Articles

[Drag Queen]

Drag
Without going into it on a forum.
He has had a lot to deal with in his life and I hope that I'm right .
He seems to have matured a lot.
Agree keep up the good work nene.

I know Samy. I've had his back for a while and have been criticised on this forum for doing so. Best of the Irish to him given it's St Patrick's Day. He's going to be huge for us mate.

 

[Drag Queen]

Blood on the streets after footy match upset: Brawling fans pepper sprayed by police and taken away shirtless after late-night dispute in Sydney pub

• Brawling football fans have been pepper sprayed and handcuffed by police
• Images show the aftermath of the dispute outside Boyles Hotel in Sutherland
• Fight followed Thursday's NRL clash between St George Illawarra and Cronulla

By Peter Devlin For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 09:55 AEDT, 16 March 2018 | Updated: 11:38 AEDT, 16 March 2018

Brawling football fans have been pepper sprayed and handcuffed by police after a late-night fight outside a Sydney pub.

Shocking images show the aftermath of the dispute outside Boyles Hotel in Sutherland following Thursday night's NRL clash between St George Illawarra and Cronulla.

One image shows a shirtless football fan being handcuffed and made to sit on the side of the road while police deal with other patrons.

Scroll down for video

+8
Shocking images show the aftermath of the dispute outside Boyles Hotel in Sutherland

+8
Another shows a number of officers on top of a football fan as they attempt to restrain him.




Another shows a number of officers on top of a football fan as they attempt to restrain him.

A senior police officer at the scene confirmed to a Daily Mail Australia reporter the men had come from the pub and were fighting after the game.

Three men, aged 39, 24 and 28, were arrested and charged with affray, a NSW police spokesperson said on Friday morning.


'They were arrested in relation to their behaviour outside a hotel in Sutherland and were brought back to Sutherland police station,' the spokesperson said.

The men were released on conditional bail.

They are set to appear in court on April 5.

A senior police officer at the scene confirmed to a Daily Mail reporter the men had come from the pub and were fighting after the game

Three men, aged 39, 24 and 28, were arrested and charged with affray, a NSW police spokesperson said on Friday morning

St George Illawarra overcame an early deficit to shock Cronulla 20-16 in a bizarre NRL local derby at Southern Cross Group Stadium.

The Sharks looked to have the game within their grasp a number of times, leading 14-0 after 26 minutes and then with a man advantage midway through the second half when the game was locked at 16-all.

But after a near perfect first half in attack, Cronulla could only muster three play-the-balls with Jason Nightingale off the field for a professional foul, handing the Dragons back-to-back penalty goals and the four-point victory.

The men were released on conditional bail and are set to appear in court on April 5

Blood on the streets after footy match upset: Brawling fans were pepper sprayed by police



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...rested-St-George-Illawarra-Cronulla-game.html

 

[Drag Queen]

Bloody hell. Only in the Shire lol

 

[getsmarty]

 

[getsmarty]

The traditional halves combination is back - and it's bad news for fullbacks
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About 15 minutes from the end of the opening game of this year’s NRL season, I sent a text message to Craig “Albert” Young, captain of the Dragons when I coached the club in the 1980s.

It read: “Great to see a half linking with a 5/8.”

Dominant: Dragons halfback Ben Hunt.

Photo: NRL Photos
It was a reference to St George Illawarra’s new No.7, Ben Hunt, combining with their No.6, Gareth Widdop, a mainly left-sided player, in the match against Brisbane. The pair joined up on the right side for two tries and nearly scored a third via an infield kick where Widdop was ruled offside.

Albert’s response to the text was immediate: “Yes, not before time.”

The Dragons pair combined again in the round 2 away match against the Sharks, where they were positioned side by side on the left for the club’s first try and linked up for the winning four-pointer, scored on the right-hand side.

Albert has been waiting 20 years because it was in the late 90s that the historical combination of half and five-eighth was broken.

And it was Albert’s club, the Dragons, where the ex-detective is now in charge of integrity, that the regime of left and right halves began.

The St George Illawarra coach was David Waite and he inherited two five-eighths and no specialised halfback/playmaker. So he positioned Anthony Mundine, who came from the St George side of the joint venture, on the left and Trent Barrett, from the Steelers side of the merger, on the right.

Most clubs followed suit, ending the era of the dominant half which had seen the Broncos' Allan Langer and Canberra’s Ricky Stuart control the 90s as playmakers.

Now it is the Dragons who have turned back the clock to the traditional role of 6s and 7s, meaning the Dragons are the club to both start and end the left- and right-side halfback regime.

Dragons coach, Paul “Mary” McGregor is using Hunt as a dominant playmaker and kicker. This frees Widdop, who is more instinctive and has played much of his career as fullback, to rove, rather than be cemented on the left side.

Hunt is obviously told to pass, using his forwards, then double up, meaning Mary will want him involved again in a set of six, with Widdop using his considerable football nous to join the attack and exploit a weakness in the opposition defence.

It’s always dangerous to predict trends so early in a season but the Hunt/Widdop combination is not the only one in the NRL suited to the historic role of halves.

Whether by accident, or design, the record turnover of halves in the off-season has produced combinations more suited to the Peter Sterling/Brett Kenny duo, or the Langer/Wally Lewis one.

Wests Tigers' new recruit from the Bulldogs, Josh Reynolds, is more of a running half, meaning No.7 Luke Brooks can call the shots, although Reynolds will have trouble following him.

Provided the Storm’s Billy Slater stays healthy, Cameron Munster will play five-eighth alongside rookie half Brodie Croft.

Munster wants as much ball in a game as he can get, meaning the Storm are more likely to ignite attacking movements closer to the sideline than the centre of the field, where Munster’s attacking options would be halved and he has less room to use his strength and change of pace.

Similarly, the Roosters' partnership of organising half Cooper Cronk, who traditionally plays on the right side, with a runner, Luke Keary, paid off Friday night with a 30-12 win.

The Panthers have also acquired an old-fashioned combination via the off-season trade, with James Maloney, a left-sided player who will gel with a specialised playmaker in Nathan Cleary.

The Warriors also have two halves who play traditional roles, but they should swap jumpers.

Blake Green is a five-eighth who adds structure and shape to a team, while Shaun Johnson wears the No.7 jumper and prefers to challenge the opposition solo, rather than organise.


Broncos defy critics to stun Cowboys in yet another thrilling derby
The resurrection of the traditional role of the 6 and 7 should mean more tries, simply because players will feel more comfortable with a role which matches their talents - particularly the No.6s, who prefer to run rather than organise.

Teams can win with two halves of similar skill, as the Broncos did on Friday night, against the Cowboys who were missing Michael Morgan, one half of the NRL’s most potent pivot partnership.

