TO: NZRL Staff, Districts and Affiliates and Board

FROM: Cushla Dawson

DATE: 02 March 2009

RE: Media Summary Tuesday 24 February to Monday 02 March 2009

Horo sets new goal on sideline: IT'S a cliche but league is in Mark Horo's blood, always has been, always will be. The former Parramatta, Wests, Warriors and Kiwis star may have hung the boots up over a decade ago but the game remains a huge part of his life.

Rhinos in for a tough task, says McClennan: coach Brian McClennan has downplayed suggestions his side will crush Manly in the . Traditionally, sides have dominated the WCC with Roosters, who beat the Warriors in the 2002 NRL Grand Final, the last team from the southern hemisphere to win the title. Apart from the travel factor - tomorrow's match will be the tenth in a row in the UK - another reason the Super League sides have often claimed the silverware is the timing of the contest.

League clubs to address Sparc report: league clubs will hear the recommendations in the Sparc report into the game and the reasons change is needed, from the review's author Sir John Anderson today. Sir John will speak after the Auckland holds its annual general meeting this morning, the ARL board having already indicated it supports the proposed changes to the national make-up of the game.

Titans boss warns defectors: managing director Michael Searle has warned "generation Y" footballers they would be foolish to expect to waltz back into the NRL after get-rich-quick stints in rugby union. A season after the NRL went into panic mode at the defection to French rugby of and , a new foe has appeared on the horizon, this time from Japan.

Carl’s keen: JONATHON Carl likes what he sees. The Cootamundra Bulldogs key off-season signing has been in town for roughly a month and has had no trouble adapting to his new surroundings or his new teammates and is itching to get on the paddock.

League match will be competitive, says Nuku: Forget the thought that the one-off rugby league match being played at the Marist grounds at Memorial Park on Saturday will be little more than a social occasion. Organiser Joe Nuku says the game which features a Wairarapa invitational team against the Petone Panthers will "very definitely" be a competitive affair.

Matai to remain ‘permanently’ injured: Manly centre might be known for his elusive footwork and rushing defensive hits - but the feared Kiwi star has quickly gained a reputation as a player that is ‘always’ injured writes Adam Sutcliffe. In any Steve Matai appearance, you are virtually guaranteed to see him go down with some sort of injury. You’ll often see the talented centre sitting on the deck clutching either his head, neck, shoulder or ankles. And this looks set to continue, with Matai being told yesterday he will never fully recover from neck and shoulder injuries which have plagued for most of his short career.

ARU to plunder league juniors: THE Australian Rugby Union is focusing on the junior rugby league ranks to find future Wallabies and boost its dwindling player stocks. ARU high-performance manager David Nucifora said yesterday it was imperative it closely look at what talent was available among young league players, while also being on top of whatever prospects continued to emerge from junior rugby.

Eastwood adds to Leeds' worries: , already facing injury problems over their World Club Challenge defence on Sunday, have an added worry about the stalled deal for Kiwi forward . Hull’s signing of Tongan prop Epalahame Lauaki from the yesterday has freed up extra money for the Auckland club to take Eastwood on board should he fail in a second bid to acquire a UK ancestry visa.

Sheens named Kangaroos coach: mentor has been named as the new coach of 's rugby league team, replacing . Sheens beat out a field believed to include Queensland coach and NRL coaches and John Cartwright to secure the role.

Top league coach back to his roots: Former Kiwis assistant coach Phil Prescott has returned to his boyhood club Halswell to end his coaching career. Prescott said he would have two more years with the Hornets, "and then that'll be it" after more than 20 years of coaching at premier grade, representative and international level. Clubs the key to getting league in schools: Rugby league in schools is here to stay as long as clubs put in the hard work, College Sport executive director John Hornal says. Last week's hard-hitting Anderson Report into the dire state of highlighted the need to integrate the sport into the mainstream school sporting calendar. Hornal said league, which was introduced at Wellington secondary schools last year, needed the support of clubs if it was to flourish because schools "aren't resourced to deliver the game".

UK stuff-up in league of its own: INTERNATIONAL Rugby League lurched into fresh controversy last night after the slammed their English counterparts over an "embarrassing" calendar mix-up. Just months after a drama-filled World Cup, RFL officials yesterday officially announced the draw for this year's inaugural Four Nations tournament, to be played through October and November in and France.

ARL has its nose out of joint over early schedule release: THREE months after a sensational World Cup, international rugby league is again in disarray with Australia upset at the early release of details about the proposed Four Nations tournament. The Rugby League International Federation yesterday announced locations and dates for the new tournament to be held in England and France, starting in October.

Hull swoop for Lauaki: Hull have signed New Zealand and forward Epalahame Lauaki on a three-year deal. The 25-year-old has secured a release from the two years left on his contract with the New Zealand Warriors, although the deal is subject to him being granted an entry visa.

