The American comp kicks off this weekend, so I thought I'd have a go at a preview of each team for this year.
It promises to be a very exciting season in America, with 6 of the 8 clubs being real chances to win the comp.
Glen Mills Bulls - sister club to the Canterbury Bulldogs - The Bulls have always been the side to beat in America. They won every title contested till beaten in a controversial grandfinal by the New York Knights last season (the game was abandoned halfway through due to a severe thunderstorm, Knights were ahead at the time but Bulls were coming home much stronger). The star recruit for the Bulls is Marcus Vassilakopoulos, who is tipped to be the best player in the comp and has played professionally in both England and Australia. The Bulls have also recruited several promising young American players.
New York Knights - sister club of the Newcastle Knights - Last season was the first season for the Knights. During much of the season they were unable to raise a team and only just managed to make the playoffs after forfieting several games. In the playoffs they beat the minor premiers New Jersey Sharks and then pinched the grandfinal from the Bulls. For many of the players the grandfinal was only their 4th game of Rugby League. The two leading players for the Knights will again be former Manly lower grader Matt Astill and former US Union and current League international Bobo Balachandran. The Knights have now formed an alliance with 6 Union sides based in NY and believe they will be able to field a very competitive side from those players and several overseas recruits.
Conneticut Wildcats - were to be sister club to the Panthers, but now to link up with the Wests Tigers - This club is a breakaway club from the NY Knights and is playing it's first season. Four US Tomahawks backline players are the motivators for the breakaway, and they have been joined by two Australian who were playing division 1 in France (former Manly lower graders) and two players from country NSW, as well as many players from Conneticut based Union sides and a few gridiron players. They look to have a side that is full of talent and they should improve every game.
Washington DC Slayers - sister club to Saints - this club is the real darkhorse. It is also a new club, and most of the players have completely unknown pedigrees, but it is being put together by a man who works in the New Zealand embassy and so has access to many Kiwis in Washington and surrounds. This team could be anything from a bunch of old has beens to 17 big and nasty islanders with years of League experience. Only time will tell.
New Jersey Sharks - sister club to Cronulla - they were the minor premiers and standout club last season but somehow found a way to lose the title (sound familiar). They are a club made up of largely young Americans and they have been playing together for up to four seasons now. Each season they become more experienced and therefore better. They are the team with the second highest number of Tomahawk players after the Bulls.
Media Mantarays - sister club to Parra - This is their third season and they are also a team of young American players who improve every year. They have some of the best Tomahawk players and I think many of their guys are set to really come good this year.
New Jersey Vikings - sister club to the raiders - A club that struggled last season and don't seem to have picked up anyone in the offseason. I think they will struggle to get a side together every week.
The Philly Fight - sister club to Souths - apart from having one of the best players in America - Jeff Preston - they have nothing. they come last nearly every year and this year will be no exception.
It promises to be a very exciting season in America, with 6 of the 8 clubs being real chances to win the comp.
Glen Mills Bulls - sister club to the Canterbury Bulldogs - The Bulls have always been the side to beat in America. They won every title contested till beaten in a controversial grandfinal by the New York Knights last season (the game was abandoned halfway through due to a severe thunderstorm, Knights were ahead at the time but Bulls were coming home much stronger). The star recruit for the Bulls is Marcus Vassilakopoulos, who is tipped to be the best player in the comp and has played professionally in both England and Australia. The Bulls have also recruited several promising young American players.
New York Knights - sister club of the Newcastle Knights - Last season was the first season for the Knights. During much of the season they were unable to raise a team and only just managed to make the playoffs after forfieting several games. In the playoffs they beat the minor premiers New Jersey Sharks and then pinched the grandfinal from the Bulls. For many of the players the grandfinal was only their 4th game of Rugby League. The two leading players for the Knights will again be former Manly lower grader Matt Astill and former US Union and current League international Bobo Balachandran. The Knights have now formed an alliance with 6 Union sides based in NY and believe they will be able to field a very competitive side from those players and several overseas recruits.
Conneticut Wildcats - were to be sister club to the Panthers, but now to link up with the Wests Tigers - This club is a breakaway club from the NY Knights and is playing it's first season. Four US Tomahawks backline players are the motivators for the breakaway, and they have been joined by two Australian who were playing division 1 in France (former Manly lower graders) and two players from country NSW, as well as many players from Conneticut based Union sides and a few gridiron players. They look to have a side that is full of talent and they should improve every game.
Washington DC Slayers - sister club to Saints - this club is the real darkhorse. It is also a new club, and most of the players have completely unknown pedigrees, but it is being put together by a man who works in the New Zealand embassy and so has access to many Kiwis in Washington and surrounds. This team could be anything from a bunch of old has beens to 17 big and nasty islanders with years of League experience. Only time will tell.
New Jersey Sharks - sister club to Cronulla - they were the minor premiers and standout club last season but somehow found a way to lose the title (sound familiar). They are a club made up of largely young Americans and they have been playing together for up to four seasons now. Each season they become more experienced and therefore better. They are the team with the second highest number of Tomahawk players after the Bulls.
Media Mantarays - sister club to Parra - This is their third season and they are also a team of young American players who improve every year. They have some of the best Tomahawk players and I think many of their guys are set to really come good this year.
New Jersey Vikings - sister club to the raiders - A club that struggled last season and don't seem to have picked up anyone in the offseason. I think they will struggle to get a side together every week.
The Philly Fight - sister club to Souths - apart from having one of the best players in America - Jeff Preston - they have nothing. they come last nearly every year and this year will be no exception.
