Brian CARNEY [
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Sun January 23, 2011
by Steve Mascord
THIS year's Four Nations may kick off with Australia playing New Zealand at Skilled Park, Robina, Discord can reveal.
Apologies for the delay in filing this week's Discord but on Friday I had the pleasure of attending my first game of the year, a friendly between Harlequins and London Skolars at the Honorary Artillery Company in central London.
It's an incongruous sight, a rugby league game being played on a patch of grass right in the centre one of the world's most important financial districts.
And at the preceding luncheon, at which Brian Carney was the guest speaker, I picked up a little bit of info on the 4N tournament, which will this year involve Australia, England, New Zealand and Wales.
The Rugby Football League have apparently left it to the ARL and NZRL to decide whether those countries play each other before departing for Europe.
That is the way the tournament has kicked off on a couple of occasions in the past.
And while Discord has championed the idea of a double-header at Millennium Stadium to kick off the series, we can also tell you that Wembley is under serious consideration for an early game - perhaps a double-header with England playing Australia and Wales taking on New Zealand.
The response for the Magic Weekend next month will determine whether Millennium will be used during the Four Nations.
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CARNEY, the former Ireland and Great Britain winger, gave a rather moving account of his decision to walk out on Gold Coast after just one field session and one weights session.
"I had played in England and never been homesick," he told an audience of city high-fliers.
"But during 2006 in Newcastle, I was sitting in my apartment on the beach and started to miss ... not Ireland but England. Looking back, I suppose you would say I was mad."
Brian returned to Europe at the end of the 2006 season and managed to convince himself he was cured.
"But it was at the airport on the Gold Coast that it dawned on me: I couldn't do this," he said.
"I guess I had a breakdown."
He still rated his time in Australia as the highlight of his career. Carney currently works with Sky Sports and the Warrington Wolves.
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OK, some feedback.
To Shaun, the expansion team I was referring to was to be added to the AMNRL. But with the stink there now, I would guess all will be put on hold.
As someone mentioned to me after the London game, the World Cup qualifiers are supposed to be on in Jacksonville in October/November yet the Axemen have gone with the rival comp and, presumably, none of their players will be eligible for selection!
What a mess!
Tony, I don't disagree with anything you have said. Certainly, no-one from Star Group of the AMNRL has been willing to answer my questions or those of the breakaway clubs about the nature of their relationship, which does raise concerns.
But neither dictatorship or absolute club democracy is good for a developing sport, in my opinion. Rugby league needs something in between both those extremes and that is what we need to achieve out of this imbroglio.
Jeff, just to make this clear: I SUPPORT teams being torn apart in the interests of an even competition - 100 per cent!
We have one team that has a market of three million and plays at a 52,000 seat stadium and others that run around at suburban parks and rely on poker machine money - as I said last week. The only way to have a successful sport is to make sure CLUBS DO NOT GET TOO POWERFUL!
Some clubs, like Melbourne, have never produced a local junior and others are over-run with them. Yet we have to create a situation - artificially - in which they are on level playing field so people will watch, sponsor and broadcast. Forcing players to leave the clubs that produced them is a process that makes the NRL work!
And as for the salary cap debate, I reiterate what I said last week - I agreed with you, I was in favour of the Super League model.
And I was wrong. Rugby League has to develop a corporate memory so it stops making the same mistakes again. I favour relocation, I favour rationalisation of teams in Sydney but the teams we would be left with san salary cap are DIFFERENT SET OF TEAMS than the ones the game needs for its general health.
Example: Roosters survive, Knights die.
Finally, Corey, your Super Bowl idea is awesome and I have sent Star Group and email asking them what they think of it.
See you next week. I've got another week in London before heading north.
Fri November 6, 2009
by Phil Caplan
Dual code international Brian Carney is predicting that Ireland will face a tough test on Sunday when they come up against an experienced and powerful Lebanon team in their European Cup tie.
Ireland lost to Wales 42-12 at Pontypridd on Sunday and have been training at Wilderspool this week in preparation for their ranking clash with the Cedars at Brewery Field, Bridgend on November 8 (12.15pm).
Carney, the former Great Britain Rugby League and Ireland rugby union winger, said: "I met a couple of the Irish lads after their training in Warrington and they are bitterly disappointed. Their coach has also emphasized his disappointment in no uncertain terms.
"Lebanon will be a very difficult team to beat if they get a foothold in the game but I expect Ireland to try and produce the shape in attack they showed last Sunday but maintain it for 80 minutes.
"The enthusiasm to defend was missing for large parts of that game and that has to change to win this game.
"The Ireland middle third will need to work as a unit to dominate the big Lebanese forwards and starve their talented playmaker George Ndeira of possession."
Lebanon were beaten 22-10 by Scotland in atrocious conditions in Glasgow last Sunday to finish second in Group One and set up the Finals Day clash with Ireland which will help determine the seedings for the 2010 European Cup.
Tickets for the European Cup Finals Day are priced at £10 for adults and £5 for concessions with a family ticket priced at £25 and these are available by calling 08448 561 115 or visiting www.rugbyleaguetickets.co.uk.
