Sport Confidential: Former grand final performer Amy Shark launches shock attack on NRL
An Aussie music star who performed at the 2020 NRL grand final has launched an astonishing attack on the code that helped launch her career. That and more in Sport Confidential.
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Musical superstar Amy Shark may have worn out her welcome with the NRL after launching an astonishing attack on the code while playing at the AFL’s Gather Round.
Shark, who worked at the Gold Coast Titans before making it big in the music industry, was a guest performer for the AFL for their launch of Gather Round in Adelaide.
Shark belted out some of her favourite tunes and then ripped into rugby league with an unexpected attack on the code that helped launch her career.
“I’m from Queensland so unfortunately - I’ve had NRL pushed in front of me, which kind of sucks,’’ she said.
“I’m not just saying that because I’m playing tonight — you guys, you know what’s up. We don’t need to totally drill the NRL into the ground but you guys know what’s up.
“In case someone is filming this … actually you know what, screw them, honestly they just screw around artists, you guys actually understand artists, thank you for doing that.”
Shark was a guest performer at the NRL grand final in 2020 and has previously credited the Titans for helping get her career off the ground.
She spent five years at the club, working in a variety of roles while honing her craft.
“I played everywhere,” Shark said in an interview with this masthead five years ago.
“I played at the corporate rooms, on the field. That club believed in me so much. I am so appreciative.
“That’s why I can’t not follow them and why I will always owe them. It was more than just the club and the team. For me it was at a time when I was trying to do something and I had a full-time job my staff and workmates and my boss Matthew Francis were so incredible to me.
“If I did not have their support I’m not sure I would have had the time to write the songs.”
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Jai Arrow has opened up on the most emotional and traumatic 24 hours of his life after he became a father for the first time with his partner Berina Colakovic.
Arrow delayed his flight to Perth with the South Sydney side to be at his partner’s side as she gave birth to their daughter, Ayla.
“I was in shock at the amount of pain she was in,” Arrow said.
“I was crying for two or three hours after the birth just seeing what she had to go through and seeing the little one.
“It is pretty special. It is probably the proudest, most traumatic experience I have ever had.
“I was speaking to the boys afterwards and I said you have new respect for your partner when they go through that.
“I would do anything for her now.”
Having played his part at the birth of his daughter, Arrow belatedly jumped on a plane on Thursday afternoon and flew to Perth to join his teammates as they attempt to topple North Queensland at Optus Stadium on Saturday night.
“The club was good enough to allow me to (stay behind),” Arrow said.
“I wasn’t going to go over unless she gave birth.”
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Melbourne are playing a dangerous game with recruitment guru Paul Bunn as they struggle to reach a new deal with arguably the best scout in the game.
Bunn, who has helped piece together a dynasty during his time at the Storm, is off contract at the end of the year.
Bunn’s list of discoveries is too long to mention. The best evidence of his work is the club’s record during his time at the Storm, where the club has been a perennial premiership contender.
Bunn recently gave an insight into the club’s recruiting philosophy on the Cosmic Cowboy podcast.
“You hear about clubs and their no dickhead policy,” Bunn said.
“Well that is part of it. We recruit the person before we recruit the talent. The type of person we recruit has to be competitive, they have to want to be the best version of themselves, they have to be passionate about what they are doing, they have to accept all their friends - that word empathy,” Bunn said.
Bunn’s contract talks come as the club finds itself facing a $6 million salary cap crunch with some of their biggest names up for grabs from November 1.
Harry Grant, Jahrome Hughes, Ryan Papenhuyzen, Nick Meaney, Shawn Blore, Xavier Coates and Nick Meaney are all about to enter the final year of their contracts.
Bunn will be crucial to those negotiations.
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Australian Paralympic legend Dylan Alcott has hailed Alexander Volkanovski as the epitome of Aussie pride after cutting a promo to help promote UFC 314 on Main Event.
Volkanovski will face Diego Lopes in Florida in a featherweight title fight on April 13 as he attempts to regain the crown he lost last year to Ilia Topuria.
Lopes is a formidable opponent, having won 26 of his 32 bouts. Yet Alcott is among those who believe Volkanovski can reclaim the crown.
“Volk is a champion,” Alcott said.
“For us Aussies, sport is everything. We set a higher standard for those fortunate enough to represent the nation.
“In my eyes, no-one has lived up to those standards more than Alexander ‘the Great’ Volkanovski. Volk is the epitome of Aussie pride.”
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Aussie hurler Liz Clay is about to find out whether her big leap has paid off. Clay, who represented Australia at last year’s Paris Olympics, packed her bags after the Games and headed to Arizona to train under renowned sprint and hurdle coach Andreas Behm.
