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22 Mar 2004 Five-eighth Owen Craigie has accused South Sydney coach Paul Langmack of racially abusing him. According to Craigie, Langmack insulted him about both his weight and the colour of his skin late last year, but after telling then teammate Terry Hill, he decided not to take the matter further. Craigie has since changed his mind, and hired solicitor Chris Murphy to pursue action against both Langmack and the Rabbitohs, resulting in the club discussing the matter at board level and then forming a sub-committee to handle its response. "I don't like what Paul has been saying to me and I've decided to do something about it," Craigie told The Daily Telegraph. "That's all I want to say, you'll have to talk to my solicitor Chris Murphy." Langmack has denied Craigie�s claims that he called him �a fat black c��, but Souths Chairman Nicholas Pappas and Chief Executive David Tapp will meet with the pair on Friday morning in an attempt to sort out the situation. http://www.sportal.com.au/league.asp?i=news&id=49263 South Sydney club chairman, Nick Pappas, has announced that the club will launch an internal � and (word of the moment) confidential � investigation into disenfranchised Rabbitohs player Owen Craigie's claims of racist slurs against him by coach Paul Langmack. Souths issued a statement today in response to reports that Craigie had employed legal hard head Chris Murphy to take action against the club and the coach. But Pappas has vowed to resolve the problem internally after Craigie met with the club's board at a specially convened meeting this morning. �South Sydney, more than any other sporting club in this country, values, and is underpinned by, its deep connections with the indigenous community,� said Pappas, in the statement. �As such, any allegation of racial vilification is treated with the utmost seriousness. �In the interests of all concerned, including our vast supporter base drawn from the indigenous community, it was essential that the club act speedily and with total transparency. �Put simply, racial vilification has no place at South Sydney.� Pappas has organised a confidential conciliation meeting to be held next Tuesday and a sub-committee of the board will hear any allegations of racial abuse. The sub-committee is Pappas, board members Sol Bellear, Ray Martin and Nick Greiner, and CEO David Tapp. http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=48246 Wests Tigers today expressed its disappointment at the National Rugby League over its handling of the golden point fiasco, describing the incident as a clear case of injustice. The Tigers board released a statement this afternoon in which it took aim at the NRL's decision to maintain the result of Sunday's game, won 17-16 by South Sydney in golden point extra time. Wests believe the match should be declared a draw and both sides should be awarded a premiership point. The Tigers are still exploring their options in relation to the incident and have refused to rule out taking the matter further, raising the spectre of legal action. "The Wests Tigers Board last night endorsed the action taken by its management in relation to the clear breach of the NRL Rules during the golden point period of the Wests Tigers vs Souths match and expresses its disappointment at the attitude of the NRL when considering a clear case of injustice that, in a close competition, may have consequences beyond losing the game," the statement said. "It unanimously supports the further investigation of sensible options to redress the situation." Aussie Stadium manager Bob Lanigan was stood down as a result of the golden point fiasco, in which ground officials failed to call halftime in the golden point period. Tigers officials met with the NRL on Wednesday to discuss the matter but left unsatisfied. The NRL today defended its stance and reaffirmed it would not be changing the result of the game. http://www.nrl.com.au/myclub/news.cfm?ID=8170&TeamID=12 PAUL LANGMACK and Owen Craigie will hold a conciliation meeting next week after Craigie accused his South Sydney coach of making a racial slur against him last year. Craigie - I don't like what Paul has been saying. The meeting will take place on Tuesday and will be chaired by the NRL club's chairman, Nicholas Pappas. Pappas said a private resolution of the matter is better for all concerned. Langmack has strenuously denied the allegation. "South Sydney, more than any other sporting club in this country, values, and is underpinned by, its deep connections with the indigenous community," said Pappas. "As such, any allegation of racial vilification is treated with the utmost seriousness. "In the interests of all concerned, including our vast supporter base drawn from the indigenous community, it was essential that the club act speedily and with total transparency. "Put simply, racial vilification has no place at South Sydney." The latest bombshell comes hard on the heels of the Bulldogs sexual assault inquiry and drugs testing scandal. Craigie claims Langmack insulted him over his weight and his colour