Sport Confidential: Canberra Raiders eyeing shock replacement for George Wiliams
While the fallout from release talks between George Williams and the Raiders continues, Canberra is considering making a play for a rival halfback to step in for the rest of the season.
NRL
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George Williams and the Raiders will be locked in arbitration talks next Friday as the fallout from the halfback’s messy exit from the club continues.
It comes as the club considers making a play to bring Chad Townsend in for the rest of the year.
The RLPA have become involved and will represent Williams as he and the Raiders try to work through a resolution following the club’s decision to release Williams immediately. Williams is adamant he did not want out of the club before the end of this year. As it stands, Williams is yet to sign the paperwork for his release.
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It is understood former Manly and Roosters backrower Tom Symonds will be the RLPA’s representative at the meeting.
“We’ve been in regular contact with George and his agent on this confidential matter,” an RLPA spokesman said. “We will continue to provide our support and assistance, as we would offer to any of members who are faced with similar situations.”
The Raiders have spent the past few days going through potential options following Williams’ exit. Townsend has loomed as a potential shock replacement.
The Raiders are on the look-out to sign a half to try and salvage the club’s finals hopes in the wake of the decision to part with Williams immediately.
Townsend has been overlooked for selection at the Sharks this weekend and will take up a rich three-year deal to play at the Cowboys next season. While Townsend reaffirmed his commitment to Cronulla when he announced he was joining the Cowboys, that may have now changed given his demotion.
It would also free up some cap space for the Sharks and give them an opportunity to see if the Matt Moylan/Shaun Johnson combination is something which could work long-term.
CASH BOOST FOR NRL, RLPA
The crackdown on foul play is providing an unexpected massive windfall for the NRL and RLPA’s welfare and education funds.
The NRL has already handed out $100,000 worth of fines this season, resulting from a total of 72 charges, many of which have been for head high contact.
In the past two years just 38 fines were paid each season, resulting in $27,100 paid last year and $52,500 the year before.
Last year’s figure is well down because fines were halved because of COVID-19.
The money is directed to the NRL and RLPA’s welfare and education fund and is deducted from the players’ pay.
St George Illawarra recruit Josh McGuire has already handed over $14,550 worth of fines from seven charges. Surprisingly, Parramatta centre Waqa Blake sits equal second on the list alongside David Klemmer with $6400 fines, according to Fox Sports Lab.
RADLEY’S COSTLY HIT
Victor Radley’s suspension has cost himself an Origin debut.
It is understood Radley was the frontrunner to wear the No.13 jersey for the Blues before he was whacked with a five-game ban last week. The Blues’ backrow stocks have taken a battering with Radley and Angus Crichton joining Roosters teammate Boyd Cordner on the sideline.
It means Cameron Murray is shaping up as a likely prospect to switch from the middle to an edge. But there are still concerns regarding Murray’s fitness so Blues selectors are sweating on the 23-year-old making a successful return from an ankle injury on Saturday.
Tyson Frizell’s place was in jeopardy but he is likely to be given a reprieve. If Murray is fit, it leaves Liam Martin and Tevita Pangai Jr battling for a bench spot. Tariq Sims will also come into the mix should another Blues player go down this week.
Either Isaah Yeo or Jake Trbojevic will start at lock and the other on the bench. The front-row rotation will include Junior Paulo, Daniel Saifiti and Payne Haas. Reagan Campbell-Gillard is also in the mix.
Latrell Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic will be the centres while Damien Cook is set to be hold off a late challenge from Api Koroisau to keep his spot at hooker.
EAGLES BACKROWER GROUNDED
Manly will be missing young back-rower Haumole Olakau’atu for at least the next month after he underwent surgery on a broken hand on Monday. Olakau’atu has started the past few weeks in the second-row with Manly’s forward depth already severely tested. It is a similar injury to the one which sidelined teammate Kieran Foran.
OFF-FIELD ISSUES UNFOUNDED
Matt Dufty’s manager Clinton Schifcofske has hit out at suggestions the fullback was let go by the Dragons because of matters that were not football related.
Dufty learnt this week that the club would not re-sign him when his deal ends at the end of the season. Schifcofske said while Dufty was obviously disappointed with the decision, he was more upset by suggestions that the outcome was not linked to on the field.
“That couldn’t be further from the truth,” Schifcoske said. “It is really disappointing to hear that. Matt is obviously disappointed but he understands and respects the clubs decision.
“(Coach) Anthony Griffin and (head of football) Ben Haran told him they wanted to move in a new direction and Matt understands that sometimes in footy it happens.”
Schifcofske said he was also assured by Haran and the club’s list manager Ian Millward.
“He would have loved to have been a one-club player but that rarely gets to happen in the game these days,” Schifcofske said.
Dufty is hopeful of returning within the next fortnight from a shoulder injury as the 25-year-old looks to weigh up his options for 2022 and beyond.
GO MANLY!
