NRL 2024: Cronulla junior player on notice for vile tattoos, Tigers battle to keep teen star | Saint, Sinner, Shoosh
Fresh off dealing with the Lachlan Galvin contract situation, the Tigers now have another retention battle on their hands to keep a youngster described as the best 16-year-old league or union player in the country.
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The Wests Tigers are rightly celebrating the Lachlan Galvin backflip and news that the 18-year-old utility will see out the remainder of his contract.
But now they have another youngster – described as the best 16-year-old league or union player in the country – who could soon be looking to bail out.
Onitoni Large is a Scots College student, captain of the junior Wallabies and a NSW Under 16s league representative.
He is so good that former Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens signed him to a five-year contract as a 15-year-old. His younger brother Ashton, a hooker, is also signed at the Wests Tigers.
One player manager said of Onitoni, who is a halfback or five-eighth: “He’s the best 16-year-old I’ve ever seen.”
The pair are managed by Craig Baker, who admits the boys’ future is uncertain at the Wests Tigers.
“When we signed under Sheensy he said he’d be there for five years,” Baker said.
“They sold us a pathway to first grade under Tim.
“There has been a lot of significant change since then.
“They’ve made decisions to bring other halves that was not consistent with what we were told.”
The Wests Tigers have signed Aidan Sezer, Sione Fainu, Jayden Sullivan and Jarome Luai in the halves since they did the deal with Sheens. They’ve also had Galvin emerge.
Rival NRL clubs are aware of Onitoni’s rare talent.
There is a belief he will be ready to play first grade at 18, which will be late next season.
It’s why more than a dozen clubs have rung Baker with expressions of interest.
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A Cronulla junior player has been ordered to cover up a homophobic tattoo or be banned from playing rugby league.
The Cronulla junior rugby league has issued an official warning and threatened to stand down the player after a social media storm last weekend over two offensive and inappropriate tattoos on his legs.
The player had ‘eat s**t f****t’ on one leg and ‘snort lines and f***’ on the other while playing in the Luke Lewis Cup in the Shire.
“We have a zero-tolerance to any form of bullying, harassment or vilification towards people with diverse sexualities and genders,” said a NSWRL spokesperson.
A photo of the player was inadvertently posted on the junior league’s social media sites but then quickly removed after protests from fans when it was realised what was written on his legs.
Cronulla juniors general manager Chris Bannerman reported the matter to the NSWRL.
The player has now been ordered to cover up the tattoos or be stood down.
“Cronulla JRL has issued the player an official warning and asked him to cover the offending tattoos if he wishes to continue to play in any sanctioned NSWRL competition,” said a NSWRL spokesperson.
“The NSWRL and Cronulla JRL are committed to providing a safe, fun and inclusive environment for all people, including those of diverse sexualities and genders.
“Being an inclusive sport not only reflects our core values, it also reflects the diversity of our local communities.”
The player, whose name has been withheld, will need to have the tattoos removed or covered with tape if he is to continue playing.
Bannerman has warned that the player will be immediately removed from the field if it happens again.
The Luke Lewis Cup is an annual open age competition between Cronulla and the Penrith Panthers, the two clubs the former premiership winning forward played at.
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SAINT
The extraordinary stories of dedication and courage from our Paralympic swimmers in Brisbane for the Paris qualifiers. These athletes are a lesson to us all … that no matter how hard and challenging it gets, you never give up.
SAINT
The Mark Hughes Foundation’s Beanie for Brain Cancer round and a weekend to stop and remember the late Matty Callander, the former Channel 9 rugby league boss whose idea it was to establish this great fundraising initiative with the NRL. It’s fitting that Sportsbet is donating $1000 for every try scored in round 15 to the foundation – Matty comes from a punting family … his dad Kenny and brother Ritchie.
SINNER
The abusive fans who have forced country rugby league referees and touch judges in Groups 10 and 11 to go on strike. A match was recently abandoned at halftime because the referee feared for his safety after copping shocking abuse from players and some fans.
SHOOSH
Which former State of Origin forward could be up for grabs at the end of the season. He hasn’t played a lot of NRL this year and rival clubs are beginning to ask about his future.
SHOOSH
Trent Barrett’s media campaign for the Parramatta Eels’ head coaching job may not be helping his cause. The club prefers the softly, softly approach of Josh Hannay and Jason Ryles.
SPOTTED
Australia’s best race caller Matt Hill is joining Fox Sports from next season to commentate on AFL matches as the network transitions to covering all nine games each round — rather than sharing the telecasts with Channel 7.
SPOTTED
Former rugby league boss Ken Arthurson, 94, on the Manly ferry back to the northern peninsula after lunch in town with his great old mate John Quayle.
BIG BREKKY
Catch you on the Weekend Big Sports Breakfast with hosts Ray Thomas and Dean ‘Bulldog’ Ritchie at 9.40am to talk all things rugby league.
