Brisbane Broncos sack Ivan Henjak after two years in charge at Red Hill

Damien Stannard From: The Courier-Mail February 21, 2011 6:03PM


THE Brisbane Broncos are a club in crisis after dumping coach Ivan Henjak just three weeks out from the start of the NRL season.
The club announced tonight that assistant coach Anthony Griffin would take charge for the 2011 season.

"It was decided at board level that change needed to be made and it needed to be made effective immediately," said chief executive Paul White.

"These are tough times for all parties concerned. But I'd like to extend my personal thanks to Ivan for having taken on such a challenging role."

Griffin was promoted to the assistant's job last year after guiding Brisbane to the 2008 Toyota Cup grand final. He coached Redcliffe in the Queensland Cup competition and is a former assistant to Craig Bellamy at the Melbourne Storm.

Last year the side failed to qualify for the finals for the first time since 1991.

The club is just three weeks out from the start of the season.

Henjak was just the second coach in the club's history, having taken over from veteran Wayne Bennett.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/brisbane-broncos-sack-coach-ivan-henjak/story-e6freon6-1226009595024

Brisbane bid team to target topline coaches Wayne Bennett, Craig Bellamy, Mal Meninga

Wayne Heming From: The Courier-Mail February 21, 2011

THE consortium seeking to establish a second Brisbane NRL team has made it clear it will chase longtime Brisbane Broncos mentor Wayne Bennett to be its inaugural coach.

The group, headed by Craig Davison, a former member of Broncos supporters group the Thoroughbreds, released details of its plans in Brisbane on Monday, billing it as the Battle of Brisbane.

Davidson and his bid partners, meat industry mogul Bill Rae and Nicholas Livermore, the son of Queensland Rugby League managing director Ross Livermore, believe they already have the corporate backing and facilities to win approval to go head-to-head with the Broncos if rugby league's new commission gives the nod to NRL expansion.

"It's astonishing the interest pouring in from all areas," Davison said.

The consortium officially launched a website and unveiled their first four official sponsors at Suncorp Stadium where they plan to play their home games on alternate weeks to the Broncos.

Fans will be able to suggest what players they would like recruited, the club's nickname and the team's colours at www.BattleForBrisbane.com.au.

They have conditional sponsorship agreements with Bundaberg Rum, sportswear company Canterbury, media organisation Austereo and betting agency Centrebet, who have expressed interest in being their major sponsor.

Rival booker Sportingbet Australia last week committed to a new three-year deal with six-time premiers the Broncos for a reported $1.5 million.

Davidson said if reports suggesting NRL master coach Bennett would reject a $1 million-plus offer from South Sydney proved correct it would give his consortium hope of landing him, turning back the clock to 1988 when a young Bennett began his reign as the Broncos' inaugural coach.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/brisbane-bid-team-to-target-topline-coaches-wayne-bennett-craig-bellamy-mal-meninga/story-e6frep5o-1226009403285

Broncos chairman Darryl Somerville quits in protest over sacking of coach

Matt Marshall From: The Courier-Mail February 22, 2011

BRONCOS chairman Darryl Somerville has resigned in protest over the shock sacking of coach Ivan Henjak.
Somerville has let it be known that while he respects the decision of board and CEO Paul White he could not personally support it.

He offered to stay on as chairman until the next Annual General Meeting on April 20 but it was agreed to accept the resignation now.

Because the Broncos are a listed company the ASX has been informed.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/broncos-chairman-darryl-somerville-quits-in-protest-over-sacking-of-coach/story-e6frep5o-1226009971861

Another white knight arrives as Nathan Tinkler pulls his offer

Stuart Honeysett From: The Australian February 22, 2011

NATHAN Tinkler might be gone, but Andrew Poole has emerged as the next white knight.
The accountant is among a handful of benefactors who have agreed to tip in up to $10 million to make Newcastle financially strong over the next four years.

Poole, finance director of ResCo, might not command the same headlines as Tinkler, who yesterday pulled the pin on his offer to buy the Knights, or pack the same financial clout as the self-made multi-millionaire. But members will be told of his involvement in a Patrons Trust plan that represents the club's best hope at a meeting on Monday night.

