to play all the strong clubs twice.

Warriors

Only have to play Storm, Sea Eagles and Roosters once.

Won't provide one NSW or Queensland player but still get two byes before Origin matches.

Only club that doesn't get a free-to-air game.

Wests Tigers

Only have to play Melbourne Storm once – and that's a home game.

Get to play the Broncos and the Rabbitohs without their Origin players.

Get 11 free-to-air games which is more than Souths and Roosters.

23.01 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ricciardo’s grid penalty for Bahrain

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RED Bull's Daniel Ricciardo has been handed a 10-place grid penalty for next weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix following a pit stop error that led to his retirement from the race in Malaysia.

The Australian received a stop-go penalty during the race for the unsafe release by his team after a pit stop when his front left wheel was not properly secured.

The Australian was lying fourth when he pitted with 15 laps to go, but after the tyre change had to stop in the pit lane and be pushed back by his mechanics for the wheel to be fixed.

Daniel Ricciardo's Red Bull car is pushed back to the pit box at Sepang circuit by crew members. Source: Getty Images

He rejoined a lap down but then had to return to the pits with a broken front wing before he retired on lap 53 of the 56 laps. Team principal Christian Horner said the wing was probably damaged as a result of the faulty tyre change.

"It doesn't look like the car has got on the jack properly (at the pit stop)," he said.

"The front-left then didn't attach. We think the problem with the wing may well have been done on the front jack. We need to take a look at the video."

Ricciardo talks to a Red Bull Racing crew member before the start of the Malaysian GP. Source: Getty Images

The mishap was another setback for 24-year-old Ricciardo, who finished second at the Australian Grand Prix, only to be disqualified for a fuel-flow infringement. Red Bull has appealed the ruling.

But the Red Bull newcomer, who has succeeded fellow Australian Mark Webber alongside four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, has performed well in his first two races.

"He got stuck in at the start and he is a real quality act and I have been nothing but impressed with him since he arrived. I think there is a lot to come from him," Horner said.

Ricciardo's car gets a front nose change during the race. Source: Getty Images

Ricciardo said of the latest mishap: "I am disappointed, it was looking like we could have a solid points finish and I was starting to mix it up at the front but at the last pit stop there were all the problems so the race ended pretty quickly for me.

"Deep down I am really disappointed but there is a bit in me which is happy because I have come out how I wanted to in the first two races.

"I want to improve but there are things to be pleased with."

23.01 | 0 komentar | Read More

Everton win closes gap on top four

Everton's Kevin Miralles celebrates his goal against Fulham. Picture: Sang Tan/AP Source: Sang Tan / AP

SUBS Kevin Mirallas and Steven Naismith scored as Everton won 3-1 at bottom club Fulham to close to within four points of the Premier League's top four.

Everton took a 50th-minute lead at Craven Cottage when Fulham goalkeeper David Stockdale unwittingly diverted a deflected volley from Naismith into the net for an own goal.

Ashkan Dejagah came off the bench to score a stunning equaliser for Fulham in the 71st minute, cutting inside from the left flank and letting fly with a rising shot that flew into the top-left corner.

Mirallas restored Everton's lead eight minutes later, though, running on to a pass from fellow-substitute Aiden McGeady and coolly beating Stockdale, before Naismith stabbed home the visitors' third in the 87th minute.

Victory took Roberto Martinez's side to within touching distance of fourth-placed Arsenal, over whom they have a game in hand, ahead of next weekend's meeting between the two at Goodison Park.

Fulham's chances of avoiding relegation appear increasingly remote, meanwhile, as they remain five points adrift of safety with only six matches to play.

Later on Sunday, Liverpool will look to exploit Chelsea's shock 1-0 loss at Crystal Palace on Saturday by beating Tottenham Hotspur at Anfield and taking over from Jose Mourinho's side at the top of the table.

Liverpool trail Chelsea by a point, while Manchester City are a point further back, albeit with two games in hand, after squandering a chance to go top in a 1-1 draw at Arsenal on Saturday.

23.01 | 0 komentar | Read More