Hey Presto:league’s little magician (Sports journalism class)

picture from http://www.goldcoast.com.au

For anyone new to the game of rugby league, you could be forgiven for thinking that the pint-sized player on the premiership trophy is Preston Campbell, and not Arthur Summons.

 Campbell, who raised the trophy in 2003 for the Panthers, shares the same battle Summons did in his playing days.

 Standing in at 165cm and weighing 75kg on a good day, league’s magical little man Campbell takes on opponents much larger, and just as Summons did, handles the job with the ease of a gazelle and the courageous heart of a lion.

 From the outback town of Inverell in New South Wales, Campbell despite injuries has already survived 12 seasons in the competition, and kick-started his 13^th in dazzling fashion, playing a big part in the Gold Coast Titans round one win over the New Zealand Warriors.

 Gold Coast Captain Scott Prince said he was excited by Campbell’s freakish performance.

 “He’s a very instinctive player, he excites me, and I’m sure he excites the coaching staff and the fans that come out and watch him every week,” Prince said.

 “When he’s on he’s on, it’s just great to see that today everything he touched turned to gold.”

 Coach John Cartwright praised the inspirational fullbacks match winning efforts.

 “You can never put shackles on Preston, he’s very instinctive, and he’s as good as anyone I’ve ever seen.

 “People can say its luck, but it’s not luck he continues to do it, he lobs up in the right area and I think he does it best from fullback.”

 Campbell has been lobbing up in all the right areas, since making his debut for the disbanded Gold Coast Chargers in 1998.

 Since his debut he has dazzled coaches, players, and most importantly the fans with a creative, inspirational and instinctive bag of tricks he so often brings out to win games, not to mention his ability to take on players twice his size.

 The efforts and heroics of Campbell on the field have not gone unnoticed, winning Australian rugby league’s highest accolade the Dally M Medal in 2001 while playing for the Cronulla Sharks.

 The dynamic Campbell then moved to the Penrith Panthers where he went on to play a vital part in their 2003 premiership winning season, scoring two goals in the side’s 18-6 grand final win over the Sydney Roosters.

 Campbell then returned home to his beloved Gold Coast in 2007, to join rugby league’s newest team, the Gold Coast Titans, where he won the Paul Broughton Medal for Titan’s player of the year in 2008.

 The medal was won by Campbell who showed enormous courage, in a match against the Brisbane Broncos Campbell produced a heroic display of commitment playing the entire second half with a broken jaw, sparking comparisons with the legendary John Sattler who played 70minutes with a broken jaw.

 Brought to the club as their marquee player, Campbell was the kind of player inaugural coach John Cartwright wanted to build the culture of the club around.

 “He’s that type of player that clubs love to have because he’s so popular on and off the field,” Cartwright said.

 “People come through the gates to watch him.”

 Campbell is as inspirational and courageous of the field as he is on it, being a fan favourite for his tireless community work, and his strong links with Indigenous programs.

 In 2008, the role model was awarded the NRL’s highest accolade for outstanding service to the game both on and off the field, the Ken Stephen Medal, for his continuing support to Indigenous communities.

 Campbell credits his position as a role model for Indigenous kids and communities as a big part of his life, and is something he prides himself on.

 “I am very proud of everything I have done in the game but the community stuff is something I am probably more proud of,” Campbell said.

 “I come from humble beginnings and to be able to make it to the big time and now to be able to have the opportunity to give back to the community makes me proud.

 “Doing all this stuff in the community has helped a lot because I would like to go into this sort of thing when I am finished up.”

 Just after receiving the Ken Stephen Medal, Campbell was then offered another major accolade, being named captain of an Indigenous Dreamtime team who took on a New Zealand Maori side in the 2008 World Cup.

picture from http://www.news.com.au

 On the back of the soaring success of this exhibition match, Campbell then teamed up with Titans CEO Michael Searle, to create the annual All Stars match between an Indigenous All Stars team and a NRL All Stars team, taking place on the anniversary of the Australian government’s apology to the stolen generation, with players vying for the Preston Campbell man of the match award.

