TO: NZRL Staff, Districts and Affiliates and Board

FROM: Cushla Dawson

DATE: 31 August 2009

RE: Media Summary Tuesday 25 August to Monday 31 August 2009

Waikato facing a big step up: The Waikato team are expecting a stiff challenge from defending champions in the second round of the Bartercard Premiership tomorrow at Davies Park in Huntly. Coming off a solid 32-22 victory over Wellington at Ngaruawahia last weekend, Waikato will be hoping to continue their encouraging start to the season, but coach John Devonshire knows Auckland will be a big step up.

Kiwis hit the pain barrier: - who refused to tell the Star-Times whether he had been playing with painkilling injections - is likely to be the first Warriors player ruled out of the Kiwis' Quad Nations campaign next week, but others seem certain to follow, with the club increasingly resistant to wholesale rep calls.

Stacey remains in a league of his own: The career of one of the greatest Kiwi league players, if not the greatest, will come to an end once and for all on Saturday night at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland when Stacey Jones plays his final NRL game. After answering the call to come out of retirement for the Warriors this season, Stacey knew full-well he would be under the spotlight more than ever before. And it's inevitable people, when they sit back and pick through the bones of the Warriors' season, will have differing opinions about whether his comeback has been successful.

Brett Stewart's Test bid hits ARL snag: THE Australian Rugby League is offering no guarantees to Manly fullback Brett Stewart or Melbourne centre Greg Inglis that they will be eligible for selection for the Four Nations tour of Europe in October. Stewart, who makes his comeback after 18 weeks on the sideline when Manly host Cronulla today at , returns to court on Wednesday to fight sexual assault charges. The Sunday Telegraph has learned that unless the charges are dropped within 48 hours, Stewart's legal fight could drag on until Christmas, leaving the ARL with a dilemma.

Bulls forced to shuffle lineup: Captain Jonny Limmer is back from his sickbed, but the Canterbury Bulls have been forced to make three key changes for tomorrow's National Provincial Premiership rugby league match in Rotorua. Limmer returns from the flu to lead the Bulls from the back row against Bay of Plenty. But centre Tonga Mounga and interchange forward James Baxendale are out with knee injuries, and former Warrior Corey Lawrie will not travel north.

Flying Falcon grabs NRL club lifeline: Back in February Eddie Tauranga thought his chances of scoring a contract with an club were over. The talented Flaxmere Falcons inside centre had a few memorable moments in the Hawke's Bay Unicorns under-20 rugby league side's 74-4 loss to the Warriors under-20s at Napier's Park Island.

Kieren Foran pledges New Zealand allegiance: MANLY five-eighth Kieran Foran yesterday followed in the famous footsteps of by walking away from the Kangaroos. Foran, 19, represented the Australian Schoolboys in 2007 - and the NSW under 17s - but yesterday pledged his allegiance to New Zealand. The rising star received a phone call earlier this week from New Zealand coach before making his decision public yesterday.

England facing Wales warm-up clash: England will again play Wales in a warm-up international ahead of the end-of-season Gillette Four Nations series. Last October Tony Smith's men beat the Welsh 74-0 at Doncaster as part of their preparation for the World Cup. This time Wales will have home advantage after Bridgend's Brewery Field was confirmed as the venue on Saturday, October 17 (kick-off 6.15pm).

NZRL names Directors for Auckland Zonal Board: The today confirmed the directors on the Auckland zonal board, one of seven created to administer the game at regional level. The formation of the zonal boards was one of the recommendations made by the Independent Review Committee when it announced a range of constitutional reforms in February following a game-wide review.

Kiwis hit the pain barrier Manu Vatuvei - who refused to tell the Star-Times whether he had been playing with painkilling injections - is likely to be the first Warriors player ruled out of the Kiwis' Quad Nations campaign next week, but others seem certain to follow, with the club increasingly resistant to wholesale rep calls.

Vatuvei says he's "50-50" for the tour because of a persistent knee injury and Warriors club doctor John Mayhew says he would put a "big question mark" next to the names of Vatuvei, (knee) and Sam Rapira (chest).

