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Current Status: 24/7 Manly Fan
Sharpshooters Challenge on Fan Day
Friday, February 1, 2008 - 11:31 AM
It could be the greatest challenge in Rugby League – trying to fill the goalkicking boots of one of the game’s greatest ever kickers, Bulldogs ace Hazem El Masri.
That’s exactly what Bulldogs five-eighth Daniel Holdsworth will be doing tomorrow at the Harvey Norman Centenary of Rugby League Fan Day at ANZ Stadium – and he’s doing it in a shootout competition to find the best kicker in the NRL.
Holdsworth will step in for the injured El Masri as pride and reputation go on the line in the Sharpshooters Challenge.
Representatives from the 16 NRL clubs – plus kickers representing Balmain, Newtown and Western Suburbs – will fight it out to be crowned Rugby League’s best and, with El Masri sidelined with a hamstring strain, the race is wide open.
Leading that race is Warriors kicker Michael Witt, whose strike rate was an astonishing 92.5% last season, and Parramatta’s Krisnan Inu, who replaced the injured Luke Burt midway through the season and finished with a success rate of 82%.
Luke Covell, Brett Hodgson, Wes Naiqama, Craig Fitzgibbon and Corey Parker will also be among the shootout kickers.
“With Hazem here at the club you don’t really aspire to be a goalkicker so it’s a great chance to go out and have a kick,†Holdsworth said today.
“I think everyone will be having a bit of a laugh as we’re walking on to the field, but the competitive juices will start flowing as we line up the kicks.â€Â
It’s not just pride on the line, either, when the shootout kicks off at 2.45pm.
The winner will receive $1000 to donate to his chosen charity – and the pressure will be on from the start.
Each competitor will have their first kick from the sideline on the 20m mark in an elimination format. Once you miss, you are out.
After each round the mark will be moved back five metres until there is one marksman left.
The shootout is just one of a number of activities at the biggest public fan day in Rugby League history.
Coaching clinics, autograph sessions, club membership marquees and the chance to watch the biggest player photo in the game’s history featuring 400 of the game’s stars are among the events on the day.
Fans must register to be part of the Fan Day fun.
To register, log on to www.nrl.com/fanday or ring the registration line on
02 9339 8550. An overview of activities on the day is also on the website.
Club membership, NRL merchandise marquees and registration booths for individual activities will be open from 12pm on the day between Gates G and H.
A gold coin donation to benefit Rugby League’s One Community charities will be collected on entry. Information on One Community’s charity projects is available on www.rugbyleague.com.au/onecommunity.
ANZ Stadium gates open at 1.30pm with activities running from 2.30pm-5pm.
The full field of kickers for the sharpshooters challenge is: Jarrod Sammut (Panthers), Daniel Holdsworth (Bulldogs), Brett Hodgson (Wests Tigers), Luke Covell (Sharks), Corey Parker (Broncos), Krisnan Inu (Eels), Wes Naiqama (Knights), Luke Millwood (Jets), Michael Dobson (Raiders), Bill Callaway (Balmain Tigers). Travis Burns (Cowboys), Jamie Lyon (Manly), Shannon Gallant (Wests Magpies), Issac Luke (Souths), Michael Witt (Warriors), Scott Prince (Titans), Craig Fitzgibbon (Roosters), Jamie Soward (Dragons) and Steve Turner (Storm)
Source: NRL
Friday, February 1, 2008 - 11:31 AM
It could be the greatest challenge in Rugby League – trying to fill the goalkicking boots of one of the game’s greatest ever kickers, Bulldogs ace Hazem El Masri.
That’s exactly what Bulldogs five-eighth Daniel Holdsworth will be doing tomorrow at the Harvey Norman Centenary of Rugby League Fan Day at ANZ Stadium – and he’s doing it in a shootout competition to find the best kicker in the NRL.
Holdsworth will step in for the injured El Masri as pride and reputation go on the line in the Sharpshooters Challenge.
Representatives from the 16 NRL clubs – plus kickers representing Balmain, Newtown and Western Suburbs – will fight it out to be crowned Rugby League’s best and, with El Masri sidelined with a hamstring strain, the race is wide open.
Leading that race is Warriors kicker Michael Witt, whose strike rate was an astonishing 92.5% last season, and Parramatta’s Krisnan Inu, who replaced the injured Luke Burt midway through the season and finished with a success rate of 82%.
Luke Covell, Brett Hodgson, Wes Naiqama, Craig Fitzgibbon and Corey Parker will also be among the shootout kickers.
“With Hazem here at the club you don’t really aspire to be a goalkicker so it’s a great chance to go out and have a kick,†Holdsworth said today.
“I think everyone will be having a bit of a laugh as we’re walking on to the field, but the competitive juices will start flowing as we line up the kicks.â€Â
It’s not just pride on the line, either, when the shootout kicks off at 2.45pm.
The winner will receive $1000 to donate to his chosen charity – and the pressure will be on from the start.
Each competitor will have their first kick from the sideline on the 20m mark in an elimination format. Once you miss, you are out.
After each round the mark will be moved back five metres until there is one marksman left.
The shootout is just one of a number of activities at the biggest public fan day in Rugby League history.
Coaching clinics, autograph sessions, club membership marquees and the chance to watch the biggest player photo in the game’s history featuring 400 of the game’s stars are among the events on the day.
Fans must register to be part of the Fan Day fun.
To register, log on to www.nrl.com/fanday or ring the registration line on
02 9339 8550. An overview of activities on the day is also on the website.
Club membership, NRL merchandise marquees and registration booths for individual activities will be open from 12pm on the day between Gates G and H.
A gold coin donation to benefit Rugby League’s One Community charities will be collected on entry. Information on One Community’s charity projects is available on www.rugbyleague.com.au/onecommunity.
ANZ Stadium gates open at 1.30pm with activities running from 2.30pm-5pm.
The full field of kickers for the sharpshooters challenge is: Jarrod Sammut (Panthers), Daniel Holdsworth (Bulldogs), Brett Hodgson (Wests Tigers), Luke Covell (Sharks), Corey Parker (Broncos), Krisnan Inu (Eels), Wes Naiqama (Knights), Luke Millwood (Jets), Michael Dobson (Raiders), Bill Callaway (Balmain Tigers). Travis Burns (Cowboys), Jamie Lyon (Manly), Shannon Gallant (Wests Magpies), Issac Luke (Souths), Michael Witt (Warriors), Scott Prince (Titans), Craig Fitzgibbon (Roosters), Jamie Soward (Dragons) and Steve Turner (Storm)
Source: NRL
