Sport Confidential: Tigers sour on Joey Leilua; Brandon Wakeham punished; Dale Finucane suitors
Already told his option for next season will not be picked up, one Tigers player now finds himself unlikely to play for the club again. And he isn’t the only high-profile player on the outer. It’s Sport Confidential.
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Firebrand Joey Leilua has almost certainly played his last game for the Tigers after the club left him out of their 30-man bubble.
Leilua was overlooked to join the rest of the squad, including brother Luciano, when the team left for Queensland on Wednesday.
Off-contract at season’s end, the club has already decided against taking up the option it had to keep Leilua next season. Russell Packer, AJ Kepaoa and Zane Musgrove were also not taken by the Tigers, but they remain in Sydney to rehab injuries.
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Leilua has not played since round 11 and his NRL career is now at the crossroads.
Other key bubble notes include;
* The Bulldogs have continued to punish Brandon Wakeham with the half not part of Canterbury’s travelling squad. Wakeham was one of five players who broke Covid-19 rules.
* South Sydney’s Jai Arrow jumped on a flight on Thursday afternoon following his dumping from the Queensland team. He could have left with the rest of his Rabbitohs teammates on Wednesday afternoon but the club was awaiting last minute biosecurity advice. He will be free to join South Sydney’s bubble and be picked for their game next week against the Warriors.
* Cronulla’s Aaron Woods was part of the same charter flight after delaying his trip to be alongside wife Sarah who gave birth to a girl on Wednesday. Woods is clear to play for Cronulla against Canberra on Saturday.
* St George Illawarra duo Zac Lomax and Daniel Alvaro will fly to the Gold Coast on Saturday as part of the flights which will carry family members of NRL players. The pair, who refused to sign the NRL’s document regarding events at Paul Vaughan’s house, will have to quarantine alongside the family members for the next 14 days before rejoining their Dragons teammates. That means they will not link up with the side until the day of their round 20 clash against South Sydney. If, as expected, they are unavailable for that game, they will miss three matches.
* Cronulla pushed for Will Chambers to join the Storm’s bubble to try and fast-track his reinclusion into the Sharks ranks but that proved unsuccessful. Given Melbourne’s sudden lockdown it is unclear when Chambers will play again. He may need to serve two weeks quarantine in Queensland.
* The Eels have taken Blake Ferguson while injured Penrith duo Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai were part of the Panthers’ crew as they eye a return from injury in the next fortnight.
*Retired champion Boyd Cordner is also in the Roosters’ bubble in a mentoring role.
Keeping the players occupied will be part of the battle for coaches, with the Knights spotted loading poker sets into their luggage.
Players and their families were all given luggage limits, told only to bring essential items while larger items would be shipped later.
Bigger objects, including prams and baby cots, are being trucked to Queensland by semi-trailers in coming days.
The Melbourne Storm used the trucks to transport large items last year when they were forced to relocate to Queensland.
Sydney clubs eye Queensland Cup
Sydney’s NRL clubs are seeking to have up to three players each join Queensland Cup sides once players have completed their two-week quarantines.
One worrying trend that emerged last year after the Covid restrictions lifted to allow games to resume, were the number of injuries to players who hadn’t had game-time for several weeks.
The NRL is keen to avoid this and will back the idea to place Sydney players into various Queensland Cup teams to ensure the athletes are exposed to quality match-time as opposed to just training drills during this uncertain phase.
Officials realise that if the new Delta variant causes a mass outbreak in Queensland, the local competition is likely to be halted, and that could leave dozens of players stepping up to play in the NRL with no game-time for nearly one month.
Newcastle have a loose relationship with Ipswich, while New Zealand Warriors have a connection to Redcliffe, and are already making arrangements to have their unused match-day players join the club competition.
The Sydney clubs won’t be too fussed about where their contracted players end up, so long as they get to play within a fortnight.
Another club joins list of Finucane suitors
St George Illawarra is using Paul Vaughan’s money to make a play for NSW vice-captain Dale Finucane.