Asked about the issue, Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah said: "Certainly I will be having discussions with the medical team and players over their state of mind and body."

Coach Ivan Cleary wouldn't direct players to refuse international call-ups, but added: "We have a few guys medically who are in a lot of doubt."

Vatuvei has talked regularly with Kiwis coach Steve Kearney and says he will Kearney a final decision after meeting knee specialist Barry Tietjens. "I don't want to go on the tour when my knee is like this, because I don't want to waste my time and the rest of the boys' time by going on tour just to play one game," Vatuvei said.

Mayhew says he and Tietjens haven't decided on Vatuvei's best treatment, but says: "You would be reasonably confident he won't be going away but nothing is set in stone."

NEW NZRL chief executive, Jim Doyle, says he's been working 18-hour days to complete a new five-year strategic plan for the sport, "More than a Game", which will be unveiled next Friday. The Star-Times has seen a draft version of the document, which includes some blunt analysis of the sport's failings and what it needs to improve immediately.

The other focus for Doyle, a Scot recruited from GPS navigation system company Navman, has been meeting some of league's most outspoken identities: including Peter Leitch, Graham Lowe and Dean Lonergan. "I'd be blind, deaf or stupid if I didn't consult the guys who have been involved in the game a long time," Doyle said. "If I was one of them and a new CEO came in and didn't talk to me, I would think it quite rude, I would be pissed off. Most have been pleasantly surprised that I got in touch early on."

* Clad in "Once a Warrior, Always a Warrior" T-shirts, 30 former Warriors first-graders will hold a reunion at the final game of the season against Melbourne, playing touch against a team of homeless people and policemen coached by ex-Warrior, Tony Tatupu. The club wants to hold a reunion at the last home game of each season.

(Source: Steve Kilgallon - Sunday Star Times 30 August 2009)

Stacey remains in a league of his own The career of one of the greatest Kiwi league players, if not the greatest, will come to an end once and for all on Saturday night at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland when Stacey Jones plays his final NRL game.

After answering the call to come out of retirement for the Warriors this season, Stacey knew full-well he would be under the spotlight more than ever before.

And it's inevitable people, when they sit back and pick through the bones of the Warriors' season, will have differing opinions about whether his comeback has been successful.

I believe you need to take a big picture view when analysing what Stacey has brought to the Warriors this year and he should be judged on more than just his on-field performances.

The amount of experience he has been able to impart to some of the Warriors' younger blokes cannot be sniffed at.

Shaun Johnson the talented under-20s player at the club is one youngster who I imagine will have benefitted no-end from being around Stacey. That, in itself, will have been a real positive for the Warriors and those benefits will become apparent in the future.

At the start of the year, few people could have said he had lost his touch.

Before the May test in Brisbane, I called Stacey and asked him how he would feel about pulling on the black jersey again.

At the time, the Warriors were playing some good footy and Stacey was a massive part of that.

In particular, his performance against Manly in round two when he almost single-handedly helped the Warriors snatch victory in the dying minutes deserves special mention.

While Stacey had retired from test footy in 2006, I felt the call needed to be made just to get his thinking on a comeback.

He politely declined the offer and that was fine by me. If you don't ask you don't get and I just felt, given the circumstances, he still had a lot he could have offered our group.

There has been a fair bit of criticism aimed at Stacey since then but to lay the responsibility for a side's fortunes at his feet is pretty tough. The Warriors have had other issues like injuries and that wouldn't have helped Stacey's cause.

I don't buy into suggestions he has sullied his name with his comeback this year. In my eyes, he is a Kiwis legend. It's not a term you throw out there willy-nilly but looking back on his career, it's hard to disagree with that assessment.

As he contemplates life after league, I wish him, Rochelle and the family all the very best for the future.

And down the track I would love to have him involved with the Kiwis in an off-field capacity.

The door is always open for individuals like Stacey and to come and help me out with the national side.

Some Kiwis positives As Kiwis coach, I've had some good news in the last couple of weeks with a number of talented footy players in Australia confirming their eligibility for New Zealand.