"It doesn't require a members vote because it's no change to the constitution or structure of the business," Knights chief executive Steve Burraston said yesterday.

"It's just a group of men making a commitment to donate money to the club. These three guys are independently wealthy individuals and they're prepared to pay money out of their pocket on the sole basis that they want the Knights to remain a community asset."

The latest development in the battle for Newcastle came yesterday after Tinkler lost patience with the club's board and withdrew his offer to buy it, but not before the Knights threw a parting shot at him, accusing the magnate of trying to bully them into a sale.

Instead of meeting Tinkler at 2pm to discuss his offer, the Knights were forced to hold a press conference at 2.30pm to reveal his numbers still didn't add up before revealing another proposal they had been sitting on for 12 months which would now be vigorously pursued.

"Quite simply we are not prepared to put the future of the Knights at risk on a 'just trust us' basis," Knights chairman Robert Tew said. "This matter has been taken out of our hands and we are conscious many members will be disappointed the initial promise we all hoped for in the Tinkler Group offer has turned out to be little more than a mirage.

"At the time we announced 'in-principle' support for the Tinkler Group's offer in its revised form, we also referred to a number of other options available to the club. This included the potential establishment of a Patrons Trust.

"The Patrons Trust model has been successfully used in other football codes to help clubs advance their growth plans."

Tinkler was being touted last month as the Knights' saviour after coming up with a proposal to buy the club which involved paying out debts of $2.3 million on top of a sponsorship plan that was worth $100m over 10 years.

The board agreed to the plan in principle but the cracks started to appear when directors received documents from the Tinkler Sports Group last Wednesday which they claimed fell a long way short of the original offer.

The Knights claimed the 10-year deal didn't stack up. It was only for two years, it didn't start until 2012 and Tinkler might end up contributing nothing if sponsorships and ticket sales reached $10m. There was no fair buy-back option and no commitment to junior development.

The board's stance only further angered Tinkler given he had already imposed a Monday deadline on the club to accept his offer and he informed directors by email early yesterday that he had had enough and was pulling the pin.

"We feel that this outcome has cost the club, its members, fans, Newcastle, the Hunter and northern NSW community a unique opportunity to guarantee the future of a proud sporting brand," Tinkler Sports Group said in a statement.

The only way Tinkler's bid could go ahead now is if 100 members sign a petition to force an extraordinary general meeting and propose a vote of no confidence in the board. It was reported last night some members were gathered at a Newcastle hotel to discuss this option.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/another-white-knight-arrives-as-nathan-tinkler-pulls-his-offer/story-e6frg7mf-1226009689269

Nathan Tinkler leaves mess for others to clean

Brent Read From: The Australian February 23, 2011

NATHAN Tinkler has walked away from his bid for Newcastle, leaving others to clean up the mess.

It's not only the Knights who are feeling the after-effects of Typhoon Tinkler. His entourage has come under the microscope as a result of its renegade boss's actions.

Last week, members of the Tinkler Group went on the defensive over claims the mining and racing magnate had contacted Cronulla prop Kade Snowden and convinced him to back out of a contract extension with the Sharks.

At the time, chief executive Ken Edwards and colleague Richard Fisk denied anyone from the Tinkler Sports Group had made an offer to Snowden. They insisted it would be inappropriate to do so. Lo and behold, Tinkler came out this week and confirmed he had, indeed, spoken to Snowden. While he claimed he had made no offer to Snowden, his call prompted the Sharks prop to backtrack on plans to re-sign with the club.

The Tinkler camp can dance around the semantics. They can argue there was no offer. They could suggest the wording of their response left the window open for Tinkler to make contact with Snowden. But when asked to explain their comments last night, they went ducking for cover.

Edwards, one of sport's most respected chief executives, had been made to look like a goose. Yet Edwards declined to comment when contacted by The Australian.

