Official Darren Albert

[Yahoo News]

Paul Sculthorpe hails new-look side

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport2/hi/rugby_league/super_league/st_helens/4571790.stm

Fresh start for Saints
By Phil Gordos
Last Updated: 31 December 2005, 14:34 GMT

<EDITED>

Joining Sculthorpe on the sidelines at the business end of the season were scrum-half Sean Long and flying winger Darren Albert, who both suffered serious facial injuries.

"Losing players in key positions cost us," said Sculthorpe. "It's hard to replace players of the calibre of Sean and Darren."

Albert has since left Knowsley Road after scoring 91 tries in just 124 appearances for the club.

<EDITED>

 

[GGOA26]

Darren Albert Interview

JK: Are there any similarities between the Knights of 97 and the Sharks of 06?

DA: I think in alot of ways, yeah. We had a pretty tight knit club back then and the Sharks this year {after} a bit of rocky start, we've got a side that's really gelling at the moment and getting along well, so the similarities are there.

JK: Probably the most critical question Cronulla fans want to know right now is how long did it take you to learn the Sharks song?

DA: Ah, (laughs) I still haven't got it all down pat, I just mime most of it. No, it's not bad. It's pretty easy. I sat down with one of the blokes and learn't it, so it's not too bad.

JK: The Sharks struggled to win coming from behind on the scoreboard in the early rounds. Why did you struggle in the area?

DA: At the start of the year, we were still getting to know each other I guess and having the bye that first round sort of put us 1 round behind everybody else in game fitness and things like that. Going through that tough period {has} made us a closer club and I think it's showing now in our game that we're working for each other.

JK: You are rated as one of the fastest men in League. How's the speed holding up as the season wears on?

DA: It's not too bad. I mean it's pretty rare in the NRL to get a clean open break but I suppose it gets lower with age and I'm just hoping the experience counteracts that a little bit and doesn't get too bad.

Source: http://www.globalrugbyleague.com/index.php?id=898

 

[Capital_Shark]

The kids in the Little League magazine ask harder hitting questions than that

 

[zakspiders]

thats a bit harsh! lol!

whos jk ?

 

[Sharkie_Freak01]

Goodbye Albert, enjoy Premier League!

I think albert kind of deserves this, he isn't in any good form, simmonds taking his place. Also Vagana to the bench is a good move, Gallen is on the bench, ciraldo taking his place. but scott is still there and Adam and Brett are still the halves.

I would like to see how the sharks go with this lineup.

Any Comments?

 

[Villa the GORILLA]

don't know why gallen got dropped he has been going alright. albert deserves it but. something still has to be done with the halves

 

[Capmar]

Is this merely a band aid move over a wound that needs stitches. The halves combination does need re - appraisal

 

[Sir Chadley]

Again everyone wonders why Gallen has got dropped to the bench. I have said all year and in past years that he drops the ball too much and he tries to off load in silly situations. His ball control is awful. You can say that he drops it more often because he takes the ball up so often, but Lance Thompson takes it up more than Gallen and doesn't have anywhere near the drop ball Gallen does. He also got a bit heated against the Warriors and was lucky not to be on report for a high tackle.
I like the look of the new team, although I think it will still be hard for us to win considering how the Eels are going. Beau Scott is extremely lucky to still be in the 17. If there is someone in the team that drops the pill more than Gallen, it's Beau Scott.
There is hope for us on Saturday night, no one gave us a hope against the Cowboys in Round 7 and we came out and beat them. With a strong home crowd and everyone lifting 100% we can beat the Eels.

