The St George Illawarra Dragons have today announced that Tim Moltzen has agreed to a three-year contract that will see him join the Club from next season until at least the end of 2014.

The Terrigal Sharks junior is currently contracted with Wests Tigers and made his NRL debut against the Dragons in Round 1 of the 2008 season.

Moltzen, 22, is a utility player who can play as either a centre, fullback or in the halves and has made a career total of 52 NRL appearances to date.

He will join the Dragons in November.

http://www.dragons.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=38949&title=tim-moltzen-to-join-dragons-in-2012

Tigers aren't very happy about it being announced, and tbph I don't blame them.

The dent that made Moltzen By Nick Walshaw
From: The Daily Telegraph August 21, 2009 12:01AM

ASK Tim Moltzen if you can touch his dent. Go on. That depression at the back of his head beneath a short, surfie haircut.
"Because if you do, you'll actually be able to feel the metal underneath his skin,'' older brother Gus reveals. "Feel the corner of the metal plate, the spot where it's indented ... throw in some dandruff and it's all quite disgusting really.''

Yep, this is how you unlock the 2009 phenomenon that is Wests Tigers wonderboy Moltzen. You rub the back of his melon and uncover the secret steel casing that's become something of a signature for this livewire utility. Like Benji Marshall and his sidestep. Or Taniela Tuiaki and those shiny, gold teeth.

You see, before the dent Moltzen was something of a cruisy type. A Central Coast teen whose spare hours were filled watching The Simpsons, hanging out by Terrigal beach and experimenting with new ways to dye his surfie blond locks.

He was the teenage footballer who'd never seen the inside of a gym. Who had always been third, maybe fourth best in his own side. A schoolboy giving so little effort at Terrigal High, the old man was threatening to drag him out of the classroom and into the workforce.

"Tim was fairly relaxed, yeah,'' Paul Moltzen concedes of his son. "Certainly not one of those boys who would be out training six days of every seven. He'd also been overlooked for a lot of junior rep sides. Told he was too small, too soft. All of which had Tim believing he was no good. He was ready to give the game away.''

And then came the dent. Arriving on what started like any other Saturday afternoon with the Terrigal Sharks back in 2005. The side again at the top of the table. Gunning for their eighth consecutive Grand Final appearance. A team, according to trainer Caine Dunn, "that had plenty of superstars ahead of Tim''.

"But this day, I remember him taking a dropout and chasing hard,'' the old man recalls. "The ball went about 45m, bounced once and somehow Tim was there to pick it up. But just as he went to take off upfield this kid from Kincumber ankle-tapped him ...''

And so the tiny Sharkies halfback stumbled forward. Unable to find his balance, his feet or see that defender closing, closing, clos ... THWACK.

"Yeah, knees in the head,'' says Parramatta legend Steve Ella, whose son Bryan was also playing for the Sharks. "The game was stopped, then called off. It wasn't pretty.''

Neither was what came next. Not when Moltzen was released from hospital within hours. Nor when he headed off to a touch tournament three days later. "No, it was when he came home,'' Paul says. "I asked Tim about the carnival, if he'd had any headaches or dizziness. He said, `nah, but can you feel this?' He had a dent in his head the size of a tennis ball.''

And so Moltzen was rushed back to hospital. This time his diagnosis changing from dizziness to depressed skull facture. Emergency surgery, metal plate in the melon and plenty of tears as he came to grips with never playing sport again.

"And that incident, it's been the turning point in his life,'' Gus insists. "Before the accident he was fairly cruisy. Mum and dad were actually getting the s...s with how little he was committing at school. But when he thought footy was going to be taken from him, mate, everything changed. When he finally came back he was training harder. Putting in extra efforts. It was his wake-up call.''

Of course, trying to ask Moltzen about the moment that changed his life isn't easy. Especially when Wests Tigers have made one of the hottest young NRL talents unavailable to the media for all five days leading up to tonight's blockbuster against Parramatta at the Sydney Football Stadium.

Like somehow we might all choose to ignore this kid who sits seventh for NRL line-breaks. Whose rise has coincided with six straight Wests Tigers victories. Who against Cronulla last Saturday scored a try, made four line-breaks, two try assists and ran 193m.

