Sir Peter Leitch’s Mad Butcher Club AT MT SMART STADIUM, HOME OF THE MIGHTY VODAFONE WARRIORS 1st October 2015 Newsletter #92 No advertisements are paid for in this newsletter. Days until the Kiwis leave for their tour of the 17 UK. NRL Dally M Awards Aaron Wood from the Tigers caught All the boys wanted their photo with Alway great to catch up with this lady up with his old mate Andrew Webster Erin Moran. Star of the Footy Show. Corene Strauss CEO OF MEN OF the assistant coach at the Vodafone LEAGUE check them out Warriors www.menofleague.com Always great to catch up with our Always enjoy Greg Eastwoods com- fantastic fans even at the Dally M Always great to catch up with Rugby pany awards so loyal true fans League Legend Peter Sterling’ Host of the Sunday Footy Show on Chan- nel Nine Here I am with Erin Moran from the Here I am with the lovely ladies I caught up with the man of the Footy Show and her date for the night Emily, partner of Andrew Webster moment - Broncos captain Justin Thomas Chell who sadly lost his dad Vodafone Warriors assistant coach, Hodges. Will he play or won’t he My to bowel cancer. He was the envy of and Joanne, wife of Vodafone Warri- money is on he will!. every bloke at the Dally M awards!. ors CEO Jim Doyle.. Me and Bruce had a great chat to my Kelly and Nathan Friend joined us It’s always great to have a chat to Des old mate a rugby League Legend on the Vodafone Warriors table at Hasler one bloody great guy. Peter Stirling now the host of the the awards he even pick up award for Sunday footy show on Channle 9 in spectacular back flip pass. Sydney. Nathan receiving his award THE HEADLINE MOMENT OF THE YEAR that back flip pass will be Paul Gallen told me he can’t wait to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck won the NRL talked about for years to come. knock out our Bodene Thompson in fullback of the year and took his there up coming fight ( what do you mum to the awards. think readers). The 3 musketeers on the red carpet at the dally m awards - Aaron Woods, Vodafone Warriors CEO JIM DOYLE me and Andrew Webster, Vodafone Was great to catch up with Nathan AND HIS LOVELY WIFE JOAN- Warriors assistant coach.. Friend at the awards one real nice NEON THE RED CARPET AT THE guy. DALLY M AWARDS. Mad Butcher Club Newsletter Page 2 Andrew and Aaron with his lovely Bruce caught up with Michael Ennis Bruce was stoked to meet the Voda- partner and had a chat fone Warriors new signing for 2016 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck Great to catch up with these Brisbane Great to catch up with these guys - Broncos players on the night. From Ashley Taylor, who won Holden Cup Here I am with Broncos Cory Parker left are Ashley Taylor, Anthony Mil- Player of the year, and Anthony Mil- who won Best Representative Player ford, Justin Hodges, Ben Hunt and ford of the Broncos who has the game of the year. And is a bloody good Cory Parker. of his life coming up on Sunday! bloke 2015 Dally M Award Winners Dally M Player of the Year: Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys) Lock of the Year: Jason Taumalolo (North Queensland Cowboys) Second-rower of the Year: Josh Jackson (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs) Hooker of the Year: Michael Ennis (Cronulla Sharks) Prop of the Year: Aaron Woods (Wests Tigers) Halfback of the Year: Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys) Five-eighth of the Year: Blake Austin (Canberra Raiders) Centre of the Year: James Roberts (Gold Coast Titans) Winger of the Year: Semi Radradra (Parramatta Eels) Fullback of the Year: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Sydney Roosters) Female Player of the Year: Jenni-Sue Hoepper (Queensland/Australia) Holden Cup Player of the Year: Ashley Taylor (Brisbane Broncos) Representative Player of the Year: Corey Parker (Queensland/Australia) Provan Summons People’s Choice Medal: Johnathan Thurston (North Queensland Cowboys) Ken Stephen Medal: Luke Douglas (Gold Coast Titans) Coach of the Year: Wayne Bennett (Brisbane Broncos) Peter Moore Award for Rookie of the Year: Jack Bird (Cronulla Sharks) Captain of the Year: Johnathan Thurston/Matt Scott (North Queensland Cowboys) Top Points-Scorer: Jarrod Croker (Canberra Raiders) Top Try-Scorer: Semi Radradra (Parramatta Eels) Mad Butcher Club Newsletter Page 3 HAT AN NRL Grand Final My good friend The Footy Show special ceremony in Townsville, Wit is going to be. In the presenter Erin Molan was looking where he’s preparing for the 2015 preliminary finals the Brisbane stunning on the red carpet, and it Grand Final. He was also awarded