Articles

[getsmarty]

No more salary cap sombrero gags! Roosters among the lowest in TPAs after overall drop in 2019
NRL Premiership

• December 13, 2019 9:29pm
• by Staff writers
• Source: FOX SPORTS

The Roosters are among the lowest clubs for recorded TPAs in 2019.Source: AAP
There has been a decrease in outside-the-cap payments among the 16 clubs of almost $2 million in 2019 following the NRL’s crackdown on third-party agreements to improve transparency.

And running counter-intuitively to the salary cap sombrero gags, the Roosters were the third lowest of all the clubs with only $69,000 worth of private sector TPAs. Although Cooper Cronk and James Tedesco benefited from whole of game sponsorship, which wasn’t included.

The Melbourne Storm were the highest with $810,000 this year, still down from the just over $1m they recorded in 2018 following the retirement of Billy Slater.

The NRL first made third-party agreements public last year in a bid to improve confidence in the integrity of the code’s contract process, and they did likewise on Friday — revealing that there was a reduction from $7.8 million of totals TPAs in 2018 to just $6 million this year.



There are various different TPAs — including motor vehicles, whole of game sponsorship and community and contra deals — but it’s the private sector arm’s length agreements that have been most eagerly placed under the microscope by supporters.

Of the $6m of TPAs in 2019, only $2.7m came from private sector arm’s length agreements, significantly less than the $4.7m 12 months earlier.



Only the Bulldogs, Eels, Knights and Tigers registered small increases in private sector TPAs, with the remaining 12 clubs experiencing a decrease from last year to 2019.

“These figures show a significant decline in the amount of third-party agreements across the game,” NRL chief operating officer Nick Weeks said.



“The reduction reflects the retirement of some of the game’s elite players and the effectiveness of additional checks and balances we have put in place to identify noncompliance with the rules are working. We recognised the genuine concerns our clubs and fans had about third-party agreements.




“That’s why we introduced more strenuous measures to ensure these arrangements are genuine arms-length deals. We are confident that this level of transparency about third-party agreements will improve confidence in the effective operation of the salary cap and reduce the amount of speculation and guess work about this part of the game.”

YOUR CLUB’S TPA FOR 2019

Brisbane Broncos: $349,852

Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs: $59,680

North Queensland Cowboys: $15,667

St George Illawarra Dragons: $82,951

Parramatta Eels: $80,166

Newcastle Knights: $181,275

Penrith Panthers: $233,333

South Sydney Rabbitohs: $198,591

Canberra Raiders: $45,333

Sydney Roosters: $68,966

Manly Sea Eagles: $148,718

Cronulla Sharks: $211,952

Melbourne Storm: $809,998

Gold Coast Titans: $18,153

New Zealand Warriors: $27,591

Wests Tigers: $132,458


https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...m/news-story/dd97dfd5529ee26499442dfb4e859e03

 

[getsmarty]

NRL NEWS


NRL crackdown leads to dramatic drop in third-party deals
Author
Michael Chammas Chief Reporter
Timestamp
Fri 13 Dec 2019, 06:00 PM

The NRL's crackdown on third-party agreements has led to a drop of almost $2 million over the past year in outside-the-cap payments, with premiers Sydney Roosters one of the lowest and Melbourne the highest.

In a bid to provide clarity around one of the game's taboo topics, the NRL last year decided to make third-party agreements public and followed through again on Friday to highlight the improvement in transparency and integrity of the code's contract process.

It is deemed to be a contributing factor that led to a reduction from $7.8 million of totals TPAs in 2018 to just $6m this year.

While there are a range of contributing factors, including the retirements of some of the game's superstars like Johnathan Thurston and Billy Slater, the NRL believes clubs are beginning to understand the repercussions of breaking the rules.

There are a range of different TPAs – which include motor vehicles, whole of game sponsorship and community and contra deals – however the private sector arm's length agreements are what have traditionally been most questioned by fans.

Of the $6m of TPAs in 2019, only $2.7m came from private sector arm's length agreements, significantly less than the $4.7m 12 months earlier.

The club with the highest amount of private sector TPAs in 2019 was once again the Melbourne Storm, however the retirement of Slater is understood to have contributed heavily to the drop from just over $1m last year to $810,000 this year.