Manly playmaker Kieran Foran was in the news this week saying he wants to play for the Kiwis but he's not the only player who has told me of his desire to pull on the black jersey.

Bulldogs try-scoring machine is another along with Eddy Pettybourne of Souths and Manly's Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.

All four guys were named in our 45-man Kiwis train-on squad for this year's Four Nations and it's great news for New Zealand league they have a desire to play for us.

(Source: Stephen Kearney - Sunday News, 30 August 2009)

Bulls forced to shuffle lineup Captain Jonny Limmer is back from his sickbed, but the Canterbury Bulls have been forced to make three key changes for tomorrow's National Provincial Premiership rugby league match in Rotorua.

Limmer returns from the flu to lead the Bulls from the back row against Bay of Plenty. But centre Tonga Mounga and interchange forward James Baxendale are out with knee injuries, and former Warrior Corey Lawrie will not travel north. Andre October, who came off the bench to replace Mounga in last week's 32-30 win over Auckland, retains the role in Rotorua.

"Tonga has a grade-two medial ligament problem and I wouldn't imagine we'll see him for the next couple of weeks," coach Brent Stuart said. "But Baxy will probably be available to play next week."

Lawrie's communication and organisational skills were sorely missed when he left the field in the second half against Auckland. But Stuart said Lawrie might only be available to play home games this season and the coaching staff were keen to carefully manage his workload.

Limmer will take over Lawrie's second-row slot, with Agaese Fiso backing up again at loose forward. Baxendale's place on the interchange bench has been taken by the experienced Andrew Aiumatagi, who has recovered from a hamstring injury.

"It was great to see Andrew running freely at training," Stuart said. "He's a good asset, because he can play hooker, in the second row, loose forward in the halves."

Stuart and co-coach Dave Perkins are also waiting to see what shape prop Jaye Pukepuke is in after some niggles against Auckland. The front-rower has been absent with work commitments this week and the Bulls have placed Hornby prop Mike Kingston and Kaiapoi utility Tony Loffhagen on standby in case they have to make further changes. Stuart said bench forward Alex Todd would be promoted to starting prop if Pukepuke could not play, after seizing his chance against Auckland.

The Bulls do not know much about their Bay of Plenty opposition, who are coached by former Kiwis, Manly and Wigan coach Graham Lowe. But there will be one familiar name on the team sheet. Lowe has listed Joseph Nuku at centre and Stuart said the Bulls believed it was "big Joe Nuku", a former Halswell and Bulls wing.

The Bay were tumbled 40-8 by Taranaki in New Plymouth last week but Stuart said the Bulls would "show them respect". He said they "won't be underestimating anyone", especially after losing a pre-season friendly against the West Coast.

(Source: Tony Smith, The Press, 30 August 2009)

Waikato facing a big step up The Waikato rugby league team are expecting a stiff challenge from defending champions Auckland in the second round of the Bartercard Premiership tomorrow at Davies Park in Huntly.

Coming off a solid 32-22 victory over Wellington at Ngaruawahia last weekend, Waikato will be hoping to continue their encouraging start to the season, but coach John Devonshire knows Auckland will be a big step up.

"I think while Wellington had a couple of strong forwards and then fell away, Auckland are always physical, they'll be strong right across the park, their wingers will be as big as their props," Devonshire said.

"The halfback might be the biggest on the team so they're going to bring presence, they're going to bring size, but as long as our tackling technique and our defence are organised we hope to compete."

Devonshire said his side's game plan would revolve around moving the ball wide and doing what they did best.

"They'll [Auckland] be confrontational of course but we're looking to move them around the park and give the ball plenty of air and play to our strengths and really concentrate on what we're doing rather than what they're doing," he said.

The Waikato halves combination of Darren Kingi and Hayden Karena was impressive in the win against Wellington. They provided Waikato with plenty of spark, taking on the line on a number of occasions.

"It was just the whole team effort and the enthusiasm," Devonshire said.

"The passion was there and they played with plenty of flair."

This week he was looking for a more sustained effort and knew the repercussions if they switched off. "We've got to be tight on defence and maintain the 80-minute focus because good sides like Auckland and Canterbury can make you pay if you slip up or your concentration's not right so we do really need to tighten up on defence," Devonshire said.

