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Home , Alex Glenn, Antonio Winterstein, Brent Webb, Brookvale Oval, Bryson Goodwin, David Kidwell

TO: NZRL Staff, Districts and Affiliates and Board

FROM: Cushla Dawson

DATE: 10 August 2009

RE: Media Summary Tuesday 04 August to Monday 10 August 2009

Bargain Bryson holds hopes for Kiwis payoff: Three Goodwin boys have played in the NRL. There was Luke, who was with the Western Reds; Bronx, the sacked after a pub incident; and now Bryson, the bargain Bulldogs wing with the millionaire performances. And yet 23-year-old Bryson, with 16 tries in 17 games this , is the only one who hasn't worn a representative jumper. Last year, when Luke coached the Maori team and Bronx played fullback, there was no younger brother.

League may hit hallowed turf: EXCLUSIVE: Australian and New Zealand league officials are expected to meet this week with bosses to discuss the possibility of staging a test between the Kangaroos and Kiwis at the hallowed ground next year. Sunday News has been told NRL marketing boss Paul Kind and director of finance Ed Farish who lend their help to the Australian when needed will down in in the next 24 hours. It's understood they will hold discussions with new NZRL CEO Jim Doyle and will also meet with Eden Park officials while here.

Injury curse robs Kiwis of Asotasi again: The 24-test veteran suffered yet another season-ending injury last night, damaging the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee during South Sydney's upset 36-22 win over defending champions Manly in the (NRL). The initial prognosis for a shattered Asotasi was six months on the sidelines, meaning he will miss Souths' bid for the NRL , and the end-of-season Four Nations tournament for the Kiwis in England and .

Graham Lowe a contender to coach Knights: World Cup-winning New Zealand coach 's name is missing from the list of candidates to succeed Brian Smith in charge of the next season. Although his name has come up in media speculation since news of Smith's impending departure to the Roosters broke three weeks ago, Kearney was not one of the 12 applicants considered at the club's board meeting on Wednesday night.

Development charge making clubs reluctant to blood young rep players: officials said a try-saving tackle by Iwi Hauraki just 90 seconds before full-time against the Knights last weekend highlighted the commitment of their players - but the rookie winger almost didn't get to make his NRL debut because of confusion over development fees. After naming Hauraki for the match against Newcastle, the Roosters were contacted by the seeking $10,000 in fees for the 2005 star.

Kiwis train-on squad named for Four Nations: World Cup-winning Kiwis dominate a 45-man train-on squad named today ahead of the Four Nations rugby league tournament in England and France later this year. National selectors Howie Tamati (convener), , Darrell Williams and coach Stephen Kearney have included 20 of the 24-man squad that beat in last year's World Cup final. The missing World Cup players are captain , now retired from international , , Evarn Tuimavave and .

Rugby-Tahu joins dual internationals in heading back to league: International winger was a granted a release from his contract by the Australian (ARU) on Wednesday, paving the way for the dual international to return to rugby league. The 28-year-old, who made a highly publicised switch to rugby union from league in 2008, had asked for an early release from his ARU contract, which was to expire after the 2011 World Cup.

New boss planning for future – shock: It may be a strange concept to some league followers, but the game’s new boss says no longer will they be doing everything at the last minute. NZRL Chairman Scott Carter has returned from a summit of the sport’s world leaders with an impressive list of long-term plans – including a confirmed calendar for the Kiwis until 2017 and a desire to sign national coach Steve Kearney until 2013. See document attached in the email.

Bargain Bryson holds hopes for Kiwis payoff Three Goodwin boys have played in the NRL. There was Luke, who was with the Western Reds; Bronx, the Canberra fullback sacked after a pub incident; and now Bryson, the bargain Bulldogs wing with the millionaire performances.

And yet 23-year-old Bryson, with 16 tries in 17 games this season, is the only one who hasn't worn a New Zealand representative jumper. Last year, when Luke coached the Maori team and Bronx played fullback, there was no younger brother.

"I was sort of supposed to," he says sheepishly. "But I went away for a holiday. I'd already booked it before anything came up and I wasn't back in time."

Is he booking any year-end trips this year? "Nah, no way," he says.

Named last Wednesday in a 45-man Kiwis train-on squad, the wing who cost the Bulldogs just $55,000 can cement a remarkable year of renaissance by surpassing his brothers and playing for the full national team in October's Four Nations.

