Nick Politis, Mark Bouris escape NRL sanction over referee abuse

Roosters powerbrokers Nick Politis and Mark Bouris, as well as Manly hooker Gordon Chan Kum Tong, have escaped sanction for incidents that attracted the attention of the NRL’s integrity unit.

Roosters chairman Politis and board member Bouris were accused of abusing referee Mitch James at the NRL Las Vegas Nines competition earlier this month. James claimed the duo approached him after the LA Roosters’ 12-10 loss to Brisbane Veterans.

“Mr Mark Bouris and Mr Nick Politis confronted me,” James wrote in a formal complaint sent to the NRL. “Mr. Bouris stated, ’I’ve seen a lot of football and that was a disgrace! You reffed us out of the game.”

James also alleges he was told by tournament director Mike Castle he would not be the touch judge for the Greece versus USA International match to be played later that day following the incident, despite having been appointed.

Bouris has previously told this masthead he and Politis “were not threatening” in any of their interactions with the referee. The NRL opted not to sanction Politis or Bouris, instead reminding them they are not to approach match officials at any time.

Chan Kum Tong, meanwhile, was involved in a confrontation with two Warriors fans at Go Media Stadium during his side’s loss to the Warriors last Friday.

Roosters chairman Nick Politis won’t be sanctioned for abusing a ref.Credit: NRL Imagery

Footage circulated on social media showed Chan Kum Tong grabbing one of the fans by the jersey after they allegedly heckled Sea Eagles teammate Jake Trbojevic as he left the field following his sin-binning.

The NRL has issued Chan Kum Tong a warning, but he has escaped without a fine or suspension.

Brandon Smith signs with Rabbitohs, Molo agrees deal to join Dolphins

Sydney Roosters hooker Brandon Smith will join the Rabbitohs on a two-year deal from 2026.

The development comes as Francis Molo, who was granted a release from the Dragons on Tuesday, agreed terms on a switch to the Dolphins for this year.

Smith, whose Roosters contract expires at the end of this season, will join the Rabbitohs in 2026 but could yet land at Redfern this season if the two clubs can reach an agreement.

The Roosters are willing to release Smith before the June 30 deadline, but the Rabbitohs want their arch rivals to chip in more money to cover Smith’s contract than they are willing to spend. Smith is recovering from knee injury and is due back mid-season.

Molo, meanwhile, was on the lookout for a new club after Dragons powerbrokers agreed on Tuesday to grant his request for a release.

Sources close to the negotiations who spoke on the condition of anonymity told this masthead that Molo was required to repay a six-figure sum to secure his release. The Dragons wanted to make the point that players will not be able to walk out on their contracts without consequences.

Brandon Smith is leaving the Roosters.Credit: Getty Images

A rift between Molo and the club developed following an incident involving a member of the coaching staff in which Molo took offence when comments were made about his decision to abstain from alcohol.

The 30-year-old prop, who joined the Dragons from the North Queensland Cowboys, was contracted until the end of this season. His departure opens up salary cap space and a roster spot as the Dragons continue their rebuild under coach Shane Flanagan.

The Dragons have a ready-made replacement for Molo in former NSW Origin and Kangaroos prop David Klemmer, who was brought into the squad last week after Mikaele Ravalawa departed for South Sydney. Klemmer is expected to play against Melbourne in round four after the bye this weekend.

Dragons prop Francis Molo.Credit: Getty Images

In other player movements, the Bulldogs on Wednesday confirmed the departure of Ryan Sutton, with the club agreeing to pay out the final year of the veteran forward’s contract in a move that creates flexibility in their roster for 2025.

Sutton, who played just 10 minutes in NSW Cup last year before succumbing to injury, has been granted an immediate release from his $550,000-a-year deal, freeing up a spot in the club’s top 30 squad.

Sutton, who joined Canterbury from Canberra before the 2023 season, struggled to cement his place in Cameron Ciraldo’s side, playing just 13 games. He is now being offered to rival clubs.

‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’: Lane warns Eels rebuild could take the year

Forward Shaun Lane has warned Eels fans it could take all season for the team to find form as Jason Ryles goes about rebuilding the roster, but insists patience will reap long-term benefits.

Lane was adamant the club was heading in the right direction under new coach Ryles, despite heavy losses in the opening two rounds.

Eels forward Shaun Lane in the club’s loss to the Tigers last week.Credit: NRL Images

“It’s only two results out of a long season,” Lane said. “It’s only round three. Rome wasn’t built in a day, we’re not expecting to come out and light up the competition in the first two rounds, with all the change that we’ve had in such a short amount of time.

“Growth is just a non-linear kind of progressive thing. You could go worse one week and then light up the next week and then go back again. We’re not sure how long it’s going to take. It could take the full season until we’re up and running.”

Using the example of the Bulldogs, who went from finishing 15th in 2023 to playing finals in 2024 under Cameron Ciraldo, Lane said the team needed to exercise patience to find progress.

“There has just been so much change that anyone was bound to fail for a little while with the amount of change that we’ve brought in,” Lane said.

“So for us to become that well-oiled machine where everyone is moving fluently, and everything is clicking on all cylinders it’s going to take a while, but it will be worth it in the long run.”

