David Gallop defends NRL links to gambling as Melbourne Storm inks deal with Crown Casino

Brent Read From: The Australian February 05, 2011


THE NRL's relationship with the gambling industry was back in the crosshairs last night, prompting chief executive David Gallop to claim sport was an easy target and attacks on rugby league were neither fair nor realistic.

With the game in the grip of a high-profile betting scandal, the Melbourne Storm held a press conference yesterday morning to confirm it had struck a major sponsorship deal with the country's biggest casino, Crown.

That prompted anti-gambling campaigner Nick Xenophon to suggest the NRL risked normalising gambling in the minds of children by maintaining its relationships with betting agencies.

Gallop responded to those claims last night, saying: "Sport is something of an easy target. Given the sponsorships that exist in other sports, it is neither fair nor realistic to make this an attack on the NRL.

"The current police investigation is proof of our resolve to ensure there is no suggestion of illegal activity and to link that to a sponsorship such with Crown Casino is unfair."

Xenophon has been an outspoken critic of the NRL's links with the gambling industry.

In recent weeks, a spate of announcements have fuelled his criticism.

Only last week, South Sydney announced a major sponsorship deal with Star City Casino.

Another two clubs - Manly and Cronulla - have bookmaking agencies on their jerseys.

Several clubs also have corporate deals with betting agencies while Penrith recently reached an agreement with Centrebet, which will result in their home ground being renamed Centrebet Stadium.

The situation has been exacerbated by the ongoing investigation into last year's round-24 game between North Queensland and Canterbury in Townsville.

A police investigation into suspicious betting activity on the game is ongoing. However, Bulldogs prop Ryan Tandy, one of the central figures in the investigation, was arrested on Wednesday and charged with providing false evidence to a law enforcement agency.

"How can a sports code that is embroiled in a betting scandal allow itself to be associated with the gambling industry?" Xenophon said.

"NRL is meant to be a family pastime.

"Gambling is an adult pastime and the two shouldn't mix.

"This has the potential to normalise gambling in the minds of children."

Along with the country's other major sports, the NRL has been lobbying the federal government to introduce specific legislation to help them combat illegal gambling.

Former Australian cricket chief executive Mal Speed is in the process of preparing a series of recommendations designed to help the sports themselves regulate betting.

His report is expected to be handed down by the end of this month.

"Sports betting is not illegal - cheating should be, and we are encouraged that governments are talking of stronger legislation to help sports," Gallop said. "These companies already advertise widely across the media, in sporting broadcasts, other broadcasts and on the web.

"To suggest that the sports themselves should not accept advertising or sponsorship while everyone around the sport can is hardly practical or fair.

"Sports who have initiated integrity agreements with sports betting operators and those relationships have provided greater transparency."

Gallop wasn't the only NRL official to defend the Storm's deal with Crown.

Dennis Watt, rugby league general manager with News Limited - which owns the Storm - and Melbourne chief executive Ron Gauci stressed Crown wasn't just a casino and gambling was a part of the Australian way of life.

The deal fills a vacancy on the Storm jersey given sponsors deserted the club last year in the wake of the salary cap scandal.

"Melbourne Storm was very clear that we wanted more than just a major sponsorship," Gauci said.

"We wanted a relationship with an organisation that could provide a home for our supporters and a proposition that would deliver world-class entertainment experiences at one location."

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/david-gallop-defends-nrl-links-to-gambling-as-melbourne-storm-inks-deal-with-crown-casino/story-e6frg7mf-1226000459725

Brisbane poised for second NRL team as Broncos' stranglehold on rugby league market faces challenge

Peter Badel From: The Courier-Mail January 27, 2011


THE Broncos' 23-year stranglehold on the Brisbane rugby league market is under threat with a rival consortium formulating plans to become Queensland's fourth NRL team.
The Courier-Mail can reveal a three-man consortium, including Thoroughbreds chairman Craig Davison, has begun due diligence into the formation of a second Brisbane team that would compete with the Broncos for the city's sponsorship and supporter base.

"We're dubbing it the Battle for Brisbane," Davison said last night.

The consortium's push for NRL inclusion is the most significant challenge to the Broncos' flagship status since the birth of the South Queensland Crushers in 1995.

