A-League season ends as Newcastle crowned Champions

[Theknightsrule7]

With one round left, 4 teams are fighting for number one spot. Discuss it all here.

For some really weird reason I've only seen the away games on sunday arvo/ sunday night, I've been watching the games at united sports club adamstown

[Bedsey_is_the_best]

I thought there was already an a-league thread :-k

[Theknightsrule7]

Im goin 2moz night, should be a good game, i have a season pass in bay 3

[knight-no-7]

Its amazing how all top 4 teams are tied equally. GO SYD FC!

[bigdan]

Up the mighty Jets! :D I'm hoping for a top 2 spot.

[Theknightsrule7]

Yeah it is, i think the jets playing on the friday is good because they will be out to set a score not try & chase a score

[Henno]

The problem is that when your setting a score you can sometimes try to hard and then end up losing.....

[Jekk]

I hope its not POURING down tomorrow night like it has been alllllllllllll day long!!

[Bedsey_is_the_best]

They are predicting to keep raining here till at lest Tuesday so I think you are out of luck jekk

[Jekk]

*kick kick* darn it! I am going to the darn soccer tomorrow and am happy to stand in the rain for the footy but I dunno about soccer lol

[mozza]

there is no way id pay to watch the a league the footy is just so much better imagine paying 20 bucks to see a nil all draw in such a poor quality league

[Theknightsrule7]

Yeah 0-0 draws are really bad, however the jets have only had 1 0-0 draw in the 1st 3 seasons at home & i hope it never happens again

I have a season pass so money is no issue

[Bedsey_is_the_best]

you still have to pay for the season pass lol

[knight-no-7]

Thats the risk you take going to tennis.It could turn our very dull. 0-0 draws are a huge possibiliy.

[-AK-]

Thats the risk you take going to tennis.It could turn our very dull. 0-0 draws are a huge possibiliy.

Have you ever been to tennis? Especially known players... its amazing some of the rallies.

Much better than A-League.

[Bedsey_is_the_best]

Even nil all draws could be exciting though, if there are lots of scoring opportunities

[knight-no-7]

Thats the risk you take going to tennis.It could turn our very dull. 0-0 draws are a huge possibiliy.

Have you ever been to tennis? Especially known players... its amazing some of the rallies.

Much better than A-League.

Nop never been yo the tennis. But would love to. Yea how about the rally that Federer was involved in, which he lost yesterday. That was awesome. It would beat ALeague anyday. Im not that big a fan of soccer anyways.

[Theknightsrule7]

Who cares bout how much a season pass is, i have the money & i am so want my knights pass next week

[jamesgould]

I really hope Wellington win their final match this weekend, they have been a revelation here and great for the game. They don't deserve the spoon, it's been a brilliant year for them.

[Bedsey_is_the_best]

Bridge puts Jets on top

Article from: Daily telegraph

JETS 2 PERTH 1

NEWCASTLE Jets coach Gary van Egmond was a relieved man last night after Olyroos striker Mark Bridge came up with one of his specials to sink 10-man Perth Glory.

Bridge's 64th minute gem got the Jets home 2-1 but they certainly had to overcome the jitters before moving to the top of the A-League table for the first time this season.

Now they must play the waiting game to see what happens to the Central Coast Mariners, Sydney FC and Queensland Roar.

"If we get in the top two we'll give it (championship) a real shake," van Egmond said.

"We'll only get better. We've got Adam Griffiths coming back and we've signed the Korean boy (Song).

"I know there are teams there that don't like to play us and we have some unfinished business from last year."

When Joel Griffiths headed in his 12th goal after 22 minutes - a record for the A-league - it appeared the Jets might run away with it and finally end their hoodoo against the Glory, who had won all four previous matches against Newcastle at EnergyAustralia Stadium.

And that task appeared as though it might be even easier when Glory had Nick Rizzo sent off in the 37th minute for a challenge on Tarek Elrich.

Referee Michael Hester may have been quick to produce the red card, as he was with several yellows he handed out.

But van Egmond's worst fears were realised when Glory came up with an equaliser from a set piece in the dying moments of the first half.

Nikolai Topor-Stanley was on the end of a corner and headed into goal where Jamie Harnwell then headed into the net.

The Jets players seemed frustrated and were turning over possession rather easily before Tory Hearfield provided a defence splitting pass for Bridge to run onto.

Up until that point, Bridge appeared to have his mind elsewhere. But he showed just what he is capable off, heading off the challenge of Hayden Foxe and then hitting the ball with the outside of his right foot for what turned out to be the match winner.

Even after that goal, Newcastle had some shaky moments before the crowd of 16,212 knew their team were safely home and in with a chance of securing the minor title.

"In some ways it was probably more difficult to break them down when they had the 10 men than it was when they had the 11," van Egmond said.

"It was welcome relief that Bridgey scored and maybe we rued a few missed chances early on in the first half that we could have converted and we could have really galloped away with it.

"First and foremost it was important that we won and secured the three points. Would we have liked to have scored more goals? Yes, of course, and put more pressure on the other teams."

NEWCASTLE JETS 2 (J Griffiths 22m, M Bridge 64m) PERTH GLORY 1 (J Harnwell 45m) at EnergyAustralia Stadium, Newcastle. Crowd: 16212. Referee: M Hester.

[knight-no-7]

Good News for Newie. Hope Syd FC can go one better and take the top of the ladder.

[pommieknight]

According to the Jets website, van Egmond was on the coaching staff at Newcastle United in the Premier League but I can't say as I've heard of him. Still, Mrs PK's happy 'cause Kevin Keegan's back at Newcastle United.

I've not kept up to date with the Jets or A-League to be honest. I've seen bits of highlights here and there but that's all. It looks, from BITB's report, that the ref was trying to make some headlines for himself with his cards. Was it a dirty match? Did anyone go and watch? I must say that 16,000 is a pretty good crowd.

