Jul 30th, 2018

Jul 30th, 2018

Bulldogs circle Sharks for marquee signing

The Bulldogs have tweaked their numbers so they can sign one ‘name’ player for 2019 - and James Segeyaro is the man they are shooting for.

The sometimes controversial but talented hooker has yet to sign a new deal at the Sharks and may be squeezed out of the club, which has two top class number nines in brothers Jayden and Blayke Brailey.

(AAP) Canterbury Bulldogs have set their sights on Cronulla Sharks hooker James Segeyaro. (AAP)

Hooker has proved a major problem for the Bulldogs in recent years - Michael Lichha hasn’t lived up to the hype while halfback Jeremy Marshall-King has been used at hooker as a stop-gap measure in recent weeks.

Carney makes successful comeback

Todd Carney made a successful return to big-time footy on the weekend with Hull KR against arch rivals Hull FC.

Now 32, Carney hadn’t played at the top level for nearly a year since leaving Salford to return home in an attempt to break back into the NRL.

Red tape prevented him achieving his dream in Sydney in recent months, but he was delighted with his comeback.

Carney’s NRL future in doubt

“I played 40 minutes and got some good touches… I was happy considering I only flew in during the week,” Carney told Wide World of Sports

“Best of all, we beat Hull FC for the first time in seven games - this is the biggest game of the year for their fans and they were very supportive… it’s great to be back playing footy at this level.”

Another halfback attempting to revive his career, Manly outcast Jackson Hastings, also did well last weekend, scoring a try on debut for Salford.

Woolford in demand after UK success

Several NRL clubs are closely monitoring the efforts of former Raiders and Dragons hooker Simon Woolford, who was appointed coach of English club Huddersfield in April.

(AAP) Former Canberra hooker Simon Woolford has proved a hit in the English Super League. (AAP)

In his first head coach role, Woolford took over a team in disarray, but has won 11 of his past 12 games to steer the club out of relegation danger.

And Woolford isn’t resting on his laurels - he is chasing a marquee player from Australia for 2019.

Legendary Kiwi to hit the big screen

A documentary film is set to hit the big screen next year about the life of the man regarded as the toughest Kiwi player of all time - Mark Graham.

A hero with the North Sydney Bears and New Zealand in the 1980s, Graham was the first Kiwi inducted into the NRL Hall of Fame and has already been named as the greatest player New Zealand produced in a century of rugby league.

Graham’s son Luke, a noted filmmaker who produced the acclaimed 2016 rugby league drama movie ‘Broke’, will direct the 90-minute doco, which will incorporate old footage of Graham in action with interviews.

“It’s quite surreal,” Mark said. “I hope people will find value in this documentary of my life so far.”

Flegg battle reveals familiar names

There were a couple of familiar names on the scoreboard when the Sydney Roosters beat the Dragons 32-24 in the Jersey Flegg Cup last weekend.

(AAP) Lachlan Lam in action for PNG at the World Cup. (AAP)

Lachlan Lam, son of Adrian, scored two tries for the Roosters, while Tristan Sailor, Wendell’s boy, bagged a hat trick for the Dragons.

Tristan’s performance comes as no shock to this little Mole - he scored plenty of tries when playing touch footy with Wendell and myself a few years back… when he was only eight!