While Newcastle’s Mitchell Pearce has worn the No.7 jumper all his career, I’ve often thought he is more suited to a running role. His No.6, Connor Watson, is also a five-eighth.

The end of the left and right halfback era will challenge fullbacks. The No.1 has become the dominant attacking player in rugby league, simply because with defences structured evenly on both side of the field, players like Slater and James Tedesco make the extra man.

A match winning half/five-eighth combination may see the end of the man wearing the No.1 jumper demanding “fullback money”.


https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sp...s-bad-news-for-fullbacks-20180317-p4z4tz.html

 

[getsmarty]

 

[getsmarty]

 

[getsmarty]

Not sure if this has been posted elsewhere but it's a nice read.

This is my 12th season of first grade with the Dragons. I’m three games away from playing 250. I was part of the team that broke the club’s 31-year premiership drought when we defeated the Roosters in the grand final in 2010.

I’m the only member of that team still playing for the Dragons. I’m glad I never went anywhere else.
It has become a lot less likely in professional sport for players to stay at the same club their whole careers and it hasn’t always made economic sense for me to stay.
But it has always made sense in the heart. Playing for this club is a privilege above everything else.

I followed the Cronulla Sharks as a kid, but once I turned 15 everything changed. That was when I started playing junior representative footy for St George and my indoctrination as a Dragon began.

It was all over pretty quickly. I was a willing participant. Once I pulled on that famous white jumper with the red V in the Harold Matthews Cup, things just felt different. I saw the crest over my heart and thought, ‘Wow’.

I was still just a kid, but I already knew what I wanted to do with my life. The great history of the Dragons, those 11 premierships in a row, the long list of superstar players, the esteem in which the jumper was held.

I wanted to be a part of this club and no other.

image: https://www.playersvoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/NIGHTINGALE_PV1_HR_3b.jpg

WHEN BENNETT CAME TO TOWN

It was only the third year of my first-grade career when Wayne Bennett came to coach us in 2009.
He immediately instilled a lot of confidence in us because of his record at the Broncos and his man-management skills. He taught me a lot of things I could use in life as well as footy. Attitude, how to manage yourself, the habits you needed to practice to be successful.

As players, we were all well aware of the long drought – the Dragons hadn’t won a comp since 1979 – and there was a lot of external pressure on us to end it, particularly since Wayne had arrived, but blocking that out was one of the things he was good at doing. He would say something in the media to draw the attention on himself and off the players if he felt it was required.

We’d finished seventh under Nathan Brown in 2008, so we had something to work with, and then Wayne made some key changes to the roster and raised the standards of the whole place by making it more professional.

After winning the minor premiership in 2009 we went straight out the door in the finals, but it still gave us confidence going into 2010 because we knew what we were capable of. And Wayne had been to the finals so many times he wasn’t going to let the same thing happen again.

We stayed at Bondi leading into the grand final against the Roosters. We’d done the same thing the week before, when we beat Wests Tigers in the preliminary finals.
We were like tourists who were just playing footy on the weekends. It was awesome. A lot of people at Bondi couldn’t care if you played for the Roosters, let alone the Dragons, so no-one bothered us and that allowed us to switch off until it came time to train and play.

We ran over the Roosters in the second half.
That was eight years ago now. Winning premierships isn’t easy. I’d love to win another one with the Dragons, but mostly I want to help make it possible for the young players coming through here to find out what it’s like. How good it feels. They can add to the history if they really want.

image: https://www.playersvoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/NIGHTINGALE_PV1_HR_2a.jpg

HERE COME THE BRONCOS

We’re coming up against Wayne and the Broncos in round one. Having played for him gives you that extra bit of insight.
A Bennett-coached team is one that never stops. Their standards don’t drop and they’ll keep chasing hard even if they’re winning by 20 points or more with less than 10 minutes to go.
Scrambling in defence and all those extra little efforts are traits of his sides. They always aim to go a bit harder and you can tell from their record that, more often than not, they pull it off.

He gives players the licence to use their individual flair, but that’s built around the basics. Players like Anthony Milford will be encouraged to do what they’re capable of doing, but within certain restraints and without letting overall standards slip.

So it’s about taking the right risks, if you like. It won’t always come off, but at least it’s calculated. It isn’t so much a structure. It’s more a recipe. And the playmakers are empowered to play around with it a bit.
Wayne might make subtle changes to his approach according to who the Broncos are playing, but if an individual comes out and stumps us with something, it won’t be Wayne who devised that exact play.It’ll be Wayne who has encouraged that player to try something.

I saw the crest over my heart and thought, ‘Wow’.
How to beat them? Firstly, we can’t just play for 78 or 79 minutes because they’ll get us in the other one or two. The NRL is such a close comp these days that plenty of games are like that – and particularly with Bennett-coached teams.

But as far as game planning is concerned, we’re more just focusing on ourselves. That’s what our coach, Paul McGregor, has been really good at. Understand the other team’s strengths and weaknesses, but concentrate on what you plan to do to execute a win. You need to believe in that.

Ben Hunt played under Wayne at the Broncos and Gareth Widdop and James Graham have played for England under him. Ben Hornby and Dean Young, from our 2010 team, are on our coaching staff. We all know what’s coming.

It’s not that Wayne will have a load of tricks up his sleeve. There might be some little things we don’t expect, but it’ll mostly be good stuff done well.
And it’ll be relentless. If you’re not ready for that, there’s no point worrying about anything else.

LEGENDS OF THE RED V

I’ve always been inquisitive by nature. I like a good reason to do things, so when I started playing junior reps I decided to look deeper into the history of the club and I was fascinated by what I found.
I already knew a bit. I played for Renown United, a famous junior club in the St George district that had produced Reg Gasnier and Billy Smith. But when you really start digging, it’s amazing.

This past summer has provided further evidence of just how big a place in the rugby league landscape the Dragons hold. It’s sad how it happened, but even the game’s Immortals are only mortals in the end.
Graeme Langlands passed away. His career was celebrated all over again and we were reminded of what an incredible player he was. I was at Changa’s funeral. Many of the St George Illawarra players were. Benny Hunt and James Graham are only new to the club, but they came out of respect as well.

I remember attending Reg Gasnier’s funeral four years ago. Being close to Mark Gasnier, his nephew, created a different element there for me, but whenever these things happen it’s a reminder of how significant these guys’ achievements were and why the current players are fortunate to be Dragons.
Around the time of Changa’s death news came out that Johnny Raper’s health was failing him, that he was in a nursing home. Another wave of publicity followed because Chook is a huge name in the game as well and so revered by fans.