[-AK-]

They are close to playing in the semis/finals though. We had 26+ when that occured so we are still up there.

[Bedsey_is_the_best]

Its a good effort from them. I didn't go to the game or anything, just watched the highlights on the news

[bigdan]

I really hope Wellington win their final match this weekend, they have been a revelation here and great for the game. They don't deserve the spoon, it's been a brilliant year for them.

So do Jets fans. ;)

We need Wellington, Melbourne and Adelaide to draw with or beat Central Coast, Sydney and Queensland to make sure we win the minor premiership and get a spot in the Asian Champions League.

[Theknightsrule7]

I went, 11 home games ive made this year on top 12 from the knights, i seem not to miss games

[Jekk]

So I went last night and suprisingly it was pretty good. I must say they get A LOT more excited than rugby fans and sometimes I wondered if they were watching the same game I was the way they were carrying on with shots that weren't that close or anything lol but when we scored it was fantastic and there were people running around in circles and men cuddling each other it was really fun then and I got into the spirit a little. Glad it didn't rain too much but we stayed under cover. All in all a great experience for any sports fan and I would recommend it! :)

[knight-no-7]

JOHN Aloisi's seventh goal of the season, and a late strike from Adam Kwasnik, kept afloat Central Coast's bid for the minor premiership with a 2-0 win over wooden spooners Wellington at a drenched Bluetongue Stadium.

Leaders for all but three rounds of the competition, the Mariners will now be death-riding Sydney FC and Queensland Roar on the final day of the regular season on Sunday, hoping both teams fail to win against Melbourne and Adelaide, respectively, to snatch back the league title which seemed theirs for the keeping only a month ago.

The victory ended a four-match drought for Central Coast and put them above rivals Newcastle on the ladder on goal difference.

[jamesgould]

Blast, poor Wellington! :(

[Bedsey_is_the_best]

Buggar, for the jets

[shamz]

Bloody QLD choked and finished 4th though it's not too bad becuse im going to see them play sydney next week in sydney so that should be good. :) This was my favourite season of the a-league, with everything so close the games just get more and more exciting.

[pommieknight]

The title race is in their own hands though. Two matches against Central Coast. I'd expect 20,000+ at home on Friday.

[Theknightsrule7]

Jets are playing the Mariners on sunday afternoon at 6pm (Energy Australia Stadium)

Its good where playing an afternoon game, the jets seem to play more afternoon games then the knights

[knight-no-7]

Mariners celebrate premiership

January 20, 2008

CENTRAL Coast Mariners have claimed their first A-League minor premiership – and a spot in the Asian Champions League – after a dramatic finale to the regular season.

Frontrunners for all but three rounds of the competition, the Mariners emerged victors in the four-way league title race after Queensland Roar imploded in Adelaide and Sydney FC let slip a winning advantage against the Melbourne Victory.

Four clubs began the final round tied on 31 points, but only Central Coast and Newcastle claimed wins, the Mariners pipping the Jets for the league title by just a single goal on goal difference.

Queensland were in the box seat heading in to the final round with the best for and against of the quartet, but they crashed 2-0 against Adelaide United at Hindmarsh Stadium – with Danny Tiatto sent off – to plummet to fourth place.

Earlier, Sydney FC twice led against Melbourne in front of a league best 33,458-strong crowd at Sydney Football Stadium, but ended up drawing 2-2 to slip from second to third.

The Mariners beat Wellington Phoenix 2-0 at a drenched Bluetongue Stadium on Saturday night to overtake the Jets and put pressure on the Roar and Sydney to win.

Coach Lawrie McKinna and his players were celebrating the title they nearly let slip at a pub in Terrigal on the Central Coast after watching both Roar and Sydney fall at the final hurdle.

"The Sydney game was terrible, it was the longest game I've ever watched, but after that I was okay," McKinna, whose side nearly let slip a seven point lead the summit after winning just one of their final five games, said.

"The Adelaide game was good, I was able to get down and join the boys in Terrigal and we'll celebrate the minor premiership tonight before getting back to work for the finals tomorrow.

"We set ourselves the goal before the season, we started really well, led for almost all the season and I thought we really deserved the minor premiership. We've got a great squad, a great bunch of boys. It's just fantastic."

The result also means the Mariners will make their Asian debut in the 2009 Champions League with top spot given an automatic berth into the competition.

With their 2-1 win over Perth on Friday, the Jets secured second place and a two-legged major semi-final against NSW rivals the Mariners.

Under A-League rules, the winner of the major semi earns the right to host the grand final, but the decider is unlikely to be played in either Gosford or Newcastle with the FFA understood to favour a Sydney final, likely at the Olympic Stadium or the SFS.

There was also further controversy over the staging of the two legs of the minor semi-final between Sydney and Queensland.

Sydney, who after finishing third had the choice of when to play at home, wanted the advantage of hosting the second leg at the SFS.

But they were denied that option by Football Federation Australia because Sting's group The Police were playing a concert at Suncorp Stadium next Tuesday.

With the first leg of the elimination play-off on Friday, the FFA was concerned about the state of the pitch, so have used their discretion to give Sydney the first leg at home, and the Roar home advantage for the second game on Friday, February 8.

Newcastle will host the first leg of the major semi in Newcastle on Sunday, with the return match at Bluetongue Stadium on February 10.




Minor semi-final
3-Sydney FC v 4-Queensland Roar
1st leg: Sydney Football Stadium, Friday January 25
2nd leg: Suncorp Stadium, Friday February 8

(winner to play in preliminary final, loser eliminated)

Major semi-final
1-Central Coast v 2-Newcastle Jets
1st leg: EnergyAustralia Stadium, Sunday January 27
2nd leg: Bluetongue Stadium, Sunday February 10

(winner to host grand final, loser to host preliminary final)

[Bedsey_is_the_best]

I might watch the newcastle game on tv, sounds like it might be an intersting game. Are you going to see it at the stadium Jekk?

