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Q&A with Guill Cieutat (New York Knights)
and Peter Illfield (Philadelphia Fight)
Tony Munro - 3/6/2012
Welcome to the fifth edition in Rugby League Planet's series of season previews of American National Rugby League (AMNRL) and United States Rugby League teams. Today we feature Q&A's with the coaches of the premiers of the two competitions, Guill Cieutat (New York Knights) and Peter Illfield (Philadelphia Fight).
Guill Cieutat
RLP: What has the Knights' pre-season consisted of and have you played any practice matches?
GC: Our pre-season was 7 weeks long and we really focused on running fitness for the first 3 weeks and progressively incorporated game situations. We do a lot of wrestling at the Knights and put a lot of attention to the fundamentals at the early stage of the season. We didn't play any trial games.
RLP: Which players have joined the Knights during the off-season?
GC: We recruited 2 foreign players this season: Scott Hagenhofer (half back) and Andrew Moody (lock/5/8), respectively from Australia and England. We try to recruit according to our structural needs and our main objective remains the development of local talents. Mike Cartwright (USA Tomahawks prop) is back after a year off and we expect a lot from him in terms of leadership upfront. Pete Jordan (wing, center), Matt O'Connor (5/8), Jamie Bouloux (2nd row) and Danny Sonon (prop/2nd row) are all coming from RU with an obvious potential for RL.
RLP: And similarly you have you lost:
GC:We lost 2 key players in Nigel Milgate (MVP 2011) and Regan Hyde who both returned to Australia. French enforcer Xavier Lozinguez injured his ACL playing for the Tomahawks at the end of last year and will be another major loss given his work rate and leadership.
Which of your current squad do you think really developed as players during your 2011 Championship run?
GC:I think CJ Cortalano has been the best hooker in the comp for the last 2 years and for some obscure reasons never really got a shot at representative footy. Our captain Gareth Baxendale has developed really well as a center/fullback/lock with clinical running lines. Sean "Baby Face" Taylor is a regular representative player now and could play at a good level in Australia. Fitzjames Adams is a very promising fullback with tremendous finishing abilities. Justin Ripley and Benny Sadgrove are key elements in terms of leadership and physicality, as well as Calder Orr who's a quite achiever. Ian Elliott and John Dykeman have some fire in them and both play an aggressive style of footy that is always inspiring for their team-mates.
RLP: Dominant teams in any sport set themselves their own goals as a means of maintaining their standard. Is this something the Knights as a team do?
GC: We have one goal this season: Play our best brand of footy we possibly can as a team. The scoreboard will take care of itself. My boys have tremendous work ethic and they know they can play much better then last season. But they are aware they can play worse as well so we really don't fit in that "defending champion" suit. We're really focused on the process here.
We are proud of our organization and we want our boys to feel they belong to a place where we care about individuals beyond the players. We don't have much $ but being professional is not about $, it's about attitude.
RLP: The Knights are regarded by many as one of the best organised Rugby League teams/clubs in the United States. How does that manifest itself on the playing field?
GC: On the field, we have achieved something more important than championships: We have our own brand of footy. It may not materializes every time we take the field but we always know what's the direction we have to take. That is valuable to us because it means we have a true identity, our own routines, our protocols, our training regime,our own rules inside the group...
RLP: Who on your roster:
(a) best typifies the qualities of what it is to be a New York Knight? (b) is best able to turn a game? (c) you want on the field/'in the trenches' when the chips are down?
GC:To be a NY Knight you have to apply one constant rule on and off the field: sacrifice for teamwork. Therefore you will understand I can't single out any of my boys because they all roll up their sleeves when things get tough on the field. We may not win all the time but we never stop trying hard, that's our expectations.
Peter Illfield
RLP:The Fight have played the British Marines and made the final of the Nines. Are you happy with the extent of the team's pre-season preparations, and as you go into your first game how do you feel the team is travelling?
PI: I'm happy with our pre-season. The British Royal Marines match was unusual timing for our us, Monday 30 April. It was a work day, a 3hr drive & 2 months before our season proper. It was our first hit-out for 2012. The Marines had about 8 games together & over-powered us during the match. The boys didn't give up trying, they hung in there to the end & toughed it out. They were pretty battered & bruised. The Marines were a good squad.
