NRL news: Sea Eagles committed to playing historic match in United States in 2023
The NRL’s American dream isn’t over yet as the Sea Eagles reaffirm their commitment to playing a historic match in the US to kick-off next season.
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The NRL’s American dream is still on the table with the Sea Eagles remaining committed to the historic match to kick-off next season.
The NRL is pushing on with plans to open the 2023 season in the US, despite South Sydney’s revelations that they will not be part of the game.
The original concept was to pit the Russell Crowe-owned Rabbitohs against Manly but the Rabbitohs have pulled out. It is understood the NRL remain keen to push the round zero match and have already talked with other clubs.
Manly boss Tony Mestrov said his club was committed to the match.
“We are slightly disappointed because we are 100 per cent behind it and we would do anything to make it happen,” Mestrov said. “Obviously (owner) Scott Penn wants to be the driver behind this game because he lives in America and sees the opportunities.
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“He can assist in bringing partners to the table. We understand why (Souths have pulled out) but the fact is there is an opportunity for us also with our partners and sponsors to assist the club and make them happy. But look, we need to play someone.
“I know (ARLC chairman) Peter V’landys is very keen on it and so are we. We want to support his vision to open up a new market.”
The Rabbitohs opted out because of the lack of “concrete information” attached to the game, which is scheduled to take place the week before the rest of the competition play round one.
The NRL wanted to use Crowe’s profile to help endorse the game. Manly fan Hugh Jackman is expected to be a key part of any promotion.
The end-of-season World Cup complicates things given players will have an extended break, but Mestrov said his club was comfortable with the arrangements.
“We understand there are new markets and growing the game,” Mestrov said.
SIN BIN’S RATINGS SOAR
Leading radio network Triple M is celebrating record ratings in the wake of the explosive Anthony Maroon walkout saga.
The addition of England Test legend James Graham has produced stunning results with Triple M’s Sunday Sin Bin show surging in the ratings and claiming the No.1 ranking for male listeners in the 25-54 age group.
The Sin Bin show was seemingly in crisis just three months ago when long-serving host Maroon sensationally quit after an on-air spat with award-winning panellists James Hooper and Paul Kent, the latter of whom also resigned.
But with Graham on board and a new host in Ben Dobbin, bolstered by Hooper and Queensland legend Gorden Tallis, the show has sensationally come out of the Sin Bin to dominate ratings.
With an overall market share rising from 5.7 per cent to 9.1pc, Triple M’s Sin Bin is closing in on long-time kingpins 2GB, who are under siege at 9.3pc.
Former Bulldogs and Dragons front-row enforcer Graham has proved a smash hit with his intellect and forthright analysis of the NRL’s hottest topics.
BUNNIES’ BIG CALL ON ROOKIE
South Sydney is on the verge of locking down boom half Lachlan Ilias to a long-term contract extension.
Confidential understands that Ilias’ manager Braith Anasta is due to meet the Rabbitohs on Friday and Ilias is expected to take up the deal that will keep him at the club for at least another three seasons — he is currently off-contract at the end of 2023.
Ilias is among the contenders for rookie of the season, having been a fixture in the Rabbitohs’ side alongside Cody Walker.
After making one appearance last season, the 22-year-old has played in 22 games and registered 10 try assists and 10 line break assists, not to mention four tries of his own.
He would likely attract widespread interest should he officially head to market on November 1 but the Rabbitohs are doing everything they can to make sure that doesn’t happen as they juggle his contract talks with their plans to retain his fellow spine stars — Walker, Latrell Mitchell and Damien Cook.
KNIGHTS, KNOWLES SPLIT
Newcastle and trainer Hayden Knowles have reportedly parted ways effective immediately.
Knowles was placed into the spotlight following a confrontation with prop David Klemmer earlier this month. He joined the Knights this year on a multi-year deal after a successful stint at the Panthers.
Klemmer served a one-game ban for his spray directed at Newcastle’s head of performance. Knowles has a long history in the game and is part of the NSW set-up.
NEWCASTLE BEGINS SQUAD OVERHAUL
Super league try-scoring machine Bevan French will make his NRL return after agreeing to join the Knights.
It is expected French’s deal is for at least two seasons.