The sons of legendary wing "Lord" , who won four test caps for Australia in the 1970s but "doesn't mind" about their defection, the Goodwin boys qualify through a Maori grandmother. Luke was a 2000 Maori World Cup selection, and campaigned to get his side into last year's tournament but settled for a high-profile curtain-raiser with Australian Aborigines. He has taken his brothers home to learn about their culture and develop a passion for New Zealand so that Bronx, who once hid in a toilet rather than perform the haka, is now confident enough to take a lead role.

Unsurprisingly, Luke also had a role in Bryson's Kiwi call-up. "He told me that Stephen Kearney had spoken to him about me, that's how I knew [they were interested[ and he's really happy about it," says Bryson, who has yet to talk to the Kiwi coach or any of the selectors.

"I've just glanced over the squad, seen there are 45 players in there. Hopefully I keep my form up, and if I am playing well, it will sort itself out."

Goodwin had nine games for the Sharks last year but had no club until the Bulldogs stepped in. "I wasn't going to throw it in, but I wasn't sure what was going to happen," he admits. "I thought I might get a start somewhere, but I was glad it was a club like the Bulldogs."

Bulldogs recruitment manager called him the bargain of the season and he's now on upgraded terms for the next two years. "I didn't want to go anywhere else. The Bulldogs gave me my chance this year, and so I am more than happy to stay with them. I couldn't be happier."

Now he's adjusting to becoming the best-known of the clan. "It's a bit of a shock," he confides. "You can go places now and have dinner and people say hello who you don't know. Before, you could go anywhere and do what you want and now I've got to be more careful about where I am going and doing."

(Source: Steve Kilgallon - Sunday Star Times, 09 August 2009)

League may hit hallowed turf EXCLUSIVE: Australian and New Zealand league officials are expected to meet this week with Eden Park bosses to discuss the possibility of staging a test between the Kangaroos and Kiwis at the hallowed ground next year.

Sunday News has been told NRL marketing boss Paul Kind and director of finance Ed Farish who lend their help to the when needed will touch down in Auckland in the next 24 hours.

It's understood they will hold discussions with new NZRL CEO Jim Doyle and will also meet with Eden Park officials while here.

Next year's Four Nations tournament in Australia and New Zealand is high on the agenda and yesterday ARL chairman Colin Love confirmed the prospect of holding a test at Auckland's most prestigious sporting venue was a strong possibility.

"I won't be heading across with the other guys this week," Love told Sunday News. "I do know all about that (the meeting with Eden Park officials) though. They (Kind and Farish) will be looking at a lot of different commercial aspects and the possibility of playing a match at Eden Park if it's on the right terms well, it's a prestigious stadium and if everything falls into place it might be possible to make that happen."

NZRL CEO Doyle said talks with Eden Park were on the cards.

"We will be at that meeting too," Doyle told Sunday News yesterday.

"We (the NZRL) will be meeting all day on Monday and Tuesday with Ed Farish and Paul Kind and for me, this is my first week in the job and it will be my first meeting with them.

"A big part of it will obviously be how the NRL, NZRL and ARL can work more closely together.

"Certainly a big part of the trip is around next year's Four Nations and that's why there will be some discussions with Eden Park in respect to potentially having some of the tournament's games there.

"It's still in very early stages but our understanding is that the Eden Park Trust Board are looking at how they can utilise the venue and a big part of it will be about when the venue will be readily available.

"One of the things we want to do is increase the profile of the game and that's potentially one option for us."

If all goes to plan, next year's test at Eden Park would be the first league international at the ground since the 1988 World Cup final.

(Source: Aaron Lawton - Sunday News, 09 August 2009)

Injury curse robs Kiwis of Asotasi again The 24-test veteran suffered yet another season-ending injury last night, damaging the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee during South Sydney's upset 36-22 win over defending champions Manly in the National Rugby League (NRL).

The initial prognosis for a shattered Asotasi was six months on the sidelines, meaning he will miss Souths' bid for the NRL playoffs, and the end-of-season Four Nations tournament for the Kiwis in England and France.

"I'm not having the luck in the last two years, so I guess I'm going to have to start all over again," he told reporters.

"The only good news is that I'll be all right for next year. The disappointment is I won't be with the boys for their march towards the finals."

Aucklander Asotasi, 27, only recently re-signed a two-year contract extension to his original five-year deal with the Rabbitohs that will keep him at the club until 2013.

