Where do I sign -  31 May 2000,   Newcastle Herald 
NSW winger Adam MacDougall would have signed with the Knights yesterday if club management came up with a suitable offer. MacDougall said he was disappointed not to have received an offer and indicated the Knights were taking a risk by waiting for rival clubs to make their offers when the anti-tampering deadline ceases on June 30. MacDougall is one of 11 first-graders coming off contract and many are getting frustrated by the Knights' inaction. He said he had knocked back offers of between `$70,000 and $100,000 a season' from other clubs in the past to remain loyal to Newcastle. `I personally would have liked to have seen it finalised sooner rather than later,' 
MacDougall said yesterday before going into camp with NSW for the third State of Origin match next Wednesday. `I'd like to sign today if I could. I'm not really dependent on what other players do. `I know where my heart lies. I want to stay in Newcastle and that's my first priority.' The Knights are delaying all contract negotiations for at least another two weeks while champion halfback Andrew Johns weighs up his future and other clubs move to re-sign their own players. MacDougall said he was `scared' by the prospect of considering offers from rival clubs. `I'd prefer not to have to receive offers from other clubs because maybe the world's eyes will be open to me and I'll see what other clubs can offer me,' he said. `That's the scary thing for me personally. `Waiting until after June 30, I think it's dangerous personally because I know the club hasn't got the capacity other clubs have. `I'm hopeful to have something finalised because I know the grass is probably greener on the other side with some clubs who are looking for some outside backs. `I've made a lot of sacrifices to stay at the club and I'm sure they have made a lot of sacrifices to keep me. `But money isn't everything. I've got to be happy with the coach and the staff and I have to be happy where I think I can play my best football.' Knights chief executive Ian Bonnette said the club would not rush to secure key players such as MacDougall and hooker Danny Buderus. `I'd only be too pleased to sign the contract if the players accepted the offers we make that keep us within the salary cap and to move forward on all fronts,' Bonnette said. 

Tape no prisoners -  11 Jun 2000,  Sun Herald 
Newcastle Adam MacDougall changed his focus for State of Origin III after Wendell Sailor switched wings to mark him. Rather than print ``MOS" (man of series) on his wristband, as he was expected to, he went for the more general ``WIN", ``3-0", ``RELAX" and ``ENJOY". ``I didn't want to get caught up in a personal battle with Wendell," MacDougall explained. ``That wouldn't have helped me or the team. I just wanted to do my job, and if that leads to a spot in the Australian team for the World Cup, then, great." 

Doogs wants gridiron clause  -  17 Jul 2000, Newcastle Herald
The Newcastle Knights will consider including a clause in Adam MacDougall's new four-year contract allowing him to trial with an American football club at the end of this season. The Knights hope to announce MacDougall's retention within the next few days, but that will depend on them agreeing to let him travel to the United States in September to trial with one of five National Football League teams. MacDougall, who said he would make a decision on his future at the weekend, is expected to turn his back on more lucrative offers from rugby union and the Canberra Raiders to sign a new deal with Newcastle worth about $300,000 a season. 
Knights chief executive Ian Bonnette hopes to finalise negotiations when he meets with MacDougall's manager, George Liolio, today.   Liolio said MacDougall was serious about trying his hand at gridiron and had spoken to an agent with connections with the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers and San Diego Chargers. MacDougall could earn up to five times his new contract with the Knights if signed by one of the NFL teams. His resume and some press clippings have been sent to the agent, and the five clubs have since requested videotapes of him in action. `It's still a long shot, but it's the chance of a lifetime for Adam, so we've got to give it a go,' Liolio said last night. 
`If (former Easts centre) Mark Harris did it in the '70s, why can't a player do it in the year 2000 when training methods between the two are much closer?' Liolio said videotapes of some of MacDougall's career highlights would be compiled this week and hand-delivered to representatives of the five clubs by the agent next week. `We assumed that because their trials are on now and Adam can't go that they weren't interested,' he said. `But I received a phone call about it late last week, and it looks like he might be able to go over and trial after all, possibly in September. `That would be after the grand final and before the World Cup, if he gets picked, so hopefully things will work out and he can go over.

Interview with Knight Adam MacDougall,  18 July 2000,  Newcastle Herald
Nickname: Doogs and Mad Dog. 
Age: 25 years. 
Hobbies: Scuba diving and travelling. 
Favourite food: Pavlova. 
When did you start playing football?: When I was eight years old. 
Favourite restaurant: Little Swallows. 
Favourite movie: The Hurricane. 
Favourite type of music: Anything on 2HD. 
Do you have a girlfriend?: Yes. 
Where do you see yourself in 10 years time?: Married with children. 
Where did you go to school?: De la Salle, Cronulla.
Your loves other than football? Family and loved ones. 
Are you upset because Matthew Johns is leaving?: Yes.

MacDougall stays with Knights -  25 July, 2000
Newcastle utility Adam MacDougall re-signed with the club for four seasons today after turning down offers from the Canberra Raiders and Australian Rugby Union (ARU). MacDougall maintained from the beginning of his negotiations with Newcastle that he would prefer to stay with the Knights, but contract talks dragged on for months. The new deal ties MacDougall to the Knights until the end of the 2004 season. The ARU stepped up its bid for MacDougall yesterday by seeking clarification on whether All Black winger Jonah Lomu had clearance from the International Rugby Board to take banned medication for a kidney complaint. MacDougall, who was suspended for drug-taking in 1998, has since been cleared to take medication for an underactive pituitary gland. 

Fan-forced; Supporters sway MacDougall to re-sign; Jul 26, 2000. 
THE privilege of representing the people of Newcastle while playing the game he loves convinced Adam MacDougall to remain a Knight for life.
The unstoppable NSW winger ended months of speculation yesterday by signing a four-year contract with the Knights worth about $300,000 a season.
MacDougall, 25, said he could have earned more money at another NRL club, playing rugby union or American football. But when it came to the crunch he could not bring himself to leave his adopted home town. `This will probably be the last contract I'll ever sign so allowing for the fact I was going to lose a lot of money by staying here, I had to be at ease with myself that I was going to be financially secure after football,' MacDougall said. `Just living in Newcastle itself, there's a lot of opportunities here for me outside of football when I'm finished, so that's something I can look forward to as well. `I've never hidden the fact that the reason I'm so much in love with the club is not because of the administration or the red and blue uniform, it's the people that make up Newcastle as a city and as a sporting base for their rugby league team. It's a rare opportunity to run out in front of 30,000 Novocastrians every week. We have a very fortunate role to play here in the club in that we carry a lot of hopes and aspirations for a lot of general working people and it's a great honour to represent Newcastle. I feel like I'm representing more than just myself when I run out every week. I feel like I'm representing the whole of Newcastle and there's no prouder feeling in rugby league.'
MacDougall said he was still keen to fulfil his fantasies of playing gridiron or rugby union some time down the track but for now he wanted to pursue his passion of playing rugby league. There had been speculation that the International Rugby Board, unlike the NRL, would not have allowed him to use the banned medication he needs to treat hypopituitarism if he accepted offers to play rugby. But MacDougall said that was not a factor and that Queensland and NSW had tried to lure him to the 15-a-side form of football. Switching codes or playing league in England would have ended his chances of playing for Australia in the World Cup at the end of the season a goal he set at the start of the year. Other factors in his decision were a discussion with new coach Michael Hagan last week and a presentation by the club's Blue and Red Army of supporters. `A few weeks ago, the Knights' army presented me with a ring which was a lovely gesture,' he said.
`That showed how much they really wanted me to stay at the club and it was a sign of appreciation, I suppose, because I've always made time for the supporters.
`All of that support has been tremendous and at the end of the day, when you've got that sort of support it makes your decision a lot easier.
`Money's not everything and I certainly can't complain because I'm getting paid to do something I love to do. At the end of the day I'm very fortunate to be in the position I'm in, where I'm earning an income out of playing rugby league.'

New contract - On season 2000, MacDougall stated, ‘But money isn’t everything I have to be happy with the coach; I have to be happy with the staff and I have to be happy with the fact that I’m where I’m going to be able to play my best football; to me its not a money thing; to me it’s a being able to say that I’m comfortable where I’m at and I know that I’m going to be able to go out there perform week in and week out and for me it’s a personal pride thing; I know if I can play my best football at a club that’s where I want to be so obviously there are issues here which are concerning me; we don’t have any idea who the coach is going to be and we are not sure what the playing staff is going to be next year but I know that the place Newcastle itself provides a great atmosphere for me to play good football and that’s why I’d like to stay here.’
In a major boost for the Newcastle Knights on the eve of their semi final campaign, blockbusting outside back Adam MacDougall has today announced he has agreed to terms with the club for the next four years.  The twenty-five year old, who has been in smashing form in 2000, rejected several offers from NRL clubs as well as interest from rugby union to stay in the Knights colours until 2004. Speaking today Adam said he was extremely relieved to have settled his future, particularly with the big games just around the corner.   "At no stage did I want to leave Newcastle," he said. "This is not only a great club, but it is a great town to live in and those factors were significant in my decision to stay in Newcastle." 
"It is true I attracted some interest from other organisations, but it was always my intention to work towards a deal that would keep me here."  "Not only do we have a great team now, but I think it has the potential to develop even more in years to come. Some of the boys are still only teenagers so I think we can look to the future with a degree of confidence."