 Campbell captained the Indigenous side to an emotional 16-12 victory, and said it was definitely a career highlight.

“Being named captain in last year’s expedition match is something I will cherish for the rest of my life, and having the opportunity to do that again was really good,” Campbell said.

 “It is an incredible thing to represent your country, but in a game like this it is amazing to be able to represent your people.”

 At 32 years of age, the excitement machine doesn’t look like slowing down anytime soon, recently re-signing his contract with the Titans for a further two years.

 “At the start of this year I thought this was going to be my last year,’’ he said.

 “But the way things turned out and the way I’m feeling I’m really happy to hang around again.

 “It just feels good that the club has still got faith in an old bloke.

 “As long as I feel I’ve got something to offer I’m going to hang around and it’s just good that the club has shown faith in me and the way that I’m playing.’’

 You may well be forgiven for thinking it was Campbell on the trophy, but don’t be surprised if you see his iconic headgear reflecting in the chrome of Arthur Summons eyes at the end of the year.

Titans score first win of the season (Sports journalism)

Titans captain Scott Prince and coach John Cartwright at the post match press conference

A vocal crowd of 16,112 braved poor weather conditions to witness the Titans come back from 12-0 down early on in the match.

 Coach John Cartwright said he was pleased with the team’s composure to come from behind in the poor conditions.

 “I thought structurally defensively we were good,” Cartwright said.

 “We don’t play well in the wet, and we don’t play that good coming from behind, so we did both of those things today.

 “We held them out in the second half, and we came up with points exactly when we needed them.

 It was the visitors who ran away with an early 12-0 head start with wingers Manu Vatuvei and Kevin Locke scoring from kicks, and new halfback Brett Seymour converting both tries from the sideline.

 The Titans hit back after a sneaky short kick off from Campbell gathered the Titans some good field possession, which allowed new signing Joseph Tomane to cross for his first try in Titans colours.

 Prince then converted from the sideline to reel the score back to 12-6.

 Vatuvei then bagged his double after beating some soft defence to score in the corner; Seymour converted from the corner extending the Warriors lead to 18-6.

 The Titans hit back on the eve of half-time when Prince put Anthony Laffranchi through a gap to score next to the post.

 Prince’s conversion was successful putting the Titans 18-12 down into half-time.

 Warriors coach Ivan Cleary said his side didn’t handle the fatigue and second half as well as they could have.

 “We can probably look back on the game and think we certainly could have done some things better,” Cleary said.

 “We just fell asleep before half-time; 18-6 compared to 18-12 is a completely different ball game.

 “Nothing much in it, but I suppose at the end of the day they handled the second half a bit better than we did.”

 The Titans looked set to hit back in the early moments of the second-half with some early field possession but were unable to convert on the scoreboard.

 A string of penalties midway through the half handed the Titans good field possession, and they capitalised through winger David Mead, who on the end of some well strung passes did well to score in the corner.

 Prince converted from the side-line to tie the game up at 18-all.

 Some strong Titans defence deep in the Warriors half forced an error, which allowed the Titans to take the lead for the first time in the match after Campbell dove on a Nathan Friend grubber kick to score next to the post.

 Prince slotted the kick over to give the Titans a 24-18 lead.

 The Warriors looked to have hit back on two occasions but some desperate scrambling defence by Campbell and Kevin Gordon handed the Titans their first win of the season.

 Gold Coast Titans 24 (J Tomane, A Laffranchi, D Mead, P Campbell; S Prince 4 conversions) defeated New Zealand Warriors 18 (M Vatuvei 2, K Locke; B Seymour 3 conversions)

Indigenous team too strong in clash of the All Stars (Sports journalism class)

It was the Indigenous All Stars who stole the show at the inaugural rugby league All Stars clash, narrowly defeating the NRL All Stars 16-12 in an emotional game at Skilled Park last night.

