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Source:http://news.google.com/news/url?fd=...0.aspx&usg=AFQjCNH1nNEIKtx4ksLU-_3kUwBEwUheYw
Big guns kick off Carlton League
BY MIKE GANDON
13 Mar, 2010 04:00 AM
Stung badly after missing out on last year's finals, traditional Carlton League heavyweights Dapto and Collegians have much to play for when they kick off the 2010 season at Dapto Showground today.
Since 1990, Dapto have won seven premierships and Collies six, so it was indeed a rarity for one of these powerhouses, let alone both of them, to sit out a first grade post-season.
To highlight the dominance of the two clubs over that time, the next best have been Thirroul with four premierships, Wests two and Helensburgh one.
Dapto and Collies have players with plenty of NRL and major league experience at the helm this year.
The Canaries appointed former junior and ex-St George Illawarra Dragons halfback Mathew Head as captain-coach, while Collegians brought in former Cronulla and Parramatta hooker Aaron Raper as non-playing coach.
While the Canaries have retained the nucleus of last year's team, bolstered by the signing of Head and Mark Simon to their backline, Collies have quite a few new players to replace the likes of Robbie Payne, Grant Smith, Ryan Smith and James Dirou.
Head said he was pleased with Dapto's form in trial games and their balance.
While Raper described Collies' changes in personnel as a rebuilding phase, he acknowledged that the Dogs demand success.
University of Wollongong Titans want to make their presence felt after promotion from VB Cup this season.
Under the coaching of Barry Broome, the Titans have plenty of youthful enthusiasm and willingness to succeed.
They will have an early indication of their prospects in their initial year in the top grade when they play host to Shellharbour Workers at Noel Mulligan Oval at 3.30pm today.
Shellharbour showed in their first season of Carlton League since transferring from Group Seven, when they reached the finals series last year, that they will be an even bigger threat in 2010.
Coach Peter Yatras acknowledges the main challenge will be knowing which players he has available each week until St George Illawarra and the Shellharbour Dragons finalise their respective teams.
Berkeley have former Collies coach Gavin Clinch at the helm and are hoping that some of the success he had with the Dogs will rub off on them.
Clinch has brought several players, including experienced prop Payne and talented centre Dirou, to the Eagles who take on Corrimal at Berkeley Sports Ground at 5.30pm today.
Despite battling to survive, the Cougars have shown tremendous character to reach the finals in the past couple of seasons and with Terry Westblade again in the senior coaching role, they will be keen to continue encouraging their own juniors into the grade ranks.
Helensburgh have a bye in the opening round and with captain-coach Stuart Webb, who led them from the wooden spoon to the play-offs in his first season with the Tigers, over in France for the early part of the season, Wade Humphreys will lead them.
Big guns kick off Carlton League
BY MIKE GANDON
13 Mar, 2010 04:00 AM
Stung badly after missing out on last year's finals, traditional Carlton League heavyweights Dapto and Collegians have much to play for when they kick off the 2010 season at Dapto Showground today.
Since 1990, Dapto have won seven premierships and Collies six, so it was indeed a rarity for one of these powerhouses, let alone both of them, to sit out a first grade post-season.
To highlight the dominance of the two clubs over that time, the next best have been Thirroul with four premierships, Wests two and Helensburgh one.
Dapto and Collies have players with plenty of NRL and major league experience at the helm this year.
The Canaries appointed former junior and ex-St George Illawarra Dragons halfback Mathew Head as captain-coach, while Collegians brought in former Cronulla and Parramatta hooker Aaron Raper as non-playing coach.
While the Canaries have retained the nucleus of last year's team, bolstered by the signing of Head and Mark Simon to their backline, Collies have quite a few new players to replace the likes of Robbie Payne, Grant Smith, Ryan Smith and James Dirou.
Head said he was pleased with Dapto's form in trial games and their balance.
While Raper described Collies' changes in personnel as a rebuilding phase, he acknowledged that the Dogs demand success.
University of Wollongong Titans want to make their presence felt after promotion from VB Cup this season.
Under the coaching of Barry Broome, the Titans have plenty of youthful enthusiasm and willingness to succeed.
They will have an early indication of their prospects in their initial year in the top grade when they play host to Shellharbour Workers at Noel Mulligan Oval at 3.30pm today.
Shellharbour showed in their first season of Carlton League since transferring from Group Seven, when they reached the finals series last year, that they will be an even bigger threat in 2010.
Coach Peter Yatras acknowledges the main challenge will be knowing which players he has available each week until St George Illawarra and the Shellharbour Dragons finalise their respective teams.
Berkeley have former Collies coach Gavin Clinch at the helm and are hoping that some of the success he had with the Dogs will rub off on them.
Clinch has brought several players, including experienced prop Payne and talented centre Dirou, to the Eagles who take on Corrimal at Berkeley Sports Ground at 5.30pm today.
Despite battling to survive, the Cougars have shown tremendous character to reach the finals in the past couple of seasons and with Terry Westblade again in the senior coaching role, they will be keen to continue encouraging their own juniors into the grade ranks.
Helensburgh have a bye in the opening round and with captain-coach Stuart Webb, who led them from the wooden spoon to the play-offs in his first season with the Tigers, over in France for the early part of the season, Wade Humphreys will lead them.