New Zealand Warriors, NRL's Dave Smith condemn Billy Moore comments

<div class="first" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Warriors managing director Jim Doyle has expressed disappointment at comments from former Australian international Billy Moore, who used a contentious term to describe the team's style of play.</span></div> <div class="first" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></div> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Speaking on the Fox NRL 360 program on Thursday, Moore was asked in a panel discussion about the Warriors' ability to score points without injured playmaker Shaun Johnson.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"I don't see them losing the ability to still score points," he said.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"They get points because they play that coconut style, Polynesian sort of football... throwing it around."</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Doyle described the "coconut" term as unnecessary.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"We're disappointed Billy used that description when he was talking about our team," he said in a statement.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"We're proud of our Polynesian heritage and what Polynesian players and people have done for our club and what they mean to us."</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Doyle said it was especially disappointing the comments were made at a time when race issues were in the headlines, particularly with the furore surrounding AFL player Adam Goodes and the fact the NRL has its Indigenous round next week.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">NRL chief executive Dave Smith posted a message on Twitter on Friday morning.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Moore has released a statement apologising for his remarks.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"I would like to sincerely apologise to anyone that was offended by my comment regarding the New Zealand Warriors playing style, particularly the Polynesian community – many of whom I played with and am great mates with," he said.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"It was an extremely poor selection of words in my attempt to describe the free-flowing playing style of the Warriors which I deeply regret.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"I understand how my comment may have been interpreted but I would like to stress that it was never my intent to upset or disrespect anyone.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"Again, I offer my unreserved apology to those who took offense to my comment."</span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNx7_RGe1FuLuRzWcq3UWBte-yK3tFNwA6QjN2_sPSH-cpKw0zN4Oeau_HmvlA7VpAIbvOyl8PqKkXdlUkfu7eXIauqJWod-pEGkrkMJ1C0pl9yAF3wwKZ7H5YSgdiw3w8tKu9uo-kA/s1600/107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeNx7_RGe1FuLuRzWcq3UWBte-yK3tFNwA6QjN2_sPSH-cpKw0zN4Oeau_HmvlA7VpAIbvOyl8PqKkXdlUkfu7eXIauqJWod-pEGkrkMJ1C0pl9yAF3wwKZ7H5YSgdiw3w8tKu9uo-kA/s400/107.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>

New Zealand Warriors, NRL's Dave Smith condemn Billy Moore comments

Warriors managing director Jim Doyle has expressed disappointment at comments from former Australian international Billy Moore, who used a ...

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Titans welcome back an old Friend

<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #545454; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.1875rem; text-align: justify;"> <strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Hooker Nathan Friend is returning to former club Gold Coast Titans for next season.</span></strong></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #545454; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.1875rem; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Friend, who was a foundation player for the Titans, made 100 NRL appearances for the club in a four-year spell first time around.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #545454; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.1875rem; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">He was the first player to clock up a century of games for Gold Coast, before moving to the Warriors in 2012.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #545454; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.1875rem; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The 34-year-old, who has agreed a one-year deal with the Titans, said he was looking forward to returning to the club and playing a leading role in better times ahead.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #545454; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.1875rem; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">He added: "I have great memories from my five seasons with the Titans, including twice getting to the finals, and I'd love to be a part of getting there again. Hopefully my experience and determination can be of value and I can help the club move in the right direction."</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #545454; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.1875rem; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Friend played in the 2006 grand final for Melbourne Storm, when they lost to the Broncos, and was a big part of the Titans making the finals for the first time in 2009.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #545454; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.1875rem; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Gold Coast coach Neil Henry said the veteran's experience and leadership would be invaluable to his club, particularly for young hookers Kierran Moseley and Karl Lawton.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #545454; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.1875rem;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Henry added he rated Friend as one of the most professional and dedicated players in the NRL.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #545454; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.1875rem;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Gold Coast are <span style="border: 0px; color: #06855f; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">15/4</span></span> to suffer most losses in the NRL season.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #545454; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.1875rem;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Meanwhile, Tuimoala Lolohea has been handed the task of replacing Shaun Johnson in the No.7 jersey for the Warriors when they take on Cronulla on Saturday.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #545454; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.1875rem;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The 20-year-old comes in after Johnson was ruled out for the rest of the season with a broken ankle.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #545454; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.1875rem;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Auckland club need to bounce back from consecutive heavy defeats to Sydney Roosters and Manly.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #545454; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.1875rem;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Coach Andrew McFadden said Lolohea was the logical choice to come into the halves, despite having played just 20 games.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #545454; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.1875rem;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"Tui has been practicing in that position for a while and he has got a lot of experience in the lower grades there," said the coach. "We have earmarked him for a future half as well; he gets his chance now and I am sure he can handle it."</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #545454; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.1875rem;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Warriors are <span style="border: 0px; color: #06855f; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">87/100</span></span> to beat Cronulla, who are <span style="border: 0px; color: #06855f; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">19/20</span></span>.</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4h2-jhrSdn-CQUvUotZ0mxCyuZbfj5AiqWYz963EXVeldGDuQbPVFGJtg7YmquRIaqCLWaMbKzpZFkAtddk11cZAEfu6Z3dlw97La65Y1BKHykSfZaTdD_O463-Y2dytv45VfKAtoA/s1600/106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv4h2-jhrSdn-CQUvUotZ0mxCyuZbfj5AiqWYz963EXVeldGDuQbPVFGJtg7YmquRIaqCLWaMbKzpZFkAtddk11cZAEfu6Z3dlw97La65Y1BKHykSfZaTdD_O463-Y2dytv45VfKAtoA/s400/106.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div> </div>