This cracker of a photo surfaced online with Manly Village Public School showing support for the high-flying Sea Eagles. Full marks for any student who can nail down the spelling of Trbojevic.
KEARY SLAMS CRACKDOWN
Luke Keary was part of the rules committee during the most recent off-season but the injured Rooster has slammed the NRL’s high tackle crackdown.
“You send numerous amounts of people off the field and just ruin football, just to prove a point,” Keary said on SEN’s Breakfast with Vossy. “There are so many better ways they could’ve gone about it. Involving coaches, players, referees, stakeholders of the game, getting them together and explaining: this is what we’re doing, and this is how we’re going to stop it.
“I don’t think you just walk out there and start sending people off.”
GI ON SIDELINES
Greg Inglis’ return to rugby league has lasted just three games with the ex-Rabbitoh now sidelined for up to two months with a hamstring injury. Inglis injured himself while playing for Warrington against Huddersfield.
ZERAFA STAYS HOME
Michael Zerafa has refused to move his training camp from Melbourne to Sydney after Victoria went into lockdown on Thursday.
Zerafa had been offered the chance to relocate north by the promoters of his fight against Tim Tszyu in Newcastle on July 7, but chose to remain in his backyard even though his sparring will now be limited.
Under Victoria’s lockdown measures, residents will be allowed out of their homes for exercise, however training with others is limited by their “one person per two square metres” rule in gyms.
That means Zerafa’s sparring options are restricted and he’ll likely have to do solo cardio sessions. It’s yet another disruption for the 29-year-old, who last week was placed on an intravenous drip in hospital after contracting a nasty stomach bug.
The Zerafa camp is confident that the Victorian lockdown will not be enforced beyond the original June 3 deadline, so he can resume normal training without having to leave home before he planned.
BOZO’S RUGBY OUTING
The late Bob Fulton played in many great teams throughout his career, but particularly special for many rugby fans was his appearance for the Australian Services union team in 1969 at Ballymore.
Fulton played against Australian Combined Universities, who had Wallabies Keith Bell and Jules Guerassimoff in their line-up.
Playing with Fulton for the Australian Services team was halfback Keith Outten, who led Balmain to the NSWRL premiership in 1969.
The previous year, Fulton and Outten played for Australian Combined Services against the All Blacks at North Sydney Oval. They lost 45-8.
ALL EYES ON
The players in contention for Origin. Respective coaches Brad Fittler and Paul Green have already been whacked by a stack of injuries and suspension so this weekend could well shape the outcome of Origin I. As Fittler says, have your team written in pencil.
FLASHBACK
Another year another Queensland Origin injury crisis. This time it was halfback Cooper Cronk, who injured his ankle just five days before kick-off on this day five years ago. “He’s in doubt,” Maroons coach Kevin Walters said. “His ankle swelled up like a balloon.” For the record, Cronk played and Queensland won.
BLAST FROM THE PAST
RICKY WALFORD — 232 top grade games (13 Eastern Suburbs, 12 North Sydney, 207 St George) from 1982-1996 plus one Origin for NSW.
Had Bob Fulton not called, Ricky Walford isn’t sure where he would have ended up. At the time he was pumping petrol in Walgett having returned from a successful Australian Schoolboys tour. An appreciative Walford paid tribute to Fulton this week who ended up handing Walford his first grade debut at Eastern Suburbs in 1982.
Walford played three pre-season trials with Easts before being given a contract. He spent two seasons at the club before being told by Laurie Freier – the man who replaced Fulton in 1983 – that he was not part of their plans.
Walford signed at North Sydney for $2000 for one year and was keen to recommit to the club before St George came to the party.
“Roy Masters was coach of the Dragons and John Hayes was finishing up as coach at Norths,” Walford said. “They ran into each other at a Wests reunion. John rang me and said Roy wanted to know what my plans were for 1985. He asked if I signed anything with Norths.
“I told him I was happy to stay but I thought I may as well go and chat with St George. I went with my cousin Don Jenner, who was studying law at UNSW but was acting as my agent.
“We went and met Roy and (secretary) John Fleming They said we’re interested and this is what we’re prepared to offer me which was 10 times more than I was even thinking about getting. I was in the meeting thinking about what type of car I could buy.”
Walford signed a two-year deal but was then on a year by year handshake agreement. He finished his time as just one of eight St George players to play 200-plus games during 12 seasons at the club.
The goalkicking winger cracked the Origin arena in 1990 but played just one game.
“I did my quadriceps in kicking practice a day before game two,” Walford said. “It took me a long while to get over and I missed out on a potential Kangaroos tour.”
He was part of St George’s 1992 and 1993 grand final losses to Brisbane and the club’s 1988 midweek competition victory.
Walford also played a leading part in developing the famed “Koori Corner” at the club which celebrated St George’s Indigenous links.
“We commandeered the visitors dressing room,” Walford said. “Racism wasn’t allowed . The senior players set a standard. We developed and earnt the respect of our teammates.
“At St George we were a champion team not a team of champions.”
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