St George team for final round: Leo Clarke named

[Willow]

Leo Clarke has been named on the wing (Matt Cooper is out) in the St George side to take on Newcastle this Sunday at the SFS. Kickoff: 3:00pm

1 - Ben Hornby
2 - Lee Hookey
3 - Mark Gasnier
4 - Shaun Timmins
5 - Leo Clarke
6 - Trent Barrett
7 - Willie Peters
8 - Luke Bailey
9 - Mark Riddell
10 - Jason Ryles
11 - Justin Smith
12 - Lance Thompson
13 - Jason Hooper

14 - Craig Stapleton
15 - Nathan Tutt
16 - Shane Millard
17 - Jason Kent

 

[tigger]

Leo is a star! The greatest winger ever to play the game.

 

[dubopov]

Has Clarke played First Grade before ??..I've seen the name in Div 1 sides but can't remember him playing at the higher level ??..Tell me what to expect !!...

 

[imported_Saint_Benny1]

Leaping Leo is a legend!
Glad to see form in First Division is paying off for the young blokes!

 

[Willow]

Yep, this is his debut in the big time. He was always popular but it looked like there ws no room for him at one point.
He was virtuallytold to go away by Saints at the end of last year but hung around and trained and worked his way back - now he's in First Grade. Good onya Leo.

 

[Willow]

From: http://www.leagueunlimited-online.com

<table bordercolor=#006699 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="95%" align=center border=2> <tbody> <tr> <td align=middle width="100%" bgcolor=#1b7cad>Do or die Dragons to blood Leo Clarke</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="95%" align=center border=0> <tbody> <tr> <td align=left width="50%">Written by:Steven Williams</td> <td align=left width="50%">Printable Version</td> <tr> <td align=left width="100%">3/9/02</td></tr> <tr> <td></td></tr> <tr> <td align=left width="100%">Send this article to a friend</td></tr> <tr> <td></td></tr> <tr> <td align=left width="100%">Popular First Division winger, Leo Clarke (pictured) will debut for Dragons in first grade this Sunday when St George Illawarra take on the Newcastle Knights at Aussie Stadium (SFS).

A try scorer in last year's First Division Grand Final 'Leaping Leo' was told to look elsewhere by Saints but chose to try his luck and train on with the Dragons squad. His persistence and good form has been rewarded with a run in the top grade after regular winger, Matt Cooper was ruled out.
Meanwhile, Newcastle captain Andrew Johns will contest a grade two careless high tackle charge at the National Rugby League judiciary tomorrow night.
Johns entered a not guilty plea and could face a week on the sidelines if found guilty of the charge.
The Knights playmaker was charged following a high tackle on Penrith prop Joel Clinton in the 58th minute of last Sunday's game at Penrith Stadium.
Newcastle teammate Ben Kennedy has pleaded guilty to a grade one striking charge, but will play against St George Illawarra because he doesnt enough previous infringement points to be suspended.
The Dragons are in eighth position but they must win in order to make the play-offs. With the Raiders and the Storm equal on 23 points, this is a do-or-die match for Saints who are certain to be leap-frogged if they fail to come away with any points.
A win to the Knights will see them snare the 2002 minor premiership and finish on 40 points, their highest ever total.
Teams:
St George
1 - Ben Hornby
2 - Lee Hookey
3 - Mark Gasnier
4 - Shaun Timmins
5 - Leo Clarke (Debut)
6 - Trent Barrett
7 - Willie Peters
8 - Luke Bailey
9 - Mark Riddell
10 - Jason Ryles
11 - Justin Smith
12 - Lance Thompson
13 - Jason Hooper
14 - Craig Stapleton
15 - Nathan Tutt
16 - Shane Millard
17 - Jason Kent
Knights
1 - Robbie O'Davis
2 - John Morris
3 - Matthew Gidley
4 - imana Tahu
5 - Anthony Quinn
6 - Sean Rudder
7 - Andrew Johns (c)
8 - Josh Perry
9 - Danny Buderus
10 - Matt Parsons
11 - Steve Simpson
12 - Ben Kennedy
13 - Bill Peden
14 - Daniel Abraham
15 - Clint Newton
16 - Kurt Gidley
17 - Adam Woolnough
18 - Jarrod O'Doherty
19 - Julian Bailey
(two to be omitted)
St George Illawarra Dragons v Newcastle Knights
Venue: Aussie Stadium (SFS)
Date: Sunday 8th September 2002
Kickoff: 3:00PM
Referee: Paul Simpkins</td></tr></tbody></table>
P.S. Thanks to Roopy for the info on Newcastle... and to Benny for reminding me ofthe nick...

 

[Willow]

Leo scoring in the 2001 grand final:

 

[tigger]

People that haven't seen Leo play before, will think the bloke is lazy as he is plays like a traditional winger that doesn't reall get involved unless the ball comes to him. What you will also notice, is that he is great in defence, i think in the 20 or so games i have watched him play, he has had only a couple of tries scored against him on his wing. Leo knows how to find the line &amp; can also kick goals. Against Souths a couple of weeks ago he scored 22 of the 46 points.