Titans welcome back an old Friend

Hooker Nathan Friend is returning to former club Gold Coast Titans for next season. Friend, who was a foundation player for the Titans, m...

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Benitez open to further Real Madrid signings but stays silent on De Gea

<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The former Napoli boss says it is not his place to comment on the Manchester United goalkeeper but would not rule out more summer arrivals.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Real Madrid boss Rafael Benitez refused to be drawn on David de Gea's future but admits he will welcome further signings this summer.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has claimed this week that speculation over the goalkeeper's possible move to Madrid is not doing any favors to either club, though he accepted the Spain international may well be keen on a transfer.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Benitez, however, told reporters on Thursday that De Gea's future "is a question for Van Gaal and De Gea" before adding that he is happy with the three goalkeepers currently at his disposal.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Speaking after his side's penalty shootout win over AC Milan, he said: "I had a great keeper in the first half [Keylor Navas], a very good keeper in the second [Kiko Casilla], and another very good one waiting ... on the bench [Pacheco]."</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div align="left" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The former Napoli and Liverpool boss would not rule out further additions this summer, however.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"It's a good squad, we have to work with them. If someone else arrives, he will be welcome, but they have to be better than what we have," he said. "The conversations I have with [director] Jose Angel Sanchez and the president are between us."</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Madrid was held to a 0-0 draw by Milan before the club triumphed 10-9 on penalties to win the International Champions Cup and Benitez accepts they found the first half difficult.</span></div> </div> <div style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="mc_content" id="NewsContent" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <div align="left" style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"We faced a team like Milan who haven't traveled and have been here for six days, and of course they had good rythym and pressed well. It wasn't easy," he said. "In the second half they slowed down and it was easier to keep the ball."</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Gareth Bale was once more deployed in a central role behind Karim Benzema and Benitez admits he offers a different kind of threat away from the wing.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"Bale's done pretty well, he works hard and plays in a role whereby he's involved more or less depending on how the team plays," Benitez said. "He's a player who attacks the space and moves between lines."</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Luka Modric, meanwhile, was keen to praise the local supporters for their backing during Madrid's successful tour of China.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"We've enjoyed it a lot, we've had six beautiful days in China and we're happy to head back with the title," said the Croatian. "We thank the Chinese fans for their support and we hope to come back soon."</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLTjs6XS8gXhftw6rSvFr5A9flBcYeG0o-OR8XGA8P-ngfrMp757SAsmEziVuYiorIE3rj-IdT0YmIEfHS5CgC4fYK92crSsCuktPEea0cjsxFyS5u-g5SWz01C3wyTkvu6eKWjfwAxg/s1600/real20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLTjs6XS8gXhftw6rSvFr5A9flBcYeG0o-OR8XGA8P-ngfrMp757SAsmEziVuYiorIE3rj-IdT0YmIEfHS5CgC4fYK92crSsCuktPEea0cjsxFyS5u-g5SWz01C3wyTkvu6eKWjfwAxg/s400/real20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div> </div> </div>

Benitez open to further Real Madrid signings but stays silent on De Gea

The former Napoli boss says it is not his place to comment on the Manchester United goalkeeper but would not rule out more summer arrivals....