New contract - The unstoppable NSW winger ended months of speculation yesterday by signing a four-year contract with the Knights. MacDougall, 25, said he could have earned more money at another NRL club, playing rugby union or American football.  But when it came to the crunch he could not bring himself to leave his adopted home town.  "Just living in Newcastle itself, there's a lot of opportunities here for me outside of football when I'm finished, so that's something I can look forward to as well.

We should have won the title: MacDougall  -  29 Aug 2000,  Newcastle Heraldd 
Newcastle utility back Adam MacDougall is convinced the Knights would have beaten Brisbane in Sunday's NRL grand final. The Broncos overpowered the Sydney Roosters 14-6 at Stadium Australia to maintain their unbeaten record in grand finals and clinch their fifth premiership in nine years. The Roosters qualified for the title decider by recovering from a 16-2 deficit against the Knights in the preliminary final a week earlier to win 26-20. MacDougall, one of four Knights named in Australia's World Cup squad, was too devastated to speak to the media after losing to the Roosters, but he broke his silence yesterday in typically controversial fashion. `It's pretty hard to get over what happened. I personally believe it's probably the greatest chance I'll ever have to win a grand final and it's the one that definitely got away,' MacDougall said. `Even looking back on yesterday's game, it was more disappointing than ever given the fact that Brisbane were there to be beaten by ourselves. `It wasn't to be, so it's something that's going to be very hard to get over because winning a grand final is probably a lot harder than most things in football. `But being a bit selfish, I suppose on a personal note this probably far outweighs anything that you can do. `Personally, I know that it goes a long way to making this a great year for me.' MacDougall can express his feelings in person to Brisbane's four World Cup representatives Wendell Sailor, Gorden Tallis, Shane Webcke and Darren Lockyer when the Australians meet in Sydney tomorrow for medicals. He will probably start the tour behind incumbent wingers Sailor and Mat Rogers, but as one of only six specialist outside backs in the touring party, the block-busting 25-year-old is sure to see plenty of game time. Australian coach Chris Anderson said MacDougall, who played fullback for Newcastle for most of the year but was the stand-out winger in the State of Origin series, would also be used in the centres as a back-up to Matthew Gidley and Ryan Girdler. `I've been picked in the squad and now the rest is up to me, so it will probably come down to how well I play in the trial matches and how well I train,' he said. `Obviously I'm going to have my work cut out but it's something I'm very excited about and something I'm looking forward to. `It means we're going to get a lot of time in the backs because they've only picked a few of us so we're assured of getting a lot of football.' 

Doogs savours national service  -  6 Oct 2000, Newcastle Herald
Step by step, Adam MacDougall has scaled the heights of the rugby league world, and he will reach the pinnacle tomorrow night when he runs onto Townsville's Dairy Farmers Stadium for his Australian debut. He will become the ninth Newcastle Knight to wear the famous green and gold. The eight internationals take pride of place in the Knights' head office, and MacDougall has been itching to get his photo beside the others. `It is something that I have been looking at for a long time,' MacDougall said yesterday after the Australian team completed their training run. `We've got all the photos at the club of the people who have played, and to be the ninth is something that I'm very proud of. `I'm very lucky to play in a great side with Newcastle, but here we've got the best players in the world all together.' 
A veteran of eight State of Origin matches, MacDougall's big break came this year when he turned in three sensational performances for the Blues as they whitewashed the Queenslanders. The Knights fullback is more than happy to start his debut Test on the bench, but he is keen to work his way into the starting line-up before the team departs for the World Cup on October 22. `I've been told that I'm being used as the third centre,' he said. `I've played a bit of fullback, centre and wing this year, so from here it is up to me really.'

Doogs grabs five tries in Roos' romp  16 Oct 2000, Newcastle Herald
Adam MacDougall came nowhere near the national try-scoring record set by Novocastrian Brian Carlson in 1953, despite the Kangaroos' 108-0 flogging of New Zealand Residents at Gosford on Saturday night. MacDougall, filling in at centre for injured Knights team-mate Matthew Gidley, scored the first three tries of the match and added two in the second half. The Kangaroos, who used the match to complete a two-week training camp, scored 20 tries and kicked 14 goals for a record winning margin. The previous best had been in a match against a New Zealand provincial side in 1953, when the Kangaroos won 98-7. Carlson, who played on the wing in that match, scored nine tries and landed two goals for 31 points.

Mad Dog: he's sane -  13 Nov 2000.  Newcastle Herald 
Those closest to Australian and Newcastle try-scoring tear-away Adam MacDougall are concerned that people have the wrong idea about him. MacDougall's girlfriend, Belinda Krum, contacted Sidelines to insist that the man known as `Mad Dog' is not a loose cannon. Belinda said MacDougall did NOT fly solo to Amsterdam last week while the rest of the Kangaroos used a two-day break to visit Spain or Ireland. `Adam went to Scotland with Adam Lindsay, one of his mates from Newcastle University who lives in England now. He's going to be best man at his (Linday's) wedding next year,' she said. `I don't know where they got story about him going off to Amsterdam on his own. They just want to make out that he's strange.' MacDougall will visit Amsterdam, among other continental tourist destinations, when he and Belinda travel through Europe together after the World Cup final. As for almost missing the plane to England at the start of the tour, Belinda said that was only because he and fellow Knights internationals Andrew Johns, Matthew Gidley and Ben Kennedy had too much luggage for the flight from Belmont to Sydney and MacDougall volunteered to travel by car. `It wasn't as if he wasn't allowed on the plane,' she said. `I was the only one of the girls who could drive to Sydney so Adam came with me and we took the excess luggage with us.' And the bottle-blonde hairdo? All part of the facial and/or funny hair competition, which wound up on Friday after criticism about the team's image. Most of the Kangaroos shaved their newly acquired whiskers but MacDougall and fellow winger Mat Rogers were still sporting snow-white heads of hair in yesterday's 66-10 quarter-final victory over Samoa. MacDougall came off the bench to score two more tries and has now managed at least one try in each of his first five Test appearances and is challenging for a starting berth in next weekend's semi-final. * There could be a surprise nomination for the Newcastle Knights' board of directors when nominations close on Friday, November 24, from a very experienced rugby league official who knows the ins and outs of the game at the highest level, all the top brass and is planning a move back to Newcastle. He is disappointed at the running of the club and the handling of the Knights Leagues Club and has no alignment with either the present NRL or Knights factions. 

We might be mad, but glad of the ritual; League; Adam MacDougall. Sun Herald. Feb 4, 2001.
BEFORE kick-off the dressing sheds are abuzz with activity as nervous footballers undertake strange rituals. This is how I got my nickname "Mad Dog". It could be said that it was wise to stay away from me before games, as my build-up was a little more intense than others. I used to get myself into a state because I thought that if I wasn't pumped up to the max, I wasn't ready to play. When I was a kid, I used to go to the footy every weekend with my dad and tag along into the sheds, where my eyes were first opened to the strange antics that would become my own. I will never forget the Roy Masters and Tommy Raudonikis face-slapping incident. Here were coach and player pushing each other around as if they were enemies, working themselves into fits of rage before meeting the real enemies.
My pre-game rituals have been toned down, much to the boys' disappointment, and I'm more relaxed and focused. I have changed my pre-game music from Metallica to the Sounds of the Forest. Well, maybe not quite. My move was in sync with rugby league in general. Our team's new pre-game rituals were difficult at first for Warren Ryan to digest. The Wok was from the old school and he thought footballers joking, laughing, singing and dancing just before a game meant we were unprepared and unprofessional. He soon realised the benefits of a happy and relaxed team.
While the aggressive antics have gone from the dressing sheds, the many weird and wonderful superstitions of the players remain. While I follow a strict routine, I am not superstitious. But many players would not dream of running onto the field before executing their rituals. This may be as simple as wearing a favourite pair of undies or socks, or in the case of Gorden Tallis, always dressing himself on the left side first left sock before right sock, left arm before right arm. He also has the expensive habit of throwing away his football boots if he, or his team, perform poorly. Speaking of footy boots, Matty Johns has a strange pre-game ritual. He lines up his large footy boot collection, which would make Imelda Marcos proud, then studies each one. He tries them all on, practises a few manoeuvres, dressed only in his undies, before choosing the lucky pair. Paul Harragon would have hot and cold showers and Wendell Sailor will listen to a particular song. Jason Moodie would have a cigarette just minutes before kick-off, and Jason Stevens and Mat Rogers will say a prayer and write biblical references on their wrists.
Whatever a player's superstition may be, or how ridiculous it may seem, it is a vital part of his preparation and allows him to go on the field in the right mental state.

Backline boys earmarked for more action up the guts - 14 Feb 2001,  Newcastle Herald
Knights coach Michael Hagan said yesterday his outside backs would have to become more involved in the game because of the limited-replacement rule. NRL clubs will be restricted to four replacement players and 12 interchanges during the 80 minutes, which will ensure most players get more time on the paddock than they have in previous years. MacDougall will be one player not fazed by the extra work when he returns to the team, probably in round three against Canterbury at Sydney Showground. `Mad Dog' revels in the challenge of being among the forwards, such is his involvement in play whether he is on the wing or at fullback. He has even indicated he wants to move closer to the action in the centres this season. 

