Rugby League 2017

INSIDE

NEW COACH, NEW CAPTAIN, NEW SEASON FOR VODAFONE WARRIORS 2017 NRL DRAW / NRL TEAM PREVIEWS RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP 2017

FRIDAY, 27 OCTOBER–SATURDAY, 2 DECEMBER RLWC2017.COM

BULLDOGS v WARRIORS, FORSYTH BARR STADIUM, DUNEDIN

8.00 PM FRIDAY, 17 MARCH (ST. PATRICK’S DAY) TICKETS: TICKETMASTER.CO.NZ

OLIVERLEE.CO.NZ

OLIVERLEE.CO.NZ

3

OUT KNIGHTS 1 9 CHECKING 22 STORM, THE BRONCOS AND COWBOYS

SEASON 04 NRL PREVIEW

BULLDOGS AND RAIDERS

6–7KEARNEY

RETURNS HOME TO COACH

MANAGING EDITOR

UP CLOSE AT 25 LOOKING THE EELS, PANTHERS AND RABBITOHS

OLIVER LEE

26 PREVIEWING THE DRAGONS,

CONTRIBUTORS

ROOSTERS AND WESTS TIGERS

JUNIOR 15 2017 WARRIORS TEAM POSTER

08

DUNEDIN TO HOST BULLDOGS v WARRIORS

SUB-EDITOR / PROOFREADER ELISE McDOWELL

PHOTOGRAPHY PHOTOSPORT.NZ

16–17 NRL 2017

SEASON DRAW 20 WHAT’S AHEAD FOR THE SHARKS 1 8 WARRIORS TITANS AND TEAM PREVIEW AND STATS

PRODUCTION

ONTIME ASSOCIATES/HNZL

28–29 RUGBY LEAGUE W ORLD CUP 2017

SEA EAGLES

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1 1 PLAYER MOVEMENTS FOR

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ALL 16 CLUBS

30 RUGBY WORLDLEAGUE CUP 2017

2017 1 2 YOUR WARRIORS

TEAM POSTER

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BY ANY MEANS IS PROHIBITED.

ISSN 2463-5472 (PRINT) ISSN 2463-5480 (ONLINE)

CONTENTS

BEN BLASHCKE MICHAEL BLOK MICHAEL BURGESS WILL EVANS BEN LONERGAN DAVID PIEPERS KATE SYMONS PAMELA WHALEY

DRAW

DISCLAIMER THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS MAGAZINE DO NOT NECESSARILY REFLECT THE OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER. ALTHOUGH MATERIAL IS CHECKED FOR ACCURACY, NO LIABILITY IS ASSUMED BY THE PUBLISHER FOR ANY LOSS DUE TO USE OF MATERIAL IN THIS MAGAZINE.

NOTE THE TAB ODDS QUOTED THROUGHOUT THE MAGAZINE WERE CORRECT ON 17 FEBRUARY 2017. FOR THE LATEST UPDATED ODDS VISIT TAB.CO.NZ

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VODAFONE WARRIORS | YOUR TEAM

WARRIORS.KIWI

NEW COACH, NEW CAPTAIN AND A NEW YEAR …

NO ONE KNOWS QUITE WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE VODAFONE WARRIORS THIS YEAR BUT ONE THING IS FOR SURE — THEY HAVE TO IMPROVE ON 2016.

By MICHAEL BURGESS Improvement is a non-negotiable as the prospect of missing the NRL finals for a sixth successive year doesn’t bear thinking about.

The Warriors are long overdue for a play-off run, and those inside the Auckland club are quietly confident that it can be achieved. But don’t expect any bold proclamations ahead of the season, unlike 2016 when senior figures talked of their top-four expectations.

It’s been an understated buildup to this season, which is the way it should be.

The Warriors squad has a lot to prove — to their fans, to their opponents and to themselves. Everybody knows what this team is capable of — they demonstrated it last season in impressive wins over the Titans, Bulldogs and Broncos. But consistency of performance has been an Achilles heel.

“We have to become a team that turns up every week,” says coach Stephen Kearney.

“It doesn’t matter where we are playing or who we are playing, all we can control is our performance and that has to be at the top level.”

Fans of the Warriors have kept the faith over the last five years, and their loyalty should be rewarded in 2017.

Kearney was a critical appointment. It feels like he is the right man, at the right time, and his knowledge of the playing group and understanding of the culture at Mt Smart is a massive plus.

The appointment of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck as captain was a brave but logical decision.

It will be a steep learning curve for the 23-year-old, but one that will bring the best out of him.

Kieran Foran is the wild card. The delay over his registration has caused some complications, but there are no doubts

FULLBACK ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK BECOMES THE WARRIORS’ 11TH CAPTAIN IN 2017.

‘‘

WE HAVE TO BECOME A TEAM THAT TURNS UP EVERY WEEK… about Foran’s qualities and his attitude at training has impressed observers.

If he is physically and mentally ready, Foran will bring out the best in Shaun Johnson and add an uncompromising edge to the Warriors dressing room.

Senior players like Ben Matulino, Jacob Lillyman and Manu Vatuvei are playing for contracts while young guns Albert Vete (36 NRL games), Solomone Kata (45) and Sam Lisone (40) will suit up for their third NRL season.

Motivation shouldn’t be a problem. Johnson has been vocal about his desire to make amends for last season, and the carrot of the 2017 World Cup is a big one.

”

Their draw also looks better than previous years. The Warriors play five of their first six games in New Zealand, including a season opener at Mt Smart (against the Newcastle Knights) for the first time since 2009.

They also only face the Cowboys, Broncos and Sharks once during the season, though on the flip side, they play the Storm twice in the first two months and have another monster trip to Perth.

“We have to stay focused on our goal, which is improving every week,” says Kearney. “If you are climbing Mt Everest and you keep staring at the summit … you’ll trip up along the way.”

6

WARRIORS.KIWI

FOUNDATION WARRIOR RETURNS HOME TO COACH

By MICHAEL BURGESS

STEPHEN KEARNEY IS ABOUT TO START THE MOST IMPORTANT SEASON OF HIS COACHING CAREER. Stephen Kearney has already achieved so much in the sport – both as a player and with the clipboard – but the next few years at Mt Smart could elevate him to legendary status.

If the 44-year-old can bring success to the Warriors, starting with a long awaited finals berth in 2017, then he’ll become a local hero.

Kearney will have to deal with grand expectations, the local league public running out of patience after the disappointments of the last few years.

“External expectations are out of our control,” says Kearney. “That is something shaped by everyone else. What is happening inside the group is most important. And it’s not just about me

or any particular player. Everyone associated with the team has to perform their roles to the best of their ability. That’s how it works … it’s up to all of us.”

In less than six months in the role Kearney has already stamped his mark on the job.

The appointment of rookie captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck surprised many observers.

Kearney also persuaded gun Storm forward Tohu Harris to come to Auckland in 2018.

But most importantly, he has already lifted standards across the club.

Matt Elliott eventually got the job – but admits now he wasn’t ready back then.

Since then he has had three years working under Wayne Bennett at the Broncos, and has guided the Kiwis to three successive victories over the Kangaroos, including the 2014 Four Nations triumph.

His resume also includes five years as assistant to Craig Bellamy at the Storm and an ill-fated stint as Parramatta head coach in 2011 and 2012.

“It’s all about improvement,” Kearney says.

“We need to improve each week to meet our standards … that’s the focus for us.”

Kearney’s time with the Eels was tough – the club was in disarray off the field – but it was also a valuable experience.

Kearney has come into the role at the right time. He was mentioned as a possible candidate at the end of the 2012 season –

“That time has made me a lot wiser, that’s for sure,” he says. “You learn a lot from those kinds of experiences.”

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7

VODAFONE WARRIORS | YOUR TEAM

Kearney has a few cards in his favour. He’s inheriting a promising squad, with a core of senior players and promising youngsters like Albert Vete, Solomone Kata and David Fusitua established in the NRL. He’s also a prodigal son. Kearney was a foundation Warrior, and completed four seasons in Auckland – earning the 1996 player of the year award – before his move to Melbourne in 1999.

COACH STEPHEN KEARNEY TALKS TACTICS WITH KEY RECRUIT KIERAN FORAN AT A VODAFONE WARRIORS PRE-SEASON TRAINING SESSION.

Kearney knows many of the squad after eight years as Kiwis coach, and has a proven ability to get the best out of players like Manu Vatuvei, Shaun Johnson and Ben Matulino.

And he has great mana, derived from an outstanding playing career. He was New Zealand’s youngest ever Test captain (21 years old) and he played 44 tests, sitting behind only Ruben Wiki, Gary Freeman and Stacey Jones.

‘‘

IT’S ALL ABOUT IMPROVEMENT… THAT’S THE FOCUS FOR US.

