NRL 2021: Des Hasler facing player revolt over Moses Suli future | Saint, Sinner, Shoosh
The Polynesian players on Des Hasler’s roster are not happy a teammate has been given permission to negotiate with rival clubs.
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Channel 9’s NRL coverage has been bowled over by former Test cricketer Mike Whitney.
In an unprecedented ratings disaster last Sunday afternoon, Whitney’s Sydney Weekender show at 5.30pm — which was a re-run —– knocked over Nine’s live NRL game in Sydney.
It is a crucial timeslot leading into the 6pm news and meant Channel 7 had a rare Sunday night victory with their news bulletin.
Nine will no doubt claim it was the fact the Brisbane Broncos were playing the New Zealand Warriors with no Sydney club involved.
However, the match was one of the most exciting Sunday games of the year with the Broncos winning a cliffhanger 24-22.
Whitney’s lifestyle show pulled in 165,000 viewers compared to Nine’s 160,000 with the NRL.
It is a shocking result for the network considering the AFL in Melbourne at the same time did a huge 310,000 in the Victorian capital.
The Broncos v Warriors on Foxtel and Kayo did 377,000 nationally.
The Nine figures are particularly concerning in that the network’s CEO Mike Sneesby is currently locked into negotiations with the NRL to extend their free-to-air deal.
Rival networks Seven and Ten have also expressed an interest.
As we have previously reported in this column, there was great concern at the NRL around Nine’s lack of promotion for rugby league and the fact they used the Australian Open tennis last year to advertise their rugby union coverage on Stan.
There is also some anxiety around the pending retirement of the legendary commentator Ray Warren — the voice of rugby league — and the fact they have no high-profile replacement.
Plus the opinions from panellists on Friday night around the disgraceful Latrell Mitchell shoulder charge on Joey Manu were so out of touch with the fan outrage.
All the latest NRL chatter and more in Australia’s hottest sport gossip column.
SAINTS
Superstars Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell are endorsing Covid vaccinations as part of an NRL campaign. It is so important to have our indigenous stars on board as the virus gets out of control in the state’s west. It’s just a shame Latrell tarnished his image so badly on Friday night.
SINNER
The financial controller at one Sydney-based NRL club who has been deducting $200 per week from every player’s pay packet for food they normally get for breakfast and lunch on training days – even though the team is now based in Queensland and all meals are covered by the NRL. The error has been rectified but not before the players kicked up a stink.
SHOOSH
Things are travelling smoothly at the Manly Sea Eagles although there is an elephant in the room. The Polynesian players on Des Hasler’s roster are not happy that Moses Suli has been given permission to negotiate with rival clubs.
SHOOSH
Former Canberra Raider John Bateman is normally prolific on social media but not when asked about his altercation with ex-teammate Curtis Scott last year. We twice private-messaged Bateman on Twitter last week but got nothing back, but the blue ticks showed he had read the requests for comment.
SHOOSH
Another old league boss is being touted for a role on the 2032 Brisbane Olympics organising committee. David Gallop is certainly well credentialed and has support in the right places. A former deputy chairman of Sport Australia, he was also a key player in the successful bid to bring the Women’s soccer World Cup to Australia for 2023.
SHOOSH
Which big-time Aussie golfer has split from his long-time partner? It’s been a difficult parting but it doesn’t seem to have affected his swing too much.
SPOTTED
Michael Hagan was supposed to spend October and November in England as Mal Meninga’s assistant with the Kangaroos at the recently-cancelled World Cup. Instead, he’s picked up a new surfboard to spend the summer on the beach in Newcastle.
SPOTTED
Rooster Angus Crichton has a career in hairdressing once he retires from the NRL. With the team staying on the Sunshine Coast, Crichton is in charge of player grooming. And they say he is as skilled as any barber.
SPOTTED
You can never question the integrity of NRL referees. They’re human and make mistakes. However, it was wrong that photos of Grant Atkins appeared on social media as a Penrith junior ref last week after the Panthers won the Round 23 penalties 11-2 against Souths.
PAYNEFUL ISSUE WITH HAAS’ AGENT
The Payne Haas contract delay with the Brisbane Broncos has been caused by tension between the front-rower and his management company.
The Broncos board has approved a staggering $6 million offer over six years but Haas has baulked at signing any agreement.
He is already under contract until the end of 2024 but the Broncos were looking at a big-money extension and upgrade to keep him at the club for life.
They also need to ensure he is off limits for a second Brisbane franchise.
Haas is managed by Chris and Gavin Orr from Pacific Sports management, the company that lost Manly Sea Eagles and Queensland Maroons captain Daly Cherry- Evans as one of their clients earlier this year.
If he was to sign for $1 million a season, the Orrs, who are on a seven per cent comission, would get an annual payment of $70,000 or $420,000 over the lifetime of the contract.
