Sport Confidential: ripped NRL rigs light up pre-season; Raiders chase Panther Zac Hosking
Zac Hosking is on the verge of an immediate switch as the Raiders look to stiffen up their back-row stocks. This week’s FULL Sport Confidential column inside.
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From Herbie Farnworth at the Dolphins to youngster Sualauvi Faalogo in Melbourne and Jack Gosiewski at the Cowboys, the battle is well and truly on for the most ripped player of the NRL pre-season.
Farnworth turned heads when he rocked up for his first session at Redcliffe this week with a great rig, or “rigatoni”, as they kids say, while Faalogo put on a gun show in Melbourne. As Gosiewski flexed his muscle in the gym for the Queensland clubs, Sydney was well-represented by a muscled up Josh Addo-Carr at Canterbury, Nicho Hynes in the Shire and Dylan Brown at Parramatta.
For the record, our expert panel has Farnworth as the clubhouse leader going into round 1.
BARRY BREAKS SILENCE
While new Wests Tigers interim chief executive Shane Richardson fronted the media on Wednesday, new chair Barry O’Farrell has been overseas as the carnage unfolded.
“Receiving a phone call out of the blue was a surprise,” the former NSW premier said from San Francisco. “Like Shane Richardson, I greatly believe the Tigers have a successful future ahead of them.”
O’Farrell would not speculate on taking on the chairmanship on a permanent basis.
“I am a great believer in doing the job you have got and not worrying about the job you don’t have down the track,” O’Farrell said.
NRL RECRUIT’S ENGLISH WARNING
Newcastle’s English signing Will Pryce has put the NRL on notice when it comes to Super League star Jack Welsby as the St Helens fullback concedes the idea of testing himself in the NRL is on his radar
Welsby has two years remaining on his contract with Saints but he has already attracted interest from a handful of NRL clubs as they look to raid Super League for one of England’s best players.
Pryce is a big fan.
“Obviously probably the best player in Super League would be Jack Welsby,” Pryce said.
“I think he won four grand finals back to back. He won them the grand final against Wigan in 2020. He is a great player and a really good competitor.
“I am sure one day, if Saints manage to let him go, he will be one to look out for.”
Welsby spoke about his interest in joining the NRL in an interview with James Graham on his Bye Round podcast last weekend.
Welsby told Graham that he was committed to his contract at St Helens but would explore the NRL at the right time.
“I’m contracted at Saints for two years so my main focus at the minute is keeping myself fit, keeping myself right …. but I’d be lying if saying NRL is not something that interests you and testing yourself against the best,” Welsby told The Bye Round with James Graham.
“It is an interest, isn’t it. It’s a decision that I’ll come to if it ever pops up. I’ll be honest with it, I’ve not particularly thought about it too much.
“I’ve just thought about winning. A lot of the time like money gets thrown up and stuff - I know it’s cliche but I would genuinely play rugby league for free. So it’s a bit of a cliche, but I just want to be happy.”
SEA EAGLES HIT THE PHONES
Manly stars Daly Cherry-Evans, Tom and Jake Trbojevic have hit the phones - and the trading floor - alongside music icon Delta Goodrem to help raise money as part of the ICAP Charity Day.
Cherry-Evans and the Trbojevic boys helped generate interest among clientele on a day when ICAP brokers gave 100 per cent of their commission to charity.
Since 1993, ICAP Charity Day has raised more than $300 million for over 2,900 causes around the world.
UZZIE DOUBLE STANDARDS
Usman Khawaja didn’t expect to have his pro-Palestine shoes banned.
And given what’s he’s seen on the field before, it’s understandable.
In 2019 India was granted permission by the ICC to wear camouflage military caps in a one-dayer against Australia in Ranchi.
The Indian cricket board said the move was a show of solidarity after Indian paramilitary police were killed in a suicideattackby a Pakistan-based rebel group.
It didn’t go down well with bitter rivals Pakistan, who accused India of “politicising” the sport.
Khawaja spent plenty of time in the middle surrounded by the camouflage caps - he scored 104 to earn man of the match honoursina 32-run win.
HARD MAN’S CODE SWITCH
Spencer Leniu found his match in a nondescript part of Utah. The rugby league promotional tour diverted from the bright lights of Las Vegas to Utah where the Roosters enforcer took part in a skills drill with about 30 rugby union players aged 15-18.
Brighton High School – about 16 km south of Salt Lake City – showed off their skills to Leniu as the NRL try to tap into the large Polynesian population in the area.
With the picturesque mountain ranges in the background Leniu took to the American-Football surface as part of the drill.
It was while holding a tackle pad that Leniu knew these kids meant business.
“He was a big boy,” Leniu smiled.
STRETCH ON INJURY
South Sydney star Campbell Graham revealed he underwent a bone infusion to try and repair his badly damaged sternum.
The procedure is generally designed for older people who suffer from osteoporosis. Graham was on a drip for about an hour in a bid to strengthen his bones.
The injury hampered Graham throughout the season but he managed to play out the year needing painkilling injections to get through matches. He suffered the injury in round one against the Sharks.
It hurt when he sneezed and at times getting out of bed.
“It impacted my training which was the biggest thing for me,” Graham said.
“I wasn’t able to get the standard preparation that I usually get in for games.
“It was a weird one. It would flare up. Some weeks it was better than others. From around that Origin period until the back end it was a challenge. It was something all players have to go through dealing with niggles. I’m no different.
