Canberra coach Ricky Stuart says he couldnt help but let Sam Williams go to England, believing the NRL halfback deserves to be playing first-grade fulltime.Williams turned down a one-year offer to stay at the Raiders to take up a deal with Super League outfit Wakefield for 2017.The 25-year-old only played eight games for the Green Machine this year, but stepped up when they needed him most.He filled in at No.7 when Aidan Sezer was injured at the start of the season, and replaced Blake Austin at five-eighth at the back-end of the year - including their qualifying final loss to Cronulla.He is the first Raider to take up an opportunity elsewhere since their dream run to the preliminary finals, with speculation Paul Vaughan and Shaun Fensom might follow suit.Stuart was resigned to losing Williams, named NSW Cup player of the year, given his position in the pecking order.He deserves to go somewhere to play first grade - whether thats NRL or Super League, Stuart said on Friday.I was very, very privileged and fortunate to have a first-grade player as my back up to Aidan and Blake.He did a wonderful job for us in doing that this year and was a big part of our progress in the competition.Sezer was sad to see Williams go, but said his move proved how successful the Raiders had been at creating depth.Thats what the clubs built over the last few years - the competition for spots and the depth of positions, he said.I guess it shows on the field, the success that was derived from it, this year.Hopefully we can push on, keep building a good squad and have great years to come.Sezer was in no doubt that the pain of losing to Melbourne in last weekends grand final qualifier would spur the side on next season, with his eyes already firmly on getting to the 2017 decider.Were all very disappointed and its going to take a long time to get over it, but you cant really dwell on it, he said.We fell down one step short, hopefully we get to the big one next year.The Raiders launched whats believed to be a world-first competition for members on Friday, offering a $500,000 prize to those who correctly predict how many total points the team score over the 2017 regular season, how many they concede, as well as how many tries for and against.The club hopes the promotion, backed by Canberra company Austbrokers, will help boost membership from 15,000 to 20,000. 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Michell Burger, a woman who lives on an estate next to Pistorius gated community, said she and her husband were awoken by the screams in the pre-dawn hours of Feb. 14 last year, when Pistorius killed Reeva Steenkamp by shooting four times through a door in his bathroom. NEW YORK -- Australian star Penny Taylor is calling it a career.The 35-year-old told The Associated Press that she would retire from playing basketball at the end of the WNBA season. She helped lead the Phoenix Mercury to three WNBA titles and guided Australia to a world championship in 2006.My focus is on the Olympics, but definitely its my last year, Taylor said. Worked really hard to get back and still be good. I want to go out on a good note. My health is something I really had to work hard at, and to be fit and stay out on the floor, Ive done that really well. For me, its the right time.Taylor was able to avoid injuries early in a playing career that started when she was 15. Lately, her body has been breaking down a bit, starting with a torn ACL that forced her to miss the 2012 Olympics and 15 months of playing time. This season shes been dealing with hip issues that caused her to miss the final few games of the WNBA season before the Olympic break.There is a time when you have to retire. I want to retire when Im still good, she said Friday night. I nearly had it all taken away from me. I want to make that decision and still want to be wanted. I still feel like Im still contributing out there.The one thing missing from Taylors impressive basketball resume is an Olympic gold medal. She was the MVP of the 2006 world championship in Brazil.When you talk about the Mount Rushmore of basketball, if you had one for the world, shed probably be the first person on there, Mercury teammate Diana Taurasi said. Shes just done so much for Australian basketball, leading them to a world championship, putting them in a position every year to win a medal. She holds that close to her heart.Taurasi also was quick to point out that Taylor was a trailblazer for other Australians to be able to play in Europe and make a living. Taylor played in Turkey and Russia.She opened so many doors for everyone in that country to go to Europe, Taurasi said. She made it OK to leave Australiia when no one left to play overseas.dddddddddddd What she did in the WNBA, if theres a five you pick to go win a game, theres no one I pick over Penny.Taylor was selected 11th in the 2001 WNBA draft by the Cleveland Rockers. When that team folded in 2003, she was picked up by the Mercury and helped them win titles in 2007, 2009 and 2014.Were the last two from our class, said Tamika Catchings of the Indiana Fever, who was drafted third in 2001 and also will retire at the end of this season. Weve had some really good battles. When I think of Penny, I think of Game 5 of the 2009 WNBA championship, how clutch she was.Taylor has averaged 13.3 points in her 13-year WNBA career.Penny is one of those players that at times gets overlooked, Sue Bird of the Seattle Storm said. It might be the whole Australian playing in the WNBA at times. I dont know why she wasnt in the top 20. Look at Pennys career and I think its a no-brainer for her to be on that team. What makes her game so difficult is her ability to score and put pressure on your defense at all times.Taylor helped Australia win silver medals in the 2004 and 2008 Olympics and would love to see that stage of her career end with a gold in Rio. She hopes to enter the coaching ranks after the WNBA season ends.Ive gotten to the point where Im seeing it more as a coach these days, Taylor said. Its the natural progression over the last few years anyway. Playing for Sandy (Brondello), I really admire her and the way she sees the game. Id like to continue learning from her.Taylor smiled when asked if she would like to be on the sideline for Australia at the 2018 world championship in Spain or the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.Who knows, thats so far away, she said. Id like to coach. I enjoy it. I love the game, love seeing it played well.---Follow Doug on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/dougfeinberg ' ' '
