Brad FITTLER [
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Wed June 15, 2011
by Matthew O'Neill
South Wales Scorpions Rugby League Club have invited Australian Rugby League legend Brad Fittler to a game after his comments on Australia's "Footy Show" where he believed Swansea City was in Scotland.
The remark was made to Fulham and Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer who was a guest on the show.
In last week's edition of the Australian Rugby League chat show, which is presented in a similar style to S4C's "Jonathan", Fittler said: "For the first time ever a Scottish team is in there next year isn't it? There's a team that's come up, three teams come up?"
After Schwarzer pointed out that Swansea City was in Wales, Fittler was congratulated on his research from host Paul Vautin before the chat moved on. At the end of the show a speech bubble saying "Where's Wales?" was printed above Fittler's head, and that's something that he should know as he actually played a Rugby League match in Wales back in 1994 when the Welsh faced Australia at the old Ninian Park ground in Cardiff.
Now South Wales Scorpions, whose home ground is in Neath, less than 8 miles (around 12km) from the Liberty Stadium where Premier League football will be played in Wales for the first time ever from this August, have offered to show Fittler around the area if he's able to make it to a Scorpions match.
"We did have a bit of a laugh when we saw that comment," said Scorpions' chairman Phil Davies. "A lot of our players are big fans of The Footy Show. We get it sent over from Australia and we watch it on the bus on our long journeys to away matches.
"If Brad is in Wales, he will be very welcome at a South Wales Scorpions match. We play most of our home games just a few minutes away from Swansea City's ground and we can show him around there too. We'll also let him know a few differences between Wales and Scotland too if he wants."
South Wales Scorpions are only in their second season as a club. They play in the Co-operative Championship 1 league and reached the play-offs in their very first season, fielding 15 players who went on to play for Wales. They have also helped to develop young stars for Super League's Crusaders while one of their few overseas players last year was Liam Roach, son of the famous former Australian international prop Steve "Blocker" Roach.
"We're building all the time as a club," Davies added. "We did well to reach the play-offs last year but we've found this season a bit tougher. The teams all know who we are now and which players to watch out for. But we've eight games left, four at home and we're going to do our best to make a push for the play-offs again this year."
South Wales Scorpions' next game is away from Neath. They have a final game on the road in Caerphilly on Sunday 26th June where they host Keighley Cougars. Kick-off is 3pm and tickets can be bought by going to www.scorpionsrl.com.
Thu August 5, 2010
Source: www.sydneyroosters.com.auThe Sydney Roosters have tonight inducted Dally Messenger, Dave Brown, Jack Gibson, Arthur Beetson and Brad Fittler into the inaugural Hall of Fame, held at the SCG.
The five inductees all represent great era's of the Eastern Suburbs club and have had a major influence over the game of rugby league.
Messenger, player number 18, was rugby league's first 'star player' and seen by many as the catalyst for the establishment of rugby league, controversially converting from rugby union.
Between 1908 and 1913 he played 48 games for Easts and seven tests for Australia. He was a powerful runner of the ball, a solid defender and could kick goals from anywhere on the field.
His team mate Dan Frawley once said of Messenger, "Nobody but Dally ever knew what was going to happen when he got the ball. His team mates were often as mystified as the opposition."
His grandson, Cameron Messenger, was present on the night to accept the prestigious honour for his grandfather.
Brown, player number 202, is well known as one of Easts most prolific point scorers and is referred to as the 'Bradman of League'. He played 94 games for the tri colours between 1930 and 1931 and coached the Club on 84 occasions.
In 1935, when Easts won the premiership and lost only one game he scored 38 tries, a record that still stands today. He was the youngest player to captain Australia, at only 22 years old.
After debuting for Easts in 1930, Brown suffered from a rare illness and in 1931 lost all his hair. He donned a leather headgear that became his trademark and dominated rugby league both for the Roosters and for Australia.
His sister, Betty Buck, was present on the night to accept the award.
Jack Gibson, player number 418, is renowned as the most legendary coach in modern rugby league and took Easts to two premiership in 1974 and 1975, while also making his first grade debut for the tri colours in 1953 and earning a reputation for being a tough and uncompromising forward.
He played 123 games for Easts between 1953 and 1961 before making the switch to coaching in 1967. That year he took Easts to the finals after the club didn't record a win in 1966.
In 1974 and 1975 he took what is remembered as one of the best ever Easts teams to consecutive premierships. He introduced a number of new coaching techniques and applications including video previews, skin fold testing, introducing the use of weights machines and creating an overall program of rehabilitation and fitness conditioning, now referred to as a high performance unit.
In 1988 Gibson received an Order of Australia Medal for his contribution to rugby league.
Arthur Beetson, player number 615, is one of rugby league's seven immortals and is often referred to as the best prop Australia has ever seen. He is also one of rugby leagues most well respected and liked characters.
Beetson played 131 games for Easts between 1971 and 1978, captaining the 1974 and 1975 premiership winning teams, and coached the club between 1985 and 1988, earning the 'Coach of the Year' award in 1987.
In 2003 he was inducted into the Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame. In 2008, in rugby league's Centenary year, Beetson was awarded the Clive Churchill Medal, for the best player on the field, for the 1974 Grand Final, as well as being named in rugby league's Team of the Century, QLD's Team of the Century and the Indigenous Team of the Century.
Jack Gibson once said of Arthur Beetson, "He could do it all on the football field and he could sell tickets. He was an entertainer and a great player."
Brad Fittler, player number 948, is one of modern rugby league's greatest players.
He joined the Roosters in 1996 after debuting for Penrith in 1989. He played nine seasons for the Club, missing only 24 games in that time. He captained the Roosters to a premiership victory in 2002 as well as grand finals in 2000, 2003 and 2004.
Between 1996 and 2004 Fittler played 217 games, and with a total of 409 games played (both club and representative), a record that still stands today. He is also the youngest player to ever debut for NSW, at 18 years and 114 days.
He was appointed interim coach in late 2007 after the resignation of Chris Anderson and was given the job full time for the 2008 and 2009 seasons. In 2008 he took the Sydney Roosters to fourth place and into the finals series, coaching the club for a total of 58 games.
The night was attended by over 450 guests and VIP's, including members of the 1975 premiership winning team.
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 2004 NRL Telstra Premiership
Sydney Roosters
2 games; 1 tries, 4 points.
[View] Round 1 [14 Mar 04] W 26-16 v Rabbitohs (H). [F8]
[View] Round 2 [20 Mar 04] W 42-20 v Sea Eagles (A). [F8] 4 Pts; 1t
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Fittler, Brad
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