“The medical staff at Souths did what we could. I was able to get out there as much as possible.”
Graham said ex-Rabbitoh Mick Crocker underwent a similar method to repair a badly damaged groin.
He wore a sternum guard during matches but eventually succumbed to the injury for a shot-stint on the sideline. The injury ruled him out of making his NSW debut.
“I have thrown everything at it,” Graham said.
“It feels pretty good. I am excited to rip in for the rest of pre-season.”
Graham also underwent shoulder stabilisation surgery in the off-season which ruled him out of representing Australia again. He expects to be back into full season training some time in January. Provided there are no late hiccups he is in doubt for the start of the year.
“It was a rollercoaster last year,” Graham said.
“I was enjoying my footy but the back end wasn’t as enjoyable. As a group we struggled a little bit and didn’t make the eight which was disappointing.”
RAIDERS ZERO IN ON GUN PANTHER
Zac Hosking is on the verge of an immediate switch as the Raiders look to stiffen up their back-row stocks. Hosking, who is off-contract at the end of 2024, has been in talks with Canberra and is set to ink a long-term deal with the club. That move could be fast-tracked which could see Hosking leave Penrith after just 12 months.
Hosking arrived at Penrith this year after playing just four games for the Broncos.
He was an entrenched starter playing in 21 games for the Panthers but missed out on a grand final spot.
The Raiders have been looking to strengthen their forward depth. Back-rower Corey Harawira-Naera is facing an uncertain future as he is still yet to receive a medical clearance to return to the field.
Veteran Elliott Whitehead is also likely to retire at the end of 2024.
Two-time Paralympic gold medallist Madison de Rozario training around Sydney Olympic Park on Thursday.
The 30-year-old is in for a big year, the wheelchair racing champion headlining Australia’s Games assault in Paris in August.
NRL STARS STEP INTO UFC OCTOGON
NRL players were taken through a surprise no-holds barred training session with former UFC champion Forrest Griffin.
Griffin took no prisoners when he stepped into the octagon with four NRL players in Las Vegas this week.
Griffin took Spencer Leniu, Aaron Woods, Billy Walters and Campbell Graham through their paces at the UFC training headquarters.
“I thought we were going to go and have a little tour of the facilities,” Roosters hardman Leniu said.
“We had the tour and then he took us into the cage and told us to take our shoes off.
“We started jogging around and I was like ‘what is going on’. We ended up doing a full on wrestling session. It was pretty cool.
“Not many people get to say that they grappled and wrestled with Forest Griffin. It was a dream come true.
“The warm-up was harder than the session itself. We were running around in circles for at least 20 minutes and then we started tackling and grappling each other. He taught us a few kicks. On a scale of 1/10 it was a solid seven.”
Leniu tried to square off against Manly veteran Woods.
“(Griffin) was trying to teach us a few tips and tricks that we could use on the footy field,” Leniu said. “I was trying my best on Woodsy but he is a big boy so it wasn’t really working.”
It is the same venue the Sea Eagles will use to help with their preparation ahead of the double header in Las Vegas next year.
The NRL and the UFC announced a multi-year partnership which should culminate in a fight night in 2025 on the same weekend as the rugby league double header in Las Vegas.
NFL GRAPPLES WITH NRL’S BIGGEST BLIGHT
The NFL is in the midst of their own hip-drop drama with a star Raiders offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor declaring “it’s not like a defender is going to say I am going to hip drop them.”
It is a similar defence which flowed through to the NRL when the tackle was first identified.
Sport Confidential had unfiltered access to the Las Vegas locker room this week with Eluemunor opening up about the concerns which had once gripped the NRL.
“You see it,” Eluemunor said. “It hasn’t been a big thing until now because more guys are getting hurt from it. In the modern day and the NFL now since defenders are bigger, stronger and faster it’s making a bit of an impact.”
The NFL have reached out to the NRL as they steam the growing concerns. One of the game’s best players – Miami Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill – was caught in a copybook hip drop tackle last weekend. Patriots starting running back Rhamondre Stevenson is also sidelined after being caught by the illegal tackle.
“You have guys who are linebackers who are making tackles and putting all the weight down to the leg,” Eluemunor said.
“Ten or 15 years ago you had linebackers who were making that same tackle but they were much lighter.
“That weight difference can make a huge difference when it comes to making those tackles.
“It just happens. It’s not like a defender is going in to say I am going to hip drop them. It’s about trying to get him down. People aren’t doing it on purpose.”
As for the Raiders, they are in the midst of a four day turnaround. They had a home loss against the Vikings before needing to back-up against the Chargers.
“You have to do as much recovery as you can,” Eluemunor said. “Jump in the tubs and get work done. Eat good so your body can get all the nutrients you need. It’s not much fun but it’s our job.”
US EXPERIMENT ‘FEELS REAL’
Campbell Graham says the NRL’s foray into Las Vegas finally feels real. For years the prospect of taking a game to the US has been spoken about. But now it will eventually happen.
“It’s starting to sink in now,” Graham said. “Thinking about the logistics of it all. It’s starting to feel real. When it was first mentioned as an idea I thought all it was going to be was an idea. Credit to the NRL, they have done a great job to get this done. It’s awesome.”
As for what his teammates back home have been asking?
“A few boys have been on my case to see how I’ve been going but they have been more scouting the night life.”
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Originally published as Sport Confidential: ripped NRL rigs light up pre-season; Raiders chase Panther Zac Hosking
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