Latest news with #Elford
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Panthers legend's telling confession as NRL set to sanction club over trainer act
Penrith Panthers legend Greg Alexander has responded to footage of the NRL team's trainer Shane Elford spraying water on the ball before a kick-off against the Cowboys, denying suggestions it's a widespread practice around the league. The NRL is expected to hit the Panthers with a financial sanction after vision went viral of the moment Elford sprayed the ball with water before handing it to Dylan Edwards. Many were left convinced that Elford had deliberately wet the ball to make it slippery for the Cowboys players when they caught it, although some suggested he might have simply been cleaning dirt off it. According to , the NRL is aware of the footage and is likely to fine the Panthers. "Could this be seen as ball tampering?" veteran reporter Phil Rothfield asked on Sky Sports radio on Monday morning. "I guess a little water on the ball is going to make it a bit more difficult for whoever is taking the kick. 'I think it is against the spirit of the game. It's not a major scandal, but I think the NRL will certainly fine Shane Elford. People I spoke to on the weekend said it's not the first time he has done it and they've spoken to him about a couple of little tricks he gets up to on the football field. I am sure he will be fined at some stage later this week.' Speaking on SEN radio, Alexander responded to suggestions it's a widespread practice amongst many teams. The Panthers legend doesn't believe it is, saying he's never seen it before. "It was a sandpaper moment," Alexander joked, referencing the Aussie cricket ball-tampering scandal. "I haven't spotted it before. I can't tell you [if Penrith are the only team that do it] because I haven't witnessed it happening before." Co-host Andrew Voss said the NRL should have a blanket rule that trainers aren't allowed to touch the ball. "Graham Annesley, the head of football, should release a statement his morning that trainers don't touch the balls," he said. "There is no reason for a trainer to touch a ball under any circumstances. It should be a really quick fix for the NRL." Just making the ball slippery from the kickoff so the other team causes a knock on. All legit 😂 — GameFi Gremlin (@roningamefi) May 11, 2025 RELATED: Ezra Mam's return to NRL thrown into doubt by possible suspension Terrell May in worrying moment as Origin hopes take massive hit Speaking after the game, which finished in a 30-30 draw, Cowboys coach Todd Payten said he believed Elford was doing it "before every kick-off". Payten said: 'We noticed it in the (coaching) box. I will let the NRL handle it. I don't know what they're going to do but it was noticeable to us, definitely. I don't want to say any more.' Elford has worked as a trainer for the majority of the Panthers' four-straight NRL premierships. He played 178 top-grade games from 1997 to 2010, including 89 for the Panthers across two separate stints. He played in the Wests Tigers' grand final-winning side in 2005.
Courier-Mail
11-05-2025
- Sport
- Courier-Mail
Video rocks NRL as Panthers caught red-handed in ugly act
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News. Penrith has got some explaining to do with a viral video appearing to catch a veteran trainer red-handed during the Panthers' golden point thriller against the Cowboys. The 30-30 draw was full of controversy as both clubs butchered field goal attempts in extra time at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville on Saturday night. Watch your team in the 2025 NRL Telstra Premiership. Stream every round LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play, on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. It appears the most controversial moment of all has only been revealed after the match with amateur sideline footage appearing to show Panthers trainer Shane Elford spraying the ball with liquid from a water bottle before the opening period of golden point. X The viral clip showed the Steeden was left dripping wet after Elford had twice sprayed the ball before handing it to fullback Dylan Edwards to kick-off. The Penrith Panthers have told the club is aware of the video. As first reported by Code Sports, the NRL is also aware of the video. Cowboys coach Todd Payten has told Code Sports, his coaching staff noticed Elford doing the same thing throughout the match. Shane Elford appeared to spray the Steeden with the water bottle. Photo: Fox League and X, @TeddyCJD. 'He did it before every kick-off,' Payten said. 'We noticed it in the (coaching) box. I will let the NRL handle it. I don't know what they're going to do but it was noticeable to us, definitely. 'I don't want to say anymore.' At one point of the viral clip, Elford is seen spraying the ball while talking to hooker Mitch Kenny with other players standing nearby as he committed the act. Elford hands the ball to Edwards. Panthers trainer Shane Elford chats to Mitch Kenny. Pic: Fox League Wetting the ball makes it heavier and more slippery for opposition teams to handle. It is not the only time Elford and Panthers trainers have been accused of overstepping the mark. There were calls before the 2022 NRL Grand Final for Panthers trainers Pete Green and Elford to be banned from the season finale after a series of incidents with opposition players. Saturday night's incident is now expected to be scrutinised by NRL officials. The Panthers have their own reasons for being upset after the referees missed an off-side infringement that would have given Penrith an opportunity to kick a match winning penalty goal. With scores locked at 30-30 with a minute and a half to play in regulation time, a Panthers kick appeared to hit Scott Drinkwater on the foot before falling to John Bateman in an off-side position. The referee ruled play on, but a penalty goal would have given Nathan Cleary a kick from 30 metres out to ice the win. Originally published as Video rocks NRL as Panthers caught red-handed in ugly act