French has long craved an NRL return since quitting rugby league Australia to become an instant Super League sensation.
The Knights are also expected to step up their pursuit of injured Manly outside back Reuben Garrick.
French was a try-scoring machine during his time at Parramatta. The 26-year-old played 47 top grade games at the Eels between 2016-18 where he crossed 35 times. At Wigan, he scored a Super League record seven tries during Wigan’s 60-0 win against Hull FC last month.
Wigan are resigned to losing French, who has been a revelation at the club this year. He scored a Super League record seven tries during Wigan’s 60-0 win against Hull FC last month. He is expected to slot on the wing but will provide Newcastle with a handy back-up fullback option.
The Knights are also making moves to land Garrick. If Garrick and French arrive it would almost certainly push Kalyn Ponga into the halves.
Garrick has craved a starting fullback spot and his path is obviously blocked at the Sea Eagles because of Tom Trbojevic. It is understood Manly would be reluctant to let Garrick go but will consider releasing him from the final year of his deal if Garrick no longer wants to play on the flank.
He has been a regular for the Sea Eagles since making his debut in 2019 and has performed strongly at the back in Trbojevic’s absence.
The Knights will lose back-up fullback Tex Hoy (Hull FC) and winger Edrick Lee (Dolphins) won’t be at the Knights next year.
SHARKS LOCK IN RONALDO
Cronulla has locked down the first piece of its starting back five by securing Kiwi flyer Ronaldo Mulitalo to a multi-year deal.
Mulitalo is the first member of Cronulla’s star-studded backline players to recommit to the club after agreeing to a new two-year deal which expires at the end of 2025.
The Sharks are looking to stave off a feeding frenzy with Mulitalo’s teammates Will Kennedy, Sione Katoa, Jesse Ramien and Sifa Talakai free to hit the open market on November 1.
Discussions have started with the players with Mulitalo making his intentions clear to remain loyal to the club which gave him his first start by rejecting the opportunity to test the market.
Mulitalo told The Daily Telegraph earlier this month that the quintet had spoken and agreed to potentially take less money to remain at the Sharks as they work towards winning a premiership at the club.
“It’s tough for the club, we just have to try and find some way of fitting us all in. I‘m pretty confident something will happen,” Mulitalo said.
“We’ve all had conversations about being together. We have won championships together through the juniors and through reserve grade, so we want to stick together.”
The 22-year-old made his Kiwis debut earlier this year and will be part of New Zealand’s end of season World Cup squad.
He has already scored 40 tries from his 60 top grade games since playing his first NRL match in 2019.
Talakai is expected to receive the biggest jump after making his Origin debut this year.
The Sharks are also in discussions to give skipper Wade Graham another 12 months with his deal expiring at the end of the season.
CROWE BLOW FOR NRL’S AMERICAN DREAM
The NRL will be forced to pursue their American dream without South Sydney and the pulling power of Russell Crowe.
Sports Confidential can reveal that the Rabbitohs have informed the NRL that they will not take part in a game on American soil next year, leaving head office scrambling to find another club to face Manly in round one.
Confidential understands that St George Illawarra are the preferred alternative to South Sydney and a senior Dragons official has already been approached about their interest in playing the Sea Eagles.
ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys and NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo remain keen on the game going ahead and plan to make a detour to America on their way to the World Cup in November as they look to shore up the concept.
However, Souths’ withdrawal shapes as a sledgehammer blow to the NRL given they were counting on using the profile of Crowe to help promote the game.
That could still happen, although his interest is likely to wane if Souths — the club he part owns with James Packer — are not involved.
Rabbitohs chief executive Blake Solly made it clear the Rabbitohs were keen on being involved in the concept in the future, but have concerns over the timing given there will also be a World Cup at the end of the season.
“We have always been consistent that if it is part of a long-term strategy in the US, we would like to be part of it,” Solly said.
“But given that it is late-August and the game is supposed to happen in March, and we don’t have any concrete information, we’re not sure how the game can succeed there in 2023.
“There is also the complication of the World Cup, All Stars in Rotorua. We think the game would be best served by holding on and doing it properly in 2024.”
