bad boy bubby
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Two positive stories about forum faves, Humphrey and Mr.Squiggle.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...s/news-story/9f79479eeabfd7e134c6e80b31a69b8f
VALENTINE Holmes has informed Cronulla he will reject advances from rugby union as the club steps up its efforts to re-sign the star back.
Holmes is off contract at the end of 2017 but in a boost ahead of Friday’s blockbuster preliminary final against North Queensland, he has told the Sharks he wants to stay beyond his current deal.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal Cronulla officials have started preliminary discussions to keep the Townsville-born flyer in the Shire long-term.
Holmes’ retention would be significant news for the Sharks given he has attracted serious interest from Super 15 franchise the Queensland Reds this season.
Holmes’s desire to stay is a huge boost for the Sharks. AAP Image/Julian Smith.
Former Wallabies star Tim Horan confirmed the Cronulla winger was in the sights of the Reds and rugby union back in June.
“They (the Reds) will chase him,” Horan said. “Cronulla will try to lock him up quickly because he’s a wonderful player.
“Cheika is looking at a few league players but he wants them to come knocking on the door first.
“It depends on what he wants to do going forward, but is there interest from rugby, absolutely.
“Rugby would be mad not to talk to three or four athletes in the NRL like Valentine, but ultimately the interest has to come from the player.’’
Thankfully for Cronulla, Holmes’ interest is to remain at the Sharks.
The freakishly skilled outside back has scored 19 tries this season and is a vital member of the club’s quest to win its first ever premiership.
Holmes is a huge part of the Sharks’ exciting roster. Pic Mark Evans.
Holmes will also be looking for a strong game against North Queensland, especially with his family still residing in Townsville.
The flyer’s father Ray regularly attends his matches in Sydney and is expected to be at Allianz Stadium on Friday to watch the preliminary final against the Cowboys.
As a proud North Queenslander, Holmes once had dreams of playing alongside Johnathan Thurston. But when he didn’t get noticed by the Cowboys he signed with the Sharks and the rest his history.
On Friday, Holmes will come up against his childhood idol Thurston in a battle to qualify for the 2016 NRL grand final.
Holmes’ desire to stay at Cronulla comes as Paul Gallen is set to put pen to paper on a one-year extension that will have the captain playing past his 36th birthday.
The confirmation of Gallen’s signature will be a big lift for the Sharks ahead of Friday’s must-win clash against the Cowboys.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...d/news-story/de481f2a10492b301c497ff4eb98999c
THE ASADA scandal tore the heart out of the Cronulla Sharks, but it also helped deliver one of the club’s greatest signings.
During his nine-month suspension in 2014 for his role in the Sharks’ supplements program, coach Shane Flanagan identified St George Illawarra’s Jack Bird as a Holden Cup prodigy as Cronulla ultimately poached him from their bitter rivals.
In just two seasons at Cronulla Bird made his NRL debut, was named the rookie of the year and in 2016 played State of Origin at just 21.
Now the strike centre can cap off a whirlwind start to his first-grade career by guiding the Sharks to their first premiership.
And it may not have happened had Flanagan not been watching Bird play under-20s for the Dragons from the grandstand.
The ASADA scandal opened the door for Jack Bird. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts.
Rather than attend Cronulla games and run the risk of his presence turning into a “circus’’, Flanagan instead attended a lot of junior games.
“I would have watched up to eight live games involving Jack, including some Monday night games at Kogarah,’’ Flanagan said.
“I had the time to do that.
“Everybody knew about Birdy. He had made the NSW under-13s team, the Australian under-15s team, the Australian Schoolboys, Junior Kangaroos. Any jersey that was available he wore.
“For me, I’d rather watch players live than watching on tape.
“That season he played five-eighth, lock, fullback and a bit of centre. He moved around a bit, even during games. I just remember him being a competitor, and he’s continued to be a competitor.’’
Flanagan was tempted more than once to quit rugby league when stood down by the NRL. Although he was banned from having anything to do with the Cronulla coaching staff, the coach was delighted to return to pre-season training with Bird in his squad.
Bird will start at right centre when Cronulla host North Queensland in Friday night’s preliminary final at Allianz Stadium.
Flanagan is adamant Bird has bounced back from a post-Origin “lull’’, declaring he was at his “aggressive best’’ last start against Canberra.
The Sharks, under Flanagan, have assembled a formidable roster, which includes recent additions Bird, Valentine Holmes, Ben Barba, James Maloney and Michael Ennis.
While Ennis has proven a masterstroke, Bird has brought the x-factor.
The coach admitted he liked aggression in his players, but with the emergence of Bird, Holmes and Barba, “we’re trying to not only be seen as tough and ruthless, but a team also capable of scoring points’’.
Bird’s defection to Cronulla still angers Dragons fans whose side were never in the finals hunt, and also in recent years lost the likes of Trent Merrin and Brett Morris.
Flanagan returned for day one of pre-season training the following year where he properly met Bird, who had already become acquainted with skipper Paul Gallen at a fundraiser when the Dragons junior was sick with arthritis and needed treatment in the US.
Bird weighed up a lucrative offer to return home to the Dragons at the start of this year, but inked a one-year extension with Cronulla.
He will be one of the most sought-after signatures when he comes off contract at the end of 2017.
Flanagan said what pleased him about Cronulla’s recent recruitment drive was the club rarely missed out on players. Most players who turned down a move to the Shire did so to remain with their current clubs.
