A total of 10 trials are scheduled for Vodafone Warriors players over the next few weeks.
The NRL squad faces a programme of three preseason matches next month - two against fellow premiership clubs Newcastle and Manly - before opening Australian rugby league's centenary season against defending champions the Melbourne Storm on March 17.
And the National Junior Competition (NYC) side has a schedule of four trials while the club's Allied Work Force development squad, including some players from the under-20 group, is set to play three matches against clubs from the Auckland Rugby League's Fox Memorial competition.
The WOW Brisbane Broncos have extended the contract of young gun David Taylor until the close of the 2009 season.
Taylor signed the one-year extension of his current contract today as he aims on entrenching himself in the Broncos top 17.
The 19-year-old played a single NRL game for the Broncos while still at high school in 2006, and last year made further leaps by appearing in a dozen NRL matches.
Broncos' chief executive Bruno Cullen said the club was happy to take a measured approach in securing Taylor for another season.
"We are very happy to announce that the club has signed David with the Broncos until the end of 2009," said Cullen today.
"Obviously we want him to be a long term player at the club, and David has told us he wants to be here for a long time.
"But both parties felt at this stage of his career it was better just to add the one year to his deal.
"After discussions with his management and his parents, we both think with the position of his age and development it is best to take small steps.
"We are looking forward to seeing David continue his amazing development at the Broncos, then in the future signing him to a long term deal with the club."
Taylor said adding just the one year to his commitment at the Broncos would allow him to focus on establishing himself as an NRL player.
"I am happy just to sign for one more year and take that small step for now," said Taylor.
"I still have a lot left to prove, which starts with making certain I am part of the club's NRL team every week."
Jones-buchanan Re-signs With Leeds For Three Years
Leeds Rhinos second row Jamie Jones-Buchanan has agreed a new three year contract with the engage Super League Champions.
Jones-Buchanan, 26, is currently away with the Rhinos squad in Jacksonville in Florida as they prepare for their clash with Australian side South Sydney Rabbitohs on Saturday. However, his new contract is a major boost to the Rhinos plans for the defence of the title won at Old Trafford last October which begins with the visit of Hull KR to Headingley Carnegie for an all ticket clash on Saturday 2nd February.
Speaking from the club's training camp base in Jacksonville, Jones-Buchanan said, "I am delighted to have agreed the new deal but there was no other club I want to play for. I have been here since I was 13, I am a Leeds lad and nothing gives me more pride than pulling on the Leeds shirt and playing at Headingley Carnegie.
"We have got a great squad here at Leeds and we want to build on the success of last year. The squad want to stay together and fulfill their potential and that is very exciting as a player, plus the club are always keen to help you develop as person. I am studying at Leeds Met for a degree and I will be coaching the club's U16 Foundation Academy this year so there are plenty of things to look forward to," added the second rower.
Commenting on the new deal Head Coach Brian McClennan said, "I am really pleased for Jamie and the club that he has agreed a new contract. He is a great part of our squad, both on and off the field, and a true professional. He has represented his country and won two Grand Finals but there are hopefully even better times to come for him during his career."
Leeds Rhinos will kick off their season against Hull KR on Saturday 2nd February in an all ticket clash and you can book your ticket 24 hours a day online.
The Headingley Carnegie ticket office will sell tickets up until 3pm on the day of the game, subject to availability, and fans must buy tickets for the specific area of the ground they wish to stand in. Tickets for the Hull KR game can be purchased in person from both the Rhinos and Hull KR ticket office or 24 hours a day online by simply clicking here
Huddersfield Giants fans ignored the inclement weather of yesterday to hit Club Visage Glitterball in large numbers and pack the venue for a rousing Season's Launch Night. The Giants unveiled their squad numbers for the coming engage Super League Season and supporters met the Giants first team squad.
Chris Thorman was again named Captain and Jon Sharp announced two Vice Captains with John Skandalis and Ryan Hudson given the honour.
Perhaps the biggest cheer of the night went to new fans favourite "Rocket" Rod Jensen and Jon Sharp who explained in detail how the club had reduced the numbers of players recruited this year but upped the quality of men in the Claret and Gold.