The 9's was a pleasant surprise. It was the first game for our 3 Aussie imports & they showed good form along with 2 local Fight players completing the day-long tournament without a spell.
Our preparation for the first game of the season, 2 June, has been building over the past month & I'm now confident we're ready to go. The Aussie's, as in the past, will be a significant factor with Kane Fuller at prop, Johnny Weber at five-eighth & Chase Mason at fullback. Local players Rich Henson, Dave Wilmore, James Coleman, Patrick Quirk, Jared Frymoyer & Larry Madden will be in good form as well.
RLP: Which players have the Fight gained during the off-season and what can you tell us about them?
PI: Johnny Weber, five-eighth, from the Penrith, NSW, area has frequently represented the Penrith district & also played in England. The 30yr old brings a lot of experience. Stocky & strong, at 18 he went straight to A-Grade for St Clair Comets & made the Panthers development squad in 1999, 2000, 2001. He played in the Metropolitan Cup (now Bundaburg Red Cup) for Kellyville Bushrangers 2002 to 2006, then back to St Clair Comets 2007, 2008. In 2009 & 2011 he played for the Rouse Hill Rhinos in the Penrith League & in 2010 had a season with UK club Hemel Stags.
Kane Fuller, prop, also from the Penrith, NSW, area, started playing Rugby League at 8yrs old for the Riverstone Razorbacks before going to the Windsor Wolves. In high school he represented NSW Combined Catholic Colleges while playing in the 'Arrive Alive Cup' taking out the Championship in his last school year. He played Junior Reps for the Manly Sea Eagles. Since 2009 he's played for Riverstone in the Penrith league & in 2011 received the Player of the Year Award. Kane is 22.
Chase Mason, fullback/centre, hails from Port Macquarie, NSW, & is 24. He played for NSW Combined High Schools before relocating to Campbelltown, NSW, with the West Magpies Junior Reps for 4 years. He played with Asquith Magpies in the Jim Beam Cup, then North Sydney Bears in the NSW Cup. After a year off with injury, Chase moved to Tamworth to play for the Lions, representing NSW Country. The following he moved back to the western suburbs of Sydney & played for the Wentworthville Magpies. In 2011, Chase represented NSW Universities against Queensland from which he was selected for the Australian University team, playing against Great Britain & Papua New Guinea.
RLP: Which players have you lost?
PI: Kevin Wiggins, a lock
RLP: Which of your younger players would you like to see come on and reach their full potential in 2012?
PI:Larry Madden, second row. Dave Wilmore, hooker. Jared Frymoyer, wing. Mike Timpano, wing. Patrick Quirk, fullback/centre. Wes DeLuca, second row.
RLP: Obviously a team which wins the competition has ability. How much of your strength as a team on-field is due to what you are as a club off-field?
PI: Off field camaraderie is critical in every team in every sport. With the blend of Australian & American humor the team lends itself to a great rivalry & camaraderie. The guys mix frequently during the season & the locals are always keen to embrace the Aussie imports to make them welcome. Although the American skills maybe less than their Australian counterparts, they show a lot of courage on the field that is highly respected by the Aussies.
Who in the Fight team:
(a)best embodies what the Fight is as a club?
(b)can turn a game single-handedly (if more than one, who is best at this)
(c)would you want playing for your life (so-to-speak)?
PI: (a) 2 Americans, hooker & USMC Corporal Dave Wilmore, winger & Army Sargent Pat Kelly, prop James Coleman & fullback/centre Patrick Quirk. Wilmore & Quirk for their fitness & never say die attitude, Kelly for his ability to muster the 'troops' when the going gets tough & Coleman for his overall effort to 'never give up'. (b) Half-back Rich Henson can be very incisive & slippery against the opposition defense. New comer & Aussie Chase Mason has a long hard-to-handle stride & in the open is difficult to catch or pull down. (c) Dave Wilmore, USMC.
