www.ntnews.com.au Saturday, March 23, 2013. NT NEWS. 45 PUB: NT NE- WS- DA TE: 23- GE: 45 C LO- R: C M Y K ntnews.com.aul l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l SPORT Souths out to turn it around RUGBY LEAGUE By GREGOR MACTAGGART Billy Johnstone SOUTH Darwin is looking to end a 955-day losing streak against University in today’s NTRL A-grade season-opener at Richardson Park. The Rabbitohs have not tasted victory since beating the Sharks 50-22 at league headquarters on July 30, 2010. Despite that statistic, there is a sense of optimism in the South Darwin camp under new coach Billy Johnstone and a first-up success may not be beyond them. The former Canterbury, St George and Gold Coast player has forecast an influx of new blood as pivotal if the Red and Green are to climb from the cellar in season 2013. ‘‘We’re looking to promote a number of younger players, boys such as Kyle O’Brien and Peter Nibbs, who will get their chance in A-grade football,’’ Johnstone said. ‘‘You always look forward to a brand new season with optimism and University will give us a good yardstick of how we are going.’’ Much rests on the shoulders of Daryl Nahow and Francis Wapau for the Bunnies against a Sharks club celebrating its 40th anniversary this season. University coach Eddie Motlop admits depth will be a concern during the initial stages of 2013, but his team has a bit of the band getting back together feel about it. ‘‘Jason Criddle is back from retirement to play, while we’ve got Marty Ramage, Damien Mick, Ryan Collins, Gapirri Yunupingu, Troy Criddle and Mark Mick in the team,’’ Motlop said. ‘‘Early on, we’ll battle a bit with a lack of numbers, but we’ve got a proud culture at the club and aim to be as competitive as we can be each week.’’ Kick-off is at 4pm. Competition newcomers Katherine make the trip north to play last season’s losing grand finals Nightcliff at 5.45pm. The Dragons go into the clash as warm favourites against a Tigers combination making the step up to the top- level after two undefeated seasons in reserve grade. Co-coaches Jesse Maclean and Michael Fairweather will attempt to lead from the front, while halves pairing Quincy To’oto’o-ulugia and Bradley Sneddon are charged with directing Nightcliff around the park. The last game of the triple- header sees Palmerston against Litchfield at 7.30pm. The Raiders under new coach Geoff Cregan have named ex-Nightcliff fullback Trenton Smith for his debut, while Daniel Keelan returns to the competition following a year’s hiatus at five-eighth. Litchfield have named two newcomers Luke High and Dom Devitt, while Gavin Brown returns to fill the role as the Bears’ custodian. In reserve grade, there have been two forfeits with University and Katherine/ Jabiru unable to get enough player numbers for their Round 1 matches. Flanagan regains coach job CRONULLA coach Shane Flanagan is back at the helm of the besieged NRL club, but not before admitting he was part of management failures which resulted in the board sacking four foot- ball staff members. Two weeks ago, Flanagan was stood down and four of his colleagues axed by the club’s board following a re- view of their handling of al- leged issues in 2011 that are now the subject a continu- ing ASADA investigation. Yesterday, an emotional Flanagan was reinstated by the board based on inform- ation provided by a second independent review. Flanagan will return to the coach’s box for tomor- row’s clash with the War- riors at Sharks Stadium, with Peter Sharp reverting to being his assistant. However, new chairman Glenn Coleman made it clear the sacked quartet of football manager Darren Mooney, physio Konrad Schultz, trainer Mark Noa- kes and doctor Dave Givney won’t get their jobs back. When stood down on March 8 with the board cit- ing management failures, Flanagan, like the sacked staff, said he had no idea what he’d done wrong. Flanagan admitted fault and said he understood why the board had taken such strong action. ‘‘It has been a tough few weeks for all of us, but I now understand why I was stood down and why the board made the decisions it has,’’ Flanagan said. ‘‘There were management failures. ‘‘We have agreed that there have to be changes in the way we work and the way we look after players.’’ Asked if he had been told to toe the party line in his comments on the board’s ac- tion, Flanagan said: ‘‘Defi- nitely not.’’ He said he bore no ill-will towards the board for their decision and said he was ‘‘grateful’’ to be back. Slater kicks on as NRL declares contact ‘accidental’ BILLY Slater has avoided adding to a lengthy rap sheet that already features bans totalling half a season. Yesterday, the NRL Match Review Committee allowed Slater to walk after he was placed on report in Mel- bourne’s 22-18 win over Can- terbury on Thursday night. The Melbourne fullback ex- tended his leg which caught approaching Canterbury prop David Klemmer in the face as Slater flew through the air after catching a bomb. Slater’s mid-air boot re- sulted in him being placed on report on the advice from the video referee, who had de- scribed it as a suspected ‘‘act of foul play’’. The NRL released a state- ment yesterday saying the contact from the karate-like kick was ‘‘accidental’’. ‘‘Whilst on first view it was an incident of concern, the Match Review Committee found that player Slater was in the air competing for the ball when contact was made between his foot and the neck of player Klemmer, who was not contesting the ball,’’ the NRL statement said. ‘‘In our opinion, the con- tact was accidental and player Slater did not breach his duty of care. We did not view the contact as careless. ‘‘A player from the defend- ing team is entitled to contest the ball in the air under the assumption he will land be- fore an opposition player at- tempts to tackle him.’’ Storm coach Craig Bellamy and captain Cameron Smith launched spirited defences of Slater post-match with both appearing to blame Klemmer for the incident. ‘‘He (Klemmer) put himself in that position,’’ Smith said. Wests’ Chris Lawrence dives across to score one of the Tigers’ five tries during their rout of Parramatta Picture: GETTY IMAGES Lawrence strikes twice as Tigers feast on sloppy Eels TIGERS 31 EELS 18 WESTS TIGERS: C Lawrence 2 B Ayshford B Marshall T Moltzen tries; B Marshall 5 goals J Miller field goal PARRAMATTA: J Loko R Morgan V Toutai tries; C Sandow 3 goals Crowd: 18,326 at Leichhardt Oval Referees: Shayne Hayne, Alan Shortall WESTS Tigers posted their second win on the trot in comfortable fashion last night, downing an error- prone Parramatta 31-18 in the clash at Leichhardt Oval. Two tries in the opening 20 minutes from Chris Law- rence laid the foundations for the Tigers. With the newly re-signed Robbie Farah and Benji Marshall dominating, the Eels could not get a foothold on the game and they didn’t help their cause by giving away needless penalties. The visitors were made to pay on the half-hour mark when Blake Ayshford darted over in the right corner, boosting his side to an 18-0 half-time lead. Parramatta’s Ryan Morgan gave his side hope three min- utes after the restart when he crossed for their opening try, but the hosts responded. Marshall and Tim Moltzen scored for the Tigers in the space of three minutes. Vai Toutai and Jacob Loko touched down to make the scoreboard more respectable for the Eels, but Jacob Miller put their hopes of victory to bed with a late field goal. Mitchell Allgood and Jarryd Hayne were both guilty of losing possession early and the hosts took full advantage, twice spreading the ball to the left where Law- rence muscled his way past Chris Sandow to score. The Eels almost reduced the deficit on the stroke of half-time when Hayne made a great break. He released Vai Toutai, who found Loko, but the young centre fumbled.
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www.ntnews.com.au Saturday, March 23, 2013. NT NEWS. 45
PU
B:
NTNE-WS-DA-TE:23-GE:45 CO-LO-R: C-M Y-K
ntnews.com.aul l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l l SPORT
Souths out to turn it aroundRUGBY LEAGUE
ByGREGORMACTAGGART
Billy Johnstone
SOUTH Darwin is looking toend a 955-day losing streakagainst University in today’sNTRL A-grade season-openerat Richardson Park.
The Rabbitohs have nottasted victory since beatingthe Sharks 50-22 at leagueheadquarters on July 30, 2010.
Despite that statistic, thereis a sense of optimism in theSouth Darwin camp undernew coach Billy Johnstoneand a first-up success may notbe beyond them.
The former Canterbury, StGeorge and Gold Coast playerhas forecast an influx of newblood as pivotal if the Red andGreen are to climb from thecellar in season 2013.
‘‘We’re looking to promotea number of younger players,
boys such as Kyle O’Brienand Peter Nibbs, who will gettheir chance in A-gradefootball,’’ Johnstone said.
‘‘You always look forwardto a brand new season withoptimism and University willgive us a good yardstick ofhow we are going.’’
Much rests on theshoulders of Daryl Nahowand Francis Wapau for theBunnies against a Sharksclub celebrating its 40thanniversary this season.
University coach EddieMotlop admits depth will be aconcern during the initialstages of 2013, but his teamhas a bit of the band gettingback together feel about it.
‘‘Jason Criddle is backfrom retirement to play,while we’ve got MartyRamage, Damien Mick, RyanCollins, Gapirri Yunupingu,
Troy Criddleand Mark Mickin the team,’’Motlop said.
‘‘Early on,we’ll battle a bitwith a lack of
numbers, but we’ve got aproud culture at the club andaim to be as competitive as wecan be each week.’’
Kick-off is at 4pm.Competition newcomers
Katherine make the tripnorth to play last season’slosing grand finals Nightcliffat 5.45pm.
The Dragons go into theclash as warm favouritesagainst a Tigers combinationmaking the step up to the top-level after two undefeatedseasons in reserve grade.
Co-coaches Jesse Macleanand Michael Fairweather willattempt to lead from the front,
while halves pairing QuincyTo’oto’o-ulugia and BradleySneddon are charged withdirecting Nightcliff aroundthe park.
The last game of the triple-header sees Palmerstonagainst Litchfield at 7.30pm.
The Raiders under newcoach Geoff Cregan havenamed ex-Nightcliff fullbackTrenton Smith for his debut,while Daniel Keelan returnsto the competition following ayear’s hiatus at five-eighth.
Litchfield have named twonewcomers Luke High andDom Devitt, while GavinBrown returns to fill the roleas the Bears’ custodian.
