Meninga backs JT to take No.6

QUEENSLAND coach Mal Meninga has annointed Johnathon Thurston as the man to fill Darren Lockyer’s shoes in the famous Maroons No.6 jersey.

Meninga joined forces yesterday with State-of-Origin rival Ricky Stuart in a round of golf at the Horton Park course in Maroochydore, as part of an auction prize from a 2011 fundraiser at the Alexandra Headland surf club for the Compass Institute.

Speculation has been rife for months since Thurston expressed a desire to move to five-eighth that he and Melbourne Storm halfback Cooper Cronk would be the halves pairing for this year’s series.

Despite pundits such as Maroons legend Wally Lewis saying he would leave Thurston at half-back and find a replacement five-eighth, Meninga said it was logical to move the Cowboys playmaker given he would be playing No.6 for his club.

“Thurston will play six. I’d be silly not to play him there,” Meninga said.

“And Cooper definitely has the inside running for the seven.”

While Thurston and Cronk are the first option, Meninga said the Maroons had plenty of back-up through players such as Daly Cherry-Evans and Chris Sandow if something went wrong.

One player who will not be involved as the Maroons shoot for a seventh consecutive series win is Parramatta centre Esi Tonga, paying the price for missing curfew and the final day of an emerging players training camp in Brisbane last weekend.

Meninga said he had discussed the situation with Tonga this week and everyone had moved on.

“He admitted it and it’s been dealt with,” Meninga said.

“He’s out of the emerging players squad, but we haven’t put a time limit on that.

“I’ve spoken to (Parramatta coach) Stephen Kearney and they’ve dealt with it as well. Esi has been training well at Parra and everyone hopes he has a good season and takes advantage of his opportunities.”

NSW coach Stuart said people should not read anything into the fact the Blues had 23 players in their emerging Origin squad, while Queensland had just 14 (13 without Tonga).

“Last year we had 40,” Stuart said.

“We’re just looking at the amount of people we need to expose to what Origin is about.”

2011 ‘Meninga backs JT to take No.6’, Sunshine Coast Daily, 4th February

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2012/02/04/meninga-says-jts-the-man-for-no6-meninga-backs-jt-/

Mal & Ricky tee off for the disabled at the Horton Park day

MAL Meninga and Ricky Stuart might be fierce rivals during the annual rugby league State-of-Origin series as coaches of Queensland and New South Wales.

But yesterday they joined forces at the Horton Park Golf Club to support the Compass Institute which provides life skills and work opportunities for people with disabilities.

Stuart, who took over as Blues coach last year, only to lead the team to its sixth consecutive series loss, said he was hoping to get one back over his former Canberra Raiders teammate on the golf course.

He also said he had been thrilled with the response to stories last weekend when he revealed publicly for the first time that his 14-year-old daughter Emma had been diagnosed with autism.

He has also launched the Ricky Stuart Foundation to raise money and awareness of autism.

“I’ve had a lot of calls and emails. A lot of people are in even more difficult situations than we are,” Stuart said. “The kids are defenceless and there’s not a lot of support for the families. I’m really happy I can help.”

The golf day was a dream come true for 20-year-old Elliott Tyrell, whose father Darcy bought the item at an auction held at the Alex Surf Club last year to raise money for Compass and the Alex nippers.

Elliott, a rugby league tragic, was in seventh heaven after shaking Meninga’s hand.

“I’m not going to wash my hand,” Elliott said.

2011 ‘Mal & Ricky tee off for the disabled at the Horton Park day’, Sunshine Coast Daily, 4th February

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2012/02/04/mal-and-ricky-tee-off-for-the-disabled-at-horton-p/

Here’s your sneak peak at the 20^th Anniversary Demonstration DVD:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyOKS0GtI3s

The DVD’s are now available to order in both DVD & Blue Ray!

DVD – $20
Blue Ray – $25

You can place your orders with me, and Shane will have your DVD ready for you in January.

Have a great Christmas and a wonderful New Year!

Sunshine Coast Turf Club – 170 Pierce Avenue Caloundra, QLD 4551

No longer is racing a sport only for those ‘in the know’. It is a sport which creates an exciting social environment, a place where people from all walks of life can enjoy a day of fun.

Booking a table of 10 – $900 + gst.

Table of Ten includes dinner & beverage package  in the Champagne Garden. For information on the table of 10, please click here. To book please call Bianca at Coast Life Homes on 1300 307 004 or email info@coastlifehomes.com.au.

Booking a sponsorship table – $1500 + gst

Sponsorship table includes dinner & beverage package  in the Champagne Garden, PLUS the exclusive rights to one race on a Sunshine Coast Turf Club racing program. When you consider what this same money will buy in terms of newspaper or radio advertising, the value for money is very good. It is an amazing promotional oppotunity!

For information on the sponsorship table, please click here.

The tables for ten include a three course meal, all you can drink, live music and a great night at the races. In addition to endless opportunities for banners and promotions around the course, for sponsors there’s Race naming rights to one of the seven races meaning national TV exposure on Sky TV, full page ad in the race guide, photos presenting a trophy to the winning horse and connections, VIP car allocation and much more.

All funds raised are going towards much needed repairs and renovations at the Compass Caloundra centre.

To book please call Bianca at Coast Life Homes on 1300 307 004 or email info@coastlifehomes.com.au.

Just a reminder that the staff will be in training on Monday 30th & Tuesday 31st January. We look forward to seeing everyone back at Compass on Wednesday 1st February.

Thank you

The weather bureau has forecast further rain and localised flooding tonight and tomorrow. We request, if possible, that all families keep trainees at home tomorrow (Wednesday 25^th January) to avoid driving through any dangerous conditions.

Staff who are able to access the centres will be available for supervision. However, it is difficult to determine how many staff will be affected. If you are in any way uncertain, please contact centre your manager.

Thank you for support,

The Compass Team

The Christmas Market included the Movember Shave-Off. Several of our trainees and staff participated in Movember again this year, raising much needed funds for mens’ health. Congratulations to Joel who raised $400 for Movember!!!!

A big thank you to the sponsors, Crowne Plaza and Mask Events, the special guests and our fantastic trainees, staff and families for making the night such a huge success.
Can’t wait until next year’s Awards Night !!