NRL Sport Confidential: Blues buy some fans, Wayne Bennett blast Dolphins rumours
The Blues can’t find enough fans, Wayne Bennett blows up over Dolphins’ speculation and more in Sport Confidential.
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Here is proof that New South Wales can’t even fill their home ground for Origin I without a massive ticketing leg up.
In a move that will raise eyebrows, the NRL has put together an exclusive two-for-one offer for fans to attend Origin I in what smacks as a desperate attempt to ensure the series opener at Accor Stadium next Wednesday night is a sellout.
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While 50,000 tickets for Origin games at Suncorp Stadium are snapped up within minutes by diehard Queensland fans, the NRL is going to desperate measures to get spoilt Sydneysiders to fill the 80,000-capacity Homebush venue for Game One.
Any person who attended Magic Round last month has received an email with a buy one, get one free offer to attend Origin I.
It is the worst kept secret in the game that thousands of tickets are given away annually to bolster Origin crowds at Homebush despite Sydney’s monster population of 5.3 million.
The Blues whinged when all three Origin games were based in Queensland last season due to the Covid crisis, but the NRL’s two-for-one offer is a worrying marketing strategy for the code’s $90 million showpiece event.
COBBO’S UNBELIEVABLE OFFER
Selwyn Cobbo’s rise to a maiden Queensland Origin jumper has triggered a market frenzy with the teenage whiz-kid fielding a monster five-year, $4.5 million offer to quit the Broncos.
But underlining Cobbo’s loyalty, the Maroons rookie wants to stay loyal and is prepared to sacrifice a staggering $2 million to remain at the Broncos club that gave him his big break.
And it’s not only NRL clubs who are clamouring to sign the 19-year-old.
Sport Confidential can reveal sporting apparel giants Nike and Asics are locked in a tug of war for Cobbo to join their stable of athletic ambassadors after his stunning breakthrough NRL season with the Broncos.
Cobbo has worn Nike boots since his NRL debut, but Asics are an apparel supplier to the Broncos and are hoping their sponsorship arrangement can help secure the signature of the Cherbourg flyer.
But it is understood Cobbo plans to stick with Nike, appreciative of the fact the sporting giant supplied him with free boots when he was an unknown shooting for the stars with Brisbane’s feeder club Wynnum Manly.
Such loyalty is why Cobbo will ink a new deal with the Broncos after the Origin series, despite his rise to a Queensland debut sending his price tag soaring.
If Cobbo was purely driven by money, Brisbane would face a huge battle to keep him. Since his selection in the Queensland side, the 20-game NRL young gun, off-contract at the end of 2023, has attracted enormous offers.
One club has discussed signing Cobbo to a five-year contract worth $900,000 a season. That figure is based on Cobbo moving from wing to fullback, a position he is eventually tipped to play. By moving to fullback – now a big-money slot in an NRL club’s playmaking spine – the Indigenous ace can earn almost double what he could if he remained on the wing.
The Broncos are in negotiations with Cobbo’s management to extend him until 2024 or 2025. The upcoming Origin series could be the ultimate shopfront window for Cobbo to parade his talent, but he is content at the Broncos and will take less to stay.
Another trump card for the Broncos is Cobbo’s desire to remain close to his family in Cherbourg, making a move to Sydney unlikely.
BENNETT BLASTS DOLPHINS RUMOURS
Wayne Bennett is becoming fed-up with the number of players being erroneously linked to the Dolphins.
First it was Christian Welch. Then Matt Lodge. Then Suliasi Vunivalu.
Now former Parramatta Eels wrecking ball Semi Radradra is reportedly in the sights of the super coach.
An overseas rugby website claims Radradra is eyeing a return to the NRL, fuelling speculation the Dolphins could make a play for the 29-year-old, who is currently playing for English rugby outfit Bristol Bears.
Signing Radradra would make sense. Bennett has conceded the Dolphins need to sign some marquee backline talent quickly and there are few more destructive wingers in the football codes than the 100kg Radradra, who scored 82 tries in 94 games for the Eels.
But Bennett has broken his silence on the issue, insisting the ‘Semi Trailer’ is not coming to the Dolphins in 2023.
“I don’t know where this crap comes from,” he said.
“We have not even spoken to him. To my knowledge, we have not approached him, and if we have, I would know.
“We have not spoken a single word to Radradra. I wouldn’t even know where he is playing these days.