during a training session at Cranbrook late last year. Langmack denies the claim but Craigie says he told senior player Terry Hill at the time before deciding not to take the matter any further. http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,9080761-23214,00.html South Sydney coach Paul Langmack and player Owen Craigie will hold a conciliation meeting next week after Craigie accused Langmack of making a racial slur against him last year. The meeting will take place next Tuesday and will be chaired by the National Rugby League club's chairman, Nicholas Pappas. Pappas said a private resolution of the matter was better for all concerned. Langmack has strenuously denied the allegation. "South Sydney, more than any other sporting club in this country, values, and is underpinned by, its deep connections with the indigenous community," Pappas said. "As such, any allegation of racial vilification is treated with the utmost seriousness. "In the interests of all concerned, including our vast supporter base drawn from the indigenous community, it was essential that the club act speedily and with total transparency. "Put simply, racial vilification has no place at South Sydney." Sydney's Daily Telegraph reported that Craigie claimed Langmack insulted him over his weight and colour during a training session at Cranbrook late last year. http://7sport.com.au/news.php?id=69181 Souths Sydney rugby league chairman Nick Pappas says coach Paul Langmack and Aboriginal player Owen Craigie will meet next Tuesday to resolve their differences. Pappas will chair a conciliation meeting next week after Craigie claimed Langmack had racially abused him at a training session late last year. Langmack was questioned this morning about the incident and has denied he made the comments last season. South Sydney board members met this morning after Craigie changed his mind and decided to report the allegation of racial vilification to the club last night. Mr Pappas this morning said no sporting club had closer links to the Aboriginal community than South Sydney. He said the issue is as serious as any that could confront the club. "I wouldn't want to speculate on the sort of penalty that would be imposed but I can say that if the allegation was proven to be true there'd be very stern action taken," Mr Pappas said. Craigie arrived at the club this morning with former boxer Tony Mundine and his lawyer. Former football manager Sean Garlick says the incident is embarrassing for the club and Langmack could face dismissal if the claims can be verified. http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/s1074209.htm 22 Mar 2004 After climbing out of his sickbed to sink Wests Tigers 17-16 with an extra-time field goal at Aussie Stadium, South Sydney halfback Willie Peters dedicated the victory to the club's longest serving supporter, Albert Clift, who turned 100 yesterday. Clift, who helped in Souths' legal fight for re-instatement to the NRL by selling the historic bell used for the first premiership match in 1908 to fellow Rabbitohs fan Russell Crowe, is no longer up to travelling to games but was listening on radio when Peters landed his 88th-minute kick. "He's supported the club for a long time so it was great to get one back for him, particularly on the day of his 100th birthday," Peters said. With a bye next week, the golden-point win was cause for even more celebration in the Souths dressing room afterwards, as the club is guaranteed to be sitting no lower than fourth place on the competition ladder after three rounds. But the mood belied the tension and frustration on the field as Peters failed with four earlier field-goal attempts and Jamie Russo twice missed. Wests Tigers halfback Scott Prince (two) and five-eighth Daniel Fitzhenry were also unable to break the deadlock. "I hadn't been able to train all week and by half-time I was really struggling, so in the second half I just felt lethargic," Peters said. "It just felt like I was trying to kick a bowling ball, but I got it there in the end. It just scraped in." After Peters's wobbly attempt went over, Rabbitohs coach Paul Langmack jumped in the air and hugged former Souths great Bob McCarthy on the sideline - but he later admitted the eight minutes of extra time had been difficult to endure. "I would have been suicidal if we didn't get up," Langmack said. "This time last year in round two we got beat in the last couple of seconds by the Broncos. We weren't used to winning back then but I think the spirit of the club came through today. "Willie's our general. He had about 20 attempts but in the end he came through. He didn't train all week because of a virus but I had a coffee with him on Friday and he told me he'd be all right to play. Then he went back to bed, I think." From the moment lock Ashley Harrison scored in the 24th minute to put Souths ahead 8-6, the home side always appeared destined for victory but it took some big plays by several Rabbitohs stars to get them home. Arguably the most important was a try-saving cover tackle by Harrison on a runaway Jason Moodie just six minutes from full-time when the scores were locked at 16-16, and he also came up with a charge-down on Prince's second field-goal attempt in extra time. Afterwards, Harrison's tackle was being compared with that of Tigers opposite Scott Sattler for Penrith in last year's grand final win over Sydney Roosters, but the former Bronco noted one important difference. "His was in a grand final," Harrison said. "It was a tackle that had to be made and I'm just glad I did." With winger Matt Riddle landing two penalty goals, Souths led 10-6 at half-time and seemed to have the game comfortably in control when captain Bryan Fletcher crossed seven minutes into the second term. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/03/21/1079823240865.html Grand final 2003 hero Scott Sattler has paid tribute to fellow Queenslander Ashley Harrison, who saved the Rabbitohs from another heart breaking loss with a desperate try saving tackle on Tigers winger Jason Moodie during the dying stages of today�s golden point thriller. Like Sattler on that memorable October night last year, Harrison was also playing at lock when he set out after Moodie, who broke away down the right hand touchline and looked headed for a decisive try with scores locked at 16-all in the 75th minute. Souths� last hope of preventing a four pointer, Harrison chased Moodie for 40 metres before grabbing the former NSW winger and bundling him into touch in a faithful re-enactment of Sattler�s heroic effort to run down Roosters� speedster Todd Byrne while playing for Penrith in last year�s decider. Asked whether his rival�s effort evoked memories, Sattler said he didn�t make the connection straight away, but could appreciate comparisons. �They were similar situations,� he said. �Ashley Harrison lifted his team for a moment by doing that and certainly little things like that can work in a team�s favour when you see how they rise to the occasion.� �[Souths] had the momentum going and they were playing with a lot of enthusiasm, and with enthusiasm any player can do that sort of thing.� A humble Harrison described his feat as �just one of those things�, but did concede Sattler�s presence opposite him escalated its significance on a personal level. http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=48220 Watching his team secure only three wins from his first 25 outings as a first grade coach has pushed Paul Langmack to the brink. But during South Sydney�s thrilling 17-16 extra time win over Wests Tigers this afternoon at Aussie Stadium, Langmack came closer than ever to actually going over the edge. �I would have been suicidal if we hadn�t have won today � and that�s serious,� said a paler than usual Langmack, who earlier watched in horror as the Rabbitohs let a commanding ten point lead slip in the second half. His lifesaver was halfback Willie Peters, who, after four previous missed attempts at field goal, finally landed one 7 minutes and 21 seconds into golden point. The wobbly winner was the game�s tenth�s shot, all of which were taken during a frenetic final 15 minutes. Of the clincher, which unconvincingly scraped over despite being taken in front from 15 metres out, Peters said: �It was very wobbly. I lost my confidence after the first two misses and I just had a think to myself about it.� �Eventually, it was a numbers game. I didn�t hit it too good, but it got there.� Making the match-winner all the more memorable, was the fact that Peters was bed ridden by a nasty flu for the past week and didn�t train until yesterday morning. �At times out there today I felt very flat, but I�m feeling a lot better now,� he quipped. The Rabbitohs looked to have secured only their ninth win since gaining re-admission to the NRL two seasons ago when, with the score at 16-6 midway through the second half, winger Luke McDougall beat three Tigers to lunge over in the corner. However, video referee Sean Hampstead earned the ire of Langmack and Souths captain Bryan Fletcher by disallowing the try because of a double movement. Despite having evaded the defence, Hampstead ruled that a grounded McDougall was not entitled to a second effort because the legs of opposite Jason Moodie were still touching him as he dived over the stripe. �I think if Luke had scored we might have run away with it because their heads were down at that stage,� Fletcher said. The controversial decision appeared to deflate the Rabbitohs while simultaneously sparking a lack lustre and mistake ridden Tigers outfit into gear. The joint venture club hit back from the penalty with a try to Ben Reynolds, an early replacement for Darren Senter, who sustained a broken arm in the first five minutes that is expected to out him for at least eight weeks. A 67th minute long range effort by Joel Wilson put the Tigers on equal terms, and they might have claimed the lead had Brett Hodgson�s angled conversion bounced through after striking the post and Souths lock Ashley Harrison not pulled off a stunning try saving tackle on a flying Moodie seven minutes later. �We didn�t play to win the game, we played to protect the lead,� Langmack said of his team�s untimely slumber. �Because we only won three games last year � to get ahead 16-6 was an unusual situation for the coach and the players and we got nervous.