Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: Bulldogs sign Aaymon Fitzgibbon, Yvonne Sampson and Chris O’Keefe expecting second child
Fresh from signing Michael Ennis’ son, the Bulldogs have nabbed another former legend’s offspring. Plus, Yvonne Sampson and Chris O’Keefe reveal their big news and more in Saint, Sinner, Shoosh.
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Phil Rothfield reveals that Yvonne Sampson and Chris O’Keefe are expecting again, Willie Peters inches closer to the NRL, the son of Craig Fitzgibbon joins the Bulldogs renaissance, and more in Saint, Sinner, Shoosh.
SON OF FITZY BELMORE-BOUND
The Canterbury Bulldogs have made yet another significant five-eighth signing — this time the highly-rated son of Cronulla Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon.
Aaymon Fitzgibbon is a 19-year-old from the Illawarra Steelers SG Ball team who had an offer to play for St George Illawarra before signing with the Bulldogs on a three-year deal.
“The Dragons wanted to keep him,” said his agent David Riolo.
“He’s a big body and a really good kid.
“He just thought the Dogs were a better fit at this stage.”
It comes just a week after Michael Ennis’ son Jack also joined Canterbury.
The Bulldogs are now stockpiling many of the game’s best rising stars in their pathways.
Three weeks ago they pinched another outstanding youngster from the Dragons – former Australian schoolboy star Finau Latu.
CHAOS INCOMING FOR VONNY AND CHRIS
THE BETTER HALF – with Chris O’Keefe, husband of Yvonne Sampson
Q: I hear you may have some great news to share, mate?
We do! Vonny, Henry and I are expecting another little addition. Henry’s about to be promoted to big brother and we’re absolutely thrilled. Chaos incoming.
Q: Geez, you’ve done well to keep it a secret considering Vonny is on TV every weekend sitting in front of hundreds of thousands of viewers.
Let’s just say when Vonny locked herself in her hotel room in Vegas for Round 1, a few of her colleagues started to suspect something was up. But we managed to keep it quiet, it’s important to us to keep our private life, private.
Q: You already have a son, Henry. Tell us about Vonny the mum.
She’s an extraordinary mum. She is not just the heart of our home, but the brains, legs, arms and everything else too. I’m honestly just trying to keep up. Henry absolutely adores Vonny, watching them together fills me with so much happiness.
Q: How do you go helping out at home?
Like most blokes my age, I do as much as I possibly can to help, it’s important to me to be as present and helpful as possible. I love spending time with Henry and it’s not fair to let the household pressures build up on your partner without doing your bit. In saying that, the real heavy lifting’s done by Vonny, I’m basically the support runner waiting for the offload.
Q: I trust the new arrival will be another St George Illawarra fan. Poor kid.
Henry had his Red V membership before he had a Medicare card, this will be no different. It’s important they build some character through long stretches of extreme disappointment.
Q: And how’s life with you mate. I miss your old show on 2GB.
You might be the only one! But life’s brilliant. My business, Emerald House Advocacy, is flying along. Great clients, really interesting work. I’ve also got a whole new respect for anyone who runs their own business, it’s a different kind of stress, but a very rewarding one.
SAINT
The Broncos have hired experienced old crisis-management expert Grant ‘Grunter’ Williams. This guy is a genius at putting a positive spin on any drama or scandal. We hope he can put in some work on coach Michael Maguire’s phone manners.
SINNER
Forget the cost-of-living crisis and every other issue in this country … When will Albo fix the television anti-siphoning laws that will actually allow us to watch the Socceroos qualify for the World Cup and the Australian cricket team play South Africa in the world championship final at Lord’s on traditional channels rather than having to download various streaming devices. It. Is. A. Joke.
SHOOSH
Which NRL club recently parted company with a senior employee over accusations he was leaking sensitive information to a player agent and a prominent member of the media.
SHOOSH
Which big-name (and I mean really big-name) is being linked to Perth Bears. He is a sensational player who will attract others to the new franchise.
SHOOSH
Which struggling club is making discreet inquiries around Maroons and Cronulla assistant coach Josh Hannay for 2026.
SPOTTED
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary enjoying the bye break with a surf at Newport on Tuesday. “He’s no Mick Fanning but goes ok,” says our informant. We found this old snap of Ivan from 1994 at Narrabeen.
SPOTTED
Rugby’s $5 million man Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii says the upcoming Wallabies series against the British and Irish Lions is bigger than rugby league’s State of Origin. Television ratings will prove that this statement is complete nonsense. Yes, there is great interest in the rah-rahs this year but Origin will attract more eyeballs.
SPOTTED
Cronulla Sharks old boys are holding a fundraiser for FightMND’s Big Freeze at Taren Point Bowling club on Sunday, June 29. You’ll get to play bowls alongside club legends Matty Rogers, David Peachey, David Hatch, Gavin Miller, Mitch Healey and Aaron Raper among others. Tickets are $120 including a lunch and drinks package. Contact Trudy Maher at: trudy@lipkemotors.com.au for details.
SPOTTED
All roads lead to the Coogee SLSC next Sunday to celebrate the life of one of the South Sydney Rabbitohs’ all-time favourites — Darrell “Number 9” Bampton — who passed away last year. A ceremony will take place at 11.30am where Number 9’s ashes will be scattered off the beach; a place where he loved to body surf. A host of former and current players are expected to attend.
GIVE WILLIE A GO
Roosters legends Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Mitchell Pearce are backing Willie Peters to become the NRL’s next coaching success story as pressure intensifies on Anthony Seibold at Manly, and remains on Des Hasler at the Titans and Adam O’Brien in Newcastle.
