Sport Confidential: Roosters’ final hurdle to snare All Blacks star TJ Perenara
Two global rugby stars are close to code hopping to rugby league as World Rugby seek revenge by poaching an NRL heavyweight.
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Only one thing stands between TJ Perenara and a code switch to NRL club Sydney Roosters – income protection insurance.
Perenara is determined to play in the NRL, and is trying to clear the final hurdle in order to join the likes of John Schuster and Craig Innes as All Blacks who have switched to the NRL without professional league experience.
The Roosters will pay Perenara about $150,000 to join them for the rest of the season to play hooker, covering a raft of injuries including the concussion-enforced retirement of Jake Friend.
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Perenara earns about $600,000 a year in New Zealand and Japanese rugby, however, under the standard NRL contract Perenara will only be covered for a career-ending injury on the value of his Roosters contract.
The 69-Test All Black and his management are trying to find an insurance policy to cover his worth as a rugby international, instead of his lesser value as a mid-season league recruit.
The insurance cover over a maximum two years for career-ending injuries guarantees 80 per cent of a player’s salary in the first year, and 60 per cent in the second year.
If Perenara, 29, were to suffer a career-ending injury in the NRL, the difference in insurance payout between his league and rugby policies could be up to $630,000.
Meanwhile, the Roosters have re-signed 21-year-old centre Billy Smith for two more years.
RUGBY’S SECRET BID TO SNARE NRL BOSS
NRL boss Andrew Abdo declined a secret advance from World Rugby to head up the 15-man-a-side game.
Sport Confidential has learnt Abdo was headhunted by rugby’s governing body to be part of their short-list to take on the top job.
Abdo confirmed he had been sounded out by World Rugby.
“I was approached on the role in February but indicated I wasn’t interested in the position,” Abdo said.
Abdo took on the NRL’s top job officially replacing Todd Greenberg last September having stood in the role on an interim basis since April.
The World Rugby position would have meant relocating to Belfast. Despite the advances, Abdo said he immediately rejected the potential opportunity.
“I declined it on the basis that my passion is rugby league and my family and I love living in Australia,” Abdo said. “While the World Rugby position would have been a great job I didn’t even consider it.
“I love rugby league and I love Australia. I’m excited at the opportunity to make a difference and how much more we have to achieve.”
World Rugby announced the appointment of Alan Gilpin as the international federation’s new boss in March. Gilpin had been interim boss since January.
HOOPER SWITCH?
The hottest rumour sweeping league circles this week was that Wallabies captain Michael Hooper could follow Perenara and make a switch to the NRL.
Two Sydney clubs have made inquiries about Hooper’s availability as a hooker/lock but it’s unlikely to happen as he’s contracted to Rugby Australia until the end of 2023, and earns $1.25 million a season.
Japanese club Toyota Verblitz is covering about $700,000 of that this year for his stint in the Top League, and Hooper has the option of taking a second sabbatical before 2023, although that could not be in the NRL.
KNOCKOUT BLOW FOR HEAVYWEIGHT BOUT
Two 50kg pop stars have knocked heavyweights Paul Gallen and Justis Huni off their preferred fight venue.
It can be revealed that Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion can’t host the Gallen-Huni bout on June 16 because the arena will be full of screaming teenagers two days later when The Veronicas play a concert.
There is not enough time to transform a boxing venue into a concert-ready arena in 48 hours, Horden officials told fight promoter Dean Lonergan, who is now scrambling to find a new venue.
While Gallen threatened to cancel the fight if it is staged in Queensland, and Sydney is firming as the destination for the Australian heavyweight title showdown, Lonergan said: “Paul loves a dollar way too much to walk away from the highest payday of his life.
“He would fight at the bottom of a Mt Isa mine with Wally Lewis as the referee, Mal Meninga heading the judging panel, with Trevor Gillmeister and Allan Langer as the other two judges with the money he will make from this fight.”
PRESTO’S BOY ON THE RISE
Preston Campbell’s son Jayden is closing in on his NRL debut. The 21-year-old flyer was named in the Gold Coast Titans’ extended squad to play Wests Tigers this weekend.