� �You can�t do that in first grade football.� http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=48219 21 Mar 2004 Souths 17 Wests Tigers 16 IT was an ugly left-foot kick - low and wobbly. But Willie Peters' field goal seven minutes and 26 seconds into extra time yesterday speared through the Aussie Stadium goalposts to give South Sydney a historic golden point victory over the Wests Tigers. It should have ended what was a bizarre match. But it didn't as late last night NRL officials were still sifting through the rubble of a time-keeping blunder which saw the teams fail to swap ends during extra time. Under golden point rules teams are meant to play five minutes each way but a mix-up occurred between the scoreboard attendant and the two timekeepers (one from each club). Wests Tigers officials will today lodge a protest as the Tigers would have received the ball from the restart at the change of ends. But Souths fans need not fear - the result will stand regardless and they will keep their first win since August 9 of last year - ironically against the Tigers. "The game is over, the result of the game doesn't change. That would be like saying if the referee made a refereeing error we could change the result of the game," NRL chief operating officer Graham Annesley said. Getting victory was tough yesterday. It took nine failed field goal attempts before Peters stepped up with his wobbly boot. At fulltime the scores were locked at 16-all after the Tigers had fought back from a 16-6 deficit. When the winner finally sailed over the cross-bar, the scenes of jubilation were dramatic. Coach Paul Langmack was hugging anyone and everyone on the sidelines while his players embraced and raised their arms to Souths fans in triumph. "I had about 20 shots and didn't hit them well but fortunately that one scraped over and we got there," Peters said. Peters missed with four previous field goal attempts. The effort of Peters was more meritorious considering he was struck down by flu all week and only declared himself ready to play yesterday morning. http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,9035498-23214,00.html Willie Peters kicked a 17-metre golden point field goal to give South Sydney a 17-16 win over the Wests Tigers in their National Rugby League match on Sunday afternoon. With the scores locked 16-16 at half-time, Peters kicked the crucial goal late in the first period of golden point play. The Rabbitohs had led the Tigers 10-6 at half-time thanks to a try from Ashley Harrison and a conversion and two penalties from Matt Riddle. Ben Reynolds and John Wilson hit back with second half tries for the Tigers which were offset by a Riddle four-pointer to level the scores after 80 minutes. http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/s1070485.htm After both teams combined for a total of nine failed field goal attempts, Souths Sydney halfback Willie Peters finally got it right when he booted home the Rabbitohs 17-16 against the Wests Tigers in the first golden point match of the 2004 National Rugby League season. Locked up at 16-16 at the end of regular time, both sides traded field goal attempts that ranged from abysmal to average before Peters - who had offered his fair share of ordinary attempts himself - put the frenzied Souths faithful out of their misery with a shot 15m out with two and a half minutes of extra time left. Once again the Tigers lived up to their tag as the Rabbitohs' "bunnies" by going down to their nemesis South Sydney. Souths only won three games last season - two of them against the Tigers. The heartbreaking loss undid all the good work of the Tigers who looked to have turned the corner after their gutsy 12-6 first round win over the Sharks last weekend. In contrast, Souths built on their spirited 26-16 first round loss to a shellshocked Sydney Roosters. The stage was set for a thriller when Rabbitohs skipper Bryan Fletcher used brute strength to barge over in the 48th minute to make it 16-6 - and the deficit could have been worse for the Tigers if not for video referee Sean Hampstead controversially disallowing a Luke MacDougall solo effort down the left sideline just minutes later. The Tigers made the most of their let-off, halfback Scott Prince setting up reserve Ben Reynolds who cut through two would-be defenders to score near the posts and make it 16-12 after 53 minutes. In the 67th minute, Prince sliced past Fletcher, ran 30m before offloading to centre John Wilson and suddenly it was 16-16 - but only after Brett Hodgson's attempted conversion hit the upright. The mistake riddled game was probably best summed up when Peters attempted to break the deadlock in the 75th minute. His woeful field goal attempt was charged down, offering the No.7 another chance at a kick - and he produced an even worse effort that grubbered to Wests winger Robert Miles. The Tigers winger then appeared to knock on but referee Steve Lyons ruled knocked back as the Souths fans bayed