BLINDSIDE: Is Payne Haas the biggest eater in the NRL?
HOW many Weet-Bix do you do? Good luck trying to beat Payne Haas. The rookie Broncos prop has claims to being the biggest eater in the NRL.
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THE Queensland Rugby League is undergoing an administrative shake-up, just months after revelations of their embarrassing State of Origin jersey sponsorship bungle.
Blindside can exclusively reveal two key staffers – head of football Neil Wharton and commercial manager Troy Morton – were axed on Wednesday as part of an overhaul of the QRL.
QRL boss Rob Moore has privately informed all staff of the redundancies. Wharton finishes up with the QRL today, while Morton will sever ties on June 8, two days after Origin I.
As part of the shake-up, dubbed a “Leadership Realignment”, the QRL will hire a chief operating officer in the coming weeks.
While Morton was already under the pump after his balls-up of Queensland’s Origin jersey sponsorship, it seems Wharton just does not fit with the restructuring taking place.
As revealed by The Courier-Mail last December, Morton brokered a paltry $80,000 deal for the major sponsorship of the mighty Maroons – the most successful brand in Australian sport.
Meanwhile, NSW secured a $4 million deal with a law firm, meaning Morton effectively cost the QRL millions in sponsorship dollars.
Morton served 22 years at the QRL and was instrumental in creating the annual QRL conference to help grassroots football.
PAYNE HAAS THE CEREAL KILLER
HOW many Weet-Bix do you do? Good luck trying to beat Payne Haas.
The rookie Broncos prop has claims to being the biggest eater in the NRL, with the 117kg monster able to devour 20 Weet-Bix in one sitting!
One of 10 siblings, Haas still lives with his parents on seven acres in the Gold Coast hinterland and sends his poor father Gregor broke by smashing Australia’s No.1 breakfast cereal.
“The boy can eat,” Gregor says with a laugh.
“Now that he is at the Broncos, they help him with a dietitian so he is very disciplined, but he is still a massive eater.
“I’ve never seen anyone eat so many Weet-Bix – his record is about 20.”
In the 1990s, former Manly prop Mark Carroll famously revealed he would eat 16 potatoes before a game, earning him the nickname “Spud”.
Weet-Bix executives could do worse than sign Haas to a cheeky third-party deal.
TITAN ELGEY’S VALUE DIVES
TITANS playmaker Kane Elgey is facing the grim prospect of a massive $200,000 pay cut to stay at the club. Elgey is off-contract at season’s end and his contract value plummeted following his axing to the Intrust Super Cup last week.
It is understood Elgey is on $560,000 this season but the Titans have made it clear they won’t be paying anywhere near that if the Gold Coast junior wants to remain on the holiday strip.
Elgey was highly impressive in his debut season in 2015 and clearly has talent but hasn’t been the same since his return from a knee reconstruction.
STATE OF DESPAIR
QUEENSLAND – beautiful one day, bad at rugby league the next.
The Sunshine State was battling after a third of the NRL season with no teams in the top eight, a predicament which could cost the Maroons in the State of Origin arena.
Luckily, Queensland’s unofficial fourth team, Melbourne Storm, is flying the flag proudly with five wins to sit fourth.
Maroons coach Kevin Walters was refusing to buy into the theory that the state’s NRL struggles could hurt Queensland.
“What I’ve been doing lately is tipping the table upside down and it reads a bit better,” Walters said.
“It’s not a concern but we’re not used to seeing that as Queensland people and fans. From a Queensland point of view, we’re hoping the next four or five weeks those players get better with their performances and a bit more confidence about them which a couple of wins will do.”
RAIDER ON TITANS’ WISHLIST
TITANS coach Garth Brennan has confirmed his interest in luring giant Canberra prop Shannon Boyd to the Gold Coast.
Brennan is eyeing Boyd’s signature if Origin prop Jarrod Wallace decides to leave the club.
