Challenge Cup preview.

So who do you want to win tomorrow? A team that has been dominating the competition for the past three seasons, or a team that should not be in the competition to start with? There is little doubt both St Helens and Hull have earned their bread on the field, but when it comes to playing by the rules fairly off it, Hull fall way short of the mark.

But thankfully, it seems almost impossible to imagine a Humberside success story. St Helens have been the dominant side for the past twenty one matches, their last defeat this season coming at the hands of Leeds back in round nine. However, records are there to be broken and it will come as no surprise if Hull were to be the only side Daniel Anderson has faced and lost to in the competition since 2005.

That said, look where Hull are now compared to three years ago. They were probable Grand Finalists with a Challenge Cup under their belts and a comfortable play off win over Warrington, who were high as a kite after two successful and extraordinary appearances by Andrew Johns. The following year they were Grand Finalists. So where did it all go wrong? Perhaps that is a question for another day. But for now it is worth comparing the state of the club in 2005, to the Hull FC of the present day.

So who are the player to look out for tomorrow? How will set the game alight? Who will lift the Lance Todd Trophy? Well you could list any number of St Helens players. Sean Long will no doubt be after his fourth Ma of the Match, as if he isn't already in the Challenge Cup history books enough. Leon Pryce is a worthy contender, as is Keiron Cunningham, Paul Wellens, James Roby, James Graham, Matt Gidley, Kyle Eastmond and even Paul Sculthorpe would want to end what will probably his last final apperance on a high. The bookies are obviously going with Long and Pryce, but if Hull were to spring a surprise who would be in contention? Shaun Berrigan is no doubt the first Hull player on the pricing board, as is Richard Horne, Adam Dykes, Danny Washbrook and Danny Tickle. How about the "ineligable player" Jamie Thackray? How appropiate would that be?

Fact of the matter is, who ever performs on the day will win. Its a knockout tournament, thats the beauty of knockout football. You get one chance to play and if you fail, your out. (unless your Saints up against Warrington) No matter whats happened off the field regarding Hull and the Jamie Thackray situation, they're there. Like it or not, Hull will compete in the final and they will be up against a very strong St Helens outfit. So who will win? Saints of course. By how much? I couldn't tell you. Wheather it be by one point or fifty, they'll take the trophy home for the third consecutive time by tomorrow evening.

When did the French squad get announced?

So the French forty-man squad was released, but with no one telling me I wasn't able to comment on how fantastic it is to see genuine French players playing for their country. However that is not necessarily the case, with five Australians qualifying on residency, three of those playing in the French Rugby League Championship. The other two being John Wilson and Justin Murphy.

However there are good signs in that all but one of the forty-man squad do actually play in France. The only exception is French hooker Julian Rinaldi, who is playing for Harlequins until the end of the season. The fact that French players are playing for UK clubs is a good things as they are good enough to attract the attention of established clubs in Super League. It is a small but important step in growing the game on the north Mediterranean coast.

The French announcement leaves only England and Scotland the only teams not to have announced their provisional squads to the wider public. Both coaches have come under criticism for failing to do so, with tournament officials claiming in doing so the tournament is attracting less publicity. While it would be nice to see which players have caught Tony Smith's eye, he knows what he is doing and is no doubt leaving it as late as possible as to keep players guessing and therefore performing week in, week out to the highest standard possible.

Goodbye, Sonny.

Finally the story of the year has come to a predictable end with the newly signed Toulon RU star agreeing a release from his Canterbury contract at the cost of $750,000. This in affect, closes the door on SBW participating in the world cup and any possible future back in the NRL even if he wanted to. With all the controversy that has surrounded the move, Sonny Bill will be about as welcome back in Australian Rugby League as an Englishman in a police uniform. On top of that, Canterbury have been successful in inserting a clause into Williams’ contract stopping him from playing in the NRL until 2013 leaving his options limited to Super League if he fails to make a success of the kick-and-clap game.

The move also puts an end to the court case that was being prepared while Sonny Bill was awaiting his injunction. As soon as the NSW court papers were in the hands of the former kiwi star, it was only a matter of seconds before he would ask, “How much do you want?” But crucially it spares the game from further embarrassment in the public eye, de-railing the NRL chiefs from selling a product that is by far the best in Australia. However before any of that is done, the NRL have to look at player salaries and the way contracts are structured.

