OCTOBER 2010 ISSUE 67 THE RUGBY LEAGUE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE RFL ENGLAND’S YOUTHFUL LOOKS on the inside… In full Bloem! From Blackpool Honour & Prestige to New York EARLY BIRD TICKET OFFER 5 FOR 4* 12 In full Bloem! ENJOYED THIS YEAR’S SELL OUT CARNEGIE CHALLENGE CUP FINAL? don’t miss NEXT YEAR’S! Book the best seats now. CONTENTS 5 Media Matters 6 Magic to kick off 2011 8 Come along & shape the future 10 All to play for 19 Giants strides of success 20 Deep roots From Blackpool 14 16 England’s 21 Continental conflict to New York youthful looks 22 Saints alive! EARLY BIRD OFFER: 24 My Wembley weekend 26 Reggae Rugby Buy 5 tickets for the price of 4* for the 27 A game for Garry 2011 Carnegie Challenge Cup Final 30 Hello Mr President Limited availability ALL TICKETS FROZEN AT 2010 PRICES. OFFER ENDS 30 NOVEMBER Saturday 27th August 2011 TICKET PRICES: £76, £61, £51, £41, £31, £26 & £21 Available from 31st August For disabled enquiries call 0844 856 1113 or e-mail [email protected] 28 Honour & prestige Call our hotline on 0844 856 1113 or visit www.rugbyleaguetickets.co.uk *Offer only available by calling 0844 856 1113 Monday to Friday (9am – 5pm) and applies to £61, £51, £41, £31 & £26 tickets. Terms and conditions apply. INSIDE THIS ISSUE MEDIA MATTERS .... with Nick Boothroyd Welcome to issue 67 of the Rugby League Bulletin .... RL We’ve reached the IN NUMBERS business end of the What an experience - the Engage With the domestic professional season drawing to a close attention will soon Super League Grand Final turn to the international game with both the Four Nations and European Cup season and there hardly taken place this autumn. This issues main cover story is about the young talent coming through in the seems to be a day that England camp and the writer Nathan Clarke also caught up with RFL’s Head of goes by at the moment Player Development BJ Mather as he plans for the future, whilst Johnny Sharp also previews a European Cup that is to be played between France, Wales, without a crucial Rugby Ireland and Scotland. One event happening even sooner is the Engage Super League Grand Final, League match, dinner or an event which is now firmly established in the UK sporting calendar. press conference .... As we look forward to this years occasion this issue contains an interesting piece on the Harry Sunderland award. Presented to the finals man of the match 85,217 Supporters at the 2010 Neil Barraclough looks back at previous winners, speaks with Paul Wellens about Carnegie Challenge Cup final at what it means to win it and asks “who was Harry Sunderland?” As you’d expect, the week ahead of the Another article penned by Neil is a fascinating interview with former Super Wembley Engage Super League Grand Final is a League star Jamie Bloem. Jamie explains to the Rugby League Bulletin why he’s particularly busy one which starts with decided to become a match official and also tells us what else he’s been up to the Co-operative Championship Finals Day since he hung up his boots. on Sunday September 26 and never really Elsewhere within these pages Phil Hodgson looks ahead to another season in lets up before the showpiece event at Old the BARLA regional leagues, the 2010 Community Game raffle winner is named Trafford the following Saturday. and we learn about the new community team being put together at Engage As well as the traditional pre-match press Super League club the Huddersfield Giants. conference and picture opportunity at the Finally, there are a couple of articles with particular reference to Cumbria, stadium the Man of Steel awards dinner as we look at the game as a whole in the county and also preview the Garry also takes place during this busy week in Purdham memorial game between Cumbria and England on Sunday October 3. Manchester. The arguments are already raging amongst both media and supporters about who will pick up the coveted Man of Steel 12,281 Player registrations done TOM HOYLE award in 2010, it’s always a great talking by the Community Game Services point so feel free to have your say in the Editor Department of the RFL in August [email protected] discussion on the RFL’s official facebook page. Regardless of who picks up the trophies at Rugby League’s equivalent of the Oscars the ceremony is great for the profile of the sport and is enjoyed by many members of the media for whom the event goes on late into the night. Speaking of Rugby League’s profile, the Grand Final itself has a massive impact on twitter.com/CommunityRL facebook.com/rugbyfootballleague journalists especially those attending for the first time. I’ve heard many non-Rugby League journalists coming away from the Published