After losing to both Auckland and Canterbury in last season's competition, Waikato finished third, and with semifinals in place this year, Devonshire was keen to get to the matches where "anything can happen".

"If we can repeat that, that's pretty good for our effort and our numbers that play the game," he said.

"Obviously we're one from one, we'd like to be two from two come Monday morning, but the job is tough. We're away for the next couple on the road so you've got to maximise your home advantage I guess, it's really important in these short and sharp competitions."

Devonshire noted the strong local support at the match against Wellington and he was hopeful it would continue on to Huntly tomorrow.

"Our under 16s and 18s are playing so there's three high quality games ... hopefully the fans will come and support the boys because the boys need it and it certainly gives them a lift."

TEAMS

Waikato: Vaughn Calcinai, Emmanuel Toka, Chris Te Kurupa, Namu Puru, David Gideon, Darren Kingi, Hayden Karena, Aaron Botherway, Patara Berryman, Barry Tawera, Simon Beale (c), Zane Milliken, John Taituha. Interchange: Dominic Paul, Brendon Irvine, Isaac Huirama, Ryan Laurenson.

Auckland: (From) Zensei Inu, Glenn Campbell, Henry Heta, Tuulaga Vince Latu, Rick Mccamish, Cody Walker, Aaron Woodhouse, George Taunga, Alfred Williams, Dylan Davis, , Dylan Moses, Sialii Tufeao, Andrew Wharton, Albert Short, Frank Perese, Justin Bernard, Tee Mahu, Sione Taka, Karl Semiti. Kick-off 2.30pm tomorrow, Davies Park, Huntly.

(Source: Aaron Goile, Waikato Times, 29 August 2009)

Brett Stewart's Test bid hits ARL snag THE Australian Rugby League is offering no guarantees to Manly fullback Brett Stewart or Melbourne centre Greg Inglis that they will be eligible for selection for the Four Nations tour of Europe in October.

Stewart, who makes his comeback after 18 weeks on the sideline when Manly host Cronulla today at Brookvale Oval, returns to court on Wednesday to fight sexual assault charges.

The Sunday Telegraph has learned that unless the charges are dropped within 48 hours, Stewart's legal fight could drag on until Christmas, leaving the ARL with a dilemma.

The Four Nations squad is chosen on October 7 - three days after the grand final.

That could leave the ARL in a precarious situation on whether to pick Stewart, despite him having serious charges still hanging over his head.

ARL chief executive Geoff Carr suggested selectors would not consider the brilliant fullback until Stewart's case became clearer.

Carr also added that the tour prospects for Inglis, who is facing assault charges against his girlfriend, would be treated the same.

``We're not going to make any call on Brett Stewart or Greg Inglis until we're required to,'' Carr said.

``There's no point speculating because their circumstances might change when we have to make the decision.

``That's the attitude we've got with it at the moment. At this stage, a lot of this is a moving beast to a certain extent.

``We're not 100 per cent certain on what their positions will be. ``We don't know what circumstances [Stewart will] be at when the side is picked. And we're purposely not making any public comment because we can't pre-empt the legal system and where it will be on both those players.''

Stewart will be forced to play catch-up through the finals to have any chance of winning a Kangaroos jersey. With main rivals and in sizzling form, Stewart will be hoping to join the race when he makes his long-awaited comeback today against the Sharks after a knee injury.

Australia coach Tim Sheens was unwilling to buy into the potential predicament facing the ARL, but he admitted that Stewart had the ability to force his way into the touring party.

``Australia's well off with the speed and talent of these players, it will be up to who's playing well,'' Sheens said.

``Obviously we're well off at the moment at fullback, with some of those players being able to play in a number of positions.

``It's too far down the track for me to speculate on who might qualify as the Australian fullback.

``But of course young Stewart has to come back and play.

``And at the moment Billy, who's the incumbent, and Jarryd, who I've worked with at a City-Country level, are obviously two fine young players.

``I really can't say any more than that.''

It's widely considered that Stewart's emotional return will spark the premiers' charge as they build for a defence of the title they won last year.