Parramatta were dealt a heavy blow to start the season with halfback Mitch Moses ruled out for the first six weeks after he suffered a stress reaction in his foot.

But Lane said the absence of Moses was a good learning curve for the Eels, who in the past have been too reliant of star players.

“That’s part of the growth of our team moving forward is to not rely on one person, right? And that’s kind of been the case for a number of years now,” Lane said.

“We were lucky that Mitch was never injured for about five years there straight, and that’s what we were able to build success on the back of because he is such a great player. But the last year and now into the start of this year, you can see just how reliant we were on his experience, his ability to guide the team around the park and kick into corners and stuff like that.

“It’s part of the growth of young players in our system, moving forward, to continue to learn how to do that in Mitch’s absence. And, for sure, when we get him back, it’ll be a godsend for us because he is such a great player.”

NRL hands down fines, suspensions for Vegas wrestlers and coach’s alleged assault

Warriors assistant coach Richard Agar has been suspended for three games and issued a $10,000 fine for allegedly manhandling a journalist mid-game during the Las Vegas season-opener.

Agar’s breach notice was handed down by the NRL as Raiders forwards Hudson Young and Morgan Smithies face suspended fines for the late-night hotel scuffle that dominated headlines leading into round one.

Agar was accused of grabbing Guardian UK journalist John Davidson by the throat at Allegiant Stadium at halftime in the Warriors loss to Canberra.

The NRL has proposed that half of Agar’s fine over the incident is suspended, and that the Warriors coach “undertake appropriate education and training”.

He has five business days to respond to the notice. He has consistently denied grabbing Davidson by the throat throughout the NRL Integrity Unit’s investigation.

The Warriors and NRL sought out CCTV footage from Allegiant Stadium given the conflicting accounts from Agar and Davidson.

Agar’s suspension would prevent him from acting as assistant coach for the Warriors games against the Roosters, Tigers and Storm, and he would not be allowed to travel for away games at Campbelltown and Melbourne.

Young and Smithies, meanwhile, were involved in a wrestle leading into their Las Vegas clash with the Warriors last month, in which hotel security mistook an inflatable baseball bat for a real one, prompting their brief eviction from their Resorts World accommodation.

Sources speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the ongoing breach notice process have indicated that the Raiders pair are facing suspended fines for the fracas.

The public apology and acceptance of responsibility by Young and Smithies was taken into account as the NRL weighed up its proposed sanction.

Meanwhile, fellow forward Zac Hosking is facing up to six weeks on the sidelines after playing on against Brisbane on Saturday night with a broken hand.

Sea Eagles relief after Trbojevic, DCE scans; Souths depth tested again

Manly are breathing a sigh of relief after scan results on Tom Trbojevic’s troublesome hamstring have cleared the superstar fullback of any significant injury.

Trbojevic and skipper Daly Cherry-Evans (back spasms) will both be monitored this week after being forced from the field in Friday’s loss to the Warriors.

Sea Eagles coach Anthony Seibold confirmed on Sunday morning that precautionary scans came back positive for Manly’s two most influential figures, with Cherry-Evans expected to be available for Sunday’s home game against Canberra and Trbojevic pushing to play as well.

Manly will also have speedster Tolutau Koula (thigh) and veteran prop Siosiua Taukeiaho (knee) back for the Raiders clash. Lehi Hopoate would switch to fullback if the Sea Eagles play it safe and keep Trbojevic on ice.

Trbojevic has a worrying history of hamstring issues and Manly are undoubtedly a different beast without their $1.1 million fullback. Unlike his six previous hamstring issues, Trbojevic did not pull up while running or react to a specific incident against the Warriors, with Manly confident his issue is limited to just stiffness in his lower back and hamstrings.

Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans were both injured in Manly’s loss to the Warriors.Credit: Getty Images

Cherry-Evans, meanwhile, told this masthead after he had touched down in Sydney on Saturday that he suffered a cork to his calf, which later caused tightness in his back.

“I picked up a cork in the first five or 10 minutes, I was running a bit differently, and as a result the back and hips were being overloaded,” Cherry-Evans said.

“That’s as simple as it was. There was no impact injury. But I’ll be very surprised if I’m not playing next week.”

Elsewhere, the Rabbitohs depth will be further tested with rising forward Lachlan Hubner facing a two-game suspension - or three games if unsuccessfully challenged at the NRL judiciary - for a crusher tackle on Dragons captain Clint Gutherson.

Hubner has impressed as a small forward in the absence of Cam Murray in South Sydney’s 2-0 start to the year, but the club is also awaiting scan results on Tallis Duncan and a possible hamstring injury from their 25-24 win over St George Illawarra.

The Rabbitohs will have Jack Wighton back from suspension against Cronulla next Saturday.

Mikaela Ravalawa will also be in contention following official sign-off on his one-year move to South Sydney, with the Fijian flyer still on the Dragons books for 2026 if he doesn’t find a deal elsewhere.

Jai Arrow will also be available after passing two separate HIAs in Saturday’s win. Players are automatically ruled out of playing if they are called off for two HIAs in the one game, but Arrow was cleared of suffering a concussion after completing the tests.

Valentine Holmes, Harrison Edwards, Reuben Cotter, Cory Paix and Kobe Hetherington were all charged out of Saturday’s games but will be free to play by paying monetary fines.

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