Sport Confidential: Bulldogs’ $3 million war chest is a myth
The much-hyped figure that provided hope for long-suffering Canterbury fans has been shot down, while NRL club bosses have no interest in the highly-touted Kangaroos v All Black clash. It’s all in SPORTS CONFIDENTIAL.
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The Bulldogs’ $3 million war chest is a myth, according to boss Andrew Hill.
The much-hyped figure was a “pre-Christmas” number well before the club signed the likes of Luke Thompson and Nick Cotric. They have also extended Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Will Hopoate, Josh Jackson, Reimis Smith and Brandon Wakeham.
Hill is expected to meet with incoming coach Trent Barrett in the coming days to work out what their next movements are in terms of their roster. They have offers out to Adam Elliott and Kieran Foran about extending their time at the club.
“We will work on that in the next couple of weeks,” Hill said.
“Trent’s key focus is at Penrith but in his own time and away from his commitments, myself and (head of football) Steve Price will be talking to him around roster management and staff appointments.
“You’ll never hear us confirm (how much we can spend) but that figure everyone keeps saying is at pre-Christmas levels. It’s come down but we have a good amount to spend on the right talent.
“We are linked with every player that’s either off-contract or looking for another opportunity, we are not having a scatter gun approach. We will target what we think we need. Trent will be part of that and we will work quietly behind the scenes to build our roster.”
Meanwhile, Elliott continues to do good things away from the field. The injured lock is raising money for Autism community network.
Elliott pledged to dye his hair blue once that target reached $1000. The money raised is more than $4000 which will also mean his brother James will dye his hair.
To donate: gofundme.com/f/Adams-going-blue-for-autism
The NRL and the RLPA are about $25 million apart when it comes to cost-cutting measures for the next three years.
Discussions between the two parties are ongoing and includes a potential roster cull.
The salary cap could drop by about five per cent but cost savings are being explored in other areas including injury hardship, marketing and representative payments.
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‘Rugby needs it more than us’: Clubs hate hybrid idea
While the NRL and the RLPA have agreed to a reduced cap for this year, there could be further cuts in 2020 including how much players will be paid to play Origin.
Clubs are also expecting roster squads to be cut to 28 next year. There have been discussions around keeping up to four development players or the potential for re-introducing a second-tier salary cap.
The NRL and the RLPA are hopeful of having the situation cleared up next week.
Clubs were also told they need to be flexible as the COVID-19 situation worsens in Victoria and Queensland. The prospect of moving the four Queensland-based teams to NSW was raised.
Club bosses also told interim NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo to scuttle any plans for a hybrid match between the Kangaroos and the All Black at season’s end.
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Several club bosses raised their concerns during the phone hook-up, clearly getting their point across that there is no appetite for the match in club-land.
One club boss said “rugby need it more than us, so why would we even contemplate it?”
“None of us are interested in it and there is no interest in supporting it.”
Failed applicants let down gently
Ever wondered how an NRL club rejects you? Well, we have obtained the email of heartbreak the Warriors dished out to a host of coaching hopefuls this week.
The Warriors culled their shortlist for the vacant position with chief executive Cameron George firing off the below email.
“We thank you for your expression of interest in the NZ Warriors head coaching role,” George wrote. “We have had an incredible level of interest from coaches of hugely varied backgrounds and experience and from all around the world. Our decision to make change was born from a desire to engage a new level of success for our club and we’re incredibly excited for the future.
“Our selection committee progressed through a list of potential candidates and ensure focus on the core attributes we are searching for, we have established and applied some stringent evaluation criteria to all applicants. This process led us to discuss the opportunity with several candidates that rate very highly against the criteria we have set and that we believe the club needs.
“Unfortunately I have to advise you that we won’t be taking (COACH NAME) application further at this stage. Thank you again for your interest and belief in our club, and we wish (COACH NAME) all the very best with his future endeavours.”
Geoff Toovey and the Walker brothers were among the candidates brushed.
Toovey said on NRL 360 he was a “little disappointed”.
“I thought I was a good fit for the job,” Toovey said.
“I was pretty excited to hopefully get the opportunity.”
George, owner Mark Robinson, chairman Rob Croot, and club legend Simon Mannering make up the committee.