for blood. Six field goal attempts in all came and went in regular time as Prince and Daniel Fitzhenry for Wests and Souths' Peters and Ashley Harrison traded kicks before the sides went into the golden point period locked up at 16-16. Souths led 10-6 at halftime after lock Ashley Harrison crashed over in the 26th minute and Matt Riddle potted over a conversion and two penalties. Wests Tigers silenced the Souths faithful when they opened up the scoring through winger Jason Moodie just 10 minutes into the match after quick hands from fullback Hodgson and a clever step from boom youngster Benji Marshall. aap 16 Mar 2004 Terry Hill has decided to retire from rugby league, according to reports, and as a result will not play a final year back at the club where he career began: the South Sydney Rabbitohs. Hill, a former New South Wales and Australian representative centre, had been struggling with a knee problem that became infected and prompted him to return to hospital last week for reparative surgery. But it appears a return to the field will be too difficult for Hill and he has decided to act swiftly in the interests of the club. Just last week, Hill had made the extraordinarily magnanimous gesture of announcing he would play for free if he didn�t take the field for at least six matches for the Rabbitohs. And it appears that same generosity of thought has prompted him to draw the curtain on a significant rugby league career. "Today signifies the end of a magnificent career by one of the game�s larger than life characters," South Sydney CEO David Tapp said. http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=48191 Former rugby league international Terry Hill has announced his retirement from the game due to a chronic knee problem. Hill informed South Sydney of his decision this morning. He was one of the club's biggest off-season signings but did not play in last week's opening round because of the injury. His decision is a blow to the club. He was signed to try to lift Souths off the bottom of the table. Hill says he was told by his surgeon he would be tempting fate if he played on. "I'm 32 now... he (the surgeon) said there could be an ongoing problem - that is a possibility," Hill said. "I�ve given the matter considerable thought and I believe my decision to retire is in the club�s and my personal best interests," he said. Hill will only receive about half of his contract money in a settlement reached with the club, but says if he had played against the Sydney Roosters in round one, he would have been entitled to his full contract. "I could have needled it up with many injections against the Roosters and kept it a secret and then retired and kept every cent," he said. "[But] I wouldn't do that to the club, I never came here to do that to the club and at least I can put my head down and sleep at night." Souths chief executive David Tapp praised Hill's 16 years of rugby league at the end of a career which began at the Rabbitohs in 1988. "Today signifies the end of a magnificent career by one of the game�s larger than life characters," Mr Tapp said. He said despite the fact that Hill has been forced to retire, his signing was worth every dollar the club has spent on him because of his influence on the younger players. Hill represented New South Wales 14 times between 1991 and 2000, played nine Tests for Australia including a Kangaroo Tour in 1994 and World Cup in 1995. http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/s1066823.htm 14 Mar 2004 Sydney Roosters 26 Souths 16 THE Sydney Roosters maintained their 10-year stranglehold over South Sydney with a victory in tonight's NRL match at Aussie Stadium � but it came at a heavy cost. Roosters second-rower Michael Crocker could be in hot water after being placed on report for a 27th minute high tackle on Souths fullback Todd Polglase, whose season appears over because of a suspected major knee injury. Referee Shayne Hayne also put Crocker's Queensland Origin teammate Justin Hodges on report for a late knee to the body of Ashley Harrison after the five-eighth had made a clearing kick in the 63rd minute. To add to the 2002 premiers' woes, Test utility Craig Wing was forced from the field in the 55th minute with an ankle injury shortly after he scored a try to put the Roosters ahead 22-8. NRL judiciary review commissioner Greg McCallum may also examine Roosters forward Stuart Webb's high shot on Willie Manu in the 73rd minute. Souths haven't beaten their inner-city rivals since 1994 but today they proved more than just a nuisance to an out-of-sorts Roosters outfit. Rabbitohs winger Matt Riddle opened his side's account with a ninth minute penalty goal before the Roosters showed why they're the benchmark of the competition. In the 17th minute English international Adrian Morley stepped past opposite number Paul Stringer to score a try. Four minute later Morley smashed Stringer in a heavy but legal tackle and the concussed prop was forced to leave the field on a stretcher. Souths utility Jamie Russo was sin-binned in the 30th minute for holding down Todd Byrne in a tackle and the Roosters