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Southampton 3 - 0 Vitesse Arnhem : Saints shine on European return

<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Southampton enjoyed a dream return to continental football, hitting three past Vitesse Arnhem as they secured a first European win in nearly 34 years.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Saints have endured a topsy-turvy time since their last dalliance with football on this stage in 2003, dropping down to League One and the verge of liquidation before rising to last year secure their best ever Premier League finish.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">That surprise seventh place brought with it qualification for the Europa League, which Ronald Koeman's men started with a 3-0 win thanks to goals from Graziano Pelle, Dusan Tadic and Shane Long.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">A sold-out St Mary's witnessed Saints' first European victory since overcoming Limerick in September 1981, with the result setting them up nicely for the return leg of the third qualifying round tie against the club with whom Koeman cut his managerial teeth.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Vitesse certainly started well enough on the south coast, but the hosts ended an even first half on top and Pelle opened the scoring after latching onto a Sadio Mane through ball.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The nippy Senegalese was causing havoc again minutes later, winning a penalty which Tadic converted with the last kick of the first half.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Maarten Stekelenburg was called upon to prevent substitute Milot Rashica scoring a potentially vital away goal in the second half, before substitute Long nodded home a late third to give Saints a strong advantage heading to Arnhem.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Things could have been a whole lot different had the Eredivisie side capitalised on lax early defending, with Valeri Qazaishvili bursting past Maya Yoshida to hit a low, fizzing drive just wide of the far post.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">It was a let-off the Japan defender attempted to capitalise on shortly afterwards, but he could only send his free header straight at Vitesse goalkeeper Eloy Room.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Yoshida was again involved at the other end of the field when Saints next created a clear-cut opening, sending the follow-up wide after Victor Wanyama's initial close-range effort was saved.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Cedric Soares, Jose Fonte and Steven Davis had attempts of varying quality as the hosts pushed for an opener, which arrived in style after 36 minutes.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Mane was the architect as he put through Pelle, who rifled a venomous first-time strike into the top right-hand corner.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Things were to get better still before half-time as, having turned his man from a short corner, Mane was bundled over by Rochdi Achenteh in the box. Tadic stepped up for the resulting spot-kick, sending Room the wrong way.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Pelle wasted a chance to grab a third by blazing over after Matt Targett's cross caused confusion at the back, before injury ended Jordy Clasie's debut soon after.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Juanmi replaced him as Long also came on, quickly winning a free-kick after a foul by Izzy Brown - on loan from Chelsea, like fellow starter Lewis Baker - but it came to nothing.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Vitesse became increasingly desperate to score as the second half wore on and debutant Stekelenburg had to be alert to thwart Rashica.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The substitute saw an effort deflect off his own player before Saints racked up a third on the break. Room darted off his line to thwart Long, but the Irishman nodded home Juanmi's clipped cross.</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhebVaezugjwiyP1IImmtTuBirsNXABY2UI9a2rDxoWtOd-YSDlVLbFTn03pb4t3zR1bdll_isSgWzXxZUw8jk1IrfhB6U1wvVIF358n-HvZC0uJXCUKd3RbhcSXAjQeJBzbSslUH8FHg/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhebVaezugjwiyP1IImmtTuBirsNXABY2UI9a2rDxoWtOd-YSDlVLbFTn03pb4t3zR1bdll_isSgWzXxZUw8jk1IrfhB6U1wvVIF358n-HvZC0uJXCUKd3RbhcSXAjQeJBzbSslUH8FHg/s400/10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div>

Southampton 3 - 0 Vitesse Arnhem : Saints shine on European return

Southampton enjoyed a dream return to continental football, hitting three past Vitesse Arnhem as they secured a first European win in nearl...