EELS CHASE TYRONE PEACHEY
The Parramatta Eels are deep in discussions with Gold Coast Titans utility star Tyrone Peachey.
Peachey is off contract at the end of the season and is apparently keen on a return to Sydney.
He played for the Sharks and then the Panthers before moving to the Titans.
The Eels have an established halves pairing in Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown but Peachey has proven himself as a utility who can handle many positions.
Brown is also off contract next year and is no certainty to be staying.
LUSSICK V ASOFA-SOLOMONA
Former NRL front-rower Darcy Lussick wants to fight Melbourne Storm giant Nelson Asofa-Solomona during the off-season.
He has used his social media account challenge the Storm star.
“If anyone knows where Nelson (has been) hiding last three years after he called me out, tell him I’m waiting,” Lussick provocatively posted.
In his first professional fight, Lussick knocked out Justin Hodges with a right hook in the first round.
CONCUSSION INCREASE DESPITE CRACKDOWN
The NRL’s high-tackle crackdown has spectacularly failed.
Introduced during Magic Round in an attempt to lower the number of concussions, it has had absolutely no effect.
Head injury numbers this season have actually increased substantially and incidents like Latrell Mitchell’s hit on Joey Manu don’t help.
Failed HIAs have jumped by an alarming 37 per cent from 3.5 per round (between 2016 and-2020) to 4.8 per round this season.
And this is where you have to ignore the NRL spin doctors who claim there are only more concussion cases because club doctors are more vigilant in dragging players from the field and keeping them off.
This is rubbish. Between 2016 and 2020, 38 per cent of players failed HIAs. This year it has been 37 per cent, virtually the same.
These figures have been tracked and compiled by NRL Physio, Brien Seeney.
The head injury debate was the biggest story in the game earlier in the season.
Yet it’s all been brushed aside and no-one has spoken about it for weeks.
What we have learnt is that the high tackle is a small part of the problem. Players actually making the tackles are concussed more often.
Along with Covid vaccinations, this is the biggest issue for the NRL in the off-season.
The game has become so much more punishing and more brutal under the new rules. Bigger, stronger, faster athletes collide with more force than they used to.
Rather than another wasteful mid-year crackdown, this needs to be addressed over the summer months. And if we need to adjust the rules, use the trial matches to experiment.
WAYNE PEARCE STORY DUMPED
League bosses were so embarrassed by yet another rule-change recommendation from commissioner Wayne Pearce that the story was dragged from the NRL’s website on Friday.
Veteran journalist Brad Walter wrote a follow-up story to an article that appeared in Nine newspapers where Pearce was pushing for a seven-tackle restart from kicks into touch.
That’s all the game needs. Another absurd rule change.
There was a suggestion Pearce’s idea would be trialled in the Canterbury Bulldogs v Wests Tigers game next weekend.
The story triggered a social media meltdown forcing NRL bosses to order the story be pulled from the website.
Senior players also bagged the proposal on their social media accounts.
The NRL was already in the process of undertaking a major cost-cutting exercise with the website.
As for Pearce, he finishes up on the commission after 10 years in February.
And with all the rule changes he has been responsible for in the last two years, this can’t come soon enough.
PANTHERS PINCHED OVER WALKIE-TALKIE
Penrith has been issued with an NRL breach notice and face a hefty fine after trainer Hayden Knowles was caught taking a walkie talkie onto the field last weekend.
The NRL operations manual is very clear: “No trainer’s communication equipment is allowed on the field during a match.”
The rule was introduced back in the 80s to stop coaches talking to the players during games. The Panthers have been given five days to respond.
TESTING TIMES
The NRL will not reveal the number of players who have been drug-tested since more than 300 stars moved to hubs in southeast Queensland.
“The NRL’s Illicit Drug testing program is continuing in Queensland,” said a spokesman, “Sport Integrity Australia are also continuing their testing programs. Testing is taking place at both training and on game days.”
BRIAN BRAINS ‘EM ALL
Penrith Panthers winger Brian To’o has become the NRL’s most popular player on video messaging platform Swysh. The NSW Blues star sits ahead of Origin teammates Tom Trbojevic, James Tedesco and Cameron Murray as the most in-demand rugby league players.
Despite being labelled arrogant earlier in the season, fans can’t get enough of the Panthers, who are the most popular NRL team on the platform. Swysh gives fans the opportunity to get a personalised video message from sports stars for birthdays and other celebrations.
The company donates at least 20% of the price of every video to Starlight & Variety (Australia).
EXPENSIVE NRL SEATS
The NRL ticket prices for matches in regional Queensland are way over the top. A grandstand seat to watch the Dragons v Cowboys at Browne Park in Rockhampton on Saturday night cost $100. General admission costs $55 for adults and $33 for a child (5-17).
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