Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: League dad banned for attack on Bob Fulton’s son Brett
Peter V’landys has responded to speculation he is contemplating a massive change in his workload and pointed the finger at where the rumour started. Read Saint, Sinner, Shoosh.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Peter V’landys has rubbished a rumour that he will stand down from the NRL or Racing NSW to manage his workload.
He insists he will not be going anywhere, at least until the NRL has an 18th team up and running – and probably a new broadcast deal for nine games instead of eight.
“Maybe the AFL or rugby union have started the rumour,” V’Landys said. “They don’t like me.
“Eventually, if I leave one, I’ll leave both but I’m not contemplating it.
“People want to bring this up all the time.
“The 18th NRL team is a huge thing for the game and I want to be part of that process.”
V’landys personally drove the expansion talks and promotion of the Dolphins to the competition.
There was talk in Adelaide last weekend that V’landys was the major reason the AFL took their Gather Round to the City of Churches, rather than risk having the NRL boss ambush the event in Sydney.
V’landys is also back in favour with the 17 clubs.
There was much ill-feeling and bitterness late last year around club funding and player salaries.
The more militant club officials were eventually happy with the outcome and have resumed communications with the commission chairman.
SAINT
We’ve been critical of the Parramatta Eels for lack of fan engagement after matches at Comm Bank Stadium. Last week they stayed on the field after the win over the Dogs for 20 minutes to do autographs and selfies. They’ve also been in the Northern Territory all week to promote league in indigenous communities. Great stuff fellas.
SINNER
Joseph Suaalii is being paid $700,000 a season by the Roosters. He’s still a teenager and will make mistakes. However, he needs to find someone who can point out that a public meeting in a coffee shop with the boss of Rugby Australia is a bad look at a time he should be totally focused on the Anzac Day blockbuster against St George Illawarra.
SHOOSH
Despite his axing at the Roosters, Sam Walker is still rated a future Maroons half. Last year he was called into the squad by coach Billy Slater to get a feel for Origin. Nothing has changed. Slater still regards him very highly.
SPOTTED
Usman Khawaja can swing a golf club as well as a cricket bat. He shot a 74 at Royal Queensland last week, not bad off a 13 handicap.
SPOTTED
The Kangaroos’ official Twitter account wished former centre Michael Jennings a happy birthday on Thursday. Oops. It was taken down within hours, obviously because of his history of domestic violence and abuse of his former wife.
SPOTTED
Former Souths, Manly and Wests Tigers halfback Craig Field driving a forklift on a building site at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast.
SPOTTED
Canterbury Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo doing a selfie for his hire car driver outside Fox Sports in Artarmon before his appearance last week on NRL 360.
SPOTTED
Sky Racing form analyst Kiaarn Dickens tipped eight winners from nine races at Warwick on Tuesday. Her only non-winner — race 3 — finished second, beaten by a nose. Three of Kiaarn’s winning selections were great odds - $9.90, $10.60 and $11.10. A phenomenal performance.
A rugby league spectator has been banned for 12 months for striking Brett Fulton – the son of rugby league immortal Bob Fulton – at a recent junior league rep game.
Fulton is the coach of the Manly Sea Eagles’ S.G Ball side, but is now weighing up his future.
The incident occurred when Manly travelled to Newcastle two weeks ago to play the Knights.
Agreed facts state the man approached Fulton in an aggressive manner and struck him on the right side of the face.
Fulton declined to comment when contacted by The Sunday Telegraph.
The father of a Newcastle player has pleaded guilty to breaching the NRL’s code of conduct.
He is now suspended from any rugby league activity until April next year after an investigation by the NSWRL.
He was charged on three counts:
● Assault or act with aggression to any person.
● Behave in a way contrary to the code of conduct and spirit of the game.
● Behave in a way which brings discredit to a club or the league.
NSWRL chief executive Dave Trodden says it is a warning to all fans.
“Every person involved in our game is entitled to expect they can work in a safe environment and be treated in a respectful manner,” Trodden said.
“Anyone who breaches our code of conduct will be dealt with in a manner that shows and sends a signal to others that this sort of behaviour will not be tolerated.”
Fulton was not seriously injured in the attack.
He declined to involve the police in the incident.
SHAKE-UP FOR WESTS TIGERS BOARD
Finally the Wests Tigers are making some moves in the right direction.
This club needs a boardroom shake-up more than anything else.
It is more important than the recruitment of a superstar player.
The appointment of John Dorahy is a fantastic start.
A great player with a great knowledge of football and a man who has been successful in business.
This should just be the beginning.
Simon Cook, the director who stepped aside for Dorahy, has summed it up well.
“I believe the Wests Tigers need change and regeneration,” he said. “It is time for the club to look to new people with the right skill set who can provide the club with the success our loyal fans deserve.
“In my opinion, John Dorahy is the perfect start to this change.”
Hopefully other directors will now put the club before their own interests and move on.
TEAM FENECH SPONSORS DITCH JARVIS
Boxer Brock Jarvis’s split from boxing legend Jeff Fenech will be a costly one.
His major sponsors have withdrawn their financial support, including construction tycoon Lou Zivanovic, who has been there since the start of his career.
“Brock’s a great kid but I’ve rung him and told him I’m out,” Zivanovic said.
“I was only there because of Jeff and the faith I have in him as a trainer.
“I was investing in the goals Jeff was setting for Brock. He’s won 21 of 22 fights under Jeff.
“Jeff also opened a lot of doors.
“But it’s Brock’s life and he can do whatever he wants. It happens all the time – partnerships break up.
“I hope he succeeds on his new pathway.”
Jarvis’s position is almost identical to when Danny Green left Fenech in 2005.
Your columnist understands Jarvis will be trained by Angelo Hyder, who also took over as Green’s trainer.
But who pays the bills is the question many are asking.
All of Team Fenech’s sponsors – worth hundreds of thousands of dollars – have indicated they will not be following Jarvis to his new trainer.
Fenech remains disappointed.
“I’m devastated but I wish him luck,” Fenech said.
“Whoever has advised him to fight at middleweight is doing the wrong thing by the young man.
“I don’t want to be in his corner when he’s getting hurt.
“I pray he proves me wrong, I really do, but when you’re getting knocked out in junior welterweight, you don’t go up 9kg and campaign as a middleweight.”
More Coverage
Originally published as Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: League dad banned for attack on Bob Fulton’s son Brett
‘Blowhard’: Cornes backlash turns prickly
Kane Cornes has been roasted by a high profile colleague over comments that have left NRL commentators in disbelief.
Parramatta legend: ‘24 Panthers don’t have a hope against ‘83 Eels
Penrith have claimed their place in the rugby league record books, but Parramatta great Ray Price has rejected suggestions they’ve gone past his Eels, claiming they had “every position and we every tactic covered”. WHO IS BETTER? VOTE NOW.