[shamz]

I'm predicting a Central Coast Vs QLD final. Don't know how it'll end up but hoping for a QLD win. :)

[Jekk]

I might watch the newcastle game on tv, sounds like it might be an intersting game. Are you going to see it at the stadium Jekk?

I doubt I could convince Dave to go again! I bet the atmosphere would be ever better!

[pommieknight]

Continued from Stadium upgrades thread......................

39 players for a world cup qualifier against Qatar? Have Qatar got 39 players? :lol:

Australia, China, Iraq and Qatar. Did I hear someone describe this as the group of death?? Australia should walk this with a goal difference of at least +10!!

And club commitments shouldn't stop players based in Europe playing in the quals. It may give younger, home-based players a go in the side but if they European players strengthen the side, they should be in.

[knight-no-7]

Buti dont think they were called upon. The 39 was a train on side haha.

I think without the Euro Stars, Australia will struggle.

[Henno]

Did the coach bring in some aussie players from German Bundasliga?

[Bedsey_is_the_best]

Yeah I agree, without players from Europe the quality of the A League would be alot less and therefore the sport would suffer more

[shamz]

Sydney and Qld played out a 0-0 draw. Hopefully Newcaslte can pull off and upset and down Central Coast.

[Theknightsrule7]

lol Sydney 0-0 draw, what a boring way to start the finals, that is the 3rd time this year those two teams have drawn 0-0

I hope Newcastle win, last time the Jets played the mariners at EAS it was a 0-0 draw, but I think we'll do better 2moz :)

I just cant wait to be there!!!

[knight-no-7]

If Sydney Draw with QLD, but manage to score an away goal, they will be through... so its pretty interesting. Go Newie too!

[~knights1~]

good luck to the jets this afternoon

I think they only had 200 tickets left

[-AK-]

Where was this being played? EAS?

If so, thats a great Crowd, good luck to them!

[knight-no-7]

Yea, it is at EAS. Thats awesome if its sold out!

[knight-no-7]

January 27, 2008

NEWCASTLE are on the cusp of qualifying for their maiden A-League grand final after defeating rivals Central Coast 2-0 in a controversial opening leg of the major semi-final.

Adam Griffiths' 22nd minute header and brother Joel's late penalty at a raucous EnergyAustralia Stadium gave the Jets a significant advantage heading into the second leg in Gosford in a fortnight.

But the Mariners may well feel aggrieved they will not return home with at least one away goal after World Cup hero John Aloisi missed a first-half penalty and was then denied what appeared a legitimate equaliser for offside.

The Jets now need only a draw or one-goal loss from the return leg to book their place in the grand final in Sydney on February 24, while the Mariners must win by at least two goals to stand a chance of avoiding a preliminary final against either Sydney FC or Queensland Roar.

Central Coast have now gone eight games without a win against their New South Wales rivals and, despite being minor premiers, face a tough ask turning the tide on February 10.

Jets star Joel Griffiths, the league's leading scorer and player of the year favourite, loomed as the big danger in the F3 derby, but it was his brother Adam who gave the home side the lead with a superb diving header midway through the first half.

Moments before, Griffiths, returning from a two-game suspension, had very nearly headed into his own net.

But the 27-year-old made no mistake at the other end when he beat Mile Jedinak to the ball after James Holland whipped in a low cross to the near post.

Moments later, the Mariners seemed destined to be back on equal terms when referee Matthew Breeze deemed Jets captain Jade North had fouled Sasho Petrovski in the box.

But Aloisi, the man whose penalty against Uruguay in November 2005 sent Australia to the World Cup, sent his spot-kick wide left despite sending Jets' goalkeeper Ante Covic the wrong way.

Central Coast's bad luck continued in the shadows of halftime when midfielder John Hutchinson hit the inside of the post from a searing free kick only to watch in wonder as the ball somehow clattered back into the field and away to safety.

Seconds later, Aloisi looked to have scored after drilling home a Tom Pondeljak cross.

But the goal was disallowed for offside by the linesman, despite the Socceroos star appearing a half-yard behind James Holland in the box.

The Mariners continued to push hard for a vital away goal in the second half, but were unable to convert with substitute Matt Simon missing a golden opportunity in the 82nd minute when he hammered his shot from 10 metres straight at Covic.

It proved a costly miss as the Jets took a 2-0 lead just three minutes later when Joel Griffiths scored his 13th goal of the season - making no mistake from the penalty spot after Holland went down in the box under pressure from Andre Gumprecht.

AAP

[Bedsey_is_the_best]

Go The Jets, thats great news

[-AK-]

Anyone know the Crowd Figures?

[knight-no-7]

Newcastle Jets 2 (Adam Griffiths 22, Joel Griffiths 85 pen)
Central Coast Mariners 0
Crowd 22,960 at EnergyAustralia Stadium

[Theknightsrule7]

I was there, I was suprised it was 22,960 I thought it was a sellout plus I did see some empty seats, but the tickets were released to the ffa, how lame??? deff need a bigger stadium, cause I knew a couple friends that missed out, however it was the biggest crowd there since the Andrew Johns farewell in April :)

[Bedsey_is_the_best]

I don't think you can say way need a bigger stadium when because people missed out when there was around 3000 more ppl could have fit in

[Jekk]

They said that on the commentary that the capacity is 26000 but they sold 22960 yet they were sold out and they couldn't figure it out how that worked.

[-AK-]

It looked on TV as if there were more than 22,000. And to be honest didnt even look like EAS!

Weirdest thing was when they started chanting 'NEW-CAS-TLE'

[Bedsey_is_the_best]

Trust them to rip us off :wink: :lol:

[knight-no-7]

They said that on the commentary that the capacity is 26000 but they sold 22960 yet they were sold out and they couldn't figure it out how that worked.