Doogs wants to be undisputed top dog  -  01 Mar 2001,  Newcastle Herald
The path has been cleared for Newcastle Knights blockbuster Adam MacDougall to become the No.1 winger in rugby league. Wendell Sailor's defection to rugby union at the end of this season and a probable year-ending shoulder injury to Mat Rogers has MacDougall straining at the leash to become the best among the game's elite finishers and flankers. But MacDougall, who revels in personalising his rivalries with other wingers, will not cop any lame-duck recognition. He wants to be recognised as the best while the best are still playing. MacDougall is due to play his first game of the year on Sunday against the unbeaten Bulldogs at Sydney Showground. A broken thumb and torn ankle ligaments suffered during Australia's World Cup defence restricted his off-season preparation and ruled him out of Newcastle's pre-season trials and their first two games of the premiership. But he will see a hand specialist in Sydney this morning for the final thumbs up, which he believes is a fait accompli, clearing him to play against the Bulldogs. 
MacDougall was a regular member of Australia's top squad during their World Cup campaign but usually came off the bench, causing an immediate impact against tiring defenders. He started the Cup final against New Zealand but it was in the centres for the injured Ryan Girdler, not at the expense of Sailor or Rogers. MacDougall cannot do anything about Rogers' injury-enforced absence but he does want to prove himself against Sailor before the Brisbane and Queensland powerhouse pursues a rugby union career and the dream of becoming a dual international. `I believe the pinnacle as far as judging yourself as a footballer goes is State of Origin,' he said. `Pulling on the green-and-gold jersey and representing your country is what every player dreams about, but Origin is the ultimate level of football these days. `I was one of the best players in the Origin last year so I proved myself to be the in-form winger, and I was third overall in the Dally-Ms. Wendell is judged on what he's done for the last six or seven seasons and that's fair enough I suppose, so I have to put it in people's minds week in and week out that I'm the best. `I want to win the title this year, not by default next year when he goes.' Rogers is not expected to play for the Sharks this year but could be back by the time Australian selectors name a squad for a revamped Kangaroo Tour. MacDougall, who has played eight Origin games since 1998 and if fit will be the first winger picked for NSW this year, wants to shut the door on Rogers long before then. `There's a Test match against New Zealand in the middle of this year so there's a chance for me to really cement my spot and become a regular before the Kangaroo Tour at the end of the season,' he said. 
MacDougall is concerned about his fitness holding out against the Dogs but coach Michael Hagan has nothing but confidence in the 25-year-old international. `Doogs has an ability to prepare well for games personally, so if he's in the right frame of mind come six o'clock Sunday, that's my main concern,' Hagan said. `Then I hope we're assessing his performance in glowing terms after the game.' MacDougall will be more choosy about his dummy-half running to conserve energy and feel his way back. `If I was playing fullback my fitness might be a problem but playing on the wing it shouldn't be because I can pick and choose the times I get involved,' he said. `The club made a lot of financial sacrifices to keep me here last year and it's time for me to start paying them back.' 

Hagan tells MacDougall actions speak louder than words - 15 March, 2001 
Michael Hagan: 'If you talk about things like wanting to play against somebody, then you have an expectation of duty to play well.' 
Newcastle Knights coach Michael Hagan believes blockbusting winger Adam MacDougall has put himself under pressure by talking up Friday night's head-to-head showdown with Brisbane giant Wendell Sailor. A late withdrawal from the side for the past two weeks, MacDougall has been named in the team to play the Broncos at ANZ Stadium on Friday night subject to final fitness tests later this week. Hagan described MacDougall as "almost a certain starter", and the lure of playing against Sailor would be extra incentive for a return to battle after two false starts. MacDougall, who finished on top of Sailor in the corresponding game last year and in NSW's State of Origin clean sweep over Queensland, has made no secret of how much he enjoys marking up against his World Cup team-mate.
In an interview during last Friday night's television coverage of Newcastle's 32-14 win over Parramatta, MacDougall sent Sailor a "cheerio" call and said he was looking forward to playing him this week. "I think Adam's probably a special case because of the type of player he is and the fact that he has probably set his sights on this game," Hagan said. "We would expect a fair bit from him on Friday night and I'm sure he expects a fair bit from himself. Adam's obviously made mention of playing against Wendell and he's looking forward to playing against him. I think it's a good contest between two of the best wingers in the game and that's what people want to go and see. If you talk about things like wanting to play against somebody, then you have an expectation of duty to play well."
Hagan said the Knights deserved the accolades they received for their emphatic win over the Eels last week but could not allow any adulation or applause to blur their focus on the Broncos. "It will come around pretty quickly on Friday night so we really need to get our minds focused on playing well up there and preparing well for Brisbane, then Melbourne the week after," he said. "What we've spoken about was assessing how we're travelling after six games, not just four, so while we're happy with the position we're in at the moment, there's still a fair bit of work to do from here on in. We spoke about a number of teams in the first six weeks that would be difficult to perform against and Brisbane are certainly on the top of the list. If you look at the percentages, they're the third-best attacking and defensive team and we're ranked fourth in attack and defence. Just from that alone it would be fair to say it's going to be a pretty good contest between two good football teams."

SAILOR ON MACDOUGALL
"In many ways (MacDougall) reminds me of Gorden Tallis when he gets out on the field. You can just see the fire in his eyes."

MACDOUGALL ON SAILOR
"I love the opportunity to play against Wendell. He doesn't intimidate me like he does most other wingers." 

Dream's over and Joey is hurt bad;; Adam MacDougall, Sun Herald. S Apr 29, 2001.
ANDREW Johns is the best No7 in the world and what happened at the Sydney Football Stadium last night is not going to change that. Joey won't get to wear a Blues jersey now but we all know he would have. After he tore his medial ligament and was helped from the field, I was one of the first people to speak to him.
I have never seen Joey so upset or despondent in his whole career. To see a tear in they eye of someone like Joey is pretty rare. He was a shattered man because he set out this year to win back his coveted No7 jumper. He had worked so hard and deserved it more than ever. It's obviously a very cruel game, rugby league, for a player to be struck down almost on the eve of an Origin match. I know it is going to be a couple of very, very tough weeks for Joey. He's a pretty personal guy, one of those people who doesn't have to tell everyone what he's going to do, he just goes out and does it. He leads by example, through actions, not words. Last night, when he realised the reality that his dreams and goals were slipping away, he showed us all how much playing No7 for the Blues really meant. I don't think someone else wearing a sky-blue jersey next Sunday is going to erase the fact that everyone understands Joey is the best halfback in the game. One Knight who will get his chance when the teams are announced tonight is centre Matthew Gidley. He is an amazing athlete. I knew he was pretty good before he made his comeback last Sunday but now I know he's even better than I thought. My own chances of playing for NSW improved dramatically on Friday after I had an MRI scan on my hamstring. Our medical staff thought there might be a tear that would ruin any hope I had of playing in the first State of Origin match. But the scan showed there was no tear, and it appears the pain in my hamstring is related to a sciatic nerve problem in my back. The doctor I saw on Friday was very optimistic that if I get picked for the Blues, I'll be able to play. He said I'll need treatment and will have to take it easy for a few days before getting stuck into the preparation, but after that I should be OK. It's great to get to the heart of the problem because my hamstring has played up a few times this season.

A week of Booze; MAD DOG; ADAM MacDOUGALL. Sun Herald. May 6, 2001. 
WELCOME to camp, State of Origin-style. It's been quite a week, more so for me than some. Here are some highlights. First, a tip. We don't call the NSW fullback Mark Hughes by his correct name at the Knights; we call him Mark "Booze". He doesn't overdo it you couldn't and expect to compete these days, the game is too professional but he certainly enjoys a beer. Booze was watching the football and enjoying a couple of quiet ones in the pub last Sunday when Matthew Gidley rang him to tell him he was in the NSW team. He told me what a shock that was. Booze is one of four Blues who will be making their Origin debuts, with Michael De Vere, Nathan Hindmarsh and Luke Priddis the others. I can remember what that was like. Nerve-racking. I've told the debutants this: "You're not going out there to do something you haven't done before, you're just doing it in a different arena. The reason you're here is because you can play. What you must avoid is trying too hard because you think you've got to suddenly become a better player than you've ever been."
SORE, NOT SORRY
I'VE had a disrupted preparation because of my hamstring but all along I was sure I was going to play. It won't be 100 per cent in the game. It'll be sore but I'll get through. I was prepared to drop out if coach Wayne Pearce and team doctor John Orchard thought it was the right thing. The doc thought it was a good gamble and that was good enough for "Junior". He said: "If you're anywhere near 100 per cent fit I want you on the field. Just don't go crazy."
After I pulled out of a training session on Friday with some soreness, the story went out that I might miss the game. It wasn't long before my girlfriend and my parents were ringing me, wanting to know if they should cancel their trips north. I told them I'd be right on the night.
THE ODD COUPLE
I'M rooming with fellow winger Jamie Ainscough. Now, that's what I call an experience. He's a great bloke and he and I are proof that two totally different people can get along fine. Jamie loves a laugh, a cigarette, a sleep and a poker machine (but not necessarily in that order). Some people have said one or two other wingers should have been chosen ahead of Jamie but they're missing the point. He's big, strong, tough and aggressive. Perfect for Origin. NSW have won eight of the nine games in which he's played and that says it all.
MY MATE WENDELL
EVERYONE else reckons Wendell Sailor is the best winger in the world but I like to think I am. I'm not going to go to the window of my hotel room and scream "I'm Adam MacDougall and I'm the best winger in the world". I don't mean it like that. I like to think I'm better than any other winger because if you don't believe in yourself you're in trouble. Of course, it's for other people to judge but what I will say is this: Wendell is the winger whose form I judge my own form against. I respect him and I know he respects me. We're friends off the field. But I'm not afraid to play opposite him and I don't mind saying I like my chances against him.
State of Origin is what people judge a footballer by and I'm more than happy with the way I've gone against Wendell in the past. So I'll be turning up tonight in the belief that I'm going to do something pretty special Wendell or no Wendell.
THE GAME
THE key for us will be to avoid rushing things. We know what to expect from Queensland. They will be brutal in their approach and we will have to match that. If we do, I'm confident we'll be fine. But if we try to find a short cut through the physical stuff by throwing the ball around and looking for tries, we'll be asking for trouble. If there's an opportunity, you do your best to take it. But if you have to wait until the game opens up before you can use your skill, you do that, too.
The game won't be won in the first 20 minutes, but it could be lost there. We just have to play smart.

