Andrew Johns’ feud with Erin Molan drags on, Ray Hadley back calling NRL on Channel 9
Channel Nine seems more intent on criticising coverage of the Andrew Johns-Erin Molan fallout than actually telling the rugby league great his behaviour is unacceptable.
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IT is interesting that Channel 9 is now being critical of this newspaper’s coverage of the bitter Andrew Johns-Erin Molan falling-out and the eighth Immortal’s point-blank refusal to work alongside the talented host.
You would think the network would be more concerned about creating a culture where women can actually feel more valued in the workplace.
Johns has no right to be telling his bosses who he doesn’t want to work alongside. This is an ongoing story while the network refuses to pull him into line.
It’s a very different tune to what Phil Gould told your columnist recently, declaring “Erin is talented, professional, enthusiastic and very passionate about her work.
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“Erin, like our other girls, Danika Mason, Alana Ferguson and Ruan Sims, are always well prepared. They each have a tremendous work ethic. They are a pleasure to work with and a wonderful addition to our team.”
Hall of fame caller Ray Warren is torn over the Channel 9 commentary box falling out.
“I’m friends with both and rate them very highly,” Warren said. “I’m surprised and a bit disappointed how it’s played out all week.
“It could have been handled differently. Giving women an equal opportunity in the media, politics and everything is important, and Erin is very good at her job.”
SAINT
AUSTRALIA’s cricket captain Tim Paine for publicly and unselfishly acknowledging the guidance he gets from ex-skipper Steve Smith, who occasionally helps with field placings and tactics. He has described reports of Smith interfering with his leadership as fake news.
SINNER
GOOD riddance, Israel Folau. Take your millions and your hurtful and divisive views elsewhere. Leave the drunks and gay community alone. Perhaps you can return when you are prepared to respect all people, persuasions and their values.
SHOOSH
WHICH NRL coach insisted on having his varicose veins photoshopped out of a recent publicity photo for the dealership that provides him with a sponsorship car?
SHOOSH
WHICH sports journo is seeing Origin physio Liz Street to treat a hamstring injury from a social soccer game while intoxicated?
SPOTTED
MELBOURNE Storm winger Josh Addo-Carr shopping at Westfield in Penrith on Thursday. And no, he is not joining the Panthers.
SPOTTED II
SEA Eagles coach Des Hasler and stars Tom Trbojevic, Lachlan Croker, Cade Cust and Brett Stewart visiting Rappville on Saturday, the bush town and community that was almost destroyed by bushfires. They drove from the northern beaches at the request of a family of fanatical Manly supporters who lost their home.
SPOTTED III
NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg stepping up from his usual bistro schnitzel at the Oatley Hotel to celebrate his lovely wife Lisa’s 50th birthday at Catalinas at Rose Bay on Tuesday night.
SPOTTED IV
BANNED St George Illawarra forward Jack de Belin with his partner and baby girl doing their Christmas shopping at Figtree on the south coast.
SPOTTED V
CRONULLA chairman Dino Mezzatesta and three other Sharks directors running the gruelling Wanda sandhills last week.
SPOTTED VI
NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Sydney Roosters supremo Nick Politis and former St George Dragons and Queensland Maroons legend Mark Coyne having dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel on Wednesday night.
AT LAST … THE HEAD RULES!
Boxing is finally getting its act together with the dangers of concussion after decades of condoned brutality.
And it’s thanks to old fight legends like Jeff Fenech, who are treating the risks so seriously.
The highlight of my sporting weekend was watching from ringside as Fenech threw the white towel into the ring in the fourth round to stop the Tim Tszyu v Jack Brubaker fight at the International Convention Centre.
It was a timely message to a trainer like Glenn Rushton, who let Jeff Horn cop a ridiculous amount of punishment in his last fight against Michael Zerafa.
Brubaker had been on the receiving end of the most punishing assault from Tszyu. But he’s so tough he could have, and would have, kept going.
Fenech was having none of it.
“I love the kid,” Fenech said, “He’d had enough. His safety and welfare are No.1.”
There was another great stoppage when rugby league heavyweight Darcy Lussick knocked down Justin Hodges after 39 seconds with a savage right hook. Hodges got back to his feet eventually but he was away in Disneyland.
The Maroons legend wanted to fight on but the ref would have none of it.
LIAM KNOWS HE BLEW IT
YOU have to admire a footy player who can take ownership for past mistakes.
In 2016 while playing for Manly, Liam Knight returned a high-range blood alcohol reading of 0.176 at a roadside RBT.
The Souths prop copped an 18-month good behaviour bond, had his licence disqualified for eight months and must blow into a breathalyser now to start his car.
He even showed a video of the procedure on Instagram last week before he can start his Audi A3. Knight still has three months to go before the device will be removed from his car.
