TO: NZRL Staff, Districts and Affiliates and Board

FROM: Cushla Dawson

DATE: 14 April 2009

RE: Media Summary Wednesday 15 April to Monday 20 April 2009

Kiwis spoilt for choice: Former Kiwis coach would like to see -born South forward Eddy Pettybourne in a black jersey for next month's . The 21-year-old backrower moved to Sydney with his family when he was three and has represented both nations in junior international football. Pettybourne played for Schoolboys team, but then represented the . He is also eligible to represent Samoa.

Mayor leading board candidate: Gisborne’s Mayor leads the field of contenders to shape the future of league. Meng Foon, who has also led the Gisborne league since it ran into trouble two years ago, is understood to be among nominees for the revamped board of directors.

Origin 'showpiece' faces sea of empty seats: THIS year's series might be rugby league's version of good from far and far from good. The code's showpiece is in danger of featuring empty seats in its important gamble as well as the second game in Sydney - and it might be a result of both teams staying away. Despite neither game being sold out yet, both NSW and have chosen to spend much of their camps well away from Melbourne, in the case of Origin I, and Sydney for the second game.

Visa laws stopping PNG players NRL dream: Australian immigration laws are denying Papua New Guinea rugby league players their dream to play in the NRL while others turn to the UK as it's easier to gain entry. A number of PNG's top players cannot play in the NRL or run with feeder clubs because tough visa restrictions require large cash bonds to guarantee compliance with the law.

Let the games begin! Several hundred adrenaline-filled students poured through the TSB Stadium doors in New Plymouth last night to celebrate the opening of the University Games. DJ Ryan from ZM had the crowds pumping, as students mixed and mingled with friends, eyeing up the competition from the 15 tertiary institutes taking part. Sport Taranaki’s CEO, officially opened the Games, following a stirring haka from Witt’s rugby league team, causing the crowd to break into roars of excitement. New Plymouth Mayor, Peter Tenant, welcomed the visitors to the province and laid down a challenge, noting University won the Uni Games’ shield last year, leaving the crowd snarling in disapproval. But they were soon cheering again, when the flag bearers proudly marched onto the stage to represent each of the competing teams. (Source: www.universitysport.org.nz 15 April 2009)

Kiwis spoilt for choice Former Kiwis coach Frank Endacott would like to see Christchurch-born South Sydney forward Eddy Pettybourne in a black jersey for next month's Anzac test.

The 21-year-old backrower moved to Sydney with his family when he was three and has represented both nations in junior international football.

Pettybourne played for the Australian Schoolboys team, but then represented the Junior Kiwis. He is also eligible to represent Samoa.

With the Anzac test in Sydney on May 8, and the deadline looming for City-Country state of origin trial selection, the Rabbitohs rookie has a big call to make.

"I'm still deciding," he told magazine when discussing his test future.

"I'm not sure ... we'll see what happens. Firstly, I just want to play good footy [for South Sydney] and get a spot in the 17 every week." Pettybourne said he had lived most of his life in , but had been told by three Kiwis at South Sydney, World Cup stars and David Fa'alogo and fellow former Cantabrian , to "follow your heart".

He has played fewer than 15 first-grade games since 2007, but Endacott likes what he has seen and believes Pettybourne is ready for the step up to test level.

"He's impressed me with the way he runs with the ball and with his defence."

Endacott said he was sure Kiwis coach would have sounded out Pettybourne about playing for New Zealand.

"I used to do that when I heard a player was eligible for the Kiwis. That's how I got several players, like , and Tonie Carroll by ringing them personally."

Endacott has watched every NRL game this season on television and believes the Kiwis are in good shape for the Anzac test. He said Kearney was in a better position than previous Kiwis coaches because of the depth of New Zealand talent in the NRL.

(Source: Tony Smith, The Press, 20 April 2009)

Mayor leading board candidate

(Source: Steve Kilgallon, Sunday Star-Times, 19 April 2009)

Origin 'showpiece' faces sea of empty seats THIS year's might be rugby league's version of good from far and far from good. The code's showpiece is in danger of featuring empty seats in its important Melbourne gamble as well as the second game in Sydney - and it might be a result of both teams staying away.

