|
Fax home in on Hammond Super League upset by Beeb snub Lindsay hits back at union claims Newlove on a slow road Aussie star calls for 'proper tours' Gregory joins The Warriors Kennedy faces anxious wait Wolves winger to take a break New Bull at the gate Moran on the mend Tigers star targets top six |
Monday, December 10, 2001
|
| Fax home in on Hammond ^top |
Halifax will sign former London skipper Karle Hammond tomorrow providing he passes a medical.
Sox boss Steve Linnane has agreed a deal to land the 27-year-old pivot, who is clubless after being released by Salford and Widnes.
But with a persistent ankle problem dogging him throughout the 2001 campaign, Shay bosses are keen for Hammond to prove his fitness.
"Karle will come across tomorrow and subject to him coming through his medical OK then we will be signing him," said Linnane. "We have agreed terms with him, and all being well he will be a useful addition to our squad."
Hammond snatched a Super League title with St Helens before joining The Broncos in 1999. His switch to Widnes for 2000-2001 raised a few eyebrows and a downturn in form and fitness saw him offloaded to Salford last spring.
Hammond fared little better at the Willows and is now desperate to succeed.
"Moving to Halifax is the chance I have been looking for," he said. "And hopefully everything will be sorted out tomorrow."
Picture: Fitness test for Hammond before Fax switch |
|
| Super League upset by Beeb snub ^top |
Super League officials have admitted that they were disappointed with rugby league's treatment at last night's BBC Sports Personality awards.
The 13-a-side code was again relegated to the status of minority sport at the corporation's flagship award ceremony, and was only handed a two-minute slot hosted by St Helens-born comedian Johnny Vegas.
The programme has again outraged fans and Super League's media manager Andrew Whitelam admitted that the coverage had been a disappointment for his organisation.
He told TEAMtalk: "I think that at a time when sports were reflecting upon achievements and happenings over the season, we would have hoped for a great deal more coverage and a great deal of depth given to the coverage.
"I think we had some tremendous moments this year and, whilst we recognise that broadcasters do have limited time, I think every rugby league fan would have liked to have seen them chronicled."
There has been criticism in recent seasons about the amount of coverage that the sport is given on terrestrial television, with some concerns being raised about the limited exposure Super League gets on satellite television. But Whitelam insisted that the sport was hitting a large enough audience.
"The Super League show is broadcast to a potential 17million homes in the north of England, and that includes areas such as Tyne and Wear, the Scottish borders and Cumbria. So there’s certainly strong exposure for Super League," said Whitelam.
"We also saw highlights of the Test series broadcast at a peak time on Sunday Grandstand and the BBC have already outlined their plans for significant coverage of next year's Challenge Cup – including a very interesting double-header. So I think rugby league has very strong coverage on both domestic and satellite television."
He added: "Obviously, as a game, we'd like more coverage but we are constantly looking at ways to maximise our exposure in the context of the modern TV market."
Picture: RL only a bit-part player at last night's ceremony |
|
| Lindsay hits back at union claims ^top |
Wigan chairman Maurice Lindsay has moved to allay fears that the club's link-up with Orrell RUFC will affect The Warriors' hopes of silverware.
Lindsay was responding to an interview with Wigan owner Dave Whelan - who recently took over cash-strapped National League Two side Orrell - which indicated that the rugby union outfit would soon become his number-one priority.
Speaking exclusively to TEAMtalk, Lindsay said: "It's no secret that David Whelan has bought Orrell – it's because he's a Wigan man and Orrell is Wigan, of course.
"The three major sporting teams in the town are all in the same stable now and I'm sure David hasn't bought Orrell in the hope it goes downwards, I'm sure he's bought them in the hope they go upwards.
"But that won't detract from the ambition and the determination that exists here at the JJB Stadium for Wigan Warriors. It's our fierce ambition and the ambition for Stuart Raper and the players that we get our hands on some silverware – so that's very much where the rugby league group are focused."
Lindsay has been busy during the close season strengthening The Warriors' squad for Super League VII with the signings of Julian O'Neill, Danny Sculthorpe and Craig Smith, among others, and he cited this as evidence of the organisation's commitment to rugby league.
"I can't understand why people would think that we'd be buying players of the calibre of Craig Smith if we had no interest in rugby league," he added.
"If we don't bring some success to the club we'll be very disappointed. We've given them a day out at two finals now, which unfortunately we didn't win, but it took Bradford a long time before they eventually won Super League. Hopefully our time will come soon."
