Canberra Capitals championship-winning star Michelle Cosier wants to make a WNBL comeback next season after giving birth to her second child last week. Cosier gave birth to Levi Jackson on Thursday morning.
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There’s certainly been a lot of bouncing babies at the Capitals recently. Coach Carrie Graf has twins while forward Abby Bishop has taken custody of her six-month-old niece since she was born. Cosier is taking a cautious approach to her comeback, given she struggled with osteitis pubis following the birth of her first child, Brodie. Cosier made a cross-code switch to netball last year before falling pregnant, but she’s keen for to add to her 226 WNBL games.
‘‘Having the break to have a second child and watching the Caps play this season has definitely made me miss playing in the WNBL,’’ Cosier said. ‘‘Having been through the recovery of birth before with Brodie I will do things a little differently and hopefully avoid a repeat of osteitis pubis this time around. I’m going to focus on building back up my core strength early on and and then gradually ease into impact training to be ready to go for pre-season in September, hopefully with the Caps for another shot at a championship.’’
Any trophy will do
The Canberra Raiders have been waiting 20 years since their last first-grade premiership, but their latest piece of ‘silverware’ went by without a mention. With both teams out of contention for the finals of the recent Auckland Nines, the Raiders and Manly Sea Eagles coaching teams bumped into each other in the hotel bar on the eve of the final match against each other. Both clubs were shacked up at Auckland’s Pullman Hotel so, over a friendly drink, they agreed to play for the virtual ‘Pullman Cup’. The Raiders triumphed 18-4. Not quite sure it makes up for Manly’s defeat of the Raiders in the 1987 grand final but, hey, when you’re starved for success, it’s something Raiders fans.
White Knights all over
The battle to save the Canberra Knights has received incredible support not only from the national capital, but also overseas. Donations have been made from contributors as far away as Russia and Norway, while The Canberra Times also received an email from Winnipeg in Canada expressing their sadness at the Knights withdrawing from the Australian Ice Hockey League.
Fans from other teams in the AIHL such as the Sydney Ice Dogs and the Melbourne Mustangs have also dipped into their pockets. More than $20,000 has been raised in the space of three days towards their goal of reaching $50,000.
Rivals to face off
They share an intense international cricket rivalry, but India and Pakistan are bringing the battle to Canberra for the Akram-Tendulkar Shield. The annual fixture will be played on March 10 and has the backing of the ACT government and both the Indian and Pakistan High Commissions. The game is for Indian and Pakistan players who now live in the capital. The match was first played in 2012 with former New Zealand international Chris Cairns playing a leading role in setting up the rivalry.
Another Tongue joins the Raiders’ family
We’ve had a crack at the Raiders recently for their lagging membership numbers, so it’s only fair we point out the Green Machine supporter base is moving up the NRL ‘ladder’. A clear last in the NRL over a month ago, the Raiders now have 6300 members on their books and have shot past the Wests Tigers (5790), Warriors (6013) and Sharks (6273).
There’s some serious cash up for grabs for the NRL teams that can grow their memberships the most - in numbers, and percentage - between now and May 20. There’s $400,000 in the kitty, with members allowed a say in how the money is spent. Former skipper Alan Tongue even dropped in to Raiders HQ during the week with son Gem and to sign up his four-week-old daughter Lola.
Clinton backs Sam
Former Canberra Raider Clinton Schifcofske has backed Souths star Sam Burgess to excel in his switch to union, but has warned the NRL there’s ‘‘no excuse’’ if it is unable to compete financially with rich overseas rugby clubs in coming years. Schifcofske, second on Canberra’s all-time point-scoring list, switched to rugby union with Queensland Reds and finished overseas.
‘‘There’s a bit of talk [Burgess] could play in the forwards but it’s just too hard, I think he’ll play No.12 and he’ll go really well I think,’’ Schifcofske said. ‘‘It’s just the breakdown, timing and scrums, lifting in line-outs, it’s unheard of in league. Brad Thorn did it and he’s probably been the best league convert, but he’s a freak and it took him two or three years to hit his straps.’’
Now a player manager, Schifcofske said the NRL’s rich new TV deal has put it in a position to finally match offers from European rugby clubs. ‘‘If guys want to do it for the experience and see the world good luck to them, but if it’s a money thing it just shouldn’t be an issue in two or three years’ time with the amount of money in rugby league. If I had my time again I would have switched codes at 25 and played in Japan for 10 years. It’s just not an excuse. Whether they introduce a marquee player, they’ve got to do something to keep those guys in the game.’’
Union teams invade AIS
The AIS is transforming into a rugby union hub for the next month. Traditionally a base for swimming, athletics, basketball and netball, rugby teams are taking advantage of the institute’s facilities. The Brumbies still base the majority of their team operations at the AIS and they will be joined by the Argentina PAMPAS XV until the end of March.
Samoa A and Sevens teams from American Samoa and the Cook Islands are also training in Canberra. The PAMPAS will play an ACT XV side at Duntroon on Sunday. The ACT XV will use several Brumbies-contracted players, including Australian Wallabies veteran Clyde Rathbone.
Keneally may stay away
Speculation is circulating Basketball Australia chief executive officer Kristina Keneally is far from a certainty to return from compassionate leave as planned at the start of June. Keneally was granted leave in late December to deal with a personal matter and it is believed Basketball Australia is keen for her to inform them of her intentions sometime this month.
Meanwhile, applications for the soon-to-be-vacant Basketball ACT chief executive role closed on Friday. A host of quality applicants have put their hands up, and interviews are likely to begin to find Tony Jackson’s successor this week.