What’s the Buzz: Saint, Sinner, Shoosh
RABBITOH shopped around, a rising power, new Bulldog’s steep test — all the latest NRL chatter and more in Australia’s hottest sport gossip column.
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ALL the latest NRL chatter and more in Australia’s hottest sport gossip column.
SAINT
TYLER Wright. Told her season was over midyear with a crushing knee injury, the south coast 23-year-old refused to quit, surfing all the way to a second consecutive world title.
SINNER
WHINGEING players and officials who, in the wake of easily audible sledging in the Ashes and recent World Cup, want to get rid of stump or referee microphones. More of it, I say.
WHAT’S THE BUZZ: Pearce v Buhrer in captain battle
SHOOSH
WHICH CEO from one of the biggest clubs in the NRL was a shock candidate for the vacant Sharks CEO role?
SHOOSH II
WHICH NRL coach, who is off contract in 2019, will need to make the finals next year to survive the axe?
SHOOSH III
WHICH club was contacted by a third party about signing South Sydney’s Cody Walker next year?
SPOTTED
WESTS Tigers coach Ivan Cleary — despite recent kidney removal surgery — slotting goals like the old days at Concord Oval.
SPOTTED II
MARK ‘MG’ Geyer celebrating his 50th birthday and final show with the Grill Team with ‘Big Marn’ Darryl Brohman at a Caringbah Hotel Sportsmen’s lunch on Friday.
SPOTTED III
SEVEN sports anchor Jim Wilson, commentator Brett Kimmorley, NRL CEO Todd Greenberg and Cronulla chairman Dino Mezzatesta having lunch at Sea Level Cronulla on Friday.
SPOTTED IV
Laurie Daley having a beer at the Northbridge Hotel yesterday afternoon.
SPOTTED V
Graham Arnold, Trent Sainsbury, Mark ‘Spud’ Carroll and Pat Jarvis at son Brock Jarvis’ fight at Five Dock last weekend.
SPOTTED VI
Anthony Minichiello having Christmas lunch with Roosters staff at Criniti’s Wooloomooloo on Thursday.
MAJOR GIG AS COLONEL CALLS HORN FIGHT
HOURS after suffering a heart attack, legendary US boxing broadcaster Bob ‘The Colonel’ Sheridan sat ringside to call the infamous Mike Tyson ear-bite fight with Evander Holyfield in 1997.
“I didn’t want to miss it,’’ Sheridan said.
“I went to the fight, called it, saw Mike bite off part of Evander’s ear and then went back to the hospital in an ambulance.’’
He called the Rumble in the Jungle between Muhammad Ali and George Foreman in Zaire in 1974.
So, too, the Thrilla in Manila between Ali and Joe Frazier, as well as Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran and Floyd Mayweather fights — basically the most decorated and destructive boxers in history.
On Wednesday night, Sheridan will call his 1016th world title fight when Aussie schoolteacher Jeff Horn meets gypsy hitman Gary Corcoran in Brisbane.
It’s Horn’s first fight after stunning Manny Pacquiao in July.
Yet, according to Sheridan, who watched Horn’s greatest victory ringside at Suncorp Stadium, Corcoran is a bull who will ensure Wednesday night is a better spectacle than Pacquiao delivered.
“It will be at least as good as the Pacquiao fight, maybe even better because of the style of the two fighters,’’ Sheridan said.
“The fight that is coming up next Wednesday, the fans lucky to have tickets to go are going to see an absolute war.
“Corcoran is a hell of a fighter; he’s a beast in the ring. He’s one of nine brothers and all of his brothers are fighters, so he’s one tough son of a gun.
“This is the fight of his life and a huge opportunity for him to be a world champion.’’
Victory for Horn will pave the way for a possible super fight in Las Vegas against Terence Crawford.
“Crawford is one of the best fighters in the world,” Sheridan said.
“That’s the prize at the end of the tunnel for Jeff. It will be a huge money fight for him, but he’s got to get through Corcoran first.”
ALL WRAPPED UP FOR CHRISTMAS
THE NRL is hoping to wrap up two of its most important remaining cases of the year before Christmas.
The Gold Coast Titans’ new ownership model could be announced as early as this week with the future of the club resting on the successful delivery of the new licensee.