“If someone is mentioning us being interested, it’s purely to drive up Radradra’s price.
“We need to sign some backs, but we have not had one single conversation with him.”
GORDIE REVEALS TITANS ROLE
Broncos great Gorden Tallis has clarified what his position as a club ambassador for the Gold Coast Titans entails and admits he feels guilty about not supporting David Fifita.
Tallis spoke at length on Triple M about the dramatic crash of the Titans in 2022 following last Friday’s spectacular choke against the Broncos.
The Broncos legend played a role in luring Fifita from Brisbane to the Gold Coast and was thought to be a mentor for the damaging forward given he is an “ambassador” for the Titans.
However Tallis revealed he has not been working with Fifita and his role with the club was to attend games.
“I’m not there at training,” Tallis said.
“As an ambassador I go there to have a cold beer, hot dog and watch the Titans play. That’s it.
“When they say I’m there … I’m not there. And I feel bad now that I haven’t gone and reached out to David and said ‘this is what should be happening’.”
Fifita’s season has unravelled on the back of positional switches and two knee injuries which have prompted him to seek guidance from Bennett.
BRONCOS UNEARTH THEIR BEST EVER TALENT
Selwyn Cobbo, David Fifita and Reece Walsh have come through the Brisbane system but good judges believe teenage hooker Blake Mozer is the best ever talent to come out of the Broncos Academy.
It’s a massive call, but it explains why the Broncos have extended Mozer’s contract until the end of 2025 as Brisbane prepare to unleash him in the NRL, possibly as early as next season.
At 183cm, Mozer has similar heights to Cameron Smith and Brisbane scouts believe the 18-year-old shares the Storm legend’s vision, guile and cool head at dummy half.
Mozer was outstanding last month playing for Broncos feeder club Souths Logan in the Mal Meninga Cup grand final, walking away with man-of-the-match honours after carving up Townsville to help the Magpies to a 38-26 victory.
Mozer has trained with Brisbane’s full-time squad since pre-season, when he was still only 17, and has impressed Broncos players with his confidence and natural talent in the No.9 jumper.
“He is an outstanding young talent. One of the best we have ever had come through the Academy,” said Broncos development chief Simon Scanlan.
“He has a similar physique to Cameron Smith. He is tall for a hooker, he is lean up top but he has very strong legs, just like Cam Smith.
“He has so much time for a young bloke and rarely takes the wrong options. He is not a selfish player out of dummy half either.
“The big thing is he wants to win and he wants to be the best. When you have a kid who not only has talent but has the work ethic and desire to be the best, that’s when you get a star.
“Blake would want to play NRL tomorrow, but we will be patient with him. Reece Walsh was just as competitive and brave as Blake. I think he will debut in the NRL either next year or the year after, it’s up to ‘Kevvie’ (coach Kevin Walters) ultimately, but I think he could handle the NRL next season.”
BRONCOS DOMINATE ORIGIN
Brisbane have gone through the wringer in the past two years but their status as a development club cannot be questioned.
In a remarkable statistic, the Broncos will supply the most talent of any club in Origin I next Wednesday night. Of the 44 NSW and Queensland players named on Monday in the rival 22-man squads, a staggering 15 top-liners have links to the Broncos.
More than half of Queensland’s squad are current Broncos or came through Brisbane’s Academy. They include Kalyn Ponga, Selwyn Cobbo, Dane Gagai, Xavier Coates, Ben Hunt, Pat Carrigan, Jai Arrow, Tom Flegler, Tom Dearden and Kurt Capewell. Maroons props Tino Fa’asuamaleaui (Melbourne and the Titans) and Lindsay Collins (Roosters) both played for the Broncos’ under-20s before moving to other NRL clubs.
Meanwhile, the Blues will boast two current Broncos in Kotoni Staggs and Payne Haas, while Tariq Sims had a stint in Brisbane’s under-20s before launching his NRL career at the Cowboys.
MARATHON EFFORT FOR ORIGIN STAR
Former Broncos and Queensland back-rower Matt Gillett was famed for his lion-hearted efforts. So it comes as no surprise that the now-retired Gillett has completed a marathon.
The 200-game Broncos legend, who retired in 2019 due to neck and shoulder injuries, took part in the Noosa marathon last weekend. The 33-year-old showed his toughness to complete the 42km distance in a time of three hours and 59 minutes.