The full Giants 2008 squad is:
1) Chris Thorman
2) Martin Aspinwall
3) Shane Elford
4) Paul Whatuira
5) David Hodgson
6) Kevin Brown
7) Luke Robinson
8) Eorl Crabtree
9) George Gatis
10) John Skandalis
11) Jamahl 'Jammer the Hammer' Lolesi
12) Andy Raleigh
13) Stephen Wild
14) Stuart Jones
15) Paul Jackson
16) Keith Mason
17) Stephen Snitch
18) Darrell Griffin
19) Ryan Hudson
20) Tom Hemingway
21) Leroy Cudjoe
22) Michael Lawrence
23) Sam Barlow
24) 'Rocket' Rod Jensen
25) Chris Lawson
26) Richard Lopag
27) James Martin
28) Danny Kirmond
Tickets are now on sale for the Giants Home Opener against the Champions Leeds Rhinos on Sunday 10th February at the Galpharm Stadium, kick off 3.00pm. Tickets are available from the Galpharm Stadium Ticket Office (0870 44 44 552), Headingley Ticket Office (08700 60 60 50) and the NEW online ticketing at Huddersfield Giants - Official site of the 2006 Challenge Cup Finalists.
Your Chance To Play Bears Legends As North Sydney Celebrates 100
The North Sydney Bears would like to invite all rugby league supporters to join in the party of all party's on Sunday, February 10 as the club celebrates it 100th birthday with an Open Day at North Sydney Oval.
And as an added incentive, some lucky fans will get the chance to take on some of the biggest legends to ever don the Bears' colours in a game of tag football.
The Bears Centenary Challenge will pit former North Sydney stars such as Jason Taylor, Les Kiss, David Fairleigh, Michael Buettner, Matt Seers, Josh Stuart, Mark Cannon, Gavin Jones, David Peachey and Greg Florimo against a team of Red and Blacks fans.
For your chance to play simply register your interest by email at info@northsydneybears.comau or post to PO Box 327, CAMMERAY NSW 2062 by Tuesday 5th February 2008.
"This is every Bears fan's dream," said North Sydney General Manager Greg Florimo.
Queensland's junior rugby league officials have done what few people in the game are capable of - halting Sonny Bill Williams in his tracks.
Or to be more correct, they have put a stop to the shoulder charge which Williams and others have made highlight-fodder at NRL level.
While the charge has been outlawed up to Under 15 level for several years under the ARL Safe Play Code, the defensive ploy has now been made illegal in all junior grades (Under 18s and below).
The Greater Brisbane Junior Rugby League has led the assault in this area, with the statewide application of the law in 2008 enforcing the long-held stance of local administrators and referees.
Bradford Bulls have today announced the signing of four more junior players ahead of the 2008 season.
Tom Lillycrop, a Prop Forward who is in the England Schools Squad, has joined the club from Drighlington and Josef Wardle, a Loose Forward / Stand Off, who has represented Yorkshire this year, has joined the club from Illingworth ARLFC. Both players are products of the Bulls Scholarship system.
The Bulls have also signed two more players from the successful Hunslet Warriors club. Adrian Raw is a Centre who has played for England Schools and Liam Kay is a Scrum Half who has represented Yorkshire this year. Both have previously been on the Leeds Rhinos Scholarship scheme.
Bulls Coach Steve McNamara is delighted with the quality of the four players and the compliment the five signings already announced
"I am absolutely delighted that we have managed to secure the signature of these very talented players. Josef Wardle is a really exciting signing for us. He is well developed physically and we have high aspirations for him. He can play at either Stand Off or Loose Forward and we think he will compliment the great pack that we have assembled. He has great potential and we feel he can develop and fill one of our half back roles in future years.
"Tom Lillycrop is an England International and a Prop Forward who we have signed from Drighlington. He is as strong as an Ox and is one of those block busting type of Props. I am delighted they have come through our system and I am sure they will prove to be outstanding signings for us."
Steve is also delighted with the capture of two players who have been on Leeds Rhinos Scholarship.
"Liam Kay is a fantastic prospect. He is a Scrum Half and it is obviously an area where there is an opportunity at this club for someone to come through and put pressure on the players currently occupying that spot at a higher grade. I am really excited that we have persuaded him that his future lies here at the Grattan Stadium. The positions of Half Back and Outside Backs are areas where there are not too many outstanding junior players and we are delighted to have signed Liam and also his teammate Adrian Raw. Adrian is a tremendous finisher and a consistent finisher. He is very athletic with good hands and his signing is another major coup for us.
"We have worked very hard to secure the nine juniors singings that we have made and they will have every opportunity to come through the system here and I am confident they will serve this club well a long time."
Leeds Rhinos Head Coach Brian McClennan has named his strongest side possible for Saturday's final pre-season game against South Sydney Rabbitohs in Jacksonville, Florida.
McClennan has named the same starting line up as that which beat St Helens in the 2007 engage Super League Grand Final with only Ryan Bailey missing from the Old Trafford winning squad as he recovers back in the UK from a groin injury.
The match is the culmination of a ten day training camp in Jacksonville ahead of the start of the Rhinos defence of their title against Hull KR at Headingley Carnegie on Saturday 2nd February in an all ticket game.