 

[Willow]

<table bordercolor=#006699 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="95%" align=center border=2> <tbody> <tr> <td align=middle width="100%" bgcolor=#1b7cad>Riddell sidelined with shoulder injury</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="95%" align=center border=0> <tbody> <tr> <td align=left width="50%">Written by:Michael Edgar</td> <td align=left width="50%">Printable Version</td> <tr> <td align=left width="100%">5/9/02</td></tr> <tr> <td></td></tr> <tr> <td align=left width="100%">Send this article to a friend</td></tr> <tr> <td></td></tr> <tr> <td align=left width="100%">St George Illawarra have lost goalkicking hooker, Mark Riddell, for their do or die clash against the Newcastle Knights at Aussie Stadium (SFS) this weekend. Riddell has been sidelined with a shoulder injury.
Damien Bower has been promoted to the first grade squad and coach, Andrew Farrar, will decide on Bower or Millard closer to game time.
Rookie Leo Clarke has been given the goalkicking duties for this match in a game that sees the Dragons either make the eight or miss the finals.</td></tr></tbody></table>
from: http://www.leagueunlimited-online.com

 

[Pecker]

Good on Leo ! Yep as knowing Leo for some time , he has played 1st grade for Wests (5 games) he even scored a try against the Panthers ! Being out off contract at the end of the season lets hope the Dragons give him a new and improved contract if he performs on the weekend ! Go Leo !

#1 Leo Fan

 

[Willow]

Goodonya Pecker. Welcome to the forums...

Giving him a run in first grade shows that the club wants him. He's champ imo.

Can't knock anyone who fights their way into the squad and then fights their way into first grade to become the chief goal kicker in theclub's most criticalgame of the year.

 

[Willow]

<table bordercolor=#006699 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="95%" align=center border=2> <tbody> <tr> <td align=middle width="100%" bgcolor=#1b7cad>Timmins may miss rest of season</td></tr></tbody></table>
<table cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="95%" align=center border=0> <tbody> <tr> <td align=left width="50%">Written by:Daniel Pettigrew</td> <td align=left width="50%">Printable Version</td> <tr> <td align=left width="100%">6/9/02</td></tr> <tr> <td></td></tr> <tr> <td align=left width="100%">Send this article to a friend</td></tr> <tr> <td></td></tr> <tr> <td align=left width="100%">St George Illawarra Dragons centre Shaun Timmins has been ruled out of Sunday's clash with the Newcastle Knights.
Saints need to win to qualify for the semi-finals but its unlikely that Timmins will be able to take any further part should the Dragons pull off a victory.
Prior to this season, Timmins had been out for the best part of two years has been having knee troubles for the past three weeks.
This year he has made it into the New South Wales and Australian teams.
Timmins joins Mark Riddell*, Matt Cooper and Chris Leikvoll on the sidelines for the vital encounter. Damien Bower, Craig Stapleton and Wise Kativerata come into the side.
While for the Knights Danny Buderus is out with wrist problems and John Morris is back in his home town because of a family bereavement.
*Late reports indicate that Mark Riddell has passed a fitness test and may still take the field.</td></tr></tbody></table>

From: http://www.leagueunlimited-online.com

 

[Willow]

Its confirmed, Riddell will play....

<table cellspacing=5 cellpadding=0 width="100%" align=center border=0> <tbody> <tr> <td>RIDDELL IN; TIMMINS AND BUDERUS OUT</td></tr> <tr> <td>7 September 2002

St George Illawarra hooker Mark Riddell will make a surprise appearance in tomorrow's do-or-die National Rugby League clash with Newcastle at Aussie Stadium. The stocky goal-kicker told coach Andrew Farrar this morning that he was ready to play after originally being ruled out with a clavicular joint injury, near his shoulder. Riddell's return is a big plus for the Dragons, who have been rocked by news that Test centre Shaun Timmins has developed the same degenerative bone disease in his left knee as the one in his right which kept him sidelined for nearly two years. "He had x-rays and scans done last week and we only got the results of it late Thursday," Farrar said of Timmins, who will undergo an arthroscope on Wednesday. "It's the same as what happened with the other knee except the doctor's happy we've picked it up early." Farrar said Fijian Wise Kativerata would play on the wing, with Lee Hookey pushing into the centres. Riddell went through a bruising training session this morning before meeting with the club's doctor to get a final clearance. The Dragons camp is privately fuming that Newcastle captain Andrew Johns' careless high tackle charge was downgraded to a grade one offence on Wednesday, allowing the halfback to take part in tomorrow's match. It is a crucial game for both teams, with St George Illawarra needing a victory to make the finals series and the Knights playing for the minor premiership and a $100,000 jackpot. The Dragons, who have a poor record at the judiciary, believe Johns received favourable treatment because of his high profile. Hooker Danny Buderus was pencilled in to make his return from a wrist injury but it has failed to respond to treatment and he will undergo an MRI scan on Tuesday. "I can't straighten it to where it should be and it's just not functioning right," Buderus said today. "I can't get off the ground let alone tackle anyone and get thrown to the ground so I have to get it looked at." Buderus may miss the first week of the finals but says he'll play with pain-killing needles if necessary to help the Knights defend their premiership title. "It's really frustrating but you've just got to get over it and think of how good the team's going," he said. " Bill Peden will again play rake and Daniel Abraham will pack down in the scrum while winger John Morris will tell coach Michael Hagan tonight whether he will stand down from the side due to a family bereavement. There are no late changes for tomorrow's match between the Northern Eagles and Penrith at Brookvale Oval, where the Panthers haven't won since 1991. Lee Hopkins wins a starting spot in place of suspended Penrith lock Scott Sattler while Eagles coach Peter Sharp has dropped Luke Williamson and Aaron Cannings from his six-man bench.</td></tr></tbody></table>