Beach home conversion -  19 May 2001,  Newcastle Herald
Training on Merewether Beach will be just over the fence for Newcastle Knights winger Adam MacDougall after his purchase of a Frederick St home at auction last Thursday for $800,000.  His new acquisition, a five-bedroom house on a 553sq metre block facing the ocean, is just around the corner from team-mate Andrew Johns' home in Berner St. The house originally went on the market with a different agency last year with a $1million-plus price tag. 

Mad Dog wins the war with Wendell -  07 Jul 2001, Newcastle Herald
After years of trash-talking, the much-anticipated blow-up between Wendell Sailor and Adam MacDougall finally erupted. 
The game's two best wingers have something of a mutual respect for each other, but last night their tempers flared as the two stood toe-to-toe in a pushing contest less than two minutes before half-time. Seconds later MacDougall raced halfway across the field and launched himself at Sailor, but thankfully for Knights coach Michael Hagan and MacDougall's team-mates he sailed over the top. `That's just football,' MacDougall said after the match. `We are both pretty competitive and I wanted to win as much as he did. `It was our last chance to get over the top of each other and it meant a lot to both of us to come out on top tonight.' 
Andrew Johns certainly enjoyed the on-field antics of the two wingers and got a real kick out of the incident. `I thought it was hilarious actually, but I wouldn't have liked to have got between them if they started throwing punches,' he said. `They're just such similar blokes. They get on like a house on fire off the field, it's just on the field they go at each other.' 
The Knights exploded out of the blocks to lead 22-0 at half-time after tries by Robbie O'Davis, Darren Albert, Andrew Johns and Sean Rudder. MacDougall did not get his name on the try-scorers' list in the first term, but he was a constant threat to Sailor and Broncos centre Michael DeVere. He should have been rewarded with an assist in the 11th minute but hooker Danny Buderus did not read the script and dropped a brilliant MacDougall pass with the line wide open. As the home side kicked clear with a dominant second-half display to win 44-0, the crowd took great delight in the battle unfolding on the grandstand wing. Sailor, who has signed a letter of intent to join the Australian Rugby Union next year, may have claimed victory in the man-on-man war after Queensland won the Origin series, but MacDougall took a points decision last night. `They kept talking about the State of Origin, but it didn't seem to come,' Broncos coach Wayne Bennett said of the Sailor-MacDougall rivalry. `But that's pressure. Pressure makes us all respond differently. `But tonight I thought they played their best games for ages, the pair of them. `They didn't talk about this one, they just got out there and did it. `There's probably a message in that, isn't there?' MacDougall has probably done enough to gain selection in the Australian side to play New Zealand when it is announced tomorrow night. It remains to be seen whether Sailor will be on the other wing. His inclusion hinges on how the NRL selectors will react to his union links. Not to be outdone on the far side of the field, fellow winger Darren Albert scored once in the first half and twice in the second for yet another hat-trick for the Knights. 

I'll always remember all my duels with Wendell and that I won;  Sun Herald. Jul 8, 2001. 
THE match-up between Wendell Sailor and me on Friday night meant a great deal to both of us. Every game that we come up against each other is serious. I've got a lot of respect for him and he's got a lot of respect for me. You don't do anything to be second best in life. Wendell likes to think he's number one and I like to think I'm number one. It was probably going to be the last time we got a chance to go man-on-man. In the State of Origin we really didn't get a chance to have a crack at each other but on Friday night that happened. We showed people how much it really meant to us. I really wanted to finish on top of him in the last game we played. We've gone head-to-head for so long and to finish it on a disappointing note would not have been good enough for me. I'll always look back on my career at tapes when he and I have played each other. No disrespect to any other winger in the competition but I really switch on when I play him. He motivates me to play at my best. He seems to be able to bring out the competitiveness in me. I love to have a win and get over the top of him. I love the challenge of going against him. The media has really tried to promote clashes between us but I think it was good to do that talking out on the field. It was an important win for us to get some confidence back. It was great to see Andrew Johns back and did he make a difference. Joey just takes so much pressure off us all and makes everyone's job so much easier. We really missed his kicking game and his role as specialist halfback. It's good to have the rudder that steers the Newcastle ship back in action.

Mad Dog slips leash four times to equal record - Herald. Jul 23, 2001. 
KNIGHTS wrecking ball Adam MacDougall went a long way towards achieving his pre-season goal yesterday with a record-equalling four tries in Newcastle's 37-30 victory over New Zealand Warriors at Ericsson Stadium. Playing closer to the action in the centres rather than his usual wing position, MacDougall scored three tries before half-time and the match-winner inside the final minute. The four-try haul equalled Newcastle's club record for most tries in one game, set by Darren Albert in a 46-8 win over Wests Tigers at Marathon Stadium on February 20 last year. MacDougall demanded more of the ball and went looking for action to increase his involvement even further, causing the Warriors outside backs headaches every time he touched the ball. `I've been really happy with how I've gone in the last month. I've really hit my straps again,' MacDougall said. `Missing out on a spot in the Test team really cut deeper than I thought it would, and it's really spurred me on to play some great footy in the last month. `I'm at the stage again where I feel like every time I get the ball I can break the line. I don't mean to sound arrogant, but it's the way I felt last year. Every time I had the ball in my hands, I felt like I could score or just carve up the defence. It felt like that again today, and thankfully I did.'
Having been overlooked for a starting berth in Australia's Trans-Tasman Test team in Wellington 10 days ago, MacDougall is determined to finish the season as the game's premier winger. `I thought I should have been in the Test side, and it's really motivated me and brought back a lot of the hunger I was probably missing at the start of the season,' he said. `I had a goal at the start of the year to show everyone I was the number-one winger in the world before Wendell left (for rugby union), and I haven't shied away from that. I probably haven't lived up to that at the start of the season, but in the last four to six weeks I've really stood up and I'm playing some good football. `If I can keep doing that, hopefully I can finish the year regarded as probably the first winger picked for the Kangaroo tour.'
Knights coach Michael Hagan spoke to MacDougall about his form six weeks ago and has been delighted with the 26-year-old's response.
`Doogs' last three games have been of the highest order, and he was a real handful for the Warriors today,' Hagan said. 
 

"Were thought of as superstars up here, but I struggle with it. I know i'm just kicking a stupid balls around chasing other men.   It'll all come to an end some day."

Mad Dog implores Knights to go mental -  28 Jul 2001,  Newcastle Herald
Outspoken Knights winger Adam MacDougall believes rugby league players are like robots, and Queensland have already produced what Newcastle need to win the NRL premiership this season. Speaking at The Herald's Lunch With The Knights on Thursday, MacDougall also fired one last salvo at arch rival Wendell Sailor, accusing him of having `a big mouth on the field'. The blockbusting Blues winger paid tribute to Queensland for their ambush of an ill-prepared NSW in Origin I. MacDougall also believes the Knights can be just as successful if they can manage to raise the bar in the mental stakes. `I truly believe the game is moving more to the frontier of the mental cutting edge,' he said. `League players are all robots in the sense that we all eat the same, we all train the same and we are all coached diligently in the same fashion week, week out. `I think it comes down to who can go into the game with the right mental attitude and the right amount of desire. `I think Queensland represented that more so than any other team this year in State of Origin I when they played with passion and desire. `When you have that in a football player it is very hard to overcome.' 
MacDougall has stated numerous times in the past of his desire to dethrone Sailor as the game's premier winger. As a result, MacDougall could not hide his disappointment when he was relegated to the bench for the Trans-Tasman Test in favour of Sailor's Brisbane team-mate, Lote Tuqiri. `Everyone in life aspires to be number one in their chosen field and Wendell is obviously regarded as the best winger in the game,' MacDougall said. `I'd like to think that all the hard work and sacrifices I make could amount to pushing for a challenge to that mantle. `At the end of the day he's got a big mouth on the field and it helps to inspire me to play the football that I do.' 

1-8-01 Knee-capped - suspension puts Doogs on notice before play-offs Newcastle coach Michael Hagan believes backline blockbuster Adam MacDougall must modify his running style to avoid the risk of a long suspension in the team's run to the semi-finals. Mac Dougall raised his left knee trying to break an Anthony Colella tackle in the 48th minute. It was MacDougall's second suspension for knee lifting in less than two months after he was banned for one game for the same offence in State of Origin II at Stadium Australia. MacDougall's running style came under scrutiny in last year's Origin series when his knee struck Julian O'Neill in a tackle, but on action was ever taken.