Another former Bronco, Nick Kenny, will compete in the Cairns Ironman on Sunday week. Kenny, who is training in the Northern Territory, has been waking up at 3am to punch out his three-hour runs, dodging wild animals and brown snakes along the way.
JAMES DELIVERS BIG DONATION
Broncos forward Ryan James is kicking plenty of goals off the field as he edges towards retirement.
James has set himself up beautifully for a smooth transition into the real world when he decides to hang up the boots.
Off-contract at season’s end and reluctant to head overseas, James could look to secure another NRL deal, but is well placed to take the next step in life.
James was on the Gold Coast on Thursday to present a $77,000 donation to the Kalwun Early Learning Program, which provides free daycare for Indigenous children to help prepare them for school.
The donation was made on behalf of local medtech business Hough as part of its partnership with the Ryan James Group.
“I have seen first-hand the social impacts of this program and how it helped my eldest son transition into primary school,” James said.
“Kalwun is achieving great social outcomes for the Indigenous community and I know this donation will reach far and wide and hopefully even set up a blueprint for others to facilitate this style of program nationwide.
“I’ve had an amazing NRL career, but I feel that securing a donation like this for our people is bigger than any achievement I could have on the rugby league field.”
KAMBOSOS BACKS AUSSIE DUO
George Kambosos has thrown his support behind Justis Huni and Jai Opetaia as the classy Aussie duo chase their own world-title dreams.
Opetaia (21-0, 17KO) will fight for a world-title against IBF cruiserweight king Mairis Briedis on the Gold Coast on July 2, while Huni (5-0, 4KO) will continue his journey with a heavyweight blockbuster against Joe Goodall on June 15.
Kambosos takes on Devin Haney in a world-title blockbuster at Marvel Stadium on Sunday and believes Huni and Opetaia can also conquer the world – if they want it badly enough.
“Justis and Jai are great guys with serious talent and I will back them,” Kambosos said.
“As our only male world-title champion at the moment, I will support them and I will always be there if they want to reach out and ask my opinion.
“Both those guys have talent, but my advice to them is you have to want it badly. They have to be willing to go that extra yard to conquer the world.
“Winning good fights on the Australian domestic scene is fantastic, but when you are coming up against guys from overseas, you will go to a level you haven’t been to before, and that is in your training but also in a fight.
“When I fought (Teofimo) Lopez (to win his world titles), I went to places I hadn’t been to before, but I knew that I was ready to go there. I’m sure Justis and Jai can go to another level, they have good teams and I wish them all the best, I would love to see those guys win world titles.
“I will get the job done against Haney and then hopefully sit back and watch Jai win a world title.”
PAPA WANTS TO GET IN RING
Maroons enforcer Josh Papalii wants to step in the boxing ring again but it won’t be against Blues rival Junior Paulo.
Papalii is keen to square off again when the time allows him after his fight with ex-Queensland forward Ben Hannant last year.
A State of Origin themed fight with Paulo would be attractive for promoters, but it won’t be happening.
“I want to fight, it’s good money,” Papalii said with a laugh.
“I don’t know who I could fight.
“Junior and I are too good of mates. We will spar but I won’t fight him.
“He is a proper boxer and I’m chasing the cash, man.”
It may be hard for Papalii to get in the ring this year given he will likely feature in the Rugby League World Cup the following season.
MAROON-TINGED COMMENTARY
Footy fans can enjoy unashamedly biased commentary for their respective teams during the 2022 State of Origin Series.
Three different calls will be available within the SEN Radio app, digital stations and radio network with Blues Radio, Maroons Radio and a neutral call, SEN Origin Live.
Those who only want to hear one-eyed Maroons action can tune into the Queensland feed with Mark Braybrook leading the commentary alongside Origin and Kangaroos legend Gary Belcher.
“We always aim to provide our listeners with the most engaging content and know that Origin fans are among the most passionate supporters throughout Australia,” said SEN’s Jeremy Markham.
“Giving them the option of unashamedly biased commentary will no doubt further heighten the enjoyment of the game as they cheer along knowing the commentators are on their side.”
SPOTTED
Broncos coach Kevin Walters and wife Narelle turning up late to the Brisbane premiere of Top Gun and struggling to find a seat. With the way the Broncos are going, Kevvie should have had his pick of the cinema!
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