The brilliant fullback needs just three tries to become only the third Manly player, behind (151) and (129), to surpass 100 for the club.

(Source: David Riccio, The Sunday Telegraph, 29 August 2009)

Flying Falcon grabs NRL club lifeline Back in February Eddie Tauranga thought his chances of scoring a contract with an National Rugby League club were over.

The talented Flaxmere Falcons inside centre had a few memorable moments in the Hawke's Bay Unicorns under-20 rugby league side's 74-4 loss to the Warriors under-20s at Napier's Park Island.

``The Warriors coach told me if I was eight months younger they would have signed me. I thought my chances of cracking the big time were gone,'' Tauranga, 20, told SportToday this week.

``Now I've got another and last opportunity ... I've got to make the most of it.''

The former New Zealand Maori under-18 representative will trial with Manly from September 24-27 in Sydney. Fellow Bay players Brad Weber and Leafi Tupuola were also scheduled to trial with Manly but have declined the opportunity.

Weber has opted to focus on his Napier Boys' High School and Hawke's Bay under-18 rugby commitments, while Tupuola has Hawke's Bay under-20 rugby and work commitments as his priorities.

``If everything goes well I'll be offered a four-year contract with Manly. They want to see my best talent ... they're not too worried about fitness levels at this stage as that sort of stuff can come later,'' said Tauranga.

However the Te Aute College and Flaxmere College product is happy with his fitness after spending the winter playing for the Falcons who made the semifinals of Bay of Plenty's premier two competition.

``We should have made the final but we were unlucky to have two tries disallowed in our semi,'' said Tauranga during a lunchtime break from his work with Mainstream Insulation.

We put batts up in roofs. It's good training for league ... we do two houses a day. ``I've been doing it for a month now but hopefully I get the big yes in Sydney and those days will be gone.''

The Manly under-20 triallists will play the West Tigers under-20 triallists during the trial camp and Tauranga said if Manly don't want him the Tigers might. He'll have two games for the Falcons in Rugby League Hawke's Bay's spring competition which starts today before crossing the Tasman.

``We've got the bye so we'll go on a spying mission. I'm picking Tamatea to win the comp again but we should still make the top four ... two of our key players Ritchie Eagle and Johnny Mullany have gone to Tamatea,'' said Tauranga.

He weighed in at 97kg this week. In 2007 he got up to 118kgs when he was out of action with a broken ankle when playing for the Te Aute College side which finished second to Gisborne Boys' High School in the Hurricanes rugby competition.

Tauranga has made numerous Hawke's Bay and regional teams in league and rugby. He is more than ready to test his skills against the hard-nosed Aussies.

As he said ... it's his last chance and he has to make the most of it.

* Fifty-three teams across seven grades will be in action in Rugby League Hawke's Bay's Spring competition which begins tomorrow.

In premier tussles defending champions Tamatea take on Omahu Huia at Kirkpatrick Park in Hastings, while at Napier's Whitmore Park Tech Seals play EITSA and Clive meet Ford Phoenix. Flaxmere Falcons have the bye.

(Source: Shane Hurndell, Hawke’s Bay Today, 29 August 2009)

Kieren Foran pledges New Zealand allegiance MANLY five-eighth Kieran Foran yesterday followed in the famous footsteps of Benji Marshall by walking away from the Kangaroos.

Foran, 19, represented the Australian Schoolboys in 2007 - and the NSW under 17s - but yesterday pledged his allegiance to New Zealand.

The rising star received a phone call earlier this week from New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney before making his decision public yesterday.

He has previously played with North Sydney and the but will now be a Kiwi for the coming Four Nations tournament in Great Britain and France.

Foran will now be ineligible for State of Origin.

"I have decided to be with the Kiwis," Foran said. "I'm Kiwi at heart, all the family is back there. I was born there.

"I have always called New Zealand home."

Auckland-born Foran was last week named in New Zealand's preliminary 45-man squad for the end-of-season tournament but was still undecided. Until yesterday.

"It was a big shock, actually," Foran said. "I didn't expect it to come round that quick.