“I’ve got no doubts Mooks [Kearney] will do well,” says Wests Tigers and Kiwis lock Elijah Taylor. “He understands the culture,

Backing Ambition BDO is a passionate supporter of New Zealand sporting organisations and bodies, and works with many clients in this area. We provide expert advice in the areas of Audit, Tax and Advisory, helping clients achieve their business success.

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”

understands the players and he’s a great coach. The Warriors will make a mark this season.”

8

DISCOVER DUNEDIN ON A SPORTY WEEKEND IN THE SOUTH

WWW.DUNEDINNZ.COM

FROM THE WORLD’S STEEPEST STREET TO NEW ZEALAND’S SMALLEST BAR, DUNEDIN IS A CITY LIKE NO OTHER. DISCOVER ALL IT HAS TO OFFER WHEN THE CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS GO HEAD-TO-HEAD WITH THE VODAFONE WARRIORS AT FORSYTH BARR STADIUM ON FRIDAY 17 MARCH. Coinciding with St Patrick’s Day, it is sure to be a thrilling night with a fantastic and lively atmosphere when the Bulldogs head over from Australia to take on the Warriors in the third round of the NRL Telstra Premiership.

As the world’s only fully roofed natural-turf stadium, Forsyth Barr Stadium is a great venue to welcome an exciting rugby league match like this, and will provide unbeatable atmosphere. It is also host to a number of sporting events and concerts each year.

This will be the first in-season NRL match to be held at the stadium, but it is not entirely new to the Warriors who have beaten the Brisbane Broncos twice in pre-season games here.

General Manager of Southern Zone Rugby League Inc, Steve Martin, is looking forward to the match.

“After two years of pre-competition games featuring the Vodafone Warriors at Forsyth Barr Stadium, local fans in Dunedin and throughout the South Island are looking forward to a clash of two of the top teams in the NRL in a full-blown competition game this year.

EMERSON’S BREWERY, TAPROOM AND RESTAURANT 70 Anzac Avenue Tour the new spiritual home of craft beer guru, Richard Emerson. New Zealand’s newest craft beer destination features a shiny new brewery and visitor centre in central Dunedin.

After touring the brewery, sit around the hearty fire and enjoy the exquisite beer and food matching from the well-curated menu.

FORSYTH BARR STADIUM, DUNEDIN

VISITING DUNEDIN Explore Dunedin’s high street stores, then indulge in Dunedin’s renowned cafe scene. Don’t forget to check out the city’s outstanding contemporary and ethnic restaurants and enjoy a bit of after-match fun at some of the city’s vibrant bars. Try Dunedin’s own iconic ales at one the city’s fine establishments – ask for an Emerson’s or a Speight’s!

“Fans will be parking their allegiances to the Vodafone Warriors and supporting the ‘home’ team for this game, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.

With the lure of a sell-out crowd under the roof, the atmosphere will be electric.

With the calibre of the players in the two teams on show, rugby league supporters new and old will be treated to a top-class game of rugby league.

“The boost that this game will give to the local rugby league community will be immense and will be a catalyst to drive participation in the game.”

OTAGO FARMERS MARKET

DUNEDIN RAILWAY STATION

NEW ZEALAND SPORTS HALL OF FAME Dunedin Railway Station New Zealand's greatest sports performers, their most memorable moments, the trophies and the tools of their trades – all come dramatically alive when you visit the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in the Railway Station in Dunedin.

OTAGO FARMERS MARKET Dunedin Railway Station Grab a bacon buttie or a pie or a whitebait fritter or a dumpling or more ... on Saturday morning from 8.00 am join the thousands of people who flock to the Dunedin Railway Station every weekend to purchase local food directly from the people who make and grow it. Explore the Railway Station building, its beautiful architecture and find out more about its colourful history.

SPEIGHT’S BREWERY TOUR AND SPEIGHT’S ALE HOUSE 200 Rattray Street While you are in ‘Southern Man’ territory, take a historic Speight’s Brewery Tour; find out where the legend began and all you need to know about the famous drop.

It would be rude not to.

For further details and other great ideas for your sporty weekend away activities, visit www.DunedinNZ.com To book activities visit the i-Site Visitors Centre in the Octagon – where there is free gig-speed WiFi!

Now even more direct flights.

The same can’t be said for these guys.

AKL

DUD

AUCKLAND RUGBY LEAGUE AND RUGBY LEAGUE RUGBY LEAGUE ARE AUCKLAND YOU 13 - 17 years of age -RUGBY a team player - like to have fun AUCKLAND RUGB AUCKLAND LEAGUE ars of age - a team player - like to have fun ARE YOU 13 - 17 years of age - a13 team to -have funpla ARE YOU - 17player years -oflike age a team

HAVE DREAMS OF BECOMING KIWI FERN? ARE YOU 13 - 17 years of age - a team player - likeA to have fun HAVE DREAMS OF BECOMING A KIWI FERN? HAVE DREAMS OF BECOMING A KIWI FERN? HAVE DREAMS OF BEC HAVE DREAMS OF BECOMING A KIWI FERN?

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Contact your local club and local club and local sign up your today or enquire at local club and Contact your local Contact club your and Contact y admin@aucklandleague.co.nz or enquire at or sign up today today or enquire enquire sign up at or enquire a sign up today andleague.co.nz admin@aucklandleague.co.nz admin@aucklandleague.co.nz admin@aucklandleague.co.

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11

NRL.COM

MOVEMENTS AT THE 16 NRL CLUBS

ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES

VODAFONE WARRIORS |

BRISBANE BRONCOS |

CANBERRA RAIDERS |

CRONULLA SHARKS |

IN: Kieran Foran (Eels).

OUT: Thomas Leuluai (Wigan Warriors), Jonathan Wright (Sea Eagles), Ben Henry (retired), Sione Lousi (Townsville Blackhawks), Ali Lauitiiti (retired), Shaun Lane (Sea Eagles), John Palavi (Limoux Grizzlies), Henare Wells (Burleigh Bears).

IN: Benji Marshall (Dragons), Korbin Sims (Knights), David Mead (Titans), Tautau Moga (Cowboys), Moses Pangai (Townsville Blackhawks), Mitchell Dodds (Warrington Wolves).

OUT: Corey Parker (retired), Jack Reed (retired), Greg Eden (Castleford Tigers), Brett Greinke (Rabbitohs), Jarrod Wallace (Titans), Carlin Anderson (Cowboys), Darren Nicholls (Panthers), Lachlan Maranta (rugby union).

IN: Dunamis Lui (Dragons), Jordan Turner (St Helens), Makahesi Makatoa (Bulldogs), Scott Sorensen (Mount Prichard Mounties), Brent Naden (Mount Prichard Mounties).

OUT: Sisa Waqa (rugby union), Frank-Paul Nu’uausala (Wigan Warriors) Paul Vaughan (Dragons), Lachlan Lewis (Bulldogs), Zac Woolford (Bulldogs),Sam Williams (Wakefield Trinity), Brenko Lee (Bulldogs), Tevita Pangai (Broncos).

IN: Tony Williams (Bulldogs), Daniel Mortimer (Titans), Manaia Cherrington (Wests Tigers), Jeremy Latimore (Panthers).

OUT: Ben Barba (rugby union), Michael Ennis (retired), David Fifita (released), Mitch Brown (Leigh Centurions), Josh Cleeland (Bulldogs), Connor Tracey (Rabbitohs), Jesse Sene-Lefao (Castleford Tigers), Jacob Gagan (Knights), Matt McIlwrick (Wests Tigers), Junior Roqica (London Broncos).

MELBOURNE STORM |

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS |

ST GEORGE-ILLAWARRA DRAGONS |

SYDNEY ROOSTERS |

IN: Josh Addo-Carr (Wests Tigers), Brandon Smith (Cowboys), Vincent Leuluai (Roosters), Jahrome Hughes (Cowboys), Ryley Jacks (Sunshine Coast Falcons).

OUT: Marika Koroibete (rugby union), Kevin Proctor (Titans), Blake Green (Sea Eagles), Ben Hampton (Cowboys), Josh Kerr (Dragons), Ryan Morgan (St Helens), Matt White (off contract), Francis Tualau (Bulldogs), Richard Kennar (Bulldogs).

IN: Jamie Buhrer (Sea Eagles), Rory Kostjasyn (Cowboys), Ken Sio (Hull Kingston Rovers), Josh Starling (Sea Eagles), Jacob Gagan (Sharks), Joe Wardle (Huddersfield Giants).

OUT: Akuila Uate (Sea Eagles), Jeremy Smith (retired), James McManus (retired), Kade Snowden (retired), Tariq Sims (Dragons), Robbie Rochow (Rabbitohs), Jake Mamo (Huddersfield Giants), Korbin Sims (Broncos).

IN: Josh Kerr (Storm), Nene Macdonald (Titans), Cameron McInnes (Rabbitohs), Shaun Nona (Illawarra Cutters), Paul Vaughan (Raiders), Tariq Sims (Knights).