While salary caps are set up in all four codes of football in the land of Oz, we are now competing with a global market whereas Soccer and Aussie Rules don’t compete with similar sports so its star names can use their skills elsewhere. Whereas the A-League only attracts footballers who can’t cope with a real contact sport and defunct legends on a nice retirement package, and the AFL is unheard of outside Australia, Rugby League is at a disadvantage to union down under due to its lack of worldwide appeal. If an NRL player wants to earn big money outside of Australia, his only option is half a world away in Super League. But even that has a salary cap, so to earn unlimited amounts of cash you have to look at either mainland European rugby union, or possibly All Black or Springbok union.

There’s no two ways about it though, NRL players are not earning as much as they deserve regarding their status as role models and their capabilities in endorsing products. Doing so can breach salary cap regulations but only from third party sponsors that already sponsor a player’s club. Relaxing these rules brings more money into player’s pockets, more interest from potential sponsors, more public interest in the game and therefore more money in the game overall.

Case closed, now where do I apply to takeover David Gallop’s job?

New Zealand list SBW in provisional squad, but don't underestimate them yet.

New Zealand became the latest world cup team to announce their preliminary squads before the tournament kicks off on the 25^th October. The announcement edged the Sonny Bill Williams story further along its route after Stephen Kearney listed the latest cross code export in his forty-nine man squad. But his selection is pending a court enquiry and the player’s eligibility and availability.

Focusing on the remaining players selected, only two other squad members are from the Super League competition. Brent Webb and Thomas Leuluai represent the northern hemisphere within the Kiwi ranks, while many others are also selected to represent other teams competing. Mostly these come from the three Pacific island nations who have selected players on birth or parentage. But I have little doubt what nation the forty-nine players will play for if selected. And if you need a clue, the jersey is mostly black.

Now I don’t know about you, but I think I’m the only Englishman who is nail-biting ahead of the Anglo-Kiwi clash in Newcastle. Providing NZ can get a fully fit side on the paddock (which they haven’t been able to do for quite some time) then they are easily capable of taking the final out. While England seem to currently be second favourites in the bookies and most people’s views, just remember it wasn’t that long ago that NZ actually won a test series that also consisted of Australia. When was the last time England or GB did that? Yes I know we beat them last year as GB, and with a side that was totally eligible for England selection, but just look at the NZ squad that toured. No Benji Marshall, SBW, David Fa’alogo, Kristan Inu and David Kidwell. In fact I could go on and on and on naming players NZ have lost in recent test series to injury. And it has clearly cost them. They are no longer ranked second in the world. But frustratingly, their team can be so unpredictable.

During this world cup, they have the potential to be the most unpredictable team before the match kicks off. They have the ability to be poor one week, draft in a few star players and be amazing the next. Until that starting seventeen is announced on match day, rule New Zealand out at your peril.

Sonny Bill is right to leave, but went the wrong way about it.

After watching Sonny Bill Williams’ interview on The Footy Show last night, I’ll swallow my opinions on his selfishness and greediness with a few finely cut slices of humble pie, after he left the NRL for a French rugby union side in Toulon. For the past two weeks SBW has been public enemy number one with both Canterbury fans, and fans of the NRL in general. Reporters, critics and fans have blasted the way he behaved by just walking out on the club days before he was due to play, and without notice to club officials, coaches or even teammates. But the reasons for his departure have never been clear. The assumption was, why would a player simply walk out on the NRL, especially as there is already a so called ‘player exodus’, without telling anybody, and especially if it didn’t involve a huge sum of money as it was days before Canterbury faced St George?

According to the man himself on the Channel Nine interview, he left for numerous reasons. The one that sticks in my mind the most is his criticism of Steve Folkes. Sonny Bill came out yesterday saying he was jumped on for associating with Muslims, such as Anthony Mundine. According to SBW, Folkes has said “Your not turning Muslim are you, your joking right? You’re kidding yourself if you’re taking advice off Anthony Mundine”. I agree with SBW in that Folkes has no right to “bag” Williams’ mates in that way. After which Williams’ decided to pick up sticks and move. It was his choice based on the treatment by a professional rugby league coach that was, if we are to believe SBW, totally unacceptable.

