WCC 2007: St Helens Saints vs Brisbane Broncos

[Grimmace]

WCC now at Bolton
Friday December 08, 2006

After weeks of uncertainty, the 2007 Carnegie World Club Challenge between English Super League Champions St Helens and NRL premiers the Ergon Energy Broncos will be played at the Reebok Stadium in Bolton.

The clash, which will be played on Friday February 23, will be a repeat of the 2001 World Club Challenge at the same venue when St Helens secured a last-minute 20-18 win over the Broncos in what was a hugely dramatic encounter.

Of the St Helens team in action that evening, only current Man of Steel Paul Wellens, Sean Long, Keiron Cunningham and captain Paul Sculthorpe are still with the Knowsley Road club. Halfback Long secured the victory over the Broncos with a late field goal.

Broncos survivors from that match are current Test players Darren Lockyer, Shaun Berrigan (pictured) and Petero Civoniceva, as well as Dane Carlaw. Justin Hodges travelled with the team but did not play.

Commenting on the announcement of the match, St Helens Chief Executive Sean McGuire said: "Now we have the venue confirmed, the build-up and anticipation for the match can begin in earnest.

"Everybody at the club is tremendously excited by the prospect of competing in the 2007 Carnegie World Club Challenge and all Saints fans will have great memories of that fantastic night in 2001 when we lifted the trophy against Brisbane".

He added: "The Broncos have shown their quality last season as indeed we have in securing the Super League championship and supporters should expect a truly fantastic contest with so many great players on both sides.

"The title of best Rugby League club in the world is an extremely attractive one and supporters should not miss out on what will be an amazing event".


Source:www.broncos.com.au

[Queenslander]

Lockyer wants revenge over St Helens
Wednesday, December 13, 2006 - 4:23 PM

For a man that did it all in 2006, Darren Lockyer is still driven to cap it off with one last rugby league trophy.

Lockyer revealed he is hungry to erase the bitter memories of 2001 by leading the Brisbane Broncos to World Club Challenge revenge over St Helens.

The Broncos meet the English Super League giants on February 23 at Bolton's Reebok Stadium, the scene of their heart-breaking WCC 20-18 loss to the Saints almost six years ago.

After leading the Broncos to the NRL title, Queensland to State of Origin glory and Australia to the Tri-Nations crown to earn his 2006 Golden Boot, Lockyer deserves to rest on his laurels.

But the 29-year-old five-eighth has no qualms about cutting his off-season short to play the annual challenge match, as well as a warm-up against the Celtic Crusaders.

"For me personally what motivates me was that last time over there we got beaten by St Helens," Lockyer said. "And it's been such a great year that to win the WCC is another trophy we'd like in our cabinet.

"To do that we need all our players on deck."

The Broncos let a sizeable lead slip in the second half against the Saints in 2001, increasing the pain of missing a title Australia's NRL premiers have rarely won.

The Roosters, in 2003, have been the only Australian team to taste victory in the last six play-offs.

Lockyer, to return to the training paddock on January 16 with six fellow Brisbane Test players, said the trial against the third division Crusaders was crucial to the club's hopes.

"Last (time) we went in without any trials and that really showed, so this time we'll be better prepared for it," he said.

"Last time coming home was a long plane trip and I think this time we should leave no stone unturned."

Lockyer has been refreshing his body and mind by holidaying in New Zealand for the last fortnight.

There have been calls for the NRL to condense the season due to fears of burnout for Australia's representative players after 2006 stretched from February trials to the November Tri-Nations.

Lockyer, though, wouldn't buy into recent warnings from Manly coach Des Hasler to shorten the 2008 NRL premiership due to the post-season World Cup.

Unlike Hasler, Lockyer didn't believe the standard of football had been affected by the relentless grind of a 26-round competition.

"Next year (2007) after the grand final that's it so I think the guys who play rep football are looking forward to that break," he said.

"Having said that, at the same time, I thought the Tri-Nations was a really good series this year and one international football should continue with."

On Wednesday Lockyer presented the boots and jersey he wore in the Tri-Nations final win over New Zealand to two league fans who bid for the items online to raise $16,200 for Brisbane's royal Children's Hospital.

The two men, Wayne Bretherton and Bob Lees, both posted the same bid of $6,200 for the boots at the same time so Lockyer decided to offer up his jersey to Bretherton, who offered $10,000, when Lees was awarded the boots.