We don’t like to see our heroes this way. That’s what these great St George players are to me. Heroes.
I met all the greats while I was coming through as a young player at the Dragons. Graeme Langlands, Johnny Raper, Reg Gasnier, Billy Smith. They’re celebrated, as they should always be, and speaking to them many times, as I’ve done, had a big impact on me.

But I also revel in the dedication and love for this club that I’ve seen from people at all levels. Not just the great players, but the junior coaches and trainers, the volunteers.

I saw them give up their time at Renown United and when I was playing junior reps. I’ll always appreciate that. It gave me a sense of community and taught me the importance of making yourself available and giving your own time for the cause.
I remember seeing guys like Mark Riddell and Mark Gasnier come down to training, and countless awards nights as a kid when first-grade stars would turn up to present the trophies.

I’d meet them and think, ‘He’s a superstar, but he’s also a good, down-to-earth bloke’. It made me realise these guys were only human after all and that I could aspire to reach similar heights.

These days, I’m one of those players going to the awards nights and handing out the trophies. I’ve been to many SG Ball and Harold Matthews Cup presentations. I gave Joey Leilua his player of the year award when he was coming through the juniors here.

I hope I’ve had a similar impact on the kids I’ve met along the way.


Jason Nightingale


P.S Thanks stgilla,

 

[Dennis Papaioannou]

Not sure if this has been posted elsewhere but it's a nice read.

This is my 12th season of first grade with the Dragons. I’m three games away from playing 250. I was part of the team that broke the club’s 31-year premiership drought when we defeated the Roosters in the grand final in 2010.

I’m the only member of that team still playing for the Dragons. I’m glad I never went anywhere else.
It has become a lot less likely in professional sport for players to stay at the same club their whole careers and it hasn’t always made economic sense for me to stay.
But it has always made sense in the heart. Playing for this club is a privilege above everything else.

I followed the Cronulla Sharks as a kid, but once I turned 15 everything changed. That was when I started playing junior representative footy for St George and my indoctrination as a Dragon began.

It was all over pretty quickly. I was a willing participant. Once I pulled on that famous white jumper with the red V in the Harold Matthews Cup, things just felt different. I saw the crest over my heart and thought, ‘Wow’.

I was still just a kid, but I already knew what I wanted to do with my life. The great history of the Dragons, those 11 premierships in a row, the long list of superstar players, the esteem in which the jumper was held.

I wanted to be a part of this club and no other.

image: https://www.playersvoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/NIGHTINGALE_PV1_HR_3b.jpg

WHEN BENNETT CAME TO TOWN

It was only the third year of my first-grade career when Wayne Bennett came to coach us in 2009.
He immediately instilled a lot of confidence in us because of his record at the Broncos and his man-management skills. He taught me a lot of things I could use in life as well as footy. Attitude, how to manage yourself, the habits you needed to practice to be successful.

As players, we were all well aware of the long drought – the Dragons hadn’t won a comp since 1979 – and there was a lot of external pressure on us to end it, particularly since Wayne had arrived, but blocking that out was one of the things he was good at doing. He would say something in the media to draw the attention on himself and off the players if he felt it was required.

We’d finished seventh under Nathan Brown in 2008, so we had something to work with, and then Wayne made some key changes to the roster and raised the standards of the whole place by making it more professional.

After winning the minor premiership in 2009 we went straight out the door in the finals, but it still gave us confidence going into 2010 because we knew what we were capable of. And Wayne had been to the finals so many times he wasn’t going to let the same thing happen again.

We stayed at Bondi leading into the grand final against the Roosters. We’d done the same thing the week before, when we beat Wests Tigers in the preliminary finals.
We were like tourists who were just playing footy on the weekends. It was awesome. A lot of people at Bondi couldn’t care if you played for the Roosters, let alone the Dragons, so no-one bothered us and that allowed us to switch off until it came time to train and play.

We ran over the Roosters in the second half.
That was eight years ago now. Winning premierships isn’t easy. I’d love to win another one with the Dragons, but mostly I want to help make it possible for the young players coming through here to find out what it’s like. How good it feels. They can add to the history if they really want.

image: https://www.playersvoice.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/NIGHTINGALE_PV1_HR_2a.jpg

HERE COME THE BRONCOS

We’re coming up against Wayne and the Broncos in round one. Having played for him gives you that extra bit of insight.
A Bennett-coached team is one that never stops. Their standards don’t drop and they’ll keep chasing hard even if they’re winning by 20 points or more with less than 10 minutes to go.
Scrambling in defence and all those extra little efforts are traits of his sides. They always aim to go a bit harder and you can tell from their record that, more often than not, they pull it off.

He gives players the licence to use their individual flair, but that’s built around the basics. Players like Anthony Milford will be encouraged to do what they’re capable of doing, but within certain restraints and without letting overall standards slip.

So it’s about taking the right risks, if you like. It won’t always come off, but at least it’s calculated. It isn’t so much a structure. It’s more a recipe. And the playmakers are empowered to play around with it a bit.
Wayne might make subtle changes to his approach according to who the Broncos are playing, but if an individual comes out and stumps us with something, it won’t be Wayne who devised that exact play.It’ll be Wayne who has encouraged that player to try something.

I saw the crest over my heart and thought, ‘Wow’.
How to beat them? Firstly, we can’t just play for 78 or 79 minutes because they’ll get us in the other one or two. The NRL is such a close comp these days that plenty of games are like that – and particularly with Bennett-coached teams.

But as far as game planning is concerned, we’re more just focusing on ourselves. That’s what our coach, Paul McGregor, has been really good at. Understand the other team’s strengths and weaknesses, but concentrate on what you plan to do to execute a win. You need to believe in that.

Ben Hunt played under Wayne at the Broncos and Gareth Widdop and James Graham have played for England under him. Ben Hornby and Dean Young, from our 2010 team, are on our coaching staff. We all know what’s coming.

It’s not that Wayne will have a load of tricks up his sleeve. There might be some little things we don’t expect, but it’ll mostly be good stuff done well.
And it’ll be relentless. If you’re not ready for that, there’s no point worrying about anything else.

LEGENDS OF THE RED V

I’ve always been inquisitive by nature. I like a good reason to do things, so when I started playing junior reps I decided to look deeper into the history of the club and I was fascinated by what I found.
I already knew a bit. I played for Renown United, a famous junior club in the St George district that had produced Reg Gasnier and Billy Smith. But when you really start digging, it’s amazing.

This past summer has provided further evidence of just how big a place in the rugby league landscape the Dragons hold. It’s sad how it happened, but even the game’s Immortals are only mortals in the end.
Graeme Langlands passed away. His career was celebrated all over again and we were reminded of what an incredible player he was. I was at Changa’s funeral. Many of the St George Illawarra players were. Benny Hunt and James Graham are only new to the club, but they came out of respect as well.

