Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: Mitchell Pearce eyes Roosters return; Harry Garside’s Olympic threat
Mitchell Pearce is edging closer to an NRL return, but it won’t be with the Wests Tigers — check out all the latest sport and NRL news in WHAT’S THE BUZZ.
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Mitchell Pearce is now looking more than likely to be rejoining the Sydney Roosters next year.
Not in a role that is any threat to Sam Walker, who is expected back from a knee injury in two weeks.
Walker is still seen as the club’s long-term half despite being dropped four weeks ago.
Pearce, who is now 34, last played at the Roosters in 2017. He is seen as an ideal number 14 off the bench.
It’s the role that Connor Watson and Drew Hutchison have shared but both are now off contract at the end of the season.
Pearce is a three-time Jack Gibson medallist at the Roosters and is still close to Nick Politis and Trent Robinson.
He is playing outstanding football in the UK Super League where his French club Catalans is currently equal leaders.
As we reported in this column in January, Pearce swore off alcohol last Christmas. He hasn’t touched a drop since.
Tristan Hay, who acts as Pearce’s adviser, says the veteran halfback right now is totally focused on winning a Super League title.
“Mitch has really embraced the culture in France and it’s given him a great sense of perspective on things,” Hay said.
“I know he’s focused on winning a title with Catalans and after that I guess he will weigh things up.”
GARSIDE FACING OLYMPIC THREAT
Celebrity boxer Harry Garside has one last legal hurdle to clear before he can fight at the Paris Olympics.
Garside had domestic violence charges thrown out last week but is now facing a legal fight with his ex-manager over an alleged breach of contract.
Boxing Australia has now ruled Garside can’t fight at the Australian titles – the Olympic selection qualifying event in August – until he has a legal clearance.
His former manager Peter Mitrevski Jnr has hired lawyer Adam Houda to launch action.
He has previously made a settlement offer – believed to be $50,000 – which Garside rejected.
Garside won a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 – a medal he has since donated to the sporting museum at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
He signed a three-year management agreement with Mitrevski to turn professional after the Olympics but parted ways after six months and three fights.
Mitrevski had paid him a sign-on fee, provided a car and helped build his profile to a position where he was offered commentary roles on Fox Sports and then a start on Channel 10’s I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.
The president of Boxing Australia, Phil Goodes, has confirmed Garside needs a clearance to fight at the Olympic qualifiers.
“I understand there is a contractual agreement in place between Harry and his manager and promoter that he needs to comply with,” Goodes said.
“Our CEO has sent him a letter to that effect.
“Harry needs to provide evidence that his issues have been resolved.
“We haven’t disqualified anyone at this point but we’ve requested it be cleared up prior to any amateur competition.
“I would expect Harry and his team to negotiate with his promoter and his manager before the Olympic qualifiers to get the right outcome.
“Boxing Australia wants to move forward and focus on the Olympics.”
A spokesman for Garside said: “Harry’s aspiration to qualify for Paris 2024 is no secret and he has been absolutely overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and support he has received.
“In practical terms, he needs to retire from professional boxing to focus on qualification. He hopes to be able to wrap up talks with Mr Mitrevski as soon as possible and is grateful for his understanding of his position thus far.”
SAINT
Jarrod Croker. Not just a 300-game Raiders hero but a magnificent role model over 15 seasons. Good on Ricky Stuart for ensuring he played his milestone match in front of his fans in the national capital on Friday night.
SINNER
Parramatta players who behaved like kindergarten children when Shaun Lane was addressing the media on Wednesday on the very serious issue of Dylan Brown and the charges he is facing for alleged sexual touching. It’s time for all of them to grow up.
SHOOSH
Wests Tigers recruitment boss Scott Fulton is concerned about false rumours around Josh Schuster. “Josh’s manager Mario Tartak has never asked for $1.2 million from the Wests Tigers and I suspect I know where this is coming from,” Fulton said.
SHOOSH
Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart revealed information from inside team meetings to write a column about Jarrod Croker for The Daily Telegraph last week. Such is his respect for the players, Stuart emailed the column to his leadership group for approval before submitting his brilliant insight into the Raiders veteran.
SPOTTED
Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson is stepping up in the corporate world. He’s been appointed to the board of GSA Insurance, one of the club’s major sponsors. GSA executive chairman Paul Hines says Robinson was chosen because of his track record in leadership over a decade in the NRL in which he has won three premierships.
SPOTTED
Newcastle already has one of the NRL’s best home grounds – and it’s about to get a whole lot better. The state government is funding the installation of two giant high-definition screens at either end of McDonald Jones Stadium. They are six metres wider than the old screens and will be ready for the start of next season.
SPOTTED
Mitch Moses, Bryce Cartwright, Junior Paulo and J’maine Hopgood escaping Parramatta’s week of dramas with a round at Concord Golf Club on Thursday morning.
PARRA PARTY: EELS SPARE NO EXPENSE
The Parramatta Eels are sparing no expense in hosting a 40-year reunion for the players who delivered a historic premiership three-peat between 1981 and 1983.
Members of the 1986 grand final winning side will also be there.
All airfares and accommodation are being paid for by the club and every player will be given a premiership ring worth around $1000.
It will be a lovely touch seeing old fullback Paul Taylor back with the team. He was homeless on the Gold Coast for several months before getting his life back together.
