What’s the Buzz: Cricket star David Warner denies bar brawl with Michael Slater
David Warner and Michael Slater fled to the Maldives to escape the coronavirus crisis in India, only to get caught up in rumours of an alleged altercation at a bar.
Phil Rothfield
Don't miss out on the headlines from Phil Rothfield. Followed categories will be added to My News.
David Warner and TV caller Michael Slater have furiously denied a report they had an altercation in the Maldives.
The pair is staying at the Taj Coral Resort in the Maldives having flown from India and the IPL tournament to escape the coronavirus crisis that forced the tournament to be postponed.
Slater had been working as a commentator on a local network. They are in quarantine for a fortnight before being allowed into Australia.
Sources said the pair had a disagreement and physical exchange in the bar late at night.
Slater told The Sunday Telegraph in a text: “There is absolutely nothing to the rumour mill Buzz. Davie and I are great mates and absolutely zero chance of (having) a fight.”
Warner said: “There has been no drama.
“I don’t know where you get these things from. Unless you were here and have got concrete evidence you can’t write anything.”
“Nothing happened.”
NINE’S SLIGHT FOR TODD
Todd Greenberg’s relationship with Channel 9 hasn’t improved.
You’d remember last year when ex-Nine CEO Hugh Marks slammed Greenberg’s leadership at the NRL before he was punted. Marks said Nine’s money had been “squandered by a bloated head office completely ignoring the needs of the clubs, players and supporters”.
Greenberg, now cricket’s player association boss, was on Channel 9 news last week to discuss the COVID crisis in India.
They tagged him on the 6pm bulletin as Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley.
GAL SIGNS $1M FIGHT DEAL
This is the moment old warhorse Paul Gallen signed the richest contract of his life.
Our photographer spotted Gallen, his adviser Peter Mitrevski Jnr and promoter Dean Lonergan in Pyrmont yesterday to sign a deal that’s worth potentially $1 million to the ex-NRL star turned boxer.
The parties had been arguing for weeks about the contract for Gallen to fight Australian heavyweight champion Justis Huni at Darling Harbour’s International conference centre on June 16.
STING LEFT IN THE HORNET
The great Jeff Horn still hasn’t officially retired from boxing. We spoke to him on Friday about the upcoming Tim Tszyu and Michael Zerafa fight, considering he’d fought both of them.
He thinks Tszyu will knock out Zerafa.
The conversation turned to his own plans. The former world champ last fought in August when destroyed by Tszyu in Townsville.
“I don’t think I’d ever fight at the same level again,” Horn said.
“There might be something but it certainly wouldn’t be a world title fight. I’m not saying I definitely will (fight again) but, potentially, who knows.”
More Coverage
Originally published as What’s the Buzz: Cricket star David Warner denies bar brawl with Michael Slater
Buzz: First look at NRL’s bumper TV campaign
The saturation coverage of the NRL Las Vegas season opener has pushed the other 13 clubs into the background – until now, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
Buzz: Vegas refs revealed as new goalposts create a stir
In a special Las Vegas edition of highlights and lowlights, BUZZ ROTHFIELD lifts the lid on referees for the season openers and the goalposts set to create a surprise for NRL fans.