Touch a piece of sporting history as World Cup visits: The will travel around the Western Bay of Plenty tomorrow, giving fans a chance to catch a glimpse of history. Rugby league sport development officer, Len Reid, will transport the precious cargo from Auckland to Tauranga on Monday, arriving at Tauranga Boys' College for a powhiri about 9.30am.

Horo sets new goal on sideline IT'S a cliche but league is in Mark Horo's blood, always has been, always will be. The former Parramatta, Wests, Warriors and Kiwis star may have hung the boots up over a decade ago but the game remains a huge part of his life.

The big and powerful second-rower, who was known for his uncompromising playing style during his career, is making an impressive rise up the coaching ranks in Australia. This season he's in charge of the Shellharbour Dragons, the feeder team for the St George-Illawarra Dragons, in the NSW Cup.

Horo coached Erina Eagles in the Jim Beam Cup in 2007 and also guided the representative side to victory in last year's inaugural Australian Rugby League Quad Series.

Success with Shellharbour will no doubt lead to a job in the NRL for Horo and a welcome return to the big time.

"My life is still full of rugby league," the likeable Horo told Sunday News, sitting at the back of the Southern Grandstand at WIN Stadium last week, while his players prepared for a training session.

"When I retired in 1997, I came back to Australia and played a bit of park footy in St Clair which is down towards Penrith. I had a great time there and played until I was 41 and during that time I started doing a bit of coaching.

"The NZRL had an initiative in 1998-99 where they formed some ex-pat New Zealand under-18 sides in Australia. We brought them back and trialled them in New Zealand and we tried to pick a team from it.

"The NZRL then went away from doing this but what it did was give me a real liking of coaching.

"It meant I was able to put something back into footy because, like most players who retire, you have a void and as a result I've been coaching ever since."

Being at the feeder club for St George-Illawarra allows Horo to occasionally rub shoulders with Wayne Bennett, the greatest league coach of all time, who has this year moved south from the Broncos.

"I was lucky to have a bit to do with him at the World Cup and, like most people, I was in awe of him and what he's achieved in the game.

"It seems to me that he's not only a great coach but behind that he seems to be a very good person in general. He still talks to the people that have left the club and he still holds people in high regard. "He must have been a great father and role model and that might help with football that he genuinely gives a rat's arse and cares."

As Horo mentioned, he was involved in the Kiwis' World Cup success last year, but played down his role in the team.

"I was the waterboy, that's all I was. An opportunity to help out presented itself and my most difficult job at the World Cup was to decide whether the bloke wanted Powerade or water!

"I was lucky to be involved in some small way and all the right people got the rings. Even though I didn't have anything to do with it, it was nice to be there on the grass they did a fantastic job."

Few outside the team believed the Kiwis had any chance of beating Australia last November but Horo said he always believed if they could win the battle up front the Kangaroos were ripe for the picking.

"There were a lot of things we needed to do well and one thing I've learned from a lot of good coaches is that forwards win matches and backs decide by how much. I've lived by that philosophy for a long time."

Horo was the model of consistency during his playing days and was always a player you could rely on to stand up when the heat was on.

"There were pretty difficult times because I went through Parramatta, Wests and the Warriors and didn't make a semifinal in all those years," he said.

"But I'm quite happy to think that I did a fairly good job for those eight years. I was 28 when I made my [ARL] debut and finished at 35.

"In a sense, I couldn't have done it much tougher than the way I did it but I'm pretty proud of what I achieved at the end of the day.

"I got to play a bit of test football, which was obviously a highlight. But I'd like to think with my career that I did a pretty fair job when I had to do it. I would have loved to have played in the semifinals, though."

Horo joined the Warriors in 1996, the season after their inaugural year.

The novelty factor of the team had worn off by the time he graced Mt Smart Stadium then Ericsson but he says it was still an exciting time to be with the team.

"It was a really wonderful time for me," he said. "It was almost like they had got the Hollywood story of their first year over with.

"We had to batten down the hatches in 1996 and 1997. I think they learned a lot about themselves in those early years.

"I always thought from day one they needed a lot more Australian involvement, in as far as their management and running of the club. I thought they were really tough on John Monie (the club's first coach) and one thing they didn't get right early on was leaving someone there to do the job.

"Everyone was having 18 months to two years. It was get in, get out."

This year will be Shellharbour's first season in the NSW Cup. Horo is realistic about their chances of success, hoping for a top eight finish in the 11-team competition.

He has been impressed with how his squad have prepared for the season.

"When I first came down and met with the blokes I could see there was a lot of enthusiasm. You need that when you're trying to do what they're trying to do, which is promote themselves."