CLEARY TEETH TAKEN OUT
Nathan Cleary has solved his ‘massive’ toothache problem that flared up before Origin I in Adelaide.
Some even suggested it was so bad that he would withdraw from the game.
The Panthers superstar had his wisdom teeth removed in hospital last week.
RACING VICTORIA’S CHEEKY NRL PLOY
Peter V’landys’ enemies at Racing Victoria are using the NRL to promote their Melbourne Cup carnival this year to try to recapture interest from Sydney’s spring feature race, The Everest.
In a cheeky marketing ploy, Melbourne’s racing administrators are cashing on the popularity of league by using the 2GB Continuous Call team to promote their carnival.
2GB is running adverts and giving away an all-expenses-paid trip to the Melbourne Cup.
V’landys has long been at loggerheads with Racing Victoria and recently launched court action against the racing authorities from south of the border and other states.
Yet he has laughed off the latest ambush-marketing ploy.
“They need all the help they can get,” he said.
“If I was them, I’d be using rugby league and our broadcasters too, not the AFL.
“It shows where rugby league stands. I’m not all surprised.”
V’landys has long been at war with Melbourne racing officials. He launched mega races The Everest and the Golden Eagle to attack his rival’s previous dominance of spring racing.
Last year he upped the ante by introducing the Big Dance on Melbourne Cup day.
“What we’ve done is to keep our customers in Sydney,” V’landys said.
“And it’s been very successful.
“Why go to Melbourne when you can have the exact same experience here?”
DOLPHINS IN FIJI WATERS
The Dolphins are always on the lookout for new talent to build on their impressive first-up season.
Head of recruitment Peter O’Sullivan and junior academy boss Kurt Richards are off to Fiji next week.
Townsville’s Kirwan High School is there to play Fijian youth sides that will feature the country’s best teenagers.
SOCKING IT TO HARD TIMES
The Family of League has its big fundraiser fast approaching. In round 17, clubs from juniors to NRL level are encouraged to purchase crazy socks at $15 a pair. All money raised will go to men, women or kids in the league community who have fallen on hard times and need help. The socks can be bought on the Family of League website.
SYDNEY ON SHOW TO TWO BILLION FANS
The FIFA Women’s World Cup in July and August will showcase Sydney to the biggest global audience since the 2000 Olympics via American TV network Fox Sports.
Fox Sports boss Rod Conti has lodged an application to Sydney City Council to erect temporary broadcast facilities around The Rocks on Sydney Harbour with a backdrop of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.
The network is the exclusive English-language broadcaster and will carry the vision and commentary to a world audience of two billion viewers.
Global superstar Sam Kerr and the Matildas are rated a $13 chance with TAB to win the tournament.
TRIPLE M CLAIMS RATINGS WIN
Anyone can manipulate NRL radio ratings to satisfy their advertisers.
The 2GB Continuous Call team finished ahead of all their rivals – Triple M, the ABC and SEN – in the latest rugby league ratings survey.
They’ve been unbeaten in all age groups since Ray Hadley’s early years (1989) and now with Mark Levy in the chair.
This hasn’t stopped Triple M, in a press release, claiming a clear victory in the key demographics.
● No.1 reach for people under 70, reaching 243,000 vs 118,000 on 2GB.
● No.1 reach for people 25-54, reaching 146,000 each week vs 41,000 on 2GB.
● No.1 share for people under 70 with 6.4% vs 4.7% on 2GB.
● No.1 share for people 25-54 with 8.4% vs 2.6% on 2GB.
Triple M claimed a similar dominance over Nine Entertainment’s 4BC in the Brisbane market.
MEDIA PROFILE: PETER ‘ZORBA’ PETERS, 77 (Sky Sports Radio)
First job? Cadet journalist for the Illawarra Mercury in Wollongong the day after I completed the leaving certificate at Keira Boys High. I did police rounds and council reporting before switching full-time to sport. I was playing first grade cricket and rugby league while still at school. I just loved sport.
Sporting heroes? I met West Indies master blaster Viv Richards when I was covering cricket and we had more than a few nights out in Sydney. Ghost-writing columns for the likes of Sid Barnes, Dennis Lillee, Tony Greig, Bruce Crampton and Arthur Beetson was a lot of fun. I also got to meet legendary San Francisco 49ers quarterback Joe Montana. I love the NFL and have followed it for over 40 years.
What team do you follow? Manly of course in the NRL, Manchester City in EPL and wherever Ange Postecoglou is coaching – he is a genius and has worked wonders with Celtic in Scotland.
What sport did you play? Played for NSW Combined High Schools in cricket and league and rowed in the cadet boat crew for North Wollongong SLSC. (Played six seasons for Manly and Parramatta).
How do you spend a day off? Plenty of days off now I’m almost fully retired. I have four granddaughters, a great granddaughter and a great grandson so spending time with them is so special along with my two boys Mike and Grant, my beautiful daughter Corinna and darling wife of 43 years, Cassie. I’m a lucky man.
Career highlights? I’ve made friends and enemies for life out of sport. It’s taken me around the world with the best seats in the house – places like Wembley and Old Trafford. Winning a grand final with my mate of 68 years, Bob Fulton, was epic. Plus working for 15 years with the late great sportswriter and boxing promoter Bill Mordey. And finally, calling footy as Hollywood and Zorba. For six hours on Saturday and Sunday with my close mate Greg Hartley for over 10 years on 2GB was so much fun.
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