NEW signing, Australian prop Peter Cusack will make his debut for Hull FC in Sunday's friendly against Doncaster at Keepmoat Stadium (3pm).
Cusack will be joined by back row forwards Willie Manu and Graeme Horne who are both making their first appearances after foot and pectoral injuries.
In view of Hull's injury problems, which has ruled nine players out of the Doncaster game, coach Peter Sharp said: "Having these three in the side is a massive boost for us. For them to get quality game time before the season starts at Warrington in a fortnight is a real positive."
Sharp has decided to rest prop Ewan Dowes and back rower Danny Tickle, adding: "They have both had a lot of game time in our two previous trial games and it is more important Willie and Graeme get on the park."
Out for this weekend is: Richard Horne (foot), Gareth Raynor (hamstring), Lee Radford (broken thumb), Richard Whiting (broken arm), Shaun Berrigan (shoulder), Adam Dykes (calf), Tommy Lee (shoulder), Motu Tony (hamstring) and Matt Sing (foot), but Sharp revealed only four, Horne, Raynor, Radford and Whiting were definite non-starters for the Warrington clash.
"These four won't play at Warrington but all the rest have a chance."
With Horne, Dykes, Lee and Berrigan missing at Doncaster, under 21s coach Andy Last will team up with Danny Washbrook at half back.
Hull will also give further games to youngsters Tom Briscoe, Ashley Thackeray, Danny Houghton and Mike Burnett, who start, and Josh Hodgson, Ryan Steen and Nathan Freer on the bench.
Hull FC (squad for Sunday). Byrne, Thackeray, Hall, Yeaman, Briscoe, Washbrook, Last, Cusack, Houghton, Wheeldon, Manu, Burnett, G Horne, Carvell, King, Hodgson, Steen, Freer.
Leeds Rhinos captain Kevin Sinfield has said that he would not rule out a switch to American football after his Rugby League career is over.
Sinfield, who agreed a new four deal with the Rhinos last year to finish his career at Headingley Carnegie, is currently in Jacksonville, Florida preparing with the engage Super League Champions for the start of their defence of the title won last October at Old Trafford. The Rhinos will take on South Sydney Rabbitohs this Saturday at the University of North Florida in their final pre-season game.
Sinfield is celebrating a testimonial with the Rhinos this season with an official launch dinner at Headingley Carnegie next Wednesday. As well as his successful playing career, Sinfield is also amongst a group of Rhinos players who are already building for the future by studying for a degree at Leeds Metropolitan University. However, having had the chance to train with an American football at the Jacksonville Jaguars during his trip he said he would not rule out a possible trans-Atlantic career in the future.
Writing in his official Testimonial brochure, which will be released next week, Sinfield commented, "American Football is something I have thought about. I was able to kick an American football on our pre-season trip to Jacksonville at the Jaguars ground. I only kicked it out of hand but it felt good. I would have loved to have tried some place kicking, the pitch is a lot shorter than a rugby pitch so I would fancy a go at it. It might be a good opportunity to sample a different culture and still play a part in top level sport because you can't play Rugby League forever but hopefully that is a long way off yet.
"Kicking is something that interests me and there aren't any kicking coaches in Rugby League. Each Rugby Union has their own kicking coach for goal kicking and kick offs but also kicking out of hand and it is becoming more and more important in a game with the 40:20 and the tightness of games now in Super League.
"A playing career is pretty short and with the salary cap as it is, it is important that players have a back up plan. I always wanted to do a degree and Leeds Met gave us the opportunity to get back in to studying, it was too good an opportunity to miss. I am not sure what I will do yet but with the experience I have got from rugby, combined with the degree, it will hopefully open some doors for me.
"We are studying Sport and Exercise Science based at the Headingley campus at Leeds Met. I do it with Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Matt Diskin and Willie Poching. We're now in our third year of the course but it is our fifth year of studying because we do the course part time to fit in with our training and playing commitments.
"We've found it a new experience but a welcome distraction from rugby. Mature students are a growing trend and there is a very good mix at Leeds Met with younger people obviously there but older students as well, plus a real mix of cultures, and I have made some good friends there.
"It has been good to have the group of four of us because we all know the pressures on each others time. We are working on our dissertation which is about a vibrating bed which has been shown to reverse the effects of several inflammatory conditions. We are hoping that this bed will help people recover from strenuous exercise which causes inflammation of the joints and muscles. We were actually able to work on the dissertation on our recent long haul flight over to Florida which I would imagine is pretty unique within our class!" joked Sinfield.
News 2007
Feast Of Trials Ahead For Warriors Squads
