All Schools Have Fun At Carnival

By PHILLIP McCARROLL

Twenty-Five teams from 15 different schools took part in the 2009 Northern Zone competition of the South Coast Primary All Schools Rugby League Carnival held at Croome Rd sporting complex last Wednesday.

The Northern Zone competition saw schools from Helensburgh to Kiama compete in both the Open A’s and Under 10 A’s divisions. The A division is made up of primary schools that have over 200 students enrolled.

ARL Development Officer for the South Coast Natalie Russell said that despite the weather, the carnival was a great success. “We had around 370 players take part … it was a pretty big day even with the wind and the cold,” she said.

“The Open A’s competition saw Helensburgh Primary School defeat Shellharbour Primary and in the Under 10 A’s Kiama’s Ss Peter and Pauls Primary were the winners,” she said.

Russell also believed that there were plenty of positive signs to take away from this year’s carnival. “

We had a lot of keen and eager participants turn up. The number of participants was up on last year’s figures, there were lots of girls taking part … and the number of girls participating is building steadily which is pleasing,” she said.

The Birdman to Soar down South

By CHRIS SANDS

Disgraced Cronulla Sharks Lock Greg Bird has set his sights back down under after his manager, Gavin Orr, approached the Gold Coast Titans for a second chance in National Rugby League.

Titans managing director, Michael Searle, has made it clear that the club would be willing to help resurrect the former international’s NRL career but no contracts or arrangements have been signed to date.

‘I’ve given a view, an opinion on what I truly believe – the game does owe players like him another opportunity if they have served their dues,’ said Searle.

‘I think the game is more about trying change people’s lives and also giving them an opportunity to redeem themselves and if I didn’t believe in that we would never have assisted other players.’

Bird will meet with Searle and Titans coach, John Cartwright, in October when they travel to the UK for an international tournament yet Searle has stated Bird will need to take an active role in the club’s community programs if he is to be considered for selection.

‘We would want to speak with Greg and his girlfriend to work through their relationship subject to the court appeal outcome and he would have to be actively involved in a lot of the club’s community projects,’ Searle said.

‘I would be happier if we made a positive influence on his life first and foremost and if he goes well in his football then that’s good too.’

Searle believes that being at the club could have a positive impact on his life with the likes of role models such as Preston Campbell helping the origin star back on track.

Searle outlined that though Bird will probably receive much more lucrative offers from international clubs, the best the Titans can offer him is a season-to-season contract to see how he fits the mould.

‘(Any offer) would be an incentive-based contract, a one season deal not dissimilar to what the club did with Chris Walker,’ Searle told The Gold Coast Bulletin.

Bird has stated his reasons for wanting to return to the NRL are premiership motivated and that he would love nothing more than to repay the Titans with a premiership if they were to throw him a lifeline.

‘I would love to come to the Gold Coast,’ Birds’ representation told the Bulletin.

‘One of the reasons I want to return to the NRL is to win a premiership and the way the Titans played this year, with the quality players they have on their roster, they aren’t far away.’

Bird has been playing in the UK Super League for Catalans Dragons and has recently been suspended from the team after being handed a one match ban for a reckless tackle resulting in him missing a European Super League match against Salford.

 Bird was originally accused of maliciously inflicting grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, after glassing his girl friend, Katie Milligan, in August earlier this year.

Milligan suffered a fractured eye socket and lacerated left eye as a repercussion of the incident but has stood by the NRL star acting as a character reference.

Bird was given an eight months suspended sentence but has lodged an appeal to the conviction and is to face a court in Sydney in November later this year.

Searle has stated that even if Bird is convicted in November and serves jail time, he will be willing to give the lock forward another chance after realising how determined he is for the truth to come out about the incident.

NRL CEO David Gallop has differing opinions on the matter and has refused to state whether the NRL administration will allow Bird to compete professionally in Australia regardless of the outcome of his trial.

“We will wait for the outcome of Greg’s appeal before we consider the matter further,” he said.