The NRL is expected to hold the game on the west coast of America and V’landys and Abdo are likely to visit stadiums as part of their fact-finding mission on the way to the World Cup.
The NRL has already considered ways to fit the game into the schedule in a way that doesn’t disadvantage the teams involved, their cause helped by the introduction of a bye next year to accommodate the Dolphins as the competition’s 17th team.
DCE’S NERVOUS WAIT
Daly Cherry-Evans is concerned that Manly’s insipid end to the year may cost him his Australian jersey.
The incumbent Kangaroos half has been part of a Sea Eagles side that has lost five games in succession, the Pride jersey fiasco the start of a slide that has cost them any chance of playing finals football.
Cherry-Evans was already under pressure to retain his Australian No.7 jersey from Penrith and NSW halfback Nathan Cleary. He concedes the past month hasn’t helped his cause, nor will the prospect of sitting out the finals series while Cleary leads the Panthers’ premiership charge.
“Definitely a bit nervous,” Cherry-Evans said. “That philosophy out of sight, out of mind — there is not going to be many people talking about Manly.
“Naturally I am aware of what our season is doing to the hopes of not just me, but a heap of us wanting to go to the World Cup.
“There are still two more games to go so I am still holding out hope that we can finish with a bang and I can play some good footy with that.
“I have always maintained it I can get a spot in that squad, I will back myself to be in the team when we get over there. There is a still a lot of water to go under the bridge before we get there so I am hoping we can finish strongly.”
Cherry-Evans is expected to feature in a Prime Minister’s XIII side to play PNG at Suncorp Stadium next month.
SHOOSH
Which club bumbled its way through recent staff cuts? We’re told a senior staff member was going around the office handing out envelopes to tell staff their services were no longer required. One stunned staff member opened the letter only for it to be addressed to another person.
DRAGONS CIRCLING PNG STAR
The Dragons are considering handing PNG international Dan Russell a contract for next season. Russell, 26, has been impressing for the Brisbane Tigers in the Queensland Cup this year. The backrower/centre has bounced around NRL set-ups before after stints with North Queensland and Brisbane but did not make his NRL debut.
WOODS HITS THE MARK
Once Aaron Woods steps onto the field for the Dragons on Sunday against his former club the Tigers, he will automatically activate another 12 months on his deal. While the Tigers are still considering making a play at bringing the former captain home, Woods is guaranteed to remain in the NRL for at least another season.
His deal with the Dragons was a guaranteed 12-month contract for this season with an option for next year if he plays 18 games. He will meet that mark on Sunday.
NO TWEAKS IN DEAD-RUBBERS
The NRL has used so-called dead-rubbers to trial rule changes in recent years. But it won’t be happening this year. Either of Sunday’s games between the Tigers/Dragons and Knights/Titans would have been a perfect avenue to trial any potential changes given they have no impact on the make-up of the finals.
‘SUPERMAN’ ENTERS HALL OF FAME
Former IBO/IBF world titleholder Gairy “Superman” St Clair will be inducted into the Australian boxing hall of fame on Friday night.
St Clair’s decorated career ended in 2013 after 45 wins, 12 losses and two draws including a world title victory against Cassius Baloyi in 2006.
He will be inducted at a dinner in Melbourne on Friday night.
GF TICKET RUSH
Fans have wasted little time snapping up grand final tickets after they went on sale on Wednesday. About 15,000 tickets have already been sold following the first release of tickets. The match at Accor Stadium on October 2 was only confirmed last week. By comparison it took four months to sell the same amount of tickets in 2019.
NRLW LENDS HAND TO LANDMARK STUDY
The NRLW has partnered with the Australian Institute of Sport to conduct a landmark study into the impact of periods on health and performance.
The research will involve 26 members of the NRL Indigenous women’s academy. They will train full-time at the AIS in Canberra while being monitored and supported daily by 12 female researchers conducting 10 different studies.
The research is a collaboration between the AIS, the National Women’s Rugby League (NRLW), the Australian Catholic University (ACU), and Boston Children’s Hospital’s Female Athlete Program.
“We have seen an incredible growth in women’s sport over the past decade and it’s imperative that we commit to research and innovation to support the health and performance of our female athletes,” AIS FPHI project lead Doctor Rachel Harris.
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