28th September 2009 Rugby Leaguer & League Express a71 www.totalrl.com 7
ELIMA TO CAPTAIN FRANCE
By RICHARD de la RIVIERE at the forefront of French Rugby
Myler will
League for the last ten years."
OLIVIER Elima has been named
Goulding, meanwhile, will find out
ease the
by coach Bobbie Goulding as the
this week whether the Dragons trio -
new captain of France ahead of
Clint Greenshields, Casey McGuire
pressure
the forthcoming Four Nations
and Adam Mogg - will be eligible to
tournament
play for France in the tournament.
.
The three hope to qualify by
The vice-captain will be Jean-
satisfying residential criteria, but must
Philippe Baile, the Catalans centre.
prove to the Rugby League
Elima takes over the captaincy from
International Federation that they first
Jerome Guisset, who has decided to
arrived in France three years ago. The
end his international career with
four Nations begins in October, but it is
immediate effect.
believed that the players moved to
"Olivier has had a fantastic season
France in November 2006.
and will be an excellent leader," said
"We'll have the decision from the
Goulding.
Rugby League International Federation
"He's scored 17 tries already this
later this week," Goulding said.
season, and that's a great tally for a big
"It's been a bit frustrating having to
forward.
wait this long, and, if the Dragons
"He's got the respect of all the
hadn't got to the play-offs, the lads
players - not just his team-mates, but
might have gone back to Australia by
Dalle Cort to
everyone who plays against him. He
now."
talks well and conducts himself
Tas Baitieri, from the RLIF said: appeal against
superbly. I'm delighted that he will be
"We'd all like to see a competitive
leading France in the Four Nations. France, but there are a few things to
expulsion after
"I'm very surprised he didn't make take into consideration."
the 'Man of Steel' shortlist, because his Goulding has added Stuart
performances warrant it. Wilkinson, who works for Widnes
Italian selection
"But, sadly, Jerome has told me that Vikings, to his coaching staff.
he doesn't want to be part of the squad. "Stuart's worked at some big clubs By RICHARD de la RIVIERE
I'm upset about it, but I'd like to thank like Leeds and Wigan, and he'll bring a
him for everything he's done - he's been lot to the table," said Goulding. MARK Dalle Cort has told
'League Express' that he will
By RICHARD de la RIVIERE
appeal the UK Border
Agency's decision that saw
WARRINGTON's Michael
him deported from the UK
Monaghan has welcomed the
Graham proud to be nominated again
earlier this month.
signing of England scrum-half
Dalle Cort was one of six Celtic
Richard Myler, and predicted
By RICHARD de la RIVIERE the season," said Graham. "A lot of other players could have
Crusaders players who were found
that Wolves coach Tony Smith
"It's all about the team, but it's still been nominated in front of me - like
to have been playing prior to this
will be able to rotate his JAMES Graham, the reigning
very pleasing to hear you're on the list. Michael Dobson at Hull KR, Matt
year on incorrect visas for the
ballplayers next season. Super League Man of Steel, has
"But, of course, the only thing I'm Gidley and even Jamie Peacock.
Welsh side. Even though they had
The signing of Myler should see described it as an 'honour' to be
thinking about is winning the Super "I'm sure it will be pretty close."
the right visas this season, the
Monaghan move to hooker after a
League trophy with St Helens." Graham, meanwhile, is looking
shortlisted for the prestigious
players have been banned from
successful switch there from
Graham paid tribute to Morley and forward to locking horns with Wigan in
award once again.
returning to the UK for ten years.
scrum-half this season.
Hodgson, and admitted that other Saturday's play-off semi-final.
Graham's fellow Super League
"I'm definitely going to appeal,"
Asked if he expects to line up in
players could have figured on the "I was at the reserve-grade final
players have voted him alongside the
he said.
the scrum next season, Monaghan
shortlist ahead of him. when I heard that we've got Wigan, but
captains of Warrington and
"Whether I appeal the ten-year
replied: "I'd say so - Smith seems
"Brett Hodgson's been outstanding - that wasn't too much of a surprise, " he
Huddersfield - Adrian Morley and
ban, I'm not sure. I'll have to talk to
pretty keen on that, but he's also
he's taken them to the next level," he said, in reference to Leeds choosing to
Brett Hodgson - as the top three players
a few people first. But I'll definitely
aware that [Lee] Briersy's getting
said. play the Catalans.
in the competition.
be appealing.
on a bit, and it'd be nice for him to
"He was fantastic in the Cup semi- "It's going to be massive. I've played
"There's no reason not to. I've got
get a rest in some games.
The winner will be unveiled next final. them quite a lot, but not in an occasion
nothing to lose."
"Richie's young, so you probably
Monday evening in Manchester. "Adrian Morley has led from the like this.
Dalle Cort, who has been named
don't want to play him for a full
"It's a real honour to be shortlisted front for Warrington, and he was "A whole year's work is on the line in
in Italy's European Cup squad, is
season either, so it's good to have
again, even though it's not something instrumental in their Cup win. He's one derby, so it's going to be pretty
looking to secure a contract with an
some options.
any player sets out to win at the start of been the dominant player in their pack. special."
Australian club.
"There's Richie, Lee, myself,
Mickey Higham and Jon Clarke, so
there'll definitely be some rotating
next year.
Halley rejects Welsh call
England squads." will just have to get used to this
But Halley believes that if the Rugby structure."
Football League hadn't scrapped the Halley's team-mates Chris Nero and
"It's an exciting signing, and so is
Great Britain team in favour of Jamie Langley, meanwhile, hope to be
that of Ryan Atkins [the Wakefield
By RICHARD de la RIVIERE England coach Tony Smith called for England, then he - and others - could be fit for the start of the 2010 season after
centre] - two young players who
players to be able to switch between lining up in this year's European Cup. undergoing shoulder surgery.
have already played for England.
nations, as long as they were "A lot of players aren't too happy "I held off as long as I could," said
They'll bring some youth, and
DAVE Halley won't consider
with this," he said. Nero.
they'll learn a lot from some of the
turning out for Wales in this
competing as different international
experienced players here. year's rugbyleague.com
levels - as England and Wales will this "Realistically - and no disrespect to "It went down to the wire to see if we
"Hopefully they can help push us
year. Wales - they aren't going to get too could make the play-offs, but as soon
European Cup, after being
to the next level, and help us be
"I haven't thought too much about many opportunities to play against as the season ended I decided to go in
overlooked for England selection.
more consistent."
this year," said Halley. New Zealand and Australia, so that was for surgery.
Halley switched his international
James Lowes, Smith's assistant,
"I made the decision in June, and the reason behind my decision. "Fingers crossed I'll be well enough
will be staying with the club after
allegiance in June, citing a desire to
realistically didn't think about playing "If the Great Britain option was still to start the season."
agreeing a one-year extended
compete at the highest international
for England this year. It's probably too there, then people wouldn't be having
contract.
level as his primary reason. soon. to choose. Danny Brough did the same
Richard Marshall continues in
But the Bradford player of the year "As for playing for Wales in the thing [making himself available for
his role as reserve-team coach, and
pointed out that it was a decision taken meantime; I'm not sure. I couldn't see England rather than Scotland] that I
will assist Smith and Lowes with
for the future, not necessarily the myself doing it. I've made my decision did, and it's understandable.
first-team matters.
present. now, and I'm not going to use Wales to "But it looks like Great Britain has
In last week's 'League Express', fall back on if I don't make future gone for the foreseeable future, so we
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