After Bulldogs’ Mad Monday, Harbour View Hotel bans footy parties — plus the truth behind Broncos and Craig Bellamy meeting
WHY there will be no repeat of the Bulldogs’ madness at the Harbour View Hotel, the truth behind the Broncos’ meeting with Craig Bellamy and Cameron Smith’s mind-boggling stats.
- Injury verdict for battered Gallen
- Cleary wants clarity on contract and coach
- Tedesco’s battle with the boos
WHY there will be no repeat of the Bulldogs’ madness at the Harbour View Hotel, the truth behind the Broncos’ meeting with Craig Bellamy and Cameron Smith’s mind-boggling stats. It’s all in WHAT’S THE BUZZ.
SAINT
PRIME Minister Scott Morrison’s fanatical support for the Cronulla Sharks inside the NRL suite at Allianz Stadium on Friday night. Unlike a lot of politicians who go to sporting events to be seen on TV, “ScoMo” is a genuine footy tragic who carries on as madly and as passionately as any supporter.
SINNER
Phil Gould’s dumb decision to sack Anthony Griffin as Penrith coach on the eve of the playoffs and send an unproven, rookie coach into the finals. You could see it through the frustration of Panthers pivot James Maloney, who had the worst finals game of his career.
SHOOSH
WHICH NRL player was thrown out of a hotel last week for the disgusting act of urinating on the floor of the bar after his teammate was ejected for using offensive language?
SHOOSH II
WHICH outrageously mad former NRL star is pitching to the Triple M radio network for a new show during the off-season?
SHOOSH III
WHICH Penrith Panthers player still rings his old coach, Anthony Griffin, twice a week to get advice on his football form?
SHOOSH IV
WHICH player manager has been shopping for new suits after his old ones were burnt in a fire at his local dry cleaners?
SPOTTED
JOHN Hopoate running along Wakehurst Parkway at 6am, obviously preparing for his off-season stoush with Paul Gallen. “Hoppa” is sparring with ex-teammate Solomon Haumono to tune up.
SPOTTED II
CHANNEL 9 Footy Show host Erin Molan demolishing a double cheeseburger at McDonald’s in Cremorne on Thursday afternoon.
SPOTTED III
NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg making a rare appearance at the judiciary as an observer for the Latrell Mitchell crusher tackle case.
SPOTTED IV
LAURIE Daley and old Penrith Panthers warhorse Lou Zivanovic on a harbour cruise for the 50th birthday party of their great mate Jodie Evans, who used to host the NSW Blues State of Origin teams at their camps in Coffs Harbour when Lozza was coach.
NO MORE MADNESS
THE Harbour View Hotel that hosted the Bulldogs’ wild mad Monday party has been sold to a new owner who is reluctant to host any more footballer functions.
Long-time publican Simon Patterson bought the venue in The Rocks last week and has vowed to turn the hotel into a more family-friendly site for locals and tourists.
“I’d be very hesitant about hosting another Mad Monday,” Patterson said.
“Times have changed. A lot of teams go overseas these days.
“I’d have any footy team in for a function but there would be strict conditions.
“There would be a hefty fee and I’d supply security. I’d supply responsible service of alcohol marshals, and I’d have a bus out the front to take them home if some of them had too much to drink. I want it to be a family-friendly venue for locals and tourists.”
Patterson has met local police and the office of liquor and gaming to ensure his new licence won’t be affected by the Bulldogs’ function.
The club was fined $250,000 by the NRL.
“I’ve got a good record in hotels and a good relationship with the police,” Patterson said.
“I’ve been in pubs since 2002 from Kings Cross to Blacktown. Touch wood, I’ve never had a major incident and I’ll be keeping it that way.”
EVEN A STROKE CAN’T SIDELINES SATTS
IT takes a lot to prevent the great John Sattler from watching his beloved South Sydney in a rugby league semi-final.
Less than a week after suffering a severe stroke, the legendary front-rower was ready to watch the Rabbitohs play the Dragons from his hospital bed.
The tough old enforcer, who famously played nearly all the 1970 grand final with a broken jaw, was rushed to Robina Private Hospital last week but is making a solid recovery.