Now we all knew at the time St Helens had offered Sonny Bill a $1 million contract. How they could have afforded it at the time heaven knows, but what was leaked into the Sydney Morning Herald was a genuine contract, despite Saints’ claim it was untrue. However, SBW uses this as an example as to why he is not a greedy person and stayed on $400,000 a year with Canterbury.

Now I genuinely believe his excuse for leaving is legitimate. But I cannot understand why he left in the manner he did. He could have easily done what Jamie Lyon did in 2003. He was unhappy at Parramatta for one reason or another, he spoke to the club about his issues and the club released him. Now why didn’t SBW do that? Why didn’t SBW go up to whoever at Canterbury, said he wasn’t happy and the club would maybe sort things out for him and support him through whatever the problem was. But again, according to SBW, Todd Greenberg set the scenario that Rugby League is a business, and I have no doubt Williams’ felt the door was closed if he had a problem.

So what if Folkes is a “tyrant” and so what if Greenberg sees our game as a business? The players need to feel wanted at a club in a friendly environment and that all players are respected. But they cannot bottle it all up and walk away. They have to be vocal about their concerns and let people know how they feel in confidence. Sonny Bill failed to do that and now must face a legal battle that will bring both himself, and the game into disrepute. And because Williams walked out the way he did, he is public enemy number one. Its why he is $BW and Sonny ‘Dollar Bill’ Williams. While his actions were indecent, his reasons were justified.

More World Cup squads announced.

Up to now, six teams competing in this years world cup have announced their provisional squads. They are the Australians and the Irish (see below) as well as the Tongans, Samoans, Fijians and Papa New Guinea.

PNG have announced two sets of players, those who play their trade overseas and those who compete in the PNG domestic competition. What’s promising is that only twenty-two of the forty-nine man squad are those playing abroad, meaning the other twenty-nine are born, bred and are a credit to the domestic competition. However, the international line up consists of Stanley Gene, John Wilshire and Macali Aizu, all of who compete in the UK, as well as three NRL players and one Toyota Cup selection.

Meanwhile the Samoans seem to be reaching for the stars with a squad consisting of players that may well be selected elsewhere, but qualify through Samoa by birth and other countries by residency. Of the thirty-nine players selected on both sides of the world, only four are not playing top flight rugby league in either the NRL or Super League. Philip Leulua’i is playing for Salford (guaranteed a SL spot next season) while one player is competing for the Auckland Vulcans, and two others play for East Tigers in the Queensland Cup. Household names in the entire squad include George Carmont and Harrison Hansen (Wigan), Ali, Kyle and Philip Leulua’I (Leeds and Salford), Dave Faiumu (Huddersfield), Steve Matai (Manly), Francis Meli (Leeds), Frank and Tony Puletua (Penrith), Jerome and Tangi Roparti (NZ Warriors and East Tigers), David Solomona (Bradford), Chase Stanley ( St George), Sam Tagataese, (Melbourne), Wille Talau (St Helens), Motu Tony (Hull FC), Matt Utai (Canterbury) and finally, Nigel Vagana (Souths).

Staying in the Pacific, Tonga have named Feleti Mateo as their spearhead for the Pacific Islander’s campaign. The thirty-six-man squad consists of thirty-three SL and NRL stars including the three Anderson brothers, Fraser, Vinnie and Louis (Cronulla and Warrington), Richard Fa’aoso (Newcastle), Brent Kite (Manly), Willie Manu (Hull FC), Willie Mason (Sydney), as well as Anthony and Tame Tupou (Sydney and Bradford). The selection of Willie Mason is only if he is not selected for Australia, which for Tonga, is highly doubtful he won’t be.

Finally staying in the Pacific and heading further east, Fiji have already confirmed ten players will feature for them in the world cup, but have named and two other sets of players who will trial to book their place. One set will come from the Fijian domestic competition, the other set coming from abroad. Semi Tadulala, Ashton Sims and former London Bronco Nick Bradley-Qalilawa are confirmed. Meanwhile the Fijian residents are mostly coming from teams in the NSW Cup, Jim Beam Cup and Toyota Cup. Surprisingly, a large proportion are from Gateshead, who have recently been in the news as favourites to take out National League Two as well as a possible relocation to Newcastle, as well as London Skolars, also in NL2.
If these teams become a reality, then there is little doubt we will have an exciting competition on our hands, with Tonga and Samoa the likely contenders for a semi final spot providing they beat Group B favourites France.

