TO: NZRL Staff, Districts and Affiliates and Board

FROM: Cushla Dawson

DATE: 21 July 2009

RE: Media Summary Tuesday 21 July to Monday 27 July 2009

Kearney tipped to continue leading Kiwis: The NZRL is expected to announce within the coming weeks that World Cup-winning Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney has signed on again. Kearney, who took the reins from Gary Kemble in early 2008, went on to win the World Cup with the Kiwis in his first year in charge. His contract runs out after this year's Four Nations tournament but Sunday News understands he has verbally agreed to stay on as head coach beyond 2009.

Kiwi parents avoid sidelines ban: A proposed radical blanket ban on parents watching their children play in a junior Australian league competition because of sideline trouble is unlikely to be adopted by sporting codes in New Zealand. But Kiwi parents can still expect to be barred or face criminal charges if their support at children's sports matches gets ugly and violent, administrators say.

Junior players will be kicked out if parents are abusive or violent: JUNIOR rugby league players will be kicked out of the game if their parents are repeatedly abusive or violent, under tough new rules to deal with growing trouble surrounding kids' footy. Under the zero-tolerance approach, league officials will stop games as soon as a disturbance or abuse occurs on the sideline. If a parent fails to immediately curb their behaviour, they will be banned from the sideline or their children will be deregistered, The Daily Telegraph reports.

Aussie dad bashed in footy brawl: While fighting between players at last week's State of Origin match in Brisbane has sparked debate about the ugly face of rugby league, Australian sports officials are considering banning parents from children's games following a spate of violence on the sidelines.

Teen wins Knights contract: Rugby league has always been the hard man's game and one Ngaruawahia 17- year-old is living up to that tag. Dale Verstappen had an outstanding Maori age-group tournament recently, catching the eye of a Newcastle Knights scout.

Rugby league fans sought: Stalwarts see codes working side by side: Calling all potential rugby league players. Rugby league is set to make a comeback in Marlborough and not just at senior level. Local league enthusiasts Fred King, Russell Te Ngahue and Ken Muir have organised a muster day at Lansdowne Park on Sunday, July 26, starting at 12.30pm, with a view to re-igniting the game here.

Ces Mountford 1919-2009: West Coast Rugby League was today in mourning for Ces Mountford, arguably the greatest footballer of any code to represent the region. Mr Mountford, “the Blackball Bullet”, died aged 90, at his home in Queensland, , on Saturday after a long period of poor health.

NZ legend Ces Mountford mourned: Rugby league legend Ces Mountford, who died in England yesterday aged 90, was rated probably the best New Zealand player to never play for the Kiwis. Mountford made his name as a player for Wigan then as coach at Warrington in a 15-year English rugby league career, New Zealand Rugby League general manager Peter Cordtz said. He also coached the Kiwis to some of their finest wins.

Kearney tipped to continue leading Kiwis The NZRL is expected to announce within the coming weeks that World Cup-winning Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney has signed on again.

Kearney, who took the reins from Gary Kemble in early 2008, went on to win the World Cup with the Kiwis in his first year in charge.

His contract runs out after this year's Four Nations tournament but Sunday News understands he has verbally agreed to stay on as head coach beyond 2009. An NZRL source said yesterday that it was expected Kearney's new contract would be given the all-clear from the board when it next met on August 19.

New CEO Jim Doyle, who starts in the role on August 3, is also expected to be involved in finalising the details of Kearney's contract.

This news won't come as a surprise to many. Several weeks ago Kearney told Sunday News his desire was always to continue on as head coach and it seems only a late hurdle in the negotiation process could prevent that from happening.

"From my point of view, I'm certainly keen to continue in the role," he said at the time.

"I feel the direction the game is taking now is good. [former chairman] Ray Haffenden did a wonderful job as chairman and I wouldn't be in the position I am now if it wasn't for him."

(Source: Aaron Lawton, Sunday News, 26 July 2009)

Kiwi parents avoid sidelines ban A proposed radical blanket ban on parents watching their children play in a junior Australian league competition because of sideline trouble is unlikely to be adopted by sporting codes in New Zealand.