made him pay, with Anthony Minichiello and Ryan Cross crossing in the next five minutes to give their side an 18-2 halftime lead. Souths' high-profile recruit Adam MacDougall stepped his way to the line from 30m out in the 51st minute to score his first try for the club. Riddle converted to reduce the gap to 18-8. The Roosters' reply came swiftly, with Wing reaching over to plant the ball over the chalk despite the attentions of prop Luke Stuart. Wing twisted his ankle and early reports indicate the classy hooker will be sidelined for at least two weeks. http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,8966328-23214,00.html The Roosters survived a second half flurry from a fighting Rabbitohs side to come away with a 26-16 win at the Sydney Football Stadium on Sunday evening. Up 18-2 at half-time, the Roosters were outscored three tries to one after the break as both sides committed errors and missed scoring chances. The Rabbitohs started strongly, having the best of the exchanges during the first 15 minutes before being put on the ropes as the Roosters turned on the style with some superb tries. With the Roosters 2-0 down to a Matt Riddle penalty kick, Adrian Morley scored the game's first try when he twisted and turned across the line in the 17th minute. Morley was in the thick of it again shortly afterwards, when the Rabbitohs' Paul Stringer was knocked unconscious and stretchered from the field after being tackled by the English enforcer. Stringer was later reported to have suffered a concussion and was taken to hospital for precautionary x-rays. Tries to Anthony Minichiello and Ryan Cross, and three goals from three attempts from Craig Fitzgibbon, opened a 16-point margin for the Roosters at the break. The Rabbitohs threw away a gilt-edged chance to score in the second minute of the second half when Lee Hookey cut the Roosters defence to ribbons with a brilliant run on the left and passed inside, where Jamie Russo knocked the ball on. Luke MacDougall then had a try disallowed in the corner as Souths took the fight to the star-studded Roosters line-up. But the Rabbitohs put themselves well and truly in the game when Hookey turned provider for Adam MacDougall, who raced off on a jinking run to leave the Roosters defence for dead on his way to his first try in a Souths jersey. Craig Wing limped off with a knee injury after his try and Fitzgibbon's fourth conversion made it 24-8 to the Roosters. But the Rabbitohs hit back after a chaotic, scrambling build-up which ended when Brett Kearney toed the ball ahead for Riddle to touch down in the end goal area. A missed conversion made it 24-12 with 20 minutes to go. http://www.abc.net.au/sport/content/s1065684.htm 12 Mar 2004 South Sydney centre Terry Hill has taken the extraordinary step of promising to play for free if he doesn�t play enough football for the club this year. Hill has been suffering from a hangover knee infection as a result of minor offseason knee surgery but he has been forced to go back to hospital to attend to a problematic bursary sack in the knee. But the former New South Wales and Australian centre promised to give money back to Souths if he doesn�t play a reasonable amount of football. "If I can't get on the paddock for at least six-to-eight matches for South Sydney I am more than happy to play for nothing to give them their money because I am not there for money - I am there to help the club," Hill told Fox Sports. "My main objective has always been to help South Sydney. Hopefully I can dispel the rumours of 'he's there for his welfare cheque' or 'one large pay day' I'm a man of my word. I think people know that. "And I really mean it � if a play two games and have knee reconstruction. Then I will say that was no fault of yours (the club) and I'll put my hand up and say just pay me up to the day I got my knee reconstruction. You can keep the rest." Hill began his career with Souths in the early '90s before making his name at Manly before moving on to Wests Tigers. But he has struggled to even train this year because of the niggling knee problem. http://www.ozleague.com/news_article.asp?id=48163 9 Mar 2004 South Sydney is still sweating over test results on Terry Hill's infected knee and have not ruled out admitting the injured forward to hospital. Hill was not considered for the Souths outfit announced for this weekend's first round National Rugby League clash against the Sydney Roosters as he battles to overcome the knee infection. The veteran visited a specialist and is still waiting on test results which will tell him if he needs to be admitted to hospital and placed on a drip. A club spokesman said a drip would help overcome a low white blood cell count which has hampered his recovery from the infection. Hill, 32, underwent knee surgery in the off-season and needed it drained regularly but last Friday it became infected. The spokesman said it was unclear when the former Test centre would be fit to make his competition return to the Souths first grade side for the first time since 1990. Another prominent Rabbitoh absent from the season opening team was