His son, Scott — who played over 200 NRL games with six different clubs during his own career — watched the match at his bedside.
It was a shock to his family and friends because the 76-year-old Sattler has kept himself so fit in retirement.
PAUL’S LITTLE WHITE LIE
WHEN Broncos chief executive Paul White denied he’d had talks with Storm coach Craig Bellamy in Melbourne earlier this year, no one believed him. We can now reveal the truth.
White did meet face-to-face with the Storm supercoach to offer him Wayne Bennett’s coaching job. But the meeting didn’t take place in the southern capital.
Bellamy was on the Gold Coast to catch up with his daughter and he met White at a Coolangatta cafe full of tourists who didn’t notice them.
CAM’S INCREDIBLE STATS
CAMERON Smith’s decision to play on with Melbourne Storm next year is all the more remarkable when you consider the breakdown of his statistics.
In his 382 club appearances, the former Maroons and Kangaroos skipper has averaged almost 77 minutes per game.
His 29,398 minutes equates to nearly 500 hours playing of the toughest body contact sport on the planet in the middle of the footy field where there is absolutely nowhere to hide.
To perform at the level he does with a body that has soaked up so much punishment over 17 years is the reason why many people regard Smith as arguably the greatest of all time.
GOODBYE GIFTY FOR GLENN
A DECADE after his Manly Sea Eagles flogged Melbourne Storm 40-0 to win the 2008 NRL grand final, Glenn “Gifty” Stewart is celebrating another premiership.
Stewart, 34, returned to his junior club Wests Devils in the Illawarra League this season and they beat Thirroul 18-16 in the grand final last Sunday.
The former NSW Blues, Origin and Kangaroos forward will now retire.
And on the NSW North Coast, another former NRL player is celebrating a grand final victory. Brent Kite coached Tweed Coast Raiders to their first NRRRL premiership. They lost only one game during the season and then beat Ballina 24-4 in the big one.
SHIFT FOR PERTINENT POINTS
FOX Sports show Controversy Corner is moving from Sunday to Monday night from this weekend. NRL360 will be on in its usual 6.30pm timeslot with Ben Ikin and Paul Kent before Big League Wrap. Controversy Corner will follow at 8pm.
BUSH FOOTY FIRST
FEMALE referees are far more respected in country rugby league.
On Sunday, Karra-Lee Nolan will become the first woman in CRL history to referee a first-grade men’s grand final when she controls the Group 7 decider between Shellharbour Sharks and Kiama Knights.
The NRL has two great female touch judges in Kasey Badger and Belinda Sleeman.
Unfortunately, both have been overlooked for this weekend’s finals despite outstanding efforts this season.
JT HAS THE CALL
JOHNATHAN Thurston will join Channel 9’s commentary team for the finals series from next week for the Sydney Roosters’ grand final qualifier on Friday night. Nine has signed the future Immortal to a long-term TV deal.
He will be a regular in the commentary box next season.
MAULER’S BACK
JEFF Fenech is coming out of retirement to fight on the undercard of Sonny Bill Williams’ next bout.
The former world champion will take on businessman Mark Bouris in Sydney on Saturday,
December 1. Fenech may be 54 but he’s kept himself in top shape helping train the next generation of Aussie boxers. SBW’s opponent will be announced on Tuesday.
GRAEME’S BIG FIX IN BROKEN HILL
ANZ Stadium head curator Graeme Logan has a busy fortnight coming up before the NRL grand final. But it didn’t stop him dropping everything to drive to Broken Hill last week to help townsfolk repair their badly damaged sportsground, Alma Oval.
The local grounds team reached out to Logan and he drove 14 hours west with some turf industry mates to help.
After returfing and raising the cricket pitch, locals reckon they will finally be able to hit a ball to the boundary this season. While AFL is the popular footy code in Broken Hill, the Wilcannia Boomerangs won their fifth straight Outback Rugby League premiership last month with a 24-22 win over Menindee Yabbies.
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Originally published as After Bulldogs’ Mad Monday, Harbour View Hotel bans footy parties — plus the truth behind Broncos and Craig Bellamy meeting
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