Lead by Preston Campbell the Indigenous All Stars turned out to put on an entertaining show for the near sold out 26,687 crowd.

In the new form of the game, along with players being selected online by the fans, the NRL was trialling some new rules including playing the match in quarters instead of halves, and putting in place a double try rule.

 The Indigenous side set the intensity before the match performing a tribal dance rivalling the Maori Haka in passion.

The Indigenous team used this passion and crossed the try-line first after Wendell Sailor scooped up a Scott Prince grubber kick to score in the corner, handing his side a 4-0 lead after two minutes. Sailor, in his last game then ignited the crowd by pulling out the corner post and playing it as a didgeridoo, as he’s team-mates danced around.

With the crowd still on their feet, the Indigenous side had the first crack at the double try rule, giving up their kick at goal for one last attacking power play at the opposition, but were unable to convert leaving the score at 4-0.

The NRL All Stars looked to have hit back in the 12th minute when Israel Folau made a break, but a brilliant chase from Indigenous All Star Blake Ferguson pulled Folau up short of the line.

On the back of some tough on-line defence and a Benji Marshall penalty, it was the Indigenous All Stars who crossed the line through hooker Ben Jones midway through the second quarter to take the lead to 8-0.

 Jonathon Thurston successfully opted to take the conversion kick handing the Indigenous side a 10-0 lead.

 The NRL All Stars came out of the half-time break looking refreshed and scored their first points of the night through young flyer Josh Morris who dove on a Cameron Smith grubber kick.

 The NRL All Stars had a crack at the double try rule and brought their own piece of history to the game attempting a Parramatta wall, where the attacking team creates a wall to try and confuse the defending team.

The NRL All Stars double try effort proved unsuccessful after Nate Myles broke the rules by kicking the ball, leaving the score at 10-4. NRL All Stars playmaker Benji Marshall then reeled in the Indigenous sides lead to two points after finding a gap and outrunning the defence to score in the corner.

Another unsuccessful double try effort by the NRL All Stars team left the scores at 10-8 going into three-quarter time.

The NRL All Stars took the lead for the first time of the night minutes into the last quarter when Penrith speedster Michael Jennings crossed for a try, failing again with the double try effort the NRL All Stars lead 12-10.

 The Indigenous All Stars then stole the ball and the game in the 74th minute after Thurston jumped on a loose ball and showed quick thinking to offload to Jamie Soward who ran down the touchline to give the Indigenous side a 14-12 lead.

Thurston’s conversion from the sideline was successful handing the Indigenous All Stars the historic 16-12 win.

Indigenous All Stars 16 (W. Sailor, B Jones, J Soward; Thurston conversion) defeated NRL All Stars 12(J. Morris, B Marshall, M Jennings)

Titans too good for Dragons

A two try effort to Titans forward Brad Meyers helped them defeat the Dragons

An unlikely first half double to Titans forward Brad Meyers helped the Titans get their first victory over the Dragons and take them to the top of the NRL table.

The Titans held off a late Dragons comeback to win the match 28-24 in a match that had an early swine flu scare.

Titans player Ashley Harrison and Dragons Darius Boyd, were forced out of the match and into quarantine just hours before kick-off after fellow Queenslander Ben Hannant tested positive to swine flu.

There were no symptoms of a swine flu effect in an exciting game where the Titans took a commanding 22-2 lead into the half time.

The Dragons lead by in form pivot Jamie Soward staged a late fight back but the Titans were strong enough to hold on for the two points and their maiden win over the Dragons.

Titans coach John Cartwright was pleased with the win, but even happier with his sides performance.

“At the moment their (Dragons) probably the best side in the competition, so to get a win over them finally is just a bonus, but its the monkey of the back,” Cartwright said

“I thought our football was probably the best we’ve been all year at various stages,” he said.