It comes as Finucane’s former club Canterbury emerges as the frontrunner to sign dumped Dragon Vaughan.
St George Illawarra has entered the race to secure the off-contract Finucane. But they join a long list of clubs after the 29-year-old who seems almost certain to leave the Storm at season’s end. Finucane was named vice-captain of the Blues on Wednesday night.
The Dragons, North Queensland, Wests Tigers, Newcastle, the Titans plus the Storm have all had discussions with Finucane. It is understood Finucane’s camp want all offers formalised this week with an eye at making a decision next week. The Titans are the likely frontrunners.
The position of St George Illawarra is interesting. They already have one of the most experienced forward packs in the competition with Maroons representative Francis Molo joining the club next year.
But Vaughan’s sudden absence and his $800,000 wiped from the salary cap, has opened the door for the Dragons to make a late play.
While his former club have quickly moved on, Vaughan is also looking to get his career back on track. Discussions have been held with the Bulldogs who are keen on picking up the NSW and Kangaroos prop immediately. Vaughan needs to serve an eight-game ban before being cleared to return.
The Bulldogs, who signed Vaughan’s fellow BBQ guest Matt Dufty, are also waiting on word from Tevita Pangai Jr’s camp as they look to build on an already impressive recruitment drive.
Teddy wants the ultimate honour
Fresh from lifting the Origin shield, James Tedesco has another goal – to captain the Kangaroos at the end of season World Cup and said it would be ‘disappointing’ if the tournament was cancelled.
Plans for the tournament to go ahead have caused plenty of angst at headquarters and at clubs.
While Australia’s involvement is becoming increasingly unlikely, not only does Tedesco want to play, he wants to lead the Kangaroos.
Tedesco will be locked in a battle with Daly Cherry-Evans to skipper Australia in Boyd Cordner’s absence.
“It would be a huge honour and be really special,” Tedesco said. “I don’t know if it’s an option but if I keep playing good footy at club level it could be a possibility.
“I’m very keen to play at the World Cup. I want to get another chance to represent Australia. I have only played a couple of games.
“We were meant to go on a tour last year so if it was cancelled again it would be disappointing.
“I was involved in the last World Cup with Italy and I want to be involved in one for Australia.”
Cherry-Evans’ place in the side was under the spotlight but Nathan Cleary’s injury should allow the Queensland captain to keep the no.7 jersey. Cherry-Evans was Cordner’s vice-captain the last time Australia played.
Latrell rewards the fans
What a difference a year has made for Latrell Mitchell.
Last year he’d been dropped by NSW coach Brad Fittler and some suggested he’d never play State of Origin again.
After the Blues lost game three but claimed the series last Wednesday, players thanked the Gold Coast crowd and then went into their dressing room.
However, Mitchell, Josh Addo-Carr and Jack Wighton picked up the Origin shield, and walked it around Cbus Super Stadium to the delight of the Blues fans who had remained in their seats.
They were later joined by Junior Paulo, Brian To’o and Liam Martin.
For Mitchell, the ecstasy of celebrating with the fans was in stark contrast to the low of 2020.
He was on par with Tom Trbojevic as NSW’s best player this series and will be a mainstay of the Blues for years to come.
Rising boxing star picks up rich deal
Brock Jarvis is set to sign a huge deal with British boxing promoter Eddie Hearn and fight major overseas bouts from September.
Jarvis’ manager, legendary hall-of-famer Jeff Fenech, is in the final stages of negotiations with Hearn and an American suitor.
“I’ve been talking to Eddie for quite a while, we have contracts that I’ve sent back with a few changes, it’s a three-fight deal,” Fenech said.
“It’s a huge deal, but I have a friend in America who I worked with when I trained Mike Tyson, and he wants to give Brock in one fight what Eddie is offering.
“But Eddie is an influential guy and can make big fights, so we’re pretty close to a decision.”
Jarvis, just 23, has an undefeated record of 19-0 (17KO) and Hearn rates him the best fighter to come out of Australia for years.
