Storm, Eels to clash in Ballina NRL trial
Can the Parramatta Eels this year finally give outgoing coach Brian Smith the premiership that has eluded him in seven years at the club? Local rugby league fans will be given some indication when the Eels and Melbourne Storm meet in a pre-season NRL trial at Ballina Seagulls home ground, Kingsford Smith Park, on February 11.
Smith is in his last season with Parramatta and will be replaced by Newcastle Knights coach Michael Hagan for season 2007. Ironically, Hagan’s Knights upset the Eels in the 2001 grand final.
And in another twist, Smith will be coaching against the team that upset his other premiership hope, St George, in the 1999 grand final.
The Storm will take to the field at Ballina trialling a new captaincy rotation system, which was used to great effect by the AFL premiers, Sydney Swans, last season. “At this stage we are looking at not having a traditional captain,” coach Craig Bellamy said. “We are looking to use a rotation policy, a bit like the Swans did towards the end of last year. We have a very young group here at the moment and we just thought it would be good to spread the leadership a bit wider than just one person.”
The Ballina trial will be a big day of league, starting with an Under-16s game between the North Coast Academy of Sport team against Keebra Park High School from the Gold Coast.
The Under-18s match also will feature the North Coast Academy against Keebra Park, followed by a Queensland Cup trial between Tweed Seagulls and the Brisbane Easts club. The Storm and the Eels clash will kick-off at 5.45pm.
Coaching clinics have been arranged for Friday, February 10, at Kingsford Smith Park, from 4.30pm until 6.30pm.
Tickets:
Cost: $18 for adults, $8 for children.
Where to get them: Westlawn Finance, Ballina; Ballina Seagulls clubhouse; Tweed Seagulls clubhouse.
Links:
January 28th, 2006 at 2:51 pm
[...] Ticket sales: [...]
January 29th, 2006 at 12:56 pm
[...] Ticket sales: [...]