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**truebluefan** · 12-14-2007, 07:01 PM

The Jetstar Gold Coast Titans squad took their very first steps on the playing surface at Skilled Park Robina today, the team's much anticipated new home in 2008. Watpac, the principal contractor for the $160 million project hosted a special tour for the players. The team was able to view all aspects of the stadium, from the dressing sheds to corporate facilities, finishing with a walk on the field itself.

The players were impressed with their new 'digs' - Luke Bailey pleasantly surprised by the benchmark standard of the facility.

Bailey said, "It is amazing how quickly it has popped up. Our Football Manager Scott Sattler said it was better than Suncorp but I didn't really believe him until I walked in today. From the sheds to the stands to the field, it is already looking like my favourite field. I like how spacious the dressing sheds are, probably more room than any other I have been in."

Co-captain, Scott Prince was equally in awe and can't wait to lead his team out to a full house in 2008.

Prince said, "All the boys are excited and can't wait to come and play here. It will be awesome. The players facilities are a little like you would expect for royalty, probably a little too flash for football players (laughs). We will take it in our stride and get used to it."

The term 'not a bad seat in the house' certainly rang true for the stadium's visitors today. Once on the field you could sense the thoughts of the players, as they looked to the stands, visualising a capacity crowd.

Coach, John Cartwright said, "Like everyone else I am very impressed with the stadium. It's ultra-modern and has a very good feel to it. You have a look around and even the furthest seat in the stand is pretty close. If we can fill it as we did at Carrara I think it will create a great atmosphere.

"The plan is to win games and set it up as a fortress. It will be a great place to come and play, but it will also be a great place for opposition teams to come and play. The competition for spots to be in that first 17 to play at this stadium is very intense. We had a lot of community support last year and we are expecting the same in 2008 at such a great venue."

The players will officially run onto the field for the first time on March 1 in their only Gold Coast trial match appearance against West Tigers. They'll then take on the Cowboys in the NRL Telstra Premiership season opener on Friday March 14 2008.

**truebluefan** · 12-14-2007, 07:02 PM

Parramatta superstar Jarryd Hayne will remain at the Eels until the end of the 2010 season after today signing a new deal to stay put.

Hayne had been pursued by South Sydney for which his father Manoa Thompson played for in the early 1990's, but Souths on Monday withdrew from the chase for Hayne stating that they believed he would remain with the Eels.

The current Australian and NSW winger has signed a two-year extension to his current deal, which expires at the end of the 2008 season. Hayne's management (same as Greg Inglis' management last year) has ensured that he'll be off contract in time for the 2011 Rugby Union World Cup year and with the ARU desperate for any Rugby League talent Hayne's value by 2010 will explode through the roof.

Parramatta Chief Executive Denis Fitzgerald said, "He's contracted until 2008 and we've added two years for 2009 and 2010."

Hayne made his first grade debut in 2006 where he scored a stunning 17 tries in 16 appearances to take out the Peter Moore Rookie Award and also gain selection in Australia's Tri Nations squad, but failed to play in any of the Test matches. Hayne this year made his State of Origin debut playing in all three matches and made his Test debut against New Zealand in October.

With the departure of Timana Tahu, it's expected that Hayne will be given an opportunity in the centres after playing wing and fullback over the last two years.

Attention for Parramatta will now turn to re-signing utility back Krisnan Inu who emerged as a superstar on the scene midway through 2007 after being plucked from obsecurity to make his Test debut for New Zealand earlier in the season.

Traditional big spenders Sydney Roosters have announced their intentions to sign Inu and remain firm favourites to snare his signature.

**truebluefan** · 12-14-2007, 07:02 PM

NRL premiers Melbourne Storm will play National League One club Halifax in a practice match prior to the World Club Challenge early next year.

The match will take place on Friday 22nd February at the Shay Ground in Halifax- a week before the World Club Challenge where the Storm will take on Super League champions Leeds Rhinos at Elland Road.

Halifax Chairman Michael Steele said, "We are delighted to have secured this game.

"It promises to be a hugely exciting occasion, and I am sure the people of Halifax will have an absolute rugby league ball that night."

Halifax have been in the doldrums in recent times, but are best remembered for their success in the mid-1980's under captain-coach and former Australian International Chris Anderson who would later coach Melbourne to its maiden premiership.

The highlight for Halifax during their 1980's success was the triumph at Wembley in 1987 when they defeated St Helens with another former Australian International Graeme Eadie the star on that day.

Other players to have stints at Halifax during the Anderson era included Michael Hagan, Paul Langmack and Geoff Robinson.

Melbourne will play Manly in a trial match on 16th February before heading across to England to win back the World Club Challenge title they won in 2000 when they slaughtered St Helens 44-4.

**truebluefan** · 12-14-2007, 07:03 PM

Wigan Warriors are pleased to announce the signing of twelve of their young stars and a new face, in the Club's Academy teams.

The thirteen have recently put pen to paper on new contracts with the club, the only new signing is Sam Gee who has arrived from Warrington, with the rest having successfully come through the Wigan Warriors Scholarship Scheme.