Provisional Australian world cup squad announced for world cup defence.

The big news coming from the Australian provisional squad is that Michael Crocker and Danny Buderus are in it and are likely to participate in the world cup despite Ricky Stuart saying previously that he will not select those players fleeing away from the NRL. This is something I haven’t particularly liked about Australian selection policy of recent years. If a player is playing in Super League, he is automatically not selected and is typical of the Australian attitude towards the international game. While they can claim that it is difficult to monitor player’s progress on the other side of the world, it seems a very excuse to exclude a player who is possibly outplaying other NRL players in the Super League. But as well all know, the Australians don’t like the words ‘super’ and ‘league’ when used next to each other for several reasons that happened thirteen years ago.

However, in 2008 the Super League War is irrelevant and with the build up the world cup fast approaching, here is the squad that is likely to successfully defend the Australian crown, according to Fox Sports.

Braith Anasta, Greg Bird, Danny Buderus, Petero Civoniceva, Matt Cooper, Ben Creagh, Michael Crocker, Cooper Cronk, Ben Cross, Robbie Farah, Craig Fitzgibbon, Israel Folau, Paul Gallen, Kurt Gidley, Jarryd Hayne, Justin Hodges, Ryan Hoffman, Karmichael Hunt, Greg Inglis, Michael Jennings, Dallas Johnson, Brent Kite, Anthony Laffranchi, Darren Lockyer, Willie Mason, Joel Monaghan, Nate Myles, Luke O'Donnell, Josh Perry, Justin Poore, Steve Price, Scott Prince, Anthony Quinn, Steve Simpson, Billy Slater, Cameron Smith, Brett Stewart, Glenn Stewart, Brent Tate, Sam Thaiday, Johnathan Thurston, Anthony Tupou, Anthony Watmough, Carl Webb, Brett White, Craig Wing.

So out of those forty players, Ricky Stuart must pick thirteen to begin their world cup defence against Australia. Providing everyone if fit enough to play, your looking at this starting line up come 26^th October.

Billy Slater

Jarryd Hayne

Brent Tate

Greg Inglis

Israel Folau

Darren Lockyer

Jonathon Thurston

Steve Price

Cameron Smith

Willie Mason

Petero Civoniceva

Craig Fitzgibbon

Dallas Johnson

Karmicheal Hunt

Carl Webb

Danny Buderus

And one other, most likely out of Steve Simpson, Sam Thaiday, Luke O’Donnell and Ben Cross.

So while this was all happening down under, the Irish side named their forty man provisional squad. The big name in the squad is Brett White from Melbourne, who is about as Irish a Fosters. But then again, so is half the squad anyway.

Paddy Barcoe (Carlow), Dave Bates (unattached), Bob Beswick (Widnes), Damien Blanche (Wakefield), Declan Brady (North Dublin), Chris Bridge (Warrington), Mike Brodie (Treaty), Dave Buckley (York), Mick Cassidy (Barrow), Ged Corcoran (Sheffield), Gavin Dodd (Widnes), Lee Doran (Leigh), Liam Finn (Dewsbury), Simon Finnigan (Bradford), Karl Fitzpatrick (Salford), Dean Gaskell (Widnes), Stevie Gibbons (Carlow), Sean Gleeson, Jason Golden, Scott Grix (all Wakefield), Simon Grix (Warrington), Gareth Haggerty (Harlequins), Paul Handforth (Featherstone), Ben Harrison (Warrington), Graham Holroyd (Halifax), Wayne Kerr (Carlow), Stuart Littler (Salford), Tyrone McCarthy (Warrington), Shannon McDonnell (Wests), Michael McIlorum (Wigan), Shayne McMenemy (Western Reds), Eamon O'Carrol (Wigan), Kevin O'Rhiordan (Treaty), Michael Platt (Bradford), Paul Prescott, Pat Richards (both Wigan), Tony Stewart (Leigh), Ryan Tandy (Wests), Billy Treacy (Treaty), Brett White (Melbourne)

However, it is nice to see players being selected from the Irish Carnegie League. As this is a selective requirement put in place by the RLIF it comes as no real surprise. From a biased point of view, it is nice to see four Warrington players in there, including the injured Chris Bridge.