Little has gone right for the affable front rower since he helped engineer the very public coup that saw Kiwis coach ousted early last year, and replaced by the Stephen Kearney-Wayne Bennett duo.

He was heavily concussed and sidelined early in last year's centenary test against the Kangaroos in Sydney, then on the eve of the World Cup campaign he suffered a torn pectoral muscle which required surgery and ruled him out of the biggest day in New Zealand league history in last November.

Sitting with his arm in a sling and on crutches due to ankle surgery, he admitted it was the lowest point of his career.

"It was pretty tough. I was in a bad place, I had surgery on the ankle and the pec injury, the season was over. You couldn't ask for anything worse," he told NZPA earlier this year.

Asotasi lost the test captaincy to when he came back for the heavy Anzac test defeat against Australia in Brisbane in May, and returned to his best in recent weeks amid Souths' form revival, before it all went wrong at last night.

Souths coach Jason Taylor summed up the angst in the dressing room as Asotasi sat with ice clutched to his knee.

"He's our captain, he's such an integral part of what we're doing and his performance in the first half (last night) was what got us to victory. Then to have (the injury) happen, it really is upsetting." (Source: NZPA, 09 August 2009)

Graham Lowe a contender to coach Knights World Cup-winning New Zealand coach Stephen Kearney's name is missing from the list of candidates to succeed Brian Smith in charge of the Newcastle Knights next season.

Although his name has come up in media speculation since news of Smith's impending departure to the Roosters broke three weeks ago, Kearney was not one of the 12 applicants considered at the club's board meeting on Wednesday night.

The Sydney Morning Herald understands a short list of six was compiled at that meeting, and Knights assistant coach remains at the top as firm favourite.

The other five leading contenders are believed to be premiership-winning former Bulldogs coach , journeyman , former Manly and Kiwis coach Graham Lowe, Cronulla and NSW Origin assistant and Kearney's fellow Storm assistant Michael Maguire.

Knights chief executive Steve Burraston would not comment on the identity of those on the shortlist but said he had begun compiling dossiers on each of them to present at the next board meeting scheduled for September 2.

There remains a remote possibility directors will consider someone not on the shortlist but Burraston said he did not anticipate any more applications.

''We think everyone knows the job is on the market, and we're quite happy with the quality of those who have made applications,'' Burraston said yesterday. ''We've got some very strong coaches that have put their name forward, so from this point on, we're just putting together what they've done and how they suit our club and how they could take our club forward.

''From there, there will be a recommendation to the board, and they can decide whether they want to appoint someone or proceed with interviews.''

Burraston said he would continue his research in earnest next week.

''We're just checking the records of all the applicants, and when we've got all that together, we'll forward something to the board and see where they want to go with it,'' he said. ''But as we've said all along, we're in no hurry because our roster is set for next season and we're not going to change our coaching staff until the end of the season.

''The person coming in doesn't have to look for new players or move players on, they're going to inherit a roster and go forward from November when we start pre-season training.

''As long as we've made a decision during September, it won't be a problem. The next board meeting has been put back a week [to September 2] so it will be some time in September that we make a decision.''

Stone declined to comment when asked about the process, preferring to concentrate on his duties helping prepare the team for tomorrow's game against the Eels at Stadium.

Smith said he did not believe another week of speculation surrounding the coaching position would affect the players.

''Nothing. Zero. They're a lot smarter than you think,'' Smith said.

Asked if a win would ease any perceived pressure on him or the team, he said: ''It's got nothing to do with any of that.

''Our guys have just got to get their heads around the things that we need to do out there for each other in training, which they've done really well this week, and they need to carry it into the game now.

''We need to be ready for a big challenge because the team we're playing are in really good form. That's what we've done the last two weeks [against Manly and the Roosters].

''We've played against two teams that have played right up there at their very best levels, and we're anticipating Parra will be like that, and that's what we want … You go to someone else's place, big crowd, them playing in good form, and if you perform well there, you're back and you get a lot of confidence out of it, so it couldn't be any better, really.''

The Knights and Hunter Venues Authority are no closer to settling their dispute over the club's ongoing licence agreement to use EnergyAustralia Stadium.

High Court judge Michael McHugh was to have presided over arbitration for several days from July 14 but that was postponed. Burraston and Hunter Venues counterpart Mark Zundans are still trying to agree on new dates.