Joey and the power of one; MAD DOG ADAM MacDOUGALL. Sun Herald. Aug 5, 2001.
SINCE the return of Andrew Johns from injury, it has been said Newcastle are a one-man team. Is this true? 
Well, I must say that in 2001 we would struggle to win the premiership without Joey. He is not only the best player in the world, but he is also our kicker, goal-kicker, playmaker, chief organiser and, most importantly, our captain. Any team that loses a player with so much responsibility is bound to struggle.
Where would the Roosters be without Brad Fittler, the Broncos without Darren Lockyer, the Dragons without Trent Barrett, or the Eagles without Brett Kimmorley? Yes, they would all struggle. In seasons gone by, the loss of Andrew Johns would not have been as severe. We had players at the club who were more than capable of taking over Joey's roles and responsibilities. Matty Johns was an example of this he was as talented as Joey and always had his own bag of tricks to throw at the opposition. However, it could be said the Knights have been victims of Joey's brilliance. It is hard for the Knights to recruit and keep talented halfbacks because players know their only opportunities in first grade would be through Joey's misfortunes.
Also, the players at the Knights have been spoilt by Joey's large range of skills. Why learn to kick when you have the best player in the world to do that?
Parramatta is one team I believe has the depth and versatility of players. Brian Smith has used several different players in key positions and shared the responsibility over the entire team. I couldn't even tell you who the key playmaker would be for the Eels. I would say this is a positive, as the loss of one player doesn't affect the team heavily. The winner of the 2001 grand final will be the best team and not just the team with the best player. Each member of the team has his part to play, no matter how insignificant it may seem, so the players such as Joey can weave their magic.

Argument for the defence; MAD DOG. Sun Herald. Aug 19, 2001. 
FORGET the issue of whether or not Newcastle can play without Andrew Johns and consider another issue one we're still going to have to deal with when "Joey" comes back.  Our defence. It has reached the stage where it's no longer just ordinary it's embarrassing.  We've been talking about the problem and doing our best to solve it. Coach Michael Hagan made it a priority in the lead-up to Friday night's game against St George Illawarra. It was OK at stages of that game, but it still wasn't nearly good enough for us to win. We weren't solid when we absolutely needed to be and the Dragons made us pay. We've had a few players out through injury and Joey because of a two-match suspension, but we can't blame it on that. What we've been racking up in points conceded just isn't good enough and unless we turn it around we can't reasonably expect to win the premiership. The figures are ugly. We had back-to-back wins against Brisbane (44-0) and Melbourne (48-16) terrific stuff against quality teams, 92 for and 16 against but then the rot set in. In our past five games we've conceded an average of 36 points in two wins and three losses 30 against New Zealand Warriors, 26 against Canberra, 49 against the Sharks, 36 against Wests Tigers and 38 against St George Illawarra. It has reached the stage where we have to score 30 to 40 points a game if we hope to win and we can't build a premiership on that. No way.
The team with the best defence or pretty close to it will win the premiership. As good as your attack might be, your basis is your defence. It's what puts the opposition under most pressure. Right now, Parramatta have the best defence. It's been that way all season, really. They put you under the gun and because it's so hard to upset their defence you start taking big risks and making silly mistakes. I don't know if we can improve enough between now and the end of the season to equal the Eels in defence, but we can get a lot closer than we are now. We have to be tougher on the ground. We have to dominate more in tackles so that the attacking team isn't always up and at us quicker than we would like. It's about desperation and attitude and work ethic and it's about every one of us.
We're known for playing what can be a high-risk game in attack and we've got the ability to pull that off more often than not. I guess we're a bit like the Harlem Globetrotters of rugby league. But there is no use in being like that if you can't cover for your mistakes.
Right now, if we turn over the ball in our own half and the opposition is a reasonable attacking side we struggle to hold them out. So we have to reel it in a little and play a bit more of a percentage game while we work on getting our defence right. The modern game is made for our attacking style. The 10m rule, the pace at which it is played, limited interchange... But at the same time, every other team that can spin the ball around is going to get something out of it as well and if you're not defending strongly you're in trouble. We'll be getting a few key players back this week and that will help a lot, but our attitude is still something we have to get right. 

Graham Murray's (Ex Sydney City coach) undoctored guide to ADAM MacDOUGALL 
Very strong, especially when highly motivated. Can break any tackle. Two defenders are needed each time he runs. Powerful dummy-half runner.

Mad Dog says the job's not done; Herald. Sep 10, 2001.
NEWCASTLE'S match-winners refused to dwell too long on Saturday's comprehensive 40-6 win over the Roosters at Marathon. In the build-up to the game, winger Adam MacDougall hoped the Knights could eliminate the Roosters from the finals as they did to Newcastle in dramatic fashion last year. But MacDougall was more subdued after the event, saying the Knights were more concerned about their next opponent. `We were here last year in a similar position where we came away with a comprehensive win at home against Melbourne and two weeks later we saw our dreams come crashing down in the second half against the Roosters,' MacDougall said. `Our feet are firmly on the ground. If we're going to be there in the last week of the four weeks, we have to continue to improve.' 
Captain Andrew Johns said there was nothing to gain by premature celebration. We know that we're a big chance and this is just a step along the way because we're really focused on what we want to achieve,' he said. `As far as I'm concerned, this game is gone ... we're not getting too carried away.'

Hard to forget how Knights turned to daze ADAM MacDOUGALL. Sun Herald. Sep 16, 2001.
EVER seen the movie Groundhog Day? You know, where the same things keep happening to Bill Murray's character, day after day after day. Well, we're trying to avoid our own Groundhog Day at Newcastle. That's why the result of the Sharks- Bulldogs game today it will determine who we will play on Saturday for a place in the grand final is far from the biggest thing on our minds, even though we aren't playing this weekend. I will say this about the game: It's going to be very hard for the Bulldogs without Braith Anasta. I wouldn't write them off but they have come to rely heavily on him. But we know whoever wins, it is going to be tough, and there is no point worrying about that at this stage. What we can do is make sure our attitude is right. It was a great win against the Roosters last weekend. We didn't go into cruise control at any stage, even though we had the game won a long way from home. Remember what happened to us in the finals series last year? I know we haven't forgotten. We put guns to our heads and pulled the triggers, when all we needed to do was keep our minds on the job. It all went wrong at the same stage we're at now. We played the Roosters for a place in the grand final and we led 16-2 at half-time. We were well on the way to the big one until a few of the boys decided we were already there. You could smell the complacency in the dressing-room at the break. Some of the guys were wondering whether they should have the bacon and eggs or the sausages and tomatoes at the grand final breakfast. We went back out for the second half and the Roosters scored three tries in no time to hit the lead. By the time we got our act together again, it was too late. We lost 26-20. The dressing-room was like a morgue after the match. Tough, experienced players like Tony Butterfield and Matthew Johns were in tears. We knew we'd blown it. As much as it hurts to lose a grand final, it would have been far better had we made the grand final, given it our all and been beaten. At least there would have been honour in that. Last year we entered the finals in third place and had a strong win at home over Melbourne to open. Then, one of the teams that finished above us the Roosters lost and we finished the weekend as one of the two highest-placed winners, and had the following weekend off. We've basically gone down the same path in this campaign but that is where we want the similarities to end. This year, we want to walk the walk.

Mad Dog ravages all when it counts; Sep 20, 2001. 
THE talk at Newcastle is that Adam MacDougall lifts for certain games of football each year. His two cracks at arch-rival Wendell Sailor. The State of Origin series. The finals.  Of course the problem with that story is the same with every other one about the enigmatic Knights winger. It is not a case of trying to separate the wheat from the chaff. It is more a case of trying to find the wheat in the first place. "I haven't really seen him for a fortnight, he doesn't come to training too much," Newcastle captain Andrew Johns said yesterday of the latest rumour. Knights lock Bill Peden was also none the wiser. "I haven't heard him talking to his legs or anything in the last couple of weeks so he's been pretty good," he said. It is mid-morning on a sunny day at Marathon Stadium and the Knights are having their final training run before their sudden- death preliminary final against the Sharks at the SFS on Saturday night. MacDougall emerges from the change rooms, his cap turned backwards, grabs a ball and heads to the sideline to practise some goalkicking, an unusual act considering Johns handles that department. "I've really been looking forward to the finals for the last month or so," he said. "I can't be happier with my body and injuries and my form coming into the finals series."
That much is true. MacDougall has been in devastating form ever since he lost his Australian jumper midway through this season and that was never more evident than when the Knights defeated the Sydney Roosters in the qualifying final. The Knights winger terrorised his opponents that night with a series of punishing runs, breaking the line four times, gaining 162 metres and scoring a try in the process. For the man also known as "Mad Dog", it was a just reward after a long period of soul-searching that started when New South Wales lost the Origin series to Queensland and as a result MacDougall lost the green-and-gold jumper he had worked so hard to get. "I'll admit the first half of the year I probably struggled mentally a little bit to get myself up week-in week-out and I suppose that might have showed a little bit," he said. "I just really wanted to salvage something from the year after that Origin series, after being so comprehensively beaten by Queensland. I had to really reassess my goals and really try and find something to take away from the season."
Newcastle coach Michael Hagan believes he has already done that. He is familiar with the many urban myths that exist about MacDougall -- the one about him talking to his legs before a big game or drinking 100 raw eggs a week. "I like his ideas on the game and how he thinks about things and he's always got something to contribute to the team on the field and in meetings," Hagan said. "He wears his heart on his sleeve a little bit that way but that's a good, positive part of his character."
It is a character not too many people know a lot about. The Knights are a tight-knit bunch who also spend a lot of time socialising together off the field but MacDougall is often a notable absentee. On representative tours he is usually the last player to make the flight and will disappear by himself when the team has a day off. During the World Cup last year when the team split into two groups and headed to either Barcelona or Dublin, MacDougall was talked out of a solo tour of Amsterdam. He is clearly a man who prefers his own company but one who craves the limelight. That trait was definitely on display during the first Origin game when MacDougall dominated the headlines with a hamstring injury. He left the Blues' final training session after feeling a twinge but it was only when the television cameras appeared that the limp became more pronounced. "Mate, he's very unique but the boys love him for it and we respect that he's different," Johns said. "I suppose if everyone was the same it would be a boring old place."
Johns has also admitted to being responsible for many of the stories about MacDougall but said the good thing about that was he tended to go along for the ride. So did he have one for the weekend?  "He missed training last week and he told us he had glandular fever," Johns said with a glint in his eye. I said, `Hang on Doogs, everyone will get it, it's pretty contagious' and he said, `No, this one's a different strain'."