If Hearn signs him, Jarvis is likely to be fighting in the United States in September at lightweight.
Jarvis was given a release by promoter Dean Lonergan to negotiate with Hearn.
“It’s all very amicable, I’m here to help these guys, not hold them back, and once I saw the money being offered to Brock I told him he can go with my blessing,” Lonergan said.
Huni set for extended ring absence
The road back for Australian heavyweight champion Justis Huni will be far longer than expected.
Huni had surgery on the right hand he’d hurt prior to his fight against Paul Gallen – exacerbated when he punched Gallen’s elbow in his 10th-round stoppage win last month.
The surgery forced Huni to pull out of the Tokyo Olympics. It was thought he could return to the ring by October, but on Thursday it emerged Huni would likely be out of action for up to seven months, so we’re unlikely to see him fighting again this year.
Meanwhile, the loss to Huni hasn’t dented Gallen’s desire to continue boxing. We hear he’s already in talks for another fight in three months’ time.
Aussie UFC star still some way off title shot
Cult hero Tai Tuivasa had the celebrity-laden Las Vegas UFC crowd in raptures last weekend when he walked out to Spice Girls, knocked out American challenger Greg Hardy in 67 seconds, then celebrated by doing Shoeys with punters.
But the Sydney fighter still isn’t rated among the UFC’s top 15 heavyweights despite three successive knockout wins.
So unbeknown to most, Tuivasa quietly slipped out of Vegas and is already in Dubai preparing for his next bout.
It’s expected the 28-year-old will face either No.9 Augusto Sakai or No.12 Walt Harris at the UFC’s Dubai event in October.
A win against either man would put Tuivasa inside the top 15 as he continues his path towards a title shot.
NRL step up to help shifted weddings
The NRL promised to lend a helping hand to two couples whose wedding needed to be relocated because of the competition shifting to Queensland.
The NRL requires the entire hotel to be booked with Newcastle, Penrith, Roosters and Manly taking up the Novotel Twin Waters Resort at Maroochydore.
“The NRL was unaware of two weddings needing to be relocated,” an NRL spokesman said.
“It was certainly not our intention. We have reached out to all properties to offer assistance to those impacted.
“We understand Novotel are working with the impacted individuals to ensure their experiences can be upgraded at alternative locations.”
Koroibete taking off for Japan
Wallabies flyer Marika Koroibete will join Japanese rugby team Panasonic for the next three years.
Arguably the Wallabies best player in recent seasons, the 28-year-old had already announced he was leaving the Melbourne Rebels when his Australian commitments end.
Robbie Deans’ Panasonic Wild Knights will be his home after inking the rich deal.
He will leave a huge hole in the Wallabies out-fit as a winner of the John Eales Medal.
NRL stars head to Super League
Wigan Warriors have beefed up their forward pack by landing two NRL props. The Warriors have agreed to terms with St George Illawarra’s Kaide Ellis and South Sydney’s Patrick Mago for the next three years.
Ellis, 24, has played 22 top grade games since making his debut for the Panthers in 2018. He joined the Dragons last season and re-signed with the club for 12 months.
The Rabbitohs were keen to hang onto Mago but the three-year offer proved too good to refuse for the 26-year-old who is at his third NRL club.
Bulldogs breachers hit hard in hip pocket
The Bulldogs “Bondi-five” have been whacked by the club’s board for breaching Covid-19 protocols.
The Bulldogs hit the players with an undisclosed amount after they fronted the club board on Tuesday night.
The Bulldogs board conducted what was described as “individual disciplinary hearings” for Dylan Napa, Brandon Wakeham, Corey Waddell, Sione Katoa and Aaron Schoupp.
The fines will be paid into ‘Bulldogs in the Community’ programs.
“These players breached the standards and expectations we set as a club and they have been penalised accordingly,” said Bulldogs chief executive Aaron Warburton.