He's the natural athlete who weighs just 85kg yet can drive a golf ball further than any other Tigers player. The reformed slacker who can now bust out 34 chin-ups on demand. The schoolboy who forfeited his Schoolies airfares and accommodation to prepare for the 2008 Toyota Cup season.

"And you could tell Tim was special the moment he appeared in our first commercial,'' Cup convenor Michael Buettner says. "He looked down that camera lens and said something like `this year, make sure you keep an eye on me'. It wasn't cocky or arrogant, but it oozed confidence.''

It's a belief now heightened following Moltzen's decision to move in with Tigers superstars Marshall and Tuiaki. Bunking down in a joint so secretive, club officials have denied all requests for images of the trio. Refusing even to name the suburb where they live.

"But there's no doubting the effect it's had on Tim,'' says one club staffer. "He's no longer intimidated by Benji. Not afraid to call over the top of him. Last year he was sitting at the back of team meetings - now he's up the front.''

It's also resulted in efforts Tigers coach Tim Sheens knew were possible, but not yet. Not after 29 NRL games. Only three winters since this playmaker, still only 19, was playing park footy and drinking at the Terrigal Country Club.

And as for his future? "Mate, the only person who'll decide how far Tim Moltzen goes is the man himself,'' says Ella, who won four premierships with the Eels. "Tim has to want it. Has to realise his ability and apply himself.''

Has to feel that dent

Kevin Moore has resigned from his post as Bulldogs coach effective immediately after being told he was no longer needed beyond 2011.

Jim Dymock to take over for the rest of the season.

Edited by sydneycroatia58: 14/7/2011 04:04:06 PM

David Gallop still will be the face of the NRL says new commission chairman

Marco Monteverde From: The Daily Telegraph July 22, 2011

THE NRL will only prosper under the leadership of one man answerable to a united board, according to Queensland's inaugural chairman of rugby league's new independent commission.

Brisbane-based John Grant, a member of Australia's 1972 World Cup squad, has accepted the invitation to head the commission that will control the sport.

But Grant last night stressed that current NRL CEO David Gallop would remain the off-field face of rugby league and tipped him to take his leadership to an ever greater level under the united commission.

"I don't see myself as becoming the spokesperson for the game, that's the CEO," said Grant, who will remain in his job as managing director of internet technology company Data#3.

"Think of it as the board of a company, where the chairman works with the CEO. It's a wonderful opportunity for David as CEO to do the very best job he can do ... not that he hasn't already done a wonderful job. (But) under the old structure he had difficulties because of the different processes. Now he's got the opportunity to fulfil his ambitions for the game."

Grant said the formation of the eight-person commission - which includes Catherine Harris (Harris Farm Markets chairperson), Ian Elliott (brand strategist and former chairman and MD of George Patterson Bates), Peter Gregg (Leighton Holdings executive director and chief financial officer), Gary Pemberton (former Qantas and SOCOG chairman), Jeremy Sutcliffe (CSR chairman), Wayne Pearce (former Kangaroo and management consultant) and Chris Sarra (Queensland Technology's Stronger Smarter Institute executive director and Indigenous education leader) - was inevitable.

"The 16 clubs wanted change, the states wanted change, News Limited wanted change ... it gives the game a fantastic opportunity to prosper," Grant said.

"It's already a wonderful product. There's a wonderful chance to continue to blossom if it's looked after.

"The commission is a fantastic combination of people with a diversity of skills in a wide range of areas. We've done our due diligence on each other."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/david-gallop-still-will-be-the-face-of-the-nrl-commission-chairman/story-e6frexni-1226099345679

Cronulla are just being stupid. Too many fucking offloads instead of just taking the tackle. Unneccessary too.

And Newc score.

Cronulla are just being stupid. Too many fucking offloads instead of just taking the tackle. Unneccessary too.

And Newc score.

No team throws as many unnecessary offloads around as Parramatta does.

No team throws as many unnecessary offloads around as Parramatta does.

Absolutely fucking fuming.

There were about 4 mistakes that directly lead to Canberra points, their entire second half haul except the last try was on the back of shit ref mistakes. Gave them momentum they never deserved.