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Manchester City’s Edin Dzeko agrees personal terms with Roma

<div class="mc_content" id="NewsContent" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <div align="left" style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Edin Dzeko has agreed personal terms with Roma, according to Sky Italia.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Sky report that the Bosnian’s move to the Romans has been agreed with Manchester City chiefs, and that all that remains is to agree upon a transfer fee in order for the move to be finalized.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">With Steven Jovetic set for a loan move to Inter, the surprise sale of Dzeko will leave City with just two recognized strikers in Sergio ‘Kun’ Aguero and Wilfried Bony (although new signing Raheem Sterling can operate as a central striker.)</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Although perhaps it shouldn’t be so great a surprise: with just 50 league goals for the Citizens from 130 league games, Dzeko perhaps benefits from an unduly strong reputation.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Having arrived from Wolfsburg in 2011, Dzeko had a storming start to life in Manchester, but his form has gradually tailed off with each passing season.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">As to City’s striker situation going forward – surely they have an ace up their sleeve they’re keeping quiet?</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0VNq7Ijh4ZH4TFSugShts_euo_2R2Y2SgDQ4rPy9_V9BHmoiq_GBP56YIDE-RhwW0JlzOBTbeLXFdiHjIOoc4pNLbKLbuXYDiBNJ2z44fh_3lIxcRLWu04YY7baK3ztFurxx3e8TSg/s1600/mc10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia0VNq7Ijh4ZH4TFSugShts_euo_2R2Y2SgDQ4rPy9_V9BHmoiq_GBP56YIDE-RhwW0JlzOBTbeLXFdiHjIOoc4pNLbKLbuXYDiBNJ2z44fh_3lIxcRLWu04YY7baK3ztFurxx3e8TSg/s400/mc10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div> </div>

Manchester City’s Edin Dzeko agrees personal terms with Roma

Edin Dzeko has agreed personal terms with Roma, according to Sky Italia. Sky report that the Bosnian’s move to the Romans has been agree...

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Rooney can shoulder responsibility as Manchester United's lead striker

<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The departures of Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao over the summer mean the goalscoring burden falls firmly on Wayne Rooney at Manchester United once more. Manager Louis van Gaal talked up the possibility of signing a "surprise" striker before the transfer window comes to a close, and while that may still come to fruition; United, at the time of writing, head into the season with Rooney as the primary frontman.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Supporters, though, needn't be too downbeat about it. While the prospect of signing a big-name frontman is enough to excite fans, there is the chance it will backfire: Roberto Soldado's move to Tottenham in 2013 for a then-club-record £26m a case in point, with limited options available at present. And besides, in Rooney, Van Gaal has himself a striker who is more than capable of finding the net on a consistent basis.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Since signing from Everton in 2004, only twice has the England international been handed the opportunity to consistently spearhead the United offensive, coming in the 2009-10 (26 league goals) and 2011-12 seasons (27 goals), his two most prolific in a United shirt. In fact, 74 of the 105 league goals Rooney has scored in the last six seasons have come when he has started as a centre forward.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Without competition from Van Persie or Falcao now, though, Rooney has his chance stake a claim for a regular starting berth as lead marksman, which he can be expected to take. Four of his 12 goals and three of his five assists in the Premier League last season came with the Englishman as the focal point of the United attack. It's fairly obvious that Van Gaal needs to have Rooney lead the charge, especially in a season where United are expected to challenge for the title, given the money spent this summer.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #333333; line-height: 18px; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Memphis Depay, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Matteo Darmian and Morgan Schneiderlin have each arrived at Old Trafford, though it is the signing of Depay that could help bring out the best in Rooney. The Dutchman caught the eye in the Netherlands last season and United acted swiftly to secure his services, confirming an agreement had been reached for the player back in May once PSV had wrapped up the Eredivisie.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"> <div class="mc_content" id="NewsContent" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; clear: both; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 0px; overflow: hidden; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Depay has quickly emerged as one of the most exciting talents in Europe and it was little surprise he was keen to link up with Van Gaal once more. The current United boss handed the 21-year-old his national team debut for the Oranje back in 2013, so Van Gaal clearly has plenty of trust in the former PSV star. His faith in Depay is certainly being rewarded if his performances in preseason are anything to go by.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Both Depay and Rooney have linked up exceptionally well in the friendlies leading up to the campaign, heightening expectations as the Premier League nears its return. Given Van Gaal has talked up the possibility of utilising a 4-3-3 formation in the upcoming season, the possibility of a front three of Depay, Rooney and Juan Mata -- at least unless Pedro, as rumoured, moves United -- is enough to leave the United faithful salivating.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The pressure on Rooney is higher than it has ever been. The England international endured his fair share of critics last season, but his performances as the lead marksman suggest he is more than capable of shouldering the responsibility. He was United's leading goalscorer with 12 goals last season, despite making only 14 starts in attack, which, in an ever changing system, was a respectable return.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; margin: 1em 0px; padding: 0px;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">If the preseason performances can be carried into the new season, Van Gaal appears set on an approach that enables his best players to perform to the highest standard. With Rooney currently established as the lead striker and spearheading United's charge, the upcoming campaign could be a very productive one for the England international as he looks to enjoy his most prolific campaign to date.When deployed as centre forward for Manchester United, Wayne Rooney has flourished.</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKOuTdFUBdkTsSTkIAYyTLsYPN6rXx3HK_BtJhsdbFgqYUA5-lP7m-YlkTUL5gEGPVTkR1EEPjVt2ILLx3t11tTzufgTVJZO8TRB7RBqJeoQR9QfLXXrx-YQl6wBWDHeJ9tmqEcMIXA/s1600/mu34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilKOuTdFUBdkTsSTkIAYyTLsYPN6rXx3HK_BtJhsdbFgqYUA5-lP7m-YlkTUL5gEGPVTkR1EEPjVt2ILLx3t11tTzufgTVJZO8TRB7RBqJeoQR9QfLXXrx-YQl6wBWDHeJ9tmqEcMIXA/s400/mu34.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div> </div> </div>

