Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: Cowboys target Souths star; NRL’s hypocrisy
North Queensland Cowboys are closely monitoring the contract of a South Sydney premiership winner. PLUS a silent NRL and Parramatta’s hypocrisy has been exposed.
NRL
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South Sydney’s Alex Johnston has attracted the interest of the Cowboys, with the Townsville-based club watching the Sydney player movement closely.
The Cowboys have a spot remaining in their 2020 roster and are eager to replenish their squad with one more outside back before round one.
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Johnston’s name has been at the centre of plenty of discussion up north given he could also play fullback for the Cowboys should high-profile recruit Valentine Holmes take time adjusting back into the NRL.
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SAINT: What Kobe Bryant did for basketball is one thing. Yet when sporting luminaries such as Kelly Slater, Conor McGregor, Novak Djokovic and Michael Phelps, to name but a few, declare their admiration and love for Bryant, you get a true sense of the former LA Lakers star’s impact. An utterly tragic loss.
SINNER: How contradictory is this from a silent NRL and Parramatta? The managing director of developers Aland — the major sponsor of the Eels — escaped conviction this week and was sentenced to an eight-month good behaviour bond after pleading guilty to drug possession at the Star Casino. Imagine if this were a player? Perhaps it’s because the sponsor brings millions of dollars into the game that we’ve heard nothing out of the NRL.
SHOOSH: Which State of Origin star was with Curtis Scott at The Ivy last weekend — but has miraculously managed to avoid being exposed?
SHOOSH II: Which rival NRL club discussed prising Josh Dugan away from Cronulla last week as a way of replenishing their backline. The identity of the club would stun all league fans.
SHOOSH III: Which NRL club CEO is discreetly exploring his options elsewhere? This club can ill-afford another drama.
SHOOSH IIII: Which former Test star and Fox Sports commentator met with Tigers coach Michael Maguire recently to discuss a coaching role?
SHOOSH V: Who is the recently retired Test and State of Origin legend that’s been approached to join 2GB’s revamped Continuous Call Team this season?
SPOTTED: Finance guru and Roosters director Mark Bouris seated only a few tables from Dragons coaching staff in Batemans Bay on Tuesday.
SPOTTED II: Johnathan Thurston and Robbie Farah boarding a plane bound for the US, where they’ll attend the Super Bowl in Miami.
SPOTTED III: The first Australian to win a Super Bowl ring, Jesse “Tha Monstar” Williams, at Cronulla Sharks training in Kiama on Thursday.
SAINTS CEO HUNT GOES OUTSIDE NRL
St George Illawarra are seriously considering appointing a new CEO from outside of rugby league.
They are down to a shortlist of 12 to replace Brian Johnston, who finishes up at the end of the March.
An external recruitment company has been hired to cull that list before the final four names are presented to the board.
A candidate from a rival footy code is in the mix.
Meanwhile, Newcastle are continuing their search for a new director of football after the resignation of Brian Canavan prior to Christmas.
Several names have been put forward, but we won’t embarrass the applicants as they’re aligned with other NRL clubs.
Down at Cronulla, they are also on the lookout for a CEO, but with stability at board level they’re refusing to rush into a decision.
DOGS BLANK JERSEY NO CHEAP FIX
The Bulldogs are working overtime to ensure they run out for round one of the NRL season with a major sponsor splashed across the front of their jersey.
Club executives have held several meetings with potential sponsors, but so far the front of the Canterbury jersey remains empty for 2020.
The Bulldogs could easily fill the space with a cheap fix, but they’re refusing to be low-balled.
NAMESAKE JOINS FIGHT
Aussie boxing’s pit pull Daniel Lewis will have some heavyweight support in his corner when he fights on the Tyson Fury-Deontay Wilder undercard in Las Vegas.
Legendary trainer Johnny Lewis, who isn’t a relation to the Western Sydney fighter, has followed the career of Daniel closely and will arrive in Vegas a few days to lend a hand before the fight is beamed to millions across the world on February 22 at the MGM Grand.
VAL COMES HOLMES
15,000-seat Barlow Park in Cairns is a long way from the New York Jets 82,000-seat Metlife Stadium.
But that’s the stage set for Valentine Holmes’ first game of rugby league in 17-months - a trial match in Cairns against the Broncos on February 22.
The high-profile Cowboys recruit has been held back from making his comeback at the Perth Nines or NRL All Stars in a deliberate move to avoid injury following his pursuit of an NFL contract in the US.
After trialling and training with the Jets, Holmes will be eased back into the NRL with a short stint at fullback against the Broncos and then given more time in the Cowboys second trial match against Melbourne on February 29.
WELCOME TO THE 21ST CENTURY, LOZ
It’s taken him a while, but former NSW Origin coach Laurie Daley has finally joined Instagram.
The league legend aptly announced his arrival on the social media channel on Wednesday by posting: “Welcome to the 21st century!”
Not surprisingly, a quick scan of the 41 people ‘Loz’ is following are those Blues players he coached to the 2014 series win over Queensland.
GAL JOINS COACHING STAFF
It took longer than what it should’ve, but Cronulla have finally learned how to cultivate their history by appointing club legend as a consultant to head coach John Morris.
Unlike the majority of their NRL rivals who realise the benefit of retaining past players to maintain the club’s culture, the Sharks have long fallen short in this area.
Gallen’s role will include some hands-on work with the NRL side, but also with the marketing team.
KINGO GETS HIS SHOT
Roosters coach Trent Robinson will hand the keys to the castle to assistant coach Matt King for the upcoming NRL Perth Nines.
Appointing King as the Nines coach will allow Robinson to look beyond in his planning and preparation for the World Club Challenge, which is one week later on February 22.
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart is also leaning towards giving assistant coach Andrew McFadden the reigns for the Nines in Perth on February 14.
Originally published as Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: Cowboys target Souths star; NRL’s hypocrisy
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