It took a 15th minute try to Titans winger Chris Walker to get the try scoring underway as both sides traded early penalty goals.

Walker who looked to have tapped the ball over the Dragons fullback Jason Nightingale’s head was awarded for his efforts with a benefit of the doubt decision by video ref Paul Simpkins.

Minutes later the Titans crossed again through winger Esi Tonga after a set of quick passes found open space.

Prince converted the try from the sideline to give the Titans a 14-2 lead.

The red beard of Brad Meyers then crossed the line twice in the closing stages of the half giving the Titans a 22-2 half-time lead.

Dragons coach Wayne Bennett believed the Titans strong first half was the difference between the two sides.

“We just didn’t play well early in the game, and gave them to much opportunity, I was pleased with their second half effort but our problem was our start,” Bennett said.

“It was our poor line speed, we didn’t commit enough in the tackles and numbers in the tackles and the penalties we gave away kept them rolling down the field on us.

“We just got away to a bad start here tonight, we lost it somewhere today between where we woke up this morning and the start of the game.

“I don’t have an answer for it,” he said.

The Titans celebrate their maiden win over the Dragons

It was the Dragons who scored first after the break through winger Wendell Sailor, after an error from the Titans.

The Titans hit back shortly after through a try to utility Luke O’Dwyer off a Preston Campbell grubber kick.

The Dragons needed to score next to stay in the game and did so through five-eighth Jamie Soward, who converted his own try giving the Dragons a sniff of hope.

The Dragon pounced on their new found momentum and scored a brilliant team try through a well constructed set piece, in which winger Brett Morris scored under the posts, and the try was converted, narrowing the Titans lead to 8 points.

The Titans looked set to hold on to this lead until a couple of penalties and Titans errors allowed for the Dragons captain Hornby to score with 30 seconds remaining.

In one last desperate attempt to run the Titans down the Dragons decided not to take the conversion and have a final play at the Titans, but were ruled to be offside in their set piece, giving the Titans a 28-24 win.

Titans 28 (Walker 15th, Tonga 18th, Meyers 23rd and 39th, O’Dwyer 51st)

Dragons 24 (Sailor 45th, Soward 58th, Morris 62nd, Hornby 79th)

Titans triumph over Manly (TBM)

Manly Players look on in disbelief as Scott Prince lines up the conversion to win the Titans the game, after a controversial decision by referee Matt Cecchin

The Gold Coast Titans defeated Manly in a controversial game at Skilled Park in an exciting encounter that could only be separated by a late refereeing decision.

Manly looked to hold on to their three game winning streak over the Titans, when halfback Matt Orford kicked a field goal in the 75th minute giving the Eagles a one point lead.

With only minutes remaining referee, Matt Cecchin blew a penalty against Manly captain, Orford for taking out Preston Campbell in the contest to win possession of the ball.

The penalty in front of the sticks was converted by Titans co-captain, Scott Prince, giving the Titans an 18-17 win.

Manly coach, Des Hasler was clearly fed up with the standards of the officials in the game.

“Week-in week-out we are discussing similar issues, similar situations, and it is time something is done about it,” Hasler said.

“The game is professional, the officialdom isn’t.

“It was ahead of a large TV audience, 17,000 fans at the ground and it was again a junior referee who decided the issue with, in my opinion, a dreadful error under pressure.

“Rugby League is a great game; it has to be to survive errors like the one two minutes from full-time.”

The decision marred an exciting game which saw Titans five-eighth, Mat Rogers score the opening try in front of a 17,000 strong Gold Coast crowd, the try was then converted by Prince to give the Titans a 6-0 lead.

But after a vocal display from the heavy contingent of Manly supporters, the Eagles scored two quick tries giving them a 10-6 lead.

The Titans hit back through a try to winger, Kevin Gordon after 25 minutes taking a 10-all scoreline into the half-time break.