There could have been a few reserved seats / isnt there work going on there too? Maby that limited the number of tickets sold.

[bigdan]

Anyone know the Crowd Figures?

Apparently they are being disputed by Con and the FFA. There are rumours going about that the FFA have miscounted on purpose to try and not have the Jets vs Mariners crowd figures overshadow the figures for the Roar vs Sydney game.

[Bedsey_is_the_best]

Now thats just stupid. This con bloke has really serve issues

[-AK-]

And the Jets go down in Extra time!

Much to the dissapointment of many fans Im sure in Newcastle.

Mariners 3 Newcastle 0

Central Coast go through with a 3-2 goal aggregate.

[bigdan]

And the Jets go down in Extra time!

Much to the dissapointment of many fans Im sure in Newcastle.

Mariners 3 Newcastle 0

Central Coast go through with a 3-2 goal aggregate.

It was a damn shame...losing to those Coastie scum. :x

We'll be back! ;)

[knight-no-7]

Damn, and Sydney got knocked out yesterday too! Finals not worth watchinG!

[shamz]

Qld Vs Newcastle. :) It's on.

[bigdan]

Qld Vs Newcastle. :) It's on.

Damn right! :D

[Jekk]

We won't have a chance if we play like we did yesterday!

[bigdan]

We won't have a chance if we play like we did yesterday!

Exactly.

[shamz]

We won't have a chance if we play like we did yesterday!

Hopefully you won't have a chance at all ! :D

[Jekk]

We won't have a chance if we play like we did yesterday!

Hopefully you won't have a chance at all ! :D

Oh no you didn't! :razz:

[shamz]

We won't have a chance if we play like we did yesterday!

Hopefully you won't have a chance at all ! :D

Oh no you didn't! :razz:

You know I did 8)

[knight-no-7]

The Newcastle Jets are 5mins away from a Aleague GF. Leading 1-0. In front of a croud of 16,000 @ EAS.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/common/imagedata/0,5001,5893588,00.jpg

EDIT: 1-1 A 91st Min Penalty Equaliser.

[-AK-]

Going to say youve jinxed it mate! But I think the Jets have been ripped off... anyhow they are playing extra time as we speak.

[knight-no-7]

NEWCASTLE Jets have booked their place in the A-League grand final after defeating Queensland Roar 3-2 in an action-packed preliminary final at Energy Australia Stadium.

[-AK-]

The New-Cas-Tle chant made me depressed.

But good on them I guess!

[Theknightsrule7]

OMG best game ever in newcastle!!! yeah i was there!!!

[shamz]

I flew down for the game aswell.

Bit disspointed but thats life. Friggin referee was penalty happy.

[-AK-]

I flew down for the game aswell.

Bit disspointed but thats life. Friggin referee was penalty happy.

Would have been weird for you being a Knights fan and all going totally against Newcastle Public and the team.

Shame on you! :lol: Jokes

[jamesgould]

How interesting is this?

Mad Dog address fires up players

By RENEE VALENTINEand JAMES GARDINER

A MOTIVATIONAL speech from Adam MacDougall helped inspire the Jets to victory last night and, in the process, seal their first grand final appearance.

Jets owner Con Constantine asked the Newcastle Knights centre and former NSW and Australian representative to speak to the team on the eve of their do-or-die preliminary final.

Constantine hoped the pep talk would help pick up the Jets after a heart-breaking 3-0 loss to the Central Coast Mariners in the second leg of the major semi-final last week.

Jets star striker Joel Griffiths, who scored from the spot in Newcastle's 3-2 win, said the words gave the team food for thought.

"We had Adam MacDougall come in and talk to us at the club about the 1997 grand final and the all of the boys really listened to that," Griffiths said.

"He told us about what happened that year when they won the grand final, with all of the people coming down and supporting them when the bus went past on the F3.

"A lot of the boys, especially the young ones, really took that in and actually got goose bumps thinking hopefully one day that could be us."

Griffiths was exhausted after the match, which was decided in extra-time.

"It was one of the hardest games I've ever played in," he said.

The win further justifies the decision by Joel's twin Adam to return to Newcastle.

They now have a chance at a slice of history as the first twins to play in an A-League decider.

"It is the first time we will have played together in a grand final," Adam said.

"But we have worked really hard on our game and we have done well.

"The crowd really got us home in the end.

"To look up into the stand and see the whole crowd on their feet really lifted us."

From: http://theherald.yourguide.com.au/news/sport/soccer/mad-dog-address-fires-up-players/1184473.html

[-AK-]

This Knights-Jets thing might just work out.

[Jekk]

I flew down for the game aswell.

Bit disspointed but thats life. Friggin referee was penalty happy.

*quietly dances around in a circle* :wink:

[shamz]

I flew down for the game aswell.

Bit disspointed but thats life. Friggin referee was penalty happy.

Would have been weird for you being a Knights fan and all going totally against Newcastle Public and the team.

Shame on you! :lol: Jokes

It was very weird!
I was with my freind and after the game was over and we were heading home and everyone was honking their horn and screaming she said to me ' wow their must be heaps of jets supporters in newcastle' i just laughed and said ' wait till you see what it's like when the knights are playing. :lol:

[~knights1~]

Golden boy takes glare in his stride

By ROBERT DILLON

THERE were times when it all became too much for Andrew Johns.

Intense pressure to perform on-field miracles on a weekly basis, combined with the unrelenting glare of media attention and the instant recognition from people in the street, left the former Knights skipper battling demons that did not publicly emerge until late last year.

Life in the Newcastle fishbowl might have been claustrophobic for "Joey" on occasions, but the city's latest sporting golden boy, Jets striker Joel Griffiths, feels no such inner anguish. Griffiths says he loves the Novocastrian lifestyle, the city's passion for sport and has taken his sudden and spectacular rise to hero status in his stride.