Now she is back in Australia and keen to make an impact at the national track and field titles in Perth this weekend. Clay will race the 100m hurdles on Sunday and is keen to put into practice what she has learned since leaving the country to hone her craft in America.
“I think it’s the best thing I have ever done to be honest,” Clay said.
“Amazing training, great people. I am just learning so much every day. I raced about three weeks ago in Arizona but there was no-one in the race.
“I ran about 12.90s. This is the one. I should be running a PB on Sunday. I have to turn up and execute and hope the wind is in my favour.
“I have more confidence than I have ever had before. I have done things I have never done before.”
The 100m hurdles will be one of the most competitive events at the nationals as Clay lines up against her fellow Paris Olympians Michelle Jenneke and Celeste Mucci.
The big names will be out in force in Perth led by sprint sensations Torrie Lewis and Gout Gout, and Olympic medalists Nicola Olyslagers and Matt Denny.
Lewis will run the heats of the 100m and 200m on Friday and Saturday while teenage superstar Gout will run the heats of the 200m on Saturday.
Gout will skip the senior 100m as flying Lachie Kennedy attempts to challenge the 10s barrier.
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AJ Brimson is on the verge of becoming the next big-name player to switch his international allegiance with his decision set to have massive potential ramifications for the representative future of Newcastle star Kalyn Ponga.
It is understood that Brimson wants to play for England this year. It would mean he would have to give up the Queensland jersey he has worn four times, while he is yet to play for the Kangaroos.
Brimson is eligible to play for England because his mum Vanessa was born there. He would ordinarily be free to switch from Australia to England having not represented the Kangaroos.
However, Brimson was part of Australia’s World Cup nines successful squad in 2019. Ponga was part of the same squad and it means the pair are not automatically able to switch their international allegiance – Ponga has been linked with a switch to the Kiwis, having Maori heritage and been brought up for a time in New Zealand.
The World Cup nines was used as a reason why Ponga would be unable to represent New Zealand when the uncertainty surrounding his international future emerged last year after he made himself unavailable for the Kangaroos.
Had Brimson not played in the one-off nine’s tournament he would have been cleared to play for England.
He now must apply to the International Rugby League Federation in hope they will lift the embargo attached to his name as you can’t freely switch between the tier-one nations of Australia, New Zealand and England.
An independent panel would make the decision which would include consultation with Australia. If the Kangaroos don’t object then that will help Brimson’s case. The fact that he won his Australian jersey in a nine’s tournament would also count in his favour.
Don’t be surprised if Ponga is watching closely. If Brimson is cleared then it would open the door for Ponga to potentially make an international switch at the end of this year’s Origin series, which could see him line-up for the Kiwis as early as this year.
England coach Shaun Wane confirmed Brimson was interested in taking on Australia as part of the end of year Ashes series.
“I am aware that there is an interest,” Wane told Sport Confidential.
“I haven’t taken it any further than that but I will be looking into it this week. He is a good player.”
Victor Radley gave up a NSW jersey to pursue playing for England. Brimson is not alone in potential high-profile switches. Already fellow Origin players Payne Haas and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui have flagged their potential interest in playing for Samoa instead of the Kangaroos.
Brimson said in 2019 ahead of the World Nines that he had approached then England coach Wayne Bennett about the prospect of playing for England.
“I just said to him, ‘Just letting you know that if I wasn’t going to get picked in any of this, that I’m an option because I’m half English’,” Brimson said six years ago.
“But once I spoke to Mal (Meninga), who said I should try and play for this stuff, Australia was always going to be my No.1 choice.”
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St George Illawarra winger Christian Tuipulotu’s post-try celebrations had him gesturing for some money.
Well the Dragons have paid up with Tuipulotu agreeing to a 12-month extension with the club.
Tuipulotu has been one of the form players for the Dragons with the 24-year-old agreeing to stay on.
He was off-contract at the end of this year.
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FLASHBACK
The late Richie Benaud was mourned on this day 10 years ago.
The cricket legend died aged 84 after a decorated career which included 63 Tests for Australia followed by becoming the voice of cricket in this nation.
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A kick-off error where the wrong team received the ball has led to the NRL re-working their game day procedures.
The Eels kicked off in their match against Manly in round four at 4 Pines Park when they should have received the ball. It has now prompted the NRL to make an adjustment to try and stop the minor mistake from happening again. The ground manager will now tell both captains and the referee after they run out exactly how the match should be started.
Opposing captains and the referee toss the coin usually an hour before kick-off to work-out who kicks off and what direction the teams will run to start the game.
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