Source: AAP

[Poida]

the Broncos will have to overcome the fact the English teams dominate in the WCC.

[~Wild Child~]

Lockyer Set For World Club Finals


Kangaroos skipper Darren Lockyer returned to Broncos training on Tuesday morning, declaring himself an almost certain starter for the World Club Challenge play-off against St Helens.

Rugby league's 2006 player of the year believed he would be right for the February 23 WCC final against England's Super League champions at Reebok Stadium.

Lockyer and the Broncos fly out of Brisbane in four weeks, desperate to atone for their 2001 loss to the Saints at the same ground when they gave up an 18-4 lead to lose 20-18.

Lockyer said the Broncos would be at full strength for the clash so long as all seven internationals come through the pre-season with no troubles.

"We want to learn from our past mistakes," the Test, Queensland and Broncos five-eighth said.

"We got beaten in 2001 and this year we want to make sure don't leave any stone unturned.

"As long as everyone is fit before we leave on February 13, we'll be as strong as we can be."

Lockyer underwent wrist surgery after finishing a wonderful 2006 when he led the Broncos to the NRL title, Queensland to the State of Origin crown and Australia to Tri-Nations glory.

He has vowed not to rest on his laurels in the year ahead.

"2007 is a new challenge. 2006 is gone, it's in the record books and we've just got to move on now," he said.

http://au.sports.yahoo.com/061213/2/10h62.html

[DIEHARD]

It's the World Club Challenge, the World Cup is next year.

[Grimmace]

Webcke in Broncos touring party
By Dan Koch
February 06, 2007

BRISBANE'S grand final heroes will be rewarded, with 15 members of the premiership squad to be included in the touring party for the World Club Challenge match against St Helens.

Barring serious injury in this weekend's trial in Rockhampton, which will feature six players from last year's decider, all 15 will be part of coach Wayne Bennett's 18-man squad.

Classy hooker Michael Ennis is also certain to make the trip, although he is still behind incumbent Shaun Berrigan in the race for the No.9 jumper. Youngsters Greg Eastwood, Steve Michaels, Joel Moon and Nick Kenny are thought to be fighting for the final two places.

Utility Casey McGuire, who joined French club Les Catalans at the end of last year, is the only member of the triumphant Broncos outfit who will not be in Bolton on February 23, with retired prop Shane Webcke and injured youngster David Stagg to be included in the touring party as guests.

With the National Rugby League budget only covering the expenses of a 26-man group, the Broncos players, at the urging of the senior playing group, agreed to share the cost of Stagg's flight and accommodation, while the club will pick up Webcke's tab in recognition of his long service.

"The board met and discussed it and decided this was a way in which we could say thank you to Shane," Broncos managing director Bruno Cullen said.

"In our last home game last season we had a tribute to him and drew a crowd of something like 48,000 people to a game (against the New Zealand Warriors) which would normally draw around 30,000.

"We agreed that they turned out largely for him and thought this was a way we could show our appreciation."

The squad will be officially announced early next week and fly out of Brisbane on February 13.

The early arrival is designed to allow the group to acclimatise, with a warm-up match scheduled against the Celtic Crusaders, a Welsh club coached by former Broncos assistant John Dixon.

Cullen said the early arrival was crucial given that only seven of the Broncos squad had played in England.

However, he reiterated that the Broncos were taking the match seriously and were desperate to bring the trophy back to Australia for just the second time since the turn of the century.

"We will take our strongest possible squad over there and will be doing everything within our powers to win," Cullen said.

NRL boss David Gallop said the Broncos' determination to win the second WCC title in their brief history - following their 22-8 demolition of Wigan in 1992 - reflected the growing esteem with which the match was held.

"I certainly think the title has become more prestigious, and they are representing our league here, so we would love to see the Broncos come home with the trophy," Gallop said.

"With Darren Lockyer leading them, given what he did last year, you would think it would be incongruous if they did not win."

This year will be the eighth successive time the match has been played in England, and while the venue is up for review at the end of each season, Gallop conceded he was happy for the RFL to continue hosting the game for the time being.