European Cup Finals Day
10.30am - Serbia v Italy - The Old Parish, Maesteg RFC
12.15pm - Lebanon v Ireland - Brewery Field, Bridgend
4.00pm - European Cup Final - Wales v Scotland - Brewery Field, Bridgend (on Sky Sports 3 from 3.30pm)
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 2009 engage English Super League
Warrington Wolves
4 games; 2 tries, 8 points.
[View] Round 20 [11 Jul 09] L 26-40 v St Helens (H). [WG]
[View] Round 21 [19 Jul 09] L 10-28 v Huddersfield (A). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 22 [26 Jul 09] W 62-20 v Salford City (H). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 23 [01 Aug 09] L 22-24 v Leeds (A). [WG]
======================================================================================================
2006 Tri-Nations Test Series
Great Britain Lions
2 games; [View] Tri-Nations Match 3 [28 Oct 06] L 14-18 v New Zealand (A). [WG]
[View] Tri-Nations Match 4 [04 Nov 06] W 23-12 v Australia (A). [WG]
======================================================================================================
2006 NRL Telstra Premiership
Newcastle Knights
26 games; 16 tries, 64 points.
[View] Round 1 [11 Mar 06] W 25-6 v Eels (H). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 2 [19 Mar 06] W 70-32 v Raiders (A). [WG]
[View] Round 3 [24 Mar 06] W 46-22 v Bulldogs (H). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 4 [02 Apr 06] L 22-26 v Warriors (H). [WG]
[View] Round 5 [08 Apr 06] W 54-6 v Dragons (A). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t (27th)
[View] Round 6 [16 Apr 06] L 16-18 v Cowboys (H). [WG]
[View] Round 7 [22 Apr 06] L 6-52 v Storm (A). [WG]
[View] Round 8 [30 Apr 06] W 24-18 v Rabbitohs (A). [WG]
[View] Round 9 [07 May 06] W 32-30 v Broncos (H). [WG] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 10 [14 May 06] W 18-16 v Tigers (A). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 11 [20 May 06] W 22-12 v Raiders (H). [WG] 12 Pts; 3t
[View] Round 12 [26 May 06] L 12-38 v Dragons (H). [WG]
[View] Round 13 [03 Jun 06] L 22-38 v Bulldogs (A). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 15 [18 Jun 06] L 18-30 v Warriors (A). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 16 [24 Jun 06] L 16-26 v Sharks (H). [WG]
[View] Round 17 [30 Jun 06] W 26-12 v Sea Eagles (A). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 18 [08 Jul 06] L 12-46 v Eels (A). [WG]
[View] Round 19 [16 Jul 06] L 16-24 v Storm (H). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 20 [22 Jul 06] W 24-18 v Rabbitohs (H). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 21 [28 Jul 06] W 22-18 v Sharks (A). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 22 [06 Aug 06] W 32-18 v Roosters (A). [WG]
[View] Round 23 [11 Aug 06] L 14-16 v Sea Eagles (H). [WG]
[View] Round 24 [19 Aug 06] W 19-12 v Cowboys (A). [WG]
[View] Round 25 [26 Aug 06] W 40-4 v Panthers (H). [WG]
[View] Finals Week One [08 Sep 06] W 25-18 v Sea Eagles (H). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t (80th)
[View] Finals Week Two [16 Sep 06] L 6-50 v Broncos (H). [WG]
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2005 Tri-Nations Test Series
Great Britain Lions
4 games; 3 tries, 12 points.
[View] Tri-Nations Match 3 [29 Oct 05] L 26-42 v New Zealand (H). [WG]
[View] Tri-Nations Match 4 [05 Nov 05] L 6-20 v Australia (H). [WG]
[View] Tri-Nations Match 5 [12 Nov 05] W 38-12 v New Zealand (H). [WG] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Tri-Nations Match 6 [19 Nov 05] L 14-26 v Australia (H). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
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2005 English Super League
Wigan Warriors
15 games; 5 tries, 1 goals, 22 points.
[View] Round 6 [18 Mar 05] W 62-6 v Leigh (H). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 12 [29 Apr 05] W 23-22 v Widnes (H). [WG] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 13 [15 May 05] L 22-28 v Warrington (A). [WG]
[View] Round 14 [20 May 05] L 24-26 v Huddersfield (H). [WG]
[View] Round 15 [30 May 05] W 34-20 v Salford (A). [WG]
[View] Round 16 [03 Jun 05] L 18-22 v London (H). [WG]
[View] Round 17 [10 Jun 05] L 24-28 v Hull (H). [WG]
[View] Round 18 [18 Jun 05] L 0-70 v Rhinos (A). [WG]
[View] Round 19 [01 Jul 05] W 30-22 v Leigh (A). [WG]
[View] Round 23 [05 Aug 05] W 40-12 v Salford (H). [WG] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 24 [14 Aug 05] W 48-24 v Widnes (A). [WG]
[View] Round 25 [21 Aug 05] W 28-24 v Hull (A). [WG]
[View] Round 26 [02 Sep 05] W 24-22 v Rhinos (H). [WG]
[View] Round 27 [09 Sep 05] L 12-38 v St Helens (H). [WG]
[View] Round 28 [18 Sep 05] W 36-22 v Huddersfield (A). [WG] 6 Pts; 1t, 1g
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Carney, Brian
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