Bulldogs want Dylan Napa to replace David Klemmer, more coaching dramas for South Sydney
Canterbury want Roosters warrior Dylan Napa to take over from David Klemmer, Broncos legends get fired up and yet more coaching dramas for South Sydney.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
DYLAN Napa leaves for Las Vegas with his Sydney Roosters teammates on Thursday, pondering a three-year contract offer from Canterbury.
As revealed in Sport Confidential last week, Napa is the Bulldogs’ No.1 target to replace Newcastle-bound David Klemmer.
The overseas trip could be Napa’s last hurrah as a Rooster with those close to him urging the Queensland prop to seriously consider accepting the Bulldogs’ offer.
The Roosters don’t want to release their premiership-winning prop, who is off contract at the end of 2019, but won’t stand in his way if he can secure a long-term deal as their salary cap tightens.
Klemmer’s international duties means he isn’t due to report to Knights training for a couple more weeks, giving the Bulldogs a bit of time to secure a high-profile replacement.
MIFFED BRONCOS READY FOR LEGENDS STAMPEDE
AFTER Canterbury closet-trained their way to victory in last year’s Legends of League tournament, the Bulldogs are again considered strong chances. But Brisbane have emerged as favourites.
In typical Broncos fashion, they felt a little miffed at being eliminated after last year’s pool games. So, led by Wendell Sailor, they have turned back the clock and let their competitive juices flow.
Teams have long since given up the pretence that they are not training and just turning up for a bit of fun.
Insiders also noted that Gorden Tallis’ eyes glazed over just a little when told that for-and-against denied the Broncos the chance to progress to last year’s semis, indicating that probably wouldn’t happen again.
● ● ●
LET’S hope the recovery for those playing in Saturday’s Legends of League tournament at Central Coast Stadium is as swift after the tournament as it was before.
Owen Craigie pulled out of the Newcastle team, citing an unexplained injury, before a miraculous recovery two days later resulted in Craigie contacting organisers to declare he was back in.
Parramatta’s Tim Smith also had a similar recovery from what looked like a tournament-ending injury.
Several other players had second thoughts about competing before recommitting to play.
Ticket sales spiked when Todd Carney was confirmed as a starter.
● ● ●
CRONULLA’s vice-captain Wade Graham has put off any contract negotiations with the Sharks until he knows who will coach them beyond next year. Graham is technically free to negotiate with other clubs now and headlines a list of high profile options for clubs.
Cronulla coach Shane Flanagan is off-contract at the end of next year. The future of his son Kyle and budding first grade star Blayke Brailey will also be impacted by Flanagan’s contract status.
LITTLE LEAGUIES PLAY THE GAME
THEY share the surnames of some of the most famous footballing families in the country and now they have been chosen to be the face of the NRL’s participation campaign.
Louis Johns (9), son of Andrew Johns, Chenelle Carr (8), cousin of Josh Addo-Carr and Randy Ennis (8), son of Michael Ennis will front the NRL’s participation campaign to be launched on Monday.
The 22 junior players from 19 clubs — including the trio with the famous bloodlines — will call on others to join in the fun of playing junior rugby league with mates in the television, online, print campaign.
To register log onto: playrugbyleague.com
OPPONENTS ‘SOFT’ IN THE HEAD
AMAZINGLY, the non-contact changes to be introduced on a trial basis in NSW junior rugby league have met with some resistance from the game’s dinosaurs, who lament the game getting “soft”.
It is hard to understand when we are talking about children not even out of primary school.
It has gone unsaid within the criticism that, firstly, the changes are only being trialled in two junior areas and are not part of locked-in wholesale changes to the game.
Secondly, a similar outcry went up when junior and mod-league were introduced back in the 1980s, which were proven successes.
And finally, there wouldn’t be the need for changes if the game was growing but, with participation rates down and an underlying fear about concussions, certainly it is worth a try.
BRAITH SHARES THE FAITH
FOX Sports commentator Braith Anasta is taking a lifetime of what he learned as an NRL player and pouring it back into some of the nation’s best young golfers.
Anasta recently formed a management company, Searoo Sports, to guide some of the world’s best golfers through their careers. He has two players in the Australian Open, Ben Campbell and Matthew Stieger.