I remember attending Reg Gasnier’s funeral four years ago. Being close to Mark Gasnier, his nephew, created a different element there for me, but whenever these things happen it’s a reminder of how significant these guys’ achievements were and why the current players are fortunate to be Dragons.
Around the time of Changa’s death news came out that Johnny Raper’s health was failing him, that he was in a nursing home. Another wave of publicity followed because Chook is a huge name in the game as well and so revered by fans.

We don’t like to see our heroes this way. That’s what these great St George players are to me. Heroes.
I met all the greats while I was coming through as a young player at the Dragons. Graeme Langlands, Johnny Raper, Reg Gasnier, Billy Smith. They’re celebrated, as they should always be, and speaking to them many times, as I’ve done, had a big impact on me.

But I also revel in the dedication and love for this club that I’ve seen from people at all levels. Not just the great players, but the junior coaches and trainers, the volunteers.

I saw them give up their time at Renown United and when I was playing junior reps. I’ll always appreciate that. It gave me a sense of community and taught me the importance of making yourself available and giving your own time for the cause.
I remember seeing guys like Mark Riddell and Mark Gasnier come down to training, and countless awards nights as a kid when first-grade stars would turn up to present the trophies.

I’d meet them and think, ‘He’s a superstar, but he’s also a good, down-to-earth bloke’. It made me realise these guys were only human after all and that I could aspire to reach similar heights.

These days, I’m one of those players going to the awards nights and handing out the trophies. I’ve been to many SG Ball and Harold Matthews Cup presentations. I gave Joey Leilua his player of the year award when he was coming through the juniors here.

I hope I’ve had a similar impact on the kids I’ve met along the way.


Jason Nightingale


P.S Thanks stgilla,

Beautifully written piece full of great sentiments and insight into our great club.
Jason Nightingale is all class and epitomizes values and integrity that are incredibly important to St. George's future.
The Board and the current management should pin this article on their wall and read it every day because they need to be reminded what St. George is really all about.

 

[getsmarty]

 

[getsmarty]

Macdonald and Graham on THAT try
Nene Macdonald and teammate James Graham reflect on the winger's amazing effort in the Dragons win over the Sharks

https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/03/19/macdonald-and-graham-on-that-try/

 

[getsmarty]

DRAGONS

Vaughan says Graham is responsible for career best form
Author
Tanisha Stanton
Timestamp
Mon 19 Mar 2018, 06:24 PM

St George Illawarra prop Paul Vaughan says James Graham's immediate influence at the Dragons has lifted his own form into the best he's enjoyed during his career.

A powerhouse Dragons forward pack has played a significant role in their victories over the Brisbane Broncos and Cronulla Sharks to start the Telstra Premiership season.

Vaughan was acknowledged for his breakthrough 2017 season with the Dragons, one that put him on the verge of State of Origin selection.

Vaughan says Graham's influence has already taken his own game to new heights.

"I'm playing the best footy that I have since I've moved to the Dragons," he said.

"I think we [Vaughan and Graham] are complementing each other pretty well at the moment. He is a very energetic player and he does all the one percenters well, whereas I can sort of learn to do that a little bit better.

"Communication is another thing that he's really big on. When I get fatigued, my communication isn't that great; I don't really talk a whole lot where I probably should be, so I've learnt to do that a bit better as well."

Vaughan still has his sights set on an Origin jersey, and with the backing of coach Paul McGregor and his side performing well, that opportunity is at arm's length.

"Within myself, I know the kind of football I can play and the coach has given me every opportunity to do that. He's given me a lot of minutes and he's been unreal for my game because he has a lot of confidence in me," he said.

"As a team, if we're performing week in and week out playing good footy, it gives everyone in the team the chance to play those representative games.

"I just want to be consistently playing well week in and week out."

With the Dragons riding high after two wins, Vaughan said maintaining consistency would be the focus heading into their clash with the Gold Coast Titans in Toowoomba on Sunday.

"With video today, there was a big emphasis on being consistent," he said.

"It's a funny word, everyone throws it around but if you get it throughout the season, it’s obviously going to be very beneficially for you.''

https://www.nrl.com/news/2018/03/19...ames-graham-responsible-for-career-best-form/

 

[getsmarty]

Two new Immortals, six new HOF inductees to be unveiled
Author
Dan Walsh
Timestamp
Mon 19 Mar 2018, 11:15 AM

Rugby league's age-old Immortal debate just got juicier with the prospect of two additional Immortals being added to the game's most prestigious club in 2018.

NRL CEO Todd Greenberg confirmed the Immortals relaunching alongside modern day greats Wally Lewis, Mal Meninga and Darren Lockyer on Monday, with an induction to now be made every four years.

Meninga and Lockyer will be among many contenders for inclusion in the current eight-man Immortals group alongside the likes of St George icon Norm Provan, Roosters great Dally Messenger, legendary halfbacks Peter Sterling and Allan Langer, Ron Coote, Brad Fittler and record-breaking 1930s centre Dave Brown. The judging process will run up until an official vote in July.

The NRL is also revamping its Hall of Fame, with another six retired stars to be inducted alongside the inaugural 100 players first named as members during the 2008 Centenary Year celebrations.

Having now been officially brought under the NRL's banner, both the Immortals and Hall of Fame will have new eligibility criteria and structures outlined in a bid to add prestige and transparency around the game's highest awards.

"This is a significant occasion for our game as we celebrate the history of rugby league and recognise those who have shaped it," Greenberg said.

"Without question, one of the biggest topics in rugby league revolves around comparisons between heroes of our game… whether it's players from decades ago or those from the modern era.

"This year, we will induct an additional six players into a new NRL Hall of Fame.

"They will join the 100 Greats – named in our Centenary year 10 years ago – who gain automatic induction into the NRL Hall of Fame as the Charter Class.

"We will also relaunch the Immortals, with up to two players being given the ultimate honour in our game, every four years.

"And the first of those new Immortals will be chosen this year."

Hall of Fame & Immortals program explained

Under the NRL's new structure, a 'final five' players in contention for Immortal inclusion will be decided by May before the panel votes on the latest inductions.

The Immortals voting scope will also now cast all the way back to 1908, bringing the likes of Dally Messenger and Dave Brown into contention for the honour.

With six new Hall of Fame inductees to come mid-way through the year, a list of 25 contenders will be announced next month, with coaches, referees and contributors to the game also be recognised from 2019.

As with the Immortals, Hall of Fame inductees must be retired for five years before consideration, with a maximum of four players to be announced each year.

NRL Awards Manager Frank Puletua said the new recognition programs are a significant step in rugby league's celebration of its past and greatest individual achievements.