The NRL already sanctioned the five players for breaching the game‘s bio protocols on June 20 and the club after they visited two different pubs in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
Napa, Wakeham, Waddell, Katoa and Schoupp were also issued individual breach notices with a total of $9750 in suggested fines. Napa’s breach notice carried a $5000 fine.
The Bulldogs were also whacked with a $50,000 fine after the NRL alleged that the Belmore club failed to explain the change in Covid-19 restrictions leaving players “confused”.
The players, minus Wakeham, returned to coach Trent Barrett’s outfit last weekend against the Sydney Roosters after completing 14 days of isolation following the bubble breach.
Former NRL star struggled with severe Covid symptoms
Former Canterbury and Wests Tigers five-eighth Josh Reynolds revealed he was battling Covid-19 after picking up the virus in England.
Reynolds said he was “rattled” and struggled with severe symptoms after contracting the disease while playing for Hull FC.
“I have never felt that weak in my body,” Reynolds told the Big Sports Breakfast.
“(I had) all the symptoms, no smell, really bad sweats. Really aching and a bad migraine.
“I can assure you, you don’t want to be picking it up. It’s not a nice thing to have. I woke up and I didn’t feel great.
“There was one night, I felt like I couldn’t breathe properly. I live a bit away from everyone and hospital. I was contemplating what to do.
“I’m on the mend. I feel a lot better.”
The Super League has been plagued by match cancellations as they deal with outbreaks among players.
ALL EYES ON
Seven of St George Illawarra’s dirty dozen will play Manly on Friday night. The best way to repay fans and teammates? Put in an effort they can be proud of.
FRIDAY FLASHBACK
Corey Norman graced the back page on this day five years ago. Then a Parramatta Eel, Norman was in the thick of negative press again this time pleading guilty to drug charges.
BLAST FROM THE PAST
Luke Williamson 218 top grade games (29 Adelaide, 41 Canberra, 16 Northern Eagles, 132 Manly) from 1997-2008
An opportunity to fast-track his first grade career led to Luke Williamson signing with the Adelaide Rams. He was contracted to the South Queensland Crushers before opting to join the Rams in their inaugural season.
Just four rounds in he was making his debut against the Warriors.
“It was exactly the same deal as the Crushers but my old man pushed me out the door,” Williamson said. “There were only under-19s and first grade at the Rams while the Crushers there was under-19s, 23s, reserve grade and first grade.
“The people of Adelaide accepted the Rams in the first year. I loved my time there and a few of the senior players really looked after me.”
Halfway through his second season Williams agreed to join the Raiders in 1999. As luck may have it, the Rams folded at the end of that year.
“I didn’t want to go to Sydney,” Williamson said. “I’d played some junior rep footy with Andrew McFadden, Mark McLinden and Royston Lightning so I thought if the Raiders were interested I may as well go there.”
He lasted three years at the Raiders before “getting brushed”. With his career at the crossroads, Williamson had a heart to heart with Northern Eagles coach Peter Sharp which proved a game-changer.
“I got a lifeline from Peter Sharp,” Williamson said. “He rang me and I explained my story. I ended up playing 16 games that season and then signed with Manly.
“I signed four one-year deals at Manly. They gave me match payments. I was committed to proving everyone wrong.”
Prove people wrong he did. Williamson stayed at the Sea Eagles for six seasons with his final contract a two-year deal.
He had great success at Manly and was part of their premiership loss in 2007 with injury sidelining him for the club’s grand final win a year later.
“It would’ve been nice even if I played 10 minutes of that game,” Williamson said. “I never felt I was part of that victory. That was no-ones fault. It was just how I felt. I fractured my cheekbone and twinged my hamstring when coming back from it. I rushed to get back and twinged it again.”
The goalkicking utility, who said who would have loved to have found a home in the no.6 jersey, played out his career for London before rejoining the Sea Eagles as a reserve grade coach.
He lives on the Sunshine Coast and works as part of the NRL’s vocational education and training pathways.
Originally published as Sport Confidential: Tigers sour on Joey Leilua; Brandon Wakeham punished; Dale Finucane suitors
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