Both teams came out of the break looking ready for a fight, but it was Manly to score first after a knock-on by Campbell gave Manly possession in their attacking half.

Manly halfback Orford took the opportunity, and scored a brilliant individual try, later converted by Jamie Lyon, giving Manly a 16-10 lead.

After a repeat set to the Titans through a piece of Scott Prince magic, the Titans scored through lock Ashley Harrison.

Prince converted the try to level the scores at 16-all.

The two number 7’s then stepped up with Orford kicking the field goal, and Prince kicking the penalty, but it was the referee who ultimately decided the game.

Gold Coast Titans 18 (Tries: Rogers, Gordon, Harrison; Goals: Prince 3/4)

Manly 17 (Tries: T Williams, C Bailey, Orford; Goals: Lyon 2/3; Field Goal: Orford)

Check out a slideshow of the images from the game:

Dream Game with an All Stars line-up in the works (TBM)

Preston Campbell donning the Jersey of the 2008 World Cup Indigenous Dreamtime Team

Rugby League is planning to stage an historic match between an Indigenous Dream Team and an NRL All Stars Team.

 The match, which has won unanimous support from the NRL, is set to be played out annually on Australia Day.

 The proposal is set to go before the Australian Rugby League’s Indigenous Council, and if all goes according to plans the game will be set for a 2010 kickoff.

 Preston Campbell, who captained the Indigenous Dreamtime Team in an expedition match against the New Zealand Maoris at last years World Cup, is one player almost certain to be picked for the Indigenous Dream Team.

 Campbell, who is a great ambassador for the game and the Indigenous community, assisted in the plans for the proposed game.

 “Being named captain in last year’s expedition match is something I will cherish for the rest of my life, and having the opportunity to do that again would be really good,” Campbell said.

 “It is an incredible thing to represent your country, but in a game like this it is amazing to be able to represent your people,” he said.

 The Indigenous Program Manager for the Australian Rugby League, Ricky Walford, believes the game is a great way for Aboriginal Players to show off their talents and heritage.

 “These guys are not just great athletes, they play a distinct brand of footy that the fans love to watch,” Mr Walford said.

 “The Indigenous players are very proud of their heritage, and this would provide a perfect opportunity for them to show their pride,” he said.

 The proposal of an Indigenous Dream Team versus an NRL All Stars Team could be just what Rugby League needs, after a horrible week off the field for the game.

Look at the passion the Indigenous side brought to last years expedition game, in their War Crys

Raise your Glass for the diggers (TBM)

Soldier Statue at ANZAC Park, Southport

ANZAC Day services are set for a big boost this year with the Foster’s Raise a Glass campaign raising money for the Returned Service League’s and Legacy.

Ralph Thompson, Vice-President of the Surfers Paradise RSL branch could not be happier with the campaign.

“Having a quiet beer on ANZAC Day is an important part of the Australian culture,” Mr Thompson said.

The campaign not only looks to raise money for the RSL and Legacy, but it lets people tell their ANZAC Day Stories.

The campaign has come under some heavy criticism and opposition as it is seen as attempting to commercialise ANZAC Day.

Footy has had enough of Finch

In what has been a turbulent couple of weeks for Rugby League, Brett Finch’s decision to quit Parramatta is the latest off-field drama to rock the game.

Struggling Students slip into employment slump (TBM)

The financial crisis is not only hurting big businesses, students’ are struggling to find casual employment which fits in with their study schedules.

Students on the Gold Coast are finding it difficult to find casual employment as the big businesses on the coast are suffering at the hands of the global financial crisis.

Polly Davies is a student who has just finished her seasonal casual job at one of the coasts’ theme parks.

“The job was good as they rostered my shifts around my uni work, it has been really hard to find another place which can do that and also offer free entry into the theme parks,” she said.

Half a Percent of Australian’s are Homeless

The Australian Bureau of Statistics’ 2006 Census has revealed that zero-point-five percent of the population is homeless, an overall decrease from the last census.