Make what you will, of his selection.

Sonny Bill’s empty threat fools no one.

Sonny Bill Williams (SBW) has reportedly threatened to challenge the legality of the salary cap in a New South Wales court. According to Fox Sports in Australia, this can have huge consequences across Australia’s four codes of football, league, union, AFL and soccer. All four codes currently regulate to a salary cap created by each governing body. But if SBW’s challenge were to be successful, it is feared clubs may cease to exist by putting themselves out of business striving to be successful. The salary cap was put into place to prevent such incident occurring as well as making the competition more competitive. However, it won’t just be Australian sports that will suffer. Its likely Super League players will also challenge, and then English union players will copy until it snowballs out of hand and all professional sport becomes like the English Premier League. It’s boring, predictable and with a few dominant teams.

However that’s worse case scenario. The reality is SBW’s challenge won’t get off the ground, which will leave him in a rut over his future providing Canterbury get a move on with this injunction preventing him from playing elsewhere but for the Bulldogs. His argument though, that the salary cap is preventing trade is not quite as bullish as you might think.

There is currently no limit to how much an individual player can earn from his employers (or club), however all twenty five squad players salaries must fit under the (current) $4.1 million salary cap. But each club must also spend a minimum of (again, currently) $3.75 million. These figures are per year, so for example, if a player signs a contract for $2 million over a four year period, then his basic salary for one season is $500,000. However there is a restriction to individual player sponsorship and endorsements. This is where I think these restrictions should be dropped for reasons I’ll explain later. A player can earn as much as they like out of third party sponsorships, except if the sponsor is already sponsoring the club the player is playing for. Therefore, the player’s earnings from that sponsorship go towards the club and player’s salary cap. An example would be, Cronulla are sponsored by LG, the mobile phone and electronics manufacture. If, say Brett Kimmorley was sponsored by LG then the money he earns from them goes towards the salary cap. If, however Brett Kimmorley were sponsored by Adidas that has no connection to the Cronulla club what so ever, he could earn as much as he likes from that particular company.

Now, back to Sonny Bill Williams. While I see his point that he is not earning as much as he would like and what he is probably worth, and I sympathise with him on that, but I see the salary cap as an essential form of keeping the competition stronger and keeping the clubs financially stable as they can be. But if the restrictions on player sponsorship were to be abolished, I very much doubt SBW would be in a rush to earn a few extra pennies and catch the next Quantas plane to France. The fact of the matter is, top quality players know how much they are worth and want to release that potential. And for the sake of the game, the David Gallop and the NRL need to realise that as well.

Why? Well this could be the key to the NRL’s recent problems. If a high profile NRL player is seen to be advertising or supporting a product, then people will buy that product. This is good for the company, as well as the player’s club attendances as people are more inclined to watch that player. Take another example. A youngster sees Darren Lockyer wearing a Nike shirt on telly, in the newspapers or wherever. That kid will buy that top to be like Darren Lockyer. He will then go and watch Darren Lockyer and boost the Brisbane attendances. It can even work the other way round. A kid sees a player in a recent NRL game and is amazed by what he sees. He, or she, then sees that player advertising a pair of trainers. The child buys that pair of trainers and, more importantly, keeps coming back to the player’s club to watch that player play. Obviously we have to start with what we have got, and that is using current competition and club sponsors who already have firm relationships with the sport. As the sport gets bigger due to increased attendances, public interest and whatever then the NRL branches out and looks for sponsors on a national scale, as opposed to just Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. By looking for sponsors nationally, the game generates interest in Perth, Adelaide and everywhere else across Australia and eventually making it a truly national sport.

So there’s your problem, Gallop. Let the players earn what they deserve, and you won’t be seeing the likes of Danny Buderus, Micheal Crocker, Micheal Monaghan and Matt King deserting your competition for more money and a better lifestyle in Super League. As well as that, you won’t see Mark Gasnier and Sonny Bill Williams drifting off to join French rugby union either.