Doogs stays home -  27 Sept, 2001
Newcastle Knights winger Adam MacDougall is struggling with a virus, and did not join his teammates for their short trip to Sydney. MacDougall’s ailment means that the hard running three quarter misses the Knights last official engagement before Sunday night’s Grand Final, the traditional National Rugby League Grand Final Breakfast. MacDougall is also carrying a slight groin strain, however Knights coach Michael Hagan has assured onlookers that he will be fully fit in time to take on the Eels at 8pm on Sunday night at Stadium Australia. Yesterday evening, thousands of Knights supporters flocked to Marathon Stadium to see the Newcastle players leave for Sydney, despite the fact that they will be returning after the NRL breakfast this afternoon. 

Defensively, Knights are up against it  -  Newcastle Morning Herald, 29 Sept 2001
Newcastle have 655 points on the debit side of their account heading into the decider at Stadium Australia - 73 points more than any team that has made a grand final dating back to the game's origin in 1908. The statistics surrounding Newcastle's defence are a by-product of the attack-oriented modern game. Adam MacDougall said the Knights had not "aimed up at various points of the year" and still had room for improvement. "There's 17 guys involved in our team and if we all improve just 1 per cent that's 17 per cent improvement," MacDougall said. "Defence is a lot about attitude and desperation and desire and they're probably the strongest elements which will be displayed on the weekend out there on the field. It's not going to be from a want of trying on the weekend that loses any side the game. It's just going to be that the other team is too good." 

Brotherly love on line as Doogs eyes omens;   Herald. Sep 29, 2001.
KNIGHTS winger Adam MacDougall hopes history repeats itself tomorrow, even at the expense of his baby brother, Luke. In 1997, Adam was part of Newcastle's ARL premiership-winning team over Manly after watching younger brother Ben finish on the losing Roosters side in the under-20s grand final. 
Luke will be in the Sharks' side in tomorrow's Jersey Flegg (under-20s) decider against the Bulldogs, and Adam, despite a bout of the flu this week, will be back again with the Knights against the Eels in first grade. MacDougall, meanwhile, hopes to raise funds for Ronald McDonald House at John Hunter Hospital through the sale of his `Mad Dog' caricature T-shirts. The autographed shirts, with `Go Mad Go the Dog' on the front and `Go Legs Go' on the back, are $20 each and available from Rumours Clothing at Carrington. MacDougall's share of the proceeds will be donated to Ronald McDonald House. * Parramatta coach Brian Smith was concerned with his team's uncharacteristically sloppy start to last Sunday's preliminary final against Brisbane. He asked his players for a `please explain' but admitted the answers would not be revealed until after kick-off tomorrow night. `We were disappointed, but I think some of that comes down to the fact that we set such high standards for ourselves through the year,' Smith said. `Brisbane ended up making more errors than we did and, in the end, it was our defencethat kept us in pretty good stead.' * It worked once it can work again. The last words in this column the day before the Knights beat Manly in 1997 were those of Al Davis, the eccentric owner of the Oakland Raiders American football team. Davis' super-cool words of encouragement to his players became his calling card. 
They are repeated today as the Knights prepare for their dream match-up with the mighty Eels: `Just win, baby!'

Boogie Knights, Sydney Morning Herald, 30 Sept 2001. 
ADAM MACDOUGALL -  Position: Wing/fullback/centre. Height: 185cm. Weight: 100kg. 
"Mad Dog" is one of the game's genuine stars and with Mat Rogers and Wendell Sailor off to rugby union will only become more important to Australia in internationals. The consumate non-conformist, he will set himself outlandish targets going into Sunday's game and will then - no doubt - meet them. Likely to be as hard to pull down for the Eels as Sailor was for them last week. No matter how well he plays, is short-priced favourite to provide the best quotes at fulltime. MacDougall keeps to himself, doesn't drink and is a devotee of dietary supplements and vitamins. VB will stand for vitamin B on Monday, however, if the Knights get up. "My target in this game is to get involved," said MacDougall. "I think I play best when I set myself that task. "We're just going about our business up here quietly. I don't think a lot of people a year ago would have thought we'd be in this position after bowing out to the Roosters and losing so many key players. In some ways, we're going in with a pretty relaxed attitude. It doesn't matter what happens leading into it. It's what happens when you get out there." 

LAUGHING MATTERS GRAND FINAL 2001 THE EXPERT GUIDE; ADAM MacDOUGALL. Sun Herald. Sep 30, 2001. 
There's nothing like a little Hot Chocolate, or a few beer-drinking anthems, to get us warmed up for the grand final. ABOUT an hour before the game kicks off tonight, Mark Hughes will turn on the CD player in the Newcastle dressing-room. He'll put in one of his own CDs a compilation of 1970s classics or 101 beer songs, or something like that. Then he'll strip down to a pair of Y-front underpants and do what we call his "wobbly dance". 
Remember Hot Chocolate? They were a funky band in the 70s. I didn't really know them until Hughesy introduced them to me. The rest of us in the team had no choice but to listen to them before games they're one of his favourites. The sight of Hughesy gyrating to Heaven's In The Back Seat Of My Cadillac is something to behold. I don't know if that will be his song of choice today, but whatever it is he'll be grooving with the best of them. You can make the mistake of changing a team's routine too much in grand final week. It's a huge week, so it's easy to think that because it's such a big occasion you have to dramatically change the way you do things to mark it. There is a lot on, with media commitments, the official breakfast and travel, so it's impossible to go about things as you normally would. 
But the secret is to change as little as possible. We like to have fun and enjoy ourselves at Newcastle and that's one thing that will never change grand final week or no grand final week. We're not about to strip smiles from our faces for a week and walk around with the serious head on all the time. We've been cracking jokes and mucking around a bit when the time is right, just to keep the pressure down, and when the time has been right to be serious, we've done that. Hughesy was at it again at the breakfast in Sydney on Thursday. I wasn't there I was at home getting over the flu but I heard all about it from the rest of the guys. Coach Michael Hagan and a few players were answering questions at the media conference when a voice came from the back of the room. The bloke wanted to know if Mick thought in hindsight that Hughes would have been a better choice than Andrew Johns as captain. It was Hughesy asking the question, of course. Hages laughed and then said the captaincy wasn't an issue. Hughesy wasn't finished. He asked would the coach consider a change of captain just for this game. Hages shook his head and laughed. It wasn't the first time Hughsey had interrupted a media conference like that and it won't be the last. Hages is good like that. He can make a joke and he can take a joke. He knows when to switch off and relax and he knows just as well when to switch the serious light on. We've got a lot of different characters in this team and that's one of our biggest assets. It would be pretty boring if we were all the same, but instead we've got blokes with lots of different interests and attitudes. Joey Johns loves reminding us that he's what he calls "the people's champ". He's won so many of those awards in which the fans vote for their favourite player. "The people love me," he'll tell us at training, with that big grin of his. "I'm the people's champ." 
It's hard to argue with him about it. Only last weekend he did it again when he won the People's Choice award in The Sun-Herald. Hughesy is the best at making up stories about the players and feeding them to the media, but Joey isn't bad either. He's the one who started all that stuff about me supposedly talking to my thighs before games. It's not true, but I'll go with it anyway because it's a good gee-up. Big Matt Parsons has a dry sense of humour. A few of the boys have been drawn to him because he's such a genuine bloke. We're a pretty tight bunch. What will happen today is we'll have a team meeting in the morning, then we'll have a muck-around game of cricket near the team hotel. That's always fun. Then we'll have lunch, probably watch a movie and have a nap before we go to the ground. 
We'll joke around a bit, sing along to some music and watch Hughesy dance before Joey snaps his fingers and says it's time to get ready. He knows when it's time. Our preparation has been going all year, not just this week. We're as ready as we can be.
PAWNOTE: I've released a specially designed "Go Mad, Go The Dog" T-shirt to raise money for Ronald McDonald House, a children's charity. They cost $20 and can be obtained by ringing 0249625922 or from Rumours Clothing at Carrington, Newcastle. 