At least he bothered responding even if he declined to comment. Fisk said he would phone The Australian back with a comment but the call never came. And therein lies the danger with Tinkler. He is answerable to no one and he doesn't care who gets in his way, apparently even if it involves embarrassing his own staff.

Mind you, it shouldn't come as a surprise. Tinkler has been through several trainers at Patinack Farm, his commercial breeding and racing business. So cut-throat is working for Tinkler, his business has been christened Pati-sack Farm by some.

While the Tinkler camp retreated, Newcastle chief executive Steve Burraston offered this analysis of the Snowden matter, which remains unresolved.

"I would use Ken Edwards's words when he said while denying that the Tinkler Group was involved, that if they were it would be inappropriate behaviour," Burraston said.

"I would not only say it's inappropriate, it's also unprofessional."

Now back to cleaning up the mess.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/tinkler-leaves-mess-for-others-to-clean/story-e6frg7t6-1226010377872

Nathan Tinkler spending $16,000 a day in bid to take over Newcastle Knights

Barry Toohey From: The Daily Telegraph February 23, 2011

IT'S no wonder he ran out of patience - Nathan Tinkler's bid to buy the Newcastle Knights has been burning a $16,000 hole in his pocket every day for the past month.
The Daily Telegraph has learned that is the staggering figure he has been spending on legal fees since the Knights agreed in principle to accept his $100 million offer for the club on January 19.

It is understood Tinkler has been footing the legal bill for both his organisation and the Knights during the month-long privatisation negotiations.

"Legal fees will top $500,000," one well-placed source said last night. "It may even come out to be more.

"Tinkler agreed at the beginning of the process to pay all the legal fees because the Knights don't have any money.

"Even though the deal has fallen over, he plans to honour that agreement.

'It's another reason why he refused to allow negotiations to drag on without any real sign of conciliation from the Knights."

The mood in Newcastle yesterday, 24 hours after Tinkler withdrew his offer for the Knights, suggests the bid is far from dead and buried. A growing number of disenchanted members are continuing their push for a meeting to be held to discuss the Tinkler proposal and a possible vote of no confidence in the Knights' board for it's handling of the issue.

It is also understood the Tinkler group is planning to roll out a host of some of Newcastle's heaviest hitters, including high-profile ex-players and industry leaders, to publicly support the mining magnate's bid.

"Nathan's not going to go away and there are plenty of influential people in Newcastle who firmly believe he is the only way forward for the Knights," a source said.

"Don't be surprised if some big names don't come out publicly over the next few days."

Meanwhile, local businessman Mark York said he has been inundated with support since he rallied Knights members to support a petition to call for a special general meeting over the privatisation issue.

He gathered 57 signatures in less than two hours at a local hotel on Monday night and is planning possibly three more hotel meetings this week, starting with the Gunyah Hotel in Belmont tonight.

"I only need 100 but I'd like to get 200 or 300 signatures to take to the board if I can, just to demonstrate how serious the mood is here in Newcastle," York said.

"No one I speak to is too happy with the way it's all worked out and I've been getting a lot of support.

"The Knights have organised a members' information meeting on Monday but that will only be to put their side of the story across again.

"It's time we were given an opportunity to hear what Nathan Tinkler has to say and what he wants to do for our club."

York has refused to rule out calling for a vote of no confidence in the Knights board if sentiment is strong enough.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/nathan-tinkler-spending-16000-a-day-in-bid-to-take-over-newcastle-knights/story-e6frexnr-1226010346637

It's a trial. Nothing to clap about.

It's a trial. Nothing to clap about.

Billion-dollar TV baby revealed

Dean Ritchie From: The Daily Telegraph February 28, 2011 12:00AM

THIS is the pitch for rugby league's billion-dollar baby.

The Daily Telegraph can today reveal spectacular images of the new NRL television campaign, which will air from Wednesday on all free-to-air channels.

It shows the game's biggest stars in full cry. Wests Tigers winger Lote Tuqiri scorching downfield, North Queensland Cowboys champion Johnathan Thurston landing a sideline conversion, and Parramatta Eels superstar Jarryd Hayne - aka The Hayne Plane - ready to fly into orbit.

