ntnews.com.aulllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll SPORT Brothers go pink for cause

RUGBY LEAGUE By GREGOR MACTAGGART

THIS is Brothers, but not as you know them. The traditional butcher stripes worn by the NTRL club have gone from blue to pink today for a special cause as club president John Adams explained yesterday. ‘‘We have had a number of Brothers people affected by breast cancer over the years,’’ Adams said. ‘‘We wanted to help out by raising money and awareness of Dragons Abreast, who do a great job in the community. ‘‘Hopefully we’ll be able to raise somewhere between $1500-$2000 and be able to do this on a yearly basis.’’ Brothers’ senior men and women’s teams are wearing the pink jerseys, which will be auctioned off post-match. The pink jerseys coincide Combined Affiliated States The Raiders are yet to turn with the NTRL’s Women In team tour of . the new Allphones Park into a League round that doubles as He joins Trenton Smith, fortress, although Palmerston the last competition matches Michael Fairweather, Aaron did score a 98-4 win over before the finals series. Barnes and Jesse Maclean as South Darwin in their last Brothers can secure the the Territory players on next home game at the impressive minor premiership with a month’s trip to the Pacific. $7.5 million venue. win against University at But Constantine will be Fullback Trenton Smith Richardson Park. missing today due to a knee looms as a key man for the The Brethren go in as warm complaint, but Brothers Dragons fresh from his five- favourites as the Sharks are coach Anthony Castro can try effort last week, while only playing for pride, just a still call on a raft of quality Chuck Norris continues to week after their September players to cover his absence. prove a reliable contributor dream was quashed. Kick-off is at 4.25pm. to the Palmerston cause. They received some good Nightcliff is the other club In today’s other game, news yesterday when back- capable of winning the minor South Darwin will try to rower Louka Constantine, premiership, but they will avoid going through the one of the favourites for the need Brothers to lose and beat season without a win against Lesley Scharnberg, Louka Constantine and Duane Mitchell show off the pink jerseys Brothers Frank Johnson Medal, earned a Palmerston team on its Litchfield at Richardson will wear today as part of NTRL’s Women in League round Picture: ELISE DERWIN a call-up to the Australian home patch at 4pm. Park. Kick-off is at 6.10pm. Warriors plan good Luck send-off

RESTORING respect and giving nan go back some way. It was for, the players wanted to give THE STORM club stalwart Micheal Luck a fit- McClennan, as Kiwis coach, who something back to the club and ting send-off will be the Warriors’ gave ‘‘The Beast’’ his first Test the fans, and accord Luck an ap- targets over the rest of their NRL cap as a 19-year-old in 2005. propriate farewell after seven season as they try to bounce back Vatuvei went on to star in that seasons with the Warriors, IS COMING! from a tumultuous week. year’s Tri-Nations, scoring two Vatuvei said. Winger Manu Vatuvei says tries in ’s 24-0 up- The 30-year-old Luck, who has there’s still shock among the set over Australia in the final endured an injury-hit campaign, players over coach Brian McClen- in Leeds. is set to hang up his boots to be- nan’s departure after less than ‘‘It was really hard for myself,’’ come football operations man- a season. he said of McClennan’s sacking. ager at his former club North It was something he didn’t see ‘‘Bluey was one who thought I Queensland. coming, despite the Warriors’ six- was ready to make my internat- If the workaholic lock takes the match losing streak that has end- ional debut, so it was sad to see field against Canberra, he will ed their playoff hopes. him leave like that. It’s part of the notch up 150 appearances for the ‘‘There’s a cloud because we’re business, but I’m disappointed he Warriors, to go with his 76 games 25th and 26th of August 2012 still shocked by the news,’’ had to leave.’’ for the Cowboys. he said. The Warriors complete their ‘‘We want him to leave this club ‘‘We just have to live with it and season away to St George Illa- on a high and with happy memor- MARRARA INDOOR STADIUM move on, and hopefully turn warra tonight and at home again- ies,’’ Vatuvei said. Against the this around.’’ st Canberra the following week- Dragons, Luck is in the starting Vatuvei’s links with McClen- end. With little tangible to play 13 for the first time this year. Come along and support our local girls! Tassie Spirit v NSW Waratahs 4.30pm Saturday Bellamy vows to ride out the Storm Territory Storm v Western Sting 6.30pm Saturday Territory Storm v Tassie Spirit 9.00am Sunday MELBOURNE coach Craig Bella- he wouldn’t enter He fears the detrimental affect my says he won’t talk contracts into negotiations un- on a club’s premiership as- until the end of the season and til at least the end of pirations could see supports NSW Waratahs v Western Sting 11.00am Sunday remains committed to the Storm the season. and clubs hoping their stars for 2013. ‘‘I didn’t know un- aren’t selected. Bellamy is believed to be in the til this morning I ‘‘I know they say the players SHARE THE PASSION! sights of the Warriors, who sack- Craig Bellamy was going to earn all will get paid a lot more but to be ed coach Brian McClennan this this money if I go over the ditch,’’ quite honest I think players TICKETS ON SALE AT THE DOOR week after less than a season in Bellamy said yesterday. would play Origin for nothing,’’ the role. ‘‘I’ve never broken a contract Bellamy said. Tickets: 13 years and over $5.00 Bellamy’s deal is believed to be before and don’t intend to start.’’ ‘‘I think it’s unfair on the worth around $1.3 million over Meanwhile, the Melbourne players.’’ 12 years and under $2.00 PUB: three years. mentor expressed disappoint- Bellamy would also like to see NTNE-WS-25-A51KGE:MDA-TE: Y-C-CO-LO-R: With the Storm sitting second ment that clubs and players ap- current 25-man squads expanded Children under 5 years FREE on the ladder ahead of their Mon- peared to have been ignored in to 30 to help cover for Origin, and day night clash with Cronulla, the new broadcast deal in terms the extra money go to the lower- Bellamy has also been linked of the timing of Origin. paid players. with St George Illawarra and the Bellamy has long plumped for ‘‘I would imagine all players . the match to be held as a stand- are looking at a pay rise but the The Storm have been vocal in alone on a weekend, however, it’s guys I’d like to see benefit from 1002974 their desire to extend Bellamy’s been locked in for the next five this is the guys on the bottom of 11-year reign but the coach said years on a Wednesday night. your cap,’’ Bellamy said. www.ntnews.com.au Saturday, August 25, 2012. NT NEWS. 51