The next highest clubs included the Broncos (down from $780,000 to $350,000), Panthers ($233,000), Sharks ($212,000) and Rabbitohs ($199,000).

The Roosters had just $69,000 worth of private sector TPAs, however the likes of Cooper Cronk and James Tedesco benefited from additional whole of game sponsorship which wasn't included in the team-by-team breakdown.

The team with the lowest amount of private sector TPAs was the Cowboys, dropping from the third most in 2018 with $350,000 to just $16,000 following the retirement of Thurston.

Other teams with a small amount of TPAs included the Titans ($18,000) and the Warriors ($28,000).

Twelve clubs experienced a decrease in private sector TPAs from 2018 to 2019, with only the Bulldogs, Eels, Knights and Tigers registering minimal growth.

"These figures show a significant decline in the amount of third-party agreements across the game," NRL chief operating officer Nick Weeks said.

"The reduction reflects the retirement of some of the game's elite players and the effectiveness of additional checks and balances we have put in place to identify noncompliance with the rules are working. We recognised the genuine concerns our clubs and fans had about third-party agreements.

"That's why we introduced more strenuous measures to ensure these arrangements are genuine arms-length deals. We are confident that this level of transparency about third-party agreements will improve confidence in the effective operation of the salary cap and reduce the amount of speculation and guess work about this part of the game."

The top five players who benefit from TPAs make up 48% of the total amount, with the number of players with agreements dropping from 94 to 81 in the past 12 months.

The number of total agreements has also dropped from 205 to 172.

In 2019, total TPA market was the equivalent of 3.9% of the total salary cap (10 per cent in 2016) and less than 2% for private sector arms-length agreements (five per cent in 2016).


https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/12/13/nrl-crackdown-leads-to-dramatic-drop-in-third-party-deals/

 

[getsmarty]

Settled halves, some luck and a new hooker? Dear Santa, all my NRL club wants for Christmas is...

DRAGONS

Corey Norman and Ben Hunt to fire

St George Illawarra are under a mountain of pressure ahead of 2020, with the season looming as make or break for coach Paul McGregor.

If the Dragons are any hope of bettering their horror 15th placed finish, they need Norman and Hunt to step up.

Gareth Widdop has gone, so there’ll be no chopping and changing in the halves, while McGregor has already guaranteed Zac Lomax first crack at the fullback role.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...s/news-story/840ba51dd7b745e04d65295b5856e4b5

 

[getsmarty]

Macdonald's future clouded after mutual Cowboys release
Author
Dan Walsh NRL.com Reporter
Timestamp
Fri 5 Jul 2019, 12:12 PM

Cowboys winger Nene Macdonald will consider whether he still wants to pursue a professional rugby league career after being released by North Queensland seven months into a three-year deal.

Macdonald and the club officially parted ways on Friday morning following a traffic incident last month that remains under investigation.

"The release is by mutual agreement, with the club, Nene and his management deciding Nene needs some time away from the game," the Cowboys said in a brief statement.

The PNG international was a high-profile signing for the Cowboys after a strong 2018 campaign for St George Illawarra, but only managed five games for the club before a horrific season-ending ankle injury.The Cowboys will continue to offer welfare and rehab support for Macdonald as he weighs up his future in the game.

NRL.com understands that Macdonald's struggles have been magnified by his stomach-churning injury suffered against Melbourne, though concerns over his commitment to the professional side of the game were already present.

Macdonald was dropped from a pre-season game after arriving late to a midweek training session, but retained for the Cowboys season opener against his former Dragons teammates.

His release from North Queensland comes less than a month after Macdonald was involved in a traffic incident on Magnetic Island.

A hire car leased in Macdonald's name was found abandoned and damaged on June 20.

Macdonald's release makes him the second Cowboys recruit to exit the club this year, after star signing Ben Barba was sacked and deregistered by the NRL over his well-publicised Australia Day incident.

