Monday Buzz: Watch Phantom Siren’s NRL comeback, Round 20 highlights, lowlights
A familiar voice returned to rugby league in a bid to entertain Dragons fans after another miserable performance. WATCH THE VIDEO
Phil Rothfield
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Rugby league’s Phantom Siren has made a comeback.
Gosh Daher, 48, twice let loose with his renowned scream that sounds almost identical to the official NRL siren at Kogarah Oval on Sunday at the Dragons v Cowboys match.
“The Dragons players weren’t entertaining the crowd so I thought I would,” he said.
“It’s all good fun — the fans loved it.”
Watch the Phantom Siren in the video player above
TIGERS’ SHAMELESS CASH GRAB
We admire the strong commercial side of the Wests Tigers business.
However their decision to charge fans $70 ($55 for juniors) for a meet and greet night with the players in Brisbane on Friday night was a disgrace.
Other clubs run free coaching clinics and autograph sessions all the time.
It’s part of the responsibility of having an NRL franchise, not a commercial opportunity to make a few bucks.
WHY I WAS WRONG ABOUT FIFITA
Former Cronulla coach John Morris wanted to get rid of front-rower Andrew Fifita early last year – and I agreed with him.
He looked overweight, lazy and a waste of salary cap money, soaking up around $850,000-a-season.
I also didn’t like some of the issues from his past.
Now the Sharks want to sign him long term or for as long as he wants to be there.
Not as a footy player (he’s 33) but in a role in the football department.
Sometimes it doesn’t hurt to admit you were wrong, especially after a conversation with Craig Fitzgibbon on Sunday morning.
The new coach came in last October with a fresh set of eyes.
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Fifita had almost died last year in a freak accident in a match against the Newcastle Knights.
The coach was immediately impressed when he arrived in the Shire.
“I’d met him previously in NSW Origin camp and thought he was a good guy,” Fitzgibbon said.
“But I underestimated his care factor for the club and the love he has for his teammates.
“He’s got a winning mentality, that no matter what the situation, the game can be won.
“He’s all positive around the group in everything he does.”
Fitzgibbon didn’t care about the size of his pay packet or the strain on the cap.
“Andrew had been handed a long-term contract and he was entitled to that,” Fitzgibbon said.
“I’m happy for him and really admire that he’s come such a long way from the serious injury.”
Fifita had a blinder against the Rabbitohs on Saturday night.
The sold-out crowd started chanting his name after a barnstorming try similar to his premiership-winning touchdown in the 2016 grand final.
This wasn’t about skill but more his determination and resolve to get the football over the line no matter who was standing in the way.
Like Fitzgibbon, Sharks chairman Steve Mace cannot speak highly enough of the 244-game veteran.
“He is the cultural heartbeat of our club,” Mace said, “the real heart and soul.
“Among other things he plays an important role in luring and retaining pathways talent.
“The kids coming through have the highest respect for him.
“And so does everyone else at the Sharks.”
HIGHLIGHT
Shark Park on Saturday night. A golden point thriller with tribalism and atmosphere like nowhere else in rugby league. It shows why Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo are meeting Premier Dominic Perrottet on Monday to secure funding for these great venues. Long live suburban-ground footy.
LOWLIGHT
More match review committee inconsistency. A gouge last weekend wasn’t a gouge this weekend. An elbow to the head on Thursday night wasn’t an elbow to the head on Friday night. It’s a complete farce.
SHOOSH
Cody Walker remains an angry man. He appeared to push away Sharks forward Cameron McInnes as the players were shaking hands at full-time on Saturday night.
FREDDY’S BLUE
You can talk about Jack Wighton or Josh Addo-Carr but the biggest mistake Brad Fittler made in his NSW State of Origin selections was ignoring Canberra Raiders edge forward Hudson Young. He is an outstanding player.
SPOTTED
Dragons legend Billy Smith celebrating his 80th birthday at his favourite old watering hole, the Caringbah Inn with family and friends including Carol Raper, Johnny Peard and Rocket Reddy.
SPOTTED
Matty and Joey Johns, their dad Gary, Matty’s wife Trish and their great mate John Singleton at a long lunch on Friday afternoon at Collaroy Beach club that dragged on into the evening.
SPOTTED
Imagine doing a World Cup tour of England with three of the greatest characters to have played the game. Alfie Langer, Steve Blocker Roach and Paul Sironen are taking tours away in November. You can contact Gullivers Sport Travel www.gullivers.com.au or phone 02 92678655.