The Crushers suffered a quick death in 1997 amid the Super League bloodletting but NRL boss David Gallop said yesterday Brisbane's population could easily sustain a second team.

The Brisbane NRL bid team has been investigating options since Christmas.

It is separate to the NRL bids from Ipswich and Central Queensland, which has been the most vocal in the race to become Queensland's fourth team.

The Brisbane NRL consortium, which hopes to clinch a licence to play in the 2013 season, will formally announce its bid as early as tomorrow.

Davison confirmed his involvement in the new entity amid speculation the Thoroughbreds, the high-powered businessmen who provide mentoring to Broncos players, are reviewing their ties to the club.

"If and when the Independent Commission takes tenders for NRL expansion, we'll be in there fighting for that spot in Brisbane," he said.

"We're talking to a number of sponsors and they are excited about coming on board.

"We've spoken to David Gallop. He is very much aware of our plans.

"I was invited by the other guys around Christmas.

"There's been a couple of months of planning in private and I've had to decide if I want to be on board.

"I've told the Broncos I'll be doing it. I believe we've got a strong bid."

Brisbane's second team would play at Suncorp Stadium on alternate weekends to the Broncos, giving the city a weekly NRL event.

The consortium has designed an NRL bid logo and is negotiating to establish headquarters in Brisbane's south.

Gallop yesterday confirmed he had spoken to a Brisbane bid delegate.

He said he saw merit in the proposal.

"I've spoken to (the bid team) and agreed to meet with them in the next couple of weeks," Gallop said.

"There are a group of businessmen interested in an alternate bid to the Ipswich bid.

"We have said all along we would look seriously at expansion in 2011.

"With the strength of the game in Queensland it is pretty easy to see the merit of another team in Brisbane at some stage."

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/nrl/secret-plan-for-new-brisbane-nrl-club/story-e6frep5x-1225995096367

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/raiders-sign-orford/2042814.aspx

:d :d

Raiders... smokey for 2011.

Knights talks on the cards for Tinkler

BY JAMES GARDINER
10 Jan, 2011 04:00 AM

NATHAN Tinkler is poised to resume talks with the Knights about buying the club and says his millions can take the club forward to more success.
‘‘We can either put our hands up and say we want to win another competition or go for the next 20 years talking about 2001 and 1997,’’ Tinkler told the Herald in his first interview since offering to buy the Knights for $10million in November.

He remains adamant a non-profit community model can work for the struggling club.

Tinkler’s proposal received strong support from sections of the community and he remains hopeful that a deal can be struck.

‘‘I have been away for the past few weeks but I plan to catch up with [Knights CEO] Steve Burraston and [chairman] Rob [Tew] in the next few weeks,’’ he said.

‘‘I think it is the model that works. It gives the club patrons a say over the important issues in the club.’’

Tew maintains he and the board are open to privatisation but only if it is in the best interests of the club.

‘‘Robbie and I will sit down and talk about that,’’ Tinkler said.

‘‘If you take a business on, you take it on. You forever have to meet those debts and obligations.

‘‘Any successful side costs money and takes input, and that is what we are willing to do.’’


For full Tinkler interview, see today's Herald.

http://www.theherald.com.au/news/local/sport/football-soccer/knights-talks-on-the-cards-for-tinkler/2042598.aspx

Raiders sign Orford

BY CHRIS DUTTON
10 Jan, 2011 08:01 AM

The Canberra Raiders will this morning announce that they have signed Matt Orford.
The news follows months of discussions and Orford finally negotiating a release from English club Bradford.

Orford will be in Canberra today with coach David Furner to announce the new deal.

The former premiership winning halfback with Manly is expected to start training with his new Raiders teammates tomorrow.

It's a shit sport.

Crisis talks on Dragons feeder team Tyson Otto

From: The Daily Telegraph December 27, 2010 12:00AM

THE Dragons will this week hold crisis talks with local Illawarra club Shellharbour in a desperate move to organise a NSW Cup team for 2011.
St George Illawarra are hoping to resume their association with the local Carlton League club, but their talks have stalled.

Shellharbour will play only in the local Illawarra Carlton League in 2011 unless the Dragons can dramatically upgrade the financial support they gave the club this year.