Since debuting for the Roosters in 2011, Macdonald has 96 NRL games and nine Tests for Papua New Guinea to his name across stints at Bondi, the Gold Coast, St George Illawarra and North Queensland.


https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/07/05/nene-macdonald-released-from-cowboys-contract/


P.S thanks possm

 

[getsmarty]

Rugby league great Wendell Sailor caught up in case of mistaken identity over a drugs case

Monday, Dec 16th 2019 10PM 13°C 1AM 12°C 5-Day Forecast

'Blokes like Sam Burgess have been checking I'm OK': Rugby league legend Wendell Sailor responds to vicious rumours after he is wrongly linked to drug charges in a bizarre case of mistaken identity

• Dual international Wendell Sailor, 45, caught up in case of mistaken identity
• Documents revealed man by same name was facing drug trafficking charges
• Checks of the man's age revealed it wasn't the former rugby league star
• Sailor, 45, sought advice from a lawyer and now wants to set the record straight

By Kylie Stevens For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 20:36 AEDT, 16 December 2019 | Updated: 22:46 AEDT, 16 December 2019


Wendell Sailor has been forced to deny rumours he was hauled before the courts after he was linked to drug charges in a bizarre case of mistaken identity.

The NRL rumour mill went into overdrive when documents from the Northern Territory Supreme Court surfaced regarding a Wendell Sailor charged with two counts of drug trafficking.

Sailor has previously been open about his battles with inner demons and binge-drinking - and his on-field career appeared all but over when he tested positive for cocaine in 2006.

Now a media personality, Sailor was inundated with phone calls from concerned friends in rugby league circles who rallied behind the 45-year-old.

'Blokes like Sam Burgess and Jason Nightingale checking that I was OK,' the married father-of-three told The Sunday Telegraph.

+4
Wendell Sailor (pictured with wife Tara) was unaware he had a namesake 22 years his junior until rumours recently surfaced on social media

But the rumour was laid to rest when document checks revealed the Wendell Sailor facing court was born in 1996 and was 22 years younger than the retired rugby league and rugby union international.

The man known as Big Del assured everyone he hasn't been involved in drug trafficking and didn't have a recent court appearance in Darwin.


'I can't believe it... I even rang a lawyer,' he told the paper.

'Tell them it's not me. I made mistakes when I was much younger but I have a daughter in year 12, a son playing NRL, and my wife just doesn't need it.'

Sailor's phone has been running hot from concerned friends such as recently retired NRL star Sam Burgess (pictured) after rumours emerged

+4
Wendell Sailor (pictured recently) has since assured there's been a case of mistaken identity



Sailor played nine seasons and won four premierships with the Brisbane Broncos in the 1990s before making the switch to rugby union in 2002.

He played 37 Tests for the Wallabies before his career ended in 2006 when he tested positive to cocaine and was handed a two-year suspension from all forms of rugby.

Sailor returned to the NRL in 2008, where he played 33 games for the St George Illawarra Dragons over two seasons.

He was unveiled as the Rhino on the recent Channel 10 hit The Masked Singer.

His eldest son Tristan, 21, has followed in his footsteps and made his NRL debut for the Dragons in round 23.

+4
The proud rugby league great was there to see his eldest child Tristan (right) made his NRL debut in round 23 for the St George Illawarra Dragons


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...caught-case-mistaken-identity-drugs-case.html

 

[getsmarty]

DRAGONS


Meet the players at the Dragons' Team Store
Author
Dragons.com.au dragons.com.au
Timestamp
Tue 17 Dec 2019, 01:01 PM

St George Illawarra quartet Issac Luke, Corey Norman, Joe Lovodua and Jason Saab will appear at the Dragons Team Store on Thursday, December 19.

Location: Dragons Team Store (124 Princess Highway, Beverley Park)
Date: Thursday, December 19
Time: 6-7pm

Last minute Dragons merchandise and memberships will be available for purchase on the night, while the players will gift wrap purchases for free.

https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2019/12/17/meet-the-players-at-the-dragons-team-store/

 

[getsmarty]

Outsiders top the class, wooden spooners graded an F: Every NRL club’s recruitment graded


ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS

Key ins: Issac Luke (Warriors), Trent Merrin (Leeds).

