TUESDAY MARCH 10 2015 SPORT 35 ‘Let charged Titans play’ By JEREMY PIERCE, RHIAN members have already faced High-profile Gold Coast MacCallum said the case them, seems to be very flimsy these charges and therefore DEUTROM & CHRIS GARRY court over the cocaine scandal, lawyer Campbell MacCallum, against the players was “flim- or a bit speculative.” they should be allowed to with all cases set to return to who is representing the major- sy” and unlikely to succeed if He said he asked the Titans play,” he said. “I would be ex- THE lawyers for Gold Coast court in May. ity of the players in court, last the matters drag out to trials. to reinstate the players as they tremely surprised (if the play- Titans facing cocaine charges Lawyers for the players and night sought an urgent meet- “We will be submitting that were likely to win the looming ers were not allowed to play) and the Rugby League Players the RLPA have now turned ing with Titans officials and the evidence that they (the court battles. With the NRL we’ve seen plenty of examples Association have made a des- their attention to getting the the RLPA, while Falloon’s law- Crime and Corruption Com- having a long history of allow- of players before the court. perate plea to club officials to group reinstated in time for the yer Chris Nyst has already pre- mission) have provided to us ing players facing court action “I’m unaware of any player allow the group to return to the club’s weekend NRL clash with sented a detailed brief to the thus far is insufficient to con- to take the field, Mr MacCal- that has been stood down playing field this weekend. Penrith in Bathurst. club asking for the reigning tinue with proceedings and on lum said he expected the Ti- pending the outcome of a court Five past and present Titans Stars Greg Bird, Dave Tay- club player of the year’s im- that basis we will hope that tans players to be allowed back proceeding especially if … they yesterday fronted Southport lor, Beau Falloon, Jamie Dowl- mediate return to football. they will withdraw the char- on the paddock. are pleading not guilty. “ Magistrates Court, each of ing and Kalifa Faifai Loa have Both lawyers are also lobby- ges,” he said. “We are asking them (the Unlike Karmichael Hunt’s them pleading not guilty to all been stood down since the ing police prosecutors to drop “As we have always said Titans) to consider that we dramatic day in court last supplying cocaine. cocaine crisis rocked Queens- all charges. from the start, the evidence should be fairly successful in week, yesterday’s Titans’ ap- A further two current squad land sport last month. Speaking yesterday, Mr that has been provided against our endeavours in defending pearances were brief. Melbourne NRL LADDER ROUND 1 hold tight P W L D B +/- Pts Rabbitohs 1 1 0 0 0 30 2 Eels 1 1 0 0 0 30 2 in defence Roosters 1 1 0 0 0 24 2 Knights 1 1 0 0 0 10 2 Storm 1 1 0 0 0 8 2 Panthers 1 1 0 0 0 6 2 By NICK SMART Raiders 1 1 0 0 0 4 2 Tigers 1 1 0 0 0 1 2 THE purple wall is back in Titans 1 0 0 1 0 -1 0 town. Melbourne Storm’s Sharks 1 0 0 1 0 -4 0 Bulldogs 1 0 0 1 0 -6 0 much-maligned defence stood Dragons 1 0 0 1 0 -8 0 up to its first test last night with Warriors 1 0 0 1 0 -10 0 the new-look side scoring a Cowboys 1 0 0 1 0 -24 0 Sea Eagles 1 0 0 1 0 -30 0 gritty 12-4 win over St George Broncos 1 0 0 1 0 -30 0 Illawarra in its season opener. Coach Craig Bellamy’s pre- season theme was mental toughness and staying the Milford heir course during games when times get tough. It was clear last night the to throne: message has got through. Played in humid conditions, King Wally Storm survived a torrid of repeat raids during the first 40 THE King has anointed his prince – minutes before grinding out a Brisbane’s inaugural five-eighth hard-earned win. Wally Lewis has declared Anthony Skipper Cameron Smith Milford will become a star in the was superb with a game-high Broncos’ No.6 jersey. 51 tackles in an inspirational Phil Gould said during commen- performance, just three tary of Brisbane’s loss to South Syd- months after undergoing ankle ney that Milford should revert to surgery. fullback but Lewis told The Courier- Melbourne’s attacking Mail Milford must be the Broncos game left a lot to be desired, long-term No.6. but last night’s scrap was about Milford has inherited a legend- defence with Storm making 80 ary but recently cursed No.6 jersey. more tackles for the match. Club greats such as Lewis, Kevin The visitors looked sharp Walters and Darren Lockyer domi- early and struck first in the nated in the jersey but in the past fifth minute. Winger Young two years it has shifted between Tonumaipea, replacing the Corey Norman, Scott Prince, Josh departed Sisa Waqa, was first Hoffman and Ben Barba. over after being on the end of a Milford comes face to face with Cronk kick that found its Barba this week when Brisbane play target. Cronulla. The Inala product’s signing The Dragons asked plenty was a major reason the Broncos of early questions of the Storm STORM moved Barba on. defence with three repeat sets 12 Milford yesterday admitted he on the Melbourne line must improve against Cronulla after following a Benji Marshall 40- DRAGONS the 36-6 Round 1 loss to Souths. 20. 4 And he was starstruck at Broncos Melbourne’s goal line MELBOURNE training when he saw Lewis and defence, which was a constant Tries: W Chambers Y Tonumaipea went out of his way to shake the issue last year, held strong Goals: C Smith 2 legend’s hand. Lewis said patience against the repeat attacks. ST GEORGE-ILLAWARRA was required but Milford was the Tries: E Nabuli Storm led 6-0 at half-time Dragons’ Josh Dugan is tackled by Storm’s man to finally own the No.6 jersey. Referees: A Devcich D Munro yet it felt like it had barely Jesse Bromwich during Melbourne’s opening Crowd: 10, 028 at Jubilee Oval “He will make it at five-eighth,” touched the ball in the game’s round victory last night Picture: MARK KOLBE Lewis told The Courier-Mail. “It is opening 40 minutes. just a matter of time with Milford.” Holy Moses, young Tiger lucky to stay on field and now cleared without penalty THE NRL has again found itself em- Thurston and Josh Reynolds – with served a send-off, but Moses won’t grade three dangerous throw “We will do fight the charge on seven matches. The inconsistency broiled in an inconsistency crisis offences totalling 23 weeks on the miss a single game with an early charge. Junior’s behalf,” Eels CEO Scott wasn’t lost on Immortal Andrew after revelations rising Wests Tigers sidelines. guilty plea today. With additional loading, Paulo Seward said. “We certainly think it is Johns. star Mitchell Moses would be free to But the most baffling charge was Conversely, Parramatta’s Junior may be banned for nearly a third of on the higher end of the scale. “Nine weeks for that tackle – play this weekend despite a shock- that levelled at Moses, who coat- Paulo may feel aggrieved at the the season if he fights the charge “We are now reviewing past ex- that is far too much,” Johns said. “I ing head-high tackle. hangered Gold Coast’s William Zill- prospect of been suspended for and loses at an NRL judiciary hear- amples of similar tackles to deter- just don’t think Junior Paulo knows In a dramatic day, the game’s man during Saturday night’s golden- nine weeks after the match review ing tomorrow night. Parramatta last mine how we will challenge it.” his own strength. He did put the match review committee charged point victory. committee deemed his tackle on night revealed the club would take Had he pleaded guilty, Paulo player into a dangerous position but nine players – including Johnathan It was a tackle many thought de- Manly’s Matt Ballin was worthy of a their chances at the judiciary. would have been suspended for it wasn’t intentional.” V1 - NTNE01Z01MA.