"With the inclusion of the Immortals, the NRL now has more than 30 official award categories in our game – ranging from those who reach 100 NRL games, through to our top tier awards such as the Dally M Medal, Hall of Fame and Immortals," Puletua said.

"A significant amount of work has been undertaken to ensure that our history and tradition continues to appropriately acknowledge milestones and pay tribute to the best of the best."

The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players

1 / 100
1. Billy Cann: New South Wales v New Zealand at Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney, August 17, 1907

The NRL Hall of Fame 100 players

2 / 100
2. Tedda Courtney: New South Wales v New Zealand at Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney, August 17, 1907

3 / 100
3. Dally Messenger: New South Wales v New Zealand at Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney, August 17, 1907

4 / 100
4. Sandy Pearce, New South Wales v New Zealand at Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney, August 17, 1907
5 / 100
5. Albert Rosenfeld: New South Wales v New Zealand at Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney, August 17, 1907
6 / 100
6. Arthur Halloway: New South Wales v New Zealand at Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney, August 21, 1907
7 / 100
7 Daniel Frawley: Eastern Suburbs v Newtown at Wentworth Park, Glebe, April 20, 1908
8 / 100
8. Howard Hallett: South Sydney v Balmain at Birchgrove Oval, April 24, 1909

9 / 100
9. Chris McKivat: Wallabies v Kangaroos at Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney, September 4, 1909
10 / 100
10. Viv Farnsworth: Wallabies v Kangaroos at Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney, September 11, 1909

Pt 1

https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2018/03/19/two-new-immortals-six-new-hof-inductees-to-be-unveiled/

 

[getsmarty]

Pt 2

Two new Immortals, six new HOF inductees to be unveiled
Author
Dan Walsh
Timestamp
Mon 19 Mar 2018, 11:15 AM




The NRL Hall of Fame charter class (includes debut match:

1 Billy Cann. New South Wales v New Zealand at Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney, August 17, 1907

2 Tedda Courtney. New South Wales v New Zealand at Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney, August 17, 1907

3 Dally Messenger. New South Wales v New Zealand at Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney, August 17, 1907

4 Sandy Pearce. New South Wales v New Zealand at Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney, August 17, 1907

5 Albert Rosenfeld. New South Wales v New Zealand at Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney, August 17, 1907

6 Arthur Holloway. New South Wales v New Zealand at Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney, August 21, 1907

7 Daniel Frawley. Eastern Suburbs v Newtown at Wentworth Park, Glebe, April 20, 1908

8 Howard Hallett. South Sydney v Balmain at Birchgrove Oval, April 24, 1909

9 Chris McKivat. Wallabies v Kangaroos at Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney, September 4, 1909

10 Viv Farnsworth. Wallabies v Kangaroos at Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney, September 11, 1909

11 Charles Fraser. Balmain v North Sydney at North Sydney Oval, August 13, 1910

12 Frank Burge. Glebe v Western Suburbs at Sydney Sports Ground, April 29, 1911

13 Les Cubitt. Glebe v Western Suburbs at Sydney Sports Ground, April 29, 1911

14 Herb Gillett. South Sydney v North Sydney at Sydney Sports Ground, April 29, 1911

15 Harold Horder. South Sydney v Glebe at Wentworth Park, Glebe, Sydney, August 24, 1912

16 Cecil Blinkhorn. North Sydney v South Sydney at North Sydney Oval, August 15, 1914

17 Duncan Thompson. Queensland v New South Wales at Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney, June 5, 1915

18 Jim Craig. Balmain v North Sydney at Birchgrove Oval, August 14, 1915

19 Frank McMillan. Western Suburbs v Newtown at Pratten Park, Ashfield, April 23, 1921

20 Benny Wearing. South Sydney v Eastern Suburbs at Sydney Cricket Ground, April 30, 1921

21 Tom Gorman. Queensland Country v City at Davies Park, South Brisbane, May 28, 1921

22 Vic Armbruster. New South Wales v Queensland at Sydney Sports Ground, September 23, 1922

23 Eric Weissel.Combined Districts v England at Fisher Park, Cootamundra, May 27, 1924

24 Dan Dempsey. Toowoomba v England at Athletic Oval, Toowoomba, June 18, 1924

25 Herb Steinorht. Toowoomba v England at Athletic Oval, Toowoomba, June 18, 1924

26 Peter 'Mick' Madsen. Toowoomba v Brisbane at Exhibition Ground, Brisbane, May 2, 1925

27 George Treweek. South Sydney v Western Suburbs at Sydney Cricket Ground, May 30, 1926

28 Joe 'Chimpy' Busch. Eastern Suburbs v University at Royal Agricultural Society Ground, Sydney, April 21, 1928

29 Wally Prigg. Newcastle v England at Newcastle Sports Ground, July 11, 1928

30 Ray Stehr. Eastern Suburbs v University at Sydney Sports Ground, April 20, 1929

31 Joe Pearce. Eastern Suburbs v Western Suburbs at Pratten Park, Ashfield, June 29, 1929

32 Dave Brown. Eastern Suburbs v St George at Earl Park, Arncliffe, August 9, 1930

33 Ernie Norman. Eastern Suburbs v University at Sydney Sports Ground, April 25, 1931

34 Viv Thicknesse. Eastern Suburbs v North Sydney at North Sydney Oval, April 16, 1932

35 Vic Hey. Western Suburbs v University at Pratten Park, Ashfield, April 25, 1933

36 Jack Beaton. Eastern Suburbs v South Sydney at Sydney Sports Ground, April 25, 1934

37Andy Norval. Eastern Suburbs v South Sydney at Sydney Sports Ground, April 25, 1934