But Kiwi parents can still expect to be barred or face criminal charges if their support at children's sports matches gets ugly and violent, administrators say.

The NSW Rugby League has endorsed the idea of a spectator ban from the sidelines of the Central Coast Junior Rugby League from round one of next year's competition after administrators said they were sick of dealing with trouble off the field, the Daily Telegraph reported.

The proposal came shortly after another incident in Sydney where a 42-year-old man needed facial surgery after three fathers from the opposition team beat him in front of his children at an under-12s match.

But New Zealand league general manager Peter Cordtz said while the organisation had processes to deal with sideline offenders a similar ban would not work here.

"Then again I think it's fair to say that some parents need to manage their expectations.

"Some parents think that what they see on TV in the NRL or State of Origin is what they should see on the field when their kids go to play on Saturday morning ... even some of the kids think they should be playing that way."

Mr Cordtz said among the worst incidents he knew of was a father who bashed a referee at a junior match in Auckland after his son's team lost. The man was banned indefinitely. Mr Cordtz believed he had had nothing to do with the game since.

He said the NZRL worked hard to educate coaches and referees.

Many clubs also issued their players with a code of conduct which parents were able to read and expected to follow themselves.

"But at the end of the day you have to rely on some personal responsibility."

New Zealand Football chairman Frank Van Hattum said a sideline ban was an "overreaction".

He said serious off-the-field incidents were rare but abuse towards the referee, players and other parents was a part of the game NZF was trying to stamp out.

Auckland Rugby club liaison officer John Gillies said rugby, like league, had volunteer event managers to marshall the sidelines and remind supporters of their obligations.

"Unfortunately they cop a bit of abuse too."

Counties Manukau referee Kevin Drew says a blanket ban on abusive parents at sports games will never work.

"It does seem a pretty extreme measure," he said. "If you ban the parents how are the kids going to get to the games?" Mr Drew, a 15-year refereeing veteran who oversees games from junior grades to senior reserve, was punched by a coach five years ago.

The coach was charged with assault and later banned for life.

Mr Drew said rope boundaries forcing spectators back from the sidelines had also helped.

Mr Gillies said: "It's something we have to be vigilant about ... it could be parents trying to live their failed sports careers through their kids, I don't know."

He said bans varying in length had been handed out to abusive parents through disciplinary meetings.

"Ideally we want to see parents and supporters bring words of encouragement to the games.

"We don't like people abusing each other or the official. He's just a volunteer who loves the game like everyone else."

(Source: James Ihaka, NZ Herald, July 22, 2009)

Junior rugby league players will be kicked out if parents are abusive or violent JUNIOR rugby league players will be kicked out of the game if their parents are repeatedly abusive or violent, under tough new rules to deal with growing trouble surrounding kids' footy.

Under the zero-tolerance approach, league officials will stop games as soon as a disturbance or abuse occurs on the sideline.

If a parent fails to immediately curb their behaviour, they will be banned from the sideline or their children will be deregistered, The Daily Telegraph reports.

The code - to be drawn up at the annual NSW Junior League end-of-season conference in time for next year - follows the weekend bashing of footy dad Gary Harling by parents from a rival team.

NSW Rugby League boss Geoff Carr said last night: "The way to ban parents is to ban the kids."

Until now, penalties to deal with parents or spectators breaching a club's code of conduct has been left to individual districts to implement.

But Mr Carr will demand that all clubs give ground managers and referees power to take action against unruly parents.

A zero tolerance policy introduced by South Sydney Junior Rugby League just three weeks ago is now the benchmark across the state, Mr Carr said.

"The Department of Sport and Recreation have a sports rage policy and program and all the sports are on board with that and we allow leagues to tweak that to suit their own circumstance," he said.

"I think where South Sydney is up to is where we should be heading.

"They have come up with one which might be the blueprint going forward. Souths have taken it to the next level."

Souths Junior Rugby League president Kieth McCraw implemented the program because he was concerned about the growing number of sideline incidents.