(Source: David Long, Sunday News, 01 March 2009)

Rhinos in for a tough task, says McClennan LEEDS coach Brian McClennan has downplayed suggestions his side will crush Manly in the World Club Challenge. Traditionally, Super League sides have dominated the WCC with , who beat the Warriors in the 2002 NRL Grand Final, the last team from the southern hemisphere to win the title.

Apart from the travel factor - tomorrow's match will be the tenth in a row in the UK - another reason the Super League sides have often claimed the silverware is the timing of the contest.

Leeds have been back playing competitive football since early February but the Sea Eagles will have to rely on their pre-season training to get them through. But despite an overwhelming amount of history on his side, McClennan refuses to concede the pressure is on Leeds to continue England's dominance in the fixture.

"There's different circumstances for both clubs heading into this match," McClennan said from his home in the UK. "It is home advantage for the teams in England. I won't deny that.

"However, what you don't get over here in the Super League is a chance to do a proper pre-season of conditioning with your players. We have to rely on playing games to build our conditioning up.

"Our internationals, and we certainly have a few in our squad, were only back with us for 15 days before the season actually started. For Manly and the NRL clubs, they certainly have some advantages in the sense they have plenty of timing to build up conditioning during the pre-season.

"Still, they have had to travel all the way over here for the game. It's challenging for both clubs and I think it would be hard to say either club has an advantage here."

McClennan initiated an exhaustive review after winning the title in the hopes he could find something else to give the Rhinos an edge in 2009.

His willingness to embrace new scientific techniques to help improve his side's on-field performances, however, stops a little short of the Sea Eagles, who last year made headlines after rumours surfaced they were considering injecting their players with a calves' blood extract to aid recovery.

"I would never advocate going down that avenue and I don't think winning games are important enough to start putting animals' blood into the players," McClennan said. "I'd never do that."

Meanwhile, McClennan has backed his successor 's stance on leaving Super League players out of his side for the Anzac Test.

Kearney recently said he was considering picking his squad for this year's May 8 Test from the NRL alone. The rationale, according to the Kiwis coach, is that players flown out to Australia or New Zealand for a one-off match from the UK never have enough time to adjust.

That was evident last year when and performed below expectations against the Australians after arriving in Sydney barely a couple of days before the match.

To make matters worse, the NZRL had been forced to fight Leuluai and Webb's respective Super League clubs for the release.

"Whatever Stephen decides to do, you can be sure he will have done it with good reason," said McClennan, whose club Leeds were not keen to release Webb last year.

"He's meticulous in his planning and what he decides to do will be in the best interest of the Kiwis."

McClennan said he could understand why Kearney would consider overlooking Super League-based players for a one-off Test. "For players arriving in New Zealand and Australia from the UK before the Anzac Test, there's never much time for them to recover," McClennan said. "The mid-season Test has always been difficult for the Kiwis. At the end of the season, though, we've always steered better.

"I'm sure whatever Stephen and the selectors decide to do will be in the best interest of the Kiwis."

Also counting against New Zealand selectors is the fact this year's Anzac Test is scheduled only five days after the Super League stages its Magic Weekend promotion with an entire round of matches played at 's .

(Source: Aaron Lawton, www.leaguehq.com.au 01 March 2009)

League clubs to address Sparc report Auckland league clubs will hear the recommendations in the Sparc report into the game and the reasons change is needed, from the review's author Sir John Anderson today.

Sir John will speak after the holds its annual general meeting this morning, the ARL board having already indicated it supports the proposed changes to the national make-up of the game.

The NZRL expects to have its new constitution ready for perusal by districts next week and the national board will then vote on that at its AGM at the end of March before a new board is formed in May

The NZRL wants one neutral referee for the Anzac test in Sydney in May and this year's may continue with one ref as well while the NRL's new system of two settles in.

(Source: Peter Jessup, Weekend Herald, 28 February 2009)

Titans boss warns defectors Gold Coast Titans managing director Michael Searle has warned "generation Y" footballers they would be foolish to expect to waltz back into the NRL after get-rich-quick stints in rugby union.

A season after the NRL went into panic mode at the defection to French rugby of Sonny Bill Williams and Mark Gasnier, a new foe has appeared on the horizon, this time from Japan.

Despite an economy shrinking faster than the polar icecaps, Japan's rugby clubs appear to have deep enough warchests to mount serious raids on Australia's rugby league stocks.

Already former Shark Fraser Anderson has signed a two-year, $400,000-a-season deal with Kobe Steel. High- profile club Suntory, which counts former Wallaby and Queensland Reds coach Eddie Jones among its staff, is reputedly preparing for a strong play at fullback .

While Brisbane chief executive Bruno Cullen said the club would be powerless to retain Hunt in the face of a deal that could be worth close to $1 million, Searle was talking tough, saying defecting players would need to lie in the bed they made if their flirtation with rugby came to an end.