From Shootings to Superstardom; Jared Hayne – Player of the Year

By CHRIS SANDS

Tuesday September 8 saw the National Rugby Leagues most prestigious individual award go to the in-form player of the competition, Parramatta Eel fullback, Jared Hayne.

The 27th annual Dally M Awards were held at Sydney’s State Theatre on Tuesday night drawing the games superstars and a variety of Australian A-List celebrities.

With the Parramatta Eels returning to form on the back end of the season winning six consecutive games, the 21 year olds contribution to this hot streak led to an unprecedented six man-of-the-match awards in a row securing the player of the year award.

When Prime Minister Kevin Rudd presented the young star with the award he dedicated the award to his mother Jodie, his performance in last year’s Rugby League World Cup and his devout faith.

‘I feel like crying,’ an overwhelmed Hayne said.

‘This is the best thing that has ever happened to me,

‘My Mum, my rock, the Fijian World Cup team; if I’m not in that team, I’m not here.’

Hayne became only the second fullback ever to take out the prestigious award on Monday night and the first Parramatta Eel since halfback Peter Sterling 22 years ago.

The Dally M Medal for Player of the Year is based on a 3, 2, 1 point system each round which is undisclosed to the public from Round 16 onwards. Hayne stood three points clear of second place, Thurston, a two-time winner of the medal, after the completion of Round 26.

The Bulldogs’ successful 2009 turnaround saw them come from receiving the 2008 wooden spoon to second position on the 2009 table, after losing the minor premiership to the Dragons due to for and against.

This was heavily rewarded when the team scored nine Dally M awards, including: Coach of the Year, Kevin Moore, Captain of the Year, Andrew Ryan, Rookie of the Year, Jamal Indris, and Top Point Scored, Hazem el Masri.

The St-George Illawarra Dragons won their first Minor Premiership this season since the clubs merge 11 years ago due to some brilliant individual performances which were rewarded on the night.

Dragons number six, Jamie Soward, won both the Dally M five-eighth of the year and Provan-Summons Medal as the people’s choice for player of the year after receiving 235,000 votes on a weekly basis from members of ‘MyNRL.com’.

As always judges for the competition collectively came from both the media and ex-players; the panel consisted of: Andrew Johns, Gordon Tallis, Michael Hagan, Laurie Daley, Wayne Pearce, Greg Alexander and journalists from the Daily Telegraph Rugby League section.

A complete list of the Dally M winners from the night is as follows:

Fullback: Jarryd Hayne (Eels)

Winger: Taniela Tuiaki (Wests Tigers)

Centre: Josh Morris (Bulldogs)

Five-eighth: Jamie Soward (Dragons)

Halfback: Johnathan Thurston (Cowboys)

Lock: David Stagg (Bulldogs)

Second Row: Anthony Watmough (Sea Eagles)

Prop: Ben Hannant (Bulldogs)

Hooker: Michael Ennis (Bulldogs)

Captain: Andrew Ryan (Bulldogs)

Coach: Kevin Moore (Bulldogs)

Rep Player: Greg Inglis (Storm)

Rookie: Jamal Idris (Bulldogs)

Provan-Summons People’s Choice: Jamie Soward (Dragons)

Peter Frilingos Memorial Award: Nathan Merritt (Rabbitohs)

Top Point-scorer: Hazem El Masri (Bulldogs)

Top Try-scorer: Brett Morris (Dragons)

Toyota Cup Player of the Year: Beau Henry (Dragons)

Poll – AFL Grand Final

Group 7 Grand Finals A Great Day Of Footy

By PHILLIP McCARROLL

Just as it did in 2008, the final week of the 2009 South Coast Group 7 Rugby League competition delivered four excellent Grand Finals.

In the first game of the day, the Greenwell Point Pirates made it back to back Reagan Cup premierships with a hard fought 26 – 14 victory over the Warilla Gorillas.

For the Pirates, this year’s finals campaign was similar to last years, beaten in the first qualifying semi, before bouncing back to take the title.

The U/18s decider saw history be created with the Culburra Dolphins downing favourites Kiama 38 – 26.