"We've only had two people go before conduct panels this year on minor incidents, but I was getting reports about a few things that made me think we needed to get on the front foot," he said.

The parents of more than 3500 players in the district have been warned.

"We implemented a zero-tolerance policy whereby the referee is instructed by ground officials to cease the game at the time. If the person doesn't adhere to instructions then the game is terminated," he said.

"The parent is then called before a conduct panel and is disciplined. Parents could be banned from attending games or at worst, the player could be deregistered.

"There have been three or four kids deregistered from the Souths district in the past three years.

"Deregistering a player is a painful exercise but it is one we will continue to do. We haven't had to do it this season, we deregistered a 13-year-old last year and it was terrible."

Mr Carr said the message would get through if players were deregistered.

"It gives a motivation for parents, relatives and supporters to behave responsibly because the only one that suffers if they don't is the kid," he said.

Police yesterday continued investigations into the alleged bashing of father Gary Harling after an under-12s rugby league game between the Harling boys' team St Patrick's and Blacktown City.

(Source: The Daily Telegraph, 22 July 2009)

Aussie dad bashed in footy brawl While fighting between players at last week's State of Origin match in Brisbane has sparked debate about the ugly face of rugby league, Australian sports officials are considering banning parents from children's games following a spate of violence on the sidelines.

An altercation in the car park next to a football oval in western Sydney last weekend left Gary Harling, 50, in hospital with serious head injuries. Harling, whose son, Oliver, plays in an under-12s league, was allegedly attacked by three fathers from a rival team, during a brawl that involved up to 30 parents and at least two women.

In Melbourne, several games were cancelled after a fight between two under-14 players spilled off the field and led to parents punching and kicking each other before a crowd of children.

The general manager of Rugby League, Geoff Carr, told Macquarie Radio yesterday that a spectator ban was being considered following the attack on Harling, which he called "unacceptable".

"We've got to make sure that parents take responsibility for their own actions. They've got to be aware that there will be strong consequences if they don't."

However, Carr later appeared to back down, saying it would be wrong to penalise 99 per cent of well-behaved parents for the actions of a few.

Harling, whose injuries include broken ribs, fractured eye sockets, severe facial swelling and inflammation of the brain, told Sydney's Daily Telegraph he had stepped in to defuse an argument between the mother of a St Patrick's team player and several fathers supporting Blacktown City.

"The next thing I knew, I received an almighty punch across my face, then one straight after. I realised I was being punched by several people and then I blacked out."

Witnesses said the men continued to hit and kick Harling after he fell to the ground unconscious. His elder son, 16-year-old James, was also set upon when he tried to help his father.

Carr said that incidents such as the brawling at last week's State of Origin match sent the wrong message to young players. He noted that a record number of juniors had been sent off this year for misconduct. Parents' behaviour had deteriorated too, he said, with abuse of referees and other parents increasing.

Police, who have not yet charged anyone with assaulting Harling, appealed for witnesses to come forward. According to some accounts, Harling threw the first punch.

NSW Rugby League operates a Sports Rage programme which requires parents to sign a code of conduct. In theory, those who breach it are suspended. No serious injuries were suffered during the Melbourne confrontation, which is believed to have been triggered by an umpiring decision. (Source: NZ Herald, July 22, 2009)

Teen wins Knights contract Rugby league has always been the hard man's game and one Ngaruawahia 17-year-old is living up to that tag.

Dale Verstappen had an outstanding Maori age-group tournament recently, catching the eye of a Newcastle Knights scout.

The prop/second-rower, who made the tournament under-18 team after being in the national Maori under-16 side last year, had a call from the scout the next day to say the club wanted him on their books.

"I was pretty happy eh, I was stoked as," Verstappen said.

The St John's College year 13 student was having troubles with his right wrist, but just thought it was sprained so carried on playing.

He injured the wrist before the Maori tournament, but it didn't hinder him too much; he still made the tournament team and impressed the Knights scout. Aussie bound: Dale Verstappen, of But weeks after the initial wrist "sprain" and 10 more games Verstappen had St John's College, is off to take up a an X-ray. rugby league contract with the Newcastle Knights. "That showed it was broken and there was a big gap [in the bone]. I think I've played 10 games since I injured it," he said.