by the Community Game Services Department of the RFL. event and raving about the experience. The RFL, The Zone, St Andrews Road, Huddersfield, HD1 6PT. 388 Points scored by Pat Indeed, alongside the Carnegie Challenge Tel - 01484 448000 | Fax - 01484 545582, Richards in the Engage Super Cup final the Engage Super League Grand Email - [email protected] | Internet - www.rfl.uk.com League weekly rounds Final provides us with an excellent platform to showcase our sport at its very best to the feature writers and general sports The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the RFL Board of journalists from the national media. Directors. If you have never experienced the atmosphere at Old Trafford for the most highly charged game of the season you Contributors - Tom Hoyle, John Ledger, Neil Barraclough, swpix.com, Dave Williams, Nick have to go along and enjoy it for yourself, Boothroyd, Phil Hodgson, Paul English, Louise Fildes, Nathan Clarke, Danny Reuben, Johnny the pre-match build up and tension together Sharp with the rendition of “Jerusalem” is truly special. For supporters that are heading to the If you are interested in advertising in the Rugby League Bulletin, please contact - Grand Final try and spare a bit of time to you can get involved in the Greatest Game. It’s fantastic to see the Rugby League [email protected] have a look round the fans zone which is Meanwhile, one event that I hope will family rallying round in support of the Garry Main Cover Photograph - Ryan Hall (swpix) 39 Teams take part in the situated just outside the turnstiles. continue to generate a lot of publicity is the Purdham Memorial Trust and if you haven’t As part of the RFL’s drive to encourage Garry Purdham memorial match which sees already heard about this great cause I would © The Rugby Football League Ltd 2010 2010 11 Hattons Solicitors / more people to participate in Rugby League Cumbria taking on England in Whitehaven encourage you to visit www.Garrypurdham. Designed by - Tom Hoyle National Conference League there will be a special “Try it” trailer parked the day after the Grand Final on Sunday co.uk for full details. Printed by - Redwood Print Ltd Tel - 01484 711111 in this area full of information about how October 3. - 4 - RUGBY LEAGUE BULLETIN www.tryit.co.uk www.tryit.co.uk RUGBY LEAGUE BULLETIN - 5 - MILLENNIUM MAGIC TO KICK OFF 2011 SEASON Making a return - Cardiff proved The 2011 Engage Super League season will popular with both players and kick off in magical style with all seven first fans round fixtures taking place beneath the closed roof of Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium. DANNY REUBEN explains .... The return of Millennium Magic after a two- the clubs and fans wanted and are looking year absence will see the new Engage Super forward to putting together a spectacular League season make the most explosive opening to the new season at Millennium start in the competition’s history as 14 Stadium next February.” clubs go head to head over the weekend of The Welsh Assembly Government are February 12 and 13. fully behind the magic Weekend returning Details of Millennium Magic 2011 fixtures to the Principality and are looking forward and ticket availability will be announced to welcoming Rugby League supporters to in the coming weeks and Super League’s Cardiff for the start of the 2011 Engage Director of Events and Projects Sally Bolton Super League season. said Rugby League fans are in for a treat at Heritage Minister, Alun Ffred Jones, one of the sport’s most popular venues. commented, “We are delighted that the “The Millennium Stadium has hosted Rugby League family will be returning back some memorable Rugby League matches to Cardiff in 2011 for what promises to and I’m sure supporters of every club will be an outstanding start to next season’s not want to miss out on what promises to competition. be a truly magical weekend,” said Bolton. “Thousands of Rugby League supporters “The stadium’s closed roof means that will once again be enjoying the hospitality, fans can watch all seven games in comfort facilities and resources that exist within the over what I’m sure will be two days that will Welsh capital. prove to be highlights of the 2011 sporting “The Welsh Assembly Government has calendar.” been a proactive partner in attracting the Millennium Stadium hosted the first two event back to the Millennium Stadium for Magic Weekends in 2007 and 2008 before the first time since 2008 and this will only the event moved north of the border to reinforce our positive working relationship Edinburgh, where full rounds of Engage with the RFL going forward,” added the Super League were staged at Murrayfield in Minister.