OUT: Benji Marshall (Broncos), Sebastine Ikahihifo (Huddersfield Giants), Ben Creagh (retired), Mike Cooper (Warrington Wolves), Dylan Farrell (retired), Tom Carr (Bulldogs), Mitch Rein (Panthers), Dunamis Lui (Raiders), Adam Quinlan (Hull Kingston Rovers).

IN: Michael Gordon (Eels), Luke Keary (Rabbitohs), Liam Knight (Sea Eagles), Zane Tetevano (Wyong Roos), Paul Carter (Rabbitohs), Mitch Cornish (Eels), Brendan Santi (Townsville Blackhawks).

OUT: Sam Moa (Catalans Dragons), Jackson Hastings (Sea Eagles), Vincent Leuluai (Storm), Tyler Cornish (Titans), Paki Afu (released), Ian Henderson (retired), Joey Lussick (Sea Eagles), Brendon Elliot (Knights).

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS|

GOLD COAST TITANS |

PENRITH PANTHERS |

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS |

IN: Carlin Anderson (Broncos), Ben Hampton (Storm), Shane Wright (Titans).

OUT: James Tamou (Panthers), Tautau Moga (Broncos), Ben Hannant (retired), Brandon Smith (Storm), Jahrome Hughes (Storm), Rory Kostjasyn (Knights).

MANLY SEA EAGLES |

IN: Akuila Uate (Knights), Curtis Sironen (Wests Tigers), Blake Green (Storm), Jonathan Wright (Warriors), Shaun Lane (Warriors), Frank Winterstein (rugby union), Cameron Cullen (Titans), Lloyd Perrett (Bulldogs), Jackson Hastings (Roosters), Brian Kelly (Titans), Jarrad Kennedy (Raiders).

OUT: Jamie Lyon (retired), Tim Moltzen (retired), Tom Symonds (Huddersfield Giants), Jamie Buhrer (Knights), Feleti Mateo (Salford Red Devils), Luke Burgess (Catalans Dragons), Siosia Vave (Eels), Liam Knight (Roosters), Nathan Green (released), Blake Leary (Townsville Blackhawks), Issac John (Mount Prichard Mounties), Jayden Hodges (released), Rhys Armstrong (released), Fabian Goodall (rugby union), Halaufa Lavaka (released), Tony Satini (Panthers), Dylan Kelly (released), Hugh Pratt (released), Nicho Hynes (released), Darcy Cox (released), Josh Starling (Knights), Brayden Williame (Catalans Dragons), Matt Parcell (Leeds Rhinos).

IN: Kevin Proctor (Storm), Dan Sarginson (Wigan Warriors), Jarrod Wallace (Broncos), Paterika Vaivai (free agent), Tyler Cornish (Roosters), Daniel Vidot (Salford Red Devils).

OUT: Greg Bird (Catalans Dragons), Nathan Friend (retired), Josh Hoffman (Eels), David Mead (Broncos), Daniel Mortimer (Sharks), Luke Douglas (St Helens), David Hala (released), Nene Macdonald (Dragons), Cameron Cullen (Sea Eagles), Jed Cartwright (Panthers), Brian Kelly (Sea Eagles), Matt Srama (retirement).

IN: James Tamou (Cowboys), Tim Browne (Bulldogs), Michael Oldfield (Rabbitohs), Darren Nicholls (Redcliffe Dolphins), Mitch Rein (Dragons), Jed Cartwright (Titans), Tony Satini (Sea Eagles), Samisoni Langi (Rabbitohs).

OUT: Suaia Matagi (Eels), Jeremy Latimore (Sharks), Ben Garcia (Catalans Dragons), James Segeyaro (Leeds), Chris Smith (Sydney Roosters), George Jennings (Eels), Zak Hardaker (Castleford Tigers), Andrew Heffernan (Hull Kingston Rovers), Chris Grevsmuhl (released), Robert Jennings (Rabbitohs), Will Smith (Eels).

IN: Robbie Farah (Wests Tigers), Robbie Rochow (Knights), Tyrell Fuimaono (Eels), Connor Tracey (Sharks), Luke Kelly (Eels), Anthony Cherrington (Redcliffe Dolphins), Robert Jennings (Panthers), Brett Greinke (Broncos).

OUT: Joe Burgess (Wigan Warriors), Luke Keary (Roosters), Paul Carter (Roosters), Kirisome Auva'a (released), Cameron McInnes (Dragons), Nathan Brown (Eels), Michael Oldfield (Panthers), Samisoni Langi (Panthers), Brock Gray (Roosters).

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS |

PARRAMATTA EELS |

WESTS TIGERS |

IN: Brenko Lee (Raiders), Zac Woolford (Raiders), Josh Cleeland (Sharks), Rhyse Martin (Townsville Blackhawks), Tom Carr (Dragons), Francis Tualau (Storm), Richard Kennar (Storm), Asipeli Fine (Wests Tigers), Lachlan Lewis (Bulldogs).

OUT: Sam Perrett (retired), Tony Williams (Sharks), Pat O'Hanlon (retired), Curtis Rona (rugby union), Lloyd Perrett (Sea Eagles), Tim Browne (Panthers), Richard Coorey (released), Makahesi Makatoa (Raiders), Jarrod McInally (Queensland Cup), Graham Clark (released), Jake Kamire (released), Reuben Rennie (released), Lamar Liolevave (released).

IN: Frank Pritchard (Hull FC), Josh Hoffman (Titans), Suaia Matagi (Panthers), Jamal Fogerty (Burleigh Bears), Siosia Vave (Sea Eagles), Nathan Brown (Rabbitohs), George Jennings (Panthers), Kirisome Auva’a (unattached), Will Smith (Panthers).

OUT: Kieran Foran (Warriors), Anthony Watmough (retired), Tyrell Fuimaono (Rabbitohs), Michael Gordon (Roosters), Kieren Moss (Bradford Bulls), Luke Kelly (Rabbitohs), Danny Wicks (retired), Vai Toutai (released), Mitch Cornish (Roosters), Ryan Morgan (St Helens), Junior Paulo (Raiders).

IN: Jamal Idris (free agent), Matt McIlwrick (Sharks).

OUT: Robbie Farah (Rabbitohs), Curtis Sironen (Sea Eagles), Dene Halatau (retired), Josh Addo-Carr (Storm), Jack Buchanan (Widnes Vikings), Josh Drinkwater (released), Asipeli Fine (Bulldogs), Lamar Liolevave (Bulldogs), Billy McConnachie (released), Jesse Parahi (rugby sevens), Manaia Cherrington (Sharks), Chance Peni (rugby union), Dallas Graham (released), Nathan Milone (released).

VODAFONE WARRIORS | 2017 NRL SQUAD WARRIORS.KIWI

12

2017 NRL SEASON VODAFONE WARRIORS

Back Row (left to right) | Erin Clark, Nathaniel Roache, Matt Allwood, Junior Pauga, Bunty Afoa, Blake Ayshford, Isaiah Papalii, James Bell, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Ata Hingano, Jazz Tevaga, Mason Lino.

Middle Row (left to right) | Albert Vete, Ligi Sao, Pat Sipley, David Fusitu'a, Ken Maumalo, Manu Vatuvei, Toafofoa Sipley, Ben Matulino, Ofahiki Ogden, James Gavet, Charlie Gubb, Sam Lisone.

Front Row (left to right) | Bodene Thompson, Solomone Kata, Jacob Lillyman, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (captain), Ryan Hoffman, Stephen Kearney (head coach), Simon Mannering (vice-captain), Issac Luke, Shaun Johnson, Tuimoala Lolohea, Kieran Foran.

2017 BUSINESS

SUPPORTER

www.scottelectrical co.nz

WHANGAREI KERIKERI 09 430 0205 09 283 5501 NORTH SHORE AVONDALE EAST TAMAKI 09 443 0905 09 973 5190 09 265 0143 PENROSE TAKANINI 09 525 2242 09 298 0563

Front Row (left to right) | Boycie Nelson (assistant coach), Etene Nanai-Seturo, Kenese Kenese, Mathew Faitotoa, Chanel Harris-Tavita, Lewis Soosemea, Kane Tele’a, Erin Clark, Grant Pocklington (coach), Chris Sio, Isaiah Papalii, Melino Fineanganofo, Joe Vuna, Dylan Tavita, Eiden Ackland, Jerome Mamea, David Close (physiotherapist).

Middle Row (left to right) | Junior Mautairi (trainer), Iloa Ma’afu-Roberts, Michael Lemafa, Michael Nasiri, Troy Pulupaki, Edward Vaeau-Mulitalo, Carlos Henry, Christian Tuipulotu, Michael Graham, Havi Tupouniua, Uenuku Malesala, Doug Murray (manager), Preston Riki, Jordan Pinnock, Dylan Uate, Talavou Gavet, Nathan Newton, Tyler Slade, Auzzie Tuwhangai, Soane Hufanga, Gibson Popoalii, Dakohta Taimani, Sam Ragg (assistant trainer).

