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30 September 2004 Shane Walker has sprung to the defence of his NRL grand finalist brother Chris, saying the Sydney Roosters winger doesn't deserve the heavy criticism he receives. "Chris doesn't hurt anyone," said South Sydney hooker Walker in response to a scathing front page story about his brother in the Sydney Morning Herald. "He gets plenty of criticism, cops it on the chin and moves on with it. "It's not as if he's ever been to the judiciary for taking blokes' heads off or deliberately putting on cheap shots." Herald writer Roy Masters, a former grand final coach, wrote that Walker had refused to carry the ball forward in last weekend's preliminary final against North Queensland, leaving teammates "stranded and exposed to violent tackles". He said Walker's inaction had angered teammates, challenged his coach and disgusted Roosters officials. The story also said Walker was "no stranger to deserting his mates", having turned his back on a $300,000 contract with Souths to join the Roosters. Roosters chief Brian Canavan would not comment on the report, preferring to avoid further distraction four days out from the grand final against the Bulldogs. "We've got more pressing things to concern ourself with," said Canavan. Shane Walker had spoken to Chris, who had laughed off the article. "If Roy has become part of the quasi-intelligentsia and he's trying to use reverse psychology, then he's come a long way since his face-slapping days at Wests," said Shane. He was referring to the celebrated incident in the 1970s when Jack Jeffries slapped Wests teammate Tommy Raudonikis around the face before a game to help fire him up. Masters was coach of the Magpies at the time. He also defended his brother's mid-season switch of clubs last year. "He took that like a man," said Shane about Chris breaking his contract with the Rabbitohs to join Sydney for $40,000. "He could've stayed there and took his $300,000 a year and bled the club dry. "He was man enough to stand up and say `that's not my go'." Shane Walker had a theory about why his younger brother copped so much criticism. http://www.nrl.com.au/news.cfm?id=9943 27 September 2004 The Allight Rabbitohs has announced the signing of talented young front-row forwards Michael Greenfield and Ray Moujalli to two year contracts today. Both Greenfield and Moujalli are likely to line up on each other in this Sunday�s Jersey Flegg Grand Final with Greenfield a regular for the Sharks and Moujalli a feature of the undefeated Roosters side throughout 2004. Greenfield is a hard-hitting 113kg prop forward that has also played Premier League and made his First Grade debut this year. Greenfield was an Australian Schoolboys representative in 2003 from Westfield Sports High School, having taken up Rugby League only four years earlier. �We believe Michael is an outstanding prospect,� CEO Shane Richardson said today. �He has been a consistently strong performer at the Sharks and we are happy to have him at the Rabbitohs next season.� Moujalli is also a rising young star in the NRL, joining his fellow Sydney Roosters Jersey Flegg player Peter Taylor at the Rabbitohs in 2005. Moujalli, 19, is a Bulldogs junior who has developed as a player with the Roosters over the past two seasons. He stands 188cm tall and weighs 105kg. �Ray has been impressive all season and his signing continues the build up of great young footballers at the Rabbitohs,� Richardson said. http://www.nrl.com.au/news.cfm?id=9909 17 September 2004 South Sydney utility Ashley Harrison has cleaned up at the NRL club's post-season awards. The 23-year-old utility won the George Piggins Medal for Best & Fairest Player, the NRL Players' Player award and Clubman of the Year at the Rabbitohs' Red and Green Ball at the Westin Hotel. Harrison was being touted as a State of Origin contender earlier this year but missed out on making his debut for Queensland, which lost the series 2-1. His form continued to surge in the latter half of the season, typified in a 34-all extra-time draw with his former club Brisbane in round 25. Harrison was outstanding over the 90-minute game, scoring a try and making 12 hit-ups for 107 metres, three line breaks, two try assists and 33 tackles. Second-rower Mark Minichiello took out the Supporters' Choice award while caretaker coach Arthur Kitinas won the Most Outstanding Contribution to the Club award for 2004. http://www.nrl.com.au/news.cfm?id=9842 The Allight Rabbitohs has confirmed its trial matches for the 2005 pre-season. The Rabbitohs will play two trials in 2005 including the annual Charity Shield against the St George Illawarra Dragons and a match in Perth, Western Australia against the Bulldogs. The Charity Shield will be played at Aussie Stadium on Saturday, February 19, 2005 against traditional rivals the Dragons. The second trial will be a night game played at either the WACA ground or Members Equity Stadium in Perth against the Bulldogs on Friday, February 25, 2005. CEO Shane Richardson says the 2005 pre-season will be the ideal build-up for the Rabbitohs going into an important season. �We have cut the number of trials down to just two matches this year as we believe this is enough pre-season football to get the players ready for Round One,� Richardson said. http://www.nrl.com.au/news.cfm?id=9838 17 September 2004 Shane Richardson said the joint venture between South Sydney seniors and juniors was crucial to the future of the foundation rugby league club. The Rabbitohs chief executive announced that the wealthy Kingsford juniors would take over the running of Souths' Premier League and Jersey Flegg teams. "It's vital for the survival of our football club of South Sydney," Richardson told Sydney radio station 2KY. "That's the key to all of this. Everybody wants to keep the Rabbitohs in the South Sydney area and this is another step towards making sure we're firmer for the future. "It sends an important message out to the marketplace and an important message out to players who want to be involved in a good, strong club." Richardson said the division between the seniors and juniors was "not as deep as people make it out to be". "I think it was fortunate that I was able to come in without any baggage and we were able to sit down and talk sensibly to each other," said Richardson, who quit his role as Penrith chief executive in June. "I've sold as many raffle tickets as (Souths juniors boss) Frank Cookson. "We're able to talk the same language and it gets back to respect for each other. http://www.nrl.com.au/news.cfm?id=9815 17 September 2004 The Allight Rabbitohs has announced the agreement to terms with exciting Brisbane youngster Germaine Paulson to a two year contract today. Paulson, 19, is a utility back from the Brisbane Broncos stable, wearing the number one jersey for their Queensland Cup feeder club, the Toowoomba Clydesdales in 2004, however he is equally at home on the wing, in the centres or at five-eighth. Originally from Beaudesert in south-east Queensland, Paulson has played junior representative games for Queensland and Australia, playing for his state in under-15, under-17 and under-19 sides and for Australia in under-15s. �He is a promising young talent with great pace and will push for selection in the top grade next season,� Rabbitohs� CEO Shane Richardson said today. http://www.nrl.com.au/news.cfm?id=9722 |
