Sunday Sesh: Herbie Farnworth’s Red Hill return gets tongues wagging

Fresh Dolphins recruit Herbie Farnworth created quite a stir this week when he turned up to training with his former club the Brisbane Broncos.

Herbie Farnworth had tongues wagging when he turned up to the Broncos during the week, but his new employer, the Dolphins, aren’t too bothered.

Farnworth officially became a Dolphin on November 1, so eyebrows were raised when TV cameras captured him running with his former Broncos teammates at Brisbane’s return to pre-season on Thursday.

But the Dolphins have defended Farnworth, saying he wasn’t formally training at Red Hill, instead having a light run on an adjacent field with Broncos hooker Billy Walters, who remains on holidays.

Farnworth doesn’t officially report for Dolphins training until Monday, December 11.

“I don’t think any club would have an issue with a player making sure he is fit for when he starts training with a new club,” Dolphins boss Terry Reader.

“It demonstrates what a great professional we are bringing to the Dolphins. The fact is Herbie lives around the corner from the Broncos and if he wants to do some informal fitness with his old teammates who haven’t started pre-season yet, that is just fine with us.”

Dolphins signing Herbie Farnworth. Pic: Dolphins Instagram

PUBLICITY HOUND: GOULD STARTING TO GRATE AT BULLDOGS

Gus Gould and the Bulldogs have a problem. Not a big one mind you. Just an annoying one that seems to grate at some of the key figures in the club.

Recent history suggests they have trouble keeping a secret. The latest incident involves New Zealand Warriors prop Addin Fonua-Blake, who was snapped on Friday at a secret meeting with Gould and his management to discuss a move to Belmore in 2025.

The meeting was captured by a member of the public and placed on social media. It’s merely the latest meeting involving Gould – one of the game’s highest profile figures – to find its way into the public domain.

A week ago it was a talk with Raymond Faitala-Mariner. Two years ago it was a meeting with Reed Mahoney and a photo shoot with Viliame Kikau.

Gould is a magnet for cameras and attention but he seems averse to holding meetings out of the public eye. He seems to prefer a cafe where he is only one punter away from being back page news.

Phil Gould has been snapped in public talking to the likes of (clockwise from top left) Raymond Faitala-Maroner, Blake Taaffe, Viliame Kikau and Addin Fonua-Blake.

No complaints here. It’s great fodder so long may it continue. Perhaps there is a method to the madness.

Maybe we’re all being played for a fool and the Bulldogs are happy with the attention. It certainly gives their supporters hope that the club is headed in the right direction and Fonua-Blake would be a handy signing given he is one of the best front rowers in the game.

MOSES’ STAFF ISSUE WITH STAR

One of the game’s leading agents has kicked off court action against a former star client over unpaid fees. Agent Isaac Moses, whose stable includes some of rugby league’s biggest names, has launched action in the Supreme Court against Nathan Brown with the case due for a directions hearing on December 5.

Moses was the man who landed Brown the biggest deal of his career at Parramatta but the pair parted ways and it is understood he is now chasing Brown over fees from their time together.

Nathan Brown (R) training with the Sea Eagles this pre-season. Picture: Jeremy Piper

Brown, who is now with Mario Tartak after initially switching to Joe Wehbe, recently joined Manly on a train-and-trial contract. At his peak, he was on a contract worth in excess of $600,000 a season but after being released by the Eels, he found a temporary home at the Sydney Roosters midway through last season.

The Roosters opted not to renew his contract and he has now landed at Manly, albeit on a deal that is outside the top 30.

Canberra are trying to lure Wests Tigers winger Junior Tupou to the nation's capital. Picture: NRL Images.

ROOSTERS LOOK TO RAID TIGERS

The Wests Tigers have a fight on their hands to keep winger Junior Tupou. The 21-year-old made 22 appearances on the Tigers last season, leading the club in both line breaks and tackle breaks.

Coach Benji Marshall wants to keep him but it is understood Tupou has interest from his former club Canberra and the Sydney Roosters.