38 Herb Narvo. Country Firsts v City Firsts at Sydney Cricket Ground, May 9, 1936

39 Brian Bevan. Eastern Suburbs v South Sydney at Sydney Sports Ground, May 2, 1942

40 Harry Bath. Southern Suburbs v Past Brothers at Oxenham Park, Nundah, June 13, 1942

41 Arthur Clues. Western Suburbs v Balmain at Leichhardt Oval, April 24, 1943

42 Roy Bull. Manly v South Sydney at Sydney Sports Ground, April 26, 1947

43 Clive Churchill. Country Seconds v City Seconds at Sydney Cricket Ground, May 8, 1947

44 Duncan Hall. Brisbane v Eastern Suburbs (Sydney) at Brisbane Exhibition Ground, March 29, 1948

45 Keith Holman. Western Suburbs v Eastern Suburbs at Pratten Park, Ashfield, June 26, 1948

46 Ken Kearney. Leeds v Bramley at Headingley, Leeds, August 21, 1948

47 Brian Davies. Brothers v Valleys at Oxenham Park, Nundah, April 2, 1949

48 Norm Provan. St George v Manly Warringah at Kogarah Oval, April 7, 1951

49 Harry Wells. South Sydney v Western Suburbs at Sydney Cricket Ground, April 28, 1951

50 Brian Carlson. Newcastle v France at No. 1 Sports Ground, Newcastle, May 26, 1951

51 Ian Walsh. Western Division v France at Spooner Oval, Forbes, May 30, 1951

52 Kel O'Shea. North Queensland v New Zealand at Townsville Sports Reserve, June 22, 1952

53 Brian Clay. Newtown v Parramatta at Erskineville Oval, August 22, 1953

54 Keith Barnes. Country Seconds v City Seconds at Sydney Cricket Ground, May 8, 1954

55 Eddie Lumsden. Manly Warringah v Balmain at Leichhardt Oval, April 2, 1955

56 Brian Hambly. South Sydney v North Sydney at Redfern Oval, May 27, 1956

57 Peter Gallagher. Brothers, April 6, 1957

58 Johnny Raper. Newtown v Manly Warringah at Henson Park, April 6, 1957

59 Noel Kelly. Ipswich v Toowoomba at Athletic Oval, Toowoomba, April 27, 1957

60 Barry Muir. Western Suburbs v Northern Suburbs at Oxenham Park, Nundah, April 13, 1958

61 Ken Irvine. North Sydney v Parramatta at North Sydney Oval, June 28, 1958

62 Reg Gasnier. St George v Canterbury-Bankstown at Belmore Oval, April 11, 1959

63 Ken Thornett. Leeds v Batley at Headingley, Leeds, March 19, 1960

64 Arthur Summons. Western Suburbs v North Sydney at Pratten Park, Ashfield, May 7, 1960

65 Johnny King. St George v Newtown at Kogarah Jubilee Oval, July 24, 1960

66 Les Johns. Country Seconds v City Seconds at Sydney Cricket Ground, June 3, 1961

67 Billy Smith. St George v Manly at Sydney Sports Ground, July 16, 1961

68 Graeme Langlands. Country Firsts v City Firsts at Sydney Cricket Ground, May 12, 1962

69 John Sattler. Newcastle v Great Britain at No 1. Sports Ground, Newcastle, June 4, 1962

70 Bob McCarthy. South Sydney v Canterbury Bankstown at Belmore Oval, April 6, 1963

71 Ron Coote. South Sydney v Balmain at Redfern Oval, March 12, 1964

72 Arthur Beetson. Redcliffe v Northern Suburbs at Lang Park, Brisbane, April 5, 1964

73 John O'Neill. Northern Division v France at Rugby League Park, Armidale, July 12, 1964

74 Bob Fulton. Country Seconds v City Seconds at Sydney Cricket Ground, May 22, 1965

75 Tom Raudonikis. Western Suburbs v St George at Lidcombe Oval, July 19, 1969

76 Michael Cronin. Southern NSW v Great Britain at Wollongong Showground, July 5, 1970

77 Graham Eadie. Manly Warringah v Western Suburbs at Pratten Park, Ashfield, May 29, 1971

78 Steve Rogers. Cronulla-Sutherland v South Sydney at Endeavour Field, Woolooware, April 8, 1973

79 Steve Mortimer. Riverina v Canterbury-Bankstown at Eric Weissel Oval, Wagga, April 23, 1975

80 Ray Price. Parramatta v Balmain at Cumberland Oval, Parramatta, February 28, 1976

81 Mal Meninga. Southern Suburbs v Brothers at Davies Park, South Brisbane, February 18, 1978

82 Kerry Boustead. North Queensland v Gold Coast at Owen Park, Southport, March 29, 1978

83. Wally Lewis. Valleys v Northern Suburbs at Neumann Oval, Albion, April 9, 1978

84 Peter Sterling. Parramatta v St George at Cumberland Oval, July 23, 1978

85 Eric Grothe Sr. Parramatta v Balmain at Leichhardt Oval, March 3, 1979

86 Wayne Pearce. Balmain v North Sydney at Leichhardt Oval, March 1, 1980

87 Terry Lamb. Western Suburbs v Balmain at Lidcombe Oval, May 18, 1980

88 Brett Kenny. Parramatta v South Sydney at Redfern Oval, June 15, 1980

89 Gene Miles. Wynnum-Manly v Northern Suburbs at Bishop Park, Nundah, March 1, 1981

90 Steve Roach. Balmain v Canberra at Leichhardt Oval, May 9, 1982

91 Andrew Ettinghausen. Cronulla-Sutherland v Newtown at Orana Park, Campbelltown, March 27, 1983

92 Steve Walters. Northern Suburbs v Redcliffe at Bishop Park, Nundah, May 27, 1984

93 Allan Langer. Ipswich v Valleys at Neumann Oval, Albion, March 2, 1986

94 Laurie Daley. Canberra v Cronulla-Sutherland at Endeavour Field, Woolooware, May 31, 1987

95 Glenn Lazarus. Canberra v Western Suburbs at Orana Park, Campbelltown, July 26, 1987

96 Bradley Clyde. Canberra v Western Suburbs at Orana Park, Campbelltown, May 1, 1988

97 Brad Fittler. Penrith v Western Suburbs at Orana Park, Campbelltown, August 20, 1989

98 Andrew Johns. Newcastle v Gold Coast at Seagulls Stadium, Tweed Heads, April 17, 1993

99 Shane Webcke. Brisbane v North Sydney at North Sydney Oval, May 19, 1995

100 Darren Lockyer. Brisbane v Parramatta at Parramatta Stadium, June 25, 1995




https://www.dragons.com.au/news/2018/03/19/two-new-immortals-six-new-hof-inductees-to-be-unveiled/

 

[getsmarty]

Gareth Widdop looking forward to continued development of Ben Hunt combination

• Cameron Mee

Dragons Den News

Promising signs: Dragons five-eighth Gareth Widdop is confident his combination with Ben Hunt will continue to grow. Picture: NRL Photos.

After dismantling the Broncos in round one of the NRL, plenty of hype surrounded the St George Illawarra Dragons as they entered their round two clash with the Sharks.

What followed was a fairly dour performance and a scrappy four-point victory. Many were disappointed by what they saw. But not Dragons captain Gareth Widdop.

His side fought through trying conditions in the first half to run over the top of the Sharks in the second 40.

Further to that, it was a chance to refine his combination with halfback Ben Hunt. A chance for the pair to identify key areas to improve and iron out any early-season kinks.

“We didn’t have too much time in the preseason to work on our combination,” Widdop said. “I feel the last two weeks we’ve done some good things but we certainly need to improve as well. I say it all the time, but the more we play together on a weekend, it’s only going to improve.”