Rooney can shoulder responsibility as Manchester United's lead striker

The departures of Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao over the summer mean the goalscoring burden falls firmly on Wayne Rooney at Mancheste...

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Strachan relishing England battle

<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #545454; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.1875rem; text-align: justify;"> <strong style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Scotland coach Gordon Strachan is relishing the prospect of facing England in the 2018 Russia World Cup qualifying Group F campaign.</span></strong></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #545454; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.1875rem; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">The Tartan Army were drawn alongside Slovakia, Slovenia, Lithuania and Malta before the Auld Enemy came out to complete the six-team group which will see the two countries battle it out in a competitive international for the first time since their two-legged play-off for a place at the Euro 2000 finals.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #545454; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.1875rem; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">England will host Scotland at Wembley on Friday 11th November, 2016 with the return fixture at Hampden Park on Saturday 10th June, 2017.</span></div> <div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #545454; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.1875rem;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">And Strachan claims his delight at the draw which was made in St Petersburg on Saturday night will be mirrored by Scotland fans up and down the country.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #545454; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.1875rem;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">He said: "There must have been some sort of intervention there, because the sun came out and England got pulled out of the pot at the same time and the place erupted.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #545454; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.1875rem;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"I imagine that is the way everyone in Scotland felt.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #545454; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.1875rem;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"From the coaches' point of view it is good that there will be these two big fixtures, but I think first and foremost it is good for the fans of both nations.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #545454; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.1875rem;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"But the next stage, when you look at Slovenia and Slovakia, from the coaches' point of view that's great because we haven't locked horns with them, it is new for us and that will be good.</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #545454; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.1875rem;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">"It is nice to have a freshness and, on top of that, we have England."</span></div> <div style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #545454; line-height: 1.125rem; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 1.1875rem;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Scotland are <span style="border: 0px; color: #06855f; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">8/1</span></span> to win Group F, while they can be backed at <span style="border: 0px; color: #06855f; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">4/1</span></span> to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. England are <span style="border: 0px; color: #06855f; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">2/5</span></span> and <span style="border: 0px; color: #06855f; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">1/5</span></span>respectively.</span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6wWlRaVhlLYBwRM2yrMVdN9_EPJvEhjLDCFTa0xuUr06pR-e5ME-A_OYMuz86HZ6bM2gGKaBwUulvcmcTpO2-rnCpEJpZMQ91KYQQtVDpZO_Us3vz5bjO1f570iLCalKMWJf1jbzKA/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR6wWlRaVhlLYBwRM2yrMVdN9_EPJvEhjLDCFTa0xuUr06pR-e5ME-A_OYMuz86HZ6bM2gGKaBwUulvcmcTpO2-rnCpEJpZMQ91KYQQtVDpZO_Us3vz5bjO1f570iLCalKMWJf1jbzKA/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br /></span></div> </div>

Strachan relishing England battle

Scotland coach Gordon Strachan is relishing the prospect of facing England in the 2018 Russia World Cup qualifying Group F campaign. The ...