The Dolphins had a fairytale run, they finished fifth after 18 rounds before sweeping Batemans Bay, Gerringong and Milton in the finals, going on to claim their first senior premiership.

The Reserve Grade decider produced perhaps the match of the day with the Berry Shoalhaven Heads Magpies holding of the Warilla Gorillas for 21 – 20 victory.

The Gorillas were short priced favourites going into the game, having only lost one game all season but Berry came out on fire to catch the Gorillas napping to jump to a 20 – 6 lead.

The Gorillas clawed their way back to 20 all at the end of regulation time, before veteran Magpies lock Danny Siddons slotted a field goal in golden point extra time to seal the win.

The First Grade match was another nail biter, with arch rivals Albion Park Oak Flats ensuring that the Gorillas went home 0 – 3 for the day with a 25 – 22 win.

The Eagles dominated for most part of the game, with some desperate defence late in the second half stopping a resurgent Warilla from clawing their way in front.

Eagles and Gorillas To Face Off In Group 7 Decider

By PHILLIP McCARROLL

One of the biggest rivalries in Group 7 rugby league will play out on the competitions biggest stage with the Albion Park – Oak Flats Eagles taking on the Warilla Gorillas in this years first grade grand final.

With Warilla taking out the minor premiership on points differential after both side finished on equal competition points at the end of 18 rounds, the decider promises to be an enthralling match up.

The grand final will be the second time in three week the two teams have met, after the Eagles caused an upset, beating the Gorillas at Cec Glenholmes Oval in the qualifying semi-final.

Albion Park’s Captain-Coach Jade Lucas believes the victory over Warilla in the semi-finals will give them an advantage this weekend.

“We’re as confident as you can be going into Sunday, having last week off was good, it allowed us to train and get over a few bumps and bruises from the game against Warilla,” Lucas said.

The Eagles will be at full strength this weekend with the return of five-eighth Wade Walsh from injury and utility Benny Brookfield from suspension.

While Lucas believes the week off is an advantage for his side, Warilla coach Peter Hooper isn’t overly disappointed his side had to face Jamberoo last Sunday.

“It was good to have a run around and no come away with any injuries … Albion Park would’ve trained last week and so would we had we had the week off so playing isn’t that much different,” Hooper said.

Both sides believe Sunday’s game will be a physical match up and are approaching it with relatively simple game plans.

“I assume it’s going to be a close, biff and bash style of game, we just have to do our normal thing and try to control the ball, who ever does that will probably come out as the winner,” Hooper said.

For the Eagles, there approach to the game will be almost identical.

“We’ve worked on a couple of things, but we will playing the game in a similar way we have played all year, if we can control the ball and the game, we’ll put ourselves in with a good chance of winning,” Lucas said.

Jets Looking To Soar In 2009

By PHIL McCARROLL

The Gerringong Jets Cricket Club is looking to continue their resurgence in the South Coast First grade competition with a change in coaching staff.

The Jets, who returned to first grade in 2008 after a long hiatus have lured long time Oak Flats first grade coach, Grant Tilling to the club for the 09/10 season.

Tilling, who has spent the last decade coaching at Oak Flats said that coming to Gerringong was an easy decision.

“There are lot of young blokes at the club, and the club has a lot of good prospects, it was to good of an opportunity to pass up,” Tilling said.

“Blokes like Hayden Horne, Travis McMahon, Chris Nation and David Reid when he comes back give us a lot of young talent to take into the season,” Tilling said.

For Tilling the main focus for the off-season so far has been instilling some structure and routine into the club.

Tilling’s job has been made easier, with his long time coaching assistant Dan Yates following him to the club.

“I’ve tried to bring some organisation to the club that wasn’t really there before, training has been a lot more structured than before, I’ve tried to bring some fresh ideas and new directions to the club and it seems to be welcomed so far,” Tilling said.

With the season quickly approaching, Tilling is confident that the Jets can make solid progress this year.

“We’ve had five weeks of good training, now it’s up to players to put in the effort and if they do the semis are reasonable chance;” he said.

Anybody interested in playing cricket at any grade should contact Jets President Chris Geer on 0410618249.