Like everyone who responded, we thank Guill and Peter for the thought, and time they have put into their answers. It is greatly appreciated. The series is not quite over. Time constraints have meant we had to hold back our articles on the DC Slayers and the New York Raiders, and they will be appearing early next week. All AMNRL and USARL Atlantic teams were approached for this series. To all teams in both competitions, good luck, and enjoy your footy!
and Peter Illfield (Philadelphia Fight)
Tony Munro - 3/6/2012
Welcome to the fifth edition in Rugby League Planet's series of season previews of American National Rugby League (AMNRL) and United States Rugby League teams. Today we feature Q&A's with the coaches of the premiers of the two competitions, Guill Cieutat (New York Knights) and Peter Illfield (Philadelphia Fight).
Guill Cieutat
RLP: What has the Knights' pre-season consisted of and have you played any practice matches?
GC: Our pre-season was 7 weeks long and we really focused on running fitness for the first 3 weeks and progressively incorporated game situations. We do a lot of wrestling at the Knights and put a lot of attention to the fundamentals at the early stage of the season. We didn't play any trial games.
RLP: Which players have joined the Knights during the off-season?
GC: We recruited 2 foreign players this season: Scott Hagenhofer (half back) and Andrew Moody (lock/5/8), respectively from Australia and England. We try to recruit according to our structural needs and our main objective remains the development of local talents. Mike Cartwright (USA Tomahawks prop) is back after a year off and we expect a lot from him in terms of leadership upfront. Pete Jordan (wing, center), Matt O'Connor (5/8), Jamie Bouloux (2nd row) and Danny Sonon (prop/2nd row) are all coming from RU with an obvious potential for RL.
RLP: And similarly you have you lost:
GC:We lost 2 key players in Nigel Milgate (MVP 2011) and Regan Hyde who both returned to Australia. French enforcer Xavier Lozinguez injured his ACL playing for the Tomahawks at the end of last year and will be another major loss given his work rate and leadership.
Which of your current squad do you think really developed as players during your 2011 Championship run?
GC:I think CJ Cortalano has been the best hooker in the comp for the last 2 years and for some obscure reasons never really got a shot at representative footy. Our captain Gareth Baxendale has developed really well as a center/fullback/lock with clinical running lines. Sean "Baby Face" Taylor is a regular representative player now and could play at a good level in Australia. Fitzjames Adams is a very promising fullback with tremendous finishing abilities. Justin Ripley and Benny Sadgrove are key elements in terms of leadership and physicality, as well as Calder Orr who's a quite achiever. Ian Elliott and John Dykeman have some fire in them and both play an aggressive style of footy that is always inspiring for their team-mates.
RLP: Dominant teams in any sport set themselves their own goals as a means of maintaining their standard. Is this something the Knights as a team do?
GC: We have one goal this season: Play our best brand of footy we possibly can as a team. The scoreboard will take care of itself. My boys have tremendous work ethic and they know they can play much better then last season. But they are aware they can play worse as well so we really don't fit in that "defending champion" suit. We're really focused on the process here.
We are proud of our organization and we want our boys to feel they belong to a place where we care about individuals beyond the players. We don't have much $ but being professional is not about $, it's about attitude.
RLP: The Knights are regarded by many as one of the best organised Rugby League teams/clubs in the United States. How does that manifest itself on the playing field?
GC: On the field, we have achieved something more important than championships: We have our own brand of footy. It may not materializes every time we take the field but we always know what's the direction we have to take. That is valuable to us because it means we have a true identity, our own routines, our protocols, our training regime,our own rules inside the group...
RLP: Who on your roster:
(a) best typifies the qualities of what it is to be a New York Knight? (b) is best able to turn a game? (c) you want on the field/'in the trenches' when the chips are down?
GC:To be a NY Knight you have to apply one constant rule on and off the field: sacrifice for teamwork. Therefore you will understand I can't single out any of my boys because they all roll up their sleeves when things get tough on the field. We may not win all the time but we never stop trying hard, that's our expectations.
Peter Illfield
RLP:The Fight have played the British Marines and made the final of the Nines. Are you happy with the extent of the team's pre-season preparations, and as you go into your first game how do you feel the team is travelling?
PI: I'm happy with our pre-season. The British Royal Marines match was unusual timing for our us, Monday 30 April. It was a work day, a 3hr drive & 2 months before our season proper. It was our first hit-out for 2012. The Marines had about 8 games together & over-powered us during the match. The boys didn't give up trying, they hung in there to the end & toughed it out. They were pretty battered & bruised. The Marines were a good squad.