While he’s long odds to make the game-day squad, junior Campbell is tipped to grace the first grade field soon, emulating his legendary father who played 267 NRL games for the Titans, Chargers, Cronulla and Penrith, where he won the 2003 premiership.
JOHNS BROTHERS REJECT PARISH OFFER
Matty Johns and Andrew Johns have rejected Matt Parish’s offer to assist the Samoan coach with Matty declaring “we aren’t interested in putting out witches’ hat for someone else”.
Johns caused a stir on Sunday when he volunteered that he and brother Andrew wanted to join forces with Sonny Bill Williams to help resurrect the fortunes of Samoa.
Talk of unrest among the Samoan playing group has lingered in the past year.
Parish offered the Johns boys an opportunity to join his coaching staff but Matty said he and Andrew would flat out reject the approach.
“You can’t walk into someone else’s regime and just assume control and apply the principles which we believe need to be put in place,” Johns said. “Joey and I won’t walk into some regime where we don’t have any input or control.”
Johns suggested Samoa could employ someone such as John Morris to take over the head coaching position which would allow the Johns brothers to formulate structures around a senior coach. But, as it stands, the Samoan board has continued to back Parish.
“Samoa as a national team have been massive underachievers,” Johns said.
“They should be challenging Australia. It’s well-known that people have been saying high profile players won’t play for the national team due to problems. I’m not in a position to know if that is right or wrong.
“We wanted to help Samoa reach their potential. However, they’ve chosen to stay the path they are on and I accept that.”
MAGIC CHANGES RAISE EYEBROWS
The NRL has come up with a concept to change post-game press conferences that has brought some criticism from clubs.
The NRL wrote to club bosses on Wednesday and told them of the potential one-off changes for next week’s Magic Round. Although the ongoing COVID situation could mean a further shift.
Club bosses were told of the plan to;
— move the conference from indoor to outdoor.
— have rival coaches and captains sitting together to answer questions after the match.
— have fan questions. “These questions will be collated and moderated with the best two to three selected and asked following the official media questions, by an MC who will who run the press conference in a structured way,” the clubs were told. “Fans will not actually be permitted to ask questions from the floor and security and event staff will be on hand to ensure fans who are in attendance are well behaved.”
But some clubs have little appetite for the changes and are unsure if their coach will agree to it and surprised by the lack of consultation. The decision could make for some terse moments between clubs if a losing coach feels like their side was robbed.
TO’O RUES POOR TIMING
Penrith livewire Brian To’o is just “grateful to be alive” after a post-try celebration almost ended in disaster.
The Panthers’ celebrations have been in the news at times this season but it was a leap of faith which could have brought about To’o’s undoing.
The form winger of the game took part in what has been a customary celebration for the Panthers by jumping high across the backs of teammates after a try. But he mistimed the leap after Tyrone May’s try last Saturday, resulting in To’o landing face first onto the surface.
“I’m really grateful I’m still alive after that post-try celebration,” To’o said. “I almost broke my neck. I didn’t time the jump properly. When I jumped high I thought I was pretty sweet but as I was going down I realised I had to turn my head.”
MANSOUR PITCHES IN FOR RED CROSS
Injured South Sydney winger Josh Mansour has been unveiled as Australian Red Cross’ latest ambassador.
Mansour said the Beirut bomb blast last August drew him towards the Red Cross.
“I wanted to give back any way I could after the bomb went off,” Mansour said. “The Red Cross were active in helping people over there. We joined forces and raised as much funds and awareness as possible and help rebuild the city. Lebanon is really impacted. We had an enormous response and it was something I am committed to long-term.”
Mansour’s fundraising efforts last year helped raise about $800,000.
TITANS ABORT CLARK TALKS
The Titans have officially withdrawn interest in signing English hooker Daryl Clark. Gold Coast were in deep discussions to sign the 28-year-old rake but have opted against pursuing him. It now means Clark is likely to remain at Warrington.
AVA HITS UP SIMMONS
Canterbury prop Ava Seumanufagai’s hit on Shaun Lane attracted the interest of Australian basketball star Ben Simmons.
So much so that Seumanufagai has called out Simmons hoping the duo can connect. The NRL’s Instagram account posted a video of the tackle which Simmons replied to.
