Sports Confidential: NRL’s wildcard weekend dead in the water

The NRL’s controversial wildcard proposal is expected to be formally ditched with clubs and fans decidedly lukewarm on the controversial proposal.

Captains from the eight finals teams during the NRL captains' call at Allianz Stadium, Sydney ahead of the 2018 NRL Grand Final. Picture: Brett Costello

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The NRL’s controversial wildcard proposal is expected to be formally ditched on Wednesday.

The ARL commission will consider the plan after it was taken to a meeting of club CEOs in Brisbane during magic round.

Club bosses were given a week to provide their feedback to the NRL which will be taken to the commission.

The proposal — a 10-team finals system where the first six automatically qualify for the post-season, and the other four teams play knockout games to decide the last two spots — had a lukewarm response.

Privately, most clubs reject the idea.

The NRL is unlikely to expand the finals series. Picture by Brett Costello.

The Commission is keen for the NRL to innovate but believes it needs to back off when its ideas don’t attract support from clubs and fans.

Wildcard weekend had the potential to generate extra funds for the NRL but it called into question the integrity of the competition.

It also had support from the television networks who would have secured an extra week of finals.

RACING HONCHOS READY TO WAIT

Racing NSW stewards are awaiting evidence from NSW Police following the arrest of high profile racehorse owner Damion Flower on drug importing charges.

Flower is one of racing’s highest profile owners and breeders, with a share in some of the country’s best stallions.

He also owns a slot in Australia’s richest race, The Everest, where his entry last year, Viddora, finished 10th.

Flower has made the leap to become a “colourful sporting identity”.

He was more recently seen catching a helicopter to a Hawkesbury race meeting with former Penrith footy boss and keen racing enthusiast Phil Gould.

PAPA HAS THE GIFT

Exciting Melbourne rookie Ryan Papenhuyzen had even further reason to celebrate with his greyhound, Gary’s Gift, returning to the winner’s list with a stylish victory at Bathurst on Monday afternoon.

Grabbing plenty of headlines after playing a starring role in the Storm’s last-minute 24-22 victory over the Wests Tigers last Thursday, 20-year-old Papenhuyzen finished training just moments before Gary’s Gift saluted, the greyhound’s first win since January according to our racing guru Ray Thomas.

“I’d only just got off the massage table after training and switched on Sky Channel to watch it,” a delighted Papenhuyzen told us.

“He’s the first dog I’ve owned. At Christmas lunch a few years back my dad Neil and a few of my cousins were talking about buying a greyhound to race and through a connection of my sisters, we got to buying Gary’s Gift as a young pup.

“He’s had a few trainers along the way but John Chapman is getting the best out of him now — he’s a legend to deal with, we really enjoy watching him go around.

“Gary’s Gift has his own Instagram page with around 300 followers to keep everyone informed. I tipped him to a few of the boys at training on Monday so it good that he won.

“When he retires I’m looking forward to having him as a pet — but hopefully that’s not for a while and there’s still a few more wins in him yet.”

DOGS LAND STIMSON

Canterbury’s rebuild has begun with the signing of promising Melbourne Storm forward Joe Stimson.

Stimson is regarded as a future State of Origin star and was highly valued at the Storm, where they believed he would almost certainly remain, but the Bulldogs have got under their guard.

Stimson underwent his physical this week and the Bulldogs, who have landed a ripper, are expected to announce the deal soon.

Stimson will join Canterbury. Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images.

MAGUIRE PUSHES FOR TESTIMONIAL

Wests Tigers coach Michel Maguire is helping to push a Robbie Farah-Benji Marshall Testimonial match which is getting surprise resistance from some quarters.

There is a belief the Tigers, while supportive of a testimonial dinner or similar, are unwilling to support an NRL game as a testimonial for the pair because it would take away from their gate takings.

Maguire is encouraging the club to look big picture.

He knows that celebrations for those who played such crucial roles establishing the club are vital to club culture. It gives something for which other players can aspire.

KNIGHTS LINK UP WITH CCA

As part of the NRL’s Indigenous Round, the Newcastle Knights have teamed up with Cultural Choice Association to raise awareness and to support the prevention of Indigenous youth suicide in Australia.

“Sadly, our family has been impacted by the tragedy of Indigenous youth suicide when my cousin Parker passed away in 2017,” Connor Watson told Sports Confidential.

When the Knights run out for their clash against the Sydney Roosters tonight they will be wearing custom Indigenous painted boots as part of Indigenous Round celebrations.

Watson’s boots will be auctioned off.

The initiative is the brain child of the Watson family, led by Connor and his parents Mark and Jodie.

With the help of Kirinari Hostel, The Glen Centre and Baxter Juvenile Detention Centre, 22 of the Knights’ players boots were painted.

To buy the boots click here.

SHOOSH

Which coach left a whiteboard full of game plan notes in plain view of journalists?

DRAGONS GO SLOW ON CAP EXEMPTION

St George Illawarra are yet to seek a salary cap exemption from the NRL to replace the suspended Jack de Belin.

The Dragons will have about $270,000 to spend for the rest of the season on a “like for like” player.

Complicating the issue for St George Illawarra, is the exemption is just for this year. Meaning anyone who wants to join the club will only do so for a short stint.

They can reapply for an exemption but there is no clarity as to when de Belin’s criminal trial will conclude, leaving the Dragons hamstrung.

De Belin returned to Dragons training this week despite the federal court ruling going against him last year. He is yet to decide if he will appeal the case.

Lawrie has signed with the Dragons. Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images.

Internally, the Dragons may have found their replacement with Blake Lawrie re-signing for three years.

Meanwhile, St George Illawarra are yet to commit to playing regular season games at Mudgee beyond this year. The Dragons have had success off the field playing in the region in the past two years including a record crowd of 9267 on Sunday.

They will play South Sydney in the Charity Shield in 2020 and 2021 in Mudgee but are unclear if they will continue to play a top grade game there.

SPUDD FIRES UP RCG

Reagan Campbell-Gillard went from Blues player to reserve grader in the space of 12 months. There was an interesting moment in the lead-up to his Canterbury Cup showing last week when he was confronted by rugby league hardman Mark Carroll.

Carroll made a beeline for Campbell-Gillard pre-game and challenged him to put in a better showing than he had done in recent weeks. He went on to run for almost 200m.

Originally published as Sports Confidential: NRL’s wildcard weekend dead in the water