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AMNRL SEASON ELEVEN KICKS OFF
NORTHERN RAIDERS
2007 record: 1 - 7 Coach: J Venables Captains : Tim Lawrence, Tim Gallagher Players to watch : Along with our past top guns we have been able to pick-up transfer union player stand outs such as Colligate All-star and past developmental Tomahawk John Chewens. We will also be looking to Chris Ray, Matt Reilly, Mike Zieler, Patrick Mitchell and big hitter Chris Cantiello. Summary: Raiders are expanding all over New York and look to have a strong year . They are excited to have a new assistant GM Tim Lawrence. The Raiders are taking aim at the play-offs and turning heads this year.
Aston Bulls
2007 record: 7 – 2 Grand Final Runners up Coach: Marcus Vassilakopoulos Captain: Greg Stellutti Players to watch: Liam Mulhall/Jeff Ashton Summary: The Bulls are looking to bounce back from 2007 Championship loss to Wildcats. They have added some youth and experience to the team as well as recruiting from overseas. The Bulls are looking to this mix of youth and experience to bring the Cup back in 2008.
PHILADELPHIA FIGHT RUGBY LEAGUE CLUB
2007 Record: 1 win from 8 starts. Coach: Peter Illfield. ARL NCAS Level III Captain(s): Alan Chmielewski. Players to Watch: Brad Kielinski (Back-row Forward), Ryan Quay (Prop), Andrew Tully (2nd-row/centre), Christopher Pettine (Hooker, Prop, 2nd-row). Brief summary of what to look for in 2008. The Philadelphia Fight has began a resurgence for the 2008 AMNRL season by establishing a LLC, Board of Directors & securing one of the best playing fields at Farrell Stadium, West Chester University. The playing roster has been bolstered by a mix of experience & youth. Numbers attending practice have been very encouraging. The Fight should hold their own this year with a few to becoming a major force in the AMNRL in the not too distant future.
Fairfax Eagles Rugby League Club, Inc.
Location: Fairfax, Virginia Year Club Established: 2007 2007 record: N/A Inaugural Season Coach: Tom Reed Captain: Jordan Barber Players to Watch: Mike Zelinski, Jordan Barber, and Naysan Eshraghi are guys to keep an eye on. 2008 Preview: The Eagles have recruited hard during the off-season and should have a nice blend of youth and experience in their squad. However, with the majority of the squad new to rugby league it may take a few games to get them up to speed. As an expansion team the club's goal this year is to solidify the playing squad and to lay the foundations for playoff runs in 09 and beyond. A .500 record would be a great start for the club, but with tough match-ups against the Slayers, Bulls, Sharks, Fight, and the Northern Raiders, it's not going to come easy.
Bucks County Sharks
2007 Record: 7-3 Coach: Joe Grohovs Captain(s): Phil Shipos Players to Watch: Justin Zadnik, Zac Padgett, Dave Frotobaggins, Christ Proctor, Vaisa Korisetta Brief summary of what to look for in 2008 : The Sharks look to get over the hump in 2008. Perennial semi-finalists, the BC Sharks have not played in a Grand Final since 1999. With the additions of Dave Frotobaggins (England) and Chris Proctor (Australia), the Sharks are looking for a great campaign this season. Veteran players Zac Padgett, Justin Zadnik, Sal Raniello, Steve Thompson, and skipper Phil Shipos will be providing leadership to a roster that is 30 deep and consists of quite a few new League players. Speedsters Ryan Sadano, Vaisa Korisetta, and Tormey, provide a threat out wide from anywhere on the field. Froto and Proctor will be directing the boys around the paddock from the halves. In the pack, workhorses Zadnik and Padgett will once again be depended on for the tough yards. Defensive prowess Dan McGovern will be big in defense and first year Shark coach Joe Grohovs will be getting his feet wet in Levittown. The Sharks schedule is tough once again having to play both of last year's Grand Finalists (Bulls and Cats) as well as Jacksonville on the road. If they can can stick to their game plan and evade injury, look for the club to once again be a threat come playoff time.
NEW HAVEN WARRIORS
2007 Record: SEMI FINALISTS Coach: MATT DOEG Captain(s): SIOSE MULIUMU Players to Watch: SIOSE MULIUMU, CHAD EAGLE, KEITH NELSON, EWAN ROBINSON Brief summary of what to look for in 2008. The New Haven Warriors prepare for the third consecutive season with the AMNRL. After being knocked out by their state rivals the Connecticut Wildcats in a tough semi final at the Castle in New York City, they prepare to meet the Cats in their first match of the 2008 season at home in New Haven on June 7 at 2pm. The Warriors will be naming their full squad one week prior to the first match, but the players to watch out for this season are: Siose Muliumu - one of the club founders and awarded two time MVP, Chad Eagle - former Bristol and London Irish Rugby Union lock, Keith Nelson � awarded 2007 rookie and best defender, and Ewan Robinson - awarded 2007 best forward. Since their debut in the AMNRL Competition, the Warriors have lacked basic structure and cohesion around the play the ball and 5/8 areas. After much deliberation during the winter months the Warriors management have focused their recruitment efforts on filling this void, and have produced Matt Doeg who will coach the Warriors for 2008 and will run at hooker, and Luke Carr at 5/8. Luke competed alongside the Warriors MVP Siose Muliumu in the Jim Beam Cup in Sydney for Wentworth RLFC.