He said the Titans would be reticent to sign players returning from stints in Asian or continental rugby, fearing their skill levels and fitness would suffer dramatically in competitions he believes lack the intensity of NRL.

"It's not our job to feather the nest for Japanese rugby or French rugby. If a player wants to go, then go. It's his choice. Is he restricted to come back if he wants to? I don't believe so. But in saying that, these guys need to make a decision," Searle said.

"I wouldn't like to be trying to earn a dollar after coming back from French rugby. It wouldn't give this CEO any confidence that the player will be able to maintain the level of fitness that's required in the NRL.

"French rugby and Japanese rugby, it's not as though it has the levels of intensity the NRL has. There has to be question marks on when a player comes back whether he can still cut it."

Japanese rugby is a clear financial lure for young players but the jury is out on the quality of the football in which they will participate. Many Super 14 coaches regard the game in Japan as an inferior product, raising doubts as to how attractive league converts would be to domestic rugby franchises if they began rattling their tin among those circles.

"Our game is very loyal to those who stay loyal. Those that jump, that's their choice. They suffer the consequences," Searle said of the defectors.

Generation Y has been widely criticised for a perceived "I want it all and I want it now" attitude - a trait which Searle believes may be filtering through in rugby league circles.

"I think generation Y sometimes need to take a deep breath. They can get good money out of it, but is the lifestyle what they want? Is French rugby where you want to be at? Is Japanese rugby where you want to be at?" he said.

He has strongly backed NRL chief David Gallop's hardline stance on the issue, which raised its head after flagged a desire to play Japanese rugby in the off-season prior to the signing of a new deal with the Wests Tigers. Searle said he hoped the issue would not even be discussed between club chief executives.

"I support David Gallop. There's no off-season playing rugby. It's not even negotiable. It shouldn't even be debated. It can be debated in a public forum but privately, I hope it's not even discussed at a CEO level. It shouldn't be," he said.

"I'm sure there are some (chief executives) that would say there is a short-term benefit to their club. But sometimes you have to ignore the short term benefit and look at the long term benefit to the game. And there's no longterm benefit to letting players jump."

(Source: Brisbane Times, 27 February 2009)

Carl’s keen JONATHON Carl likes what he sees. The Cootamundra Bulldogs key off-season signing has been in town for roughly a month and has had no trouble adapting to his new surroundings or his new teammates and is itching to get on the paddock.

“It’s been excellent,” Carl said of his first four weeks in town.

“Everyone has been really friendly which has made the move so much easier. Training has really picked up and it looks as if we’re going to field a very competitive side this year.”

Having played all his junior football for the Manurewa Marlins on the North Island of New Zealand, Carl finished his schooling at St Paul’s College, the number one rugby league school in the country where he played First XIII league and First XV rugby.

“We won the New Zealand Schoolboys Championships (league) in both my senior years,” he said.

A utility back, Carl linked with the Ponsonby Ponies and was a member of the first grade side that won their divisional competition, the Phelan Shield and last year he played in the winning team at the Multi Nationals.

Carl was a member of the New Zealand Warriors Development Squad and played a couple of pre-season games from the bench with the Warriors under 20s side.

Lured to Cootamundra by first grade coach and former New Zealand International , Carl quickly struck up a friendship with the Bulldogs other Kiwi connections, Dave Letele, Willie Purcell and Aka Matapo.

“The boys have really looked after me and made me feel at home,” he said. “It’s great to have other Kiwi boys here and we really push each other along at training.”

With the Bulldogs’ first commitment for the year being the Kiama Nines next weekend, Carl said the intensity at training is beginning to lift.

“It looks as though there’ll be competition for most positions which is always a good thing.

“You can sense at training all the boys are getting more serious and putting the effort in. That was obvious tonight.”

The Bulldogs had just completed a searching session which concluded with a series of 400m and 200m relay sprints which had the 40-strong training group pushing themselves to near- exhaustion.

Carl said he remained uncertain as to what position he will fill for the club this season, but expects to find himself somewhere along the backline.

“It all depends on what Mark and Funky (Bulldogs assistant coach Grant Miller) want,” he said.

“I could play centres, in the halves or even , I’ll slot in where I’m required.”

Following the annual Kiama tournament, the Bulldogs will finalise their pre-season with a trial against West Belconnen in prior to the Group Nine competition beginning on April 18 where the Bulldogs will host South City at Fisher Park.

(Source: Cootamundra Herald, 27 February 2009)

League match will be competitive, says Nuku Forget the thought that the one-off rugby league match being played at the Marist grounds at Memorial Park on Saturday will be little more than a social occasion.

Organiser Joe Nuku says the game which features a Wairarapa invitational team against the Petone Panthers will "very definitely" be a competitive affair.