Dogged hero -  03 Oct 2001,  Newcastle Herald
Australian winger Adam MacDougall spent several hours in hospital last Saturday night, just 24 hours before playing in Newcastle's 30-24 win over Parramatta in the NRL grand final at Stadium Australia. MacDougall, who has missed the team's victory celebrations, revealed yesterday that he needed intravenous antibiotics and fluids to treat tonsillitis and symptoms such as dehydration and fever. Knights medical officer Dr Neil Halpin took MacDougall from the team's hotel in Parramatta to a private hospital, where he was treated for about two hours. `He was on oral antibiotics earlier in the day because he had tonsillitis and he looked very ill, so I took him to Holroyd Private Hospital at Guildford to put him on some stronger antibiotics intravenously,' Dr Halpin said last night. `He played the grand final very unwell, and he's still quite ill today. `He did very well to play the game at all, so it was very brave of him.' 
MacDougall said he only slept two hours the night before the game because of coughing fits, vomiting and diarrhoea. He said he felt like he was going to die at half-time but refused to succumb to his illness. `If it was a normal game, I wouldn't have played, but you're not going to miss out on a grand final just because you're not feeling well,' MacDougall said. `I usually enjoy my games of footy, but I didn't enjoy Sunday ? I was just glad to get through it. I've never been so happy to hear a full-time siren in my life. `I remember walking in at half-time and thought I was going to die. I was ready to put my hand up, but Simmo (Steve Simpson) had a bad arm and there were other guys battered and bruised.' 

`Brave' MacDougall left hospital bed to play grand final -  03 Oct, 2001, Newcastle Herald
The 26-year-old international said he did not want to make an issue of his ill health, before or after the grand final, but felt he had to explain himself once the media became aware of it. `I didn't want the focus on me not being well before the grand final. That's why I went on The Footy Show last Thursday night,' said MacDougall, who missed the grand final breakfast in Sydney earlier that day. `As sick as I was, I said I'd go down and do it because I was only sitting in a car and not doing anything physical. `I put on the act that I was all right because I didn't want Parramatta or the media thinking I wasn't right. `Even afterwards, I didn't want that to be the focus and take the shine off what we did in the grand final.' 
MacDougall has been selected to play for Australia against Papua New Guinea at Port Moresby on Sunday and said he was desperate to play, despite speculation to the contrary. He will join Knights team-mates Andrew Johns, Ben Kennedy, Matt Gidley and Danny Buderus with the rest of the 24-man Kangaroos touring party at tomorrow's medical in Sydney. `I don't want the Australian coach (Chris Anderson) or selectors to think that. That's what I'm scared about,' he said. `I'm honoured and grateful to be picked, and I'd jump at the chance to go over there, but I've got to listen to what the Australian doctor (Roy Saunders) says, too. `I know a lot of blokes who've been there and done that a lot of times already maybe aren't as excited about the prospect as me, but I couldn't give a damn who or where we're playing. `You're still playing for your country and, for me, that's the greatest individual honour you can get in any sport. `The other thing is I don't want to give anyone a chance to take my spot before the Kangaroo Tour. `I've worked so hard to get my spot back after losing it this year, so I don't want to give it up again without a fight.' 
MacDougall said he was disappointed at missing out on the build-up to the grand final and the celebrations since Sunday night's victory. `I was happy for all of this to stay quiet, but people have obviously gone digging and realised I haven't been around for Mad Monday and stuff,' he said. `That's the most disappointing thing for me. `It's meant to be the best week of your life, grand final week, and I didn't take part in any of it. `Then after you win a grand final it's meant to be even better, but I'd swap in five seconds the hangovers that the boys have got for how I'm feeling at the moment.' 

MacDougall could miss Kumuls clash -  3 Oct, 2001
Australian winger Adam MacDougall has been advised to stand down from the Kangaroos opening test match against Papua New Guinea on Sunday.MacDougall has been struggling with a respiratory tract infection that has kept him in bed since the Newcastle Knights 30-24 Grand Final win over Parramatta on Sunday night. Knights club doctor Peter McGeoch has advised that McDougall should stand down and let Nathan Blacklock take his place in the team, to give him some time to recover from the virus, however MacDougall isn’t keen to lose his starting spot after working so hard to regain it. "It's the greatest honour there is to play for your country and I know personally there's no prouder moment than pulling on the Australian jersey and hearing the national anthem," said MacDougall. 
McGeoch will speak with Australian team doctor Roy Saunders about MacDougall’s condition on Thursday, but remains worried about the effects of humidity. "I'd be concerned if he was playing for us this weekend,” said McGeoch. "If he goes there with a respiratory tract infection plus the heat, the chance of him getting dehydrated and becoming ill as a result of that is significant." 

Adam told to stand down; The Daily Telegraph.  Oct 3, 2001. 
ADAM MacDougall has been advised to miss Sunday's Test against Papua New Guinea as he recovers from a respiratory tract infection which almost forced him out of the NRL Grand Final. Newcastle's club doctor Peter McGeoch revealed yesterday how close 26-year-old MacDougall came to missing the Knights' 30-24 premiership victory over Parramatta with an illness he had been fighting for more than a fortnight. McGeoch said MacDougall had been suffering fevers and chills the night before the Grand Final, putting coach Michael Hagan on alert that there was a chance he might have to call up an emergency replacement. "He was still feeling quite ill the night before (the game) and the first time he felt OK was on the morning of the Grand Final," McGeoch said. McGeoch said his advice was for MacDougall to miss Sunday's one- off Test in Port Moresby to ensure he recovered from his infection before heading to England on the Kangaroo tour. But MacDougall said he would do anything to ensure he retained his starting berth in the Australian side, including playing with an illness.
"It's the greatest honour to play for your country," MacDougall said yesterday. He admitted he would have enjoyed the chance of soaking up more of the Grand Final celebrations in Newcastle. But he said the timing did not take away from the honour of playing for Australia and the joy of reclaiming his place on the wing after sitting on the bench in the July 13 Test against New Zealand. "It would have been nice to stay up here and enjoy the moment a little bit longer but ... to achieve two of the best feelings there are in rugby league in a week is pretty amazing," MacDougall said.  ARL chief executive Geoff Carr said MacDougall's health would be determined at the team medical tomorrow and Parramatta lock Daniel Wagon would make the trip to Port Moresby as a travelling reserve.

Mad Dog under the knife -  13 Dec, 2001
Newcastle Knights winger Adam MacDougall will undergo surgery next week to repair damaged groin muscles. MacDougall has suffered injury to his groin at different stages of the 2001 National Rugby League season, with the Kangaroos decisive 28-8 third test victory over Great Britain aggravating the problem this time around. The Knights star will be sidelined for a period of 12 weeks, which means MacDougall will be unavailable to play in February's World Club Challenge clash against Super League champions the Bradford Bulls. "It's pretty disappointing," MacDougall said, "I've basically played in everything you can play in - grand finals, Origins, Test matches - but I've never played in a World Club Challenge before so it was something I was really looking forward to. "But if it means that I wasn't going to be right for the NRL season, it's just not fair to the club," he concluded. 

Season 2002 - Mad Dog racing clock
 Winger Adam MacDougall remains hopeful of playing for Newcastle in the first round of the NRL premiership after missing a second successive pre-season because of an injury suffered playing for Australia.  MacDougall inflamed what was already a trouble groin on the successful Kangaroos tour of Great Britain, but is no certainty to lace up the boots in the first match this year after undergoing an operation to repair the problem.  "I'm set on playing in the first club match of the year," MacDougall said. "But it's too early to say yes or no. My early season form and preparation is going to be affected. I'll have no off-season games under my belt, (but) there's nothing I can do about it."  "I would have had nearly three months off my legs without running. It's the first time I have done that in a number of seasons. Hopefully that will benefit me in the long run."  "It will be 12 weeks until I am back doing what I was before the injury, which would be the week before the first game," 
MacDougall said of the Knights’ opening to their premiership defence against the Northern Eagles in round one.  With MacDougall and fellow winger Timana Tihu both set to miss the World Club Challenge against Bradford next month, coach Michael Hagan is considering rookies Josh Smith and Anthony Quinn and Kurt Gidley, the younger brother of Matthew.  "He's a rough chance," Hagan said of Tahu’s chances of getting the all-clear from Dr Neil Halpin on Monday to return. "While he's running in a straight line OK, it's probably too early." 

2002 - MacDougall to miss World Cup Challenge
MacDougall goes under the knife to repair torn groin muscles on Wednesday.  MacDougall, who aggravated the injury during Australia's recent 2-1 Test series victory over Great Britain, said today he could be out for up to 12 weeks and may be confined to a wheelchair for part of his rehabilitation.  "It's pretty disappointing," said the Test winger about missing the match against Bradford.  "I've basically played in everything you can play in - grand finals, Origins, Test matches - but I've never played in a World Club Challenge before so it was something I was really looking forward to.  "But if it means that I wasn't going to be right for the NRL season, it's just not fair to the club."  MacDougall called for the establishment of a tournament involving the top rugby league clubs from both hemispheres, similar to soccer's Champions League in which Europe's best clubs battle it out for the unofficial No.1 tag.
"I wouldn't be surprised if in a few years' time there's some sort of Champions League competition between Australian and English clubs at some stage," he said.  "I know they tried it with the World Club Challenge competition but that was every team involved.  "I think there's every chance it's going to be a big thing and I know the guys are really excited and they're pumped up to go over there and play."