(Source: Brett Keeble, Sydney Morning Herald, 08 August 2009)

Development charge making clubs reluctant to blood young rep players Sydney Roosters officials said a try-saving tackle by Iwi Hauraki just 90 seconds before full-time against the Knights last weekend highlighted the commitment of their players - but the rookie winger almost didn't get to make his NRL debut because of confusion over development fees.

After naming Hauraki for the match against Newcastle, the Roosters were contacted by the New Zealand Rugby League seeking $10,000 in fees for the 2005 Junior Kiwis star.

The figure left stunned Roosters officials considering whether it was worth playing the 22-year-old, given that he hadn't even trained with the club before being called up from NSW Cup feeder team Newtown.

But the problem was alleviated when it was discovered that Parramatta had previously paid a $7500 clearance fee after recruiting him from his home town of Whangarei five years ago as a New Zealand under-16s representative.

"The Roosters thought they had to pay $10,000 to the NZRL for a clearance - so, for a while there, it looked like he wasn't going to play," Hauraki's manager, Gavin Orr, said. "In the end, it all got sorted out because Parramatta had already paid $7500 - so the amount was only $2500 - but you have to ask why the Roosters should have to pay a development fee for a player from Newtown."

According to Orr, hefty development fees of up to $17,500 are discouraging clubs from signing some players.

"It is stopping kids getting a game," he said. "There are kids out there who clubs baulk at signing because they want to put them on a $5000 contract and then find that they've got to pay $10,000 in development fees.

"I know of three cases last year where a young guy didn't get a go because clubs didn't want to pay $10,000 for development fees."

Under the development fee structure in place for NRL clubs, NSW, and New Zealand junior representative players attract payments of $4000 when their contracts are initially registered and an additional $3500 when they make their debut in the under-20s National Youth Competition.

A further $10,000 is then payable after an under-18s representative player makes his NRL debut, and $2500 for an under-16s representative. Under-20s and Junior Kiwis representatives also attract a total development fee of $17,500.

Hauraki played alongside the likes of , Ben Te'o, , Sonny Fai and Frank-Paul Nuuausala in the Junior Kiwis' 46-8 thrashing of an Australian Schoolboys team that included Michael Jennings, Jarrod Mullen, and in 2005.

But because he was already playing for the Eels, his fee on debut for the Roosters last weekend was $2500, not the $10,000 it would have been had an NRL club signed him afterwards.

(Source: Brad Walter and Melinda Farrell, Sydney Morning Herald, August 7, 2009)

Kiwis train-on squad named for Four Nations World Cup-winning Kiwis dominate a 45-man train-on squad named today ahead of the Four Nations rugby league tournament in England and France later this year. National selectors Howie Tamati (convener), Tony Kemp, Darrell Williams and coach Stephen Kearney have included 20 of the 24-man squad that beat Australia in last year's World Cup final.

The missing World Cup players are captain Nathan Cayless, now retired from international football, Sika Manu, Evarn Tuimavave and David Kidwell.

Manu is sidelined with a broken leg, Tuimavave has only just returned from a long injury lay-off and Kidwell has been playing the Cup recently.

Also selected are five players who were ruled out of the World Cup with injury - (South Sydney), (Melbourne), (Penrith), (Sydney Roosters) and (Leeds).

Among others named are a number who last played for the Kiwis in the end of seasons test's in 2007 - (Warrington), (Cronulla), Shaun Kenny-Dowall (Sydney Roosters), (Parramatta), Ben Roberts (Bulldogs), Chase Stanley (St George ) and Taniela Tuiaki ().

English clubs provide three players in Anderson, Webb and World Cup winner (Wigan).

While 32 of the squad have test experience, the other 13 are some of the most promising New Zealand-eligible players in the National Rugby League as well as more established first graders who have won recognition.

"The squad we've named reinforces the quality and depth of players we have to choose from when looking to select New Zealand teams these days.

"We've named 45 players but there are plenty with good claims that haven't been included.

"That's a sign of the competition we now have for spots and that has to be good for our game.

"There's a lot of football to be played before we can be sure what team we will finally have for the Four Nations but we believe we'll have a competitive squad to go to Europe."

Kearney confirmed the Kiwis would prepare for their Four Nations campaign by assembling in Auckland in early October before spending six days in camp in Rotorua for a one-off Test against on October 14.