Cision Canada
01-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
EPCOR Announces Quarterly Results and Release of 2024 Sustainability Report
EDMONTON, AB, May 1, 2025 /CNW/ - EPCOR Utilities Inc. (EPCOR) today filed its quarterly results for the period ended March 31, 2025. "First quarter financial performance was in line with expectations, supported by steady growth across EPCOR's footprint," said John Elford, EPCOR President & CEO. "Growth also continues to drive our plans for investment in infrastructure expansion and renewal." View PDF "In January, EPCOR and other Alberta regulated electricity retailers implemented a new energy product, the Rate of Last Resort (RoLR), a fixed two-year electricity rate available to all residential and small commercial customers," said Mr. Elford. "Throughout the implementation process, our teams focused on ensuring a smooth transition and mitigating potential risks for our customers. We also help customers control their energy costs by entering into fixed-price contracts through our competitive retailer Encor by EPCOR – the fastest-growing competitive energy retailer in Alberta." "Today marks the release of EPCOR's 2024 Sustainability Performance Update," added Mr. Elford. "This year's report reflects the progress we're making across key sustainability priorities. From expanding access to safe water and advancing clean energy solutions, to deepening our relationships with Indigenous communities and strengthening climate resilience, we continue to move forward with purpose and care. We remain committed to delivering value by balancing necessary investments with keeping costs manageable for our customers. Between 2022 and 2024 our teams limited the average annual increase in operating costs per customer in our regulated utilities to less than 2.5%, delivering value in an environment where North American consumer price increases averaged around 3.8% per year." Highlights of EPCOR's financial performance are as follows: Net income was $103 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared with net income of $104 million for the comparative period in 2024. The decrease of $1 million was primarily due to fair value adjustments related to financial electricity purchase contracts and higher depreciation, partially offset by higher Adjusted EBITDA 1 and higher transmission system access service charge net collections. Adjusted EBITDA 1 was $289 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared with $260 million for the comparative period in 2024. The increase of $29 million was primarily due to higher rates, consumption, customer growth, and higher regulated electricity margins, partially offset by higher staff costs and lower commercial activity. Capital expenditures were $194 million for the three months ended March 31, 2025, compared with $190 million for the corresponding period in 2024. Interim management's discussion and analysis and the unaudited condensed consolidated interim financial statements are available on EPCOR's website ( and SEDAR+ ( EPCOR builds, owns and operates electrical, natural gas and water transmission and distribution networks, water and wastewater treatment facilities, and sanitary and stormwater systems in Canada and the United States. EPCOR also provides electricity, natural gas and water products and services to residential and commercial customers. EPCOR, headquartered in Edmonton, is committed to conducting its business and operations safely and responsibly. Environmental stewardship, public health and community well-being are at the heart of EPCOR's mission to provide clean water and safe, reliable energy. EPCOR is one of Alberta's Top 85 Employers, is ranked among Corporate Knights' 2024 Best 50 Corporate Citizens in Canada, and is designated a Utility of the Future Today by the Water Environment Federation. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. See the Non-GAAP Financial Measures section in Appendix 1 to this media release. Appendix 1 Non-GAAP Financial Measures EPCOR uses earnings before finance expenses, income tax recovery (expense), depreciation and amortization, changes in the fair value of derivative financial instruments, transmission system access service charge net collections and other unusual items (collectively, Adjusted EBITDA) to discuss operating results for EPCOR's lines of business. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure and is not a standardized financial measure under IFRS Accounting Standards and might not be comparable to similar financial measures disclosed by other issuers. The reconciliation between Adjusted EBITDA to Net income as reported under IFRS Accounting Standards is shown below: 1. The change in fair value of derivative financial instruments represents the change in fair value of financial electricity purchase contracts between the electricity forward prices and the contracted prices at the end of the reporting period, for the contracted volumes of electricity. 2. Transmission system access service charge net collections are the difference between the transmission system access service charges paid to the provincial system operators and the transmission system access service charges collected from electricity retailers. Transmission system access service charge net collections are timing differences, which are collected from or returned to electricity retailers as the transmission system access service charges and customer billing determinants are finalized. SOURCE Epcor Utilities Inc.