 

[Trav 182]

i am really not sure about this side.. just going to wait and see how they perform. daunting task against the inform eels should be a good game

 

[brently]

albert and vang needed this. disappointed to see kearn still out of the halves, especially with simmons coming back. kearn's inexperience in the role was evident again last week when luck scored the winning try for the warriors; he left way too much room for the angled grubber and consequently couldn't make the ground to clean it up. it's not his fault really, fullback isn't his spot. gallen does have some ball security issues, but in his defence he has been targeted by all sides since he made it to SoO. more important than the positional changes is the fact that the remaining players should be motivated to avoid similar treatment to that of alb and vang. having said that, how many changes can a coach make when the lower grades are performing as they are??

 

[jonahshark]

i support pretty much every move raper's made - i think he's spot on. as he says "it's not our halves that's thr problem".

and we've been close to winning, we've acutally been playing decently, just haven't been getting the tries

what's everyone's guesses for the crowd numbers?
i reckon it'll be edging up to 15000, people know the importance of this game

 

[Sir Chadley]

"gallen does have some ball security issues, but in his defence he has been targeted by all sides since he made it to SoO."

Brently - Gallen has had ball security problems before SOO so that can't be used as an excuse.

 

[brently]

chad, i hear where you are coming from. what i was trying to say is gallen was carving it up prior to SoO even though he had some ball security issues. since SoO he has received more attention from opposing sides which has limited his effectiveness, and yes he still has probs hanging onto the ball, just more noticeable now

 

[Trav 182]

so you guys think we may upset parra this week?? its not beyond us but a massive task the boys are ganna have to lifet from 60 to 100% if they want tokeep their slim hopes alive

 

[the mole]

everyone has to be on there game noy just 1 or 2 and hindmarsh needs to get injured

 

[the_prawn]

yeah someone need sto take out hindmarsh early and we are a chance.
without him they'll crack.
once they crack they're gooooone! out of the finals.
does anyone else reckon that sMell-bourne are doing the old "peak-too-early" trick? Ala the undefeatable, unstoppable parra of last year.
my tip is they have. parra is the hot favourite for the grand final!
they've hit their straps hard and at exactly the right time. they've left no room for error though.

i reckon we might lose this one and fire up hard core against the drags down at WIN and we'll just scrape into the 8.
beating the dragons might just give the boys the extra incentive they need to dig that little bit deeper and find form again

 

[Sharkie_Freak01]

We have to win this match! It is vital as the eels, raiders and knight the places 6 , 7 and 8 are in good form, if they keep winning and the sharks lose the gap gets bigger, but if the sharks beat the eels they are back into the top eight as they have 11+ in for and against. So very important game this week.
The eels are very hot at the moment but dont underestimate the sharkies, bailey and simmons back, they will go out for the kill.

 

[the mole]

look out for the dragons they are playing poorly and are only 1 win a way from getting confidence back.there side is full of to many good players .If they start winning now they will hit there peak at the right time.
Melbourne struggle a bit away from home so come semi's its a long time away to keep up there form.The dogs on the other hand are cruising

 

[Gummyshark]

I guarantee you will see a different side this week due to Rapers changes. I do however question Rapers decision to pick two centre's on the bench. If they are any hope they must slow down Parra's play the balls and their wingers. Kimmorley and Dykes must continually kick to Haynes wing and have a good kick & chase, shutting him down. Keep the ball well away from Grothe's side. As for Hindmarsh geting injured, no hope, he's a freak. I also think its not a bad decision playing Gallen and Douglas off the bench, but its time for Villa to stand up, this is a perfect opportunity. Sharks by 20, Noddy and Dykes to gel this week like never before, if they don't its good night. Did anyone see Alberts interview on tele about being dropped ? He was laughing and didn't seem to give a ****. If we start winning now, he will be lucky to see the top grade again this year, then well see who's laughing. Also we have not got a very good record against Parra at home.We haven't won there since 2000 !

 

[topper6]

yeah well that record has to change otherwise we are gone. i think its a great bench very versatile and can cover alot of positions also i think the bench can win us the game if the run on side holds them for the first 20 then i think the bench can come on and make a real impact and we need vagana closer to the action getting involved need him scoring tries and creating a threat for their defence.