Key outs: Jeremy Latimore (retired), Gareth Widdop (Warrington), Reece Robson (Cowboys), Steven Marsters (Rabbitohs), Luciano Leilua (Wests Tigers)

Rating — D: The Dragons have added experience in the shape of Trent Merrin and Issac Luke, but that won’t help them move up from 15th to the finals with a coach desperately under pressure. They have been able to prolong agreements with Zac Lomax and Tristan Sailor. They have been linked to Brayden Williame – currently playing in France – although nothing is yet official. The Red V have roster spots to fill and could be tempted to dip into the open market before the start of the season.

NUMBER ONE: Why Lomax wanted to make the shift - and it’s not about money

Trent Merrin has returned to Australia after an ill-fated spell in EnglandSource: Getty Images
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...s/news-story/7f29d445fdcc93da3e2d0b59fe9dc11f

 

[getsmarty]

Williame boosts St George Illawarra Dragons attacking strike
Dragons Den
New colours: Brayden Williame. Picture: Nathan Hopkins/NRL Imagery


Former Dragons playmaker and Manly coach Trent Barrett's personal recommendation resulted in St George Illawarra recruiting outside back Brayden Williame in a bid to reignite their NRL premiership hopes next year.

After weeks of speculation, the Dragons announced Williame will move to Wollongong on a two-year deal after a sting with Super League club Catalan.

The Fijian international spent three years in France after stints with Manly and Parramatta.


"Brayden is coming to the Dragons off the back of a great season where he was one of the Super League's best centres," Dragons recruitment manager Ian Millward said.

"We have had dialogue with (former Sea Eagles coach) Trent Barrett about what he saw in Brayden as a player and how he goes about his business. Leeds Rhinos coach Richard Agar, who was on our staff last year, spoke really highly of Brayden also.

"He's a real threat with the ball in hand."

https://www.illawarramercury.com.au...st-george-illawarra-dragons-attacking-strike/

 

[getsmarty]

St. George Illawarra confirms signing of centre Brayden Williame on two-year deal

Written By Ed Chisholm
@ChisholmEd
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League
St. George-Illawarra Dragons
League
The rumours that Brayden Williame would be joining the St. George Illawarra Dragons have been confirmed, with the embattled club announcing his two-year contract.


Following his release from French-based Super League side Catalans Dragons, the Fijian international has been closely linked with a move to Wollongong.


Williame becomes the Dragons' third signing this off-season alongside Trent Merrin and Issac Luke, and will remain with the club until the end of the 2021 season.

The 2018 Challenge Cup-winning centre, who joined Catalans in 2016 after stints with Parramatta and Manly, has over 100 first grade games to his name.

More: Kyle Flanagan levels sly dig at Cronulla Sharks following Roosters move

The 26-year-old was also one of the shining lights to Fiji's end-of-season Test matches and World Cup Nines campaign.

St. George Illawarra's list manager Ian Millward said Williame was a key addition to the club's backline stocks ahead of the 2020 season.

"Brayden is coming to the Dragons off the back of a great season where he was one of the Super League's best centres," Dragons Director of Rugby League Pathways and List Management Ian Millward said.

"We have had dialogue with (former Sea Eagles coach) Trent Barrett about what he saw in Brayden as a player and how he goes about his business. Leeds Rhinos coach Richard Agar, who was on our staff last year, spoke really highly of Brayden also.

"He's a real threat with the ball in hand which was on show when he played for Fiji during their end-of-season Tests. Dragons members and fans will enjoy watching Brayden play."


Aside from landing the signature's of Merrin, Luke and Williame this off-season, the Dragons are also riding an exciting re-signing streak, with the club retaining exciting youngsters Zac Lomax and Tristan Sailor recently.

Another international has joined the Dragons' ranks for 2020 - https://t.co/118mUf151W #redv pic.twitter.com/zG9EjJ95mr

— St George Illawarra Dragons (@NRL_Dragons) December 17, 2019


https://www.nospam47.com/au/league/...me-on-two-year-deal/kkfdsv0hbcnj17jzobdp1zlmr

 

[getsmarty]

SIGNINGS

Breaking
Dragons release Pearson
Author
Dragons.com.au dragons.com.au
Timestamp
Wed 18 Dec 2019, 12:00 PM

St George Illawarra have confirmed Jonus Pearson has been released from the final year of his contract to take up an opportunity with another NRL club.

Pearson played 10 games for the Dragons throughout the 2019 season.