Verstappen leaves for Newcastle straight after exams in November for pre-season training.

"I think they're going to test me out with the under-20s, then if they don't think I'm up to it yet I can play 18s."

The Knights top team is the goal now, but Verstappen knows there's a lot of work before that happens.

For now, he's rapt to have taken the first step to his goal of becoming a professional league player.

It's a long way from Turangawaewae's Paterson Park to the NRL, but it's those skills learnt playing with mates in Ngaruawahia, and what his family taught him, that Verstappen credits with his achievements so far.

"I've played since I was six, that's our pride, the pride of Ngaruawahia," he said.

He credits a lot of his success to his family, but his father never played league. He was a union player in the South Island.

Verstappen senior, Charlie, is now a local league referee and has officiated Dale's games before.

"I don't get any favours, and I can't abuse him if he's refereeing either," he laughed.

Verstappen's not the only Ngaruawahia league player heading to the club; his mate Jordan Tukere is also joining him.

Tukere doesn't have a contract yet, but will trial with the club in an attempt to make the under-20 side.

Until Verstappen goes to Australia, his focus, as well as school, is on club footy.

A last-minute New Zealand Rugby League decision to stop players who don't turn 18 this year playing Senior A rugby league stopped Verstappen playing for Turangawaewae's top side, and now the broken wrist means he misses the Bs' sudden-death quarterfinal this weekend.

But he's determined.

"I'm not playing this weekend, but I'm cutting (my cast) off if we make the final."

That final would be in two weeks, the cast is meant to stay on for six. "And when the cast comes off, I've got to go see a hand specialist to see if I need surgery," he said.

Who can argue with that logic; it was his hardness which got him the contract in the first place.

No need to cotton-wool rugby league players from Ngarua-wahia.

(Source: Matt Richens - Waikato Times, 22 July 2009)

Rugby league fans sought: Stalwarts see codes working side by side Calling all potential rugby league players.

Rugby league is set to make a comeback in Marlborough and not just at senior level.

Local league enthusiasts Fred King, Russell Te Ngahue and Ken Muir have organised a muster day at Lansdowne Park on Sunday, July 26, starting at 12.30pm, with a view to re-igniting the game here.

Rugby league was played at senior competition and representative levels in Marlborough for several years during the 1990s and early 2000s, but in recent years it has been in recess.

King, Te Ngahue and Muir believe there is a lot of interest in starting a competition in Marlborough, so they've put their hands up to test that interest, with a view to forming teams this year and moving to a In a new league: Rugby league structured competition next year. enthusiasts, from left, Ken Muir, Fred King and Russell Te Ngahue, pictured Unlike the dark old days, when rugby union and league were at at Lansdowne Park last weekend, are loggerheads, the two codes are set to work together. The competition enthusiastic about kick-starting the would be based at Lansdowne Park, with those players not involved code in Marlborough. with either the Tasman Makos or Marlborough Red Devils among those likely to want to play.

King said several people had asked him to get involved, and he had agreed.

"A lot of guys just sit around and don't play rugby but want to play league. We'll try and get the under-16s going as well. We'll get something going and see what the response is."

Te Ngahue is a former league player with the Dam Busters side, based in the Bay of Plenty.

"There are a lot of keen people here in Marlborough dead keen to have a whack at league. We'll work alongside rugby," he said.

"The senior club rugby season is over and the rugby season is a bit short for some. A lot of people have been talking about [league], so hopefully we'll get something going."

Te Ngahue said rugby clubs would be encouraged to enter teams, along similar lines to what happened in the Bay of Plenty when he played there.

"It's a way to keep the grounds in use and keep the rugby clubs operating by opening their clubrooms and using the facilities."

Muir said they planned to play a senior match on muster day, and if enough players turned up, they would also play an under-16 or under-17 game. He said players would be able to use the changing facilities at Lansdowne Park, and would be covered by ACC in the event of any injuries.

"I'm a passionate league man and I want to get rugby league going again in Marlborough."