Back Row (left to right) | Maryn Murray, Rahiri Witehira, Lee Turner, Danny Misa, Kayal Iro, Hardi Pomate, Sione Tuipulotu, Utah Ioka, Keanu Laumatia-Paki, Elijah Sufia, Taine Wattie, Shane Hannam, Javvier Pitovao, Israel Ogden, Paul Turner, Liam Hampson, AJ Murray.

2017 VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS VODAFONE JUNIOR WARRIORS | 2017 NYC SQUAD WARRIORS.KIWI

15

16

NRL TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP

2017 NRL AND NYC DRAWS ROUND

ROUND 1

HOME

AWAY

SHARKS BULLDOGS RABBITOHS DRAGONS COWBOYS TITANS WARRIORS SEA EAGLES

v v v v v v v v

BRONCOS STORM WESTS TIGERS PANTHERS RAIDERS ROOSTERS KNIGHTS EELS

ROUND 2

ROOSTERS WARRIORS BRONCOS KNIGHTS SEA EAGLES RAIDERS WESTS TIGERS DRAGONS

v v v v v v v v

BULLDOGS STORM COWBOYS TITANS RABBITOHS SHARKS PANTHERS EELS

ROUND 3

STORM BULLDOGS TITANS KNIGHTS PANTHERS COWBOYS RAIDERS SHARKS

v v v v v v v v

BRONCOS WARRIORS EELS RABBITOHS ROOSTERS SEA EAGLES WESTS TIGERS DRAGONS

ROUND 4

RABBITOHS PANTHERS BRONCOS SEA EAGLES EELS TITANS WESTS TIGERS DRAGONS

v v v v v v v v

ROOSTERS KNIGHTS RAIDERS BULLDOGS SHARKS COWBOYS STORM WARRIORS

ROUND 5

BULLDOGS ROOSTERS COWBOYS SHARKS RAIDERS STORM WARRIORS WESTS TIGERS

v v v v v v v v

BRONCOS SEA EAGLES RABBITOHS KNIGHTS EELS PANTHERS TITANS DRAGONS

BRONCOS KNIGHTS PANTHERS SEA EAGLES TITANS COWBOYS WARRIORS STORM

v v v v v v v v

ROOSTERS BULLDOGS RABBITOHS DRAGONS RAIDERS WESTS TIGERS EELS SHARKS

BULLDOGS KNIGHTS BRONCOS SEA EAGLES RAIDERS DRAGONS PANTHERS EELS

v v v v v v v v

RABBITOHS ROOSTERS TITANS STORM WARRIORS COWBOYS SHARKS WESTS TIGERS

MARCH 2–5

MARCH 9–12

MARCH 16 –19

MARCH 23–26

MARCH 30– APRIL 2

ROUND 6

APRIL 6–9

ROUND 7

APRIL 14–17

EASTER WEEKEND

| ROUND HOME ROUND 8

AWAY

RAIDERS RABBITOHS EELS COWBOYS SHARKS WESTS TIGERS ROOSTERS STORM

v v v v v v v v

SEA EAGLES BRONCOS PANTHERS KNIGHTS TITANS BULLDOGS DRAGONS WARRIORS

ROUND 9

BRONCOS RABBITOHS COWBOYS TITANS BULLDOGS WESTS TIGERS WARRIORS DRAGONS

v v v v v v v v

PANTHERS SEA EAGLES EELS KNIGHTS RAIDERS SHARKS ROOSTERS STORM

ROUND 10

BULLDOGS DRAGONS WESTS TIGERS PANTHERS STORM SEA EAGLES KNIGHTS ROOSTERS

v v v v v v v v

COWBOYS SHARKS RABBITOHS WARRIORS TITANS BRONCOS RAIDERS EELS

ROUND 11

SHARKS WARRIORS BRONCOS TITANS EELS KNIGHTS BULLDOGS RABBITOHS

v v v v v v v v

COWBOYS DRAGONS WESTS TIGERS SEA EAGLES RAIDERS PANTHERS ROOSTERS STORM

ROUND 12

RABBITOHS WARRIORS SHARKS RAIDERS

v v v v

EELS BRONCOS BULLDOGS ROOSTERS

STORM EELS DRAGONS ROOSTERS COWBOYS SEA EAGLES BULLDOGS

v v v v v v v

KNIGHTS WARRIORS WESTS TIGERS BRONCOS TITANS RAIDERS PANTHERS

ROUND 14

SHARKS SEA EAGLES BRONCOS TITANS PANTHERS EELS WESTS TIGERS BULLDOGS

v v v v v v v v

STORM KNIGHTS RABBITOHS WARRIORS RAIDERS COWBOYS ROOSTERS DRAGONS

ROUND 15

RABBITOHS STORM SHARKS EELS

v v v v

TITANS COWBOYS WESTS TIGERS DRAGONS

APRIL 21–25

ANZAC DAY TUESDAY APRIL 25

APRIL 27–30

MAY 11–14

MAY 18–21

MAY 26–28

BYES: COWBOYS, DRAGONS, KNIGHTS, PANTHERS, SEA EAGLES, STORM, WESTS TIGERS, TITANS

ROUND 13

JUNE 2–4

QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY MONDAY JUNE 5 BYES: RABBITOHS, SHARKS

JUNE 8–12

JUNE 16–18

BYES: BRONCOS, BULLDOGS, KNIGHTS, PANTHERS, RAIDERS, ROOSTERS, SEA EAGLES, WARRIORS

NRL TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP

17

FOR DATES, VENUES AND KICK-OFF TIMES FOR ALL NRL GAMES VISIT NRL.COM ROUND

ROUND 16

JUNE 23–25

BYES: EELS, RABBITOHS

ROUND 17

JUNE 29–JULY 2

ROUND 18

JULY 7–9

HOME

AWAY

WARRIORS WESTS TIGERS COWBOYS RAIDERS ROOSTERS DRAGONS SHARKS

v v v v v v v

BULLDOGS TITANS PANTHERS BRONCOS STORM KNIGHTS SEA EAGLES

EELS TITANS BRONCOS ROOSTERS SEA EAGLES RAIDERS KNIGHTS RABBITOHS

v v v v v v v v

BULLDOGS DRAGONS STORM SHARKS WARRIORS COWBOYS WESTS TIGERS PANTHERS

ROOSTERS PANTHERS STORM BULLDOGS

v v v v

RABBITOHS SEA EAGLES EELS KNIGHTS

WARRIORS RAIDERS KNIGHTS TITANS SEA EAGLES RABBITOHS

v v v v v v

PANTHERS DRAGONS BRONCOS SHARKS WESTS TIGERS COWBOYS

BRONCOS ROOSTERS SHARKS PANTHERS RAIDERS COWBOYS DRAGONS WESTS TIGERS

v v v v v v v v

BULLDOGS KNIGHTS RABBITOHS TITANS STORM WARRIORS SEA EAGLES EELS

STORM ROOSTERS RABBITOHS EELS TITANS KNIGHTS WARRIORS PANTHERS

v v v v v v v v

SEA EAGLES COWBOYS RAIDERS BRONCOS WESTS TIGERS DRAGONS SHARKS BULLDOGS

COWBOYS BULLDOGS SEA EAGLES TITANS KNIGHTS PANTHERS SHARKS DRAGONS

v v v v v v v v

STORM EELS ROOSTERS BRONCOS WARRIORS WESTS TIGERS RAIDERS RABBITOHS

STORM EELS RABBITOHS WESTS TIGERS WARRIORS PANTHERS BRONCOS DRAGONS

v v v v v v v v

ROOSTERS KNIGHTS BULLDOGS SEA EAGLES RAIDERS COWBOYS SHARKS TITANS

BYES: BRONCOS, COWBOYS, DRAGONS, RAIDERS, SHARKS, WESTS TIGERS, TITANS, WARRIORS

ROUND 19

JULY 14–16

BYES: BULLDOGS, EELS, ROOSTERS, STORM

ROUND 20

JULY 20–23

ROUND 21

JULY 27-30

ROUND 22

AUGUST 3-6

ROUND 23

AUGUST 10–13

| ROUND HOME

AWAY

ROUND 24

COWBOYS ROOSTERS RABBITOHS EELS BULLDOGS RAIDERS KNIGHTS BRONCOS

v v v v v v v v

SHARKS WESTS TIGERS WARRIORS TITANS SEA EAGLES PANTHERS STORM DRAGONS

ROUND 25

STORM WESTS TIGERS TITANS RAIDERS WARRIORS PANTHERS SHARKS BRONCOS

v v v v v v v v

RABBITOHS COWBOYS BULLDOGS KNIGHTS SEA EAGLES DRAGONS ROOSTERS EELS

ROUND 26

COWBOYS STORM ROOSTERS EELS DRAGONS SEA EAGLES WESTS TIGERS KNIGHTS

v v v v v v v v

BRONCOS RAIDERS TITANS RABBITOHS BULLDOGS PANTHERS WARRIORS SHARKS

AUGUST 17–20

AUGUST 24–27

AUGUST 31– SEPTEMBER 3

NRL TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP FINALS SERIES WEEK ONE: SEPTEMBER 8–9 — QUALIFYING SEMI-FINALS GAME #1 (QF1)

