NRL players globetrotting holidays, Manly won’t let Barrett walk with payout and Todd Greenberg’s royal secret
NRL stars put the season behind them with globetrotting holidays, Super League interest in Paul Gallen and Hayne v Norman for the Dragons. It’s all in What’s the Buzz with DAVID RICCIO.
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- What’s the Buzz: Foran ties the knot
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- Cook set for bumper payday
MANLY’S plan to keep Trent Barrett working, Todd Greenberg’s royal secret and why Anthony Seibold is leaving South Sydney … It’s all in What’s the Buzz with DAVID RICCIO.
SAINT
HAVE we seen a stronger calibre of Australian sportswomen? Cate Campbell was a deserved winner of the Women’s Health’s magazine Sportswoman of the Year award on Wednesday night. Yet the trophy could’ve quite easily been presented to fellow finalists Madison de Rozario, Sam Kerr, Stephanie Gilmore, Stephanie Morton or Tia-Clair Toomey.
SINNERS
THE AFL big wigs for removing the cost-of-living allowance for Sydney teams, leading to the salary cap squeeze that has forced out Tom Scully, Dylan Shiel and Rory Lobb. The allowance was stripped after the Melbourne clubs — led by Collingwood boss Eddie McGuire — whinged about the Swans signing Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett. They’re now taking great delight in trying to ruin the playing lists of Sydney’s teams.
SHOOSH
Which St George Illawarra Dragons player are the Newcastle Knights attempting to lure before next season?
SHOOSH II
Which talented South Sydney winger could be headed to a nearby rival club within the next fortnight?
SHOOSH III
Which supposed battler from Sydney’s west and breakfast radio host is going better than you’d think, given he’s been online bidding for a new boat?
SHOOSH IV
Which rugby league player agent is about to have every one of his clients black-banned by a prominent NRL club?
SPOTTED
Fox Sports’ Brenton Speed and the man that helped him go viral — former Newcastle Jets ace Riley McGree — at the FFA season launch on Monday. Speed’s call of McGree’s wonder goal against Melbourne City back in April has been viewed over a million times on YouTube.
SPOTTED II
Livewire Bulldogs rake Michael Lichaa refusing to acknowledge the NRL off-season by shuttle-running the backstreets of Gymea last Friday.
SPOTTED III
Big Gordie Tallis and the Mayor of Gunnamatta Martyn Downs at the Royal Hotel in Bowral.
SPOTTED IV
Cricket tragic and former PM John Howard, Manly coach Trent Barrett, champion wicketkeeper Ian Healy and Queensland Origin centre Mark Coyne at an SCG luncheon on Wednesday to celebrate 20 years since Mark Taylor equalled Don Bradman’s highest test score of 334 not out.
NRL STARS ENJOY A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE
BACK in the day, footy players would drive to Terrigal or Surfers Paradise. A week on Kuta Beach was reserved for the seriously adventurous.
How times have changed.
Now, the NRL’s biggest names use October to travel the globe for their rest and recovery before returning to the grind of pre-season training next month.
From camel rides with Eels trio Jarryd Hayne, Tim Mannah and Michael Jennings in Dubai, to a trip to Turkey with Canberra’s Aidan Sezer.
The NRL is flush with players who love US sports and, not surprisingly, a huge contingent took in the NFL, led by retired Storm forward and Green Bay Packers fan Ryan Hoffman.
In Philadelphia, Penrith’s Isaah Yeo, Kaide Ellis, Jack Hetherington, Corey Waddell, Wayde Egan and Jed Cartwright got behind NFL’s Eagles, while Dragons fullback Matt Dufty has been travelling through Canada.
But the Dally M winner for post-season trip goes to Corey Norman, James Segeyaro and former Penrith half Isaac John, who headed to exotic Sri Lanka.
“Can’t be more happier, experiencing different cultures and views with the same ones you do everyday life with,’’ Segeyaro posted on Thursday on Instagram.
EAGLES WANT BARRETT TO WORK FOR PAYOUT
HEAD coach of the under-20s or Des Hasler’s assistant are the two jobs the Manly Sea Eagles are planning to offer Trent Barrett — just to avoid paying out the remainder of his contract.
As bizarre and as absurd as the scenario sounds, Manly have zero intention of paying out their former mentor.
The 20s’ head coaching role at Manly is vacant due to the departure of Wayne Lambkins to Wests Tigers.
Manly believe their case — that it was Barrett’s decision to walk and not the club’s — excludes them from any payout.
Barrett’s contract runs until next July and is worth in excess of $300,000. The Sea Eagles are in the final stages of announcing Hasler as their head coach. Club figureheads are acutely aware of the questions they’ll field from the media about Barrett when Hasler is announced, which is why they’re pushing to resolve the Barrett dilemma immediately.