Source: The Australian

[Queenslander]

Bennett picks youngsters

Steve Ricketts
February 05, 2007 11:00pm
Article from: The Courier-Mail

YOUNG winger Steve Michaels's disappointment at missing most of 2006 through injury is set to be eased with selection in the Broncos squad for the World Club Challenge clash with St Helens in England on February 23.

Michaels, fellow winger Tame Tupou, hooker Michael Ennis and Kiwi youngster Greg Eastwood have been earmarked by coach Wayne Bennett as the players to make the tour from outside the 2006 grand final 17-man squad.

Prop Nick Kenny and exciting youngsters David Taylor and Joel Moon are expected to miss out unless there are injuries in the Broncos' first trial against Central Comets in Rockhampton on Saturday.

Tupou was 18th man for the 2006 grand final and utility star Eastwood missed out on New Zealand's one-off Test in England last year because of a hamstring injury.

Ennis and Michaels started 2006 in the Broncos starting side but a knee injury in round 5 ended Ennis's season.

A broken ankle in round 2 sidelined Michaels for four months but he played in Brisbane's big wins over the Bulldogs and Parramatta late in the season and appeared on target for a berth in the finals.

However, Bennett revamped his backline with lock David Stagg used as a centre or winger while Karmichael Hunt flitted between fullback and wing.

After playing for Broncos feeder team Toowoomba in its 27-6 Queensland Cup grand final loss to Redcliffe, Michaels wondered what might have been when he watched the NRL grand final on television a fortnight later.

"I'd earned my spot at the start of the year and it was really devastating not being out there," he said yesterday. "I want to have a big year, either at wing or centre, and Wayne has been helping me a lot with my skills. Brent Tate is a good role model and I try to learn off him too."

Bennett played alongside Michaels's father Ralph in the Brisbane representative side which beat Britain 20-15 at Lang Park in 1974.

"My nickname at the Broncos is Ralphie because a few of the blokes knew Wayne had played in the same team as Dad," Michaels said.

Michaels lives in Brisbane with Broncos teammates Darius Boyd and Denan Kemp but it is likely he will be targeted by the Titans for a return to the Gold Coast, with his Broncos contract up for renewal.

"The Titans wanted to sign me in 2005 and for me to play with Burleigh last year," Michaels said.

Shane Webcke (retirement), David Stagg (injury) and Casey McGuire (France) are the only members of Brisbane's 2006 grand final side who will not play against St Helens, which opened its English Super League campaign with an 18-10 away win over Huddersfield on Sunday.

Tickets for the Broncos' round 1 NRL clash with the Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium on March 16 went on sale at noon yesterday and 5000 were sold in the first hour.

The Courier Mail

[Queenslander]

Michaels hunts spot on Broncos' UK trip

Sunday, February 11, 2007 - 7:49 PM

Utility back Steve Michaels made a bold bid for a spot in Brisbane's squad for the world club challenge with a two-try effort in the NRL defending premiers' opening trial win.

Michaels notched up his double in the Broncos' 56-12 trial win over the Central Comets at Rockhampton's Browne Park on Saturday night, and is now pushing Kiwi international Tame Tupou for a spot in the 18-man squad to travel to the UK to play St Helens later this month.

The 20 year-old flyer fractured his ankle early last season just when he was starting to establish himself and while he made it back to play for Toowoomba in the State League grand final, he missed out on being part of the Broncos premiership win.

Michaels, who packed on a few extra kilos in the off-season, sent an early message to coach Wayne Bennett that he wants to reclaim a permanent spot in the Bronco's backline.

Bennett will name his 18-man touring party on Monday, with the Broncos flying out to London on Tuesday to play a warm up game against Celtic Crusaders at Bridgend in Wales before returning to Manchester for a week-long camp before taking on Super League champions St Helens at Bolton's Reebok Stadium on February 23.

St Helen's stormed home in Arctic like conditions to pip Brisbane 20-18 for the same title back in 2001.

Brisbane led 18-6 at half time before a hail storm froze them out and St Helens finished over the top of them in the icy conditions.

Bennett is expected to name all the members of last year's grand final win over Melbourne with the exception of David Stagg (injured), Shane Webcke (retired) and Casey McGuire, who is now playing in the Super League with Les Catalans.

Hooker Michael Ennis, who made a successful comeback from his knee reconstruction in Rockhampton, will be named with Michaels and Greg Eastwood also expected to be included in the Broncos UK squad.

