TO: NZRL Staff, Districts and Affiliates and Board FROM: Cushla Dawson DATE: 16 March 2009 RE: Media Summary Tuesday 10 February to Monday 16 March 2009 Bronson Harrison following in Wiki's footsteps: In Canberra Raiders circles there are few compliments bigger than being compared with club legend Ruben Wiki. So as Bronson Harrison prepares to play his first game for the Raiders tomorrow night he can rest assured he has the complete backing of his teammates. Missing World Cup triumph only regret: Everyone from the coaches, Stephen Kearney and Wayne Bennett, and seemingly, through to the kit man have been lauded for their roles in the Kiwis' stunning World Cup win. But one man whose exploits are often overlooked is Roy Asotasi. Asotasi wasn't at Brisbane that famous night when the Kiwis upset Australia 34-20. He still had an arm in a sling, thanks to the torn pectoral muscle sustained in the last 10 minutes of his penultimate NRL game of the season. It dashed any hopes of captaining the Kiwis at the World Cup. Bennett rues letting Harrison slip away: It's not often that Wayne Bennett admits he got it wrong. But that was certainly the case with Bronson Harrison. About the time Bennett signed on to coach the Dragons, Bronson's manager, Sam Ayoub, shopped the Tigers back-rower to several clubs. Bennett was given the opportunity to snap up the 23-year-old but passed. The Kiwi international subsequently signed with the Raiders. Battle looms for Kiwi T'eo: Auckland-born Bronco Ben Te'o is refusing to comment on a possible battle between Queensland and New Zealand for his services. It is believed the second-rower, who joined the Broncos this season after leaving Wests Tigers last year, would prefer to play for Queensland. QRL managing director Ross Livermore said state selectors had inquired about the Kiwi for the Emerging Origin camp in January but the ARL said he was ineligible. Hell Brenton rocking Tom: Even 'super heroes' become mere mortals when they're grounded by back injuries as Headingley's own 'Superman' Brent Webb has discovered. But the New Zealand star is ready to 'fly' again tonight for the first time in six months. And Webb, given his nickname by adoring Leeds Rhinos' fans, will come face-to-face with New Zealand team mate, Thomas Leuluai. Eastwood to Dogs: The Bulldogs are firming to become home for Greg Eastwood after the former Brisbane forward, bound for Leeds before a visa problem grounded him, met club officials last week. Eastwood had been favoured to sign with the New Zealand Warriors if his visa appeal was rejected. However, the Warriors said they wanted the Kiwi international on their books by the start of the season, which for them is tomorrow. With the clock ticking, Eastwood met Bulldogs officials last week and the club is believed to have turned their sights on the former Bronco rather than their original target, Michael Crocker, who is also awaiting the results of an appeal to play in the UK. (Source: www.leaguehq.com.au 13 March 2009) John Bishop Appointed to the Board of WSD Global Markets: New Zealand financial services company WSD Global Markets has appointed former banker and business executive John Bishop as an independent director. Mr. Bishop has extensive experience in the Corporate and SME markets both in New Zealand and overseas covering a wide range of business sectors including banking, financial services, accountancy, import/distribution, freight forwarding, insurance broking, education, property and community care. Benji to remain a Tiger until 2011: New Zealand Test star Benji Marshall said he wants to become one of rugby league's great halfbacks after agreeing to a new two-year deal with the Wests Tigers. Marshall ended the speculation over his future on Thursday by announcing he would remain a Tiger until the end of 2011. The 24- year-old had been toying with the idea of playing rugby in Japan during the league off-season, but the NRL ruled he could not do so if he had an ongoing commitment with the Tigers. I have not failed as a leader: David Gallop: NRL chief executive David Gallop felt the heat turned on his own position today as rugby league confronted the latest in its string of player behaviour scandals. Gallop was forced to defend his performance in combating repeated outbreaks of anti-social behaviour when he fronted the media after the NRL suspended Manly's star fullback Brett Stewart from the first four rounds of the competition. Parra boy returns to coach: LAST week saw the premiership launch of the 2009 NRL season at