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AFL's fans must lead game out of Adam Goodes booing controversy, says Gillon McLachlan

<div class="first" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has called on the code's supporters to lead the game out of the divisive Adam Goodes booing controversy.</span></div> <div class="first" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></div> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">McLachlan admitted on Friday that he could not tell fans how to behave but said they ultimately owned the game and it needed them to show leadership on the issue.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Relentless vilification of Goodes from fans of rival clubs in recent months has prompted Sydney to give their dual Brownlow Medal winner indefinite leave as he was shaken by what the club called a disgraceful reaction to his outspokenness on race matters.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">The controversy prompted all 18 AFL club captains to release a joint-statement urging fans to stop booing Goodes.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Goodes will not play against Adelaide at the SCG on Saturday, but could be back for the following round's away game against Geelong.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"I can't tell the supporters how to behave. Our game has always been an outlet for people to express themselves," McLachlan said.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"Ultimately I do have incredible faith in our supporters, but also ... they've defined the respect in our game. And it's changed and iterated over generations."</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">McLachlan cited examples of outstanding crowd behaviour in recent times.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"No-one can make 90,000 people stand in silence on Anzac Day, complete silence in reflection," McLachlan said.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"No-one can make 300,000 people over a round of footy a few weeks ago behave the way they did [in remembrance of deceased Crows coach Phil Walsh] that just had extraordinary healing qualities for a family, a footy club, a state.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"No-one can make supporters do that, but I just have great confidence in their ability to work through this issue, have their views and then ultimately respect the wishes of the players, the clubs, the industry, that Adam be given and environment to come back and play.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"Because I don't think anyone, if they are feeling hurt and feeling they are the victim of racist behaviour, whatever your views no one should feel like that.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"And there is a point where you go 'regardless of how we got here, I respect that's how you're feeling ... and I'll let you play'."</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"I want to look forward and look to our supporters to lead us out of here. Maybe test the test next week or whenever that comes.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"This is a game ultimately owned by our supporters and ultimately we need their leadership on this issue."</span><br /> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Lyon throws support behind Goodes</span></h2> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Fremantle coach Ross Lyon has also joined the chorus of support for Goodes, saying anyone who boos the two-time premiership player from this point was a "racist" and a "bigot".</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Lyon said spectators needed to address their behaviour towards Goodes, as he believed it could no longer be disguised as anything but racist.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"There's no ambiguity anymore," Lyon said on Friday.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"So from here, if you continue to boo Adam Goodes, well, you're a racist and you're a bigot. And that would take this country back to the white Australia policy in 1967.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"It's offensive what's occurring, and it's wrong. Ignorance is no excuse."</span><br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4zqWuX0roVEGp-uxglHb-qN7TiF4WYY0tLwu8AUZuCViPsiZ0LdQdn2IeT-AXNlJCEcj6nQabL3V-2Sp9LgnCNcwxJVSBgH50bwz6_p_-0g5vyGg-DkmFW_Lgul4Ez7ZQx7iPoMsuw/s1600/144.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR4zqWuX0roVEGp-uxglHb-qN7TiF4WYY0tLwu8AUZuCViPsiZ0LdQdn2IeT-AXNlJCEcj6nQabL3V-2Sp9LgnCNcwxJVSBgH50bwz6_p_-0g5vyGg-DkmFW_Lgul4Ez7ZQx7iPoMsuw/s320/144.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span>

AFL's fans must lead game out of Adam Goodes booing controversy, says Gillon McLachlan

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has called on the code's supporters to lead the game out of the divisive Adam Goodes booing contro...