Widdop concedes the Dragons attack looked disjointed at times, with the team struggling inside the Sharks 20 metre line. He was, however, pleased with the way the team fought to get on top of their opponents.

“We got outside of our shape, our structure a little bit, which threw us off.

“But in saying that, after we went down to 12 men, we defended really well, and on the back of that scored a few points and a few penalty goals. We certainly need to fix a fair bit in attack, it was a bit scrappy, but we’ll take a win at Shark Park.”

The arrival of Hunt has allowed Widdop to play with more freedom than previous years, with Hunt steering the team around the park, and Widdop inserting himself into the attack when he sees fit.

While this has resulted in fewer touches for the Englishman, it has allowed him to be more effective when he does get his hands on the ball.

“I think I played with six or seven different halfbacks in the last few years, when you’ve got a traditional halfback in the team, he’s going to guide you around.

“It certainly does take a lot of pressure off myself. For me, I get to roam around a little bit more around the field and jump in when needed.

“I’m enjoying that at the moment, and knowing I’ve got a halfback there, and a combination that’s going to stay together for a while, and obviously with Cam McInnes there as well, it certainly helps.”

In taking this approach to the game, the pair have frequently appeared on the same side of the field, working together to manipulate the opposition defence. This, according to Tariq Sims, serves as a point of difference to other teams in the league.

“Ben complements Gaz really well,” Sims said. “They both swing through both sides of the field. From experience dealing with that, it’s always tough as a defender to isolate one half, when they keep swapping on you.”

The challenge for the Dragons will be to continue to improve throughout the season as teams become accustomed to their playing style. That task begins on Sunday afternoon against the Gold Coast Titans.


http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/...-halves-aim-to-build-on-bright-start/?cs=3713

 

[getsmarty]

Ben Hunt confident St George Illawarra Dragons attack will return to form

• Cameron Mee

Local Sport

Room to improve: Halfback Ben Hunt. Picture: AAP Image/Craig Golding.

St George Illawarra Dragons halfback Ben Hunt is confident his side’s attack will get back on track in Sunday’s match against the Titans.

The Dragons attack struggled at times in Thursday night’s victory over the Sharks, with much of the polish from the round one win over the Broncos absent. While pleased the side was able to grind its way to victory, Hunt recognised the team lost it’s structure at times and is confident the issues have been rectified.

“The biggest thing in our attack, it’s about getting our set plays better,” Hunt said.

“I think in the game against the Sharks, we sort of got away from the places on the field we wanted to get to and setting up for our big plays. We got a bit lost in that regard and that’s something we need to improve.”

“I sort of felt like we were a little bit too lateral. I felt like the way the Sharks like to get up and muscle up in defence, we tried to move the ball a little bit. Overall I think we just need to be a lot better in our attack.”

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/5294702/hunt-set-to-return-attack-to-course/

 

[getsmarty]

Dragons captain Gareth Widdop confident as team heads north

• Cameron Mee

Local Sport

Lessons learnt: Dragons captain Gareth Widdop is confident the Dragons will not repeat the same errors they made last year. Picture: Chris Lane.

St George Illawarra Dragons captain Gareth Widdop is confident his side has learnt from the lessons of 2017 as they embark on their first interstate trip of the year.

The Dragons 2017 season was crippled by losses to clubs sitting beneath them on the ladder, with the side suffering six defeats to teams who missed the eight. The season was punctuated by a loss in the final round to the 11th-placed Bulldogs.

“We played two good teams in the last two weeks, we did some really good things and to come away with two good wins is really pleasing, really positive,” Widdop said. “But we know it’s a long season, it’s about consistency, which we keep speaking about at the club. It’s all cliche, but week by week, we need to back it up and be even better again and fix up what we didn’t do too well.

“There was that period there when we lost five games to teams down the bottom of the ladder. We shouldn’t be losing those games and the competition’s getting tougher and tougher each week. Each and every week’s tough, so it doesn’t matter who you play, you need to be on your game and if you’re not, you’ll get hurt.”

The first test of this new-found belief will come on Sunday afternoon as the Dragons take on the Gold Coast Titans in Toowoomba.

After starting the season with two straight wins against highly-fancied Broncos and Sharks sides, the Dragons head into Sunday’s game expected to win. Exactly the type of match the team struggled with last season.

The Titans are coming off the back of a loss to the New Zealand Warriors, a performance in which the team fought hard but struggled in attack without halfback Ash Taylor. Widdop knows they will be eager to bounce back with a win, especially if Taylor returns to the side.

“They’re a good side, they’ve got some good players. They’re a gritty team, they grind out a lot of wins and every game against them is difficult. Going up to Toowoomba to play, for us it’s about having the right attitude. I believe if we turn up with the right attitude and stick to the way we want to play, then we’ll go well.”

The Dragons forwards have outpointed the opposition forward pack in the opening two games of the season and Tariq Sims said the pack is determined to make it three from three against the Titans.

“We take every week as a personal battle,” Sims said. “There’s 13 of us and 13 of them, if one to 13, we outplay our opposite number, the result usually would be leaning in our favour.

“We don’t take any game lightly, this week we’re definitely focused on consistency throughout our 80 minute performance.”

http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/5294411/dragons-out-to-build-on-solid-foundations/

 

[getsmarty]

Pressure Gauge: Aaron Woods ‘a shadow’ of James Graham, says Michael Ennis
NRL Premiership

• March 20, 2018 6:00am
• John Dean@johndean_
• Source: FOX SPORTS

Michael Ennis has savaged new Bulldogs prop Aaron Woods.Source: FOX SPORTS
HE’S the $800,000 per season marquee man who forced James Graham out of Canterbury, but he’s not living up to his price tag.

That’s the belief of former NRL premiership-winner Michael Ennis, who says Aaron Woods is “a shadow” of what Graham has been at new club St George Illawarra in the opening rounds of the season.

Woods linked with the Bulldogs on a rich four-year deal, a move that caused Graham to sign with the Dragons on a contract worth a reported $1.8 million over three seasons.

Upon arriving at Belmore, Woods said he was excited to play the “rugged style” of football the Bulldogs are renown for.

But according to Ennis, who played for the Bulldogs from 2010 to 2014, the Australia and NSW Origin prop is yet to display those traits, and it was clear what the club had lost in Graham.

“It’s evident. Look at the Dragons at the moment,” Ennis told Fox Sports.

“(Graham) has been the heart and soul. (Dragons coach) Paul McGregor has been treasuring what James Graham has brought to that club.

Aaron Woods of the Bulldogs is tackled by Roosters defenders.Source: Getty Images
“Aaron Woods, there is so much focus on Woods being a front-rower.

“We know what we get from David Klemmer. He’s aggressive, he welcomes the contact, he takes personal battles against opposition front-rowers.

