NRL Report
Round 25 in Review
No Greg Bird in the news this week, so more news about the actual rugby than controversies outside the game.
STEVE FOLKES
The Bulldogs bid farewell to their coach Steve Folkes at ANZ Stadium last week. Folkes played 245 games for the team, becoming a player in 1978. He then became their first grade coach in 1998 and guided them to a premiership in 2004. But bidding farewell to a 30-year career as a player and a coach, wasn’t enough to draw in the crowds. Only 7,000 spectators turned up to say goodbye. Folkes is now looking for work in the UK Super League but has been turned down by a couple of clubs. Hopefully the Bulldogs poor performance in 2008 won’t impede his chances of employment.
STEVE MENZIES
Another Steve said goodbye to the world of NRL. After 16 years of playing with Manly, Steve Menzies played his final regular season game on Monday night. In contrast to the Bulldogs match, the crowd did turn up, there were more than 15,000 at the game. Steve Menzies will now have the southern grandstand at Brookvale Oval named after him, along with Bob Fulton, another Manly legend.
CHRIS SANDOW
South Sydney’s halfback Chris Sandow was named as the NRL’s Indigenous Rising Star – claiming the inaugural George Green Medal.
George Green was the first indigenous player in the league, and it will now become an ongoing award. Around 11% of the players in the NRL are of indigenous heritage.
RABBITOHS ARE FIRING
While we’re on the South Sydney Rabbitoh’s, their coach Jason Taylor today said that even though the Rabbitoh’s had a poor start to the season, their good late form proves they will be real contenders in the 2009 season. They have won 8 of their last 12 games – with impressive wins over sides like Manly and the Warriors. They play Melbourne Storm on Sunday – if they beat Melbourne they may ruin their chances of a minor premiership. The Storm are second to Manly at the moment.
WADE MCKINNON AND MATT HILDER
Wade McKinnon from the Warriors, and Newcastle Knights’ Matt Hilder had their spitting charges referred to a hearing. McKinnon allegedly spat at touch judge, Brett Suttor, after a try was awarded to the Panthers, and Hilder was accused of spitting near Storm winger Anthony Quinn in the last stages of the game against Newcastle. The judiciary will make a decision on the punishment later this week.BRIAN HAMBLY
In sad news, former Eels and Rabbitoh’s legend Brian Hambly has passed away at 71 years of age. He played 18 Test matches for Australia and has been named in the top 100 of Australia’s greatest players of all time.
The Ladder: http://www.nrl.com.au/
Round 26:
Broncos vs Knights: 7.35 Friday
Roosters vs Dragons: 7.35 Friday
Panthers vs Sea Eagles: 5.30 Sat
Eels vs Warriors: 7.30 Sat
Sharks vs Cowboys: 7.30 Sat
Raiders vs Bulldogs: 2pm Sun
Titans vs Wests Tigers: 3pm Sun
Storm vs Rabbitohs: 7pm Sun
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