One familiar face who could be back working with Hasler is recruitment guru Noel “Crusher” Cleal. Crusher has been keeping his powder dry after finishing up at the Dogs in 2016.
TODD’S ROYAL SECRET
TODD Greenberg kept his rare and privileged meeting with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex secret from even his closest NRL confidants.
Greenberg was informed at the start of the week that he would be meeting Prince Harry and Meghan at Macarthur Girls High on Friday, but the footy boss didn’t tell anyone at the NRL until the very last moment.
An honour to spend time with The Duke & Duchess of Sussex today as part of their #RoyalTourAustralia Their Royal Highnesses took part in the NRL’s In League In Harmony program–promoting social cohesion and empowerment-alongside students from Macarthur Girls HS @KensingtonRoyal pic.twitter.com/37MuMXrIud
— Todd Greenberg (@Todd_Greenberg) October 19, 2018
Greenberg was chosen to showcase the NRL’s In League Harmony program, which was hand-selected for the Duke and Duchess to participate in.
Greenberg’s dizzy 48 hours didn’t end there.
From Sydney’s west, he then drove to Berrima for the wedding of Yvonne Sampson and Nine news reporter Chris O’Keefe before flying to New Zealand on Saturday for lunch with the King and Queen of Tonga.
RHINOS’ GALLEN FEELERS
TIMING is everything in rugby league.
Less than two hours after signing on for a 19th consecutive and final NRL season, Cronulla captain fielded a call from Leeds to play in the UK Super League.
New Leeds coach David Furner is working his Aussie contacts in the aim of adding an experienced NRL forward to his squad alongside midweek signing Konrad Hurrell.
SIEBOLD’S STUDY TOUR
IF Souths coach Anthony Seibold is leaving for the Brisbane Broncos before next season, he hasn’t told his players and neither is he at home stressing about the biggest decision of his career.
The Dally M Coach of the Year is currently in the UK on a study tour of the world’s biggest football clubs.
Rabbitohs boss Shane Richardson is in Fiji and returns home on Monday and is determined to put the matter to bed — one way or another — this week.
KNIGHTS TREK FOR BRAIN CANCER
AFTER tackling the world’s highest mountain last year and raising $500,000 for brain cancer research, supporters of the Mark Hughes Foundation have set themselves another ambitious target — the Borneo Coast to Coast trek.
Led by Newcastle Knights legend Paul Harragon and Hughes, the 37 trekkers face a 160km mountain bike ride before tracing the footsteps of WWII Aussie POW’s on the Sandakan Death March.
Hughes and his team, including ex-teammates Billy Peden, Steve Crowe, Brad Godden and Luke Davico, leave on Wednesday.
“There’s a fair bit of unknown about this trek, but what we do know is the heat will be oppressive,’’ Hughes said.
Man Shake boss and former Knights great Adam MacDougall has donated $100,000, while NIB have assisted with clothing and footwear. To donate go to: markhughesfoundation.com.au
BRACEY CLUB
A BIG high five to North Sydney Bears diehard and NRL host for Nine James Bracey and wife Margot, who welcomed home their newborn daughter Matilda Joan Bracey on Tuesday.
“It’s all systems go and I’m very happy to report that bub looks like mum,” the first-time dad told this column.
HAYNE OR NORMAN WOULD SUIT RED V
THE double-take headline this week was the Dragons interest in Jarryd Hayne.
However, where the real story resides is: What are the Dragons looking for in 2019 that they don’t believe they already have?
The answer? A ball-playing fullback. It’s why Hayne’s name has been mentioned and, provided the Eels would be willing to contribute to his salary at the Dragons, you can add Corey Norman as well.
Saints No. 1 Matt Dufty has blinding speed, can sniff out a try and is willing to develop. But, ultimately, it’s the view of some — not all within the club — that Dufty, has capped skills as a fullback with an inability to create in attack, either with sharp passes or neat kicks.
It’s why Hayne’s name has been floated. But of greater appeal would be Norman — with his silky hands, deft kicking and experience at fullback.
A POSITIVE SIGN
OH c’mon, is there anyone the Sydney Roosters won’t try to sign?
We jest of course, as this was a lovely gesture from Triple M’s Gus Worland.
As an Invictus Games ambassador, Worland asked the NRL premiers for a jersey pack for him to present to Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex on Saturday night.
“Hopefully we can get him to support rugby league and the Chooks,’’ Gus said.
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Originally published as NRL players globetrotting holidays, Manly won’t let Barrett walk with payout and Todd Greenberg’s royal secret
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