All this action has as its backdrop one of the world's greatest rock bands, Bon Jovi.

With the new television deal fast approaching, rugby league desperately needs a massive year through gate takings and, in particular, television ratings.

If fans reaffirm rugby league as the country's number one television sport this season, NRL chief executive David Gallop can start negotiations for the new TV deal from 2013 with the confidence that he can secure a $1 billion agreement. In the ad, the NRL stars perform their on-field magic to Bon Jovi's song This Is Our House.

It is a defiant message from rugby league to rival codes.

"The ad features the game's superstars," said NRL director of commercial and marketing, Paul Kind.

"It celebrates the amazing skills shown on the field by our players every week.

"Certainly this year's campaign comes in an important year for the game's future [with the TV deal looming].

"We have brought together the biggest rock band in the world with the fantastic action fans know they will see every week.

"The combination will create ever more excitement for a game already on a high."

The ad will be officially shown for the first time at Wednesday's NRL season launch.

Unlike in previous years, when the launch was held at a swanky city hotel, this year's event will be in a rugby league heartland, the Casula Powerhouse in south-western Sydney.

Jon Bon Jovi recently said of the NRL's ad campaign: "This new partnership with the National Rugby League to bring the song to Australian rugby league gives me great satisfaction.

"Having played countless stadium shows in your country, I know for a fact that your fans know a thing or two about marking your turf and staking your claim."

NRL chief executive David Gallop spoke of his delight at rugby league securing such a famous rock act as Bon Jovi.

"It is an exciting win for the game and a clear statement about the scale of year ahead," he said.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/nrls-billion-dollar-tv-baby-revealed/story-e6frexnr-1226013139106

5000 rugby league fans brave wet Barlow Park
Emma Greenwood

Monday, February 28, 2011

© The Cairns Post

Torrential rain could not keep the rugby league faithful from Barlow Park on Saturday night for what turned out to be a thrilling trial between the North Queensland Cowboys and Gold Coast Titans.

More than 5000 hit Barlow Park for the annual NRL trial featuring some of the game’s most popular players.

With Cowboys captain Johnathan Thurston, his Titans counterpart Scott Prince and a host of local players including Herberton’s Dallas Johnson, Innisfail’s Scott Bolton, Tully’s Joel Riethmuller and the ever-popular Hope Vale product Matty Bowen in action, a crowd of more than 10,000 was expected in fine conditions.

But league officials paid tribute to hardy fans, who defied hundreds of millimetres of rain over the weekend – and plenty more at the game on Saturday night – to watch their heroes.

Organiser Pat Bailey said Cairns District Rugby League would not lose money despite a drop in numbers.

"We take a huge risk (putting this game on in the wet season) but to their credit, both teams wanted to play," Bailey said.

"We won’t lose money on it, we’ll make money – probably not as much as we’d like to but maybe that’s being greedy."

It’s not. The CDRL ploughs every cent from preseason NRL trial matches over the past nine years back into grassroots football in the Far North and allowing a host of other community groups to raise funds at the match.

CDRL president Colin Moore praised the "loyal rugby league supporters" that braved the conditions to see a cracking game of football, won 24-22 by the Titans when Prince converted a kick after the fulltime siren.

"The region needed a game like this tonight and it was given by the Titans and the Cowboys. They were serious about playing," Moore said.

"But the big one was the crowd that came out tonight, we’ve got to be thankful they still turned up after it really belted (down)."

http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2011/02/28/151675_local-news.html

$50,000 bet in alleged NRL scam

From: AAP March 04, 2011

PUNTERS stood to win hundreds of thousands of dollars in winnings from the NRL betting scandal involving Bulldogs player Ryan Tandy and two other men.

Today, police released CCTV footage of four men who placed bets of up to $500 on the NRL Round 24 match between the Canterbury Bulldogs and the North Queensland Cowboys in August 2010.

A total of $50,000 was placed on a betting option that the first points of the game would come from a penalty goal.