Picture: Lindsay is committed to league |
|
| Newlove on a slow road ^top |
St Helens' experienced international centre, Paul Newlove, has resumed light training with the club after his long lay-off.
This is the next step as part of his recovery program after an Achilles tendon injury ruled him out of action for most of Tetley’s Super League VI season.
But it is likely to be a long process, with The Saints' management being cautionary about when Newlove might see action in 2002.
The Saints football manager Kel Coslett said: "Paul has been down the club doing weight training and the like."
But, he added: "It is too early yet to say when he will be fit enough to play. He is coming back from a very serious injury."
Picture: Newlove back in light training |
|
| Aussie star calls for 'proper tours' ^top |
Australian star Braith Anasta has called for the return of full-blown Kangaroos tours and warned GB they will find it hard Down Under next July.
Anasta was one of the rookies in the Australian party during this year's shortened tour but made his mark with three impressive substitute appearances against Great Britain.
Speaking exclusively to TEAMtalk, Anasta spoke of his "great time" but revealed that next time he hopes it lasts longer.
"We had a great time during our three weeks in England but unfortunately we only got to play three Test matches," said the Canterbury Bulldogs stand-off.
"We would have liked to play a few county sides and a few of the English league sides and travel a bit more, and see a bit more of England and the talent they have over there.
"It would be great to get back to the seven-week tour and experience a bit more rugby league."
Anasta looks certain to figure prominently for The Bulldogs during the 2002 NRL season but he echoed the sentiments of several of the Australian game's rising stars when he spoke of the importance of international competition.
"It's pretty important to see how you stand in international rugby league and to play against other countries is a great honour," added Anasta.
"It's important to see how your country is doing and whether you're going backwards or forwards. We know that when we play these sides we need to play really well and keep improving ourselves, because countries like Great Britain and New Zealand are improving as well. They're keeping us on our toes at the moment."
Anasta's next international assignment is likely to come in July next year, when Great Britain arrive in Australia for a one-off Test, but the 19-year-old starlet has warned The Lions that they will face an uphill battle in The Kangaroos' backyard.
"It's going to be a very tough and physical Test. But I think with it being on our turf it's going to be pretty hard for the Great Britain boys to play against Australia," he said.
"It'll be a bit of a dryer track and might suit us a little bit more because it's very wet and slippery over in England.
"We're pretty confident so they're going to have to come up with some good football and play like they did in that first Test to beat us."
Picture: Anasta wants more international exposure |
|
| Gregory joins The Warriors ^top |
Wigan have strengthened their off-field team with the appointment of former Great Britain captain Mike Gregory as their new Under-19s coach
Gregory, who had an illustrious playing career with Warrington, winning 20 Great Britain caps, was the England Academy coach on their summer tour of Australia and New Zealand and was an assistant coach on the recent England Under-21s tour of South Africa. He has agreed a three-year contract with the Warriors.
Wigan chairman Maurice Lindsay said: "Mike will be a vital addition to our coaching set-up and will be able to pass on a wealth of experience and knowledge to the young players at our club.
"He was the captain of the Great Britain squad that toured Papua New Guinea and New Zealand in 1990 when I was Tour Manager.
"His leadership qualities were outstanding on that tour and he will bring lots of determination as well as experience to the club. He is a born winner and I know that Stuart Raper is delighted to have him on board."
Gregory himself added: "I am delighted to join my home town club in a coaching capacity.
"The standard of the young players at Wigan is very high and I am looking forward to working with them.
"I am also relishing the prospect of working alongside the head coach Stuart Raper, who has great respect within the game, and his assistant John Kear who I joined on the recent Under-21s tour of South Africa."
Picture: Gregory joins Wigan's management team |
|
| Kennedy faces anxious wait ^top |
Newcastle Knights' Test forward Ben Kennedy will know within the next few days whether he can go into combat with Bradford in the New Year.
Kennedy suffered a shoulder injury in The Knights' NRL Grand Final victory over Parramatta and aggravated it during the recent Kangaroos tour.
Now he is to have tests and a specialist will decide whether he can make the trip to England at the end of January for the clash with The Bulls at the McAlpine Stadium on Friday, February 1 in the World Club Challenge.
The Bulls look set to be able to select from a full-strength squad, with hooker Jimmy Lowes coming through the first three days of training with no ill effects after close season knee surgery.