Peters — the former Souths and St George-Illawarra halfback — broke a 45-year trophy drought for Hull Kingston Rovers with a victory last weekend against Sam Burgess’ Warrington in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley.
Hargreaves played in the front row in a hard-fought victory that has catapulted Peters, the 46-year-old coach, into serious contention for the next head-coaching role that becomes available.
“It was a hell of an achievement for Willie and everyone at the club,” Hargreaves said.
“I can’t speak highly enough of him. Pretty much since we first connected, I noticed his strength was his work ethic and how much he cares about his players.
“If he ever gets an opportunity in the NRL, which I think he should, he’ll be great.”
JWH has been around rugby league a long time. He knows better than most what it takes to succeed in the cut throat world that is NRL coaching.
“I’m talking about his core values and what Willie stands for,” Hargreaves said.
“He’s a very intelligent man with a great league IQ.
“He’s obsessed with what he does and loves what he does. He’s worked his arse off and deserves all the recognition he’s now getting.”
Pearce is also a massive Peters fan. He played under him at Newcastle where Peters was an assistant coach for two years.
“He helped me a lot from an attacking point of view,” Pearce said.
“He’s a man of integrity and his players trust him.
“To lift Hull KR from outside the top six to play in a grand final and win the Challenge Cup is quite an achievement.
“I think he’s smart in all areas of the game. I think the time is right now. He’s ready.”
Unlike other coaching contenders who have managers harassing the media to talk up their credentials, Peters prefers to quietly go about his business without the fuss and fanfare.
“For sure, one day I’d like to coach in the NRL,” he admitted.
“But, right now, I’m just enjoying the win mate.”
MACDOUGALL FAR FROM FRUGAL
We all know former Newcastle Knights star Adam MacDougall is a squillionaire who made his fortune out of The Man Shake.
He is also an extremely generous man with his money.
The ex-winger was at Saturday night’s game against the Sydney Roosters to announce a $2 million donation to Ronald McDonald House through his foundation. The Wests Group, which owns the Knights, has thrown in another $2 million to match MacDougall’s donation.
Together their money will contribute to the expansion of Ronald McDonald House in Newcastle – including 11 new self-contained family units and upgraded shared spaces.
What an outstanding result for a wonderful charity.
LEAGUE ON BURST WITH WA FANS
Rugby league is on a powerful surge in Western Australia; coinciding with last month’s announcement of the Perth Bears entering the NRL.
Despite little support from billionaire media boss Kerry Stokes with his TV and newspaper monopoly in Perth, there has been a huge spike in local interest around State of Origin.
TV ratings for the opening game of the series in Western Australia were up 25 per cent compared to last year’s opening game of the series.
Game II at Optus Stadium is now close to a 60,000 sell out with Ticketek data revealing West Australian locals have purchased 80 per cent of the seats.
Still there will be no sign of Stokes in the NRL’s suite on Wednesday night.
A spokesman for the media boss texted me the following line: “As much as Kerry Stokes would like to attend the SOO in Perth, he will be in Sydney on business.”
At least his editor, Chris Dore, will be there.
But he couldn’t help himself by having another little whack when we reached out on Friday to ask if he would be in attendance.
“The upside is Peter V’landys knows how to heat up a good party pie,” Dore said.
“And it’s also important to see first-hand precisely how the NRL is spending the truckloads of cash the state government is giving them to stage the event.”
QRL OK MAROON MAM
QRL boss Ben Ikin has backed Billy Slater’s decision to include Broncos five-eighth Ezra Mam in the extended Maroons Origin squad for Perth.
Mam’s appalling behaviour late last year behind the wheel of a car, driving unlicensed with drugs in his system, left a little four-year-old girl in hospital.
It’s bad enough that he got away with a pathetically light nine-week suspension from the NRL, let alone now being included as part of the game’s showpiece event.
Ikin however is supporting his coach.
“The QRL puts its trust in Billy and the selectors to pick the right people for the right reasons,” Ikin said.
“In Ezra’s case, I reckon Billy saw an opportunity to help mentor a young man who’s currently trying to put his life and career back together after making a terrible mistake.
“What some see as an unjustified reward, I see as a brave decision by Billy to help someone keep getting better, on and off the field.
“Billy’s made a couple of courageous decisions this week – and I respect that.”
BIG BREKKY
Catch you on the Weekend Big Sports Breakfast with Ray Thomas and Dean Bulldog Ritchie at 9.40am to discuss all things rugby league.
BRONCOS TO RUN WITH NEW LOGO
The company engaged to redesign the Brisbane Broncos logo is the same global firm that overhauled the logo for European football giants, Juventus.
Interbrand is a leading worldwide brand consultancy company that, according to its website, ‘gives our clients the confidence to make Iconic Moves’.
The before and after images of both clubs demonstrate how Interbrand updated Juventus and what the plans are for the Broncos.
Juventus supporters at the time were angered by the change with some claiming they were being treated as customers, not fans.
Many commenters on our Broncos story this week were not supportive of the logo, some calling it ‘yuck’ and ‘boring’.
It is believed the Broncos chose Interbrand after a number of agencies bid for the role. The cost of the redesign is believed to be in excess of $300,000.
SEIBOLD SAFE
Manly officials insist Anthony Seibold’s coaching job is safe at the moment, despite a shocking loss to the Titans on Friday night on the Gold Coast.
It won’t however stop the rumour that Fox Sports star Michael Ennis is being groomed to eventually take over from Seibold, who has another two years to run on his contract.
Ennis has previously worked at the Raiders and Eels as an assistant before joining Manly where he is highly regarded by the players.
Seibold is no certainty to see out his deal unless he can quickly turn Manly’s form around.
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