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Sydney Roosters could be a likely destination for veteran South Sydney hooker Damien Cook in light of doubts over Brandon Smith’s long-term future.
There is already interest from St George Illawarra for Cook if incoming coach Wayne Bennett gives him permission to look elsewhere.
Cook has one year left on his Souths deal but he is looking to play until the end of 2026.
The Roosters have always admired the former Origin hooker as a player and as an off-field role model.
The 32-year-old rake has bounced back to form in recent weeks for the Bunnies.
Smith is under contract until the end of next year at the Roosters, although there is talk he will be offered an early release.
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Suspended Roosters star Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii will be invited back into the NSW State of Origin camp as the Blues prepare for game two in Melbourne.
Coach Michael Maguire has already reached out to Suaalii with an open invitation to join the Blues.
“Joseph made an unfortunate tackle that has cost him dearly,” Maguire said.
“But he’s still one of us. He started the journey and he’s still very welcome.
“If he has any spare time from his Roosters commitments we’d love to have him around.
“We’ve got to support our own. That’s what we’re building here.”
Maguire is big on having players from outside the 18-man squad with the team.
Nathan Cleary, Tom Trbojevic and Cameron Murray visited the Blues when they were in camp in the Blue Mountains before the first game.
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Latrell Mitchell is remarkably the best backed player to win man-of-the-match in Origin II despite not even being picked yet.
The Rabbitohs superstar holds almost 85 per cent of the outlays on the TAB.
“TAB punters clearly think Latrell can be the series saviour for the Blues and are banking on Michael Maguire sending out the SOS to the Rabbitohs star,” said the TAB’s Rohan Welsh.
Latrell is paying $21 to win the award.
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The Sydney Swans are on a surge like no other team in Australian sport.
Their match against Geelong not only sold-out at the SCG last Sunday, but rated almost 100,000 viewers more than the Panthers-Sea Eagles NRL game on Fox Sports.
Even SCG members had to be turned away at the gate, such was the demand to watch the Geelong game.
The AFL now faces a huge commercial decision for the finals-bound league leaders.
Do they stay at the SCG where they can’t fit everyone in, or do they move to Accor Stadium to get an extra 40,000 bums on seats?
No doubt the Swans and coach John Longmire will fight to keep the game at the SCG, where the smaller ground suits their style of footy.
But how does the AFL just lock out 40,000 screaming fans?
An AFL spokesman said talks would take place three to four weeks before the finals with clubs and venue operators before a decision is made on grounds to be used.
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Wests Tigers had a welcome visitor to training last week to help lighten the mood after nine straight losses.
Ex-winger, lifestyle TV host and comedian Beau Ryan turned up at Concord to catch up with Benji Marshall, Robbie Farah and Chris Heighington — all great mates from their playing days when wins were more frequent.
“I’ve been away most of the year so it was nice to drop in,” Ryan said. “It was great to see everyone. It’s hard at the moment but they’ll be all right. I won’t give up on them. These things can change quickly. I’ll be at Leichhardt cheering for them.”
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NSW coach Michael Maguire is sticking solid with Jake Trbojevic as Blues captain despite the likely return of Souths skipper Cam Murray.
Trbojevic was a popular choice as captain and the team’s goodwill ambassador but played only 29 minutes of Origin I.
Murray is almost certain to be named in the Blues but Maguire insists there will be no change to the leadership.
Maguire defended his use of Trbojevic in the first game, having to adjust his rotation plans when Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii was sent off.
“Jakey did some great things, but through circumstance, the rotation of what we had just didn’t allow us to get (him) back on. We had to cover the backrowers and plug the edges,” Maguire said.
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The departure of Wallabies fly half Carter Gordon to rugby league and the Gold Coast Titans is further backlash from the $5 million Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii deal.
Your columnist wrote last year that rugby players were seriously pissed off over the deal.
You know it’s the case when a player is prepared to give up a British & Irish Lions series and a home World Cup to sign with the lowly placed Titans in the NRL for money similar to what he was earning in the 15-a-side game.
The 23-year-old had been compared to Wallabies great No.10 Stephen Larkham.
Rugby union has never been in this much trouble.
Even their Bledisloe Cup TV ratings were down by 33 per cent last year.
Last financial year they went from an $8.2 million profit to a $9.3 million loss.
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Fox Sports star and SEN Radio host Greg Alexander is not going into the hospitality industry as many had thought.
A new bar has opened at Penrith Leagues Club called Alexanders, which ‘Brandy’ has been heavily promoting on social media.
Alexander is arguably Penrith’s greatest player, along with Brad Fittler, and the club is using his name and brand to attract members and guests into the new cocktail lounge.
He has no financial interest in the venture.
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Originally published as NRL 2024: Cronulla junior player on notice for vile tattoos, Tigers battle to keep teen star | Saint, Sinner, Shoosh
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