The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, Australia • Page 100

RUGBY LEAGUE Elsegood very good for City pdDtrDSdDCfS SYDNEY City, so long the club accused of over-paying players, have a bargain-basement buy in winger Jack Elsegood. The former Manly player has a $150,000 guarantee from the ARL of which Sydney City and the ARL pay around $75,000 each. But Else-good has a contract with Super League that gives him around $300,000. The recent court order requires Super League to top up the ARL guarantee. In other words, the Roosters are paying only one quarter of Elsegood's salary.

TROUBLE is brewing on the NSWRL selection panel. Former St George star John Raper and his old teammate Eddie Lums-den are at loggerheads over Lumsden's so-called co-operative stance with Super League. "Chook" reckons "Gum the Newcastle-based selector who represents the Country Rugby League, should be taking a stand against CRL officials identifying talent for Super League. ARL chief Neil Whit-taker has been informed. corporation sponsoring a privately owned game, Telstra is nervous about continuing the sponsorship as its float day nears.

NIKE will sponsor only four Super League teams next year. Apparently, the company has told Super League the other six or seven clubs can design their own jumpers. So much for a jumper that was to revolutionise the sporting world. DETAIL on the financial disaster of Super League is beginning to emerge. Indications are some of next year's sponsorships will not be renewed.

Gladys's informants, admittedly from the ARL side, say: Visa's sponsorship of the World Club Challenge was only $150,000 and the deal was signed only half an hour before the announcement Super League had been asking for $1.5 million for naming rights to the subsequently disastrous international club competition. Visa will not renew the sponsorship in 1998. The Telstra sponsorship was only $2 million in 1997, increasing to in later years. However, there is an escape clause for every year, allowing Telstra to bale out. Concerned at the image of a public-owned BARGAIN: Sydney City's Jack Elsegood Nine puts the boot into league fans again North Sydney Sydney City semi at 3.30pm on Saturday rather than 4pm in order to complete the telecast in time for the Diana funeral.

But Nine did not inform the ARL of the time change, nor allow for extra time. Viewers who did not listen to radio reports of the match were left scratching their heads when the telecast ended abruptly with the last-minute to watch his son's team go around in the semis. Knowing Optus televises lower grade games, he went to the NSW Leagues Club to atch the game. But the club is not hooked up to Optus. field goal which produced the draw.

TELEVISION tales tw The father of a Sydney City reserve grader could not get off work in time to reach Parramatta last Friday TELEVISION tales one: The poor relations between the ARL and Channel Nine continue. The league channel decided to screen the Brother Sheens concerned at strength of his position theunrjeralb PM CLUIB in conjunction with Pin Collectors of Australia merits," he said. "By the same token I don't expect to get a job as his assistant because I'm his brother. "With Super League restructuring and the likelihood of just one team being in place, there is no way that having Tim, Mark, Murray and myself all doing some kind of coaching would help the club. "It wouldn't work.

The players wouldn't know which person to listen to. "I'm the sort of bloke who'd walk out of the club if I didn't get the job. "I am not interested in being a first-grade coach, but my ambition is to be an assistant. "If I can't get that spot with the Cowboys 111 try and get a start with another club." DANNY WEIDLER NORTH Queensland strength coach Bob Sheens is poised to walk out on his brother and first-grade coach Tim unless he is promoted to an assistant coaching position this week. Super League's wooden-spooners are restructuring their organisation and Bob Sheens is determined to land an assistant coaching job beside his brother.

Tim Sheens already has Mark Graham and Murray Hurst to assist him and it appears unlikely he would employ his brother in the same role. Bob Sheens said he would know exactly where he stood by Wednesday afternoon and would have no hesitation in leaving the club if the alteration to his career was not approved. "I didn't get a job here because I'm Tim's brother, I got it on my own Join The Sun-Herald in discovering the latest craze in collectables PINS! Join today. Your membership includes: One free pin with every 10 pins bought at the Pin Workx Museum at The Rocks. tFree quarterly newsletter from The Sun-Herald Pin Club and Pin Collectors of Australia advising you on the latest release pins and special offers.

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Yes, please register my name to join The Sun-Herald Pin Club. Name (MrMsMrs): Address: Postcode: Sheun3jeralb Finals Footy Fever Giveaway To win the ARL, AFL and Rugby Union Grand Final Package listen to 2GB from Monday, 15 September and get ready to answer one of the following questions: How many seasons was Ron Barassi head coach of the Sydney Swans? How many grand slam titles did Evonne Cawley win? Who is Australia's highest all-time test wicket taker? In what city is the famous sporting ground Madison Square Garden? What was Linda McGill the first Australian to do. in 1965? Who was Shane Gould's swimming coach? Which WNBA team does Michelle Timms play tor? How many first grade games did Mario Fenech play for Souths? Who was Sydney's Brownlow Medal winner in 1995? What time of day does the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race begin? Who won the first ever Rugby League Premiership in 1908? Donovan Bailey set a new world record in the 1 00 metre sprint at the Atlanta Olympics: what was his time? How many times has Greg Norman won the Australian Open? Who was the 1996 Australian Superbike Champion? American football legend Joe Montana played for two NFL teams. San Fransisco and who? The first listener through with the correct answer will win a six month subscription to The Sun-Herald and go in the draw to win the Grand Final package. FINAL WEEK! )f Terms and conditions 2GB (Kill broadcast the 15 questions appearing this coupon from 15-19 September AFL grand -M.

Daytime Phone: AMINCO Send Sun-Herald Pin Club c- Aminco Australia, PO Box 2000, Millers Point NSW 2000 For more information call 1 800 688 992. Conditions: The first 5,000 registrations received will receive FREE membership, valued at $20. All registrations after this number will require a payment of $20 to join The Sun-Herald Pin Club. One year's membership valid through to December 1 998. Final prize ndudes Grand Final breakfast and pre-match celebrations Major winner drawn on 22 September TC97 8022 THE SUN-HERALD, September 14, 1997 109.