1st

v

4th

GAME #2 (QF2)

2nd

v

3rd

GAME #3 (EF1)

5th

v

8th

GAME #4 (EF2)

6th

v

7th

WEEK TWO: SEPTEMBER 15–16 — SEMI-FINALS GAME #1 (SF1)

Loser QF1

GAME #2 (SF2)

Loser QF2

v v

Winner EF1 Winner EF2

WEEK THREE: SEPTEMBER 22–23 — PRELIMINARY FINALS GAME #1 (PF1)

Winner QF1

GAME #2 (PF2)

Winner QF2

v v

Winner SF1 Winner SF2

NRL TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP GRAND FINAL GRAND FINAL ANZ Stadium

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2017

Winner PF1

v

Winner PF2

KEY: QF (Quarter-Final), EF (Elimination Final), PF (Preliminary Final).

18

NRL.COM

CLUB PREVIEWS: SEASON 2017 GET A HEAD START ON ALL THE SEASON’S DETAILS AND MAKE YOUR PREDICTIONS FOR 2017.

VODAFONE

WARRIORS

LAST YEAR: 10TH PLACE HEAD COACH: STEPHEN KEARNEY CAPTAIN: ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK HOME GROUND: MT SMART STADIUM WEBSITE: www.warriors.kiwi TICKETS: www.ticketek.co.nz

by WILL EVANS

CONTACT: 2 Beasley Avenue, Penrose, Auckland, 1061 POSTAL: PO Box 12-224, Penrose, Auckland, 1642 PHONE: +64 9 526 8822 TAB ODDS: $10.00 KIWIS HOOKER ISSAC LUKE WILL BE A KEY MEMBER OF THE WARRIORS SPINE IN 2017, IN HIS SECOND SEASON AT MT SMART.

Hope springs eternal for the Warriors every pre-season, regardless of the scale of the previous year’s disappointment — and the club’s late collapse in 2016 was right up there.

With a mouth-watering roster, the annual addition of one or two world-class performers and the rabid support of an entire nation, the dawn of each new season brings the temptation to declare that this year, finally, will be the Warriors’ year.

Despite some exciting personnel developments, however, hype around the Warriors for 2017 is curiously muted. Perhaps because after five successive seasons of underachievement, everyone is a bit tired of it.

Record-breaking Kiwis mentor Stephen Kearney, a 1995 Warriors original, returns to Auckland as coach, while Kieran Foran arrives to complete the New Zealand Test spine alongside Shaun Johnson, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Issac Luke.

Marquee five-eighth Foran will make his long awaited return to NRL action in round three, after a troubled year off the field at Parramatta in 2016. But it’s straight-shooting Kearney who shapes as the Warriors’ key acquisition.

The highly rated Melbourne and Brisbane assistant, who also coached the Eels in 2011 and 2012, has already made his presence felt by replacing veteran back-rower (and former Storm teammate) Ryan Hoffman as captain with the 23-year-old Tuivasa-Sheck.

Kearney rarely gives much away, but he admits he is impressed with his new charges.

“Talent has never been an issue with the club, it’s a matter of working really hard on areas we need to improve and strengthening those areas where we are good.”

NRL.COM

19

LAST YEAR: SEMI-FINALIST HEAD COACH: WAYNE BENNETT CAPTAIN: To be announced HOME GROUND: SUNCORP STADIUM WEBSITE: www.broncos.com.au TICKETS: www.broncos.com.au/tickets CONTACT: Level 1, 92 Fulcher Road, Red Hill, QLD, 4059 POSTAL: Locked Bag 10004, Kelvin Grove DC, QLD, 4059 PHONE: +61 7 3858 9111 TAB ODDS: $8.00 The Broncos’ 2017 campaign marks the third for coach Wayne Bennett since his celebrated return to Red Hill and the first without club stalwart Corey Parker.

The one-club man left plenty of experience in his wake though – more than 200 NRL games for Sam Thaiday, Adam Blair and Darius Boyd, plus new recruit Benji Marshall.

Andrew McCullough and Alex Glenn fall just short of the double century.

LAST YEAR: ELIMINATION FINALIST HEAD COACH: DES HASLER CAPTAIN: JAMES GRAHAM HOME GROUNDS: A NZ STADIUM; BELMORE SPORTS GROUND WEBSITE: www.bulldogs.com.au TICKETS: www.tickets.nrl.com/team/500010 CONTACT: B elmore Sports Ground, Edison Lane, Belmore, NSW, 2192 POSTAL: PO Box 123, Belmore, NSW, 2192 PHONE: +61 2 9789 8000 TAB ODDS: $17.00 You’ve heard it before, so stay with us when we say this could be the year for Des Hasler and his Bulldogs. After finishing seventh and whimpering out of the finals in a meek loss to the Panthers in week one, an off-season shake-up was necessary.

CEO Raelene Castle said it herself, a seventh place finish is not good enough. Unacceptable. A showdown between club legend and director Steve Mortimer and Hasler had been brewing for LAST YEAR: PRELIMINARY FINALIST HEAD COACH: RICKY STUART CAPTAIN: JARROD CROKER HOME GROUND: GIO STADIUM WEBSITE: www.raiders.com.au TICKETS: www.tickets.nrl.com/team/500013 CONTACT: 2 Eade St, Bruce, ACT, 2617 POSTAL: PO Box 3315, Belconnen Business Centre, ACT, 2617 PHONE: +61 2 6253 3515 TAB ODDS: $9.00 It’s been more than two decades since the Raiders last celebrated a title and with their premiership window wide open, these players don’t want to miss their opportunity. Despite being tipped to go far in this year’s competition, captain Jarrod Croker says his Raiders aren’t buying into all the hype.

“We haven’t really spoken about expectations yet, we haven’t even kicked a footy yet. We were pretty pleased with how we went last year but we have to put that behind us.”

Boyd looms as the likely captain following Parker’s departure, although plenty of his teammates boast leadership credentials. Meanwhile, Glenn, Josh McGuire, Jai Arrow and Matt Gillett are all contenders for the vacant No.13 jersey.

“I don’t think it’s about one person [replacing Parker],” says Broncos assistant coach Jason Demetriou. “I think it’s about collectively as a group trying to do our best to fill that void.”

With halfback Ben Hunt announcing he’ll join the St George Illawarra Dragons at the end of the year, this season could well be the last we see of the Broncos’ highly touted halves combination.

Hunt and Anthony Milford have made great inroads in their two years together and have been integral to the club’s enviable attacking record, but their best is yet unrealised and now the clock is ticking.

Demetriou says that for Hunt and Milford, as well as the rest of the squad, there are improvements to be found, but not significant ones.

“Obviously for us it’s not about re-inventing the wheel,” he says. “We’re not far off, we’re very close to getting where we want to go but it’s about looking at all areas — everything we do — and finding ways to be two per cent better.” some time and in the end, the coach got his way. Hasler’s contract was extended until the end of the 2017 season – meaning there is incentive and urgency on his title pursuit. All he needs is for the players to deliver.

“If we’re injury free and can play some consistent footy at the start of the year and get our combinations right, then I’ve got no doubt we can push for the premiership,” Bulldogs prop Aidan Tolman says. “The core group has been together for five or six years and we need to be pushing for it. You never know what will happen and the time for us is now.”

“New guys are coming through all the time and sometimes that can be the difference. I think [the premiership window] is a bit of a cop out for teams who aren’t good enough to make it,” Tolman adds. “I’m not a massive believer in it because the salary cap works in that way, it’s not like a trade thing and you can go and buy who you want. Contracts these days can be broken at the drop of a hat so I don’t think there is such thing as a window.

I wouldn’t say our window is closing."

Changes at the top resulted in a complete overhaul of the football department (Hasler hired former Eels halfback David Penna as an assistant), but it remains to be seen how it will translate on the paddock.

Last season they scored more points than any other team and were by far the most exciting team to watch. They averaged 29 points per game, five more than the closest opponent.

Despite having the ability to score points all over the field, the Raiders know they need to tighten their defence to have success this season and are going off the old cliché that attack wins you games, but defence wins you titles.

“It’s pleasing that we’ve got strike all over the field – we knew that last year. The big thing last year was our defence. I thought our big boys really led that the way they moved off the line and the energy the boys had in defence helped out our attack.

We saved a lot of points and we have attack all over the field,” Croker says.