The Dragons would like to thank Jonus for his contribution at the Red V and wish him all the best in his future endeavours.


https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2019/12/18/dragons-release-pearson/

 

[getsmarty]

DRAGONS


Graduates of League helped Charly balance sport and study
Author
Dragons.com.au dragons.com.au
Timestamp
Wed 18 Dec 2019, 11:54 AM

By Keeli Cambourne.

Starting university is a tough time for any undergraduate, but throw in a professional sporting career as well and it can be twice as hard.

In 2012, Charly Runciman made the move from Dubbo to Wollongong – not just to begin studying a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering) at the University of Wollongong (UOW) but also to join the ranks of the National Rugby League as part of the St George Dragons’ under 20 team.

It saw him having to juggle academic and sporting commitments in his first year out of school.

Charly said his transition from a high school student to professional league player and university student was made a lot easier as part of the Graduates of League program, which UOW established in 2012 with the NRL to increase the university entry, retention and completion rates of elite athletes and professional sports people.

The program provides athletes with support from the University as they balance rigorous training schedules and travel commitments with tertiary studies. Over the past seven years, the UOW GOL program has supported more than 62 student-athletes and employed 76 students as peer mentors.

“I never thought I would have to make a choice between sport and studying, I always thought I could do it at the same time,” Charly said.

“In the u20s competition it is compulsory for players to study or work for 20 hours each week as well as their playing commitments. I got into the GOL program and it made it easier to streamline my study.

“The program gives you help with tutors for our subjects for a couple of hours each week and it makes a big difference.

“When I started at university it was a massive help to me back then, having a tutor outside normal hours that could really direct me where my study needed to go.

“It saved me a lot of time and allowed me to concentrate on uni properly, and as well as, effectively, my career [in the NRL].”

Charly originally considered physiotherapy as a career but when he was offered a chance to play with the Dragons, and study at UOW, decided on the Bachelor of Engineering (Civil Engineering).

“I had always enjoyed maths at school,” he said. “And UOW didn’t offer physiotherapy so I decided on civil engineering.”

After two years of full-time study, Charly’s sporting commitments meant he had to drop back to part-time study for the next two years.

And then he had an opportunity to play in England with the Widnes Vikings in the UK Super League, where he spent three-and-a-half years.

But he didn’t give up his academic pursuits during the sabbatical and negotiated with UOW to complete a number of units at an English university in preparation for his return.

“I did defer my studies for a year while I was in England but I really wanted to continue with my degree so I spoke to UOW and did some units at Bolton University.

“It’s a fairly different kind of process over there, and I went into a kind of Masters program,” he said.

“It’s been a bit of a journey [completing my degree] and it would have been a 100 per cent harder without the GOL program.”

Charly is now working for Fulton Hogan, an international civil construction company, helping with the construction and completion of the much-anticipated Albion Park bypass and will be taking up a graduate position with the company in 2020.

"Having the opportunity to balance both my on-field rugby league commitments with my university studies through the Graduates of League program is very beneficial for me."

This article was originally published on the University of Wollongong website, please click here to see the original article.

https://www.dragons.com.au/news/201...league-helped-charly-balance-sport-and-study/

 

[getsmarty]

Bremner ready to bounce back after baby
New mum Sammy Bremner reveals how becoming a mother has changed her life and how she plans to reach the heights of women’s rugby league once again

https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2019/12/18/bremner-ready-to-bounce-back-after-baby/

 

[getsmarty]

SMAI pre-season update
Head of Athletic Performance Nathan Pickworth runs through how the Dragons have incorporated cardio into their pre-season training all thanks to our friends at SMAI.

https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2019/12/18/smai-pre-season-update/

 

[getsmarty]

Dragons test their skills at Rock Climbing
The St George Illawarra Dragons recently mixed up their training regime with some rock climbing and team building exercises at Climb Fit Kirrawee. Take a look behind the scenes to what went on.

https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2019/12/18/dragons-test-their-skills-at-rock-climbing/

 

[getsmarty]

NRL COMMUNITY


NRL School to Work program producing Indigenous leaders
Author
Troy Whittaker NRL.com Reporter
Timestamp
Thu 19 Dec 2019, 02:16 PM

A star graduate of the NRL's School to Work program, Wilson Young is determined to become a police officer and break down barriers for Indigenous people.