Nuku, a former player for Petone Panthers but these days a bruising back row forward for the Masterton Marist club's senior rugby side, knows an invitational team containing many players new to rugby league will find it difficult coping with a Petone Panthers combination coming off the back of a win in a pre-season nine-a-side tournament in Wellington last weekend.

But, at the same time, he has been impressed enough by the attendance at the seven training sessions they have held to believe they will be no push-overs.

It has been nothing unusual for these sessions to attract up to 20 prospective players with Sunday's squad likely to number around the 25 mark.

"We did think we might have a few problems getting a team but it's been just the opposite & the hardest part is going to be who to leave out," Nuku said. "We're going to have a pretty useful bench, that's for sure".

Nuku, who played for Wellington at level and also trialled for the Warriors, is not the only player in the invitational squad who is experienced in rugby league.

Joe Papalii, now a prominent member of Pioneer's senior club rugby side, is another and they could be joined by some who turned out for the Pahiatua Panthers a few seasons back.

There is no doubt though that the bulk of the invitation team players will be, first and foremost, rugby adherents with Nuku anticipating big things from the likes of Zane Aporo, Eliah Telford, Kane Nooroa and Tipi Rimene.

There is the possibility too that the regular halfback for Wairarapa-Bush in their Heartland championship campaign last season in Mike Hollis will take the field.

It is understood he is considering playing rugby league for the Wellington-based University club in 2009.

Nuku has been pleased with the way in which the rugby-ites have been coping with the different tactics and techniques required to be successful in league, particularly the emphasis on defence.

"There is a saying in league that the team with the best defence usually wins and that's pretty much the case," Nuku said.

Petone Panthers, for their part, will also be fielding an extended squad for the Masterton match as they are to use it as a trial to select their premier side for the 2009 season.

Plans are to play Saturday's game in four quarters with a 2pm kickoff.

(Source: Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 February 2009)

Matai to remain ‘permanently’ injured Manly centre Steve Matai might be known for his elusive footwork and rushing defensive hits - but the feared Kiwi star has quickly gained a reputation as a player that is ‘always’ injured writes Adam Sutcliffe.

In any Steve Matai appearance, you are virtually guaranteed to see him go down with some sort of injury. You’ll often see the talented centre sitting on the deck clutching either his head, neck, shoulder or ankles. And this looks set to continue, with Matai being told yesterday he will never fully recover from neck and shoulder injuries which have plauged for most of his short career. Regardless, the Kiwi Representative has vowed to soldier on and tough it out in the World Club Challenge this Monday, as he tries to bag a 3rd major title in just a few short months. Minus the injuries and hot temper, Matai has the chance to become one of the premier centres in Rugby League.

Matai has continued to seek advice on his medical situation from Manly Sea Eagles doctor Paul Bloomfield, and as the 2009 season approaches the two have been in close contact.

Coming off the bench against the Harlequins last week, Matai was in impressive form - scoring a long range try, but again breakdown during the match and feeling heavy after effects from the hit-out.

“There’s a lot of scar tissue around there.” Matai told the media, confirming the problems discovered in his neck and shoulder.

“It’s never going to be 100 per cent.” shrugged Matai

Seemingly getting used to the pain, Matai explained how he continued on in the Rugby League World Cup tournament, even though the problem was extremely inhibitive.

“I was getting needled every now and then with the shoulder” he said.

“I cant really go 100 per cent. Hopefully I can get the strength up.” the Manly centre confirmed.

“The best test for it is to go out there and go hard. I did that on the weekend and I’m hoping to do it this weekend as well.”

When asked about a possible rematch with Leeds centre (the pair fighting during the 2006 tri- nations), Matai was quick to dismiss any rough stuff - saying any fans hoping for fireworks would be sadly disappointed.

Quickly gaining a reputation as a firebrand, Matai is known for his hard hits when rushing out of the defence line - however, his method at times failed and many opposing sides in the NRL are coaching to ‘bait’ Matai out of the line, so an overlap can be gained on his flank. There is no doubt that Senior and the Leeds side will try to exploit the same opportunity.

Leeds however have problems of their own, with new star recruit ruled out and former Warriors star Ali Lauititi also in doubt.

As yet Manly have not named their side, however coach Des Hasler is believed to be keen to throw forgotten man George Rose into the action and gauge his progress after a long injury layoff in 2008

(Source: www.nrlnews.com 26 February 2009)

ARU to plunder league juniors THE Australian Rugby Union is focusing on the junior rugby league ranks to find future Wallabies and boost its dwindling player stocks.

ARU high-performance manager David Nucifora said yesterday it was imperative it closely look at what talent was available among young league players, while also being on top of whatever prospects continued to emerge from junior rugby. The former Brumbies and Blues Super 14 coach said another key recruitment area was the Australian Sevens program because, as shown through the rise of Matt Giteau and James O'Connor, it worked as a crucial international rugby stepping stone.