Croker singles out Shannon Boyd as a player stepping up into a leadership role. The 122 kg prop, who stands at 194 cm, made his Test debut during last year’s Four Nations and will be hopeful for State of Origin selection for the Blues this season.

“He [Boyd] is definitely up for the challenge. He’s come back from the representative tour of England ready to go. He’s grown another leg and he’s come back fitter and more excited. He’s really talking up and becoming a leader. If he continues that, he’s going to be a leader of our forward pack for years to come. I’m hoping he can lead the rest of the boys into this season.”

BRISBANE

BRONCOS

by KATE SYMONS

CANTERBURYBANKSTOWN

BULLDOGS

by PAMELA WHALEY

CANBERRA

RAIDERS

by MICHAEL BLOK

20

NRL.COM

CLUB PREVIEWS: SEASON 2017 CONTINUED

SHARKS

LAST YEAR: PREMIERS HEAD COACH: SHANE FLANAGAN CAPTAIN: PAUL GALLEN

“That’s why we’ve pushed ourselves so hard [in the pre-season] to get better, because we’re going to need to be.”

HOME GROUND: SOUTHERN CROSS GROUP STADIUM

Led by skipper Paul Gallen, the Sharks will have 14 of their 17 grand final-winning players available for selection for round one.

WEBSITE: www.sharks.com.au TICKETS: www.tickets.nrl.com/team/500028

by BEN LONERGAN

CONTACT: Level 1, 92 Fulcher Road, Red Hill, QLD, 4059 POSTAL: Locked Bag 10004, Kelvin Grove DC, QLD, 4059 PHONE: +61 7 3858 9111 TAB ODDS: $9.00 For the first time in their 50-year history, the Cronulla Sharks will begin a new season as defending premiers. The hoodoo is gone. The monkey is off the back.

But with their shiny new title as reigning champions comes new pressures. No team has won consecutive titles in almost two decades. It’s a statistic that Sharks second-rower Wade Graham says perfectly encapsulates just how competitive the NRL really is.

GOLD COAST

TITANS

LAST YEAR: ELIMINATION FINALIST HEAD COACH: NEIL HENRY CAPTAIN: To be announced HOME GROUND: CBUS SUPER STADIUM WEBSITE: www.titans.com.au TICKETS: www.titans.com.au/tickets

by PAMELA WHALEY

CONTACT: Ground Floor Waterside West, 9 Holden Place, Bundall, QLD, 4217 POSTAL: PO Box 8041, Gold Coast Mail Centre, QLD, 9726 PHONE: +61 7 5656 5699 TAB ODDS: $16.00 This season the Titans are coming off their first finals appearance since 2010 and will not be overlooked as a potential top-eight team. The potential has been realised – they are a top-eight team. The challenge is to remain one.

“I don’t think we’ll fly under the radar at all, nor do I think we really need to,” says Titans coach Neil Henry.

MANLY WARRINGAH

SEA EAGLES

by BEN BLASCHKE

“It’s such a hard competition, the hardest competition in the world,” he says.

LAST YEAR: 13TH PLACE HEAD COACH: TRENT BARRETT CAPTAIN: DALY CHERRY-EVANS HOME GROUND: LOTTOLAND WEBSITE: www.seaeagles.com.au TICKETS: www.seaeagles.com.au/tickets/tickets CONTACT: Sydney Academy of Sport, Wakehurst Parkway, Narabeen, NSW, 2101 POSTAL: PO Box 607, Brookvale, NSW, 2100 PHONE: +61 2 6253 3515 TAB ODDS: $18.00 For a club with a history of success built on stability, these past 18 months have presented Manly some unchartered waters.

Yet as they enter a season in which just five players remain from their squad of two years ago – and a new coaching staff to match – the Sea Eagles harbour anything but modest expectations in 2017.

“It makes everything that little bit easier with combinations. Having most of our squad back makes it that little bit easier to get back into rhythm and to show guys our systems,” Graham adds.

“In saying that we have to keep striving to get better.

You see every year someone comes up with something new.

The teams, like Canberra and Penrith, at the back-end of last year they were really hitting their straps and I’m sure they’ll really move forward again this year.”

But Sharks coach Shane Flanagan has also warned his grand final heroes not to get too comfortable with a number of new recruits and rising stars gunning for spots in his round one line-up.

On retaining most of his 2016 squad, Flanagan says, “It is great.

But I think I’ve got some ones that will challenge to start the year in first grade.”

“Something we could really improve is our home record.

At the moment ticket sales are good and corporate sales are good and there’s a positive vibe around, we just need to back that up with some good performances at home.”

Since the 44–28 elimination-final loss to Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium in September, the Titans have almost completely revamped their squad. In the process they have lost 1216 games of NRL experience, with the exit of Luke Douglas, Greg Bird, David Mead, Nathan Friend, Josh Hoffman, Nene Macdonald and Daniel Mortimer.

Henry is yet to name his captain for the season, but says Ryan James, Zeb Taia and Kevin Proctor are leading the way for the young squad. Kane Elgey has resumed his role as a leader of the future, while Nathan Peats is also held in high esteem among the playing group.

Jarryd Hayne is of course among them. In early February, the 29-year-old admitted he is no certainty to stay with the Titans beyond the end of this season, but while he is at the Gold Coast, Henry wants to get the most out of him – for the Titans and for Hayne.

“It’s a different squad with different players but we’re more stable than we were last year,” says coach Trent Barrett. “They were still getting to know me as a coach and there were a lot of new players. We’ve had a turnover this year too, but nothing like last year.

“The players we’ve brought in are experienced and have a point to prove, so we’ll give ourselves every chance. We’ve got high expectations and we’ll do everything we can to achieve them.”

Having already farewelled Anthony Watmough, Kieran Foran, Glenn Stewart, Matt Ballin, Peta Hiku, Clinton Gutherson and David Williams in recent seasons, Manly has added Jamie Lyon, Jamie Buhrer, Tom Symonds, Feleti Mateo and Josh Starling to the list of off-season departures. Veteran duo Brett Stewart and Steve Matai have also likely played their final games for the club due to chronic injuries.

Arriving in their places are a mix of promising youngsters and experienced campaigners, including Newcastle speedster Akuila Uate, Wests Tigers outcast Curtis Sironen, Canberra prop Jarrad Kennedy and young guns Jackson Hastings and Brian Kelly, although it’s five-eighth Blake Green – fresh from a grand-final season with Melbourne – who looms as Manly’s trump card.

NRL CLUB PREVIEWS CONTINUED ON pAGE 22

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22

NRL.COM

CLUB PREVIEWS: SEASON 2017 CONTINUED STORM

LAST YEAR: RUNNERS-UP HEAD COACH: CRAIG BELLAMY CAPTAIN: CAMERON SMITH HOME GROUND: AAMI PARK WEBSITE: www.melbournestorm.com.au

by BEN LONERGAN

TICKETS: www.tickets.nrl.com/team/500021 CONTACT: 60 Olympic Boulevard, Melbourne, VIC, 3001 POSTAL: PO Box 155, Richmond, VIC, 3121 PHONE: +61 3 8412 4999 TAB ODDS: $8.00 Craig Bellamy wasn’t about to let his players sit and dwell on their heartbreaking grand-final loss to Cronulla.

Instead the mastercoach, responsible for leading the Melbourne Storm to 13 top-eight finishes in the last 14 seasons, put his squad through one of his famous gruelling pre-seasons.

Part of the arduous off-season south of the border included a laborious two-week camp for the entire squad, including

NEWCASTLE

KNIGHTS

LAST YEAR: 16TH PLACE HEAD COACH: NATHAN BROWN CAPTAIN: TBC HOME GROUND: McDONALD JONES STADIUM WEBSITE: www.newcastleknights.com.au TICKETS: www.tickets.nrl.com/team/500003

by PAMELA WHALEY

CONTACT: 32 Industrial Drive, Mayfield, NSW, 2304 POSTAL: PO Box 152, Wickham, NSW, 2293 PHONE: +61 2 4028 9100 TAB ODDS: $151.00 The news broke on January 17 and a collective sigh washed over The Hunter. Jarrod Mullen, home-grown Novocastrian and Knight of 13 seasons had been provisionally suspended by the NRL under the anti-doping policy for returning a positive drug test for anabolic steroids. The sample was taken by ASADA on November 29, 2016.

NORTH QUEENSLAND

COWBOYS

Just two days later, when the disappointment was starting to wane, promising forward Pauli Pauli was involved in a seven-car LAST YEAR: PRELIMINARY FINALIST HEAD COACH: PAUL GREEN CO-CAPTAINS: JOHNATHAN THURSTON and MATT SCOTT HOME GROUND: 1300SMILES STADIUM WEBSITE: www.cowboys.com.au

by MICHAEL BLOK

skipper Cameron Smith and reigning Dally M medallist Cooper Cronk, in Geelong during January.