Young, a proud Gadigal man of the Eora nation who was the first male Aboriginal captain of Morisset High School, was among 61 students in the Roosters' School to Work program to finish the HSC this year.

School to Work, which helps Indigenous students transition into tertiary education or meaningful employment, had more than 450 graduates overall in 2019 – amounting to a 96% HSC achievement rate.

Over 2000 young men and women have completed the Federal Government-funded initiative since it was launched in 2012, with 11 NRL clubs engaged in the program in NSW, Victoria and Queensland.

Young, who will enter the Indigenous Police Recruitment Our Way Delivery Program at TAFE, credited Roosters School to Work project officer Jason Solomon with providing a clear pathway to his goals.

"The School to Work program has done a lot for me and I love it for it," Young, who started School to Work in Year 10, told NRL.com.

Members of the Roosters' School to Work graduation class. NRL Photos
"I told Jase I wanted to be a police officer, so he got me a meeting not only with my local liaison officer but the Indigenous liaison officer.

"It was just me and them, and we had a big meeting about how to get there, what to do. We made a plan for me just to get into the police force as soon as I could.

"I would see kids in school having mental breakdowns all the time [about their future] … But I had my plan all set out, so it helped me a lot more."

Young gave a moving speech about his journey at the Roosters' graduation, revealing he didn't learn of his Aboriginality until he was in Year 2 and was often told he "wasn't black enough" at primary school after asking to join in Indigenous celebrations.

He said connecting with his culture throughout high school has given him a much stronger sense of identity and confidence.

Solomon expressed his pride at watching students like Young develop into "the leaders they were born to be".

"We go in once a fortnight, we start off by running career development workshops, just to work out their aspirations and what they want to do," Solomon said.

"There has been over 310 Year 12 students that have come through since I've been in the [Roosters] program since 2015.

"Next year we're going to have two neurosurgeons that are fully qualified. And just from this lot, the 61 that have finished this year, we've got about 12 of them that are going on to study law and about 20 going on to study nursing.

"It just goes to show they're not just entry-level jobs, they're actually going to go into the jobs that we need Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to be in."

Members of the Titans' School to Work graduation class. NRL Photos
Aside from being a great career launchpad, Young said School to Work also supplies priceless memories.

"There were kids through the program with me that weren't wealthy – I wasn't wealthy either but I wasn't poor – and they were no chance of doing half the stuff they got to do [with the program]," he said.

"The program helped them meet football players, it helped them get jobs – it helped them get experiences that without it they would have never had."

Roosters graduates were present at the club's second Reconciliation Action Plan launch on Wednesday alongside NRL squad members, with School to Work a key pillar of the RAP.

"The Roosters are very supportive of the program. They provide anything we need," Solomon said.


https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2019/12/19/nrl-school-to-work-program-producing-indigenous-leaders/

 

[getsmarty]

Wasted millions and free agent heroes: Your NRL club’s biggest contract dilemma


ST. GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS

Tyson Frizell

The rumours didn’t go away that Frizell wanted out of the Dragons following one of their worst seasons in recent times.

They clearly touched a nerve, with the second-rower releasing a video saying he wasn’t going anywhere following another dispiriting loss.

But of more concern for the Red V is that Frizell can walk away with no questions asked when his new deal runs out in November.

With Jack de Belin’s future uncertain and James Graham coming off contract, there could be some seriously high calibre forwards leaving next season.

Securing Frizell’s long-term signature should be a priority.

Tyson Frizell of the Dragons looks on during the loss to the TigersSource: AAP

https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/wa...a/news-story/9d6f67ca0b905cd54e12696eea7fced7

 

[getsmarty]

STATE OF ORIGIN


Two Dragons named in Queensland Maroons 2020 squad
Author
Alicia Newton NRL.com Reporter
Timestamp
Fri 20 Dec 2019, 01:02 PM

Kevin Walters has made a change to Queensland's preparations for the 2020 State of Origin series, desperate to avoid a third straight defeat by naming a full-strength squad for a pre-season training camp in February.

Walters has broken his usual trend of naming only an emerging players' camp for the summer, instead naming every Origin representative who took part in the 2019 campaign to join a host of rising hopefuls pushing for a debut next year.