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Adam Goodes: Dockers coach Ross Lyon condemns booing as racist

<div class="first" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Fremantle Dockers coach Ross Lyon has weighed into the Adam Goodes debate, labelling anyone who boos the Sydney Swans star as a racist and a bigot.</span></div> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Lyon's comments come on the eve of Sydney's clash with the Adelaide Crows, where the Swans will play without the dual-Brownlow medallist who is on extended leave.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Lyon was scathing of those who would single out Goodes for abuse.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"If you continue to boo Adam Goodes, well you're a racist and you're a bigot," he said.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"And that would take this country back to the White Australia policy." </span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Lyon said Goodes was a good friend and a player who he had coached.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"I really respect him, he's a great person," he said.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"So ignorance is no excuse, and the message is strong for the AFL."</span><br /> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Come back on the field, Peter Collier urges Goodes</span></h2> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">But WA Aboriginal Affairs Minister Peter Collier said Goodes should return to the field as soon as possible to end the polarising debate that has consumed AFL football this week.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Mr Collier said the longer the debate over whether the booing of Goodes was racist had continued, the more divisive it had become.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"I think that the best thing that could happen would be for Adam to come back on the field and, quite frankly, I think he would be given a hero's reception if he were to come back," he said.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Mr Collier has worked as a high performance coach with elite athletes, including AFL footballers.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">He said he understood the pressure Goodes was under, both as a footballer and an Aboriginal leader.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"The mind is a battlefield, particularly with elite athletes, particularly for Aboriginal people and Aboriginal players who face enormous social pressures on a day to day basis," he said.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"Now their culture is extremely important to them and when they feel that their culture is being challenged, of course they're going to respond accordingly.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"That's exactly what happened with Adam, he feels that his culture was being challenged." </span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">But Mr Collier, who is a staunch West Coast Eagles supporter, said he did not believe all those who booed at last weekend's match at Subiaco were motivated by racism.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">He said West Coast fans were jeering Goodes as a Sydney Swans player, not as an Aboriginal.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">But he said it was still wrong.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"If I'd been at the game that day I probably would have left, because I found the booing unacceptable," he said.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"Having said that, we've got to be careful that we don't overreact.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"A lot of the people who were at the game that day were not responding out of racist overtones, and that needs to be remembered."</span><br /> <h2 style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; font-size: x-small; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Indigenous MP Ken Wyatt condemns 'bullying'</span></h2> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Federal WA Liberal MP Ken Wyatt said he believed the treatment of Goodes had been unfair.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"I concur with the lawyer in Sydney who says its a form of workplace bullying," he said.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Mr Wyatt, who was the first Indigenous person elected to the House of Representatives, said Goodes was an outstanding sportsman who had made a stand on important Aboriginal issues.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">He said Goodes was not playing the victim.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"Accusing people of playing the victim if they're making very telling comments about a set of circumstances or conditions that Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people face, is a wrong summation of what Adam is trying to do," he said.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">He said Goodes deserved a fair go from AFL supporters and he wanted to see Goodes return to the field.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"So let's hope all of us give him space, encourage him to come back and play in the game that he loves, and that he becomes a significant player again," he said.</span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHfFwhmdwu8URP1gHXkV7PUh-E3uayZ4TYsf-gtkCO8lhg9khpnc6ldqeAilC0top4dGfbbiKKSzs0xokqGvvgr9p0JLmhYnAK3SzB0t0zjccAXHYW4yhdQ8Xxk4Hz2SrWBtG9YnVyQ/s1600/145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNHfFwhmdwu8URP1gHXkV7PUh-E3uayZ4TYsf-gtkCO8lhg9khpnc6ldqeAilC0top4dGfbbiKKSzs0xokqGvvgr9p0JLmhYnAK3SzB0t0zjccAXHYW4yhdQ8Xxk4Hz2SrWBtG9YnVyQ/s400/145.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>

Adam Goodes: Dockers coach Ross Lyon condemns booing as racist

Fremantle Dockers coach Ross Lyon has weighed into the Adam Goodes debate, labelling anyone who boos the Sydney Swans star as a racist and ...