Even the barrage of press interviews in grand final week, which invariably feature the same questions repeated ad nauseum, have been conducted with enthusiasm.

If this is the price of fame, then Griffiths is happy to pay it.

"I enjoy it it's not like I'm Britney Spears and I've got paparazzi following me to the shops," he said.

"The people up here are great. That's one thing I like about Newcastle people. They'll come up to you and have a chat, talk about the game, but they won't be in your face.

"They'll respect your space, and that's all good. I like to meet people and talk to them, no matter who it is.

"The Novocastrian people have really helped our team out in terms of our success.

"It seems like the whole town is behind us, and this week's a big week for us, but it's a huge week for them.

"We've given a lot of kids some dreams to follow, and I think we're role model to kids who play sport. Hopefully it continues. I certainly don't take it for granted."

The 28-year-old remembers all too well how things were only a few years ago.

He spent two comparatively low-key seasons with Newcastle United, from 2001 to 2003, playing in the former National Soccer League, before heading abroad for stints with Neuchatel Xamax in Switzerland and Leeds United in England.



Upon his return last season, soccer had become football but not as Griffiths had previously known it in his home country.



Big crowds, live television and wholesale media coverage have lifted the round-ball code to the stage where it is no longer a minority sport battling for the scraps left over by rugby league, union and the AFL.

And in the brave new world that is the A-League, Griffiths has established himself as a bona fide box-office drawcard.

With 14 goals for the season, he is a runaway winner of the Golden Boot award and is hot favourite to also collect the Johnny Warren Medal for player of the year.

In the space of two seasons, he has become the face of the Jets as high-profile as any Knights player, including champion hooker Danny Buderus.



Not that Joel consciously strives for individual honours or recognition.

"Accolades like the Golden Boot and being in contention for the Johnny Warren Medal are just the icing on the cake," he said.

"Things like winning a grand final and getting the team into the Asian Champions League are more what I was aiming for."

Griffiths nonetheless agrees that this has been the best season of his career and that he is perhaps at the peak of his powers.

"It was quite weird actually, as the season went on I just kept on building momentum," he said. "I kept on finding little bits of my game that I could improve and just went from one strength to another.

"There was a good three- or four-week patch in the middle of the season that was probably the best I've felt going into games.

"I'd watch replays of the games to see how'd I'd been playing. The amount of runs off the ball, you don't realise you're doing them, it just happens naturally.

"The last couple of games I've felt a little bit flat, but there's no bigger game than a grand final, and I'll be doing everything I can to get us over the line."



Comparisons to Johns, even though the pair play different sports, are inevitable, and Griffiths admits he finds the "one-man team" label tiresome. Like it or not, the fact that Griffiths has missed five games over the past two years and Newcastle have lost all of them means that theory is unlikely to be discredited any time soon.

"We proved last weekend that's not true," he insisted. "I think that one-man team stuff has really gone out the window. It's quite embarrassing, really.

"I've got my mates out there who bust their arses just as hard as I do. The media are entitled to their opinions, but it is a little bit embarrassing to see the hard work everyone puts in that isn't recognised."



Johns may have struggled with living his life on a pedestal, but Griffiths has not yet found the spotlight too intrusive.

"Joey's different to myself," Griffiths said.

"He's a lot bigger in terms of what he's achieved in rugby league, and he's got a lot of people not just in Newcastle but also in Sydney and Queensland who look up to him and respect him. I think the A-League is going in that direction. I suppose I can understand where he is coming from, where it can be a bit much . . . but in saying that, it doesn't really bother me at the moment.

"I'm willing to do as much media as possible as long as it's positive and it's all good for the club and the Hunter and the game."



Knights coach backing Dutchy
By BRETT KEEBLE

KNIGHTS coach Brian Smith is not surprised at the success Jets counterpart Gary van Egmond has enjoyed.

Like the rest of Newcastle, Smith will be cheering for the Jets in tomorrow's decider, and he was confident van Egmond would have the players in the right physical and psychological condition for the game of their lives.



Smith was at Parramatta when van Egmond began his coaching career in charge of the Northern Spirit youth team in the late 1990s.

Though it was a different football code, and van Egmond was working a long way from Sydney's golden west, Smith quickly became aware of the rising star in his profession.

"I knew of Gary's reputation before I came up here," Smith said.

"People in the west of Sydney told me then that he was a great young coach waiting for an opportunity, and he's done that here in Newcastle and he's done it well.



"I think everybody at the Jets should be proud of themselves, and let's hope they finish it off on Sunday."

In the 18 months he has been in Newcastle, Smith and van Egmond have crossed paths several times and had swapped notes on the various issues all coaches deal with.

"He's put everything to one side, and I take my hat off to him," Smith said.

"Gary seems like a pretty smart bloke, and I think he'll help them to get the right balance and they'll be ready to rumble on Sunday."


Source :herald

[Theknightsrule7]

Im goimg to the Jets vs mariners 2moz, should be an awsome game, hopefully my jets will win!!!

[bigdan]

Go the Jets! Let's make it the start of a two team championship year for the Hunter. A Jets and Knights double - I'd love that! :D

[knight-no-7]

Its a 5pm start isnt it? Jets all the Way!

[bigdan]

Its a 5pm start isnt it? Jets all the Way!

Yep. It's on Fox Sports and ABC 1233 Newcastle/1044 Upper Hunter.

Sadly it's not online...someone else has the rights to finals games online.

[knight-no-7]

Well there is a live commentary updates at the FoxSports site;

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23267413-5000940,00.html

[bigdan]

Well there is a live commentary updates at the FoxSports site;

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23267413-5000940,00.html

That's text commentary though...it's alright but not the best, admittedly.

Oh, and ABC Central Coast are also taking the game as well.

