Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: How Joseph Manu can return to Sydney Roosters in 2025, Ray Hadley slams Sonny Bill Williams
Ray Hadley has had enough of Sonny Bill Williams, slamming the former All Black for his social media comments. Meanwhile, the Roosters have left salary cap room for Joseph Manu to return in 2025. Phil Rothfield reveals all in Saint, Sinner, Shoosh.
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Broadcaster Ray Hadley has launched another astonishing attack on footy great Sonny Bill Williams, saying he is embarrassed to be working for the same media organisation.
The 2GB morning host let fly on his radio program last week over SBW’s social media comments on the Israel -Gaza conflict.
SBW is also employed by Nine Entertainment as a rugby union commentator on Stan.
“I don’t know how this bloke has continued to be employed by the network that employs me,” Hadley said.
“That’s a decision for people who are a higher post than me.
“It’s embarrassing he’s employed by this organisation. I’m embarrassed to be in the same camp as him.
“I’d say to the Nine board that employs me – you should be embarrassed as well, led by Mr (Peter) Costello, that you still employ him. How he sustains his job given his monosyllabic efforts on TV, I’ll never know, let alone his dim-witted approach on social media.”
I asked Hadley if senior management had contacted him over his comments.
“There has been no editorial interference whatsoever,” he said.
“I’m not going to sit back and ignore what he’s been saying. He needs to be called out. If he wants to go to Gaza, go to Gaza and stay there. I’ve had a gutful.”
Williams was unavailable for comment.
ROOSTERS LEAVE ROOM FOR MANU RETURN
The Sydney Roosters refuse to give up hope of having champion centre Joey Manu return to Bondi Junction - as early as next season.
Manu has signed a big money deal in Japanese rugby union with Toyota Verblitz – but is free to rejoin the Roosters from Round 12 of next year’s NRL competition.
This masthead can reveal Manu is locked in for only one season in rugby union – not two as has been widely reported.
Japanese rugby starts its competition in early December and finishes with the grand final in late May.
The Roosters would leave $500,000 in their salary cap to pay Manu for half of a season.
This is why they were not interested in chasing Zac Lomax from St George-Illawarra or any other big-name centres to replace both Manu and Joseph Sua’ali’i – knowing the Kiwi superstar can return.
Publicly the Roosters will deny Manu might return next year.
Trent Robinson threw journalists off the story with his comments at a press conference last week.
“It’s a huge loss for us and the game,” Robinson said, “I’m not sure if he’ll be back.
“I’d like him too because this is his home but after this year I’m not sure we’ll see him again in a professional sense.”
Outside of the Roosters there would be other options for Manu in rugby union.
There had been talk of him linking up with a Super Rugby club and possibly playing for the All Blacks.
However next year will be his 10th season at the Roosters if he returns in May.
He loves the club and knows James Tedesco will retire at the end of next season and the fullback spot will become his own.
SAINT
Panthers and NSW Origin winger Brian To’o is one of the game’s true nice guys. Last week he was at his local shopping centre and noticed a homeless man sitting out the front. To’o brought the man a roll from the local bakery and stopped for a chat.
SINNER
We have seen male NRL referees have multiple poor performances yet are treated like protected species and retain their position in first grade. Then we have Kasey Badger sacked after one bad game. What does this do to her confidence?
SHOOSH
Prime Minister and Rabbitohs tragic Anthony Albanese has retained his sense of humour, despite Souths’ dismal start to the season. He emailed his eight tips to The Sunday Telegraph sports editor James Silver this week with this line at the end: “And Souths to get the two points against the bye.”
SPOTTED
Titans coach Des Hasler driving a flash new Audi 4WD and checking out the booming real estate prices at Burleigh Heads on the Gold Coast.
SPOTTED I
Bryan Fletcher is a scratching from the Sunday night Matty Johns Show on Fox League this week as he celebrates his 50th birthday with his nearest and dearest in Bali.
SPOTTED II
We received a text message from Fletch before he left for Bali: “I’ve got a good spotted for you – Matthew Johns test-driving a canary yellow convertible Lamborghini from a Mosman dealership.”
SPOTTED III
Good on Wests Tigers for throwing open all gates 20 minutes before their match against St George Illawarra last Sunday when it was obvious from the lengthy queues that fans would’ve otherwise missed the kick-off.
BIG BREKKY
Catch you on the Weekend Big Sports Breakfast at 9.40am with Ray Thomas and Dean ‘Bulldog’ Ritchie to chat about all the big issues in rugby league.