“It’s a daily reminder about mistakes I’ve made in the past,” Knight told The Sunday Telegraph. “I’ve made my share of mistakes and I don’t shy away from them. I now own them.”
Knight had an outstanding year at the Rabbitohs, leading a forward pack often decimated by injuries and suspensions, among them the Burgess brothers. “I feel as though I’ve grown up a lot and I know that, if I do the right thing away from the field, it will lead to me playing better on the field,” he said.
“I’ve certainly learned my lesson about drink-driving and hopefully others that saw the video can see that there are consequences for poor decisions and actions and won’t make the same mistake I did.”
HADLEY BACK FOR NRL CALL
CHANNEL 9 is set to resurrect 2GB broadcaster Ray Hadley as a TV commentator next season.
The move follows the network’s failed attempt to sign Fox Sports’ Dan Ginnane for its rugby league coverage, as we reported last week.
Hadley is contracted to call NRL on Nine until the end of 2020 yet he didn’t do a game last season, allegedly because of “other” commitments.
He is getting married in June next year to his long-time personal assistant, Sophie Baird.
Hadley has repeatedly said he has no interest in being the lead caller should Ray Warren retire.
It has left Nine with only Matt Thompson as a potential head caller if 76-year-old Warren quits.
The plan for Hadley under new director of sport Brett Williams is to call one game a weekend now he’s a full-time employee of Nine via its Macquarie Radio Network.
TINA’S NRL COMEBACK
WE broke the story on these pages back in February that the NRL would turn the clock back 30 years to use the great Tina Turner as part of its marketing for the 2020 season. We can now confirm the NRL’s commercial boss Andrew Abdo is about to sign off on the deal.
Tina is now 80 and won’t be coming to Australia for the season launch but her songs, Simply The Best and What You See Is What You Get, will be part of the season promotions and TV campaigns.
The agency running the campaign for the NRL will also send a crew to the United States to record voiceovers for the commercials.
Her previous campaigns for rugby league have always been regarded as the best in Australian sport.
PUNTER’S $200K HOOPS WIN
A PUNTER walked away from a western Sydney TAB with more than $200,000 in what is believed to be the biggest win from a $20 wager with the betting agency.
The punter had Houston to win by 41-plus against Atlanta (they won by 47) and Milwaukee to win by 41-plus over Charlotte (they won by 44) in an all-up bet on NBA basketball at odds of $10,201.
The bet was laid early in the games. The TAB has a partnership with the NBA that allows all games to be beamed into their venues.
Incredibly, basketball is now the TAB’s highest turnover sport with punters wagering $500 million each year — almost double what they take in an NRL season.
VALE HARRY
LEGENDARY commentator Peter “Zorba” Peters is mourning the death of his brother Harry, who was a humble and generous supporter of sport in the Shire with Southern Districts rugby union and Sutherland cricket. Harry also supported the Sylvanvale disability charity when the organisation was doing it tough many years ago. This great man will be farewelled on Thursday.
OFF BROOKS AT CHOOKS
There is no way the Sydney Roosters can now do an about-face and keep Latrell Mitchell. The moment his $800,000 contract offer from the Chooks was turned down by his manager, the club used the space in the salary cap to lock up front-rowers Jarred Waerea-Hargreaves and Siosiua Taukeiaho long term. They also have to upgrade other players from the grand final-winning team.
FOX CRICKET OUT IN FRONT
IT has been a huge 12 months for Fox Cricket in its first year, the network picking up three major awards last week.
It knocked off Channel 9’s State of Origin and Australian Open tennis plus Channel 7’s AFL and cricket to win the prestigious AACTA award for best sports coverage.
At the News Awards, Fox Cricket boss Matty Weiss won best innovation in journalism and the great Shane Warne won best commentary and opinion.
The network’s league team also picked up two big awards. Matty Johns won AACTA interview of year for a piece on his brother Joey and Yvonne Sampson won best presenter.
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WHO’S WHO IN TSZYU
The Tim Tszyu v Jack Brubaker fight night at the International Convention Centre on Friday night was a celebrity spotted-athon. John Ibrahim, Steve Waugh, Mark Bouris, Latrell Mitchell, James Roberts, Cody Walker, Jack Wighton and player agent Wayne Beavis were all there. So too was boxer Renee Gartner, who had a beer waiting for Darcy Lussick the moment he stepped out of the ring after knocking out Justin Hodges.
A GIANT SLUG
Winning doesn’t always pay off. The GWS Giants actually lost $250,000 from making the AFL grand final in costs for travel, hotel accommodation and sponsorship services during the finals.
The money from finals gate takings goes to the AFL, not the clubs. Even increased merchandise sales in grand final week was not enough to offset other expenses.
Originally published as Andrew Johns’ feud with Erin Molan drags on, Ray Hadley back calling NRL on Channel 9