Broncos dealt to the favourites, was great to see all the Vodafone captain of the year award (with the Roosters, 31-12, and the next Warriors fans out, with their flags Cowboys co-captain Matt Scott), night the North Queensland Cow- waving. halfback of the year award, as well boys did almost exactly the same as the People’s Choice. thing, beating the Storm 32-12 in The other big buzz was catching Melbourne. up with a lot of the Kiwi lads, men The Cowboys’ opponents in Sun- like soon to be Warrior Roger Tu- day’s all-Queensland grand final, That sets up an all Queensland ivasa Sheck, Greg Eastwood and Brisbane, also had a successful final, which must stick in the craw Jarred Waerea-Hargreaves. The night. Wayne Bennett earned the of the NSW sides, but both sides Aussie-based Kiwis don’t always coach of the year as he attempts to deserve to be there. get many chances to socialize, so it win an eighth premiership, while was a pleasure to be able to invite Corey Parker won best representa- In Time For THe Dally M Awards them along to the Kiwis reunion. tive player. As I write this for you I am sitting Nathan Friend Gets Special Other Dally M Awards: Winger, in my Sydney hotel, where I have Recognition Semi Radradra (Eels); centre, been since Monday. James Roberts (Titans); standoff, Vodafone Warrior Nathan Friend’s Arriving in time for the Dally M Blake Austin (Raiders); lock, Ja- backflip-between-the-legs try as- son Taumalolo (Cowboys); second celebrations was amazing and I sist against Melbourne was voted owe a big vote of thanks to Dave row, Josh Jackson (Bulldogs); prop, the headline moment of the year Aaron Woods (Tigers); hooker, Smith of the NRL and Jim Doyle at the 2015 Dally M Awards. the big boss of the Vodafone War- Michael Ennis (Sharks); points, riors, because they arranged for Jarrod Croker (Raiders); tries, me to attend with my son-in-law Radradra; Holden Cup player of Bruce, and it was fantastic. the year, Ashley Taylor (Bron- Nathan cos); female player of the year, To say I love events like the Dal- receiving Jenni-Sue Hoepper; Ken Stephen ly M celebrations is an under- his award. Medal, Luke Douglas (Titans). statement. Catching up with old friends, and making new ones is Roll On THe Grand Final Lunch brilliant, especially among all that I have the Carbine Club Grand red carpet, glitz and glamour. Final lunch to attend on Thurs- Among the other winners was day and I am looking forward One of those I caught up with was Vodafone Warriors-bound Roger to it very much. It is an amazing Queensland great Nate Myles. I Tuivasa-Sheck, named Dally M experience and this year both mention this to bring it all back to fullback of the year after his out- teams will be there of course, and a bit of reality. Nate’s wife, who I standing season for the Roosters. was introduced to, has been bat- I hope to grab the chance to catch tling cancer and it was an honour, Vodafone Warriors utility Tuimo- up with the best in the business – being a survivor myself, to chat ala Lolohea was in contention for Broncos coach Wayne Bennett. the rookie award but that went to with her. I was also being accom- The atmosphere around Grand Cronulla’s Jack Bird. panied by Janice, who endured her Final week is incredible. There own breast cancer scare, so they Dominating the awards was North have already been a huge range of exchanged stories. Queensland halfback and co-cap- firsts, activities and events, includ- Bronco Corey Parker was there, tain Johnathan Thurston, named ing the inaugural launch of NRL with his pregnant wife. So I gave Dally M player of the year for a Nation, an interactive fan site at her a card and told her to let me fourth time. Thurston polled 32 Darling Harbour. I will be going know when the baby comes and I points, beating Michael Ennis, down after the lunch to check it will send the world’s No 1 doll – Aaron Woods and Benji Marshall. out myself. the Mad Butcher doll. She at least Thurston accepted his award in a Continued on next page... got a smile. Mad Butcher Club Newsletter Page 4 Continued from previous page... So come Friday it will be all on, Grand Final set to be played, that with any number of former Kiwis, it is only a game, and there are Celebrations, as I mentioned, have not only from the 2005 team, but some things a lot more important. included the Dally M Awards; from all sorts of sides. the announcement of the NRL Bring it on Telstra Premiership Grand Final After 26 weeks of regular season teams and referees; the launch of play, weeks more in the finals se- NRL Nation; The live Grand Final ries, it comes down to 80 minutes.