The Titans have made Wallace a whopping four-year offer worth more than $2.5 million, but he is yet to accept the deal.
If Wallace departs, the Titans will ramp up plans to snare Boyd from Canberra.
“We’re looking at all good options out there and Shannon is one of a few,” Brennan said.
“There has been nothing formalised or any major steps forwards. It’s just talk.
“He is a big body and gives you some punch in the line. He gives you aggression.
“He is an Australian representative and is only 25. There are quite a few upsides in Shannon.
“Whether that progresses or anything comes of it, I don’t know. Our number one priority is Jarrod.”
Wallace’s delay in accepting the giant Titans offer has raised some eyebrows at the club.
MEN OF LEAGUE ENDORSE NEW CHIEF
THE Men of League Foundation has appointed a new chief executive officer.
Stephen Lowndes will step into the role on June 25, replacing Frank Barrett, the former Queensland boss who had a brief stint as CEO.
Lowndes is currently CEO of Royal Rehab, a rehabilitation and disability support network.
“The Men of League Foundation, of which I am an existing member, is one I have long admired, and I am delighted to have the opportunity to lead such a well-respected and active charitable foundation,” Lowndes said.
“Royal Rehab and Men of League Foundation have worked together previously, and I have a well-developed understanding, regard and empathy for the foundation’s assistance and support activities.”
LEAGUE MOURNS THE FOX
THE passing of former deputy premier Terry Mackenroth during the week was felt greatly by the NRL community. Mackenroth played a key role in the creation of Queensland’s Emerging Origin program in 2001 and helped the Titans secure their $160 million home ground at Robina.
“It was one of Terry’s last great projects as a politician as he retired only a couple of months (after the construction of Cbus Super Stadium),” Titans chairman Dennis Watt said.
“Quite simply, the Titans would not be here without Terry Mackenroth. He was a well-loved and highly respected individual within the sport and the wider community. Terry was an action man with a massive heart.”
HURRELLCANE HELPS OUT FOR TONGA
KONRAD Hurrell may not be able to hold the ball this season, but he is doing some good work off the field.
Hurrell has been in terrible form, making 16 errors this year, the second most of any player in the NRL.
But he found the time to round up some old footy boots from his Gold Coast Titans teammates to send home to Tonga.
Some park footy players in Tonga will be running around in the boots of million-dollar player Ash Taylor.
PAINFUL REMINDER OF KING’S STELLAR CAREER
THERE is a saying in sport that you are “a long time retired”.
Queensland legend Wally Lewis played his last proper match in 1992, but he is still feeling the effects of an outstanding career.
Lewis, now working for Channel 9, was spotted walking gingerly around the Broncos training paddock at Red Hill this week.
Why? He just had minor knee surgery to fix old footy injuries.
The pain isn’t over yet for “The King”. Lewis has to have the other knee sorted out too.
COWBOYS BOND IN BATHURST
COWBOYS coach Paul Green is attempting to salvage North Queensland’s season by taking his players into camp next week.
The Cowboys face the Panthers in Bathurst on Friday night and will remain in Sydney until next Thursday’s clash against the Tigers.
North Queensland has had a horrible start to the year, winning just two of its opening eight matches to sit in 15th spot.
A win against the Panthers tonight would be a huge shot of confidence for the Cowboys before they head into a bonding camp.
Green has made the camp exclusively for players and coaches, and is determined to not let Johnathan Thurston’s final season end in heartbreak.
“We’re going away for a bit of a camp, so we’ll pack our winter woolies and enjoy each other’s company,” back-rower Gavin Cooper said.
New Aussie era begins with six fresh faces
A new halves pairing and a new captain will roll out for the Kangaroos on Friday night against a Tongan outfit fearing no team.
Origin rivals to combine in halves for new-look Kangaroos
Mal Meninga will unveil six debutants to face Tonga in a new-look Kangaroos team, headlined by two rival Origin playmakers set to start together in the halves. See the full line-up and analysis.