The 9's was a pleasant surprise. It was the first game for our 3 Aussie imports & they showed good form along with 2 local Fight players completing the day-long tournament without a spell.
Our preparation for the first game of the season, 2 June, has been building over the past month & I'm now confident we're ready to go. The Aussie's, as in the past, will be a significant factor with Kane Fuller at prop, Johnny Weber at five-eighth & Chase Mason at fullback. Local players Rich Henson, Dave Wilmore, James Coleman, Patrick Quirk, Jared Frymoyer & Larry Madden will be in good form as well.
RLP: Which players have the Fight gained during the off-season and what can you tell us about them?
PI: Johnny Weber, five-eighth, from the Penrith, NSW, area has frequently represented the Penrith district & also played in England. The 30yr old brings a lot of experience. Stocky & strong, at 18 he went straight to A-Grade for St Clair Comets & made the Panthers development squad in 1999, 2000, 2001. He played in the Metropolitan Cup (now Bundaburg Red Cup) for Kellyville Bushrangers 2002 to 2006, then back to St Clair Comets 2007, 2008. In 2009 & 2011 he played for the Rouse Hill Rhinos in the Penrith League & in 2010 had a season with UK club Hemel Stags.
Kane Fuller, prop, also from the Penrith, NSW, area, started playing Rugby League at 8yrs old for the Riverstone Razorbacks before going to the Windsor Wolves. In high school he represented NSW Combined Catholic Colleges while playing in the 'Arrive Alive Cup' taking out the Championship in his last school year. He played Junior Reps for the Manly Sea Eagles. Since 2009 he's played for Riverstone in the Penrith league & in 2011 received the Player of the Year Award. Kane is 22.
Chase Mason, fullback/centre, hails from Port Macquarie, NSW, & is 24. He played for NSW Combined High Schools before relocating to Campbelltown, NSW, with the West Magpies Junior Reps for 4 years. He played with Asquith Magpies in the Jim Beam Cup, then North Sydney Bears in the NSW Cup. After a year off with injury, Chase moved to Tamworth to play for the Lions, representing NSW Country. The following he moved back to the western suburbs of Sydney & played for the Wentworthville Magpies. In 2011, Chase represented NSW Universities against Queensland from which he was selected for the Australian University team, playing against Great Britain & Papua New Guinea.
RLP: Which players have you lost?
PI: Kevin Wiggins, a lock
RLP: Which of your younger players would you like to see come on and reach their full potential in 2012?
PI:Larry Madden, second row. Dave Wilmore, hooker. Jared Frymoyer, wing. Mike Timpano, wing. Patrick Quirk, fullback/centre. Wes DeLuca, second row.
RLP: Obviously a team which wins the competition has ability. How much of your strength as a team on-field is due to what you are as a club off-field?
PI: Off field camaraderie is critical in every team in every sport. With the blend of Australian & American humor the team lends itself to a great rivalry & camaraderie. The guys mix frequently during the season & the locals are always keen to embrace the Aussie imports to make them welcome. Although the American skills maybe less than their Australian counterparts, they show a lot of courage on the field that is highly respected by the Aussies.
Who in the Fight team:
(a)best embodies what the Fight is as a club?
(b)can turn a game single-handedly (if more than one, who is best at this)
(c)would you want playing for your life (so-to-speak)?
PI: (a) 2 Americans, hooker & USMC Corporal Dave Wilmore, winger & Army Sargent Pat Kelly, prop James Coleman & fullback/centre Patrick Quirk. Wilmore & Quirk for their fitness & never say die attitude, Kelly for his ability to muster the 'troops' when the going gets tough & Coleman for his overall effort to 'never give up'. (b) Half-back Rich Henson can be very incisive & slippery against the opposition defense. New comer & Aussie Chase Mason has a long hard-to-handle stride & in the open is difficult to catch or pull down. (c) Dave Wilmore, USMC.
Like everyone who responded, we thank Guill and Peter for the thought, and time they have put into their answers. It is greatly appreciated. The series is not quite over. Time constraints have meant we had to hold back our articles on the DC Slayers and the New York Raiders, and they will be appearing early next week. All AMNRL and USARL Atlantic teams were approached for this series. To all teams in both competitions, good luck, and enjoy your footy!