The squad will be finalised after several players have fitness tests.

Source: AAP

[Poida]

Broncos name squad for St Helens clash

Monday, February 12, 2007 - 2:16 PM

Brisbane Broncos captain Darren Lockyer will lead a full-strength squad to the UK to play English Super League champions St Helens in the World Club Challenge.

After playing a crucial hand in Queensland's State Of Origin comeback, Brisbane's premiership win over Melbourne and Australia's last gasp win over New Zealand in the Tri Nations final, Lockyer is keen to add the title of world club champions to his remarkable run.

Coach Wayne Bennett has named an 18-man squad which included 14 members of last October's grand final side plus Kiwi international Tame Tupou, winger Steve Michaels, hooker Michael Ennis and utility Greg Eastwood.

The squad flies out on Tuesday and will play a warm-up match against Welsh club Celtic Crusaders in Brigend on Thursday night before heading to Manchester for a week-long camp.

The premiers play St Helens at Bolton's Reebok Stadium on February 23.

Meanwhile, the Broncos have unveiled a revolutionary new jumper and shorts made by their sponsors Nike.

The lighter jersey features a tacky grip panel on the upper arm area to help players hold the football.

The shorts feature a chamois panel at the rear to allow players to wipe their hands.

The Broncos' touring squad is:

Darren Lockyer (capt), Shaun Berrigan, Darius Boyd, Dane Carlaw, Tonie Carroll, Petero Civoniceva, Greg Eastwood, Michael Ennis, Ben Hannant, Justin Hodges, Karmichael Hunt, Steve Michaels, Corey Parker, Shane Perry, Brent Tate, Sam Thaiday, Brad Thorn, Tame Tupou.
Source: AAP

[DeeGan]

Bring it home Brisbane!

I cannot stand listening to a naive Super League fan who insists they have a comparable competition on the back of one fact - they dominate this pre-season game.

[Queenslander]

'Aussie-like' St Helens Playing a Game the Broncos Know
by Trad McLean
Tuesday February 13, 2007

WAYNE Bennett is preparing his team to take on an Australian-like outfit when the Ergon Energy Broncos meet St Helens in next week?s World Club Challenge.

And he couldn?t be happier about it.

Bennett has watched footage of St Helens, who are coached by former Warriors coach Daniel Anderson, and believes he has seen their style of game before.

It is something he thinks is an advantage as the Broncos get ready to meet the English Super League champions for bragging rights of the best club team in the world.

?They have some good players and a good coach that has been through Australian systems and with the Warriors,?? said Bennett before the team flew out for England today.

?The play like an Australian team, there is no doubt about that.

?That?s good, we are used to that.?

Bennett should be feeling confident.

The Broncos have close to their best available team for the match, a rarity for Australian sides in the WCC.

Only David Stagg, recovering from a shoulder reconstruction, will be missing.

The Broncos? fight to get the match put on late in February so their players would be fit for the clash means there will be no excuses for a loss.

The team still must contend with the frigid climate, but a trial against Welsh club Celtic Crusaders should lessen the impact.

?This is the best team we can field, apart from David Stagg,?? said Bennett.

?We asked for the later date so we would have the best team available.

?I am pretty close to the 17 (for the season opener) ? I don?t think I will make a lot of changes there.

?The hard part for us is the huge change in climate and the conditions we have to play in.

?But we have been here before and know what the difficulties are. Hopefully the game on Thursday will help us.?

Fitness queries Sam Thaiday and Tame Tupou were on the plane today, but only after making a weigh-in on Monday.

Now all Bennett needs is the team to perform on the night of February 23.

?We came down pretty hard in regards to Sam and Tame on body weight and they wouldn?t have made the trip if they hadn?t met a certain criteria,? said Bennett.

?They have got to that position so I am pleased with that.

?The Broncos are certainly a different group of guys than they were last year. They have prepared really well, I am really happy with that.

?We do have to make a huge adjustment, but if we get it right over there and play well on the night, the rest will look after itself.?

The match will be telecast by Channel Nine early on the morning of February 24.

www.broncos.com.au

[Queenslander]

Broncos brimming with confidence

By Wayne Heming
February 13, 2007

WAYNE Bennett is sure his Brisbane side head to England to play St Helens in the World Club Challenge far more confident than the one which won last year's NRL premiership.