"We are keeping our eyes open at the young rugby league ranks among the 15- to 20-year-olds," Nucifora said.

"We have beefed [up] that area a bit and become more efficient. It's not just rugby league, but it also involves a stronger focus on talent spotting in our own junior rugby ranks. You need good people working for you in that area. It's a matter of identifying people who can provide you with good information."

Rugby sources confirmed that talent scouts were attending as many junior rugby league games and carnivals as possible.

It is no coincidence that Michael O'Connor, who has for some years been heavily involved in the ARU's recruitment program, doubles as the Australian Sevens coach. While Sevens football is often forgotten and Australia has struggled to be a force in that area for some time, the ARU is not neglecting it. The World Cup Sevens tournament in Dubai next month will be used as a guide to whether some members of the Australian team are ready for Super 14 football and beyond.

The team includes Sydney University's Ed and Jono Jenkins, the first twins to represent Australia at Sevens level, and former Sydney Roosters league player Shaun Foley.

"We have faith in the Sevens program to give guys an opportunity and gain good experience," Nucifora said.

"The Sevens series is actually a really good area to gauge how these guys go - not just from a footballing point of view. It isolates people. You can see what players have ticker, see who can run and tackle, how they handle travel, how they back up …"

(Source: www.rugbyheaven.com.au 25 February 2009)

Eastwood adds to Leeds' worries LEEDS RHINOS, already facing injury problems over their World Club Challenge defence on Sunday, have an added worry about the stalled deal for Kiwi forward Greg Eastwood.

Hull’s signing of Tongan prop Epalahame Lauaki from the New Zealand Warriors yesterday has freed up extra money for the Auckland club to take Eastwood on board should he fail in a second bid to acquire a UK ancestry visa.

The Warriors have already declared an interest in Eastwood, 21, who would be keen to play in the city of his birth.

Eastwood, whose visa was apparently rejected because of a string of speeding offences, has been lined up by Leeds to replace Great Britain forward .

Hull insist Lauaki, 25, is not a replacement for Australian forward , who is appealing the rejection of his application for a UK visa.

Lauaki, known as ‘The Hulk’, will fill a quota spot left by another Australian, Adam Dykes. Meanwhile, the Rhinos, who are already without full-back Brent Webb for the World Club Challenge against Manly on Sunday, have a major doubt over England scrum-half , who has not played this season with a back injury first picked up in the World Cup.

Hooker Danny Buderus and second-row Ali Lauitiiti missed last Friday’s win at Hull KR. And full-back , second-row and prop were all injured against Rovers.

“It would have been nice to get all our players out there, but if we lose or don’t perform we won’t be using it as an excuse,” said Leeds’ Danny McGuire, who looks set to stay at scrum-half if Burrow is still out.

Castleford captain Ryan Hudson has avoided punishment after coming into contact with referee Steve Ganson during his side’s 28-22 win at . Hudson was put on report for the incident, but slow-motion replays were inconclusive.

(Source: Daily Express, 24 February 2009)

Sheens named Kangaroos coach Wests Tigers mentor Tim Sheens has been named as the new coach of Australia's rugby league team, replacing Ricky Stuart.

Sheens beat out a field believed to include Queensland coach Mal Meninga and NRL coaches Des Hasler and John Cartwright to secure the role.

"The ARL had an outstanding group of coaches to select from and that is an indication of the regard Tim Sheens is held in," Australian Rugby League chief executive Geoff Carr said.

"Tim's record speaks for itself - he has won four premierships and has coached more games than anyone in the game's history. "There are very few coaches out there who have achieved such sustained success over such a long period of time.

"Tim's experience is matched by his ability to extract the absolute best from his players at both club and representative level.

"We believe we have the best man for the job."

Sheens has coached a record 568 first-grade games over 24 years.

He also coached in the 1991 State of Origin series, and has led City Origin in 1991, 2006, 2007 and 2008.

(Source: ABC News, 24 February 2009)

Top league coach back to his roots Former Kiwis assistant coach Phil Prescott has returned to his boyhood club Halswell to end his coaching career.

Prescott said he would have two more years with the Hornets, "and then that'll be it" after more than 20 years of coaching at premier grade, representative and international level.

After coaching the Hornby Panthers last year, Prescott said he had decided to go back to Halswell, where he started his playing career almost 45 years ago as an eight-year-old.

He said Halswell would hold its 50th jubilee in 2010, which would be his last year of coaching.

"I look on [going back to Halswell] as a favour to Jeff Whittaker (the Halswell club president). If it hadn't been for Jeff Whittaker, I would probably never have coached representative teams or the New Zealand Residents and New Zealand A sides or been the Kiwis' assistant coach."

Prescott had a long stint as Halswell premier coach from the late 1980s through the 1990s and had decided to take a break at the time the Bartercard Cup national league was introduced in 2000.

