Cliffy coach; Peach assistant of Aboriginal 7s team

[King of the Hill]

From NRL.com

The NASCA Aboriginal All-Stars have raided Rugby Unions ranks in a bid to qualify for the 2004 Cougar World Sevens.

Australian Rugby Union Sevens representative and former ACT Brumby Willie Gordon will be joined by his Randwick team mate Arthur Little in returning to their Rugby League roots for the All Stars at the Sevens qualifying tournament at Western Weekender Stadium, St Marys, next Wednesday 21 January.

Fast shaping as favourites the All-Stars also boast three State of Origin representatives in the line-up: Carl Webb, Jason Moodie and Ken McGuinness.

Set to be coached by League icons Cliff Lyons and his assistant David Peachey the All-Stars are confident of qualifying for a position in the main Sevens draw at Aussie Stadium on January 24-25.

Lyons said he was pleased that the side would have the benefit of the experience of these senior players along with captain Robbie Simpson, but he was just as excited by the prospects of emerging players such as the Cowboys' Derricke Watkins, Rabbitohs' Jimmy Storer and Broncos' tyro Ian Lacey.

"It was great to watch the progress of players like Joey Williams who was in our side last year and who we believe will be in the Souths side this year," Lyons said.

This was echoed by Peachey who has been granted permission by the Sharks to assist the side outside his training commitments.

"Over eight per cent of players across the NRL have an indigenous heritage and, although we would all love the opportunity to represent an all Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander side, it is just as important to encourage emerging players," he said.

NASCA CEO David Liddiard praised the involvement of Lyons and Peachey as well as thanking the NRL clubs for their continued support.

"Cliff Lyons is an icon of indigenous rugby league and a master of sevens," Liddiard said. "His value to the side is immeasurable."

"The presence of David Peachey will be of equal value as he stands tall as a spokesman for current indigenous players.




"NASCA applauds the decision to award Peachey the Ken Stephen Medal for service to the game of rugby league and looks forward to supporting the work of the David Peachey Foundation," he continued.

Liddiard said he was also proud to announce that the side would have Aboriginal owned Diz Home Improvements as its major sponsor.

"Diz Home Improvements is owned by former Penrith player Doug Delaney who wants to support the development of the game that gave him so much.

"His involvement provides just as important a message to players about life after football," Liddiard concluded.

The NASCA provisional squad is:

1. PJ Ellis
2. Willie Gordon
3. Ian Lacey
4. Arthur Little
5. Ken McGuinness
6. Kevin McGuinness (subject to availability and club selection)
7. Jason Moodie
8. Ronald Prince (subject to availability and club selection)
9. Robbie Simpson (captain)
10. Shaun Skuthorpe
11. James Storer (subject to availability and club selection) 12. Craig Trindall 13. Derricke Watkins 14. Carl Webb

The team will be finalised following advice from NRL clubs.

For further information please contact Matthew Francis on 0417 685 616.

 

[King of the Hill]

I was a bit worried when I saw the headline, thought Peach might have been picked to play in the team, but thankfully he's just the coach.

He's given me a bit of coaching in the past, the guy is unreal, commands so much respect and knows his stuff. One drill he was having us draw a man (him) and he was about 5 metres back and i was slowly running towards him. He said "PASS NOW!" so I did, for a laugh he sticks out his massive spider-like arm in between me and the support player, intercepts the ball and he was away. I was shocked, I'd never seen anything like it!

 

[blacktip-reefy]

"Over eight per cent of players across the NRL have an indigenous heritage and,

Years ago I assisted in an analysis of indigenous representation in the ARL/NRL.
8 % was close to the figure we came up with.
However, representation in Rep games yeilded a statistically significant figure.
We performed this analysis to try & understand why the likes of Peachey, Mundine were continually overlooked.
If it was not for Meningas continued selection over the years, the figure would have been very incriminating for the sport.

 

[King of the Hill]

understand why the likes of Peachey, Mundine were continually overlooked

Peachey was rarely overlooked, he was more always injured.
Mundine was overlooked because he ran his mouth and the selectors dont like being told who to pick, he was a freak on the field but the selectors probably thought he'd play for himself and not the team...like when he pissed off to Honolulu mid season leaving the Dragons f**ked.

 

[PJ]

You could have picked better examples to make your point, such as Blacklock.

Peachey has either had better players ahead of him, been injured at the wrong time of year or cost himself with efforts like last year against Canberra when he all but handed the job to Minichello.

Mudine has always had far better players ahead of him like Daley and Fittler. And isn't Daley of Aboriginal heritage? and if so that wouldn't have affected the stats.

Blacklock is the one that should have played higher level footy.

 

[bazza]

Steve Renouf never had much trouble making rep teams

 

[beerboy]

Tallis

 

[blacktip-reefy]

We can all go through & name aboriginal players that have been selected.
The point was, that there was a statistically significant result.
i.e. the population of representative players was not representative of all NRL/ARL players.
The reason we could not define.
As has been stated anecdotally, there could be a number of reasons.

 

[King of the Hill]

There was, however, a larger number of Aboriginals in league teams 8% - than there is in the general population (about 2%) so it's not all doom and gloom is it?

 

[Special K]

If Peachey can't go around next year we should get him an assistant job before he heads back to the bush.

 

[blacktip-reefy]

We also established that there was a significant difference from the general population, but in the end, that was irrelevant. It was not the general population we were concerned with.

 

[millersnose]

reefy

Who is "we"?

 

[blacktip-reefy]

me & the others.

 

[millersnose]

who are the others

do they live in the channel islands with nicole kidman?

 

[blacktip-reefy]

maybe I meant me & the br-others?