Despite neither game being sold out yet, both NSW and Queensland have chosen to spend much of their camps well away from Melbourne, in the case of Origin I, and Sydney for the second game. In a move Victorian Rugby League chairman Greg Brentnall admitted was "not ideal", NSW will station themselves in Werribee, 32 kilometres from central Melbourne, for the first portion of their first camp for the code's all-important opening clash - the first time a series opener has been held outside the traditional league strongholds of Sydney and . The Maroons will spend more than two days an hour and a half away from Melbourne, at Nagambie.

Both camps will spend a significant portion of their Origin II preparation on the Central Coast, with Sydney again in danger of being unable to sell out a State of Origin fixture. ARL chief executive admitted it was a "balancing act" trying to juggle promotional responsibilities with achieving the best preparation. "To be honest, Melbourne's not an issue for us," said Carr, also the NSWRL general manager. "It's selling well, and we've still got a reasonable amount of time left. We're really comfortable with where things are. Sydney's selling well, but not as fast as we'd hope. Having said that, it's a balancing act - we need to promote games but it's one of the best football series in Australia, and we need to also give some consideration to how the teams prepare. [Blues coach] Craig Bellamy's view is that he wants to make them as fresh as possible and to give them a different environment. We're well aware of sponsor commitments, we're well aware of media commitments, we're well aware of promotional commitments. But he's coaching the series, and he's trying to get us a result. The least we can do is help him."

Brentnall, a former Canterbury and Melbourne football manager, said: "I don't really know what the story is. Obviously, we'd want to be able to use them [to promote the game]."

The Origin this year is in danger of being both promoted and relegated at the same time.

Just over a week after cutting loose first-choice halfback , Parramatta have secured the heir apparent to his No.7 jersey, teenage star , AAP reports.

Mortimer, son of Bulldogs great Peter Mortimer, was one of four re-signings for the Eels before tomorrow's match against the Bulldogs. , Matthew Keating and Toyota Cup prop Mitchell Allgood have also agreed to new deals with the Eels.

Meanwhile, Sir Laurence Street's decision as to whether the Bulldogs can appeal against the NRL's decision to deduct two competition points after they fielded a 14th man against Penrith in round two is expected to be announced on Monday.

(Source: Glenn Jackson, Sydney Morning Herald, 18 April 2009)

Visa laws stopping PNG players NRL dream Australian immigration laws are denying Papua New Guinea rugby league players their dream to play in the NRL while others turn to the UK as it's easier to gain entry.

A number of PNG's top players cannot play in the NRL or run with feeder clubs because tough visa restrictions require large cash bonds to guarantee compliance with the law.

Kumuls centre Jesse Parker is the latest PNG player to claim visa restrictions are stopping him trialling at an NRL club, St George Illawarra.

PNG rugby league chairman Albert Veratau told AAP at least ten of the country's top players have been denied access to play in Australia due to visa restrictions.

"It's quite a huge problem for us," Veratau said.

"Hopefully in the future things will be a little bit better but unfortunately we have players now ready for NRL or feeder clubs.

"PNG has talent that needs to be developed, sadly but understandably, NRL clubs can't commit or gamble large sums of money for players to pass the visa requirements.

"Feeder clubs that show interest, like Cairns' Northern Pride, just don't have the money,"

PNG players are looking at English clubs because entry into the UK is easier, Veratau said.

"Kumuls Michael Marks and Charlie Wabo went to the UK and are playing in a second tier competition," he said.

"They weren't able to get into Australia because they needed to be on something like a minimum of $40,000 salary.

"I have raised the problem a number of times with the but it's a government position."

One PNG rugby league official joked players could sign up to Australia's pilot Pacific seasonal workers scheme designed to assist the agriculture industry. "Pick fruit in the week and play footy on weekend, perhaps, as a way around the problem," he said.

During Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's 2008 PNG trip he said one of the strongest links between the two countries was rugby league.

Rudd gave $260,000 to PNG rugby league for facilities and equipment like boots, jumpers and shorts.

PNG's business, sporting and political elite are also pushing for a PNG-based team entering the NRL by 2012.

(Source: Brisbane Times, 15 April 2009)