Speaking at the airport before the team flew out in English-like conditions, coach Bennett said his players had grown in confidence following their grand final win last October.

Skipper Darren Lockyer was in extremely high spirits after proposing to his girlfriend Lauren Pollock before jetting off.

"Last year's over and the way the players have gone about their training indicates they're not thinking too much about 2006,'' said Bennett.

"There's a confidence in the team this time that wasn't there last year and that comes with success.''

Bennett warned the players faced a real challenge adjusting to the harsh northern hemisphere conditions when they play a warm-up game against the Celtic Crusaders in Wales on Thursday night.

The Broncos then tackle St Helens in the World Club Challenge showdown at Bolton's Reebok Stadium on Friday week.

Brisbane has been training in the sweltering Queensland sunshine since early December. Conditions will be vastly different in England, as players discovered in 2001 when their match was hit by hail and sleet.

"We know what the difficulties are and what to expect,'' said Bennett.

"The game on Thursday (against the Celtic Crusaders) when it will be one or two degrees will help us a little bit.

"The facilities have improved a lot but the issue for us will be finding training venues that aren't bogged up that would take our legs away from us.''

Queensland and Australia forward Sam Thaiday and New Zealand wing Tame Tupou only got their plane tickets yesterday after passing strict body fat tests.

"They struggled and we came down pretty hard on Sam and Garry (Tame) with regards to body weight,'' said Bennett.

"They wouldn't have made this trip today if they hadn't met a certain criteria set them. I'm pleased they have.

"Their body language was pretty bad in the first week back but they re-tested yesterday and they brained it.''

Bennett said Super League champion St Helens was an excellent side with a good coach in Daniel Anderson, who played an Australian style of league.

"They've got some great talent and a coach who was brought up here and who coached the Warriors.

"They play like an Australian side, there's no doubt about it, which is good because we're used to that type of football.''

Brisbane won the World Club Challenge in 1992 and is keen to repeat that effort to get 2007 off to a flying start.

AAP

[~Wild Child~]

Thaiday earns crack at No.8

• Dan Koch
• February 14, 2007

A REMARKABLE turnaround since he returned to training several kilograms overweight looks to have earned young Bronco Sam Thaiday first shot at the spot vacated by retired prop forward Shane Webcke.

Brisbane's powerful 18-man squad left for England yesterday to prepare for its World Club Challenge match with St Helens on February 23 at Bolton's Reebok Stadium. It will mark the dawn of a new era at the Broncos, with Webcke to watch from the grandstand as someone else dons the No.8 jersey he made his own during 254 games for Brisbane.

That someone looks likely to be Thaiday, who has impressed Wayne Bennett with his commitment to training over the past month after earning the coach's ire when he returned from the off-season 4kg heavier than expected.

As revealed in The Australian, Brisbane's eight representative stars returned for testing on January 5, with Thaiday, Tame Tupou, Justin Hodges and Karmichael Hunt forced to start pre-season a week early after failing to meet the necessary standards.

Thaiday and Tupou were of particular concern to performance co-ordinator Dean Benton, but, according to Bennett, they managed to shed the excess kilos after being warned their places were under serious threat.

"We came down pretty hard on Sam and Gary (Tupou) in regards to their bodyweight and they wouldn't have made this trip if they hadn't put in and made a certain criteria in regards to that," Bennett said.

"They've matched that and got to that position, which I am really pleased about.

"Their body language in the first week was ordinary, but they tested yesterday and both brained it, so they are back on track."

Bennett said it was important the player who wore the No.8 this season was able to distance himself from Webcke's legacy.

"I've always said nobody will do that role," Bennett said of replacing Webcke.

"Somebody will do the job. They'll be different. They won't be Shane Webcke and I am not looking for another Shane Webcke, because that's just not going to happen.

"We've got a few guys in the group who are more than capable and I probably won't make a final decision on it until well into the season.

"We'll give guys some opportunities and let them work it out for themselves."

Thaiday, who went from being a bench player at Brisbane to playing State of Origin and Test football in 2006, earned a tick of approval from veteran duo Brad Thorn and Petero Civoniceva.

Thorn described him as the "future" leader of Brisbane's pack. "Sammy was outstanding last season," Thorn said.

"He is one of those guys who makes an impact every time he is involved. Especially towards the end of last season, his work rate really picked up.

