Sport Confidential: NRL‘s controversial season launch, Manly face fight to keep Tolutau Koula
The stoush between NRL headquarters and the players has spilled over into the game’s advertising campaign while the Sea Eagles face a fight to keep a rising star. See the full Sport Confidential.
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The NRL has launched its player-less advertising campaign, putting fans on a pedestal rather than the game’s elite athletes.
The ad was officially launched on Thursday, just hours prior to the season kick-off between Parramatta and Melbourne at Commbank Stadium.
The lack of player involvement had been widely anticipated given the game was in the middle of a dispute over the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) when the ad was filmed.
This year’s campaign builds on last year’s ‘Unreal’ theme and is designed to capture the anticipation and excitement of fans as they race to watch footy’s return.
Different versions of the ad will run in each state.
SEA EAGLES WORRY AS WALLABIES COME KNOCKING
Manly have tabled a two-year extension for Tolutau Koula aimed at warding off approaches from the Australian Rugby Union.
Koula, named in the centres for Manly’s season opener against Canterbury at 4 Pines Park on Saturday, is already under lock and key until the end of 2024.
The Sea Eagles have now moved to lock him up until the end of 2026 as part of a plan to keep the young star out of the clutches of the Australian Rugby Union and Wallabies coach Eddie Jones .
Jones has made no secret of his plans to raid the rugby league ranks for players with rugby union pedigree in the lead-up to the 2027 World Cup – Koula attended Newington College and was selected in the Australian schoolboys squad alongside Sydney Roosters sensation Joseph Suaalii.
Suaalii is another on the ARU’s hit-list – he has an option in his contract for next season at the Roosters and is expected to extend his stay for at least another year.
The ARU is attempting to sign some of rugby league’s brightest stars with a bulging war chest and the lure of the British and Irish Lions tour in 2025, and the World Cup two years later.
Koula has been on a rapid rise since making his first grade debut at the Sea Eagles under Des Hasler. The 20-year-old made his international debut for Tonga last year – he was a key member go the Tongan side at the World Cup – and will start in the centres against the Bulldogs on Saturday.
He is one of the players coach Anthony Seibold plans to build the club around in coming years.
The #NRL is back!
— Telegraph Sport (@telegraph_sport) March 2, 2023
Take an exclusive look at the game's 2023 campaign, 'Run to What’s Real'. pic.twitter.com/aTiQZcfgx6
DISGRACED NRL STAR SUES NSW COPS
Fallen ex-Canberra star Curtis Scott has launched legal action against NSW Police following his wrongful arrest on Australia Day in 2020 and he is chasing a six figure sum.
The civil action has commenced between Scott and the State of NSW in the District Court. The matter will be before the court again on Monday
His lawyer Sam Macedone has previously publicly said they would be searching for about $400,000 in damages.
The charges also related to assaulting two police officers.
However shocking police body camera footage shown in court displayed how the ex-Melbourne Storm premiership winner was handcuffed, tasered and capsicum sprayed by officers, while he slept.
Magistrate Jennifer Giles deemed the arrest “unlawful” and five of the seven charges were withdrawn by police and two others dismissed.
Scott has continued to be in the headlines since the incident. He was sacked by the Raiders and threatened legal action against the club after he was found not guilty of an assault charge which led to his axing.
Scott was spared jail last November after being found guilty of assaulting and threatening his ex-girlfriend. Scott was given a 12-month community corrections order.
He was due to join the Eels before he was charged with the historical offences.
Scott, 25, played 72 top grade games. He has been playing for the Thirlmere-Tahmoor Roosters alongside former international Blake Ferguson.
ABC IN FOR LONG HAUL
ABC Sport has inked a long-term deal to cover every-game of the NRL season. ABC will continue to call all eight matches every week until at least the end of 2027 after signing off on a new deal on the eve of the season resuming.
ABC’s head of sport Nick Morris said rugby league was a vital part of the ABC’s content.
“The ABC is delighted to continue our relationship with the NRL calling every match of the rugby league season for the next five years,” Morris said. “The ABC has a proud and long tradition of delivering rugby league broadcasts to Australia with the best callers and experts in the game”.
The ABC’s team is led by Andrew Moore alongside experts including Luke Lewis, John Gibbs, Dene Halatau and Ruan Sims. Ex-Storm international Ryan Hoffman also joins the stable this year while injured Roosters ace Connor Watson will also turn his hand to co-commentary during his time on the sidelines.
DRAGONS ON FIFITA CHASE
St George Illawarra have kicked off talks to secure rising Manly prop Viliami Fifita. Fifita – who still has 12 months to run on his deal at the Sea Eagles – is eyeing a potential immediate switch and the Dragons are circling.
Fifita is yet to play in the NRL but the 22-year-old is considered a long-term prospect in the top grade.
The Dragons remain on the lookout to build up their depth after signing Titans utility Paul Turner last week to a two-year deal.
KING GETS CROWNED
Josh King has been one of the success stories at the Storm and he is now set to be rewarded with a new two-year deal.
King arrived at Melbourne from Newcastle last year with his career at the crossroads. But 28-year-old cemented himself as a vital cog of the Storm forward pack playing in 25 games.
He is set to extend his stay at the club by at least another two seasons.
