Sport Confidential: Ash Taylor a fighting chance at Warriors, Wests Tigers set for coaching shake-up
Bronson Xerri, banned from NRL for four-year after testing positive to performance enhancing drugs, has been linked with a move to a new code. Sport Con has the details.
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Suspended former Cronulla outside back Bronson Xerri cut an imposing figure as he celebrated his 21st birthday with a topless selfie.
Xerri, who was handed a four-year drug ban after testing positive to performance enhancing drugs last year, posted in March that “for all you haters calling me a drug drug, you have no clue how much work I put in to be where I was”.
The quiet tip is that he will try to turn his hand to the NFL. Xerri is suspended from the NRL until November 2023.
The Warriors are considering handing Ash Taylor a lifeline.
Taylor was spotted meeting with Warriors officials including coach Nathan Brown and chief executive Cameron George on the Gold Coast on Thursday.
It is understood the Warriors are now toying with the idea of signing the 26-year-old whose career is at the crossroads.
Taylor was officially farewelled from the Titans earlier this week as his multi-year million dollar a season deal came to an end.
He would be joining the Warriors – or any other club – on about a quarter of what he earnt in recent seasons. Even at the Warriors he would likely start as a back-up half with the club already signing Shaun Johnson.
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Johnson is likely to partner Chanel Harris-Tavita in the halves while Kiwi international Kodi Nikorima is on their books.
The Warriors decision to base themselves in Redcliff next season could work in their favour when it comes to landing Taylor.
Instead of relocating to Auckland, he could remain in Queensland and close to family.
His former club Brisbane have all but closed the door on Taylor returning. He has been linked with the Raiders, a potential move to England or even giving the game away.
After a stack of mid-year arrivals, the Warriors have only Johnson and Aaron Pene joining the club next year. Back-up half Sean O’Sullivan is on the look-out for a new club.
TIGERS SET FOR COACHING SHAKE-UP
If Michael Maguire does survive the axe, expect a shake-up to his coaching staff.
Those within the Tigers ranks rate Maguire’s chance of surviving as a genuine 50/50 proposition – although he does maintain some strong support on the board.
The Tigers board have asked the football committee to come back with a recommendation surrounding the future of Maguire. That could come back to the board by the end of the weekend.
One recommendation may be that if Maguire survives he needs to surround himself with some different people.
There is some thought that if Penrith assistant Cameron Ciraldo wants the job then it is his. If not the Tigers may proceed with Maguire for another 12 months. The talk around Ciraldo also means it makes sense to delay a final decision given he does not want to be engaged until Penrith’s premiership hopes are over.
What is likely to happen though if Maguire does stay on is that he will be asked to revamp his coaching staff.
Wayne Collins has been Maguire’s long-term assistant at the Rabbitohs and now the Tigers while Shane Millard is also part of the coaching staff. Tim Sheens is expected to be more hands on with the NRL squad than originally planned.
Maguire undertook a similar change heading into the final season of his deal at South Sydney when he brought the then highly rated Anthony Seibold into the fold. Seibold would replace Maguire as head coach at season’s end.
Ciraldo is being encouraged by those close to him to be patient.
Meanwhile, Tigers backrower Luke Garner has again been linked with a move to the Sea Eagles. Garner, who played under-20s at Manly, still has another 12 months left on his deal at the Tigers.
TAHS LAND SEA EAGLES FLYER
We revealed last week that Manly flyer Tevita Funa was close to switching codes to join the NSW Waratahs. Well that deal is as good as done. Funa will link-up with the Waratahs on a one-year contract when his commitments with the Sea Eagles end. Funa, 23, has played 16 top grade games for the Sea Eagles.
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH NRL PODCAST
Phil Rothfield, Michael Carayannis and Adam Mobbs debate whether Penrith will be labelled chokers if their season ends early and why the Teddy v Turbo clash is must-watch TV. Buzz and Mick are tipping potential boilovers — albeit in different games — and they disagree on who should be coach of the year.
SONNY’S TALL POPPY CONFESSION
Sonny Bill Williams has revealed he struggled with his own tall poppy syndrome reaction, to none other than NBA superstar LeBron James.
Williams has been an influential figure for Wallabies playmaker Quade Cooper, who made a remarkable return to Test rugby after four years last weekend kicking the winning goal against world champions South Africa.
Speaking about Cooper’s transformation this week, Williams reflected on his own journey of personal growth.
“I came to learn it’s how we are wired as human beings, I received that during my own career, but when I was watching the NBA I found myself hoping LeBron James would lose,” Williams said.
“I had to ask myself why I felt that way, was I jealous of his success? In this life, that’s how we’ve been created. I asked the creator to remove that jealousy from my heart.”
HAIR-RAISING MOMENT
Former NRL and Wallabies star Mat Rogers emerged for a media conference last week with his old teammate Lote Tuqiri to promote the Wallabies vs South Africa match sporting a lush head of hair.
Turns out Rogers is among the growing number of male celebrities getting hair regrowth treatment. The 45-year-old sought treatment at the Gro clinic and four months after the transplant procedure, posted a video on their site hailing the results.
“They take the hair from the back and put it in the front and it grows like normal,” Rogers said. “I know there’s a lot of stigma around men doing things like this, mostly from men — women think, ‘Why don’t men just do it?’ I think it’s amongst men giving it to each other about doing things that make them feel good about themselves.
“I don’t care. I did it, and I’m stoked with the way it turned out.
