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NRL revels in Panthers' fairytale
| 7sport.com.au ...
25 December 2003 07:12pm |
Two years ago Penrith was beaten by just about everybody - next year it will be the National Rugby League team everyone wants to beat.
The Panthers, still celebrating their remarkable grand final victory in October, are about to receive a crash course in what it's like to be rugby league's benchmark. It's uncharted territory for John Lang's young squad - winners of the wooden spoon in 2001 - but his players showed with their fairytale victory over the Sydney Roosters in the NRL grand final that they're ready for anything.
They'll start their premiership defence early next year against English Super League champion Bradford in the World Club Challenge. When chief executive Shane Richardson and Lang were reunited at the Panthers two years ago their goal was to make Penrith the No.1 rugby league side in the world. Victory over the Bulls would leave them with that mantle.
Then things really hot up. The Roosters lead the chasing pack. Factor in the usual suspects - Brisbane, Newcastle, Parramatta, the Bulldogs, Canberra and the New Zealand Warriors - as well as expected improvement from Melbourne, Cronulla, Manly, St George Illawarra, North Queensland and Wests and it shapes as one of the tightest competitions in recent memory.
The Broncos, unusually out-of-sorts this season, will be strengthened by the permanent return of Gorden Tallis - who has stood down from representative football to concentrate on life at the Broncos - and the brilliance of Darren Lockyer, who led the Kangaroos on tour in the absence of Tallis and Andrew Johns.
Lockyer captained Australia to a 3-0 series win over Great Britain but that marvellous achievement was overshadowed on their return when it was revealed several players, including the captain, had money stolen from their hotel rooms in England. Initial reports suggested a teammate had been the guilty party although an Australian Rugby League report absolved the player of any blame.
That tour scandal - and the success of rugby union's World Cup - took some gloss off the Panthers' Cinderella season and left the NRL looking to make up lost ground. The Rugby World Cup relegated the Kangaroos to the inside pages even though an Australian side minus 18 Test-class players completed three remarkable victories over the Lions.
The sides will meet again next season in a revised international schedule. Whether coach Chris Anderson, lauded for his performance against the Lions, is there is another matter. Anderson arrived back in Australia from his coaching masterpiece only to be sacked by Cronulla a week later. Former Wigan boss Stuart Raper took over as Anderson's troubled time at the Sharks came to an end.
The Australian coach also faces a fight to retain his position with the Kangaroos despite his impeccable record at the helm of the national side. Roosters mentor Ricky Stuart and Brisbane's Wayne Bennett, who stood down as Queensland coach in deference to Newcastle's Michael Hagan, have been mooted as potential replacements.
Whoever the new boss is, exciting times lie ahead. As part of an overhauled representative season, the Kangaroos will fly to England at the end of 2004 to play in the inaugural Tri-Nations tournament against New Zealand and Great Britain.
Officials hope it will be the salvation of international rugby league and ward off the intimidating presence of rugby union. Time will tell whether their faith is well placed. That Australian side, injury permitting, is expected to be led by Johns. The Newcastle No.7 was never far from the news in 2003.
Johns was at his brilliant best for most of the year, leading the Knights to the finals, NSW to a series win over Queensland - after striking a truce with coach Phil Gould following a high-profile falling out - and Australia to a Test win over New Zealand. But on the cusp of the finals series he suffered a neck injury which threatened his career and status as the game's best player.
In his absence Lockyer and Brett Kimmorley threw down the gauntlet. There's also a host of young players ready to make their mark. The Kangaroo tour was the making of Penrith youngster Trent Waterhouse and Sydney Roosters forward Michael Crocker and they could be followed into representative football by Melbourne try-scorer Billy Slater and St George Illawarra half Brett Firman this season.
Johns will answer those challenges next season. His first test will come against Penrith at Penrith Stadium in mid-March. It's a promoter's dream. The man who would be King against the team sitting on rugby league's throne.
