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obviously no one here knows the words to the Australian national anthem
NRL boss Todd Greenberg declared the off-season a “complete train wreck”, but here’s proof that clubs and their players are working overtime to get it back on track.
During another damaging and tumultuous off-field period in the game, The Daily Telegraph has uncovered seven feel-good stories which show that, as serious as the much-publicised behavioural issues are, there are far more players dedicated to making a positive difference in the community.
For the first time in rugby league history a female will referee an NRL game this weekend.
The highly regarded Queenslander Belinda Sleeman has been appointed to control the Broncos match against local Brisbane team Wynnum Manly on Saturday night.
Rest assured this is no token appointment for the 31-year-old former Courier Mail newspaper sub editor who has been a rising young star in the refereeing ranks for several years.
Asked about refereeing at NRL level last year, Sleeman said: “If it happens, I want it to be because of what I’ve done as an official, not because I’m a female.”
Brisbane Broncos’ Payne Haas has been suspended for the first four rounds of the NRL premiership and fined $20,000 for failing to cooperate fully with the NRL integrity unit. The 19-year-old has been stood down by the club over his response to two off-field incidents involving family members.
Broncos CEO Paul White stressed Haas had not committed any alleged acts of violence but the club needed to send a message that players must do their bit to uphold the image of the code.
“Payne’s level of cooperation with the investigation by the NRL integrity unit fell short of expectations and the standards set by our club,” White said. “We see this is as a mistake made by a young man and we are confident Payne will learn his lesson.
“We hope this sends a strong message the the values and conduct of everyone at the Brisbane Broncos is of the utmost importance to the club.”
Haas played for Brisbane last weekend in a trial game at Warwick but has been pulled from the side despite being named to play in Saturday’s trial against Queensland Cup side Wynnum Manly.
White said the NRL’s troubled off-season had no bearing on the heavy nature of the penalty. He said Haas had since spoken to the integrity unit and the investigation had been closed.
The CEO said new head coach Anthony Seibold was a key contributor to the punishment handed down and hoped his hard line sent a message to the squad.
The Warriors have opened their account for 2019 and there was a lot to like for coach Stephen Kearney.
The Auckland outfit produced an outstanding defensive display while youngster Hayze Perham showed his speed to score the match-winning try in a 12-6 trial victory over Melbourne in Geelong.
Considered an outside chance for the halves spot left vacant by Shaun Johnson's departure, Perham did not have many of opportunities with the ball when he came on in the second half.
NRL clubs Canberra and Manly have united in support of former New Zealand rugby league captain Quentin Pongia.
The rugged forward, who played for the Raiders, the Warriors, the Roosters and St George Illawarra between 1993 and 2003, is seriously ill.
Pongia, who played 35 tests for New Zealand between 1992-2000, was appointed as the Sea Eagles' wellbeing manager in 2017, but has been unable to work of late as he battles cancer.
The 48-year-old underwent surgery in November to remove a tumour from his bowel, leading the Raiders and Manly to raise funds for his family.
Went down to Geelong to watch this and Burr was very impressive. Always made forward ground and was hard to tackle. Thought Keighran was the best of the halves.
I well remember watching Quentin Pongia, he was one hell of a competitor, and is well remembered and thought of in Wigan. That is no age! Good luck to him.
Will need to visit it sometime this year.
St George Illawarra will be offered $600,000 in salary cap relief if star player Jack de Belin is stood down by the NRL this week while he fights sexual assault charges.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal that any club forced to stand down a player facing serious criminal charges in future will receive compensation to ensure the club and their fans are not penalised.
Under the new plan, clubs could sign a replacement player on a short-term agreement. De Belin is on $600,000 at the Saints.
The Warriors have announced a three-year contract extension for coach Stephen Kearney.
Kearney was coming off contract at the end of the season and, after a period where he's lifted the team from an underperforming outfit, where attitudes were poor, to a top eight team, it was a given that he'd be offered a new deal.
The new contract will be for three years and if he sees out the length of this deal, it would put him equal with Ivan Cleary for the longest serving coach in the club's history.
"Securing Stephen for another three years is a huge boost for us as we prepare to begin our 25th season in the competition," said Warriors chief executive Cameron George.