Rabbitohs eye Greg Inglis replacements, Eels contract delay revealed
South Sydney draw up a short-list of candidates as they hurriedly search for a centre given the uncertainty surrounding Greg Inglis. PLUS, the reason for Parramatta’s contract delays.
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Former Rabbitohs Aaron Gray and Bryson Goodwin are among a short-list of candidates South Sydney have drafted as they hurriedly search for a centre given the uncertainty surrounding Greg Inglis.
Goodwin spent five years at the club before joining Warrington on a two-year deal last year.
There had been some informal discussions about Goodwin rejoining Souths in 2020 but that could now be fast-tracked.
Gray has struggled since leaving for Cronulla last year, playing just one top-grade game.
Another player who could come into the mix is Brisbane rookie Gehamat Shibasaki.
Souths have also lost centre Braidon Burns until round eight.
TOGETHER WE STAND: MELBOURNE STORM
The Jack de Belin case has taken an interesting turn with a rival club boss providing an affidavit to support the NRL’s case in standing down the St George Illawarra lock.
We understand Melbourne Storm owner and chairman Bart Campbell is the author of the letter which will be presented when the case returns to Federal Court on Monday.
Part of it contains a chronological order of how the game’s poor off-field behaviour had impacted the Storm.
Campbell was the most vocal club boss to hit out at player behaviour during the off-season train wreck. He was scathing of the NRL in February, writing to rival club bosses telling them the game needed to take a stand.
“Standing around while Rome burns is not good enough,” Campbell said in February. “As a game, we need to do something.”
Campbell also said de Belin would have been stood down immediately if he was a Storm player. We understand NRL boss Todd Greenberg and chief commercial officer Andrew Abdo, among others, have provided affidavits.
De Belin will challenge the new NRL no-fault stand down policy at a three-day hearing.
EELS GETTING THE PROCESS RIGHT
PARRAMATTA’S new recruitment policy, not an apparent lack of desire to lock in big-name players, is behind the Eels’ decision to delay securing stars Mitchell Moses and Clint Gutherson.
The Eels see Moses and Gutherson as part of their long-term plans but have overhauled their recruitment methods following a disastrous salary cap predicament in recent years when they’ve overpaid for players and struggled to make a competition dent.
The changes include setting up a five-person roster management committee and a more data-centric approach to recruitment and retention.
The Eels offered Gutherson a contract in the pre-season worth about $500,000 which was rejected, with both parties agreeing to come back to the table early in the season.
People have been critical of the Eels for not locking in their stars, but the season is only four rounds old and they finished last in 2018, so you could forgive their caution.
The roster management committee was due to meet again on Thursday, with negotiations with Moses and Gutherson expected to pick up in coming weeks.
APPEAL ADDS EXTRA TO ANZAC DAY CLASH
AFGHANISTAN veterans Damien Thomlinson and Rachel Kerrigan donned commemorative Dragons and Roosters jerseys at Thursday’s Anzac Appeal launch at Hyde Park memorial.
RSL sub-branches around NSW will be encouraging people to donate to receive a token (pin) or donate online to raise funds to support Australian veterans and their families in need.
In 2018, not-for-profit charity RSL DefenceCare gave more than $724,000 in direct financial assistance, lodged 2000 claims with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, represented 180 new Veteran Review Board appeals and provided 132 counselling sessions.
This year’s appeal aims to highlight the Anzac family — the veterans and those around who support them.
“My family has been instrumental both during my time in service and as I continue my ongoing recovery and rehabilitation,” Thomlinson said.
“This includes my military family and my actual family and friends.”
Donate at: anzacfamily.com.au
JORGE VOLUNTEERS FOR A LITTLE UNPAID OVERTIME
DESPITE a hard-fought, golden-point win, Manly’s Jorge Taufua still had time to help ground staff at Lottoland last Saturday.
After playing for 85 minutes, Taufua was spotted dragging sideline advertising from the field. Taufua declined to explain his gesture.
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JAKE Trbojevic said brother Tom is an ordinary patient, accusing him of milking the attention at home.
“Bloody oath he does,” Jake said, with a laugh. “He sits there with the leg up ringing the bell.”
Jake watched Tom limp from the field at Lottoland last Saturday with a recurrence of a hamstring injury.
While it is in the same hamstring, the injury is in a different part of the muscle.
“He was devastated,” Jake said. “He is pretty frustrated. He worked hard to get back. Two good weeks now he is out again.