BRITISH FREAK WOULD BE A SMASH HIT IN THE NRL

Newcastle’s English recruit Kai Pearce-Paul has issued a warning to his Knights teammates as they prepare to open their premiership campaign against Canberra and his former Wigan teammate Morgan Smithies.

“I would say Morgan is one of the best players I have ever played with,” Pearce-Paul said.

“He is skilful and he has all the ingredients but the big thing with Morgan is his work ethic – he will make 65 or 70 tackles a game on average.

“He will do the hard work … the work you don’t look at when you are on TV. You don’t realise it but we come into training and his statistics are through the roof.

“He plays 80 minutes in the middle, he works hard for his teammates and I think everyone can say if there is one player you trust, you trust Morgan, he is always working, he never gives up. One of the best players I have played with in my life.”

English recruits Kai Pearce-Paul and Will Pryce wearing Newcastle colours for the first time. Credit: Supplied.

Pearce-Paul has also predicted big things for another of his former teammates, young forward Junior Nsemba.

The 19-year-old made his Super League debut last season and recently signed a contract extension until the end of 2027.

“In terms of young talent, there is a boy I play with at Wigan called Junior Nsemba,” Pearce-Paul said.

“He is another young back rower. He is an absolute freak of nature. He is skittling people, full grown men. He has been absolutely smashing it.

“I think he had a bit of NRL interest too. I would definitely say he is one to look out for.

“The potential is endless.”

🗣️ "Remember, remember, Junior Nsemba!"

🍒 The @WiganWarriorsRL forward made a huge impact in Round Six of the #ChallengeCup...

🏟️ From growing up near the DW, to dreams of walking out at @wembleystadium just like his uncle, it has been a challenge like no other... pic.twitter.com/V7GzN6DVZy

— Betfred Challenge Cup (@TheChallengeCup) June 16, 2023

MURAL FOR GOLDEN GIRL

A large-scale mural celebrating Olympic sprinting legend Betty Cuthbert has been unveiled at Allianz Stadium. Cuthbert, the only athlete to have won Olympic gold in the 100m, 200m and 400m, is part of the stadium’s Ring of Champions alongside Arthur Beetson, Ron Coote, Nick Shehadie and Johnny Warren.

Cuthbert was Australia’s original Golden Girl, who came from humble beginnings to dominate world athletics. She set 11 individual world records and won four Olympic gold medals.

Mural of Betty Cuthbert being installed at Allianz Stadium

The mural is a collaboration between Venues NSW, creative agency Pixeloco and Sydney graffiti artist Blends and captures Cuthbert as she crosses the finish line.

We’re also told that work will begin on the Johnny Warren mural soon, with Shehadie, Coote and Beetson to be completed next year.

And in the Ray Warren Media Centre, the long-awaited tribute to Ray Hadley has also been installed. As you turn the corner to where 2GB traditionally broadcast from, Hadley’s famous catchcry ‘Don’t touch the sets, Don’t touch the dials; Don’t you go anywhere’ greets you.

Behind the words, the man himself is etched in a picture taken when he called a match from a card table on the SCG sideline, just like his hero Frank Hyde.

The Wests Tigers have farewelled long-time servant and former star Paul Sironen. Credit: Supplied.

TIGERS FAREWELL SIRRO

An era ended at the Wests Tigers this week. Paul Sironen has been involved with the Tigers as a player or official for more than 30 years. Sirro was a legend of the Balmain side in the 1980s and continued in an official role with the club after his retirement. He has been there through the good and the bad but this week it all came to an end as Sironen was given a fitting send-off at Leichhardt Oval.

“This is really nice, and I couldn’t think of a better way to say farewell,” Sironen said.

“The club asked me what I might like as a farewell gift, and this is exactly what I wanted. I’ve had some great times at this club over about three decades and we have formed some lifelong friendships.

“It’s been a huge part of my family’s life and who I am as a person but it’s time for a change. We’re relocating to the NSW North Coast and very much looking forward to the next phase in life.

“I’ll get to as many games as I can and obviously the Tigers will always be a part of who I am.”

Originally published as Sunday Sesh: Herbie Farnworth’s Red Hill return gets tongues wagging