The exits of Will Chambers (Japanese rugby) and Matt Gillett (retirement) leaves a further hole in the Maroons' experience factor, which has significantly dropped over the past three years.

Prior to the 2019 campaign, Queensland had lost 253 games of Origin experience following the retirements of Cameron Smith, Johnathan Thurston, Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk, Greg Inglis, Darius Boyd, Sam Thaiday and Nate Myles.

"We want the 2020 Origin squad to spend as much time together to build their relationships off the field as well in their specific positions," Walters said of the camp.

"It is also a wonderful opportunity for those who haven't experienced State of Origin football to mix in and spend time with current team members.

"There has always been a strong bond and mateship between Queensland players and we will continue to drive that message over the two-day camp."

Maroons coach Kevin Walters. NRL Photos
Returning Maroons star Valentine Holmes is included in the group with the Cowboys recruit set to push for a spot in the backs alongside the likes of Kalyn Ponga, Corey Oates and Dane Gagai.

Parramatta hooker Reed Mahoney, Raiders firebrand Corey Horsburgh and Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo are among the fresh faces vying for a call-up next season.

Of the squad chosen, 10 are yet to make their Origin debut.

The Maroons will assemble in Brisbane on February 1 for a two-day camp after NSW held their own early preparations for the series last week.

Queensland Maroons squad for 2020

Name Club
Jai Arrow Gold Coast Titans
AJ Brimson Gold Coast Titans
Daly Cherry-Evans Manly Sea Eagles
Kurt Capewell Penrith Panthers
Kyle Feldt North Queensland Cowboys
David Fifita Brisbane Broncos
Thomas Flegler Brisbane Broncos
Jake Friend Sydney Roosters
Dane Gagai South Sydney Rabbitohs
Tim Glasby Newcastle Knights
Coen Hess North Queensland Cowboys
Valentine Holmes North Queensland Cowboys
Corey Horsburgh Canberra Raiders
Ben Hunt St George Illawarra Dragons
Felise Kaufusi Melbourne Storm
Ethan Lowe South Sydney Rabbitohs
Reed Mahoney Parramatta Eels
Moses Mbye Wests Tigers
Josh McGuire North Queensland Cowboys
Anthony Milford Brisbane Broncos
Michael Morgan North Queensland Cowboys
Ronaldo Mulitalo Cronulla Sharks
Cameron Munster Melbourne Storm
Dylan Napa Canterbury Bulldogs
Corey Norman St George Illawarra Dragons
Corey Oates Brisbane Broncos
Joe Ofahengaue Brisbane Broncos
Josh Papalii Canberra Raiders
Kalyn Ponga Newcastle Knights
Phillip Sami Gold Coast Titans
Jadyn Su'A South Sydney Rabbitohs
Jarrod Wallace Gold Coast Titans
Christian Welch Melbourne Storm


https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2019/12/20/two-dragons-named-in-queensland-maroons-2020-squad/

 

[SaintPauli]

No more salary cap sombrero gags! Roosters among the lowest in TPAs after overall drop in 2019
NRL Premiership

• December 13, 2019 9:29pm
• by Staff writers
• Source: FOX SPORTS

The Roosters are among the lowest clubs for recorded TPAs in 2019.Source: AAP
There has been a decrease in outside-the-cap payments among the 16 clubs of almost $2 million in 2019 following the NRL’s crackdown on third-party agreements to improve transparency.

And running counter-intuitively to the salary cap sombrero gags, the Roosters were the third lowest of all the clubs with only $69,000 worth of private sector TPAs. Although Cooper Cronk and James Tedesco benefited from whole of game sponsorship, which wasn’t included.

The Melbourne Storm were the highest with $810,000 this year, still down from the just over $1m they recorded in 2018 following the retirement of Billy Slater.

The NRL first made third-party agreements public last year in a bid to improve confidence in the integrity of the code’s contract process, and they did likewise on Friday — revealing that there was a reduction from $7.8 million of totals TPAs in 2018 to just $6 million this year.



There are various different TPAs — including motor vehicles, whole of game sponsorship and community and contra deals — but it’s the private sector arm’s length agreements that have been most eagerly placed under the microscope by supporters.