[Jekk]

Aww Song set up a nice one, very tricky I loved it then the other guy missed it.

[bigdan]

Half time and it;s nil-all. Good game so far.

[bigdan]

Jets up 1-0! Mark Bridge scores! :D

[Jekk]

OMG the power went out and I missed the goal and half an hour lol. Thank gosh its the soccer not the league

[bigdan]

OMG the power went out and I missed the goal and half an hour lol. Thank gosh its the soccer not the league

Don't worry...you'll see it one way or another. Check NBN sometime tonight...

Nearly home and hosed!

[Jekk]

Sorry, its back now. I can't use the computer without the power either because the laptop battery sosososo bad. Just found a radio on battery power and then it came back on lol.

[Jekk]

Ha! Almost a fight, but of course not, its soccer they're too wussy

WINNERS!!

[bigdan]

We won! Oh yes. :D

[-AK-]

That Ken fella is really annoying. He's like 'Newcastle, I told you!'

[Brogga]

Id be lying if i said i watched the game but just heard the news!
Wooooo go us!

[-AK-]

And Congrats to the Jets, remided me of the 1997 GF so much!

http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,5905322,00.jpg


NEWCASTLE 1 CENTRAL COAST 0

MARK Bridge delivered Newcastle their maiden A-League crown in likely his last appearance for the club as the Jets beat Central Coast 1-0 in a dramatic grand final at the Sydney Football Stadium.

The Sydney FC-bound striker made the most of a bumbling error from retiring Mariner Tony Vidmar to slot home the winner in the 64th minute and give Newcastle ultimate bragging rights over their bitter NSW rivals.

The match ended in high controversy, however, when Mariners goalkeeper Danny Vukovic was sent off for dissent after referee Mark Shield appeared to miss a handball from Jets substitute James Holland in the final seconds.

In a clash high on emotion but short on footballing highlights, the Jets controlled much of the game but failed to take advantage until Bridge's timely strike.

Vidmar, the third most-capped Socceroo of all time, timidly gave away possession to the Olyroo star near the halfway line, with Bridge easily out-pacing the 37-year-old veteran before curling his shot around covering defender Alex Wilkinson and Vukovic.

It was Bridge's fifth goal of the season, but easily the most important for the forward, believed to be on the brink of signing with Sydney FC for next season.

It was also one of the few clear-cut chances in the match, but enough for the Jets to gain revenge for their dismal 3-0 loss to the Mariners in the major semi-final two weeks ago.

It was also an unfortunate end for Vidmar, who was near-flawless until that point in his final competitive game of football.

Central Coast pushed hard for an equaliser, and should have been awarded a penalty in the fourth minute of stoppage time when Tom Pondeljak's corner kick appeared to hit Holland's raised forearm.

The Mariners all charged Shield demanding the penalty be given, but the referee waved them away.

Vukovic went too far with his protest, and was shown a straight red card while striker John Aloisi - who missed the Mariners' best chance of the match early in the second half - was also booked.

Aloisi's yellow card followed a blow-up with Newcastle 'keeper Ante Covic earlier in the match.

It was minor premiers the Central Coast's second 1-0 defeat in an A-League grand final after they went down to Sydney FC in season one.

Newcastle coach Gary van Egmond maintained his season-long method of changing his starting XI each week by starting young Korean Jin-Hyung Song in just his third A-League game and shifting James Holland back to the bench.

The move again bore fruit with Song superb and striker Joel Griffiths also causing massive problems in the Central Coast back four.

The crowd of 36,354 at the SFS was the largest of the season.



NEWCASTLE JETS 1 (M Bridge 64m) CENTRAL COAST MARINERS 0 at Sydney Football Stadium. Referee: M Shield. Crowd: 36,354.

SOURCE (http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,23267686-5001021,00.html)

[Frizzed]

Pretty average match if I'm honest.

[bigdan]

And Congrats to the Jets, remided me of the 1997 GF so much!


It does. It's a wonderful feeling, and I want the Knights to repeat it later this year. 8)

A Jets-Knights double in '08. How good would that be?

[-AK-]

And Congrats to the Jets, remided me of the 1997 GF so much!


It does. It's a wonderful feeling, and I want the Knights to repeat it later this year. 8)

A Jets-Knights double in '08. How good would that be?

I was thinking the exact same thing watching the celebrations this afternoon!

[pommieknight]

Congrats to the Jets. **sings to the tune of Go West** One-nil to the Newcastle, One-nil to the Newcastle, One-nil to the Newcastle.................!

[Jekk]

That Ken fella is really annoying. He's like 'Newcastle, I told you!'

Do you mean Con? Because he was really annoying too, sounded completely drunk. What a moron. :-x

[knight-no-7]

Congrats to the Jets! I missed the game but it looks like an awesome win! Good for the people of Newie too, but now they can forget about soccer and turn their attention to the league :razz:

http://www.foxsports.com.au/common/imagedata/0,5001,5905337,00.jpg

http://www.foxsports.com.au/common/imagedata/0,5001,5905383,00.jpg

http://www.foxsports.com.au/common/imagedata/0,5001,5905319,00.jpg

[Theknightsrule7]

Awesome game, dunno if it matched Darren Albert's 1997 try against manly, its just hard being 2 different codes!!!!

anyways best ever moment of soccer in Newcastle history & i was there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! to witness it :) YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jamesgould]

Awesome game, dunno if it matched Darren Albert's 1997 try against manly, its just hard being 2 different codes!!!!

How could anything match that?!?!? :o

[knights4premiers]

Yeah mate thats a bloody big call.

[Frizzed]

Awesome game, dunno if it matched Darren Albert's 1997 try against manly, its just hard being 2 different codes!!!!

How could anything match that?!?!? :o

110 metre intercept by Ben Cross whilst doing two cartwheels and a backflip to score the winning try of the 2008 NRL Telstra Premiership would be pretty spectacular.