Melbourne enter the 2017 season missing three star players that were crucial to their grand-final run last season. Secondrower Kevin Proctor has moved to the Gold Coast, five-eighth Blake Green to Manly and electric winger Marika Koroibete to rugby’s Melbourne Rebels.

“It’s going to be very hard to replace those guys, that’s three really key positions in our team,” lock Dale Finucane says.

“But I think with the squad we have here, we’re more than capable of filling those voids. We’ve had some guys step up during the pre-season and train really well in those positions so I’m confident we’ll have built a strong side come round one.”

After spending the majority of his first four seasons in the NRL as a bench utility, Kenny Bromwich has been widely tipped to receive first crack at the vacant right-edge role, although Felise Kaufusi and former Queensland Cup star Joe Stimson remain firmly in the mix.

New recruit Josh Addo-Carr appears to be leading the race for Koroibete’s left wing spot. The former Wests Tigers flyer has turned heads during the pre-season with his speed and toughness. pile-up on the M1, dislocating his hip. All the while, stories about prop Korbin Sims’ planned exit swirled in the background and new recruit Rory Kostjasyn was busy rehabbing a freak throat injury suffered at training. After a pre-season like this, it was fair to wonder how much worse things could get before they improved.

“There are plenty of guys who are disappointed for a number of reasons for Mullo and Pauli, they’re both in different situations,” coach Nathan Brown says.

“We’ll support them through it, football clubs go through these things. We’re still in a much better position than we were at this time last year. We just need to knuckle down and move forward.”

The good news is there is only one direction the club can head in 2017. The Knights won a single game in 2016 and collected their second wooden spoon in as many seasons. Quite literally, it was their worst year in history. If they lose their round one game against the Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium, it will be 19 consecutive losses.

However, the 11 debutants from last season are rookies no more. Most are bigger, faster and less naïve about the rigours of an NRL season. They can take constructive criticism and as Brown says, walk with the confidence of knowing where they went wrong and that they have done the work to improve.

The dust has only just settled. They are no longer the defending premiers, something coach Paul Green isn’t worried about heading into the new season.

“Not being defending premiers has its advantages,” Green says. “But there are disadvantages of being premiers and we’re not this year so Cronulla will have to deal with that.”

TICKETS: www.cowboys.com.au/tickets

Despite not having the premiers tag, the Cowboys are still considered one of the competition favourites, and rightfully so.

CONTACT: Golf Link Drive, Kirwan, QLD, 4817 POSTAL: PO Box 587, Thuringowa Central, QLD, 4817 PHONE: +61 7 4773 0700

They fell just one game short of the grand final last year and have retained nearly the same squad as their 2015 premiership-winning side.

TAB ODDS: $8.00

The only players no longer there are Ben Hannant (retirement), James Tamou (Penrith) and Rory Kostjasyn (Newcastle).

When North Queensland lost last year’s preliminary final, not only did it finish their 2016 season, it was the end of the club’s most spectacular run. It was an amazing 18 months. They won their first premiership, they played out seven epic finals matches, three extra-time games against rivals Brisbane and won the World Club Challenge.

They also had two of their players win Dally M medals, six played State of Origin and 11 played Test football.

With the departure of these three players, Green has some tough decisions to make to fill these vacant positions. “We’ve got a number of young guys who are right on the cusp on being consistent NRL players, so there’s a great opportunity for those guys,” he says.

One player who is set for more NRL time is promising forward Coen Hess, who played eight first-grade games last season.

NRL CLUB PREVIEWS CONTINUED ON pAGE 25

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25

CLUB PREVIEWS: SEASON 2017 CONTINUED HEAD COACH: BRAD ARTHUR CO-CAPTAINS: TIM MANNAH and BEAU SCOTT HOME GROUND: PIRTEK STADIUM WEBSITE: www.parraeels.com.au TICKETS: www.ticketmaster.com.au/ Parramatta-Eels-tickets/artist/1297220 CONTACT: 2 Eels Place, Parramatta, NSW, 2150 POSTAL: PO Box 2666, North Parramatta, NSW, 2150 PHONE: +61 2 8843 0300 TAB ODDS: $16.00 The best thing about a new season is getting a fresh start.

It doesn’t matter how bad things were the year before as every club is given a clean slate.

And with the fresh start comes new captains – coach Brad Arthur selecting Beau Scott and club veteran Tim Mannah as the Eels’ leading duo.

“It was a great privilege to be named co-captain,” Scott says.

LAST YEAR: SEMI-FINALIST HEAD COACH: ANTHONY GRIFFIN CAPTAIN: MATT MOYLAN HOME GROUND: PEPPER STADIUM WEBSITE: www.penrithpanthers.com.au TICKETS: www.penrithpanthers.com.au/tickets CONTACT: Cnr Mulgoa and Ransley Street, Penrith, NSW, 2750 POSTAL: Locked Bag 322, Penrith, NSW, 2751 PHONE: +61 2 4725 6400 TAB ODDS: $7.00 Starting the season as one of the competition favourites, Penrith have the ability to do anything this year. But it seems every time the Panthers taste some success, they fail to back it up the following year.

After reaching the preliminary final in 2014, they slipped to 11th the season after; it was a similar story four years earlier, going from second in 2010 to 12th the following season. In fact, they’ve achieved back-to-back finals appearances just once in the past 25 years.

LAST YEAR: 12TH PLACE HEAD COACH: MICHAEL MAGUIRE CAPTAIN: GREG INGLIS HOME GROUND: ANZ STADIUM WEBSITE: www.rabbitohs.com.au TICKETS: www.tickets.nrl.com/team/500005 CONTACT: Level 4, 265 Chalmers Street, Redfern, NSW, 2016 POSTAL: Locked Bag 1, Redfern, NSW, 2016 PHONE: +61 1300 GO COWBOYS (1300 462 692) TAB ODDS: $15.00 Michael Maguire gave a blunt response when asked what he and his players had learnt from a lacklustre 2016 campaign.

“That it’s 2017 now,” the Rabbitohs coach says.

With that short statement Maguire makes it clear – 2016 is gone, the disappointment of a 12th-place finish with it and 2017 is a clean slate.

That fresh start began in November when the majority of the squad returned for the beginning of a gruelling off-season,

“I did a fair bit of it [captaincy] last year in the absence of Kieran [Foran] and the year before that as well, but to be named co-captain at the start of the year and to start the season like this is definitely a privilege.”

PARRAMATTA

EELS

Former Penrith and Canterbury forward Frank Pritchard headlines the list of recruits.

Their forward pack will also be bolstered with the signings of Nathan Brown, Suaia Matagi and Siosaia Vave.

“Frank Pritchard obviously brings his leadership qualities and lots of experience,” Arthur says. “Matagi and Brown bring in a little bit of grunt and aggression into our forward pack and they also have some good skills for forwards.”

by MICHAEL BLOK

The backline will also get a shake-up with the addition of Kirisome Auva’a, Josh Hoffman and George Jennings.

With the departure of Kieran Foran to the Warriors, Arthur will again rely on Clinton Gutherson to play in the halves.

Gutherson started last season in on the wing and in the centres, but shifted to five-eighth from round 19 onwards and impressed his coach.

“He’s a pretty calm kid – nothing really fazes him. Every week he got better because of his dedication and determination.”

Having reached the semi-finals last season, the Panthers now have the perfect opportunity to break this trend and reach the finals in consecutive years, but coach Anthony Griffin isn’t looking too far ahead.

“I’ve got no expectations for this year. I’ve learnt to work really hard with the list we have. We can’t pre-empt or get too far ahead of ourselves,” Griffin says. “Majority of our squad was here last year so it’s made things a lot more fluent this year.”

Not only is Griffin enjoying the stability of the squad, he’s also pleased with the addition of some handy recruits this season.

“We’ve had some quality players come into the squad. James Tamou, Tim Browne and Mitch Rein are all quality players and have added great depth.

“They’ve all trained really well, they’re all in really good shape.

The guys that have come in have really added something – they’ve been really professional.”

The loss of Josh Mansour is a huge blow for the Panthers considering the Australia and NSW winger recorded 16 tries, 22 line-breaks and 135 tackle-breaks last season, to go with an average of 174 metres per game. There were initial fears he could miss the entire 2017 season, but Griffin hopes to see him back on the field midway through the season. during which the club’s biggest stars, Greg Inglis, Sam Burgess, Adam Reynolds and John Sutton, have led by example.

South Sydney overhauled their roster after last season’s frustrating performance. Kirisome Auva’a, Nathan Brown, Joe Burgess, Paul Carter, Luke Keary, Cameron McInnes and Michael Oldfield have all left Redfern – either not re-signed or told they were free to explore opportunities at other clubs.

Any disappointment Rabbitohs fans had regarding the departing cast was quickly washed away by a number of new acquisitions, headlined by NSW State of Origin hooker Robbie Farah.

