Danny Orr on inthenews.co.uk
Danny Orr's weekly Super League blog on inthenews.co.uk
Also In The News
|
By Adam Leveridge
Michael Schumacher has succesfully completed his test at the Mugello circuit in Italy. |  |
Saturday, 01, Aug 2009 10:18
To keep up to date on all the latest news from Super League, inthenews.co.uk are bringing you regular weekly updates courtesy of Harlequins' star stand-off Danny Orr.
This week, Dan gives us an update on his fitness ahead of this weekend's game against Bradford; tells us his thoughts on the Tony Clubb ban; and gives an insight into what goes on in the Quins changing room at half-time.
"Starting with last week's game, which came off the back of my injury ahead of the France trip the week before, I played about 50 minutes against St Helens with some strapping.
"I've managed to train this week without it and I'm back close to 100 per cent now I think. I'm hoping to start this weekend - that's obviously up to Mac but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
"I went on towards the end of the first half and played at hooker, which I haven't done for a long, long time although I've trained there a bit.
"It was quite a weird feeling being brought in with us down by so many, but when I came on with Louis [McCarthy-Scarsbrook] I just said to him all we could do was get on, do our jobs and see how we go.
"We won the second half 24-10 I think, so we played much better in the second half - we couldn't have played any worse though, to be honest - but that's the positive we'll take from the game.
"Going into the changing room at half time I think a few of the lads may have been expecting to get a rollicking, but it was one of those situations where Mac just sat down and went through a few things with all of us. There was no shouting and screaming.
"He's not really the kind of coach to come in and do that, although every now and again it happens as with every coach I've had in my career, but he was very calm the other day against St Helens.
"If he'd come in and started shouting the odds he may not have got the reaction he did, because the lads were already pretty down anyway, so, for me, he did the right thing there.
"One of the big talking points for us this week was Tony Clubb's two-match ban.
"I've not seen the incident - I didn't see it during the game and I haven't seen it since - but the people I've spoken to all say he was pretty unlucky and it was absolutely nothing.
"Clubby thinks so too - he's the hard but fair type and he wouldn't do that - and he's adamant there was no malice there at all, so we're all disappointed he'll miss the next couple of weeks.
"We've got to move on, and although we'll miss him over the next couple of weeks we've just got to concentrate on the games against Bradford now.
"The final thing to come out this week was the World Cup announcement, with the UK named as hosts for 2013.
"It's great news for rugby league in this country and although it's four years away, that'll come around quicker than people think. The stars of that tournament may not even be playing Super League at this moment in time but knowing there's a chance of playing in a World Cup in your back yard should drive a few people on in this sport over the next few years.
"It's important we kick on so the country will get right behind the lads. It's time we really got stuck into the Kiwis and the Aussies because we're third in the world at the moment, but if we get things right in the next four years there's no reason why we can't win the trophy on home soil in 2013."
To read last week's blog from Danny, click here.
To read inthenews.co.uk's in-depth introductory interview with Danny Orr, click here.
Danny is an 'engage with your health' ambassador. To receive money back on dental, optical and other healthcare treatments and for more information please visit www.engagemutual.com.