Dragons chief executive Peter Doust will meet with Shellharbour in the coming days to negotiate a deal after extensive talks before Christmas proved fruitless.

The breakdown of talks means Wayne Bennett's fringe players will have to drop down to play for various clubs in the Carlton League if they are not selected in the top 17.

Shellharbour, who will play as the Southern Marlins, were named last week in a new NSW Cup fixture for 2011, featuring the return of Manly in a 12-team competition.

However, Shellharbour coach Terry Gilogley said his club were favouring walking away from the NRL feeder competition a few weeks ago.

"It'd be very disappointing if there wasn't a team," he said. "I don't understand how a team, who could be world champions if they win the World Club Challenge, can not have a second team. It's in the realms of ridiculousness."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/crisis-talks-on-dragons-feeder-team/story-e6frexnr-1225976430135

Good that its sorted

Greg Inglis signed to South Sydney Rabbitohs

Ben Horne and Wayne Heming From: AAP December 24, 2010

THE South Sydney Rabbitohs have received the perfect Christmas present, with the NRL confirming they will register Greg Inglis's three-year contract.
The announcement brings an end to the messy saga which has played out since Inglis exited Melbourne Storm, turned down a deal with Brisbane at the last minute, and had his original Souths contract rejected within the space of a few months.

The deal also brings an end to speculation that the Queensland and Australian Test star was considering a move to AFL club Essendon.

Rabbitohs centre Beau Champion, a cousin of Inglis, has agreed to a more lucrative deal with the Storm, meaning Souths now have enough room under their cap to accommodate Inglis.

NRL salary cap auditor Ian Schubert rejected Inglis's original arrangement with Souths because of the way third-party payments were presented.
It became clear that to complete perhaps the biggest signing in Rabbitohs' history, they would have to shed at least one player.

After more than five hours of negotiating today, Champion agreed to a one-year deal in Melbourne, with an additional two-year option in his favour.

The NRL confirmed they were happy with the manoeuvreing and approved what eventually became a convoluted player swap between Melbourne and Souths.

Rabbitohs Chairman Nick Pappas was relieved at the breakthrough after weeks of frustration.

"It's a really happy occasion, it's a triumphant moment for the club. We're delighted to be bringing arguably the best player in the game to the greatest club," Mr Pappas said.

"We were always confident that he'd be playing for the Rabbitohs. We've said that from the outset.

"We've kept our dignity in the press, we haven't waged this through the press. We've just worked very hard to make
sure Greg becomes a Rabbitoh."

Storm CEO Ron Gauci said he was delighted Inglis had been able to move on.

“We are pleased Greg has been able to find his way to the club of his choice and can now concentrate on his football and everyone at Storm wishes him the best for the future,” Gauci said.

“We believe Champion is an exceptional talent with a bright future as a possible State of Origin player."

Leaving the club where he debuted in 2005 was a bitter-sweet decision for Champion, who just completed a personal-best season.

But the chance to work with super coach Craig Bellamy at the Storm, alongside the likes of Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith, can only enhance his future representative chances.

"If it wasn't the club we're talking about and the coach we're talking about, it would have been much easier for him to say, no, he didn't want to leave Sydney," Champion's manager Sam Ayoub said.

"It's been an uneasy week for him but he understands it's business.

"Although it's a three-year deal, he can move on after one. He did that more so for the fact that if he decided he wanted to come back to Sydney for family reasons, he could."

Souths also paid tribute to Champion for his services.

NRL boss David Gallop remained disappointed with Souths' original lodging.

"We have always been happy for Greg to be at Souths or at any club that he chooses," said the chief executive.

"Had Souths addressed the real issues in this from the outset then both Greg and the game could have been saved a considerable amount of time."

But the announcement came on the same day respected sports' performance expert Dean Benton declared Inglis was so out of shape and patched up, that he'd be a "bad buy" for any club.

A fitness consultant for the Queensland Reds and AFL's Adelaide Crows, Benton said Inglis's ballooning weight - reportedly up around 120kg heading into Christmas following recent shoulder and hip operations - could seriously impact on his form in 2011.