CLYDESDALES THROWN UNDER THE GUS BUS
Canterbury Bulldogs have cut ties with their Queensland feeder club Toowoomba Clydesdales.
It comes less than two years since Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould spoke of his excitement around the affiliation that was to provide a pathway to the NRL for young players.
“I am really excited about this partnership,” Gould said at the time. “It will help provide development for young players looking for a career in rugby league.
“It will be a boost for the community and for the region where people love their football.”
And then all of a sudden they are gone.
JOINT RADIO WAR WINNERS
Triple M and the 2GB Continuous Call team are joint winners in the first NRL ratings for Sunday afternoon footy this year.
The latest survey took in the opening six rounds of the competition with the two networks sharing a 7.7 per cent share of the audience.
In Brisbane, Triple M (9.8) finished well ahead of the Continuous Call team (6) on 4BC.
The poor old ABC finished with just 3 per cent in Sydney — down from 4.3 last year — while SEN had 1.8 per cent.
No doubt your columnist will be labelled an “agenda-driven old fool” as per usual whenever Aunty’s sad rugby league radio ratings performances are mentioned on these pages.
Overall, in all timeslots, the ABC Radio audience share in Sydney has slumped to its lowest level since records began.
SPORT LOSES ANOTHER MEDIA GIANT
The sporting world has lost another media giant with the sad passing of David Lord, a former ABC radio commentator and host of Channel 7’s old Sunday morning show Sportsworld.
Lord was an authority on cricket, rugby union and loved his rugby league and the North Sydney Bears.
He was a massive Ken Irvine fan and even in his final months as he fought cancer, I would often receive text messages from Lord, always pushing the case for Irvine to become the next Immortal.
He told me last year: “I’m going to keep fighting on Ken’s behalf – I want to see it happen before I die. It’s a mistake and an injustice that needs to be rectified.”
During World Series Cricket Lord took a break from the media to manage superstars Viv Richards and Jeff Thompson.
REFEREES SPURRED ON
Referees are often in these pages for the wrong reasons, but credit where it is due.
This Wednesday, the NRL whistleblowers will undertake some activity at Spur Ranch in Picton as part of ANZAC Round.
Spur Ranch is run by RSL Lifecare and offers equine programs to veterans, serving members of the defence force and their families. The program is designed by veterans for veterans to promote wellbeing and recovery.
Most people who pass through the ranch are grappling with mental and physical challenges as a result of their service.
The initiative is led by Gerard Sutton, who volunteers at the ranch.
CLUBS HUNGRY FOR ANGUS
Former Origin and Kangaroos forward Angus Crichton has been one of the Roosters better and more consistent players this year.
His form has attracted the interest of rival clubs, including St George-Illawarra. There’s also a whisper the Parramatta Eels might be interested.
There has also been interest from French rugby union, although there has been no concrete offer.
He would become the third Roosters player to switch codes after Joseph Sua'ali'i and Joey Manu.
CAPTAIN BLUE FOR MADGE
Michael Maguire faces a difficult job deciding on a captain for the NSW Blues if fullback James Tedesco can’t make the side.
It will come down to a three-horse race between Cameron Murray, Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo – all outstanding leaders at their clubs.
He’s under huge pressure to hold off challenges from Dylan Edwards, Tom Trbojevic and possibly even Scott Drinkwater for his Blues jersey.
Returning from a concussion spell, Tedesco had an off night on Thursday against Storm.
Blues coach Michael Maguire refused to be drawn into speculation around the fullback or captaincy roles when we spoke on Friday.
“For all NSW players, the next four weeks is important,” he said.
TITANS CAN’T REEL IN JONAH
Gold Coast Titans have failed in an attempt to pinch highly regarded young halfback Jonah Pezet from Melbourne Storm.
Titans coach Des Hasler contacted Storm’s general manager of football Frank Ponissi two weeks ago to ask about the possibility of Storm releasing the 21-year-old halfback.
Pezet was made aware of the Titans interest but chose to stay at Storm, knocking back what would have been a significant pay increase.
It was a big call considering he has both Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster ahead of him in Melbourne whereas he would walk straight into the NRL team on the Gold Coast.
He is under contract until the end of next season at the Storm.
Hasler dropped his struggling halfback Tanah Boyd to QLD Cup last weekend and started with Kieran Foran and AJ Brimson in the halves. They improved enormously against the Raiders.
However the Hasler and the Titans desperately need a long-term solution at halfback.
There is talk they may have some interest in veteran Chad Townsend, who is off contract at the end of the season at the Cowboys.
There are no other experienced halfbacks on the market for next season.
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