Cronulla will start outsiders against defending NRL premiers the Cowboys, but have enjoyed a week’s rest, and showed plenty of grit to come from behind in games.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...s/news-story/9f79479eeabfd7e134c6e80b31a69b8f
VALENTINE Holmes has informed Cronulla he will reject advances from rugby union as the club steps up its efforts to re-sign the star back.
Holmes is off contract at the end of 2017 but in a boost ahead of Friday’s blockbuster preliminary final against North Queensland, he has told the Sharks he wants to stay beyond his current deal.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal Cronulla officials have started preliminary discussions to keep the Townsville-born flyer in the Shire long-term.
Holmes’ retention would be significant news for the Sharks given he has attracted serious interest from Super 15 franchise the Queensland Reds this season.
Holmes’s desire to stay is a huge boost for the Sharks. AAP Image/Julian Smith.
Former Wallabies star Tim Horan confirmed the Cronulla winger was in the sights of the Reds and rugby union back in June.
“They (the Reds) will chase him,” Horan said. “Cronulla will try to lock him up quickly because he’s a wonderful player.
“Cheika is looking at a few league players but he wants them to come knocking on the door first.
“It depends on what he wants to do going forward, but is there interest from rugby, absolutely.
“Rugby would be mad not to talk to three or four athletes in the NRL like Valentine, but ultimately the interest has to come from the player.’’
Thankfully for Cronulla, Holmes’ interest is to remain at the Sharks.
The freakishly skilled outside back has scored 19 tries this season and is a vital member of the club’s quest to win its first ever premiership.
Holmes is a huge part of the Sharks’ exciting roster. Pic Mark Evans.
Holmes will also be looking for a strong game against North Queensland, especially with his family still residing in Townsville.
The flyer’s father Ray regularly attends his matches in Sydney and is expected to be at Allianz Stadium on Friday to watch the preliminary final against the Cowboys.
As a proud North Queenslander, Holmes once had dreams of playing alongside Johnathan Thurston. But when he didn’t get noticed by the Cowboys he signed with the Sharks and the rest his history.
On Friday, Holmes will come up against his childhood idol Thurston in a battle to qualify for the 2016 NRL grand final.
Holmes’ desire to stay at Cronulla comes as Paul Gallen is set to put pen to paper on a one-year extension that will have the captain playing past his 36th birthday.
The confirmation of Gallen’s signature will be a big lift for the Sharks ahead of Friday’s must-win clash against the Cowboys.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...d/news-story/de481f2a10492b301c497ff4eb98999c
THE ASADA scandal tore the heart out of the Cronulla Sharks, but it also helped deliver one of the club’s greatest signings.
During his nine-month suspension in 2014 for his role in the Sharks’ supplements program, coach Shane Flanagan identified St George Illawarra’s Jack Bird as a Holden Cup prodigy as Cronulla ultimately poached him from their bitter rivals.
In just two seasons at Cronulla Bird made his NRL debut, was named the rookie of the year and in 2016 played State of Origin at just 21.
Now the strike centre can cap off a whirlwind start to his first-grade career by guiding the Sharks to their first premiership.
And it may not have happened had Flanagan not been watching Bird play under-20s for the Dragons from the grandstand.
The ASADA scandal opened the door for Jack Bird. AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts.
Rather than attend Cronulla games and run the risk of his presence turning into a “circus’’, Flanagan instead attended a lot of junior games.
“I would have watched up to eight live games involving Jack, including some Monday night games at Kogarah,’’ Flanagan said.
“I had the time to do that.
“Everybody knew about Birdy. He had made the NSW under-13s team, the Australian under-15s team, the Australian Schoolboys, Junior Kangaroos. Any jersey that was available he wore.
“For me, I’d rather watch players live than watching on tape.
“That season he played five-eighth, lock, fullback and a bit of centre. He moved around a bit, even during games. I just remember him being a competitor, and he’s continued to be a competitor.’’
Flanagan was tempted more than once to quit rugby league when stood down by the NRL. Although he was banned from having anything to do with the Cronulla coaching staff, the coach was delighted to return to pre-season training with Bird in his squad.
Bird will start at right centre when Cronulla host North Queensland in Friday night’s preliminary final at Allianz Stadium.
Flanagan is adamant Bird has bounced back from a post-Origin “lull’’, declaring he was at his “aggressive best’’ last start against Canberra.
The Sharks, under Flanagan, have assembled a formidable roster, which includes recent additions Bird, Valentine Holmes, Ben Barba, James Maloney and Michael Ennis.
While Ennis has proven a masterstroke, Bird has brought the x-factor.
The coach admitted he liked aggression in his players, but with the emergence of Bird, Holmes and Barba, “we’re trying to not only be seen as tough and ruthless, but a team also capable of scoring points’’.
Bird’s defection to Cronulla still angers Dragons fans whose side were never in the finals hunt, and also in recent years lost the likes of Trent Merrin and Brett Morris.
Flanagan returned for day one of pre-season training the following year where he properly met Bird, who had already become acquainted with skipper Paul Gallen at a fundraiser when the Dragons junior was sick with arthritis and needed treatment in the US.
Bird weighed up a lucrative offer to return home to the Dragons at the start of this year, but inked a one-year extension with Cronulla.
He will be one of the most sought-after signatures when he comes off contract at the end of 2017.
Flanagan said what pleased him about Cronulla’s recent recruitment drive was the club rarely missed out on players. Most players who turned down a move to the Shire did so to remain with their current clubs.
Cronulla will start outsiders against defending NRL premiers the Cowboys, but have enjoyed a week’s rest, and showed plenty of grit to come from behind in games.