SPOTTED
Legendary boxing trainer Johnny Lewis and a couple of handy old NRL forwards, Gorden Tallis and Steve Beaver Menzies, will be guest speakers at the Mittagong Lions rugby league fundraiser lunch at Mittagong RSL next Friday, August 5. Tickets are available at $100 which includes lunch.
360 VIEW
Catch you on NRL 360 on Fox League at 6.30pm on Monday night with Braith Anasta, Paul Kent, James Hooper and Cooper Cronk to discuss all the big issues from another dramatic round of footy.
RUNS IN THE FAMILY
There was no better sledger in rugby league than the immortal Bob Fulton.
It now appears his grandson Zac has a sharp tongue and sense of humour to match his late pop.
In the heat of battle we’re told Zac may have even suggested to JWH “Isn’t it time you retired,” or words very similar.
It’s probably why he copped an elbow to the chin from the old fella along with a message like “Welcome to first grade son.”
Bob Fulton’s best mate Peter Peters says he’s not surprised Zac took on the Roosters stalwart.
“That’s just Zac,” Peters said, “Bozo used to be the best and he always told the kids: ‘Don’t take a backward step, never back down.’
“It didn’t matter who you were playing against.”
Young Fulton is already a much-admired young footballer on the northern peninsula after his lively debut on Thursday night.
Here is the proof.
The controversial pride jersey the players wore against the Roosters on Friday night are now being auctioned on line.
Zac’s jersey has attracted a bid of $2530 which is more than double the amount of any other player, including club favourites Jake Trbojevic and Daly Cherry Evans.
And it wasn’t just the surname.
The money from the jersey auctions will go to the GOTCHA 4LIFE foundation to provide funding for mental fitness programs that engage and educate in local communities. The auction will close 12pm on August 3. You can visit www.fanplus.com to make a bid.
Welcome to the #NRL young Fulton, I guess?
— ABC SPORT (@abcsport) July 28, 2022
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves on report.
(Courtesy Fox League)#NRLManlyRoosterspic.twitter.com/GP8UBwyv7R
ROOSTER TO HELP TITANS’ SPINE OVERHAUL
Unwanted Roosters hooker Sam Verrills is on the verge of signing with the Gold Coast Titans.
It will give the embattled club great experience in the spine with Verrills and Kieran Foran joining the bottom placed club and wooden spoon favourites.
Verrills is making way for the arrival of Brandon Smith at the Roosters next year.
This could be a decision the Roosters regret. The club’s finals revival in recent weeks coincides with Verrills settling back into the team after a bad run with injuries.
He has been in outstanding form in three straight victories over the Dragons, Knights and Sea Eagles.
BULLDOGS GET THEIR MAN
Cameron Ciraldo is expected to be announced soon as the Canterbury Bulldogs coach.
However, the record of Penrith’s assistant coaches in the NRL is not great.
The last two have been Trent Barrett and Garth Brennan.
Barrett achieved only a 14 per cent win record at Canterbury.
Brennan went to the Titans and achieved only a 30 per cent win record.
Barrett lasted 34 games at the Bulldogs, Brennan 40 games on the Gold Coast.
It just goes to show that success is hardly guaranteed just because you have come from a strong system like that at the Panthers.
At the Bulldogs there aren’t seven or eight Origin players.
At Belmore the junior pathways are nothing like what Penrith has.
Still there is a reason why Ciraldo has been the game’s most wanted coach.
He has had the best apprenticeship and has been patient waiting for the right opportunity.
Just like Craig Fitzgibbon who is doing such a wonderful job at the Cronulla Sharks.
BULLDOGS RECRUITMENT DRIVE CONTINUES
The impressive recruitment at the Canterbury Bulldogs continues with the addition of giant Cronulla Sharks and Newtown Jets front-rower Frank ‘The Tank’ Pele.
The 21-year-old has played only one NRL game for Cronulla but has a cult following.
He weighs more than 120kg and is an absolute powerhouse.
The one thing he lacks is fitness and an engine to play minutes which is something the Bulldogs will be working on.
Gus Gould has also signed impressive Manly Sea Eagles forward Andrew Davey for the next two years.
COMM GAMES’ RATINGS BOOM
The Commonwealth Games on Channel 7 knocked off the NRL and AFL on free-to-air television on Friday night in the five-city metro ratings.
The Games did 471k on Seven (7mate in Melbourne and Adelaide), the AFL got 363k on Seven (7mate Sydney, Brisbane and Perth) while the NRL got 280k.
However once you add the AFL and NRL figures from Fox Sports, it was more than likely a win for the footy codes.
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