Gold Coast fund manager Stuart McAuliffe is believed to be in a head-to-head race with former directors Rebecca Frizelle and Darryl Kelly for the licence, which has been under the NRL’s control since 2015.
The final case the NRL is desperate to close is the salary cap investigation into Manly Sea Eagles.
The NRL is working to resolve the matter, which could result in the club being sanctioned with a monetary fine, loss of competition points, or absolved completely from any wrongdoing.
A STEEP TEST FOR HILL
IT’S a good thing Andrew Hill starts as Bulldogs CEO on Monday. He’s got some work to do.
Several of Canterbury’s senior players are privately agitated at club legend Steve Price’s rival ticket bid to usurp the current board.
The players have questioned coaching staff why, after a 2017 season railroaded by turmoil, Price’s ticket would want to inflict more off-field distractions in 2018.
The players are desperate to avoid unwanted headlines and being drawn into the battle of power at Belmore, ahead of next year’s AGM.
BELTING WIN FOR BOURIS
ROOSTERS director Mark “Golden Boy” Bouris has kept his unbeaten boxing record intact.
Bouris, who helped establish the NSW Police Legacy fight night in 2014, knocked down Superintendent Chris Craner in the second round at North Sydney Leagues Club last month.
The night raised more than $100,000 for the PCYC and Police Legacy.
And it seems there’s no stopping Bouris, 61.
Immediately after the win, he challenged Surry Hills superintendent and NSW Origin team manager Gavin ‘lover not a fighter’ Wood, to step into the ring next year.
RISING RUGBY LEAGUE POWER
THE World Cup story of Tonga just gets better. The Rugby League International Federation have released the new world rankings, with Tonga’s reward for reaching the semi-finals a move from 11th to fourth.
The other big mover is Fiji, from seventh to fifth.
Rankings (previous in brackets): 1 Australia (1), 2 New Zealand (2), 3 England (3), 4 Tonga (11), 5 Fiji (7), 6 Samoa (5), 7 Scotland (4), 8 France (6), 9 Lebanon (18), 10 PNG (16).
SHARP SHOOTER IN THE RIGHT FRAME
WHAT colleague and award-winning photographer Phil Hillyard doesn’t know about sports photography isn’t worth knowing.
Hillyard, one of the world’s sharpest shooters, will showcase his incredible work at his first solo exhibition, One Chance, on Wednesday from 6pm at the Hyatt Regency in Sydney.
Former Test captain Michael Clarke, who was photographed by Hillyard throughout his cricket career, was blown away when given a sneak peak of the exhibition.
“When people come and see what is inside the exhibition, you get a real feel for what goes in to taking the perfect photo,’’ Clarke said.
“It’s exciting to be part of some fantastic photos. Phil has done an amazing job.’’
BACK ON BULL AFTER NEAR-DEATH FALL
AND you reckon NRL players are tough?
Hunter Valley bull rider Cliff Richardson is back better than ever after a near-death experience inside the bull ring three years ago.
Richardson, who was on his deathbed after a bull’s horn rammed his abdomen as he tumbled off, causing severe haemorrhaging, will lead the Australian team when the PBR Global Cup challenge comes to Sydney next year.
Qudos Bank Arena will play host to bull-riding powerhouses Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and the US on June 9-10.
FOX WINS GONG FOR HORN FIGHT
INSIDE the ring, Jeff Horn’s victory over Manny Pacquiao will go down as one of the greatest sporting moments of the year.
Outside the ring, Foxtel and Fox Sports have also landed a major victory by taking out the prized AACTA Subscription Television award for best live production, for their coverage.
Presented to Fox Sports executives Steve Crawley, Matt Weiss and Joe Bromham at a gala event on Monday, the award is also timely, with the on-air team of Michael Buffer, Eddie McGuire, Paul Kent and Barry Michaels back together for Horn’s next battle with Gary Corcoran in Brisbane on Wednesday night.
TAKING THE WRIGHT PRECAUTIONS
IS it any wonder Australia’s two-time world surfing champion, Tyler Wright, was being over-protective of her 2017 title trophy during a press tour last week?
Wright, 23, broke her 2016 world title trophy during wild celebrations at her after-party.
* Phil “Buzz” Rothfield is on holidays
Originally published as What’s the Buzz: Saint, Sinner, Shoosh
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