"He got a taste of Origin and Test football last year and he really has a huge future in the game."

The Broncos will play Welsh club Celtic Crusaders, coached by former Broncos assistant John Dixon, in a lead-up to the WCC.

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...5-2722,00.html

[Queenslander]

Broncos tee up injury cover

By Karl deKroo
February 14, 2007

BRISBANE has investigated the possibility of calling up several Wales-based former Broncos players should injury threaten to derail its World Club Challenge assault.

With only an 18-man squad making the trip to England yesterday, and with a trial match scheduled against Celtic Crusaders in Wales on Friday, the Broncos are concerned they could be left short.

Coach Wayne Bennett said yesterday young guns Nick Kenny and Joel Moon were placed on standby and would be flown over should the Broncos lose more than one player in the trial.

But in the event of a training injury closer to the February 23 showdown with St Helens, Brisbane may be forced to turn to the Crusaders, who are coached by former Broncos assistant John Dixon, for support.

"There are a couple of former Broncos boys who are playing over there, so they know our systems," Brisbane chief executive Bruno Cullen said.

"Obviously it wouldn't be ideal, but if we needed someone on the bench at short notice and if we can organise the relevant clearances and alike, it could be an option."

Neale Wyatt, Darren Mapp, Tony Duggan, Jace Van Dijk and Damien Quinn have all been part of the Broncos program to varying degrees in the past, while former Canberra Raiders back rower Terry Martin is also on the Crusaders roster.

Bennett said he was likely to tailor his team's training to adjust to the waterlogged pitches in the UK.

"We have to make sure we aren't training too much on bogged up tracks, because that will certainly take our legs away from us," Bennett said.

"But we can't be too worried about injury."

With his top 17 all but decided, Bennett said the trials would not have a major bearing on the make-up of the Broncos team for the round one stoush with North Queensland at Suncorp Stadium.

The only real concern was finding a suitable replacement for Webcke in the starting front row.

"We'll find someone to do the job, but I'm not looking for the next Shane Webcke, I'm looking for someone to do the job and I'm sure we have guys within the group who are more than capable."

The Courier Mail

[Poida]

Broncos take on World

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,...-23214,00.html

By Wayne Heming
February 13, 2007

COACH Wayne Bennett is sure Brisbane heads to England to play in the World Club Challenge more confident than when it won last year's NRL premiership.

Speaking at the airport before the team flew out in English-like conditions, coach Bennett said his players had grown in confidence following their grand final win last October.

Skipper Darren Lockyer was in extremely high spirits after proposing to his girlfriend Lauren Pollock before jetting off.

"Last year's over and the way the players have gone about their training indicates they're not thinking too much about 2006,'' said Bennett.

"There's a confidence in the team this time that wasn't there last year and that comes with success.''

Bennett warned the players faced a real challenge adjusting to the harsh northern hemisphere conditions when they play a warm-up game against the Celtic Crusaders in Wales on Thursday night.

The Broncos then tackle St Helens in the World Club Challenge showdown at Bolton's Reebok Stadium on Friday week.

Brisbane has been training in the sweltering Queensland sunshine since early December. Conditions will be vastly different in England, as players discovered in 2001 when their match was hit by hail and sleet.

"We know what the difficulties are and what to expect,'' said Bennett.

"The game on Thursday (against the Celtic Crusaders) when it will be one or two degrees will help us a little bit.

"The facilities have improved a lot but the issue for us will be finding training venues that aren't bogged up that would take our legs away from us.''

Queensland and Australia forward Sam Thaiday and New Zealand wing Tame Tupou only got their plane tickets yesterday after passing strict body fat tests.

"They struggled and we came down pretty hard on Sam and Garry (Tame) with regards to body weight,'' said Bennett.

"They wouldn't have made this trip today if they hadn't met a certain criteria set them. I'm pleased they have.

"Their body language was pretty bad in the first week back but they re-tested yesterday and they brained it.''

Bennett said Super League champion St Helens was an excellent side with a good coach in Daniel Anderson, who played an Australian style of league.

"They've got some great talent and a coach who was brought up here and who coached the Warriors.

"They play like an Australian side, there's no doubt about it, which is good because we're used to that type of football.''

Brisbane won the World Club Challenge in 1992 and is keen to repeat that effort to get 2007 off to a flying start.

AAP