The Northern Territory news Fri 14 Jun 2013
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2013-06-14
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Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin; Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin
News Limited
Darwin
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https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/246059
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/804119
www.ntnews.com.au Friday, June 14, 2013. NT NEWS. 37 P U B : NTNE-WS-DA-TE:14-JGE:37 CO-LO-R: C-M Y-K Move to put Inglis on wing FORMER NSW centre Mark Gasnier has called for the Maroons to move Greg Inglis to the wing to lift his involvement in Game 2 at Suncorp Stadium. Queensland again face the issue of how to best use Inglis after the Maroons centre admitted feeling like a headless chook trying to get quality ball in his sides 14-6 loss in Origin I. Inglis averages 173.7m a game at fullback for Souths this season but made only 10 runs for 57m at left centre for the Maroons. With Billy Slater entrenched in the No. 1 jumper, Gasnier believes shifting Inglis would allow Queensland to use his 106kg frame on kick returns. Queenslands team for Origin II on June 26 will be named on Tuesday. GI is a better winger than Slater, said Gasnier. It (playing wing) allows him to roam. Its a luxury Queensland have, they should play him on the wing. Dane Nielsen can come in and play in the centres and defensively do his job. That way, GI can become a second fullback. Gasnier found an ally in former NSW and Test pivot Matthew Johns, who is convinced a switch to the wing would give Inglis more opportunities with the ball. Fine for Tamou not fair By PETER BADEL COWBOYS coach Neil Henry yesterday took aim at NRL boss David Smith for carrying out the order that James Tamou also be hit with a $20,000 fine for dual driving offences. On the eve of his sides clash against the Dragons tonight at WIN Stadium, Henry criticised the process that saw Smith personally demand the NRLs integrity unit impose a financial sanction against the Cowboys enforcer. In consultation with the NRL and the clubs seniorplayer group, Cowboys hierarchy initially agreed to sideline Tamou for two matches, including Origin II at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday week. Smith then called for Tamou to be fined, which effectively amounts to $50,000, given the NSW prop will miss out on a $30,000 Origin match fee. We were instrumental in talking to the integrity unit and I suppose they have come over the top and hit him with another $20,000, Henry said. We came to an agreement and they (the NRL) were in agreement as well. We were instrumental in putting forward that ban. Creagh backing axing DRAGONSVCOWBOYS ST GEORGE Illawarra skipper Ben Creagh says Jamie Soward is still upset at being dumped to reserve grade by Dragons coach Steve Price but says the players are fully behind the decision. Soward suffered the ignominy of playing for the Illawarra Cutters in the NSW Cup in the curtain raiser to the Dragons win over Newcastle at Hunter Stadium last week. The former Blues fiveeighth has again been left out of the Dragons side to face the struggling Cowboys in Wollongong tonight. Price met the Dragons players this week and explained his reasons for axing Soward and, although Creagh refused to divulge what they were told, he said the squad was behind him. The senior playing group and Pricey spoke earlier in the week about the reasons for Sowie playing for the Cutters and we fully support them, Creagh said. Pricey and the support staff have the very best interests of the club at heart. Creagh said he would be sad to see the playmaker leave the club when he joined Penrith next season. I spoke to him last week and he is pretty upset, as you would be, he said. Hes been a part of our club for a long time. I am good mates with him and been through a lot with him in Origin and in the grand final win. Its tough for him at the moment, but he will bounce back. The Cowboys arrive on the NSW south coast on the back of five successive defeats and are without NSW prop James Tamou, who will serve the first game of a two-match suspension after being arrested for drink-driving. Creagh said the 24-year-old is a big loss for the Cowboys but the return of Johnathan Thurston from injury is a concern for the home side. Titans, Broncos will pounce if Barba opts to jump THE TITANS have expressed interest in Ben Barba as the Dally M Medallist confronts a dilemma that could influence his future at the Bulldogs. Barbas tenure at Belmore remains clouded beyond this season and the Titans and Broncos are ready to pounce. Barbas manager Gavin Orr said the fullback had yet to indicate whether he wanted out of the club. His recent months of turbulence are compounded by a vexing off-field issue involving his ex-partner Ainslie Currie, who is considering a move to the Gold Coast with their two young children Bronte and Bodhi. Barba is reluctant to quit the Bulldogs, but will contemplate a shift to the Titans or Brisbane if Currie leaves Sydney to be closer to her family on the Gold Coast. The only reason he might look to go north is if the mother of his kids moves north, Orr said last night. Barbas name has been dis cussed with Titans and Broncos officials but the clubs will only formalise talks if the 24-year-old wants to rescind his Bulldogs deal, which expires in 2015. Titans shareholder Darryl Kelly confirmed the club was prepared to open talks. At the moment, we would certainly welcome Ben, Kelly said. I sit on the football committee and while John (Cartwright) and Michael (Searle) still do the majority of the work, there is a reporting requirement to come back to me on potential recruits and signings. It would depend how much Barba wants and whether we can afford him. The Dalai Lama with Souths players Roy Asotasi (left) and Nathan Merritt in Sydney yesterday and (below) wearing his Bunnies cap Pictures: PHILIP HILLYARD Souths ask Lama for some good karma By NICKWALSHAW ROY Asotasi may have a white Buddhist scarf draped around his neck, but the hulking prop is not at peace. No, he and fellow Rabbitoh Nathan Merritt are frantically rushing at pace for a taxi thats now impossibly long odds of getting them, on time, from here at the Hilton to a midday training session. A run which, only that morning, coach Michael Maguire had warned his stars not to miss. But at least our excuse, its solid, Asotasi said. I mean, how can Madge drop two blokes whove just had his entire side blessed by the Dalai Lama? Yes, Souths fans, you heard right. On a bizarre morning involving one deity, two Bunnies and who knows how many Buddhists, His Holiness stroked a little black Rabbitoh logo on the front of a white South Sydney cap thereby giving his first ever blessing to an NRL side. Rabbit, very quick, the spiritual guru grinned. Very quick. Very good. And just like that the mighty South Sydney Rabbitohs, the perennial battlers of rugby league, had attained a premiership advantage. Thankfully, he had a sense of humour, Asotasi said. Having been raised Catholic, brought up in a spiritual household, I found him really interesting. And he really seemed to like the cap we gave him. Indeed, after initially be ing mistaken for security guards by Team Dalai Lama, the Souths pair were then gifted white scarfs which would be placed around their necks if His Holiness chose to bless the only sportsmen on his guest list. Someone asked how, after 42 years with no success, could the boys from Redfern get a little peace, love, compassion? No drama. So Madge should be OK with us being late, Merritt said. Especially if the blessing pays off.