Young Shark on the move
Promising Cronulla back-rower Billy Magoulias has been given permission to speak with rival clubs despite a year remaining on his deal.
Magoulias, 23, has struggled to find a spot at the Sharks this year despite a growing injury toll for the club. He played the last of his two games in round three and only in recent weeks has he again been part of the 21-man squad.
Magoulias was earmarked as a potential Paul Gallen replacement this year after making his debut last year but has had limited opportunities.
The Sharks have granted Magoulias permission to look elsewhere for next year and beyond. The ball-playing lock first approached the club last month but was rejected.
He had the rare feat of pulling out two huge plays to lead Newtown to a NSW Cup and National Championship victory in successive weeks last year.
Good news for the Broncos
Brisbane have been given a much needed boost with boom outside back Herbie Farnworth knocking back a massive deal from the Warriors to re-commit to the Broncos.
Farnworth, 20, elected to stick with the Broncos for the next two years instead of pursuing the Warriors rich deal which was up to $2 million for four years.
Referee rotation policy
Leading referee Grant Atkins has been rested this weekend. It is part of the NRL’s rotation policy given only eight referees are required each week.
Ben Cummins will also officiate his first Raiders game since last year’s six-again fiasco.
Wolfpack on the brink
There are grave concerns for the future of Sonny Bill Williams’ Toronto Wolfpack team.
The whisper is the club could fold at the end of the season which would be a massive blow for the global game.
Judiciary panel member denied big opportunity
Rugby league’s bad boys cruelled Sean Garlick an opportunity to watch his son, Jackson, on the The Bachelor in Paradise dating show.
Garlick senior was on the judiciary panel deliberating on Josh McGuire and David Klemmer’s respective hearings on Tuesday night while the show was on.
All eyes on ...
The Raiders forward pack featuring Corey Harawira-Naera and John Bateman who haven’t played all year.
Injuries have hampered Bateman’s final season in Australia while Harawira-Naera only joined Canberra this week.
Their inclusion comes at an important time for an underpowered Raiders side who face off against the hapless Cowboys on Saturday.
Flashback ...
Newcastle legend Andrew Johns committed himself to the Knights for life on this day 15 years ago.
Johns, 31, signed an extension until 2008 with his contract allowing him to complete a short stint in England at the end of the 2005 season.
“To have this opportunity come up in England like it has . . . it’s no secret I wanted to experience footy over there before I finished up,” Johns said.
“But I also wanted to end my career in Newcastle with the Knights. This is basically the best of both worlds.”
He played three games for Warrington at the end of the NRL season.
Blast from the past ...
David Gillespie 258 top grade games (120 Canterbury, 46 Western Suburbs, 92 Manly) from 1984-1997. 19 Tests for Australia, 15 games for NSW.
When David Gillespie arrived from Narromine to Belmore ahead of the 1984 season he wanted to make a mark.
“I tackled Geoff Robinson at training,” Gillespie said.
“I was trying to make an impression. He looked up at me and said ‘you cement head’. And then the media got hold of it and that’s how the nickname stuck.”
It also stuck in part because of Gillespie’s ferocious defensive abilities. The front-rower also the rare feat of being part of three consecutive grand finals at the start and end of his career.
Gillespie sat unused on the bench in his first year as Canterbury won the grand final. He played in the successful premiership win the following year before a severe workplace injury ruled him out of the 1986 win.
Gillespie was working as a garbage collector and on game-day late in the 1986 season he was doing his usual run.
“I got my finger jammed in between the side of the truck and the telegraph poll,” Gillespie said of the incident which severed his index finger.
“It was a Monday morning, we were playing St George later that night but I had to work.”
Gillespie followed coach Warren Ryan to Western Suburbs at the end of 1990 along with a host of ex-Bulldogs including Joe Thomas, Andrew Farrar and a year later Jason Alchin.
“I became a bit stale and needed another challenge,” Gillespie said.
“We left Baa (Terry Lamb) at Canterbury and that still doesn’t sit well with me. We were never going to win the comp at Wests but we were very competitive.”
He finished his career with three consecutive grand finals including a premiership win in 1996 at Manly under Australian coach Bob Fulton at Manly, rejecting a deal to play for the Steelers.
Originally published as Sport Confidential: Bulldogs’ $3 million war chest is a myth