DIEHARD
07-12-05, 11:25 AM
The ARL is facing a backlash from NRL clubs over a controversial plan to play the rugby league World Cup in Australia before the start of the domestic season.
The top clubs will be asked to give up their stars for nearly two months and play as many as five games in the heat of summer for the World Cup in February and March of 2008.
ARL chief executive Geoff Carr will outline the representative program at the NRL's two-day annual conference, which begins in Sydney today.
He revealed last night a business plan put together by MI Associates, a major events consultancy which includes former league boss John Quayle, has recommended the World Cup be played before the NRL kickoff.
A host of clubs expressed concern yesterday and are expected to hotly debate the issue today.
"It presents a lot of issues. We've just made a commitment to play the Charity Shield at Telstra Stadium for the next three years and a regular trial match in Wollongong. Will we have to play those games without our best players?" St George Illawarra boss Peter Doust said.
Bulldogs chief executive Malcolm Noad said: "It will be very difficult to do in February and March. It doesn't help a club at all with their pre-season preparation. There will be a lot of discussion with the coaches on Thursday."
But it is not only powerful clubs that will be affected as many clubs will provide players to other nations such as Tonga and Lebanon.
"I don't see how it can work. In an age where we're talking about wear and tear on players we're going to be asking them to play high-intensity games in the pre-season," South Sydney's Shane Richardson said.
Carr defended the rep program that has come under fire from coaches for putting too much stress on the game's elite players.
Many have criticised the decision to play a Tri-Nations tournament next year.
"To make the World Cup successful we had to first re-establish the credibility of the international game and a big part of that has been the Tri-Nations," Carr said.
"The first year was a huge success, the second year has created even more interest and the Tri-Nations will be held in Australia next year to help establish the platform for the World Cup.
"After 2007 the international commitments will be kept to a minimum and the proposal is for the World Cup to be played in 2008 before the season starts."
NRL chief executive David Gallop said it was unclear if the NRL would have to delay its start that year.
"There are some issues to work through in relation to the impact on the rest of the season," he said.
"But certainly the pre-season provides an opportunity to showcase the international game when fans are hungry to see some footy."
# SYDNEY Roosters coach Ricky Stuart yesterday became an official ambassador for the charity organisation CanTeen which helps children with cancer. Yesterday he accepted a cheque of $733,285 from Woolworths who sold over two million bandannas on behalf of CanTeen.
# SOUTH Sydney patriarch George Piggins will sacrifice plans for a multi-sport complex at Redfern Oval if it means NRL matches can be played there again.
The NSW Police Community and Youth Club has pledged $3 million toward the Rabbitohs' battle to develop Redfern into a boutique stadium comprising a basketball court and gym. But Piggins said PCYC had made a "big gesture" to shelve the proposal in the interests of a compromise with Sydney City Council.
The council has voted to convert Redfern into an open training oval, but is understood to be considering a plan without the PCYC complex that would see the ground host NRL matches.
The Daily Telegraph
The top clubs will be asked to give up their stars for nearly two months and play as many as five games in the heat of summer for the World Cup in February and March of 2008.
ARL chief executive Geoff Carr will outline the representative program at the NRL's two-day annual conference, which begins in Sydney today.
He revealed last night a business plan put together by MI Associates, a major events consultancy which includes former league boss John Quayle, has recommended the World Cup be played before the NRL kickoff.
A host of clubs expressed concern yesterday and are expected to hotly debate the issue today.
"It presents a lot of issues. We've just made a commitment to play the Charity Shield at Telstra Stadium for the next three years and a regular trial match in Wollongong. Will we have to play those games without our best players?" St George Illawarra boss Peter Doust said.
Bulldogs chief executive Malcolm Noad said: "It will be very difficult to do in February and March. It doesn't help a club at all with their pre-season preparation. There will be a lot of discussion with the coaches on Thursday."
But it is not only powerful clubs that will be affected as many clubs will provide players to other nations such as Tonga and Lebanon.
"I don't see how it can work. In an age where we're talking about wear and tear on players we're going to be asking them to play high-intensity games in the pre-season," South Sydney's Shane Richardson said.
Carr defended the rep program that has come under fire from coaches for putting too much stress on the game's elite players.
Many have criticised the decision to play a Tri-Nations tournament next year.
"To make the World Cup successful we had to first re-establish the credibility of the international game and a big part of that has been the Tri-Nations," Carr said.
"The first year was a huge success, the second year has created even more interest and the Tri-Nations will be held in Australia next year to help establish the platform for the World Cup.
"After 2007 the international commitments will be kept to a minimum and the proposal is for the World Cup to be played in 2008 before the season starts."
NRL chief executive David Gallop said it was unclear if the NRL would have to delay its start that year.
"There are some issues to work through in relation to the impact on the rest of the season," he said.
"But certainly the pre-season provides an opportunity to showcase the international game when fans are hungry to see some footy."
# SYDNEY Roosters coach Ricky Stuart yesterday became an official ambassador for the charity organisation CanTeen which helps children with cancer. Yesterday he accepted a cheque of $733,285 from Woolworths who sold over two million bandannas on behalf of CanTeen.
# SOUTH Sydney patriarch George Piggins will sacrifice plans for a multi-sport complex at Redfern Oval if it means NRL matches can be played there again.
The NSW Police Community and Youth Club has pledged $3 million toward the Rabbitohs' battle to develop Redfern into a boutique stadium comprising a basketball court and gym. But Piggins said PCYC had made a "big gesture" to shelve the proposal in the interests of a compromise with Sydney City Council.
The council has voted to convert Redfern into an open training oval, but is understood to be considering a plan without the PCYC complex that would see the ground host NRL matches.
The Daily Telegraph