But he said Whittaker, who was then the 's development officer, rang him to ask if he would get involved with the Canterbury Bulls as Gerard Stokes' assistant coach.

"I think that was Jeff's idea rather than Gerard's, but it gave me a chance at that level."

Prescott took over as head coach when Stokes left after leading the Bulls to the title in 2000. He had six years in charge, before stepping down to make way for his long-time assistant, . The Bulls won the Bartercard title in 2003 and were beaten finalists twice in Prescott's reign.

Prescott felt he might have been sacked after a lower table finish in his first season without Whittaker's support.

"Jeff helped set up the programme in 2002 ... He was the one that got the funding, the gear and whatever it took to turn it around and set the standard for Canterbury rugby league from there on.

I like to think I'm doing (the Halswell job) for him because he's helped me in the past."

Prescott, who lost his job as Kiwis assistant when 2007 head coach quit last year after a player revolt, said he was not disillusioned with rugby league but felt 2010 was the right time to wind down his coaching career.

"I'm 52 now and I've been coaching at at least premier level since 1987. I get out of bed at ten to four in the morning to go to work (on the mutton chain at CMP Rakaia) and on training nights I'm often not home to 8.30 or 8.45, then I get ready to do it all again."

But Prescott said he did it willingly because rugby league was "my interest". "Rugby league has given me more than I've ever given it."

He had experienced players at Halswell, including former Canterbury captain Shane Beyers and fellow Bulls stalwart Ross Martin, and "a lot of keen youngsters".

(Source: Tony Smith, The Press, 24 February 2009)

Clubs the key to getting league in schools Rugby league in schools is here to stay as long as clubs put in the hard work, College Sport Wellington executive director John Hornal says.

Last week's hard-hitting Anderson Report into the dire state of New Zealand rugby league highlighted the need to integrate the sport into the mainstream school sporting calendar.

Hornal said league, which was introduced at Wellington secondary schools last year, needed the support of clubs if it was to flourish because schools "aren't resourced to deliver the game".

"A lot of bridges were built last year in terms of schools forging partnerships with clubs," Hornal said.

"As [former Kiwis coach] said, that's the only way it's going to happen.

"It's going to rely on clubs committing resources to schools and I think we went a fair way down the track with that last year."

Most Wellington clubs forged partnerships with schools in their area last year, which was crucial because fewer and fewer teachers had time to coach sport.

"Many schools are relying more and more on parents or volunteers from community clubs to help them out with coaching."

Another challenge faced was that far fewer people had the knowledge or skills to coach league compared to union.

"Most schools have got the resources for union but league is a little bit different and it does require some specialist coaching."

(Source: Sam Worthington, Dominion Post, 24 February 2009)

UK stuff-up in league of its own INTERNATIONAL Rugby League lurched into fresh controversy last night after the Australian Rugby League slammed their English counterparts over an "embarrassing" calendar mix-up.

Just months after a drama-filled World Cup, RFL officials yesterday officially announced the draw for this year's inaugural Four Nations tournament, to be played through October and November in England and France.

The problem was no one bothered to ask the ARL if they agreed to all the times, dates and budgets - leaving a furious ARL chief executive Geoff Carr wanting an explanation.

"We don't know what has happened," Carr told The Daily Telegraph. "The four nations is a partnership between the ARL, RFL and NZRL. We invite a fourth partner who will be France.

"There was a proposal put forward by the RFL but we had to wait for budgets to come through. We also hadn't signed off on venues, dates and times. Then for whatever reason, the RFL has put out a press release that wasn't approved by us.

"It was all premature and has caused unnecessary embarrassment.

"We hope to get an explanation from the RFL overnight. We didn't sign off on anything."

ARL officials first noticed the press release when it appeared on the Leeds Rhinos website.

But Carr said Australia would not consider boycotting the event.

The offending press statement read: "The first round of fixtures over the weekend of 24 and 25 October will see Harlequins RL's Twickenham Stoop ground host a repeat of last year's World Cup final between Australia and New Zealand. England will open their account against France at Doncaster's Keepmoat stadium.

"A week later England will play the Kangaroos at Wigan's JJB Stadium and New Zealand will travel across the channel to play France." Richard Lewis, International Federation deputy chairman, was happily quoted in the media statement.

"Following last year's hugely successful World Cup, there is a lot of anticipation for this competition as all the teams involved will have something to prove," he said.

"New Zealand will be keen to show their World Cup final victory was not a fluke whilst Australia, under a new coach, will be all out for revenge to make up for the disappointment of losing their world title on home soil. England will be keen to recapture the form that saw them whitewash the Kiwis in 2007, and the French will be eager to grasp the opportunity to play in such a prestigious international competition especially with them hosting two games."

