Melbourne football manager Frank Ponissi takes leave from Storm
One of the most important cogs in the Melbourne Storm machine has taken leave and headed for the United States to deal with the toll of working in a “real tough industry”.
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HISTORY: NRL heads to PNG
One of Melbourne’s most important powerbrokers is in the midst of a five-month sabbatical in the US.
Melbourne’s general manager of football Frank Ponissi has taken time out from his role as Craig Bellamy’s right-hand man in a career freshen-up. Ponissi is pulling beers in New York as he takes a short stint away from the game.
It was part of the recent contract extension he signed with the Storm until the end of 2023.
Storm chief executive Dave Donaghy backed Ponissi’s time away.
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“Frank has been in his role for 12 years,” Donaghy said.
“I’m big on health and wellbeing — holistically not just physically. In these jobs you put your heart and soul into it. It’s a real tough industry. Frank and I have spoken about it for a long time about him going to do something else.
“He can have a freshen up. It’ll put him in good shape to be re-energised”.
Ponissi will be back in time for round one.
RABBITOHS FINALLY FREE OF INGLIS SALARY
None of what Greg Inglis earns next season will be included in the Rabbitohs’ salary cap, giving South Sydney an extra $100,000 to spend.
The Rabbitohs had to take in the entirety of what Inglis was paid for his off-field role in this year’s salary cap.
So too the wages he received as part of his million dollar contract before his shock retirement in April. The on-field and off-field roles contributed to about $650,000 in South Sydney’s cap this year despite Inglis playing just two games.
Inglis was to earn about $300,000 as he moved into a three-tier off-field role at the Rabbitohs which incorporated coaching, community and corporate partnerships.
However, he will get less than half that as he only takes up a portion of that original role — coaching.
Inglis will help the Rabbitohs’ junior pathways programs and will do some work with the NRL side.
Inglis had to fulfil a raft of parameters set by the NRL to prove he was genuine about the fulfilling the three roles the club had defined for him.
The NRL had given South Sydney a preliminary indicative value of $100,000 to be included in next year’s salary cap for planning purposes but that has since been scrapped.
South Sydney could again be at the mercy of the NRL’s salary cap auditor with speculation Sam Burgess could retire before the start of next season.
Burgess’ contract does not end until 2023.
What made Inglis’ case so different to players in the past was that the former South Sydney skipper did not want to be paid for the final 18 months of his contract.
IRL SIGN OFF ON TONGA TESTS
Tonga’s two matches against Great Britain and Australia will officially be classed as Test matches despite the Tongan side being an invitational side.
As the infighting between the board and its players continue, the International Rugby League (IRL) federation has confirmed the matches will still count as official Tests.
“The Tongan matches will be considered as Tests,” said IRL southern hemisphere general manager Jeremy Edwards.
Meanwhile the IRL completed its investigations into ongoing tensions between Lebanon and its senior players. The findings were put to the IRL board last week and the recommendation of the investigator was to move to arbitration. That will happen in the coming weeks with a report back to the IRL in December.
SPOTTED
NRL boss Todd Greenberg with a flat tyre after last week’s NSWRL AGM.
SHOOSH
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SHOOSH II
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TEETOTALLER THOMPSON
Manly back-rower Joel Thompson has vowed to give up alcohol after a booze-fuelled incident almost claimed his life. Thompson was rushed to hospital during the October long weekend after hitting his head on rocks while celebrating with his friends.
NAS GIVES BACK
We’re told Melbourne Storm prop Nelson Asofa-Solomona has put his time away from playing Tests for the Kiwis to good use.
On his own accord he took a few Storm staff members to visit a Melbourne children cancer hospital and have them dress up as characters from Frozen to bring a smile to the children.
He wanted no press nor fanfare for his good deed.
MORE NINES DRAMAS
Aside from the player-aged debacle there were a few hiccups with the World Cup Nines last week. Lebanon were unable to field players who were under-18 despite one of those players — Jacob Kiraz — playing in the mid-year Test against Fiji. There were whispers that insurance may have been a problem, which raises the question about what would have happened if Kiraz was injured in the mid-year Test or when he played against France in Lebanon’s first pool game?
Trainers from some nations were also getting training on the latest spinal treatment techniques the Thursday before the game while nations had to “borrow” Australian staff throughout the tournament. There was also a discussion about who should pay for a taxi for an injured player who needed to get to hospital.
POLLIES WANT MORE GAMES OUT WEST
The NSW Government wants to lift the amount of events allowed at Bankwest Stadium from 49 to 80. When the new stadium was opened earlier this year it was capped at 49 events and three concerts. But with two major stadiums out of play next year the matches and other events at the venue will surpass that.
The 80 events is just until the NSW stadium redevelopments are complete but there is a push to increase the number permanently to 65 and lifting the concert number to five. The proposal is now on exhibition until Wednesday.
ROOS STRIKE UP NEW TUNE
The Kangaroos adopted a new theme song throughout their World Nines campaign. Winger Josh Addo-Carr led the rendition of “Home among the gum trees” in his first Australian camp.
BOWLED SHANE
Shane Warne was back inside the SCG dressing rooms on Thursday almost 28 years on since he made his Test debut at the ground. Warne will again be part of Fox Cricket’s commentary team who launched their summer of cricket yesterday.
Originally published as Melbourne football manager Frank Ponissi takes leave from Storm