In reserve grade, there havebeen two forfeits withUniversity and Katherine/Jabiru unable to get enoughplayer numbers for theirRound 1 matches.
Flanaganregainscoach jobCRONULLA coach ShaneFlanagan is back at the helmof the besieged NRL club,but not before admitting hewas part of managementfailures which resulted inthe board sacking four foot-ball staff members.
Two weeks ago, Flanaganwas stood down and four ofhis colleagues axed by theclub’s board following a re-view of their handling of al-leged issues in 2011 that arenow the subject a continu-ing ASADA investigation.
Yesterday, an emotionalFlanagan was reinstated bythe board based on inform-ation provided by a secondindependent review.
Flanagan will return tothe coach’s box for tomor-row’s clash with the War-riors at Sharks Stadium,with Peter Sharp revertingto being his assistant.
However, new chairmanGlenn Coleman made itclear the sacked quartet offootball manager DarrenMooney, physio KonradSchultz, trainer Mark Noa-kes and doctor Dave Givneywon’t get their jobs back.
When stood down onMarch 8 with the board cit-ing management failures,Flanagan, like the sackedstaff, said he had no ideawhat he’d done wrong.
Flanagan admitted faultand said he understood whythe board had taken suchstrong action.
‘‘It has been a tough fewweeks for all of us, but I nowunderstand why I was stooddown and why the boardmade the decisions it has,’’Flanagan said. ‘‘There weremanagement failures.
‘‘We have agreed thatthere have to be changes inthe way we work and theway we look after players.’’
Asked if he had been toldto toe the party line in hiscomments on the board’s ac-tion, Flanagan said: ‘‘Defi-nitely not.’’
He said he bore no ill-willtowards the board for theirdecision and said he was‘‘grateful’’ to be back.
Slater kicks on as NRL declares contact ‘accidental’BILLY Slater has avoidedadding to a lengthy rap sheetthat already features banstotalling half a season.
Yesterday, the NRL MatchReview Committee allowedSlater to walk after he wasplaced on report in Mel-bourne’s 22-18 win over Can-terbury on Thursday night.
The Melbourne fullback ex-
tended his leg which caughtapproaching Canterburyprop David Klemmer in theface as Slater flew throughthe air after catching a bomb.
Slater’s mid-air boot re-sulted in him being placed onreport on the advice from thevideo referee, who had de-scribed it as a suspected‘‘act of foul play’’.
The NRL released a state-ment yesterday saying thecontact from the karate-likekick was ‘‘accidental’’.
‘‘Whilst on first view it wasan incident of concern, theMatch Review Committeefound that player Slater wasin the air competing for theball when contact was madebetween his foot and the neck
of player Klemmer, who wasnot contesting the ball,’’ theNRL statement said.
‘‘In our opinion, the con-tact was accidental andplayer Slater did not breachhis duty of care. We did notview the contact as careless.
‘‘A player from the defend-ing team is entitled to contestthe ball in the air under the
assumption he will land be-fore an opposition player at-tempts to tackle him.’’
Storm coach Craig Bellamyand captain Cameron Smithlaunched spirited defences ofSlater post-match with bothappearing to blame Klemmerfor the incident.
‘‘He (Klemmer) put himselfin that position,’’ Smith said.
Wests’ Chris Lawrence dives across to score one of the Tigers’ five tries during their rout of Parramatta Picture: GETTY IMAGES
Lawrence strikes twice as Tigers feast on sloppy EelsTIGERS 31
EELS 18
WESTS TIGERS:C Lawrence 2BAyshford BMarshall TMoltzen tries; BMarshall 5goals JMiller field goalPARRAMATTA: J Loko RMorganV Toutai tries; CSandow3goalsCrowd: 18,326 at LeichhardtOvalReferees: ShayneHayne,Alan Shortall
WESTS Tigers posted theirsecond win on the trot incomfortable fashion lastnight, downing an error-prone Parramatta 31-18 in theclash at Leichhardt Oval.
Two tries in the opening 20minutes from Chris Law-rence laid the foundations forthe Tigers.
With the newly re-signedRobbie Farah and BenjiMarshall dominating, the
Eels could not get a footholdon the game and they didn’thelp their cause by givingaway needless penalties.
The visitors were made topay on the half-hour markwhen Blake Ayshford dartedover in the right corner,boosting his side to an 18-0half-time lead.
Parramatta’s Ryan Morgangave his side hope three min-utes after the restart when he
crossed for their opening try,but the hosts responded.
Marshall and Tim Moltzenscored for the Tigers in thespace of three minutes.
Vai Toutai and Jacob Lokotouched down to make thescoreboard more respectablefor the Eels, but Jacob Millerput their hopes of victory tobed with a late field goal.
Mitchell Allgood andJarryd Hayne were both
guilty of losing possessionearly and the hosts took fulladvantage, twice spreadingthe ball to the left where Law-rence muscled his way pastChris Sandow to score.
The Eels almost reducedthe deficit on the stroke ofhalf-time when Hayne made agreat break.
He released Vai Toutai,who found Loko, but theyoung centre fumbled.
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