The Senior Academy players are David Small (aged 20, Winger), Sam Reay (aged 23,Full Back/ Utility Back), Sam Gee (aged 20, Utility), Ross Bradley (aged 18,Centre), Neil Holland ( aged 18,Prop), Andrew Thornley (aged 18,Centre), Luke Rhoden (aged 18,Prop), Tom Brindle (aged 20,Prop), Mike Priest (aged 19, Centre/Winger) and John Walker ( aged 19,Centre/Winger)

Meanwhile in the Junior Academy Gerry Bridge (aged 17,Prop/ Second Row), Kyle Massam (aged 18,Prop/Second Row) and Chris Gerrard (aged 17,Stand Off/ Centre/ Loose Forward) have also agreed terms.

Chairman Ian Lenagan said,

"It is vitally important to continue to develop the quality young talent we have at the Club. Wigan has a tremendous history of players progressing through the scholarship and academy system and these are further examples."

Head Coach Brian Noble added,

"We are delighted we have secured the immediate future of these young players. Both our Academy sides had outstanding seasons in 2007 with them all playing an important part in another exciting year. All these players are progressing through the youth system and are great prospects for the future."

**truebluefan** · 12-14-2007, 07:03 PM

Australia's two premier football teams, the Melbourne Storm and Geelong Cats, will come together for a training session this Friday from 12:30pm at Skilled Stadium in Geelong.

The session is designed to break up the regular routine of pre-season training, as well as put together groups of like-minded athletes in order to swap ideas and get the best out of themselves.

After the two sets of athletes meet each other, the groups will mix in together and warm-up for the session.

Once the warm-up is complete, the group will be split into eight groups evenly mixed with NRL and AFL players. They will then take part in two AFL based skills games, followed by two NRL based skills games.

The session will conclude with a conditioning session for the entire group.

WHO: Melbourne Storm and Geelong Cats
WHAT: Training together
WHERE: Skilled Stadium, Geelong
WHEN: Friday, December 14th
TIME: 12:30pm-2:30pm

**truebluefan** · 12-14-2007, 07:04 PM

Hull Kingston Rovers are delighted to announce that the waiting list for East Stand passes will be released for sale today.

"Successful discussions with the safety officer have now taken place regarding bringing the barriers forward in the East Stand, which is the first phase of the East Stand development. The first 250 names on the waiting list will now be available to purchase their passes before Christmas," commented Hull Kingston Rovers Chief Executive Paul Lakin.

All passes on the waiting list MUST BE PURCHASED FROM THE OFFICIAL CLUB SHOP AT CRAVEN PARK STADIUM ONLY. All passes must be purchased by Christmas; any passes that are not claimed will go on general sale on Thursday 27th December.

Open hours are Monday-Friday 9am-5pm, Saturday 10.30am-1.30am.

Fans are reminded that North Stand seated passes are available to purchase and once the full development of the East Stand are completed, fans are able to transfer passes to the East Stand.

**truebluefan** · 12-14-2007, 07:05 PM

Huddersfield Giants have signed 22-year-old Danny Kirmond on a two-year deal. Kirmond, a free agent, played at Featherstone Rovers last season and will join the Giants full time squad.

Head Coach Jon Sharp was pleased with the signing of the outside back:

"The opportunity to sign Danny came up this week and we are pleased he opted to join the Giants as a number of clubs were interested. He is an athletic player who has the opportunity in the full time environment to achieve his potential. We are looking forward to him working with him."

Kirmond was delighted to be joining the Giants:

"It is a really good opportunity for me. It's a great club with a great set up, excellent coaching staff and a good mix of youth and experience in the squad. It's a dream come true to be offered a full time deal and now it's down to me to prove that I can do it and get a chance in the first team. There is a lot of talent in the outside backs at the club and hopefully I can learn and improve my game."

Giants Managing Director Richard Thewlis said:

"Danny's agent contacted me asking for an opportunity to turn full time a week or so ago and having then done the necessary research on him it is simply too good an opportunity for us to turn down. He is an enthusiastic young British prospect and we are only too pleased to give him the chance in our environment. It is fantastic for our club that players want to join us and after meeting Danny and showing him around I was confident that he'd choose us over his other options."

2008 SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Ticket Hotline 0870 44 44 552
General Enquiries: 0870 44 44 677

**truebluefan** · 12-14-2007, 07:06 PM

The CFMEU Canberra Raiders have continued to build their strong relationship with the Australian Federal Police, by conducting a three day training camp hosted by members of the AFP.

The Raiders have been put through a section of the AFP's management of serious crime program (MOSC), which has involved a three day journey of huge proportions, encompassing a wide variety of challenges and obstacles, which was focused on getting the players together as a team.

The program began on Tuesday when the Raiders embarked on a 30km hike through mountainous conditions in the South of Canberra, where players through the help of AFP guides were given a series of check points to obtain, before setting up camp in rain and dark after a grueling nine our session.