[knight-no-7]

The Jets players were saying last night, now they knew how the Knights players were feeling back in 97.

There's a parade for them later this week too.

[~knights1~]

How could anything match that?!?!? :o

110 metre intercept by Ben Cross whilst doing two cartwheels and a backflip to score the winning try of the 2008 NRL Telstra Premiership would be pretty spectacular.

:lol: :lol:

I would love to see that

and the parade is going to be on thursday around 3pm in the city

[Theknightsrule7]

2008 must be the Knights year. 100 years of rugby league pride. Last year the Victory & Storm won their competitions. Hopefully the Knights can win it too!!!

I think the Knights need to come up with some new chants, all they sing is NEWCASTLE, NEWCASTLE, NEWCASTLE

That may be the factor in the end, I hope we get 20,000 plus every week too :)

[-AK-]

Yeh a ****ing chant can get us across the line.

How bout good performances!

[jamesgould]

League folk don't sing, something I for one am happy about. If I want to hear singing I go to a gig!

[Brogga]

League folk don't sing, something I for one am happy about. If I want to hear singing I go to a gig!

Haha it depends how good the song is!!

E.G. When the liverpool fans sing "You'll Never Walk Alone." I dont even like soccer and i think its just amazing when they sing it. Its one of the main reasons the atmosphere is so great at soccer games in europe.

P>S> For anyone that hasnt seen the liverpool fans sing it ::

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

[Jekk]

I think the Knights need to come up with some new chants, all they sing is NEWCASTLE, NEWCASTLE, NEWCASTLE


That is Soooo not true, the crusade sing TWO different songs to the tune of "My darling clementine"

[knight-no-7]

Whats wrong with the NEW-CAS-TLE chant, i love it! Still remember the chant when we made the finals v Manly, it was awesome.

[U23]

Whats wrong with the NEW-CAS-TLE chant, i love it! Still remember the chant when we made the finals v Manly, it was awesome.

Oh man, that was insane!

[Brogga]

On that note you gotta say we are one of the very few teams to actually have a nice lound sort of chant. Good old passionate Novacastrians :D

[jamesgould]

League folk don't sing, something I for one am happy about. If I want to hear singing I go to a gig!

Haha it depends how good the song is!!

E.G. When the liverpool fans sing "You'll Never Walk Alone." I dont even like soccer and i think its just amazing when they sing it. Its one of the main reasons the atmosphere is so great at soccer games in europe.

P>S> For anyone that hasnt seen the liverpool fans sing it ::

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

That's fine for a slow boring soccer match - a slow, boring song! The snappy Newcastle chant suits league much better.

[shamz]

Congrats to Newcastle =D> But C'mon how'd the ref miss the blatant handball in the last minutes. Danny Vukovic got a 15 month ban and will miss the world cup.

[~knights1~]

well he shouldn't have touched the ref then

only can blame himself

[knight-no-7]

6 months is a suspended sentence so he would only have to serve 9months. I think its too severe for the offence.

[Brogga]

League folk don't sing, something I for one am happy about. If I want to hear singing I go to a gig!

Haha it depends how good the song is!!

E.G. When the liverpool fans sing "You'll Never Walk Alone." I dont even like soccer and i think its just amazing when they sing it. Its one of the main reasons the atmosphere is so great at soccer games in europe.

P>S> For anyone that hasnt seen the liverpool fans sing it ::

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

That's fine for a slow boring soccer match - a slow, boring song! The snappy Newcastle chant suits league much better.

:x I wasnt saying it would suit a league match, all im saying is how much better it makes the atmosphere. If you look through what ive said i never said there was anything wrong with our current chants. Just making a comment.

[Jekk]

Congrats to Newcastle =D> But C'mon how'd the ref miss the blatant handball in the last minutes. Danny Vukovic got a 15 month ban and will miss the world cup.

The handball wasn't the only bad call in the game though. As for the ban, the mariners are fighting it and I completely agree it's wayyy too harsh a penalty! From what I saw he barely touched him?

[Brogga]

Congrats to Newcastle =D> But C'mon how'd the ref miss the blatant handball in the last minutes. Danny Vukovic got a 15 month ban and will miss the world cup.

The handball wasn't the only bad call in the game though. As for the ban, the mariners are fighting it and I completely agree it's wayyy too harsh a penalty! From what I saw he barely touched him?

Your forgetting it is soccer we're talkign about. I didnt see the incident but im presuming the reff took a dive? :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Jekk]

LOL!! if only he was rolling around on the ground holding his side that would have been awesome :lol:

[shamz]

Congrats to Newcastle =D> But C'mon how'd the ref miss the blatant handball in the last minutes. Danny Vukovic got a 15 month ban and will miss the world cup.

The handball wasn't the only bad call in the game though. As for the ban, the mariners are fighting it and I completely agree it's wayyy too harsh a penalty! From what I saw he barely touched him?

Your forgetting it is soccer we're talkign about. I didnt see the incident but im presuming the reff took a dive? :lol: :lol: :lol:

I know, but c'mon this is suppose to be our number ref in Australia, those are the calls his gotto make. All im saying is that if I were central coast i would be absolutely spitting chips.I defantly agree 15 months is too long but you can't just slap the ref when things dont go your way.

[jamesgould]

That's fine for a slow boring soccer match - a slow, boring song! The snappy Newcastle chant suits league much better.

:x I wasnt saying it would suit a league match, all im saying is how much better it makes the atmosphere. If you look through what ive said i never said there was anything wrong with our current chants. Just making a comment.

