WEDNESDAY JUNE 7 2017 SPORT 43 Pay stoush no closer Eels backrower stoked to ending THE pay war between the NRL, the players’ union and clubs shows no signs of abat- ing, despite the stakeholders to bask in NT’s warmth completing two days of high- powered negotiations late yes- terday. JACK HISLOP once a year Eels. They hold a 100 per cent risome Auva’a suffered a knee It was the first time all three to catch up record at the Marrara venue problem against the Warriors parties came together since the PARRAMATTA’S Peni Tere- with all the from three starts. last Saturday, but has been Players’ Associ- po is happy to be back in the Parramatta “We seem to “We’re hoping to continue named. ation responded last month to Top End sun. fans up our winning streak up here, but Kyle Laybutt replaces Ray the governing body’s initial The injured Eels back- here,” Ter- attract more it’s always a tough game Thompson at pivot for the offer on next year’s salary cap. rower arrived in Darwin a day epo told fans every against North , es- Cowboys. They released a joint state- earlier than the rest of his the NT pecially with Thurston coming Johnathan Thurston was ment describing this week’s teammates, who land this News. year” back and Michael Morgan,” listed in the number 19 jumper talks as “constructive”. Negoti- afternoon ahead of Saturday’s “The fans are really good Terepo said. yesterday. ations included NRL stars blockbuster against North and supportive. We seem to at- PENI TEREPO “It’s a great paddock. It’s a coach James Maloney, James Gra- Queensland at TIO Stadium. tract more fans every year and great training facility and the Paul Green said that Thurs- ham and Chad Townsend. It is Terepo’s fourth trip to us being here is a great way to field is good, the ground is nice ton’s chances of playing de- Bulldogs chief executive Rael- NT. The Tongan international grow the game. offer. “We are planning to do and very quick to run on.” pended on the captain ene Castle was among repre- (pictured) said he was looking “We are going to go out and some fishing and see some is a chance regaining strength in his sentatives from clubland. forward to rekindling his rela- see some kids and people in the crocodiles — we’ll try and be to return from a knee injury shoulder. “The RLPA welcomed the tionship with Parramatta’s community. We get to mingle safe with that. There are a lot and has been named on an ex- “When that happens we’ll information and remains com- Territory supporters. with a lot of the locals and get of great spots that we usually tended bench. pick him, trust me,” Green said mitted to ensuring players re- “It’s great to be here and to to learn more about the NT.” get out to — the boys love it.” Kaysa Pritchard (con- after the Cowboys 20-8 win ceive a fair outcome out of the catch up on some warm weath- Terepo said the Eels enjoy TIO Stadium has been a cussion) and Tim Mannah over the Gold Coast last Satur- negotiations,” RLPA chief er. The boys enjoy coming exploring what Darwin has to happy hunting ground for the (ribs) are expected to play. Ki- day. executive Ian Prendergast said. NRL chief operating officer Nick Weeks said while the two-day meeting was crucial in JT named moving forward, he admitted a collective bargaining agree- ment was far from being de- for Darwin cided on. “All parties are treating the negotiations seri- ously and respectfully and we ... but will look forward to making further he play? progress,” he said. LAINE CLARK NT’s best THE return of Johnathan Thurston can’t come soon to tackle enough for North Queens- land, with Cowboys coach big names Paul Green revealing he will need to nurse prized utility Ray Thompson through the JACK HISLOP rest of the 2017 NRL season. Rookie pivot Kyle Laybutt TACKLING James Graham, is in line to make his debut in and Gareth Wid- Saturday’s clash with Parra- dop will become a reality for matta in Darwin. the Territory’s top league play- Thompson (knee) has been ers. rested and Thurston (shoul- The NT Titans head to Ad- der) is named on an extended elaide later this month for the bench as he attempts to prove Combined Affiliated States his fitness ahead of State of Championships where they Origin II. play South , West Thompson has impressed Australia and Victoria. in the halves in the absence of A representative CAS team Thurston, but Green won’t will be picked at the tourna- have that luxury against the ment’s conclusion, consisting Eels after confirming the util- of the competition’s standout ity is battling a degenerative performers. knee injury. The combined outfit will Co-captain Thurston has play in a warm-up been sidelined since the May 5 match before the Rugby trans-Tasman Test in Canber- League World Cup on October ra. Green said he would know 20. more later this week about Brothers captain Leon Ro- Thurston’s availability. tumah and Katherine skipper “He is still a chance but it is Paul Jennings are incumbent a day-to-day thing,” he said. CAS team members. Titans But Green still gave Thurs- boss George Brown said up to ton a chance to play June 21’s six other Titans could push for Origin II in Sydney. “He has selection against Wayne Ben- played enough Origin to know nett’s Poms. what to expect and get himself “For the players to have the ready,” he said. “As long as his opportunity to look towards shoulder is 100 per cent fit, I doing that in the near future have no doubt he will be able for them is great,” he said. to handle that.” “It’s also something from Queensland’s game-two them to look back on later on team will be named on Mon- in their careers and say that day. they played against a team that Green said he could have contains the likes of James used Thompson against the Graham and the Burgess Eels, but opted to pick the util- brothers.” ity for next weekend’s clash NRL Affiliated States Man- with Melbourne when the ager Martin Meredith said it Cowboys will be without their Johnathan Thurston was forced to sit out of the Cowboys’ last match against the and is in doubt to face the Eels in was an extra incentive for play- Origin stars. Darwin on Saturday night Picture: GETTY ers to perform well in Adelaide.

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