With only survival style ration packs for sustenance the Raiders continued into day two with some more hiking, before abseiling down a 60m cliff face, and then climbing back to the surface with the aid of AFP professionals.

The camp concluded on day three with a visit to the AFP's Weston training facility, where the Raiders made their way through the AFP training obstacle course, before a 7km run pushing a tractor tyre back to the AFP's Water Police base at Yarralumla.

From here the players were given a series of items including rope, tyre tubes, barrels and timber, where they then constructed a raft which they paddled to nearby Springbank Island.

As a reward for their efforts the players were ushered back to Raiders HQ by helicopter to complete the three days.

AFP Police Commissioner Mick Keelty was on hand at Water Police headquarters on Thursday afternoon to witness the final stages of the program, and commended the Raiders on a fine performance.

Commissioner Keelty said the link between the AFP and the Raiders was a strong one, and was part of a strategy his team had been working on with the NRL.

"It's important that we build a positive relationship between the AFP which is our community Police force, and the Raiders as our home rugby league side," Commissioner Keelty said. "It's part of a broader strategy that we're working with the NRL on. I've been working with David Gallop for several months now on building positive relationships between the AFP and the NRL, particularly dealing with issues such as drug taking and trying to get a positive outlook for players along the terms of looking at what players do not only during the season when they're playing, but also in their period of season and beyond football."

Commissioner Keelty said this particular program was a good way to demonstrate some of the initiatives that the AFP has implemented, which would hopefully lead to an improvement of the players as members of the community.

"What we've tried to do over the last couple of days is we've introduced the Raiders and their coaching team to the AFP's management of serious crime outdoor training exercise," he said. "The idea of the exercise is not a competition to win, rather a personal building exercise where you learn a lot about your own skills and abilities that you have as an individual, but also to try and understand the strengths and weaknesses of the other people they work with in order to operate as a team.

"The whole idea is to try and engender within the players a positive relationship with the police, and also learn a bit about themselves before the season commences."

Raiders Coach Neil Henry said the experience had been one that he was glad the team had been a part of, and thanked the AFP for their strong involvement.

"I think it's been an opportunity to take the players out of their comfort zone and in conjunction with the AFP we've done a fair bit of planning towards this exercise," Henry said. "We've forged a strong partnership there and it's given the players a tough environment to come together as a team."

Henry said he hoped to take a lot of what was learnt on the camp back onto the training paddock, and hoped the experience would bring the players and staff closer together.

"It's been a valuable team building exercise but it's also taught the players a few new skills such as navigation, map reading, abseiling and rock climbing and its been pretty tough out there. All up they've walked about 70km over the past three days so it's been a huge week," he said.

**truebluefan** · 12-14-2007, 07:06 PM

Mitsubishi Electric Bulldogs head strength and conditioning coach Scott Campbell has been appointed to the training staff of the 2008 NSW State of Origin team.

New NSW Blues coach Craig Bellamy invited Campbell to be a part of NSW's 2008 campaign to wrestle back the Origin title from Queensland.

Campbell has worked with NRL clubs for over 18 years. He came to the Bulldogs in 2002 as Strength and Conditioning Coach. Prior to that, he had held a similar position at the Knights (1999-2001), Rabbitohs (1997-98), Crushers (1995-96) and the Dragons (1989-94).

**truebluefan** · 12-18-2007, 12:37 PM

Rugby League legend Ellery Hanley will relaunch his coaching career against London Skolars. Hanley, voted Great Britain's greatest ever player recently, was appointed coach of NL2 side Doncaster today and his first competitive match in charge will be against the Skolars in the Northern Rail Cup on 1 February.

That Friday night match at the new Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster is now sure to be a huge game as Hanley returns to the spotlight nearly a decade after leading St Helens to Super League glory.

The Doncaster v Skolars game will also kick-start the professional rugby league 2008 season as the opening night. Super League champions Leeds Rhinos begin their defence the following day.

Skolars and Doncaster will meet at least four times in 2008: again in the Northern Rail Cup at Skolars' White Hart Lane Community Stadium on Sunday 17 February and then back at the Keepmoat Stadium for then opening game of the co-operative National League Two season on Good Friday, 21 March. The Dons return to Wood Green in the league on 9 August.

New Skolars coach Tony Benson met his players for the first time on Monday night and took training again on Wednesday at Finsbury Park when 25 first and second teamers were put through their paces by the Kiwi. Benson is commuting to London from his Manchester base as he has family settled in the north-west but the high speed train link and Skolars' location - with the office at the stadium in Wood Green and training at Finsbury Park - enables him to make the journey in rapid time.

Benson's first game in charge will be the Skolars v Harlequins Capital Challenge clash, sponsored by TETF Securities Ltd, Self Trade, Flow Traders and the London Stock Exchange, at the HAC's Artillery Garden in the City of London on Tuesday 22 January. Tickets, which are in severely limited number, are available from London Skolars Rugby League and by calling Skolars on 020 88888 488, priced 10 pounds for all.