Raiders knock ball forward 5 meters out from their line off a dragons kick = Canberra ball.

Creagh holds on to ball after a juggle = Scrum Canberra.

No boycott for Bears fans

General28 Jul 11 @ 12:09pm
by Lauren Nicholls

TALK of an NRL boycott has been blown out of the water by Central Coast Bears supporters this week.

A Daily Telegraph article by sports columnist Nick Walshaw last week urged “coasties” to avoid tonight’s Manly-Wests Tigers game at Bluetongue Stadium to send a strong message to NRL CEO David Gallop that the coast wants its own team to cheer for.

“If Central Coast footy fans really want to make a statement, they should stay home. Boycott. I will be. Put simply, it’s time to say enough.” - Nick Walshaw (Monday, July 18).

But Bears fans say staying away is not the answer.

Volunteer Todd Nelson said the red and black army would turn up in force. He is bringing a team of Central Coast junior players that he coaches.

“I can see Walshaw’s point because we keep going to games and not getting our own team, which is frustrating,” Nelson said. “But David Gallop has said in the past we should vote with our feet so I have gone to every match there for the past three years and will keep going to all the other games.”

Nelson said he would only ever consider boycotting if the Bears’ bid was knocked back for good.

“If they ever tell us we’re not in the competition, that’s when I’ll stop going.”

Bears chief executive Greg Florimo said he definitely didn’t endorse Walshaw’s comments. “I encourage people on the coast to get out to our local games and support a team here,” he said. “We have proven fans can turn up for games - last year the game was a sellout and no doubt fans will roll in again.” The Bears recently received the renewed backing of John Singleton with Bluetongue Stadium signing off on an investment of $2 million to become a shareholder in the Bears upon being given an NRL license.

“That’s another reason we should go to Bluetongue games,” Nelson said. “With them coming on board we want to show our support there and not hurt them.”

Meanwhile, the Bears broke another barrier this week with the signing of their 7000th member on Saturday at the Westfield Hornsby and Westfield Tuggerah membership drives.

http://express-advocate-gosford.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/no-boycott-for-bears-fans/

Celtic Crusaders flop in Super League sends expansion warning

Brent Read From: The Australian July 30, 2011

EXPANSION remains a hot topic in the NRL but Shane Richardson preaches the virtues of patience when it comes to adding teams.

The South Sydney chief executive claims the collapse of Super League side the Celtic Crusaders is a cautionary tale for the game in this country.

The Crusaders' decision to withdraw their application to remain in Super League next season came as a shock to everyone in rugby league, not least the players who had pledged their immediate futures to the Welsh-based club. Rabbitohs forward Shannon McPherson was among them.

"I think we have to be very, very careful with what we do with expansion," Richardson said.

"The Crusaders are the classic example. It is so difficult. They (potential clubs) have to have an outstanding business plan with enormous cash flow for the first three to five years before they even get up and running.

"We have to make sure we don't make the same mistakes as they have made in England. The bottom line in England is there shouldn't be 14 teams, there should be 12. The bottom line in Australia is there shouldn't be 18, there should be 16. We're struggling to make sure 16 survive."

Seven consortiums have expressed interest in joining the NRL in coming years, with the favourites believed to be Perth and one of the two bidders from southeast Queensland.

NSW's Central Coast, Central Queensland, Papua New Guinea and Wellington have also put their hand up.

The final decision will be made by the independent commission when it takes over running of the game, most likely on November 1. Broadcasters are also likely to have a say.

NRL chief executive David Gallop has expressed a personal view that the earliest expansion should take place is 2014, although the vast majority of clubs are believed to have pushed for 2015 or later.

"Expansion for the sake of expansion is not good for the game," Richardson said.

"We have to consolidate what we have here already and make sure that competition is strong and hard. We don't need to send sides to the wall.

"They (The Crusaders) were still signing players to three-year deals three weeks ago. It's wrong that that sort of thing can happen. We have to make sure we don't get ourselves into the sort of bind."

Commission chairman-elect John Grant is reluctant to comment on expansion until he has a full grasp of the landscape,although he conceded a decision needed to be made quickly.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/celtic-crusaders-flop-in-super-league-sends-expansion-warning/story-e6frg7mf-1226104566264