Broncos yet to offer boom forward David Fifita a new contract
As their NRL rivals prepare big money offers, Brisbane run the risk of losing gun forward David Fifita. PLUS, NRL refs face serious review and everything you ever wanted to know about Paul Gallen.
NRL
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SAINT
Broncos coach Anthony Seibold for stirring up a war of words leading into the clash with his old club South Sydney last week. It’s exactly what the NRL needs — a bit of madness, mind-games and combat to drum up more interest on the eve of big games.
SINNER
The NRL judiciary. Sam Burgess belted Matt Moylan in the head so hard it put the Sharks fullback out for two games with concussion. Burgess got off. Kyle Flanagan kneed a player in the head and got off. Jake Trbojevic did a spear tackle and got off. Tevita Pangai Jr fell on an opponent and got FIVE weeks.
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SHOOSH
Which big-name Knight is particularly happy about the departure of Newcastle coach Nathan Brown at the end of the season? They are barely on speaking terms.
SHOOSH II
We recently revealed Sharks chairman Dino Mezzatesta would step down at season’s end. We’re now hearing another chair, Laurence Lancini from the Cowboys, is also likely to quit.
SHOOSH III
Which recently departed NRL club chief executive has applied to the independent commission to replace Mark Coyne?
SHOOSH IV
Fox Sports and Channel 7 are pressuring Cricket Australia and Big Bash franchises to sign big international names, including Windies superstar Chris Gayle — punted from the competition in 2016 over his “don’t blush, baby” comment to reporter Mel McLaughlin.
SPOTTED
Todd Carney giving away a copy of his book Hard Truth to footy fan Jess Moon-Chan at Sydney airport.
“I told him I was looking forward to reading his book,” Jess said, “He was super polite and friendly and gave me a copy. He’s a legend.”
SPOTTED II
Legendary swimming coach Doug Frost enjoying a coffee at Bianchini’s in Cronulla with Big Marn Darryl Brohman and local identity Pete the Greek.
SPOTTED III
Balmain, NSW and Kangaroos legend Steve Roach and Fox Sports’ head of television Steve Crawley at the Darts Masters in Melbourne.
SPOTTED IV
A nag called Goddess De Vie winning at odds of $1255.10 at the Mohawk trots in Canada at 9.30am on Wednesday — the TAB’s highest win dividend on a race. One punter in Australia had 50c on the pacer to collect $627.55.
BROWN OPENS DOOR FOR TIM FAIRYTALE
Parramatta forward Nathan Brown’s shoulder charge suspension has given retiring club legend and fan favourite Timmy Mannah hope for a farewell game in the final round against Manly at Bankwest Stadium.
Mannah hasn’t played since the Magic Round game against Storm at Suncorp. He quit the Eels to join the Wests Tigers but backflipped at the last moment.
Coach Brad Arthur has been closely monitoring Mannah’s form with Wentworthville in recent weeks. The Eels-Manly game is on a Friday night at 6pm and could decide the top four.
The importance of the game will ensure Mannah would have to be picked on form and not for sentimental reasons.
“If Tim Mannah is playing well he’ll be considered like all our front-rowers,” Arthur said.
BRONCOS IGNORE FIFITA
The Broncos have yet to even offer boom forward David Fifita a contract extension as at least six rival clubs prepare to offer the giant second-rower more than $4 million over five years.
The Parramatta Eels, the Roosters and the New Zealand Warriors are among those who have already expressed interest with Fifita’s manager Steve Deacon.
“We haven’t heard anything from the Broncos,” Deacon said, “A lot of clubs have expressed interest.
“He owns a property in Brisbane and lives with his family. When he signed his last contract, he wanted to stay at home. This time he’ll be looking at all options. It’s like a house. If there are 10 people bidding, the price is going to go up.”
Interestingly, the Broncos have already extended the contracts of Matt Lodge and Tevita Pangai, who are both managed by Isaac Moses, who also manages coach Anthony Seibold.