Jacksonville Axemen
2007 Record: 4 - 5 Coach: Spinner Howland Captain(s): TBD Players to Watch: We have secured 2 Australian Import players for our 2008 campaign. Shaun Murray Brent Shorten
Washington DC Slayers
2007 Record: The Dc Slayers were knocked out in round 1 of the playoffs vs. Buck's County Sharks. Coach: Martin O'Donohue Captain(s): TBD Players to Watch: John Young, Slayers last year's 'rookie of the year'. Is a dangerous counter-attacker with the speed to score from anywhere on the field. Maoa Laumoli, Slayers forward with pace and power is a frequent line-breaker and the spearhead of the Slayers attack. The Slayers have a lot of athletes out this year some old and new players. Jaron Mclaurin, Robert Hilliard, Tony Munnings, Ac Carter, Herdley Harrison, Justin Ingram, Asa Jearld, Josh Williamson. Brief summary of what to look for in 2008: In the past the Slayers have relied on the attacking talent of a few key players. This season will show how much player development has been happening in the club as younger players step up to the plate to take prominent roles within a more team-oriented strategy. The Slayers plan on adding more tactical offence and a smash mouth defense which will make the Slayers a top-tier AMNRL team in 2008 season and into the future. With Martin O'Donohue back at the coaching reins this is what the Slayers are anticipating.
New York Knights
2007 Record: 5 – 1 -3 Coach: Guil Cieutat Captain(s): Gareth Baxendale Players to Watch: BacksTom Scheinzbach, Jeremy Kosbob, forwards Matt Astill, Ryan Mulligan, Joe Hughes, JC Rocha and Kurk Miller. Brief summary of what to look for in 2008: The New York Knights expect to have plenty of success on the field in 2008. This season, the club will continue to prioritize its efforts towards young American talents development and will only recruit 2 foreign players from France and Australia. Head coach Guil Cieutat has strong belief that the young generation of Knights' players will reach maturity in their game in 08. Pre-season has been extremely productive and all players showed strong dedication and constant improvement. Senior players like captain Gareth Baxendale, centers Tom Scheinzbach and Jeremy Kosbob, forwards Matt Astill, Ryan Mulligan, Joe Hughes, JC Rocha and Kurk Miller will lead by example and show the right way to go to emerging talents like Angel Rodriguez, Bill Ezzo, Michael Bird, Steve Gowa, Danny McDermott and few others good surprises. Go the Knights in 08!
Connecticut Wildcats
2007 Record: 9 -0 Coach: Rich Portale Captain(s): TBD Players to Watch: Danny Bull, Gareth Gibbs, Curtis Cunz and Nick Isbrandtsen
WILDCATS SEASON PREVIEW By Mike Lee
Once bitten twice shy was the motto of the AMNRL teams for the 2007 season, as the Wildcats pounced and captured a 2 nd consecutive title in dominant fashion. Teams knew what to expect but were unable to stop it as the likes of Damien O’Malveney, Nick Isbrandtsen, Danny Bull and Ben Kelly led a Connecticut juggernaut into Jacksonville and left with an often evasive perfect season. The year had many highlights, probably the most pleasing was the USA selections of Wildcats, Will Brazier, Curtis Cunz, Nick Isbrandtsen and Ben Kelly the later three all playing the World Cup qualifier against Samoa. With the emergence of so many young guns in 2007, we say goodbye to Wildcats founder and AMNRL stalwart Rich Portale. Rich has played for and won premierships with the New York Knights, 3 with the Wildcats and been a regular in Tomahawk lineups since the 90’s. He will stay on at the club in his CEO capacity and help drive the Cats off the field as well as he did so on it. With all that behind us we look forward to the 2008 season, and what shapes as the most contested AMNRL season to date.
The Cats first big move of 2008 was the announcement of Co-Coaches in Wildcats favorite, The Illusionist - Damien O’Malveney and Dan Power. According to Portale, “This will be the first time that the Cats have had stability in this position, with both players being full time residents in the area. They have a tough road ahead, but they have our full confidence.”
On the player front the Cats will rely heavily on local talent again with only 1 player signed for 2008 not currently living full time in the US. Scott “Manny” Genninges, formerly of the Storm system and North’s in Melbourne, is the Cats sole import and should mesh nicely with O’Malveney and Power. Coach Dan Power is excited about being reunited with his old mate, Scotty, but even more so with the American talent, “We are in a position now where we look at our born and bred American players to lead the team, Brazier, Isbrandtsen, Cunz and co need to take on leadership roles this year and not worry about Joe Blow from Australia doing all the work, these guys stood up and faced a world class side in Samoa and didn’t look out of place at all, this is a huge year for them.” The Cats season kicks off on June 7 th as the take on the New Haven Warriors in New Haven.
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