January 22, 2023: Wollongong launch locked in for eve of Dragons-Saints clash
We'll be at the Steelers Club on February 10 from 7pm.
I’M not gonna lie: organising all these launches is bloody time consuming.
It’s nothing but a pleasure, however, to lock in this one back home in the Gong for the night before the clash between St George Illawarra and St Helens.
Myself and Sarah will have been at the Warriors-Wests Tigers in Auckland the night before so we’ll be a tad tired … but then again I used to eat schedules like that for breakfast.
This is going to be a very exciting weekend that I’m really looking forward to!
HEAT ON AUSTRALIA IN TEST BUILD-UP
Sydney Morning Herald, Wednesday, November 12, 1997
By STEVE MASCORD
AUSTRALIA are in a no-win situation going into the Third Test against Great Britain, according to the Super League team's coach, John Lang.
With pressure mounting on Australia in the lead-up to Sunday's series decider, Lang said yesterday: "Our detractors, if they don't criticise us for losing, will criticise the poms for being poor opposition.
"That's really not my concern, it's not my problem."
What he is concerned about, though, is his inexperienced side thinking about whether it will become the first Australian team since 1959 to return home from Britain as series loser.
"I don't want them to think about those things," he said. "What I want them to think about is winning the football game. That's the bottom line.
"I've seen a lot of football players go down. They worry about getting a manager, getting some promotion work and getting a free car, and they forget about playing football.
"My focus, and what I want the players to focus on, is worrying about the game.
"It's those little nitty-gritty things that I'm focusing on. I'll encourage the players not to focus on history."
Outwardly, the signs were not good when the Australians had their first training session of the week on Monday.
Injured players Ryan Girdler (knee), Andrew Ettingshausen (leg), Brett Mullins (leg) and Ken Nagas (leg) all missed the session.
But second-rower Brad Clyde was ruled available for the team, to be selected on Thursday, and only Girdler and Mullins were rated genuine doubts.
If those two are out, lock Darren Smith is likely to be switched to the centres.
That would allow Clyde to come into the back row at No 13.
Great Britain team manager Phil Lowe has extended his attack on Australia's Gorden Tallis.
"My biggest fear is what will happen on Sunday," Lowe said. "Tallis has set the standard now.
"It makes me wonder what you have to do to get sent off. He could come out with an axe and he still wouldn't be sent off.
"I'm worried the ref will panic and send someone off for tying up their shoelaces."
Australian manager Robert Finch defended Tallis, accusing Lowe of "trying to influence people's opinions".
Lang has called for referees and touch judges to be wired for sound in Test matches, saying referee Phil Houston missed several incidents he might not have if the technology had been used in last Saturday's Test match.
Lang will speak to Rugby Football League referees' coordinator Geoff Berry this week to discuss several issues.
Among these will be a defensive ploy used by Britain and the decision to send Tallis to the sin-bin in the Second Test.
Lang said British half Bobbie Goulding and winger Alan Hunte had each committed more serious professional fouls.