Hyde Park. Last year's centenary season gave the code a reason to celebrate its grassroots. This year looks to be much the same at our own Parramatta Eels, where new coach Daniel Anderson is starting a three-year era, replacing Michael Hagan, who had two years in the job. GPS trial will put players on track: EVER wondered how hard a collision is between two giant props? Now you'll be able to find out after the NRL approved the use of GPS tracking devices. The monitors, which are attached to the players' vests and sit between the shoulder blades, will measure heart rates, speeds, distances travelled and the force of impacts during matches. Bronson Harrison following in Wiki's footsteps In Canberra Raiders circles there are few compliments bigger than being compared with club legend Ruben Wiki. So as Bronson Harrison prepares to play his first game for the Raiders tomorrow night he can rest assured he has the complete backing of his teammates. After relocating to Canberra from the Wests Tigers at the end of last season, the Kiwi back-rower has already won plenty of admirers at the Raiders for his work ethic and leadership skills. The 23-year-old has been so impressive that teammate Josh Miller last week predicted his impact at the club would be similar to that of Wiki, a Raiders premiership player who played 225 first-grade games in a 12-year career with Canberra. Considering Wiki was Miller's idol when he was growing up, that's a pretty big endorsement. ''He's [Harrison] a great player and such a professional at training and we're lucky to have him,'' Miller said. ''I reckon he's going to be like another Ruben Wiki for the Raiders. That is a big rap, but he's got all the tools to do it. ''He's got the drive, he does a lot of extra training and he's really professional about what he does. He's got the size, he's got great skills. He's a great buy for us.'' There are plenty of similarities between Harrison and Wiki, who retired after helping the New Zealand Warriors to a preliminary final last year. Both were born in Auckland, have similar physical attributes and have represented their country with distinction. They both also have the same quiet, attention-commanding aura. But whereas Wiki has already left a monumental stamp on the game, Harrison still has plenty left to prove. He admits his last season at the Tigers wasn't memorable, as he regularly swapped between the front and back- rows. But after playing a huge role in New Zealand's World Cup win in November, Harrison is confident he can have a big impact at the Raiders in 2009. ''The big thing for me was [the World Cup] lifted my confidence,'' Harrison said. ''Just being around the team and the coaches was great for me. I want to be starting for the Raiders for the whole season and I'd like to keep my [Kiwi] jersey.'' Harrison found it hard to cope with the constant swapping between positions last season, but that is something he is unlikely to face at the Raiders. Coach David Furner has already indicated he wants Harrison wearing the No12 jersey for the duration of the year. Harrison said remaining in one position was his preference, but he was still willing to move around should injuries strike. ''My confidence last year was down because of a lot of uncertainty. I was playing a bit of front-row, a bit of back- row, a bit of everywhere ... I didn't really have a spot. Even swapping from tight back-row to wide back-row, it's a lot of jobs to remember, especially when you've got a lot of tap moves. ''The defensive roles are a lot different as well, so it does make it a little bit tougher. But you're there for the team, you're not there for yourself. Wherever the team needs you is where you play. If the team needs me [to change positions] I'm not going to be hiding from it, I'm going to be right up there giving my best.'' There's little prospect of Harrison hiding tomorrow when he lines up against his former teammates for the first time. He's excited about playing against the Tigers, but he's more worried about performing for the Raiders than impressing anyone at his former club. That's the team approach Wiki would have had. (Source: The Canberra Times, 15 March 2009) Missing World Cup triumph only regret Everyone from the coaches, Stephen Kearney and Wayne Bennett, and seemingly, through to the kit man have been lauded for their roles in the Kiwis' stunning World Cup win. But one man whose exploits are often overlooked is Roy Asotasi. Asotasi wasn't at Brisbane that famous night when the Kiwis upset Australia 34-20.