Muir said that with the timing of the proposed league competition, he didn't see a clash with rugby. He expected the two codes to work together and share facilities, as they did in Invercargill when he played and refereed there. * Anyone wanting more information can contact Fred King at 021640888, Russell Te Ngahue 0272221664 or email Ken Muir at [email protected].

(Source: John Alexander - The Marlborough Express, 21 July 2009)

Ces Mountford 1919-2009 West Coast Rugby League was today in mourning for Ces Mountford, arguably the greatest footballer of any code to represent the region.

Mr Mountford, “the Blackball Bullet”, died aged 90, at his home in Queensland, Australia, on Saturday after a long period of poor health.

West Coast Rugby League president Peter Kerridge said Mr Mountford’s contribution to the sport was immeasurable and his memory would be honoured with the introduction of a suitable trophy or award for presentation on an annual basis.

“Ces’s passing will sadden many, especially within the rugby league community. He was perhaps the best ever player West Coast Rugby League produced,” Mr Kerridge said today.

“His deserved acclaim contributed significantly to the overall sporting reputation of the West Coast, both nationally and internationally. We mourn the passing of a champion rugby league player who was a fine ambassador for our sport and our country.”

A member of the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame, Mr Mountford was ahead of his time, turning professional when he left Blackball for a long career with Wigan, England, in 1946.

League historians are adamant that he would have enjoyed a long career with the Kiwis had he remained in New Zealand.

As a 19-year-old he was considered unlucky to miss the 1939 Kiwi tour to Great Britain, which was abandoned after two games with the onset of World War Two. He headed to Wigan when the hostilities ended, going on to captain his adopted club for many years before transferring to Warrington.

He scored 17 tries in his first season with Wigan and was the first Kiwi to win the Lance Todd Trophy in the Challenge Cup final of 1951.

Ces Mountford was captain of Wigan in 1947, when his team lost 8-10 to a Kiwis team led by his brother, Ken. On his return to New Zealand he coached the Kiwis in a successful period from 1979 to 1982.

He also coached the NZ Universities teams on two tours to the UK and one to Australia, and in 1987 was awarded an MBE for his contribution to sport.

(Source: Tui Bromley, Greymouth Star, 20 July 2009)

NZ legend Ces Mountford mourned Rugby league legend Ces Mountford, who died in England yesterday aged 90, was rated probably the best New Zealand player to never play for the Kiwis.

Mountford made his name as a player for Wigan then as coach at Warrington in a 15-year English rugby league career, New Zealand Rugby League general manager Peter Cordtz said.

He also coached the Kiwis to some of their finest wins.

"The thing that makes him unique is that he never played for New Zealand, and could be considered one of the best never to play for the Kiwis," Cordtz told NZPA today.

Five-eighth Mountford, born in Blackball on the West Coast, made his name at Wigan, helping the club to two championship and two Challenge Cup successes after leaving New Zealand in 1946.

His man-of-the-match performance in the 1951 Challenge Cup final against Barrow saw him become the first Kiwi to win the Lance Todd Trophy. He left Wigan later that year to begin a successful decade-long coaching career at Warrington, a period in which the club won seven major competitions, including a league and cup double in 1954.

He returned to New Zealand in 1961 and remained in the game as a coach or official for many years, having a spell in charge of the national team from 1979-82.

Cordtz said Mountford was a pioneer of the game, making a strong commitment to the English game after World War 2 when most players were looking to play in New Zealand or Australia.

"He's probably better known and more highly regarded as a player in England than here, where he's more know for his exploits as a coach.

"But Ces was a trailblazer for many more New Zealanders who travelled north, and he was a dominant figure in their game for a very long time."

Cordtz said Mountford was a "real stickler" for the basics of rugby league.

"Ces was very hot on what modern coaches refer to as micro-skills -- passing, catching, kicking -- he was leading the charge on those decades ago.

"He was before his time on plenty of things, but for the most part he was timeless because it was just always about the football and always very simple.

"He certainly leaves a very big hole in our game."

(Source: Otago Daily Times, 20 July 2009)