NRL clubs get back to business

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NRL clubs get back to business

SHARKS START TRAINING RUNS
Most of Cronulla's recruits trained for the first time with their new club yesterday. Luke Lewis, Michael Gordon, Beau Ryan and Chris Heighington all took part in a session under the club's new physical performance manager David Boyle. Jonathan Wright, who played in the grand final for the Bulldogs, will start training at a later date, as will captain Paul Gallen, who was married at the weekend. Five-eighth Todd Carney, who had surgery on an Achilles tendon in September, completed light rehabilitation work, even though he is still wearing a protective boot. Prop Bryce Gibbs also did limited work due to a shoulder injury.

NEW BOYS WITH FAMILIAR FACES
All that was old was new again as the Brisbane Broncos returned to training early on Monday, with former players Scott Prince and David Stagg the only new faces in Anthony Griffin’s squad. Prince spent two years at Red Hill from 2001-03 before heading to the Tigers and then the Titans, where he left last week in a haze of confusion. Stagg was without a contract for next year before the Broncos moved for him. Prince said he was baffled by some of the messages coming from the Titans. ‘‘ It was a bit confusing,’’ he said. ‘‘But we saw the light and had the opportunity to join the Broncos.’’

PRICE REVEALS DRAGONS SPOTS
Coach Steve Price revealed the Dragons are still in the market for a back-rower and an outside back as the team returned to training. Among them were new recruits Gerard Beale, Tyson Frizell and Michael Henderson. Beale said Kiwis teammates Nathan Fien and Jason Nightingale had convinced him to join the Dragons, but he had also been swayed by the chance to play fullback in the same team as his childhood hero Matt Cooper. Frizell revealed Wales had wanted him to play in last weekend’s Test against England but the former Australian schoolboys rugby union representative opted to make training with his new club a priority.

ROOSTERS PUT THROUGH PACES
Sonny Bill Williams was the only member of the Roosters’ 2013 playing roster not in attendance for a tough first-up workout under new coach Trent Robinson at Leichhardt Oval. The session was closed to all but the players and Robinson’s coaching staff but Jared Waerea-Hargreaves left no doubt how tough the session had been when he tweeted: ‘‘One hell of a welcome back from our new coaches.’’ Williams visited Roosters headquarters at Moore Park for physiotherapy after undergoing surgery last Wednesday to repair a torn pectoral muscle. He had his arm in a sling.

CARMONT NOT YET A WARRIOR
Former Newcastle and Wigan centre George Carmont joined the Warriors players for a session but is yet to commit to playing, after announcing his retirement at the end of the Super League season. Carmont phoned new Warriors coach Matthew Elliott on Sunday night to ask if he could test himself for two weeks before deciding. Thomas Leuluai and Dominique Peyroux were the other new faces in attendance, with Dane Nielsen and Todd Lowrie given extra time off after Melbourne’s grand final win. The Warriors are waiting to learn if Canberra assistant coach Andrew McFadden will join Ricky Henry as Elliott’s deputies.

BIG BROTHERS TAKE BACK SEAT
Sam and Luke Burgess were missing from day one of South Sydney’s pre-season, but their younger brother Tom took part in his first training session for the club. Other notable absentees from testing on Monday were fullback Greg Inglis, hooker Issac Luke — who both played in the October Test match — and new signing Jeff Lima. With the older Burgess brothers absent — Sam after knee surgery and Luke as a result of England commitments — Tom, the club’s latest signing, and his twin George maintained the Burgess influence. They were joined by high-profile recruit, ex-Brisbane forward Ben Te’o.

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