Tandy was penalised two minutes into the game for impeding a Cowboys player in front of the posts and the Cowboys were awarded a penalty goal, but they chose not to kick for goal and scored a try from a quick tap.

The day before the game, when a number of bets were placed, the odds were as high as 13 to 1, but they dropped as low as 3 to 1 as betting increased.

Detective Superintendent Arthur Katsogiannis told reporters in Sydney that the four men police want to speak to placed bets on the option.

But he is not suggesting they engaged in unlawful activity.

"The earlier the bets were placed, the higher the odds," Det Supt Katsogiannis said.

"I believe that at one stage it was up to $50,000 that was on this particularly exotic bet."

Police have spoken to a number of other people who placed bets on the option, but the four men in question have not been identified from the investigation.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/bet-in-alleged-nrl-scam/story-e6frf7jx-1226015874522

I call bullshit. The Dragons are not the most popular team in NSW. I'd judge popularity based on number of members tbh and well that means Souths would be the most popular.

Every club in the comp wishes they could have the membership numbers that Souths have.

Edited by sydneycroatia58: 18/12/2010 03:48:24 PM

[size=6]Bulldogs seek advice on sacking Tandy in light of latest charges [/size]

THE Bulldogs have sought legal advice as to whether they can sack Ryan Tandy over his links with the NRL betting scandal.

The Herald understands that following the three fresh charges laid against the forward on Thursday, officials have spoken to lawyers about whether they can legally terminate Tandy's contract. And they have also spoken with NRL officials over the extent of proof of Tandy's betting activity since the investigation was launched by police last year.

Tandy was suspended by the club last month after he was charged with providing false or misleading evidence to the NSW Crime Commission, but is still being paid. That also means Tandy is, for now, included in the Bulldogs' 2011 salary cap even though he will not play a game while he remains suspended.
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While officials felt they could not sack him over his original charge, it is believed they have sought further advice following Tandy's appearance in court on Thursday.

When Tandy appeared in court yesterday in relation to his original charge of having provided false or misleading evidence to a NSW Crime Commission hearing, the three further charges of providing false or misleading evidence were laid.

Police have further alleged that at a hearing on February 2, he provided false or misleading evidence about having a conversation discussing his position on the field at kick-off during the Bulldogs-Cowboys game, his betting activity and access to his TAB account, and having placed a bet on the Bulldogs-Titans game, his club debut.

Tandy, who could be sentenced to jail if found guilty of lying to the Crime Commission, is contracted to the Bulldogs until the end of 2012.

Club officials believe that their decision to suspend Tandy has helped the club distance itself from the scandal, which has the potential to disrupt the team. The Bulldogs play their first game of the NRL season against Wests Tigers on Monday week.

They know that if they are able to terminate the contract of the 29-year-old, they will be able to separate themselves from the brewing drama even further. The Bulldogs had their official season launch last night in Pyrmont, which Tandy did not attend.

It is acknowledged that Tandy has a gambling problem. Tandy's manager Sam Ayoub, who was arrested on Thursday and charged with attempt to obtain financial advantage by deception, approached Bulldogs chief Todd Greenberg seeking a $60,000 advance on his salary to pay his debts, which included sums owed to Harvey Norman and a car finance company.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/bulldogs-seek-advice-on-sacking-tandy-in-light-of-latest-charges-20110304-1bhys.html

Yes.

If the NRL slammed Melbourne for "over paying" players then the match fixing incident is a far more criminal act than over paying players. How will the NRL punish those we wonder?

First of all it's not match fixing it's spot fixing, big difference.

Second of all this is ONE player fixing a bet one one particular situation, it's not a whole club systematically rorting the system like Melbourne was. I'd call a club rorting the system for years a bigger crime then fixing one minor part of a match.

For what it's worth the player will most likely be sacked by the club and go to England.

So if Souths membership increased when Rusty took over, how does that explain their highest membership numbers being in 2002 peaking at 22,000.

That must be all those bandwagoners yeah.

Edited by sydneycroatia58: 4/3/2011 01:32:11 PM