RABBITS SETTLED AND READY TO FIRE
A settled squad and fresh off a largely injury free off-season has Jason Demetriou excited by what the Rabbits could produce this year.
“We are a really settled squad,” Demetriou said. “We have no new players. We have had no major surgeries to any of our key players so we’ve had a really good pre-season
“We know our game. That’s probably the transition we went through last year
“It wasn’t about reinventing anything. Our game hasn’t changed too much.”
One player to keep an eye on is back-rower Ben Lovett. He went close to making his debut in round one but expect him to play first grade sooner rather than later.
“He is a fit and physical kid who is learning all the time.”
Demetriou is close to signing a contract extension with the club.
“I love it here,” Demetriou said. “I would love to be here long-term. It’ll get sorted.”
SEA EAGLES EXTEND FAINU
Manly continue to tie down some of their best prospects are agreeing to a one-year contract extension with Samuela Fainu.
Fainu was off-contract at the end of season but will remain with the Sea Eagles until at least the end of next year.
He is a 19-year-old prop. Brother Latu, 17, signed the richest deal for a teen in 2021. The four year contract could be worth a million dollars. Their other brother Sione has a two-year contract at the Tigers.
Their eldest brother Manase is serving a four year jail term.
QRL AND CLUBS ON ORIGIN COLLISION COURSE
The Queensland Rugby League and the NRL clubs are on a collision course over State of Origin. Confidential understands that QRL boss Bruce Hatcher and South Sydney chief executive Blake Solly butted heads over the length of Origin camps at the ARL Commission’s annual general meeting on Monday.
The states want the camps to go for the usual 10 days. The clubs would prefer that they were reduced to seven days.
Hatcher and Solly caught up after the AGM to thrash out their differences but the QRL boss has warned that reducing the camps could come at a cost to the wider community.
The Maroons have made a habit in recent years of using the opening days of camp to work in the community and spread the rugby league gospel.
“In Queensland, we also travel out to rural and regional areas,” Hatcher said.
“They do clinics, they do a training session, they spread the word of rugby league in the local region.
“There is a real connection between the Queensland team and the local community. It does so much for the game.”
SLATER IN EYE OF ORIGIN-STORM
Meanwhile Hatcher says the QRL are keen to extend their contract with Maroons coach Billy Slater amid suggestions the Storm legend is Melbourne’s preferred choice to succeed Craig Bellamy, potentially as early as next season.
Slater is off contract with the QRL at the end of the year and talks have been put on hold until after this year’s series to allow Slater to put his sole focus on defending the Origin shield.
Slater is known to be at the top of the Storm’s wishlist should Bellamy stand down, although he has previously indicated a reluctance to become a full-time NRL coach. That plays into the Maroons’ hands as they look to tie Slater down to a long-term deal.
“He is a true professional,” Hatcher said.
“He did a fantastic job. I have never seen a more thorough preparation. At the end of the day we will sit down at the end of the Origin series and hope we can secure his signature.”
Hatcher ruled out Slater or any coach combining NRL and Origin duties.
“Our board said several years ago that we don’t believe you can do both,” Hatcher said.
BEARS BID GATHERS MOMENTUM
The North Sydney Bears have landed a prized signature in their bid to secure a return to the premiership.
Tony Crawford was formerly an integral member of the NRL executive as chief financial officer and head of club and state services.
He recently joined the Bears board, the club confirming Crawford would “be a key leader in our push for readmission to the NRL as the 18th team”.
Crawford’s intimate knowledge of the NRL and clubland could be a decisive factor as the Bears seek a fairytale return to the top grade – he was a key player in head office taking over the licences of the Newcastle Knights and Gold Coast Titans, as well as their subsequent sales.
RABBITOHS RICH LIST
South Sydney’s days of being rugby league paupers are well and truly a thing of the past. Confidential can reveal that South Sydney made a pre-tax profit of more than $2 million last year after generating revenues in excess of $37m.
Nearly 20 years after the Russell Crowe and Peter Holmes a Court stepped in to save the club, the Rabbitohs are awash with cash.
Their financial report for 2022 revealed they now have more than $10 million sitting in their bank accounts. It means Souths have no need to rely on leagues club support or beg for money from their high-profile owners – Crowe, James Packer and Mike Cannon-Brookes.
Parramatta also posted a monster profit of more than $2 million in 2022, a result which confirmed they no longer need to rely on their affluent leagues club for support.
BELLAMY’S FINAL FLING ON FILM
It seems everyone in rugby league is releasing a documentary at the moment and you can add the Storm and Craig Bellamy to the list.
Confidential understands that Bellamy has had a film crew following him in the preseason in another pointer towards his retirement at the end of the season.
It’s the same crew that followed Bellamy last year, only for the Storm SuperCoach to extend his stay at the helm of Melbourne.
This year it feels different. Bellamy has given every indication he is ready to step away from head coaching duties.
The footage should be gripping.
FLASHBACK
The struggling Rabbitohs were in the news on this day 25 years ago. Coach Craig Coleman was under the pump after a string of poor trial performances. South Sydney took the bizarre decision to axe the coach just before the start of the season after losing three trials. The Rabbitohs would finish with the wooden spoon.
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