Of the $6m of TPAs in 2019, only $2.7m came from private sector arm’s length agreements, significantly less than the $4.7m 12 months earlier.



Only the Bulldogs, Eels, Knights and Tigers registered small increases in private sector TPAs, with the remaining 12 clubs experiencing a decrease from last year to 2019.

“These figures show a significant decline in the amount of third-party agreements across the game,” NRL chief operating officer Nick Weeks said.



“The reduction reflects the retirement of some of the game’s elite players and the effectiveness of additional checks and balances we have put in place to identify noncompliance with the rules are working. We recognised the genuine concerns our clubs and fans had about third-party agreements.




“That’s why we introduced more strenuous measures to ensure these arrangements are genuine arms-length deals. We are confident that this level of transparency about third-party agreements will improve confidence in the effective operation of the salary cap and reduce the amount of speculation and guess work about this part of the game.”

YOUR CLUB’S TPA FOR 2019

Brisbane Broncos: $349,852

Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs: $59,680

North Queensland Cowboys: $15,667

St George Illawarra Dragons: $82,951

Parramatta Eels: $80,166

Newcastle Knights: $181,275

Penrith Panthers: $233,333

South Sydney Rabbitohs: $198,591

Canberra Raiders: $45,333

Sydney Roosters: $68,966

Manly Sea Eagles: $148,718

Cronulla Sharks: $211,952

Melbourne Storm: $809,998

Gold Coast Titans: $18,153

New Zealand Warriors: $27,591

Wests Tigers: $132,458


https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...m/news-story/dd97dfd5529ee26499442dfb4e859e03

Classic FAKE NEWS ARTICLE.
Sponsored by Roarters.

 

[getsmarty]

JUNIOR REPS


2020 junior reps preparation on track
Author
Dragons.com.au dragons.com.au
Timestamp
Sun 22 Dec 2019, 12:02 PM

Both St George and Illawarra's respective junior representative teams have headed for the Christmas break after a solid build up on the training paddock that culminated in a recent intra-club trial.

After selecting their squads at the culmination of the 2019 season, both junior representative entities have been training since early November.

With squads of approximately 30 players, all six teams have trained up to four times per week and have been lucky enough to have the NRL assistant coaches attend many of their sessions.

"Having the likes of Dean Young, James Shepherd and Shane Flanagan come along to educate the boys and mentor us as coaches is a great experience. The standards that they bring and the technical knowledge they have passed on have been great," Illawarra Steelers Harold Matthews coach Jono Dallas said.

Returning to the Dragons ranks as a coach is former player Kyle Stanley. After a career cruelled by injury, Kyle is loving his time back at the club as St George's SG Ball coach.

"I didn't know what to expect coming in as a coach as it is my first experience, but I have been absolutely loving it," Stanley said.

"To be able to get back out there and be involved again, I am really enjoying it. Having the senior coaches involved has been an enormous help as well."

The Harold Mathews (Under-16s) and SG Ball (Under-18s) from the Steelers and St George trialled against each other last Friday night where there were plenty of positives displayed from both teams.

"Obviously the boys were a little rusty in a few areas, but I’m excited by what I saw," Dallas said.

"I think in the New Year we will continue to focus on the core skills in hope of yet another successful season”

Stanley added: "I saw enough positive signs to make me excited about the season ahead. The trials and competition start very early next year so we need to come back after the break and make sure we hit the ground running."

The junior representative competition begins in early March and both the St George and Steelers teams will play trials on January 18 and 25.

The Dragons are also currently looking for host parents in both the St George and Illawarra areas to support our up-and-coming junior players who are relocating to the area.

Host parents would be provided food and board for the players, with the costs subsidised by the St George Illawarra Dragons.

If you would be interested in being involved with this program, please email the club's Education and Wellbeing Officer Scott Stewart (sstewart@dragons.com.au).


https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2019/12/22/2020-junior-reps-preparation-on-track/

 

[getsmarty]

NRL.com judges Dragons' top five tries of 2019
NRL.com looks back at St George Illawarra Dragons' top five tries from the 2019 season

https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2019/12/22/nrl.com-judges-dragons-top-five-tries-of-2019/