"When you get named in the squad you think, 'Geez, I didn't think it was going to hit that quick'. It was a massive surprise."

ARL chief executive Geoff Carr said last night his organisation would never attempt to force any young players to play for Australia if they have overseas heritage.

"We don't pressure any of the kids," Carr said.

"If they have the appropriate heritage then they are entitled to decide which country they want to represent and which is their nation of choice. A good case in point is Benji Marshall.

"He was an Australian Schoolboy but wanted to play for the Kiwis." Foran, off contract at the end of next season, lines-up at five-eighth for Manly's match against Cronulla at Brookvale Oval on Sunday.

The Sea Eagles must win - and beat the Titans in the final round - to remain a chance of finishing in the top four. Manly have been boosted by the return of star fullback Brett Stewart.

"It's very good to have him back, very exciting times ahead," said Manly centre Ben Farrar.

"He [Stewart] wouldn't be playing if he wasn't [100 per cent fit].

"He was the Australian fullback so he can play the game all right. I've personally never played with him so, from a personal point of view, it's going to be pretty exciting.

"It just gives the team a huge lift, just seeing him at training and running around again, he's got a smile back on his face and everyone's pretty happy to have him back."

(Source: Dean Ritchie, Herald Sun, August 27, 2009)

England facing Wales warm-up clash England will again play Wales in a warm-up international ahead of the end-of-season Gillette Four Nations series.

Last October Tony Smith's men beat the Welsh 74-0 at Doncaster as part of their preparation for the World Cup.

This time Wales will have home advantage after Bridgend's Brewery Field was confirmed as the venue on Saturday, October 17 (kick-off 6.15pm).

Six days later, England kick off the expanded Tri-Nations against France at Doncaster's Keepmoat Stadium, with Australia taking on New Zealand at the Twickenham Stoop on Sunday, October 24.

It will be Wales' first home game against England since they lost 42-33 at Wrexham in 2001 and the first against them in south Wales since an 18-16 victory at Cardiff Arms Park in 1996.

England captain Jamie Peacock said: "Playing England can only be good for Wales in the end as it gives them a big test on the international stage.

"It's an exciting time for everyone involved in rugby league right now."

Wales have not played since their 14-try thrashing by England but October' re-match will act as a warm-up for their European Nations Cup campaign, the venues for which were also announced today.

Wales meet Serbia in Smederevo on Sunday, October 25, and host Ireland a week later at Sardis Road in the first international to be played in Pontypridd since England were beaten 3-2 at Taff Vale in 1936.

Mark Rowley, executive chairman of Wales Rugby League, said: "I'm delighted that a full international match will be played in my home town of Pontypridd. I spent many happy years at Sardis Road as a player and I know how much everyone from the valleys loves their rugby whatever the code."

(Source: UKPA, 27 August 2009)

NZRL names Directors for Auckland Zonal Board The New Zealand Rugby League today confirmed the directors on the Auckland zonal board, one of seven created to administer the game at regional level.

The formation of the zonal boards was one of the recommendations made by the Independent Review Committee when it announced a range of constitutional reforms in February following a game-wide review.

NZRL chairman Scott Carter announced Sam Sefuiva had been appointed as the Auckland zonal board chairman with Luke Gagamoe, Brian Lythe, Alan Meadows and Howard Thomas appointed as directors. The Auckland zone, one of three created in the north of the country, covers the western, central and eastern areas of the ’s existing district. Another zone takes in the North Harbour and Northland areas while a third zone is centred on the Counties Manukau region.

“The quality of the applicants for the positions on the Auckland zonal board was really pleasing and we’re excited about the final five who have been appointed,” said Carter.

“This is a critical step for us as we go about implementing the reforms proposed by the Independent Review Committee and accepted by our districts earlier this year.

“The review identified that the most urgent need for the game was better governance. We are moving steadily to put in place the zonal boards needed to help us bring about a vast improvement in the way our game is run, not just at national level, but at grass roots level as well.”

Carter said the appointment process was well-advanced for the six other zonal boards.

(Source: www.leagueunlimited.com 25 August 2009)