What’s the Buzz: The NRL CEO who turned down the Eels, women’s cricket boom and Swans fan gets cheeky
WHAT’S THE BUZZ: The NRL CEO who flatly turned down the Eels job, WBBL teams head to Dubai and a Swans fan punished for his cheek.
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SAINT
The fabulous atmosphere your columnist lapped up at Saturday night’s sold-out double header at Suncorp. The NRL should do the same in Sydney with Eels v Bulldogs and Rabbitohs v Roosters at ANZ Stadium on a Sunday afternoon with 2pm and 4pm kick-off.
SINNER
The Parramatta Eels ‘Gang of 5’ who were responsible for hooker Nathan Peats to be forced out of the club in such disgraceful circumstances.
SHOOSH
Disturbing rumours will not go away about a high-profile footy coach and suggestions he used recreational drugs in front of players at a pre-season camp.
SHOOSH
Which former State of Origin star is personally ringing rival coaches to look for a start next season because his manager has lost his accreditation?
SHOOSH
Which NRL club chief executive has knocked back a big-money approach to go and fix the Parramatta Eels? He rejected the offer in world record time.
SHOOSH
Who is the player manager who disgraced himself on the drink at a recent charity function and will never be invited back.
SPOTTED
Fox Sports star Matty Johns high-fiving the Footy Show’s Darryl Brohman at the Logies. The pair hadn’t spoken since falling out 18 months ago over the Gorden Tallis-Robbie Farah feud.
SPOTTED
Sharks hooker Michael Ennis working on the junior league barbecue at the De La Salle club where his sons play. We also once spotted him running the line as a touch judge.
TAKING WOMEN’S GAME TO NEW FRONTIERS
LIKE soccer and netball, women’s cricket is reaching a whole new level of professionalism.
Not only is the sport televised these days but the girls are preparing and playing with as much focus and perseverance as the males.
Before the Big Bash starts this year, NSW Cricket is sending the girls from Sydney Thunder and Sixers on a training camp to Dubai. They will train for three days and play a game against each other. The teams will also host the UAE women’s team at training and invite local schoolkids to meet the players and enjoy one of the training sessions.
Thunder general manager Nick Cummins says the two teams will get enormous benefits from training at the ICC Academy.
“Women’s cricket is undergoing an exciting transformation and this tour is a reflection of the move towards the full professionalisation of the sport,” he said.
“Thunder has an outstanding WBBL01 and we hope this tour will help take our game to the next level.”
FAN BANNED FOR MOONING BUDDY
WE’VE had flares and fights, streakers and serial pests but now a “cheeky’’ spectator has been barred from the SCG for ... baring his buttocks.
The venue, which is renowned for its strict dress regulations, issued a two-year ban to this Swans fan who was caught chucking a brown eye last weekend.
As Buddy Franklin was lining up a kick against Essendon, Fox Sports TV cameras caught the young man dropping his pants and “mooning’’ in the background.
It turns out a Melbourne-based AFL official saw the incident on TV and rang officials at the ground to have him removed. He was seated among Swans supporters in the Dally Messenger Stand.
A spokesman for the SCG and Sports Ground Trust confirmed the two-year penalty but refused to identify the patron because of privacy laws. It is believed he is a Swans member.
“We weren’t expecting a full moon until later in the month,” the spokesman said. “So when the young man’s effort was brought to security’s attention, crowd safety staff were sent to talk to him.
“At the request of the AFL, he was charged with indecent exposure, escorted from the ground and issued a banning notice from the SCG for two years.”
The man has escaped police punishment for exposing himself because the incident didn’t involve trespassing on the field of play. Fans who invade the field can be fined $5500 and receive a conviction notice from police.
GAL WANTS MORE
THE Cronulla Sharks are almost certain to offer skipper Paul Gallen a new contract despite him turning 35 in August.
The G-Train’s man-of-the-match performance in the Kiwi Test proved he is still among the world’s best forwards. He is expected to retire from Origin and Test football at the end of the season. It would be fitting for Gallen to play in the club’s 50-year anniversary season next year before he hangs up the boots.
His teammate Michael Ennis is also expected to extend for an extra season although Luke Lewis and Chris Heighington will almost certainly finish up at the Sharks.
FORAN RECOVERY ON SOLID GROUND
KIERAN Foran continues to make good progress at his Brisbane rehabilitation centre. We’re told that, outside of his regular treatment, the Parramatta Eels superstar is training for up to three hours every day and will eventually return to footy in great shape. Our mail is that Foran will return next week on Monday night at Pirtek Stadium against the Storm.
MATT CHOC KEEN
MATT Cooper is supporting Anthony Mundine’s comeback plans with St George Illawarra. He tweeted: Anthony Mundine brother if you play in the NRL nines next year I will make a comeback and play outside you.’’
@Anthony_Mundine brother if you play in the @NRL nines next year I will make a comeback and play outside you. @NRL_Dragons
— matt cooper (@mattcooper44) May 12, 2016
DUI HAUNTS MARY
THERE is talk that Paul McGregor’s recent drink-driving charge could affect his chances of a contract renewal at St George Illawarra. My colleague Dave Riccio correctly reported two months ago the Dragons were set to open talks for a contract extension.
CEO Peter Doust tells me those talks have not yet taken place and won’t say when — or if — the negotiations will start. It’s interesting because off-contract players are anxious to know who will be at the helm long-term. McGregor is contracted until the end of next season and Thursday night’s miraculous win over the Raiders will help.
ARCHER’S SIDEWAYS SHOVE
THE career of referees boss Tony Archer has taken an interesting turn since our recent item about him being under pressure to retain his job. Low and behold, the NRL tells us Archer has been “promoted’’ to a nationwide role on referee development across all states. Thankfully, this leaves him with less time for the bunker and NRL refs. Todd Greenberg has hired former referees boss Robert Finch in a full-time role.
BARBA AND THE GIRLS
SHARKS star Ben Barba has a lot more on his mind than football. His partner Ainslie is expecting their fourth child in two weeks. Barba already has three daughters, Bodhi (6), Bronte (4) and Blaise (18 months). And guess what — Ainslie is having another girl.
JUST LET BRYCE RUN
THE reason there has been question marks about Bryce Cartwright’s State of Origin selection is his defence. The stats show the boom Panthers forward has missed 28 tackles this season at an average of 3.1 per game. Surely his extraordinary attacking skills outweigh the missed tackles and he should be one of the first players chosen.
BUNKERED DOWN
THE NRL is doing everything possible to get the media to deliver a more positive message about the bunker. Channel Nine’s commentators have been invited to check out video review HQ in Eveleigh to get a better understanding of how it works. We hope Gus turns up.
TOUGH OLD TYROS
WE’RE hearing there is a possibility of a new show on Fox Sports featuring two of the toughest old front-rowers to play for NSW. Steve Blocker Roach and Peter Tunks have put a proposal to new sports boss Steve Crawley through a third party. They want to call it Two Grumpy Old Men.
CARPARK BONANZA
SYDNEY Boys’ and Girls’ High schools are making a fortune out of the Swans playing all matches at the SCG this year. Their playgrounds accommodate between 500-550 cars at $20 each — $10,000 a home game. Multiply that by 12 and the schools split a tidy $120,000.
Originally published as What’s the Buzz: The NRL CEO who turned down the Eels, women’s cricket boom and Swans fan gets cheeky
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