The Northern Territory news Fri 13 Aug 2021
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2021-08-13
English
Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin.; Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin.
News Corp Australia
Darwin
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News Corp Australia
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/846513
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/846580
FRIDAY AUGUST 13 2021 SPORT 41 V1 - NTNE01Z01MA THE ARL Commission will hold formal meetings with the NRLs three expansion hopefuls over the next fortnight with a view to unveiling Brisbanes second team to rival the Broncos by October. ARLC boss Peter Vlandys has confirmed expansion is officially back on the agenda amid the Covid crisis, with the NRL to advise the existing clubs in the next 24 hours of plans to investigate a 17th team for 2023 or 2024. Prospective NRL franchises the Dolphins, Jets and Firehawks were originally due to meet with the ARL Commission in June, only for the latest Covid outbreak to scupper the presentations. But Vlandys expansion push to combat the AFL has been reactivated with the Jets, Firehawks and Dolphins to outline their bids to ARLC delegates within 14 days. It is understood broadcasters are supportive of a second Brisbane team, with the monetary value for the Telstra Premiership to be determined, and Vlandys says he is ready to push on with his plan to grow the NRL in Queensland. Yes, the interviews with the bid teams will take place, Vlandys said. We were focused on the Covid situation and now we are turning our attention to expansion. We have all the documentation from the bid teams, so now its a matter of speaking to them and we will do that in the next week or two. We will be contacting the bid teams to arrange a time (for formal presentations). It is understood the winning bid could be announced as early as late September or after the NRL grand final in October. It is possible the ARL Commission could award the 17th licence this year, but delay the installation of a second Brisbane team until the 2024 season. Asked if the ARLC would announce Brisbanes new team this year, Vlandys said: Im not sure on the final timeline. I need to speak to the 16 clubs. Firehawks bid chief Shane Richardson assured the NRL the Brisbane Tigers-backed consortium could be ready for the 2023 season. Brisbane Jets official Nick Livermore believes 12 months is an ample runway for the western-corridor bid to be alive and kicking in 2023. We were ready back in June, he said. Twelve months is ample time for a new NRL team to put in structures and begin signing players to field a competitive roster. ARLC to check out hopeful Brisbane bids as expansion back on PETER BADEL Makatoa in top flight HES 28 years old and was on the tools not that long ago but Makahesi Makatoa will soon fulfil a lifelong dream and make his belated NRL debut. Before he travelled to Queensland as part of Parramattas Covid bubble, Makatoa was working as an apprentice builder and playing in the Eels reserve grade side. Makatoa has played 119 reserve grade games since 2014 as well as spending a year in Englands second division. But it all pays off when he runs out against Manly on Saturday night. Maka is a bit of a bolter, Eels skipper Clint Gutherson said. You can make it if you keep working hard. Melbournes Nicho Hynes takes on the Raiders defence. Picture: Albert Perez/Getty Images RAIDERS forward Corey HarawiraNaera was sensationally sent from the field in the final minutes for a high shot on Storm half Jahrome Hughes in Melbournes thrilling 26-16 win over a brave Canberra. A record that has stood for 46 years is now in striking distance for the Storm after their 18th win in a row against a defiant Raiders on the Sunshine Coast. Courtesy of the win, the Storm can equal the great 1975 Roosters outfits all-time record of 19 consecutive wins if they can beat the Titans next week. The Storm led 20-4 at halftime but the Raiders came storming home thanks to inspirational five-eighth Jack Wighton, who set up three tries for Bailey Simonsson. They got the margin back to a six-point deficit before Harawira-Naera caught Hughes high and Ryan Papenhuyzen landed the match sealing penalty. Champion Storm playmaker fiveeighth Cameron Munster poked, probed and prodded on his merry way in the first half. The Storm lost lock forward Dale Finucane in the second minute to concussion. CHALLENGED AGAIN, BUT STORM IN SIGHT OF HISTORY JOEL GOULD BRISBANE skipper Alex Glenn has appealed for the Broncos board not to sack Kevin Walters, calling for coaching stability to ensure the ailing glamour club recovers as a finals force next season. On the eve of Brisbanes clash against the Roosters on Friday night at Suncorp Stadium, Glenn believed the regeneration of the NRLs richest club would only suffer if Wal ters (pictured) became the third Broncos coach axed in as many years. Walters is off contract next season and Brisbane bosses will have to decide whether to back or sack the club legend in the early stages of the 2022 premiership. The Broncos employed just three coaches in the first three decades Wayne Bennett, Ivan Henjak and Anthony Griffin. But since 2018, the Broncos have terminated Bennett and Anthony Seibold, whose lucrative five-year deal was torn up after just two seasons following Brisbanes disastrous 2020 wooden-spoon campaign. In Walters rookie year, the Broncos have moved to 15th place. I think for our club we need a bit of stability, Glenn said when asked if Walters should be retained. Glenn in Kevvies corner PETER BADEL Cleary good chance to bolster Panthers THE return of Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary is the first step in coach Ivan Clearys cavalry arriving in time for a premiership push. Coach Cleary is also set to welcome back enforcer James Fisher-Harris and Brian Too, and unleash former Brisbane forward Tevita Pangai, leading up to the finals. Nathan is rated a good chance to take the field on Friday night against St George Illawarra at Suncorp Stadium. The 23-year old suffered a serious shoulder injury in Ori gin II and has not played since but coach and father Ivan refused to rule out a comeback this weekend. At this stage, he is a good chance, Cleary said. Weve always said that when we feel like hes ready, well pull the trigger, and hes very close. I said last week that he was more unlikely to play than play. This week, hes more likely to play than not. We still have a training session to do. Panthers medical staff are not willing to rush back the key playmaker but Cleary said it would be left up to Nathan to make the final call. He doesnt want to play until he has ticked every box in terms of his preparation and understands what state he needs to be in physically and mentally, Cleary said. While refusing to rule out Nathans return this week, Cleary did put a line through Pangai, who was named in Penriths 21-man squad to take on the Dragons but is still working through a personal family matter. Tevita wont play, Cleary said. I think everyone is aware of what Tevita and his partner are going through. So he wont be playing this week. Fisher-Harris left the Sunshine Coast hub to be by his partners side in Sydney when she gave birth to the couples second child. The Kiwi hardman is back in Queensland and will complete his 14-day quarantine on Sunday. But Cleary said Fisher-Harris was unlikely to play before the round 24 clash against the Wests Tigers. Hes been training as best he can inside his little quarantine room. Its set up reasonably well there, Cleary said. He gets out on Sunday. So well have to assess Fish when he gets out in terms of being able to play. Hes probably unlikely next week but it would be good to have him back. Winger Too is also a chance to return before the start of the finals series. FATIMA KDOUH Nathan Cleary.