MacDougall set to make NRL return -  11 Apr 2002
Newcastle winger Adam MacDougall has been cleared to make his return from a groin injury in Friday night's National Rugby League game against the Sydney Roosters at Aussie Stadium. MacDougall is yet to play a game for the Knights this season and has been named on the bench by coach Michael Hagan. The 26-year-old could yet start the match in place of youngster Anthony Quinn, with Hagan to finalise his starting side tomorrow morning. "We probably won't resolve that until tomorrow after I have spoken to him and see what he wants to do," Hagan said today. "I don't expect to get a full game out of him. It's a matter of how we manage the time we give him."

MacDougall's Origin hopes rise but Newcastle hit by another injury -  April 15 2002,  SMH
Newcastle's Adam MacDougall may yet be fit to play for NSW in Origin I - but club-mate Clinton O'Brien last night unexpectedly joined him on the premiers' casualty list. MacDougall spoke of being forced into retirement in his column for The Sun-Herald yesterday, but Knights doctor Peter McGeoch says the knee injury the Test winger suffered in Friday night's 28-12 win over Sydney should be far less serious. MacDougall will have scans today on an injury that had been expected to keep him at least out of Origin I at the Olympic stadium on May 22.  But McGeoch said yesterday: "He's a chance - a grade-two medial-ligament tear is a five-week injury. It depends if they were willing to pick him without a game under his belt or with one game at the most. "The clinical pictures we have show a grade-two medial tear. Hopefully the tests tomorrow won't show a tear to the ACL [anterior cruciate ligament]."
While the news on MacDougall seems better than expected, O'Brien caused alarm at the weekend when he showed symptoms of a kidney injury. Subsequent tests showed a tear to the organ and he has been ruled out for three weeks.

My career crisis - Adam MacDougall,  14 April 2002,  Sun herald
Through the tears on the drive home to Newcastle from Sydney on Friday night, my career flashed before my eyes.  The word from the teams medical staff after i went down against the Roosters was taht I may have torn the anterior cruciate ligament in my left knee.  I'd just made my comeback after 14 weeks of rehabilitation following major groin surgery and to face the possibility of a knee reconstruction and the rest of the season out...  I was having real trouble coping with it.  Honestly, as much as I love playing league - and I love it dearly, I don't know if I could handle coming back from a knee reconstruction.  It wouldn't be the physical side of it - I could handle that. It would be the emotional side of it.  I just don't know if I could go through all of what it takes to get back to where you here before a serious injury. Again.
I'd have to seriously consider giving the game away.  That's why i'm petrified about the MRI scan I have to have done tomorrow.  Dr Neil Halpin gave me some genuine hope when I visited him yesterday.  He was optimistic that I may have escaped damage to the ACL.  But as much as a specialist can tell a lot from an examination - and Halpin is one of the best in the business - they can never be sure about this sort of thing until they see the results of the scan.  It was the second time I'd seen halpin since the game.  I rang him on the way home after the game to ask if I could see him as soon as i got back to Newcastle.  He agreed to see me as soon as he examined me - about midnight - he told me for sure that I had partially torn the medial ligament and probably done some cartilage damage too. That means six to eight weeks out.  Hardly good news, but a lot better than the rest of the season out.  Now i've got to wait to have the scan.  I'm really nervous about it  because I can't help thinking about what our medical staff said when they first examined me. I'm not embarassed to say I had tears in my eyes; a career in first grade doesn't last that long. - a decade if your really lucky - and the thought of missing a big chunk of that shatters me.  It was only a few days ago that I was thinking how unlucky Roosters Centre Ryan Cross was to do his knee only a few games after coming back from a broken leg.  Its horrible to think what a major injury can do to your career.  I set goals at the start of the season and this year my main target was to make the NSW side and helped turn around last years origin result.  I played under Phil Gould at the Roosters early in my career, but I've never played under him in origin and I was looking forward to being a part of it.  I'm not arrogant, but i'm a competitor and I consider that No. 5 NSW jumper to be mine.  I hate the thought of not being able to play in games like that, but i'm obviously going to need a lot of luck to play a part this year.  The third game is probably my only hope.  Last year, Andrew Johns had to miss the origin series after tearing a medial ligament.  He was shattered, but he came back and showed how much character he had by leading us to the premiership.  Now I want to take a leaf out of his book and come back strong for what I hope I'll have left of the season.  But first i've got to face that scan tomorrow.  Please let it be good news.

Adam faces retirement - 16 April 2002,   Daily Telegraph
SHATTERED Newcastle winger Adam MacDougall last night refused to rule out retirement if he fails to come back strongly from a serious knee injury. The news was all bad for the Kangaroo winger yesterday as scans revealed he not only has torn a medial ligament and cartilage damage in his left knee but more importantly has damaged the anterior cruciate ligament. He will know today after an arthroscopy in Sydney if the injury will require season-ending reconstructive surgery. 
"I've told them I don't want a knee reconstruction unless there is absolutely no other choice," MacDougall said. "There is a slight glimmer of hope that the knee might still be stable enough to play on, even though the cruciate is torn and that is what I am desperately clinging to. Blokes like ET (Andrew Ettingshausen) and Steve Georgallis have apparently played with similar injuries in the past. It just depends on how stable it is and I won't know that until they put me under and I have the arthroscopy." 
At best, MacDougall is still facing a six-week stint on the sidelines because of the medial tear. He is already resigned to missing at least the opening State-of-Origin clash against Queensland on May 22. He realises he also faces an uphill battle to play any part in the series irrespective of what the arthroscopy reveals. 
Emotionally, the injury has shattered the Knights matchwinner. He says retirement is still an option. "Whatever happens with the knee, if physically I can't get back to a level that I want to be at when I start playing again, I will seriously looking at retiring," he said. "Mentally, I don't really know how I am going to handle it if I have to have the reconstruction. To be looking at the same physio day in day out after working so hard to get back from groin surgery is going to be emotionally very testing for me." 
Knights specialist Dr Neil Halpin said the arthroscopy would determine MacDougall's chances of getting back on the field again this season. "It is difficult to judge these things and it will all depend on the severity of the cruciate ligament tear and the stability of knee," Dr Halpin said. "In some players, the knee can completely collapse even though they may only have a slight tear, while others have been able to keep playing with it completely torn. Adam's safety and wellbeing will be paramount in any decision we may have to make about surgery." 

Mad Dog's year lasts 10 minutes; The Daily Telegraph. Apr 17, 2002. 
NEWCASTLE coach Michael Hagan has admitted the loss of Kangaroo winger Adam MacDougall for the season will leave a huge hole in the Knights' hopes of winning back-to-back premierships. MacDougall had exploratory surgery on his knee in Sydney late yesterday which confirmed he had completely torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee and would require a reconstruction. "It's shattering for `Doogs' and extremely disappointing for the team and the footy club," Hagan said. "He has come back from a groin operation and basically his season is over after just 10 minutes of football. That is pretty tough to deal with."
Hagan admitted his loss would impact on the defending premiers. If any club is without one of its best players, it leaves a huge hole to fill over the course of the season," he said. "He has proven to be a matchwinner for us in big games and you can never fully compensate for the loss of a player like that."
Leading specialist Dr Neil Halpin said the surgery revealed the full nature of the injury. "He has a partially torn medial ligament and some cartilage damage which was tended to but the cruciate is completely torn," he said. Hagan sees no reason why MacDougall cannot return to the game at the same level as where he left it next season. "He has some emotional issues to work through and this whole thing will be pretty tough on him," Hagan said. "But I can't see anything stopping him from returning and resuming his career where he left off."

Mad Dog: my hunger's back -  November 17 2002,  The Sun-Herald
Staring extinction as a rugby league player in the eye has dramatically altered Adam MacDougall's view of the game. What he admits he had begun to take for granted he now considers sacred as his rehabilitation after the reconstruction of his left knee continues.  MacDougall had a setback recently. It was the familiar scenario of the player anxious to get back to where he was trying to do too much too soon. But he remains focused on playing again. After being injured playing for Newcastle in what was his first game of the year against the Sydney Roosters on April 12, the NSW and Australian winger talked of possible retirement. It wasn't his first serious injury, and coming so soon after he had recovered from serious damage to his groin he didn't know if he could handle the mental and physical strain of another comeback. Recently, he has refused several requests for interviews because he just wanted to get on with the job, but now he has broken his silence to tell how much it would mean to him to make a successful return."You take for granted what you've got a bit, when things are going well," he said yesterday. "You don't realise how good you've got it until it's taken away.  "The way the game is going, at my age [27] I've probably got two or three years left in my career and that isn't a long time."It's only now that I've come to realise how quickly your time in the game goes."
MacDougall says that when he talked of retirement he was "in denial". "I didn't want to face what was in front of me," he said. "I'd only just gotten over the groin problem and I didn't want to think about how hard it was going to be to get back again. "But I've gone a long way down the track since then and after virtually not playing at all this year I feel hungry to play again. "I feel I can be a better player, too. I became a bit of a student of the game while I was out this time. I watched it closely and I reckon I've learned how I can make a bigger contribution to the Knights."First game back I'll be shitting myself, I know, because it will have been so long, but it's going to be so good to do it again."
Newcastle begin their off-season training tomorrow and MacDougall will be in the rehab group, with many other star Knights who are still recovering from surgery. "About a month ago I pushed it too hard, too early, trying to get back to full speed with my running," MacDougall said. "I got some swelling in the joint and bruising of the bone and I'm still waiting for the swelling to go down. The doctor says it's just one of those things that can happen if you push too hard. "I can't run or do weights at the moment and I'll just have to be careful I don't push too hard again. "I'm aiming at playing again around the middle of March."