Stieger was sitting pretty at two-under on Thursday before the weather turned horrendous and he dropped a shot to still finish high on the leaderboard.
“They are the kids I want to mentor and help get to the next level,” Anasta said. “I’ve learned a lot over the years. I can also help with coming through, I can help with the media and media training. The game of golf is exploding at the moment.”
Anasta also mentors amateurs Thomas Heaton and Nathan Barbieri and hopes to move into rugby league management.
“We’ve got so many talented athletes here we’ve got to help them,” Anasta said.
“I’m passionate about golf, everyone knows that about me, but this is exciting for me.
Barbieri’s father, Ernie, worked at Fox Sports as a producer alongside Anasta in the network’s Super Saturday coverage.
BLUES’ CHANCE TO INSPECT
NSW’s all-Test bowling line-up will get its first look at the Manuka pitch, which will play host to Canberra’s first Test next year.
The Blues will have Australian quartet Pat Cummings, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon in their line-up on Friday when they play Queensland in a Sheffield Shield clash at Manuka today. Australia will play a Test against Sri Lanka at Manuka on Friday, February 1.
Starc said it was a good opportunity to get a get a glimpse of Australia’s latest Test venue.
“I’m not sure what the wicket will be like but they could prepare something similar to what they want to do for the Test match,” Starc said.
ANALYSIS: Contenders and pretenders chasing Test spots
SPOTTED: Our very own Phil “Buzz” Rothfield applying make-up before filming for The Telegraph’s League Central TV show. There are unconfirmed reports Buzz wants his own trailer before signing on for next year’s shows.
SHOOSH: Which NRL halfback and board member of a rival NRL club were seen together at trendy Smoke Bar?
SHOOSH: Which Super Rugby club has toyed with offering a contract to Jarryd Hayne?
RABBITOHS’ RELENTLESS COACHING DRAMAS
THE uncertainty surrounding South Sydney’s coaching situation continues to drag on — the club has now delayed announcing assistant coach David Furner’s replacement.
Former NSW prop Ben Cross is Anthony Seibold’s preferred choice but the Rabbitohs, who have endorsed the decision, are holding off making it official until there is no doubt Seibold will be coaching in 2019.
If Wayne Bennett joins Souths next year it is expected he will bring his support crew led by Brisbane assistant coach Jason Demetriou.
The Rabbitohs are keen to get a look at Demetriou as they begin planning for a post-Seibold future.
HINDY MAKES FAN’S DAY
PARRAMATTA great Nathan Hindmarsh was a surprise guest at a 40th birthday last weekend.
The mates of Nathan Clarence, who is battling cystic fibrosis and waiting on a lung transplant, chipped in to have Hindy attend.
“When Nathan appeared at my 40th, the day was made complete,” Clarence said. “As a kid, my brothers made me follow the Bulldogs but something about Hindy made me turn into an Eels supporter. To have him there to celebrate my special day was just amazing.”
Hindmarsh appeared as part of Fan+, which connects fans to heroes.
GILLETT ON THE WAY BACK
THESE are the dramatic images revealing the impact of injury on Matt Gillett, who lost about nine kilos and a heap of muscle mass after career-threatening neck surgery. He returned to Broncos training this week adamant he’ll be fit for round 1.
Every Test, ODI & T20I live, ad-break free during play and in 4K. Only on Foxtel. Get 1 month free Sport HD plus Entertainment with no lock-in contract and no iQ4 box fee. T&C apply. SIGN UP NOW!
Originally published as Bulldogs want Dylan Napa to replace David Klemmer, more coaching dramas for South Sydney
Brave NRLW coaching call the Bulldogs must make
The Bulldogs have a groundbreaking NRLW opportunity. There are two obvious candidates for the vacant coaching job if they’re brave enough to make a big decision for the future, writes PAMELA WHALEY.
Broncos star set to reject Sydney raids in $2m signing coup
Brisbane’s 2024 Allan Langer Medallist is set to reject rival Sydney suitors to ink a multimillion-dollar contract extension - but the move could force his backline partner out of Red Hill.