LISTEN! In this week’s episode of the Matty Johns Podcast, Matty, Kenty and Finchy look at the challenge confronting the Knights, name their team of the decade and ask who wins an NRL coaches fight night.
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LOMAX-MADGE DINNER
Coach Michael Maguire has been spotted having dinner with Dragons centre Zac Lomax, leading to speculation he is heading to the Wests Tigers.
The pair met at the Princes Hotel in Sylvania on Thursday night. Maguire told us he has no room in the salary cap for 2020 but refused to rule out making Lomax an offer for the following year when he is off contract at the Dragons.
REFS BOSS UNDER FIRE
The blowtorch is on refs boss Bernard Sutton, with the NRL carrying out an independent review of their under-siege refereeing department.
Interviews with referees, touch judges, support staff and officials are underway. The move follows speculation of discontent in the ranks over their coaching and appointments.
This is potentially a huge story because the interviews are being conducted in private with a guarantee of anonymity to ensure there are no repercussions for speaking out.
The feedback will be analysed after the grand final to give Head of Football Graham Annesley the opportunity to act on the issues before Christmas.
SIGNED AND SEALED
One lucky punter backed Aaron Woods to score the first try for the Cronulla Sharks against St George Illawarra last Sunday at the juicy odds of $51. He bumped into the Sharks front-rower after the game to get the winning ticket signed before collecting at the TAB.
FOR MAL’S MUM
In a lovely gesture, the Australian cricketers wore black armbands at Headingley on day three in a mark of respect to team media manager Malcolm Conn, whose mum Yvonne died back home in Australia.
DESSIE DITCHES DOGGY
Manly are on edge after being outed as the originators of rugby league wrestling. Coach Des Hasler last week banned The Daily Telegraph from doing a story on Norm Steel, the former Olympic wrestler who joined the Manly coaching staff way back in 1996.
This is seven years before Craig Bellamy even became a coach. Colleague Dean Ritchie tracked down Steel, who is now 72 and still at the club.
The idea was for Steel to put Bulldog in a headlock and show off some old wrestling manoeuvres for a lighthearted online video. Precious Dessie found out and told Norm not to do it.
GAL GIVES LIFE STORY HIS HEART AND SOUL
HERE is the first look at Paul Gallen’s soon-to-be released autobiography Heart and Soul.
The life story of the Sharks warhorse, who’s never afraid to speak his mind, includes all the highs, lows and controversies of his 19 years in the NRL.
The book is loaded with explosive revelations, including one that will interest Newcastle fans.
It’s believed Gallen will reveal in the book why he stuck loyal to Cronulla in 2018 despite the attempts of former Knights head of recruitment Darren Mooney and assistant coach James Shepherd to try and lure Gal to the Hunter with the biggest offer of his entire career — at age 36.
The approach was worth double the money he was on at Cronulla.
The book is due for release on October 28 and is co-written by Sunday Telegraph colleague David Riccio.
WIN BY KO
Great mates John Singleton and Tommy Raudonikis own a horse called Fisticuffs (Redoute’s Choice-Sucker Punch) that won impressively in a 1200m race at Ipswich on Wednesday. The horse started $1.18 favourite and won by 2.5 lengths.
FAREWELL TO ANZ
The Bulldogs and Rabbitohs are planning an ANZ Stadium farewell blockbuster for June next year.
Both clubs have applied to the NRL for a Sunday afternoon June 28 game — a week after State of Origin. The stadium will then be shut down for more than two years to undergo a $700 million redevelopment.
The 2020 grand final will be played at the SCG, while a venue for 2021 is still to be determined.
BELLAMY’S CALLING
Supercoach Craig Bellamy rang axed Knights coach Nathan Brown on Thursday night to check he was OK.
“He’s one of the real good guys in our game,” Bellamy said. “I really rate the bloke so I called him for a chat.
“I’ve known him for a long time and he did a bit of work for us when he got home from England. He’s done a good job I’m sure he’ll get another start
Originally published as Broncos yet to offer boom forward David Fifita a new contract
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