(Source: Dean Ritchie, Herald Sun, 24 February 2009)

ARL has its nose out of joint over early schedule release THREE months after a sensational World Cup, international rugby league is again in disarray with Australia upset at the early release of details about the proposed Four Nations tournament.

The Rugby League International Federation yesterday announced locations and dates for the new tournament to be held in England and France, starting in October.

The new tournament was supposed to carry on from the success of last year's World Cup in Australia, with 10th- placed France added to the previous Tri-Nations format.

But in another case of the international game shooting itself in the foot, the Australian Rugby League claims it has yet to agree to the proposal.

Australian Rugby League chief executive Geoff Carr said the Kangaroos would "definitely" participate, but was annoyed the RLIF released details before it had been finalised.

"At this stage the RLIF have seen fit to bring out a schedule on a proposal rather than an approval," Carr said.

"Don't ask me why they've done that, you better ask them. It hasn't been approved by us.

"There's been some proposed venues and times, which usually happens, and what should have happened on this occasion is that budgets are then drawn up on those particular events and times and we then determine whether those proposed times and events are the best for the tournament, then we give approval.

"We haven't seen any budgets on it and if they wish to put a press release out on a proposal that hasn't been approved that is up to them, but I will be trying to find out why they did it.

"We are definitely going to play it, but there is a process to go through before you give final approval."

The schedule released has Australia facing their World Cup nemesises and world champions New Zealand at Twickenham on the weekend of October 24-25. The Kangaroos and England meet in week two at Wigan before Australia travel across the channel to face France in the final round of matches.

The final of the Four-Nations will be held at Stadium in Leeds on November 14.

The location for the two games in France, involving the Kiwis and Kangaroos, were not disclosed.

(Source: , 24 February 2009)

Hull swoop for Lauaki Hull have signed New Zealand and Tonga forward Epalahame Lauaki on a three-year deal.

The 25-year-old has secured a release from the two years left on his contract with the New Zealand Warriors, although the deal is subject to him being granted an entry visa.

"Playing in the UK is something I have always wanted to do but I didn't want to come at the end of my career," he said. "I wanted to come while I still had plenty of football in front of me and, when Hull came in for me, it presented me with the perfect opportunity." Lauaki, who won two caps for the Kiwis before switching his allegiance to Tonga, fills Hull's quota spot vacated at the end of last season by Australian Adam Dykes but the club insist he is not a replacement for Michael Crocker, who has re-applied for a visa.

Hull's football operations manager Jon Sharp, who tried to sign him when he was coach of , added: "I was desperate to sign him and I chased him for two years. He will be a tremendous asset and he will kill it here."

Lauaki played in the World Cup alongside Hull second-rower and another recent signing , who is due to arrive at the club this week.

(Source: The Press Association, 24 February 2009)

Touch a piece of sporting history as World Cup visits The Rugby League World Cup will travel around the Western Bay of Plenty tomorrow, giving fans a chance to catch a glimpse of history.

Rugby league sport development officer, Len Reid, will transport the precious cargo from Auckland to Tauranga on Monday, arriving at Tauranga Boys' College for a powhiri about 9.30am.

From there a packed schedule will see the cup make at least five appearances around the region before finishing the day back at Tauranga Boys' College for the Tauranga Moana Marist rugby league team training.

The Kiwis' win last year marked New Zealand's first victory at the Rugby League World Cup since the competition began in 1954.

In true Kiwi style, Mr Reid said the New Zealanders went into the competition as "absolute underdogs" and rocked the rugby league world by emerging triumphant.

He will transport the trophy around the Western Bay before heading to Taupo, Whakatane, Tokoroa and Rotorua throughout the week.

Mr Reid said having the Rugby League World Cup on display was a chance to promote the sport and the Kids 2 Kiwis programme, encouraging schoolchildren to join a team and become the next generation of rugby league stars.

Mr Reid said the cup had proved hugely popular on display in Auckland and the Waikato and he had already received a positive response in anticipation of the cup's arrival in the Bay.

"Everyone's my friend, everyone wants me to take it to their house," he said.

As well as promoting the sport at each stop on the tour, Mr Reid said he would make a speech about the history of the world cup and how many times it had been played for.

Throughout the day fans will have the chance to see the world cup up close, but at night the cup would return to a secure building in Tauranga.

Kids 2 Kiwis World Cup Roadshow: 9.30am: Tauranga Boys' College; 10.30am: Sport Bay of Plenty office on Devonport Rd; 12pm: Arataki School 1.15pm: Whakamarama School; 2.30pm: Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, Windermere; 4.30pm: Kiwitag, Mitchell Park, Bellevue; 6.30pm: Tauranga Moana Marist rugby league training, Tauranga Boys' College.

* Please note, times are approximate.

(Source: Bay of Plenty Times, 22 February 2009)