TO: NZRL Staff, Districts and Affiliates and Board FROM: Cushla Dawson DATE: 18 May 2009 RE: Media Summary Tuesday 12 April to Monday 18 May 2009 They are happy helping others: One helps out people from the other side of the world, one mentors the troubled kids at her league club, and another just looks after his mum. What the five winners of this year's Young Community Leaders Awards have in common, though, is a dedication to social work, rather than their social lives. Emma Daken, Teresa Edge, Henare Mihaere, Fofo Molia and Libby Tuite were chosen from nearly 60 nominees to receive the awards, which recognised Wellingtonians under the age of 25 working in the not-for- profit sector, either as a volunteer or in a paid position. Anzac test to stay - and it'll be in Brisbane: Despite the Kiwis' dire results in mid-year tests across the Tasman, the Anzac league test is likely to survive and remain in Brisbane because the New Zealand Rugby League cannot afford to host the game. NZRL chairman Ray Haffenden admits there are conflicting views about the test's value after New Zealand's run of eight successive defeats but has given it his backing and said the league cannot afford to scrap the game, nor host it. No sign of league World Cup cash: Six months since the World Cup final, the much-trumpeted tournament profit apparently still sits in a Rugby League International Federation bank account. New Zealand has not been told what the final profit is, or how it will be distributed and RLIF boss Colin Love couldn't be reached last night. Newspaper reports last year said the tournament would make $5 million and the proceeds would be directed to emerging nations. But NZRL chairman Ray Haffenden last night revealed: "Nothing has been allocated, and nothing can be until the International Federation meeting. I am sure that some has been earmarked, but as for being allocated, as far as I know, it should be sitting somewhere. "I have not seen the final figures. We have seen figures in the paper that said it was $5m, but I don't know the exact figure and we will probably get that at the meeting." Source: Steve Kilgallon, Sunday Star-Times, 17 May 2009 Club games to screen live on net: Imagine watching your mates playing sport live on your mobile phone or iPod. The possibility of grassroots Kiwi team sports being shown in broadcast quality on the latest technology opened last night when the Auckland Rugby League agreed a landmark deal with Maori Television to show two club games a week on national TV. Two Kiwis on their way out of NRL: Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney is philosophical about two Kiwis leaving the NRL to pick up more money in England. The flow of Kiwis to the UK Super League has stepped up, despite moves to shut a loophole which has allowed players to pay less tax on their earnings. Players named in England’s Elite Training Squad: Initial 17 players named in England’s Elite Training Squad Programme. The RFL has announced an initial group of 17 players from nine different clubs who will form part of an England Elite Training Squad and benefit from access to world leading facilities, individualised player development plans and improved sports science throughout the season. The 17, a combination of seasoned and potential internationals of the future, will also form part of a National Registered Testing Pool of players which the RFL has had to nominate under new World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) rules. Huddersfield sign Kiwi Fa'alogo: New Zealand Test second-rower David Fa'alogo will join Huddersfield Giants on a four-year deal from the start of next season. The 28-year-old has been granted an early release by NRL side South Sydney. Giants coach Nathan Brown told their website: "David is a world-class player and will bring a huge amount to our team and the Super League competition. Ryder among the finalists: Jesse Ryder is back in the news only this time it is in a positive light. A day after admitting falling off the wagon again in his battle with the booze, Ryder has been named a finalist for The Dominion Post Wellington Sportsperson of the Year Awards, to be held on June 11. ... The Coach of the Year looks a two-horse race between rugby league's Stephen Kearney and rugby's Jamie Joseph, though the third finalist, Greg Fraine, is highly respected in the triathlon field. Kearney steered the Kiwis to World Cup glory and Joseph was at the helm when the Ranfurly Shield was won. Fox Sports commentator Gorden Tallis hits out over rugby league scheduling: It is time for rugby league to consider completely overhauling its scheduling because at the moment the balance isn't right, writes former rugby league star Gorden Tallis. I couldn't agree more with the comments of (North Queensland) Cowboys stars Luke O'Donnell and Johnathan Thurston in regard to the scheduling of last Friday night's Test match. The match and the players who contested it, as well as the City-Country fixture in Orange on the same night, were not afforded the respect they deserved. Kiwis won when it counted: There’s no question that one-off games don’t seem to suit the Kiwis. When you look at our record we perform pretty poorly when we’re not in a series type of environment. And that’s just what happened at Brisbane when the boys took a 38-10 hiding from the Kangaroos. But I will say this: I was very impressed with Stephen Kearney because the coach just took it on the chin. Kiwis to ask for help over suspensions: SUSPENDED Kiwi hooker Issac Luke has labelled the judiciary decision that denied him a place in last Friday's Test as "bulls--t" while the NZRL intends to table a formal protest about the suspensions of its players on the eve of the Anzac match. Luke was reluctant to discuss the decision made by the judiciary but told Auckland's Sunday News he couldn't believe he'd been forced to miss a Test for striking out at Gold Coast forward Anthony Laffranchi. They are happy helping others One helps out people from the other side of the world, one mentors the troubled kids at her league club, and another just looks after his mum. What the five winners of this year's Young Community Leaders Awards have in common, though, is a dedication to social work, rather than their social lives. Emma Daken, Teresa Edge, Henare Mihaere, Fofo Molia and Libby Tuite were chosen from nearly 60 nominees to receive the awards, which recognised Wellingtonians under the age of 25 working in the not-for- profit sector, either as a volunteer or in a paid position. The awards were presented by Governor-General Anand Satyanand last week after being judged by a panel that included Olympian Danyon Loader and Community and Voluntary Sector Minister Tariana Turia. Ms Tuite, nominated by the Porirua Vikings Rugby League Club for her work as a team manager, said she was "really, really excited" about the award, which came with a certificate and a $1000 cheque. "It was quite humbling because I don't do this because I want to be recognised, I do it because I love the sport and I like to help people." Ms Edge, who volunteers at Refugee Services Aotearoa, had similar feelings. "I felt like a bit of a fraud really, because what I do is not official leadership in any way, it's just what I love doing." Mr Mihaere, who coaches sports and music groups in between caring for his mother, a stroke sufferer, said he did not expect to receive the award after meeting the 25 other finalists. "I was surprised. I didn't think I had a chance." Wellington Community Trust chairman Mattie Blackburn said thewinners had gone "way above the call of duty". "I was proud to be involved in acknowledging the passion and commitment of these young people." THE QUIET ACHIEVERS * FOFO MOLIA When Hope City Church pastor Richard Tautolo drowned on Christmas Day 2007, the Porirua community wondered who would fill the huge gap he left in the city's social welfare network. It was Fofo Molia, 24, who stepped up, taking over the running of the church's after- hours programme for at-risk youth, organising youth events and providing her home as a haven for young people. She juggles her volunteer work with her job as a community youth worker at Pacific Health Services Porirua, and has a daughter, Angel, 5. * EMMA DAKEN Emma Daken, 20, first walked into the public eye when she became the youngest Kiwi to travel the length of the country on foot in her quest to raise money for cystic fibrosis research. She raised more than $28,000 during her journey, inspired by a friend suffering from the life-shortening disease. She persisted with the walk despite suffering a virus, shin splints, blisters and a sore back. She is finishing off a degree in politics, development studies and international relations, and says she has several ideas "bouncing around in my head" for a new fundraising event. * LIBBY TUITE Libby Tuite, 22, is not just any old manager. For the past two years she has used her role as manager of Porirua Vikings Rugby League Club's premier men's side to mentor the younger team members, many of whom come from disadvantaged backgrounds.