Sorry to get your blood pressure boiling Brogga, just saying is all! :D

[Jonno_Knights]

yeh 15th months is way too harsh it seriously just looked like he gave the ref a HI-FIVE, what did jeremy smith get when he pushed the ref, was it 6 weeks. Thats more fair i think, and its dissappointing that the GK might miss the Olympics because of a brain snap, the olympics is a once in a lifetime for soccer as its U/23. Their only allowed 2 or 3 players over that age or sumthing

[Frizzed]

I agree with Brogga on the chants.

NRL crowd atmosphere sucks compared to Superleague and FA Premier league.

"You'll Never Walk Alone" and "I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles" are two of the best, you should look them up on youtube.

[mozza]

15 months for that is pretty weak doesnt anybody remember joel griffitths sack whacking that linesman all he got was a yellow card

[pommieknight]

E.G. When the liverpool fans sing "You'll Never Walk Alone." I dont even like soccer and i think its just amazing when they sing it. Its one of the main reasons the atmosphere is so great at soccer games in europe.

P>S> For anyone that hasnt seen the liverpool fans sing it ::

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

That's fine for a slow boring soccer match - a slow, boring song! The snappy Newcastle chant suits league much better.[/quote]

James, you have so much to learn about singing at football. Try any of these:- http://www.fanchant.com/

Except, I HATE the Liverpool song (but then as a Man U fan, I can't stand Liverpool at all).

[bigdan]

Do you mean Con? Because he was really annoying too, sounded completely drunk. What a moron. :-x

Actually, if I were Con, I'd be drunk as well! :lol: :lol: :lol:

2008 must be the Knights year. 100 years of rugby league pride. Last year the Victory & Storm won their competitions. Hopefully the Knights can win it too!!!


Exactly. :D I want that to happen this year. There's nothing to suggest it can't happen. ;)


Except, I HATE the Liverpool song (but then as a Man U fan, I can't stand Liverpool at all).

I'm a Man U fan as well, but that's the only thing I'm jealous about when it comes to other clubs. It's a beautiful song....mind you, Liverpool aren't the only ones who use that song.

[bigdan]

Congrats to Newcastle =D> But C'mon how'd the ref miss the blatant handball in the last minutes. Danny Vukovic got a 15 month ban and will miss the world cup.

I can tell you, having dabbled in a bit of refereeing in the past, you don't touch the ref under any circumstances.

[pommieknight]

Congrats to Newcastle =D> But C'mon how'd the ref miss the blatant handball in the last minutes. Danny Vukovic got a 15 month ban and will miss the world cup.

I can tell you, having dabbled in a bit of refereeing in the past, you don't touch the ref under any circumstances.

Absolutely spot on. There is no place in sport for attacking the ref or linesman. A ban was the only way to go. If the Aussie FA hadn't banned him immediately, FIFA would have put pressure on the Aussie FA to ban him because, if not, it would have been the thin end of the wedge.

I'm a Man U fan as well, but that's the only thing I'm jealous about when it comes to other clubs. It's a beautiful song....mind you, Liverpool aren't the only ones who use that song.

Celtic sing You'll Never Walk Alone as well (and it sounds even more impressive there because they can get 60,000 in Celtic Park instead of a paltry 40,000 in Scouse-land). England fans have sung it too but I got so much stick in the Eighties from Liverpool fans when Man U weren't winning much that I can't stand hearing that song. I much prefer the Red Flag - 76,000 fans singing is pretty impressive.

I thought the Rhinos fans did their team proud last night too.

[pommieknight]

I saw this in our paper yesterday - what a plank!!!

Committed approach

German midfielder Andre Gumprecht says dressing up as Hitler at his Australian club's party last week was an attempt to 'fit in'. 'In Australia it's traditional to enjoy a few beers in costume,' says the Central Coast Mariners star. 'So given my German heritage and my committed approach on the field, I decided to go as Hitler. I'm really sorry about the anger it caused in Germany. I didn't think it through.'

[Frizzed]

I don't find anything wrong with it it, unless of course he was carrying on like a twat.

[knight-no-7]

He wasnt... I saw the news when it happened last week. Nothing in it IMO.

[Frizzed]

Yea, people are just too political correct and up tight about things these days.

[jamesgould]

Yea, people are just too political correct and up tight about things these days.

It's easy for someone who wasn't involved in world war two to say that, but if your family was one of the millions of jews who were killed in some of the most inhumane ways possible then it might not be funny.

[Frizzed]

Yea, people are just too political correct and up tight about things these days.

It's easy for someone who wasn't involved in world war two to say that, but if your family was one of the millions of jews who were killed in some of the most inhumane ways possible then it might not be funny.

Are you implying my family isn't Jewish ?

[jamesgould]

Nope, that you weren't involved in world war two. I meant direct family, like brothers and sisters. You are a young buck, aren't you?

[Frizzed]

I guess I am pretty young, but I still don't see what it has to do with anything.

So what other costumes would you ban from your dress up party James ?

[jamesgould]

I guess I am pretty young, but I still don't see what it has to do with anything.

It means that you didn't experience these events directly, and probably don't have the personal connection with them that others may have.

So what other costumes would you ban from your dress up party James ?

I'm not saying I'm banning anything at any mythical party I could possibly hold, just that I can see why some people would be upset by what he wore. There can't be many more sensitive subjects around than the holocaust.

[pommieknight]

I suppose it's also a geographical and cultural thing. Even 60+ years on, it's still surprisingly raw. There are lots of people in Europe who remember, and Germans are particularly sensitive about it. They have no concept of how anyone can get entertainment of something so sensitive to them and others in Europe.

[Frizzed]

I'm not saying its a particularly fun thing to do, it was terrible thing what happened, but if he was just having a few beers and stuff not getting too carried away surely there can no harm ?

[Jekk]

Yesterday I put "year of the rat" stamps on a parcel and the lady I was serving got all dirty and said "I sure hope that the person I am sending this to doesn't recognise that symbol"! I mean isn't that weird? We figured it was probably a chinese prejudice? So that kinda proves that everything offends someone.