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Jesse Bromwich's 'not guilty' verdict justice for Melbourne Storm, says coach Craig Bellamy

<div class="first" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy has praised the NRL judiciary's swift decision to clear Storm prop Jesse Bromwich of biting St George Illawarra's Josh Dugan.</span></div> <div class="first" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></div> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Bromwich was referred directly to the judiciary over the incident that occurred in the Storm's win over the Dragons in Napier on Saturday.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Bellamy was pleased the prop's charge was quickly dismissed on Wednesday night.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"I think the judiciary took about two minutes to decide so basically that says it all," Bellamy said on Thursday.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"He plays as most good front rowers play the game and to have that levelled at him ... I've never ever seen that in Jesse.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"I think they got it dead set right in taking two minutes to decide."</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Bromwich can now line up against the Tigers on Friday night.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"I'm just relieved to get the result," Bromwich said after the verdict.</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"I'm happy they gave me a fair hearing. I never felt guilty and I will move forward to this Friday night."</span><br style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;" /><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Dugan, meanwhile, remained adamant he was bitten in the tackle.</span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLU5uwN3lLoW0yq7kS_Ptk0r-uC3L3nr7g3it2uN525ID7aTMYAbLRf_imxlxVVP0KDSMbd6PVLadPpDKA9lH8asRG0sZbsmHrcF7OrD6hGt2XyrIpL6j0YYmoXjQewynBx9cyRKdhMA/s1600/102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLU5uwN3lLoW0yq7kS_Ptk0r-uC3L3nr7g3it2uN525ID7aTMYAbLRf_imxlxVVP0KDSMbd6PVLadPpDKA9lH8asRG0sZbsmHrcF7OrD6hGt2XyrIpL6j0YYmoXjQewynBx9cyRKdhMA/s400/102.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>

Jesse Bromwich's 'not guilty' verdict justice for Melbourne Storm, says coach Craig Bellamy

Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy has praised the NRL judiciary's swift decision to clear Storm prop Jesse Bromwich of biting St George Ill...

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Matt Ballin confirms Manly Sea Eagles have told him he is not wanted after current NRL season

<div class="first" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">Veteran Manly hooker Matt Ballin has admitted he has been tapped on the shoulder by the Sea Eagles, but said he is refusing to leave.</span></div> <div class="first" style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> <span style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span></div> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Ballin confirmed on Thursday he is one of 14 players reported to be out of favour with the embattled club, despite signing a two-year extension with the club in April.</span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">When asked on Fox Sports if the Sea Eagles had told him he was not wanted, Ballin said: "Yeah, it has. I'm fully aware of that.</span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"I disagree with what their reasons are for it and I'm going to stand up for what I believe in and what I think is best for the club and myself.</span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"I decided to stay with the club at the start of the year when things weren't good and I wanted to make the club a better place.</span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">"I still hold that same belief and nothing has changed for me."</span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Following this week's long-anticipated sacking of coach Geoff Toovey, chairman Scott Penn ignited speculation a player clean-out was on the cards, indicating there would further changes at Brookvale ahead of the 2016 season when new mentor Trent Barrett arrives.</span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span><span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Last week Manly guaranteed the future of captain Jamie Lyon, but stopped short of offering the same commitment to other players reportedly set to be dumped in the summer; including Luke Burgess, Feleti Mateo, Willie Mason and Justin Horo.</span><br /> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br style="border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"></span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69R4VsJD6a1IIbz0rXTTn4wrxnTOELk7o0miAGXAjVMM8EriQ_2tUWOrCsywqfXNJ8zFUmZfFIQX8FfzXFybpHs0u4k_4llSeyP9jYi10Ku7U0AKGkEo3gZAReLWjTg_xjQfcOKyMtw/s1600/104.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg69R4VsJD6a1IIbz0rXTTn4wrxnTOELk7o0miAGXAjVMM8EriQ_2tUWOrCsywqfXNJ8zFUmZfFIQX8FfzXFybpHs0u4k_4llSeyP9jYi10Ku7U0AKGkEo3gZAReLWjTg_xjQfcOKyMtw/s400/104.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <span style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #3b3b3b; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 20px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></span>

Matt Ballin confirms Manly Sea Eagles have told him he is not wanted after current NRL season

Veteran Manly hooker Matt Ballin has admitted he has been tapped on the shoulder by the Sea Eagles, but said he is refusing to leave. Ba...

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