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Petero ready to do the job as skipper
Willie Mason | August 12, 2007
I still hold the dream of one day skippering the Kangaroos, but I hope the selectors name Petero Civoniceva as captain for the end-of-season Test against New Zealand.
I have said before that captaining Australia is something that I aspire to and it would be the proudest day of my life if I ever got the chance. But as Petero comes towards the end of his representative career, it would be appropriate for him to have "Kangaroos captain" on his resume.
The injuries to Darren Lockyer and Danny Buderus mean selectors are going to have to appoint a new skipper. We have to think about the future of the captaincy, because after next year's World Cup Locky, Bedsy and Petero are likely to retire from rep footy. Cameron Smith is another guy who's a good leader and will be in contention for the Queensland captaincy with Johnathan Thurston when Lockyer retires.
But as far as I'm concerned, if Petero is fit he should captain Australia. Even though he plays in the front row and tries to smash you when you come up against him, I have nothing but admiration for him. He is a good bloke, one of the true gentlemen of the game. He doesn't say much; he prefers to lead by example. That's why he'd be a deserving choice.
Every time I play for Australia it's a career highlight. It's always special to play for your country. If I ever got the chance to captain the side it would be the greatest thing I'd ever achieve. I'm not sure if I will ever get the chance to do it, but it's something I would love to do. It would be pretty special just to be considered for the job.
At the moment I don't even captain the Bulldogs, and that's fair enough when you've got someone like Andrew Ryan doing such a good job. But I think I would do a good job if they gave it to me down the track.
I've got to say I feel a bit for Bedsy with all the stuff that's going on in Newcastle. I lived there till I was 17 years old so I have a bit of a soft spot for the place. I'd probably even be playing for the Knights now - the only reason I left is because they didn't want any Super League players. So it's pretty tough to see the captain of the Knights, NSW and Australia upset with the state of affairs at Newcastle.
The boys up there are pretty tight and every Novocastrian wants to finish a one-club man. When they don't get that opportunity it hurts them, especially the guys who have been up there for seven or eight years. They have always been a strong, proud club and there's no doubt they will bounce back.
But it's a worry when Danny doesn't seem to be getting on with the coach, because Bedsy never complains about anything. If he's unhappy it means something has really got under his skin.
And, finally, in no way do I condone what Brad Morrin did but I thought he was pretty unlucky to cop an eight-week suspension for biting. Ben Ross broke Kane Cleal's jaw and got only three weeks for it. I reckon "Crusher" would rather get bitten than get his jaw broken.
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/wil...-job-as-skipper/2007/08/11/1186530683388.html
Willie Mason | August 12, 2007
I still hold the dream of one day skippering the Kangaroos, but I hope the selectors name Petero Civoniceva as captain for the end-of-season Test against New Zealand.
I have said before that captaining Australia is something that I aspire to and it would be the proudest day of my life if I ever got the chance. But as Petero comes towards the end of his representative career, it would be appropriate for him to have "Kangaroos captain" on his resume.
The injuries to Darren Lockyer and Danny Buderus mean selectors are going to have to appoint a new skipper. We have to think about the future of the captaincy, because after next year's World Cup Locky, Bedsy and Petero are likely to retire from rep footy. Cameron Smith is another guy who's a good leader and will be in contention for the Queensland captaincy with Johnathan Thurston when Lockyer retires.
But as far as I'm concerned, if Petero is fit he should captain Australia. Even though he plays in the front row and tries to smash you when you come up against him, I have nothing but admiration for him. He is a good bloke, one of the true gentlemen of the game. He doesn't say much; he prefers to lead by example. That's why he'd be a deserving choice.
Every time I play for Australia it's a career highlight. It's always special to play for your country. If I ever got the chance to captain the side it would be the greatest thing I'd ever achieve. I'm not sure if I will ever get the chance to do it, but it's something I would love to do. It would be pretty special just to be considered for the job.
At the moment I don't even captain the Bulldogs, and that's fair enough when you've got someone like Andrew Ryan doing such a good job. But I think I would do a good job if they gave it to me down the track.
I've got to say I feel a bit for Bedsy with all the stuff that's going on in Newcastle. I lived there till I was 17 years old so I have a bit of a soft spot for the place. I'd probably even be playing for the Knights now - the only reason I left is because they didn't want any Super League players. So it's pretty tough to see the captain of the Knights, NSW and Australia upset with the state of affairs at Newcastle.
The boys up there are pretty tight and every Novocastrian wants to finish a one-club man. When they don't get that opportunity it hurts them, especially the guys who have been up there for seven or eight years. They have always been a strong, proud club and there's no doubt they will bounce back.
But it's a worry when Danny doesn't seem to be getting on with the coach, because Bedsy never complains about anything. If he's unhappy it means something has really got under his skin.
And, finally, in no way do I condone what Brad Morrin did but I thought he was pretty unlucky to cop an eight-week suspension for biting. Ben Ross broke Kane Cleal's jaw and got only three weeks for it. I reckon "Crusher" would rather get bitten than get his jaw broken.
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/wil...-job-as-skipper/2007/08/11/1186530683388.html