“It’s tough to see. It’s disappointing and sad. It is something he is going to have to manage for a long time.”
LISTEN! Matty Johns is back with his latest podcast and with Paul Kent and James Hooper runs the rule over struggling team, takes a look at what makes a great halfback and has his say on the modern coaching problem. Plenty of laughs to be had as well.
CANTERBURY fullback Nick Meaney said he felt his knee ligaments move as a result of Melbourne flyer Suli Vunivalu’s twisting tackle.
Vunivalu will miss one match for the awkward leg pull after tackling Meaney, which left the Bulldogs rookie clutching at his knee.
“It was an awkward situation,” Meaney said of the first-half incident in last weekend’s loss. “The tackle was done. I thought I was just going to get up and play the ball but the next minute I felt my leg get twisted.”
FANS MAKE MAGIC UP NORTH
SOUTH Sydney Rabbitohs and St George Illawarra Dragons fans are leading the charge north in snapping up tickets to next month’s inaugural Magic round.
Naturally, Brisbane Broncos members dominate the tickets purchased for the matches to be played at Suncorp Stadium at a whopping 44 per cent.
The North Queensland Cowboys fans are next best with 7 per cent.
But supporters of Sydney-based clubs — including South Sydney (6 per cent), St George Illawarra (4 per cent), Manly Sea Eagles (4 per cent) and the Sydney Roosters (3 per cent) have also bought tickets.
Melbourne Storm and Gold Coast Titans fans have 4 per cent stakes while Cronulla Sharks supporters account for just 0.74 per cent of sales.
About 60 per cent of all tickets purchased are for three-day passes.
Brisbane band Sheppard will headline the footy festival entertainment, taking to the stage on the Friday, while A.R.C. (Antipodean Rock Collective — a “supergroup” featuring individuals from Aussie icon bands Powderfinger, Jet, You Am I and Spiderbait — will play on the Thursday, Stafford Brothers on Saturday and the Preatures on Sunday.
Magic round kicks off with the Gold Coast and Cronulla clash on Thursday, May 9.
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PAUL Gallen made his pitch to sign Angus Crichton with a steak dinner in Cronulla at the end of 2017.
Gallen and then Sharks coach Shane Flanagan were desperate to sign the off-contract back-rower for this season, before he ended up joining the Roosters.
Crichton will come head to head with Gallen and the Sharks for the first time as a Rooster on Saturday night.
“I had a chat to them but I was pretty set on coming to the Roosters,” Crichton said. “To me it’s just another game. No real difference.
“I can’t remember (what Gallen said). It was nearly two years ago now.”
PIGGY IN THE MIDDLE OF MACQUARIE ROAST
THERE was plenty of star power at the “Year of the Pig” lunch at PJ Gallagher’s Pub at Moore Park on Thursday afternoon.
The lunch was a celebration — or more like a roasting — of Macquarie Sports Breakfast host Mark Riddell.
Jamie Soward, Brett Finch, Andrew Gaze, Anthony Minichiello, Craig Wing and Mark Bosnich joined Riddell and co-host Mark Levy to pay tribute to the man affectionately known as “Piggy”.
HUNTING HERMAN
RIVAL NRL clubs are keeping an interest in out-of-favour Newcastle Knights prop Herman Ese’se. The 24-year-old has played just one top-grade game this year, with teams happy to swoop before June 30.
TATT’S THE WHY I LIKE IT
THE Daily Telegraph readers can show their appreciation of wonder mare Winx ahead of Saturday’s farewell race by picking up this exclusive tattoo.
Our resident artist Scott ‘Boo’ Bailey designed this awesome cartoon of the retiring equine star, which is available with your copy of Friday’s paper.
Meanwhile, corporate bookmaker PointsBet is offering $2 for a multi of Winx to win the Queens Elizabeth Stakes and Chris Waller to cry post-race.
There must be proof of tears but PointsBet boss Andrew Fahey said the market would “make the post-race interview even more absorbing”.
Originally published as Rabbitohs eye Greg Inglis replacements, Eels contract delay revealed
Panthers slammed over ‘pathetic’ move
The Penrith Panthers are the all-conquering NRL champions but the club has abandoned their bid to claim the one trophy that’s eluded them.
Panthers celebrations switch from party to formal mode
Penrith Panthers players have ditched their sunglasses and shorts for suits and ties as the premiership party switches to formal mode for their end-of-season presentation night. SEE THE PHOTOS.