Former Newcastle and Melbourne enforcer Robbie Rochow joins Farah at the club to provide some extra beef to an already gigantic forward pack.

“They’ve gelled in really well,” Maguire says of the new arrivals.

“I think they’re going to bring a lot to us as a team. They’re all really looking forward to playing together.”

South Sydney skipper Greg Inglis has been equally impressed with the fresh-faced new recruits, also using the opportunity to improve himself as a leader.

“We have got a lot of young talent in our squad and each and every day is a learning curve for myself to help them as well,” Inglis says.

PENRITH

PANTHERS

by MICHAEL BLOK

SOUTH SYDNEY

RABBITOHS

by BEN LONERGAN

NRL CLUB PREVIEWS CONTINUED ON pAGE 26

LAST YEAR: 14TH PLACE

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CLUB PREVIEWS: SEASON 2017 CONTINUED ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA

DRAGONS

LAST YEAR: 11TH PLACE HEAD COACH: PAUL McGREGOR CAPTAIN: GARETH WIDDOP HOME GROUNDS: UOW JUBILEE OVAL; WIN STADIUM; ANZ STADIUM WEBSITE: www.dragons.com.au TICKETS: www.dragons.com.au/tickets

by DAVID PIEPERS

CONTACT: 124 Princes Highway, Kogarah, NSW, 2217 * POSTAL: Locked Bag 1500, Ramsgate, NSW, 2217 * PHONE: +61 2 9587 1966 *

* Details provided are for the St George Club.

TAB ODDS: $61.00 Last year was tough for the Dragons and combined with a season-ending injury to incoming halfback Drew Hutchison, a significant drop in expectation for the Red V has filtered among pundits in 2017 – but no one at the club is feeling that way. “At the Dragons you’ve got pressure from the proud history of the club, no matter how much people are writing

SYDNEY

ROOSTERS

LAST YEAR: 15TH PLACE HEAD COACH: TRENT ROBINSON CO-CAPTAINS: JAKE FRIEND and MITCHELL AUBUSSON HOME GROUND: ALLIANZ STADIUM WEBSITE: www.roosters.com.au TICKETS: www.tickets.nrl.com/team/500001

by BEN LONERGAN

CONTACT: MP1 Car Park, Allianz Stadium,

Driver Avenue, Moore Park, NSW 2021 POSTAL: PO Box 693, Paddington, NSW, 2021 PHONE: +61 2 8063 3800 TAB ODDS: $13.00 Jake Friend could see the fire burning in the eyes of his teammates on his first day back at pre-season.

“There are a lot of boys in our team with a lot of pride, and last year burns. The training standard has lifted compared to where we were this time in the pre-season last year,” Friend says.

“There’s a buzz around the place. The boys have really ripped in and in between all the hard work, we’re all having a laugh and

WESTS

TIGERS

LAST YEAR: NINTH PLACE HEAD COACH: JASON TAYLOR CAPTAIN: AARON WOODS HOME GROUNDS: CAMPBELLTOWN SPORTS STADIUM; LEICHHARDT OVAL; ANZ STADIUM TICKETS: www.weststigers.com.au/tickets

by PAMELA WHALEY

CONTACT: Concord Oval, Loftus Street, Concord, NSW, 2137 POSTAL: PO Box 169, North Strathfield, NSW, 2137 PHONE: +61 2 8741 3300 TAB ODDS: $21.00 It’s 10 am and the mercury has reached 38 degrees already.

Standing in the sun is exhausting, but you should see the sweat pouring from the Wests Tigers players in this obscene humidity. But it’s the pre-season, so no one wants to be the first to leave the paddock. They all stay, running suicides, not daring to be the first to complain.

“We’ve got a lot of Sunday games, but we’re acclimatising to it by training in this,” says coach Jason Taylor, who has just finished his third pre-season with the club.

you off,” says second-rower Tyson Frizell. “That’s how it should be, we want to be successful. Last year was disappointing, but now we get to start fresh.”

Starting fresh is exactly what the club is doing, too. They farewelled nearly 400 games of NRL experience in the off-season with the departure of Benji Marshall and Mitch Rein, while long-serving club captain Ben Creagh has retired.

In their place have come a few astute signings and a plethora of talent from the club’s successful lower grade sides.

A change of personnel is all well and good, but the team’s biggest problem over the past two seasons has been their inability to fire in attack. St George Illawarra have had the second-worst attacking record for the past two seasons – and it’s something coach Paul McGregor is very aware of.

“It’s certainly been a focus of pre-season,” he says. “We believe we have a strategy that can continually improve – simplicity through a power game with the freedom to play what’s in front of us.”

As well as shrewd recruitment, junior talent will also shine in the Red V this year. Matt Dufty, Jai Field and Jacob Host are just some of the local youngsters who’ve been retained by the club for years to come – and we can expect to see them at some point this year. a joke and having a good time. Hopefully that comes through in our footy.”

Aside from veteran prop Sam Moa, the Roosters have kept the nucleus of their senior playing group intact. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Dylan Napa, Boyd Cordner and Mitchell Aubusson return to lead one of the competition’s most feared forward packs, while Mitchell Pearce will pull the strings for a dangerous backline that includes international stars Blake Ferguson, Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Daniel Tupou.

“We let some experience go the year before, so it was an important for us to keep a solid squad together and that’s what we’ve got,” assistant coach Justin Holbrook says.

“That has really helped at training and I know I speak for everyone when I say we’re really looking forward to this season.”

Latrell Mitchell was a revelation at fullback in 2016 before moving back to the wing late in the season. He will likely remain there as recruit Michael Gordon takes his spot at the back.

The secret for Trent Robinson’s men is staying healthy and avoiding off-field distractions, if they can achieve that there’s plenty of reasons to believe one of the NRL glamour clubs could return to the top of the ladder in 2017.

And it’s true, six of their first eight games will be played in the afternoon. It goes without saying, but this pre-season has been all about preparation.

“It’s really visible to see the development and the understanding of what it takes to keep moving our way up the ladder. The guys get it,” Taylor says.

“We’ve got some good experienced guys here now who are setting a good standard for us, but the young ones understand you can’t be playing deep into the finals if you don’t do the work at this time of year.”

The likes of James Tedesco, David Nofoaluma and Sauaso Sue are another year older and starting to earn representative recognition. Aaron Woods is now a mainstay in State of Origin and Australia selections. Jamal Idris – one of the most physically gifted athletes in the game – is back and hungrier than ever.

It’s taken a while to get here, but all that rebuilding has raised a team capable of anything.

If you’re a Wests Tigers fan there is plenty to look forward to in 2017. And if you don’t believe us, believe the coach.

“I just love footy, I can’t wait for it to start,” Taylor says. “I don’t often feel like that, but I’m confident with where we are this year.”

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BRING IT ON: RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP

LOOKING AHEAD TO WHAT IS PURPORTED TO BE THE MOST COMPETITIVE WORLD CUP TO DATE. After almost a decade, the Rugby League World Cup returns to the Southern Hemisphere this year.

The tournament kicks-off 27 October, and ends a long wait for New Zealand league fans.

should believe the hype about the 15th edition of league’s most prestigious tournament.

New Zealand will host seven matches, including a semi-final in Auckland. The Kiwis haven’t played on home soil since 2014, and last played a World Cup match here in 1992.

The fixtures are spread across three countries, with games to be played in league-mad Papua New Guinea and Australia, as well as New Zealand.

There are 13 host cities in total, including Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch.

It should be worth the wait. Not only will New Zealand have a great chance of repeating their 2008 triumph, but this tournament is shaping up as the best ever.

Organisers are confident of attracting more than 500,000 spectators to the matches – with family tickets for pool games starting from $45 – and games will be broadcast to more than 100 nations around the world.

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But perhaps most importantly, this event should be the most competitive World Cup

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Take Lebanon as an example. Now coached

by Ivan Cleary, the Middle East team could call upon the likes of Robbie Farah, Tim Mannah, Mitchell Moses and Josh Mansour in 2017.

The Kiwis are in arguably the toughest pool, with Samoa, Tonga and the steadily improving Scots. David Kidwell’s team will need to start well – they face Samoa in Auckland on the opening weekend – but the omens are good.

The 2016 Four Nations campaign was a disappointment, but rookie coach Kidwell has learned from the experience. Key players like Simon Mannering, Kieran Foran, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Ben Matulino should be back and Jesse Bromwich (28 at tournament kick-off

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time), Tohu Harris (25) and Jason Taumalolo (24) will be coming into their prime.

25 November. The final is in Brisbane on 2 December.

The Kiwis are seeded to face France or Lebanon in Wellington in the last eight, before an expected blockbuster semi-final match up with England in Auckland on

The Women’s World Cup will be staged in parallel with the men’s event, promising another installment of the tremendous rivalry between the Kiwi Ferns and the Jillaroos.

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