Picture: Kennedy in fitness race |
|
| Wolves winger to take a break ^top |
Warrington winger Jamie Stenhouse has decided to take a break from the game in order to spend a year working as a barman in Tenerife.
The 21-year-old three-quarter broke into The Wolves' side at the end of Super League V and made a couple of impressive appearances on the wing.
He faced competition for a place in Steve Anderson's first-team plans next season following the signing of a number of new players, and the club's decision to abandon their Alliance side next year threatened to leave him in limbo at Wilderspool.
Warrington spokeswoman Gina Coldrick confirmed the news of Stenhouse's decision to temporarily turn his back on the game. She told TEAMtalk: "He's not retired and has left it open to return to the game at some point. But he didn't feel he had the desire to carry on at this stage.
"With the break-up of the Under-21s side next year, a lot of players have had to look elsewhere - with the likes of of Ian Parry moving to Chorley. Jamie has decided to go to Tenerife for a year with another of our Under-21 players, George Kay, to work in a bar.
"We doubt we'll re-sign him," she added.
Stenhouse was Warrington's Alliance Player of the Year in 2000, topping the try-scoring charts with 10 touchdowns from 21 appearances. He joins the likes of Wigan and Wales full-back Wes Davies in turning his back on the game following the controversial decision to abandon Alliance rugby. |
| New Bull at the gate ^top |
Bradford's new recruit Brandon Costin is back in the UK and joined his Bulls colleagues for the first time at training today.
The former Canberra Raiders star landed back in the country this weekend after returning to his native Australia at the end of last season for a holiday.
Costin, who scored 15 tries for relegated Huddersfield Giants, has signed a one-year deal as added cover following the losses of Henry Paul and Graham Mackay to rugby union.
Costin has played the majority of his career at centre but can also operate effectively at stand-off and is expected to put pressure on the anticipated first-choice half-back pairing of skipper Robbie Paul and Paul Deacon.
He will make his public bow as a Bull at the launch of the new change strip on Thursday night at new head sponsor JCT 600's Vauxhall dealership in Sticker Lane between 6pm and 8pm. All fans are welcome.
Picture: Costin soon to be donning The Bulls' kit |
|
| Moran on the mend ^top |
London Broncos half-back Dennis Moran is making good progress as he fights to regain fitness after his recent knee operation. 
The former Parramatta Eels ace has been working with the rest of the club's Australian-based players over the past few weeks and looks set to be fully fit for the start of pre-season training on January 3.
Moran had surgery in Sydney last month in a bid to cure his longstanding knee problem. And it appears to have worked as he is already back in training with the rest of the players.
Broncos coach Tony Rea admits he is happy with the progress that Moran has been making.
He said: "Dennis could be hiding behind rehab following his knee operation but he was really ripping into some boxing and attacked his weights with additional focus."
Meanwhile, The Broncos have been watching a number of trial matches in the South-East this winter and have their eyes on a number of players who have been taking part in schools games. Two of the players that they have been keeping tabs on are forwards Alex Rowe and Ben Firs, who both hail from Havent.
The club are likely to invite the duo to train with them in the near future if they continue to impress during trial games.
Picture: Moran should be fully fit by the New Year |
|
| Tigers star targets top six ^top |
Castleford's Ryan Hudson has revealed that anything short of a place in the play-offs will be seen as failure following his move from Wakefield.
The England Under-21s skipper joined The Tigers from their cross-district rivals last month and, after spending the past couple of weeks getting to know his new team-mates, he has set his sights on a place in next year's end-of-season finale.
Speaking exclusively to TEAMtalk, he said: "All the lads were talking the other day and we agreed that one of our main goals was to get into the top six – and I'm sure that's something we're capable of achieving.
"With the team we've got here we've got to be aiming for the top six, a good Challenge Cup run and hopefully a few medals."
Hudson led the Under-21s during their tour to South Africa last month but failed to pick up any further representative honours - despite playing a starring role in Wakefield's battle against relegation. However, he feels that his move to a club that will be challenging for honours in 2002 is likely to give his hopes a considerable boost.
"I've got to assess my goals again but one of them has to be to play in the Yorkshire Origin side and the Great Britain Test side," he added.
Picture: Hudson has his eyes on the top six |
|
|
|
|
CLICK HERE FOR EARLIER STORIES or HERE to HAVE YOUR SAY
|