“I’ve never felt more happy about doing something for myself than this, I don’t have to worry about going bald now, I’ve got my hair back and it’s fine.”
CRICKETERS’ COMMUNITY BLITZ
Australian cricket bowling trio Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc joined their NSW teammates as part of a community blitz this week. A series of virtual Q&A calls were made to regional areas to reach out to students, cricketers and coaches ahead of the upcoming season. Sydney Sixers captain Moises Henriques dialled in from Dubai. Players spoke about their own journey plus fielded questions.
TALES OF TOMMY TERRIFIC
A book documenting the life and times of the late Tom Raudonikis has been released. Dubbed “Tommy — The Extraordinary Career of Tom Raudonikis”, it has been written by Ian Collis and Alan Whiticker.
EAGLE SINGS A WINNING TUNE
He’s our 166-kilogram giant who lit up the NFL this week, but if things had gone differently Jordan Mailata could instead have been starring on The Voice.
The 24-year-old first made headlines way back in 2013, when we snapped the then Condell Park High School student preparing for a talent contest in which he sang Titanium by David Guetta and Sia alongside classmate Rachel Small.
And Mailata hasn’t given up on his musical ambitions, delivering a stunning version of country tune Tennessee Whiskey that had Philadelphia Eagles teammates hooting and hollering in a recent team meeting.
After winning the left tackle position with Philadelphia and making an impressive season debut this week, Mailata is being talked up as a future Pro Bowl star.
Not bad for a kid from Bankstown who grew up playing league and signing his heart out in talent contests.
PAINE’S GAIN
Australian Test cricket captain Tim Paine was the subject of an unfortunate faux pas by ABC reporter Tony Armstrong this week, when news emerged about his surgery.
Paine underwent an operation to fix a bulging disk in his spine – Armstrong forgot the ‘s’ in disc when reading the news.
Known as the master of banter behind the stumps, Paine was quick to seize the moment on Twitter responding to a video of the blooper by writing: “True story actually”.
We’re told Paine is healing well after surgery and will be fit for the Ashes campaign this summer – if it goes ahead.
Rumours persist in England that the Poms may boycott the series due to Covid quarantine demands, however Cricket Australia is adamant the five-Test series will proceed, but likely without a game in Perth due to their hard border rules.
SCREAMING pic.twitter.com/uw4Y6610S9
— Matt Bevan (@MatthewBevan) September 13, 2021
DRIVERS PUT TO THE TEST
Supercars drivers Will Brown, Macauley Jones and Garth Tander got more than they bargained for when they agreed to a training drill with the crew from SAS.
The trio were put through their paces by the Channel 7 show’s hard-edged supervising instructor Ant Middleton in Capertee Valley while filming was taking place for this year’s show. Their efforts can be seen from Friday morning when footage of the training is released on the 7plus app.
ALL EYES ON
To block or not to block? That will be the question. Will teams be penalised from lining up blockers if they attempt a field goal?
FLASHBACK
The Wests Tigers played in a finals match for the last time on this day 10 years ago. The Tigers were shock exits from the competition after the Warriors came from behind to win 22-20 in front of 27109 people at the SFS.
BLAST FROM THE PAST: JEFF HARDY
248 top grade games (89 Illawarra, 159 St George) between 1985-1998
Brian Smith went from teacher to coach for Jeff Hardy.
Smith had taught Hardy at James Cook Boys High and recognised his talents. Hardy had come through the ranks at St George but when Smith took on the Steelers head coaching job, he came after his former pupil.
“I was straight out of school,” Hardy said.
“I wanted to be a PE teacher like Brian so the Steelers deal tied in with my university.”
Hardy made his run-on debut against the club he grew up idolising — Balmain — in 1985. He recalled being tackled by Tigers fullback Garry Jack in a try-saver.
“He brought my down with ease with a copybook tackle,” Hardy said. “I was just so excited to be out there.”
Hardy had five seasons at the Steelers. He spent the summer playing in England and missed the cut-off to return to Australia for the 1990 season.
Hardy again linked up with Smith in 1991 – this time at St George. Smith offered him an incentive-based deal for the rest of the season.
Hardy ended up spending eight years at the Dragons.
“I came back the same week as they signed Martin Offiah,” Hardy said. “There was plenty of hype around that. We made our debut at the same time and he ended up scoring a try.”
Hardy became the glue of St George during the 1990s. He played in three grand finals in three different positions as part of a bright period on the field for the club.
He came off the bench to replace Jason Stevens in the opening exchanges of the 1993 grand final after Stevens badly broke his thumb. St George went down to Brisbane in consecutive premiership deciders.
“We’d been there in 1992 but in 1993 we were playing some really great footy,” Hardy said. “I’d just sat on the bench when I got told to go on.”
The Dragons played in another grand final three years later – this time under new coach David Waite. The club was almost ripped apart by the Super League war prior to the start of the season but ended up losing to Manly in the decider.
“That was an amazing season,” Hardy said.
“We knew it was backs against the wall. We had some really good young guys and some really hard working players.”
Hardy returned to England at the end of the 1998 season for two years despite being offered a spot to remain as part of the St George Illawarra joint venture – either as a player or on the coaching staff.
Hardy transitioned into a coaching role, guiding Endeavour Sports High to national success. He has spent the past seven years working at the Clontarf Foundation.
“My greatest achievements in sport is not what I did as a player, but what I did after,” Hardy said.
Originally published as Sport Confidential: Ash Taylor a fighting chance at Warriors, Wests Tigers set for coaching shake-up
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