“Ben if you’re reading this, give us a follow and then give us your number and we can have a coffee,” Seumanufagai said. “I was buzzing all day from (Simmons’ comment). I just want him to follow me and him and I can be best friends.”
KOSI’S QUICK CALL
Edward Kosi had just an hour to prepare for his NRL debut. But the Warriors winger managed to sneak in a quick phone call to his shocked parents to ensure they would watch him play against the Cowboys.
Kosi was called into the Warriors team just five minutes before the team’s meeting because of David Fusitua’s withdrawal.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Kosi said. “I was frozen. I didn’t know what to say. I was nervous. I was excited. This is something I’ve worked hard for. I didn’t know I was going to debut. I’m just grateful to be out here.”
HAYNE REVEALS DRAGONS’ DEAL
Jarryd Hayne told the court during his sentencing hearing how a $500,000 contract with St George Illawarra was scuttled because of his charges. Hayne said he was due to ink a one-year deal with the Dragons on the day he was charged.
“Because the media were involved, the frenzy that it went in with the charges, I didn’t hear from them after that,” Hayne said.
Had he signed with the Dragons, they would have had two players missing because of the NRL’s no-fault stand-down policy. Jack de Belin, who is still awaiting the outcome of his trial, was charged a month later.
Hayne was sentenced to five years and nine months.
ALL EYES ON
The Raiders and the Knights. Two battling sides are who desperate for a win. It has almost got to the stage where Saturday’s clash is season-defining. The loser will be three and six to start their premiership campaign.
FLASHBACK
Queensland’s 34-16 Origin I victory dominated headlines on this day 15 years ago. Maroons skipper Gorden Tallis was named man of the match with Darren Lockyer finishing with a 14-point haul. The Maroons finished the series as 2-1 winners.
BLAST FROM THE PAST
SCOTT HILL — 200 top grade games (Five Canterbury, 18 Hunter Mariners, 177 Melbourne) from 1996-2006 plus five games for NSW and 11 Tests for Australia.
The Bulldogs eventually got their man even if it was for the briefest of stints.
Canterbury tried to lure Scott Hill to the club as a 15-year-old but he opted to remain and play for his Forster Tuncurry Hawks side as he finished his carpentry apprenticeship. Hill linked with the Hunter Mariners at the end of 1995 but when Super League did not get off the ground, he found his way to Belmore – after being allocated to the Bulldogs.
“They won the competition in 1995 but with eight rounds to go in 1996 they knew they weren’t going to make the finals,” Hill said. “Terry Lamb was retiring so they needed a five-eighth. (Coach) Chris Anderson went to the board and said he wanted to play me. They called me a ‘two iron with ears’ and told him I needed to play reserve grade.
“I did that easily and ended up playing five games for Canterbury and I was able to do so alongside Lamb, which is something I’ll always be grateful for.”
Hill remains undefeated as a Bulldog. With Super League full steam ahead the following season, Hill agreed to return to the Mariners.
“It was the most enjoyable year of my career,” Hill said. “On my 20th birthday we beat the Broncos in Newcastle on the Friday and on the Sunday we flew to Paris. That week we were at a bar where John McEnroe’s band was playing.”
The Mariners shocked plenty by finishing runners-up in the World Club Championship to Brisbane.
Hill, who is helping promote the NRL’s Magic Round, then reunited with Anderson and a host of Mariners’ teammates to be part of the inaugural Melbourne Storm line-up. Injury robbed him of premiership season in the Storm’s second season.
“To miss out on that was hard because you don’t get many chances,” Hill said. “I only got one more and that wasn’t a win. 1999 was one of the toughest years of my life but 2000 was one of my most successful.”
The skilful lock/five-eighth was part of Australia’s World Cup win and an Origin clean sweep for the Blues.
Hill played out his NRL career at the Storm which ended in a grand final loss to Brisbane before playing two seasons for London.
“When you’ve played for Melbourne, it’s a language only known by those who have played there,” Hill said. “It changes your life as a footballer and as a person.”
Hill, who is assistant coach at Redcliffe Dolphins, has a desire to become an NRL coach.
Originally published as Sport Confidential: Roosters’ final hurdle to snare All Blacks star TJ Perenara
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