pivot Owen Craigie, 25, who was dropped to Premier League and replaced by 20-year-old Brett Kearney. Kearney - who has played just 10 first grade games - was preferred ahead of 105-game veteran Craigie and will chime into the halves with Willie Peters. The 180cm, 80kg former builder's labourer has been described as a "jack in the box" by club officials and will need all his tricks against the powerful Roosters outfit. Other injury concerns for Souths are Scott Geddes (pectoral tendon tear) who won't be back until round 12 "at the earliest", Brad Watts (hamstring) who is expected back next round and Justin Smith who is not expected to recover from off-season groin surgery until round three. http://7sport.com.au/news.php?id=64912 8 Mar 2004 SOUTH Sydney prize signing Terry Hill has lashed out at sacked Rabbitohs coach Craig Coleman as the source of a rumour designed to have current head mentor Paul Langmack dumped. A furious Hill believes Coleman is the man behind a dramatic piece of league gossip which spread over the weekend - with the intent to create tension at Redfern ahead of the new season. The story suggested Hill had attempted to physically drag Langmack out of his office at Souths Leagues club and challenge him to a fight. The Rabbitohs' 2004 star recruit was supposedly fuming after learning he was going to be left out of the starting side for Sunday's round one clash with the Roosters. Hill, Langmack and Souths chief executive David Tapp have strongly denied the story - with Hill convinced it is the work of Coleman as part of a vendetta to have Langmack ousted. "I haven't had a run-in with Paul Langmack, I've endorsed him everywhere I've gone," Hill said. "I'd like to tell Craig Coleman and all his story tellers, who I will personally look for, to please leave me alone. "I'm sick of it. He's running around the joint just telling lies about people. I've been one of Paul Langmack's staunchest supporters." Langmack was also angered when quizzed over the alleged incident, refuting the claim and declaring the team to play the Roosters on Sunday was yet to be picked. Chief executive David Tapp was equally quick to dismiss the story, adamant there was no tension between the supposedly feuding pair at the club. "It's just ridiculous. We haven't even picked the team yet. I'm the coach and Terry Hill has not been in my office for weeks," Langmack said. "His knee is infected, he's seen the specialist and he's had to have it drained. He won't be ready for round one. I'm the coach and it didn't happen." http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,8900777-23214,00.html 7 Mar 2004 At times Bryan Fletcher thinks he's still playing for the Roosters. He forgets he's no longer running off Brad Fittler or off-loading to Luke Ricketson in the red, white and blue he first pulled on as junior. But those lapses are likely to end next Sunday when Souths' captain plays against his old club for the first time. It's been a tough 12 months for the international back-rower since he moved from Bondi Junction to Redfern after the Roosters' 2002 premiership win. But the 29-year-old said he expected to leave behind these thoughts and his time with the Roosters when they clash with Souths in round one. Fletcher missed both fixtures between the rivals last season, because of injury and suspension, and is preparing for one of the toughest games of his life. "In a way it will end my association with the club," he said. "That's something that is in the back of my mind. "I'm very excited about the game, and I'm sure I'll be really nervous when game day comes around. "It will be interesting to see how I play against them. I'll probably find out how good they really are. "I've seen Freddie [Fittler] tear teams to ribbons playing alongside him so many times and now I've got to come up against him." A celebrated Roosters junior who started out with the Paddington Colts, Fletcher played 125 games during six years at the club before being off-loaded because of salary cap restrictions. It was a decision many Roosters fans found hard to swallow, especially when Fletcher was the Rabbitohs' standout player in their disappointing 2003 season. http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/03/06/1078464696790.html 5 Mar 2004 SOUTH Sydney's Terry Hill is fighting a knee infection and could miss the National Rugby League club's premiership opener against the Sydney Roosters on Sunday week. Hill had off season knee surgery and the area has required regular draining throughout pre-season training. The former Test centre is on antibiotics and is being monitored by doctors, however, if the infection gets any worse he may be admitted to hospital. "I've been told to keep my leg elevated and hopefully that will do the job," Hill said today. "Hopefully I will be fit to play the Roosters but I want to make sure the infection is looked after properly." The 32-year-old Hill was one of Souths' major off-season acquisitions, re-joining the club 14 years after making his first grade debut for the Rabbitohs. http://foxsports.news.com.au/story/0,8659,8879293-23214,00.html |