National high performance director Kemp said the selection of a player such as Manly's showed there are pathways for New Zealand-eligible players living in Australia to make the Kiwis.

"It's also hugely encouraging for us that four of the players included were part of the Junior Kiwis' win over the Junior Kangaroos in in 2007 - Chase Stanley, (New Zealand's 18th man for this year's Anzac Test in Brisbane), Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Eddy Pettybourne.

"Kevin Locke, and are all local products, examples of what can be achieved by coming through the system here."

Apart from Foran, Glenn, Locke, Matulino, Pettybourne and Packer, other promising players named who are yet to play for the Kiwis are Bulldogs winger , Roosters front rower Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Newcastle centre Junior Sau, Newcastle back rower , South Sydney winger Fetuli Talanoa, Manly back rower Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Brisbane winger .

Waerea-Hargreaves, born in Rotorua, has a rugby union background but was picked up by the Sea Eagles last season.

Taia's eligibility is being confirmed by the Rugby League International Federation. Of Cook Islands heritage, he travels on a New Zealand passport.

After the Rotorua test against Tonga, the Kiwis travel to London for the first of the Four Nations internationals against Australia in London on October 24.

The next match against France has been confirmed in Toulouse on October 31 before the Kiwis return to the to meet England at Huddersfield on November 7.

The final between the top two teams will be played at Elland Road in Leeds on November 14. Kiwis training squad Louis Anderson (Warrington), Roy Asotasi (South Sydney), (Melbourne), Luke Covell (Cronulla), Greg Eastwood (Bulldogs), David Fa'alogo (South Sydney), (St George Illawarra), Kieran Foran (Manly), Alex Glenn (Brisbane), Bryson Goodwin (Bulldogs), (Wests Tigers), (Canberra), (Warriors), (Parramatta), Shaun Kenny-Dowall (Sydney Roosters), Thomas Leuluai (Wigan), Jeff Lima (Melbourne), Kevin Locke (Warriors), (South Sydney), (Warriors), Benji Marshall (Wests Tigers), (Manly), Ben Matulino (Warriors), Fuifui Moimoi (Parramatta), (St George Illawarra), Frank-Paul Nuuausala (Sydney Roosters), Russell Packer (Warriors), (Sydney Roosters), Eddy Pettybourne (South Sydney), Frank Pritchard (Penrith), Sam Rapira (Warriors), Ben Roberts (Bulldogs), (Warriors), Setaimata Sa (Sydney Roosters), Junior Sau (Newcastle), Jeremy Smith (St George Illawarra), Iosia Soliola (Sydney Roosters), Chase Stanley (St George Illawarra), Zeb Taia (Newcastle), Fetuli Talanoa (South Sydney), Taniela Tuiaki (Wests Tigers), (Warriors), Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Manly), Brent Webb (Leeds) and Antonio Winterstein (Brisbane).

(Source: New Zealand Herald, 05 August 2009)

Rugby-Tahu joins dual internationals in heading back to league International winger Timana Tahu was a granted a release from his contract by the Australian Rugby Union (ARU) on Wednesday, paving the way for the dual international to return to rugby league.

The 28-year-old, who made a highly publicised switch to rugby union from league in 2008, had asked for an early release from his ARU contract, which was to expire after the 2011 World Cup.

He made four appearances for the Wallabies in his first year but was not selected for any of Australia's early tests this season, prompting his request for an early release.

"Timana approached us with a request to be released from his contract," ARU High Performance boss David Nucifora said in a statement. "Through amicable discussions we have reached a resolution which has satisfied all the parties involved."

Tahu, who played five tests for the Kangaroos before he switched to union, is the last of the four high-profile dual internationals to leave the Wallabies after the ARU began recruiting league players in recent years to bolster their ranks.

Wendell Sailor, and all played for the Wallabies after crossing codes before departing.

Sailor's 37-test union career ended in 2006 when he was suspended for two-years after testing positive for cocaine. He has since rejoined rugby league.

Rogers rejoined rugby league in 2007, giving up the chance of playing in a second World Cup, after becoming disenchanted with the game despite making 45 test appearances.

Tuqiri played 67 tests and at two World Cups for the Wallabies but was sacked earlier this year for disciplinary reasons which have not been made public.

Tuqiri is taking legal action against the ARU over his dismissal and is yet to decide his future but has been linked with a return to rugby league.

(Source: Reuters UK, 05 August 2009)