Brought to you by AAP
| 7sport.com.au ...
25 December 2003 07:12pm |
Two years ago Penrith was beaten by just about everybody - next year it will be the National Rugby League team everyone wants to beat.
The Panthers, still celebrating their remarkable grand final victory in October, are about to receive a crash course in what it's like to be rugby league's benchmark. It's uncharted territory for John Lang's young squad - winners of the wooden spoon in 2001 - but his players showed with their fairytale victory over the Sydney Roosters in the NRL grand final that they're ready for anything.
They'll start their premiership defence early next year against English Super League champion Bradford in the World Club Challenge. When chief executive Shane Richardson and Lang were reunited at the Panthers two years ago their goal was to make Penrith the No.1 rugby league side in the world. Victory over the Bulls would leave them with that mantle.
Then things really hot up. The Roosters lead the chasing pack. Factor in the usual suspects - Brisbane, Newcastle, Parramatta, the Bulldogs, Canberra and the New Zealand Warriors - as well as expected improvement from Melbourne, Cronulla, Manly, St George Illawarra, North Queensland and Wests and it shapes as one of the tightest competitions in recent memory.
The Broncos, unusually out-of-sorts this season, will be strengthened by the permanent return of Gorden Tallis - who has stood down from representative football to concentrate on life at the Broncos - and the brilliance of Darren Lockyer, who led the Kangaroos on tour in the absence of Tallis and Andrew Johns.
Lockyer captained Australia to a 3-0 series win over Great Britain but that marvellous achievement was overshadowed on their return when it was revealed several players, including the captain, had money stolen from their hotel rooms in England. Initial reports suggested a teammate had been the guilty party although an Australian Rugby League report absolved the player of any blame.
That tour scandal - and the success of rugby union's World Cup - took some gloss off the Panthers' Cinderella season and left the NRL looking to make up lost ground. The Rugby World Cup relegated the Kangaroos to the inside pages even though an Australian side minus 18 Test-class players completed three remarkable victories over the Lions.
The sides will meet again next season in a revised international schedule. Whether coach Chris Anderson, lauded for his performance against the Lions, is there is another matter. Anderson arrived back in Australia from his coaching masterpiece only to be sacked by Cronulla a week later. Former Wigan boss Stuart Raper took over as Anderson's troubled time at the Sharks came to an end.
The Australian coach also faces a fight to retain his position with the Kangaroos despite his impeccable record at the helm of the national side. Roosters mentor Ricky Stuart and Brisbane's Wayne Bennett, who stood down as Queensland coach in deference to Newcastle's Michael Hagan, have been mooted as potential replacements.
Whoever the new boss is, exciting times lie ahead. As part of an overhauled representative season, the Kangaroos will fly to England at the end of 2004 to play in the inaugural Tri-Nations tournament against New Zealand and Great Britain.
Officials hope it will be the salvation of international rugby league and ward off the intimidating presence of rugby union. Time will tell whether their faith is well placed. That Australian side, injury permitting, is expected to be led by Johns. The Newcastle No.7 was never far from the news in 2003.
Johns was at his brilliant best for most of the year, leading the Knights to the finals, NSW to a series win over Queensland - after striking a truce with coach Phil Gould following a high-profile falling out - and Australia to a Test win over New Zealand. But on the cusp of the finals series he suffered a neck injury which threatened his career and status as the game's best player.
In his absence Lockyer and Brett Kimmorley threw down the gauntlet. There's also a host of young players ready to make their mark. The Kangaroo tour was the making of Penrith youngster Trent Waterhouse and Sydney Roosters forward Michael Crocker and they could be followed into representative football by Melbourne try-scorer Billy Slater and St George Illawarra half Brett Firman this season.
Johns will answer those challenges next season. His first test will come against Penrith at Penrith Stadium in mid-March. It's a promoter's dream. The man who would be King against the team sitting on rugby league's throne.
Brought to you by AAP