“Aaron Woods stepping into Graham’s shoes, in the opening two rounds — and it’s only been two rounds, let’s not go too hard — he’s been a shadow of what James Graham has done at the Dragons.

“For me, Aaron Woods at the moment is just knocking out his numbers, but in terms of really leading this Canterbury-Bankstown forward pack, I haven’t seen that yet.”

Woods has averaged 58 minutes in his first two games, along with 13.5 runs, 115 metres and 27.5 tackles.

Asked whether the bearded prop needed to roll up his sleeves, Ennis replied: “Absolutely. The Roosters really targeted their centre-third the other day and it had great value.

“When your coach comes out over the summer and says ‘I want the Dogs of War back’ ... Dean Pay was one of the household names at Canterbury for his toughness, and he wants to resemble that in his football side.

“I haven’t seen that from Aaron Woods yet, I haven’t seen that in the opening two rounds.

“I want to see him get down and dirty, I want to see him get personal.

“We saw it with young (James) Fisher-Harris and (George) Burgess on the weekend — a young kid standing his ground and welcoming that impact and collision.

“I haven’t seen that from Aaron Woods yet.”


https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...s/news-story/f4f47bc254f914be2b428bd525a96c04

 

[getsmarty]

Beer taps turned off early at Sharks v Dragons leaving punters parched
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Cronulla was forced to turn the beer taps off early during their loss to St George Illawarra after tensions between rival fans threatened to escalate during a heated local derby.

The Dragons prevailed 20-16 in a another tense encounter against their neighbours, leaving the Sharks with a 0-2 record ahead of their must-win encounter against Parramatta. If the result wasn’t hard enough to swallow, Shire folk were also left parched after a number of restrictions were placed on the consumption of alcohol at Southern Cross Group Stadium.


Sharks
NRL double-header becomes Desperation Cup
Punters are normally allowed to order up to four drinks in a bid to get them out of the queues and back to their seats as soon as possible. However, the licensing police cut that down to just two per person, leaving parched punters in an irritable mood.

It’s understood the emotions of some fans were running high and there were fears banter between spectators could have turned into something uglier, prompting the authorities to call for the drinks taps to be turned off at half-time.

The licensee and the licensing police also discussed the issue of serving cider at mid-strength bars. The alcoholic content of cider is 3.5 per cent, slightly higher than the 3 per cent of most mid-strength beers.

Bar staff were told they could only serve cider in the five full-strength bars on the western side of the ground, but Sharks Leagues Club CEO Tim McAleer decided to pull the popular drink from all 11 drinks outlets.

McAleer, who has a quarter of a century of experience as a licensee and joined the Sharks in November after a long stint at the nearby Tradies club, said they had complied with all licensing officer requests.

“Thursday night was an incredibly hot night, there was a hot wind blowing and people were quenching their thirst,” McAleer said. “In the view of the license sergeant, he wanted things slowed down. We did our best to comply with that, that’s what happened in a nutshell.

“It’s a local derby and St George fans are passionate about their footy, Sharks fans are passionate about their footy. There was no violence, at no stage during the game was there any incidents of overly aggressive behaviour or confrontations. In a crowd of 14,500, there were three refusals and evictions for intoxication. That’s not a bad record.

“We normally shut the bars 10 or 20 minutes after halftime. We normally go to two drinks after halftime but the licensing sergeant made a judgement call on their assessment of the crowd during the night. We complied with their assessment calls.

“A lot of patrons at the ground disagreed with it. From my point of view, I don’t have to agree or disagree, we just comply. There’s no point arguing with a licensing policeman, you’re better off arguing with your missus. You’ll get the same outcome.”

It remains to be seen whether similar restrictions will apply at Cronulla’s next home game, against Melbourne in round four. Some fans have complained to the club about the clampdown and McAleer has contacted each of them personally to explain the situation. We understand what the licensing police want and we are doing our very best to deliver it."

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sp...-leaving-punters-parched-20180320-p4z5by.html

 

[Drag Queen]

Pressure Gauge: Aaron Woods ‘a shadow’ of James Graham, says Michael Ennis
NRL Premiership

• March 20, 2018 6:00am
• John Dean@johndean_
• Source: FOX SPORTS

Michael Ennis has savaged new Bulldogs prop Aaron Woods.Source: FOX SPORTS
HE’S the $800,000 per season marquee man who forced James Graham out of Canterbury, but he’s not living up to his price tag.

That’s the belief of former NRL premiership-winner Michael Ennis, who says Aaron Woods is “a shadow” of what Graham has been at new club St George Illawarra in the opening rounds of the season.

Woods linked with the Bulldogs on a rich four-year deal, a move that caused Graham to sign with the Dragons on a contract worth a reported $1.8 million over three seasons.

Upon arriving at Belmore, Woods said he was excited to play the “rugged style” of football the Bulldogs are renown for.

But according to Ennis, who played for the Bulldogs from 2010 to 2014, the Australia and NSW Origin prop is yet to display those traits, and it was clear what the club had lost in Graham.

“It’s evident. Look at the Dragons at the moment,” Ennis told Fox Sports.

“(Graham) has been the heart and soul. (Dragons coach) Paul McGregor has been treasuring what James Graham has brought to that club.

Aaron Woods of the Bulldogs is tackled by Roosters defenders.Source: Getty Images
“Aaron Woods, there is so much focus on Woods being a front-rower.

“We know what we get from David Klemmer. He’s aggressive, he welcomes the contact, he takes personal battles against opposition front-rowers.

“Aaron Woods stepping into Graham’s shoes, in the opening two rounds — and it’s only been two rounds, let’s not go too hard — he’s been a shadow of what James Graham has done at the Dragons.

“For me, Aaron Woods at the moment is just knocking out his numbers, but in terms of really leading this Canterbury-Bankstown forward pack, I haven’t seen that yet.”

Woods has averaged 58 minutes in his first two games, along with 13.5 runs, 115 metres and 27.5 tackles.

Asked whether the bearded prop needed to roll up his sleeves, Ennis replied: “Absolutely. The Roosters really targeted their centre-third the other day and it had great value.

“When your coach comes out over the summer and says ‘I want the Dogs of War back’ ... Dean Pay was one of the household names at Canterbury for his toughness, and he wants to resemble that in his football side.

“I haven’t seen that from Aaron Woods yet, I haven’t seen that in the opening two rounds.

“I want to see him get down and dirty, I want to see him get personal.

“We saw it with young (James) Fisher-Harris and (George) Burgess on the weekend — a young kid standing his ground and welcoming that impact and collision.

“I haven’t seen that from Aaron Woods yet.”


https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...s/news-story/f4f47bc254f914be2b428bd525a96c04