"Whoever takes him will not get anything out of him in 2011," said Benton, recruited specifically by then coach
Wayne Bennett when the Brisbane won their sixth and most recent NRL premiership in 2006.

Storm CEO Ron Gauci said he was delighted Inglis had been able to move on.

“We are pleased Greg has been able to find his way to the club of his choice and can now concentrate on his football and everyone at Storm wishes him the best for the future,” Gauci said.

“We believe Champion is an exceptional talent with a bright future as a possible State of Origin player."

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/greg-inglis-no-longer-homeless/story-e6frf9if-1225975977998

Free-to-air footy victory

From: The Daily Telegraph December 23, 2010 8:07AM

THE two best games of every NRL round will remain on free-to-air TV under a deal to be struck by the Gillard Government and league's newly formed independent commission.

The Government confirmed yesterday it would delist games that are currently not shown on free-to-air TV, but only when there was a mechanism in place to protect the quality of games on free-to-air.

Under the Government's new rules for sports broadcasting, more detail of which were released yesterday, the two best AFL games every week will be guaranteed to free-to-air TV.

"This mechanism will ensure, as is the case now, that Friday and Saturday night games are able to be purchased by free-to-air and that these feature the two best games of each round, as selected by the AFL," Communications Minister Stephen Conroy said.

"The Government expects to negotiate a similar quality assurance mechanism for weekly NRL games with Australian Rugby League's newly formed independent commission.

"Until these guarantees are agreed, all games of AFL and NRL will remain listed events, preventing their acquisition by a pay-TV licence holder."

The arrangements require three NRL matches be shown on free-to-air TV each week, while the remaining five will be on the open market.

It is likely that the first, second and fifth-best matches of each round will be shown on free-to-air channels.

The existing anti-siphoning list was due to expire on December 31 this year.

"Without a new list there would be no ongoing protection of sport on free-to-air television," Senator Conroy said.

The Melbourne Cup, the Bathurst 1000, Twenty20 cricket matches and the FIFA World Cup soccer qualifiers will be added to a list of events offered to the major networks.

Under a "use it or lose it" clause, the free-to-air channels will be forced to show all events that they bid for.s, or lose them to pay-TV.


http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/free-to-air-footy-victory/story-e6frexni-1225975301123

Probably buying him in case they have to sack Jake Friend.

Former rugby league player John Hopoate on bashing charge

Gemma Jones From: The Daily Telegraph December 19, 2010

FORMER rugby league player John Hopoate has been charged with assaulting a Kings Cross nightclub patron in Sydney.

The 36-year-old was working as a bouncer at the Trademark Hotel on Bayswater Rd club when a fight broke out at 11pm last night.

Three men were refused entry by security and police said one allegedly threatened bouncers before they gave chase and a fight broke out.

Police allege Hopoate assaulted a 27-year-old man, the Daily Telegraph reports.

A second man injured in the melee was rushed to St Vincents Hospital with severe head injuries.

The 33-year-old had surgery this morning and is still in a serious condition.

Hopoate was arrested just after 3am today and charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray.

It was not known if his alleged victim was injured.

He was granted conditional bail to appear in Downing Centre Local Court on January 11.

Police said other nightclub staff were assisting with inquiries and further charges were expected to be laid.

Hopoate took up boxing following his NRL career which was overshadowed by claims he had inappropriately touched other players by poking his finger at their bottoms.


http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/former-rugby-league-player-john-hopoate-on-bashing-charge/story-e6frf7l6-1225973424572

Hes never been a fit player, as a saints fan it was always a shame he couldnt last 80 mins cause he was a decent player plus he was the kicker so half the time our kicker wasnt on the field, going on history he will come back bigger then when he went to uk,once again though its roosters just buyinf players for the sake of it, there is nothing wrong with jake friend, hes a decent player,

Or the shit Parra, but 3 years older version.

What was the score? 36-12 or something like that?:-"

Depends which Riddel you get, the dragons version or the shit parra one,

Yeah lets not show the most popular nsw team for the first g rounds, great choice,](*,)

I'd be up for it, as long as theres interest.

St George at the best team in the comp. They should be on FTA every week over those first 5 rounds :S

Yeah lets not show the most popular nsw team for the first g rounds, great choice,](*,)