Source: Jeff Wall, leagueunlimited.com
Very few rugby league and anti-drug agency officials are emerging with any credibility from the daily revelations of just how widely and for how long the alcohol and drugs problems facing Andrew Johns have been known.
It seems that just about every official and player either knew or had an idea, but with just one exception, didn’t want to know and therefore did nothing about it.
After four days of headlines the following have been found seriously wanting:
• The Newcastle Knights Rugby League Club.
The explanations from Knights officials have been woefully inadequate. The club has long had the weakest drug testing regime in the NRL. Johns knew that, and he knew that his chances of being caught were minimal.
Source: Michael Cockerill, Sydney Morning Herald
WINNERS are hard to find in the A-League, but both the Newcastle Jets and Queensland Roar will gain encouragement from an entertaining draw at EnergyAustralia Stadium yesterday.
After two rounds and eight matches only table-toppers Central Coast Mariners have tasted victory. The other six games have all ended in draws.
But while the Jets in particular will be disappointed not to have taken full points against a Queensland side which had to survive the last nine minutes with 10 men, the fact that nobody lost is the more pertinent point.
Every team in the competition will still believe they have a chance of tasting success.
Strangely, the weight of history was against Newcastle, for Queensland had won on their three previous visits to the Hunter.
And with just minutes left on the clock, that statistic looked as though it would remain intact.
After huffing and puffing with long periods of good possession, the Roar finally broke the deadlock.
Source: Matthew Birt, Motor Cycle News
Casey Stoner’s third successive victory put him on the brink of a claiming a maiden MotoGP world championship crown in Misano this afternoon.
The Australian’s eighth win in 2007 saw him extend his series lead to a massive 85-points, with Valentino Rossi suffering a nightmare in front of his home crowd when Yamaha’s new pneumatic valve engine broke down after five laps.
With just five races to go, Stoner can now clinch the world title at the Estoril GP in Portugal if he scores 15-points or more than dejected Italian Rossi on September 16.
Stoner has now led the last three races in Laguna Seca, Brno and Misano from the very first corner and hasn’t had to make one single overtake since the German GP in the Sachsenring in early July.
He comfortably won again today with a winning margin over compatriot Chris Vermeulen just shy of five seconds.
Source: Steven Williams, Rugby League News
The Newcastle Knights have defeated Wests Tigers 26-24 after staging a remarkable comeback to end the Wests Tigers 2007 campaign at Telstra Stadium tonight.
After trailing 24-12, the last-placed Knights scored two tries in the final five minutes to even the scores.
Then in dramatic circumstances, the visitors received a penalty on the stroke of full time.
Knights full back Kurt Gidley kicked the match winner to end any finals hopes for the ninth-placed Wests Tigers.
Source: Josh Massoud, The Daily Telegraph
THIS is the street poll the Newcastle Knights – and the NRL – should fear.
In a damning appraisal of the Kirk Reynoldson controversy, Novocastrians yesterday turned on their beloved Knights in an almost unequivocal vote of no-confidence to coach Brian Smith’s player clean-out.
The deteriorating relationship between a host of departing local juniors and club hierarchy was reflected on Hunter Street.
A Daily Telegraph poll in Hunter Street mall found the Reynoldson drama has deeply disaffected this blue collar community.
Angry that a fellow worker’s rights appear to have been unfairly dealt with, Novacastrians are highlighting the issue as the single biggest reason why rusted-on supporters are now realising there is a sporting world outside the Knights.
"The Jets are taking over," said 33-year-old George Saforis in reference to the rise of the town’s A-League franchise.
Frighteningly for Newcastle – and the NRL – the figures support Mr Saforis’s rhetoric.
Source: Adam Lucius, Sportal
Newcastle coach Gary Van Egmond is openly targeting disgruntled rugby league fans as the Jets look to cash in on the woes afflicting their NRL co-tenants.
The once revered Knights are on the nose in the Hunter after a dreadful season punctuated by off-field unrest under new coach Brian Smith.
The round ball code will begin a charm offensive to win over league supporters when the 2007/08 Hyundai A-League season begins this weekend.
"There is a real window of opportunity there for us and it’s not to denigrate what is going on as far as the Knights are concerned," Van Egmond said.
"It’s synonymous with the Australian public that they love a winner and if we can do well and have some real success on the pitch then you never know how many you can convert."
Source: Matthew Birt, MotorcycleNews.com
Italian legend Giacomo Agostini has described Casey Stoner’s dominant 2007 MotoGP world championship performances as ‘incredible’.
Giacomo Agostini was full of praise for Casey Stoner, admitting he has been surprised by the Australian’s brilliant 2007 form, with his victory in Brno last Sunday his seventh of the season.
“Casey Stoner has surprised everyone because he is so precise. I remember when he crashed many times but now he is so determined and he is incredible. Casey is a fantastic rider.
“Everybody says he has a good motorcycle and good tyres but you need the rider too and he is very good. I’ve watched him and he is very consistent and very fast, he is incredible because it not easy to beat Valentino Rossi, " Giacomo Agostini told MCN.
Source: The Australian
AUSTRALIA’S Casey Stoner has won the Czech Moto GP to consolidate his position at the top of the world standings.
The 21-year-old Ducati rider came home ahead of American duo John Hopkins and defending world champion Nicky Hayden, riding a Suzuki and Honda respectively, to claim his seventh win from 12 races this season.
Stoner, who started in pole position, led from start to finish and his 14th career win crucially extended his lead over seven-time world champion and championship rival Valentino Rossi to 60 points.
Sporting groups wanting to use a Newcastle City Council sportsground this summer need to submit an application by Friday 7 September.
Sports Liaison Officer HAYLEY DELLACA says it is important for clubs intending to use a park or field to put an application in to Council.
"We certainly don’t want four sporting teams turning up on the same afternoon and the same time to play a game and have to turn someone away."
"Applications need to include training times, competition days and requirements for access to canteens, amenities and lighting."
Sporting associations already registered with Council have been sent applications however all other groups are able to visit Council’s website www.newcastle.nsw.gov.au, go to get active and play sport and download the forms or call Council on 4974 2812.
Source: The Age
It will be a hard act to follow.
More than 55,000 packed Melbourne’s Telstra Dome for last season’s A-League grand final.
Archie Thompson scored five magical goals.
And the Melbourne Victory thumped Adelaide 6-0 to claim the first A-League minor premiership-championship double.
February 18, 2007, has been described as the greatest night in the history of Australian club football.
It was certainly the greatest night in the Victory’s short history.
The big challenge now – for both the Victory and the A-League – will be to back it up in what Football Federation Australia have dubbed A-League Version 3.
Several big names – or in Fred’s case big player, small name – have departed.
As well as the Victory’s star Brazilian, Socceroos David Carney (Sydney FC) and Nicky Carle (Newcastle) have secured European contracts.
Melbourne championship defender Adrian Leijer is at English Premier League club Fulham while Jets excitement machine Milton Rodriguez is back in Colombia.
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