Sport Confidential: Broncos bin 2025 Las Vegas application, Wendell Sailor slams Dragons
Pat Carrigan’s hard-nosed cousin is on the cusp of a rival club’s top-30 squad, while the Broncos throw their 2025 Las Vegas application in the bin. Check out the full Sport Confidential.
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Pat Carrigan has become one of the stars of the NRL and now the Broncos ironman’s cousin is on the rise.
Goondiwindi product Josh Billing is pressing his claims for a start in Canberra’s NSW Cup side after some eye-catching displays in recent years in the Raiders’ junior representative teams.
The 21-year-old won a grand final with Canberra’s SG Ball side in 2021, scoring 12 tries from 11 games, and hopes to emulate Carrigan by breaking into the NRL with the Green Machine.
Originally a hard-running centre, Billing has found a home in the second row and clearly has the same toughness as his Broncos cousin.
“Like Pat, Josh is as tough as nails,” said his agent Jeff Jurotte, who also manages Carrigan.
“He is nearly Pat’s height and weighs about 93kg. He is a good country kid.
“Josh’s dad is Pat’s mother’s brother, so they get on really well as cousins.
“Josh went to Marist Ashgrove (in Brisbane) as a centre, but Canberra thought he would develop into a second-rower and that’s where he is now playing.
“He will get some time this year in the NSW Cup and like Pat, he has the desire to play NRL.”
VEGAS FRONT-RUNNERS REVEALED
One of rugby league’s great derbies, the Parramatta-Penrith western Sydney blockbuster, could take place in Las Vegas next year.
Sport Confidential can reveal the Panthers, Eels, Cowboys and Melbourne have emerged as the four serious contenders to feature in the second instalment of the NRL’s Vegas double header in 2025.
The NRL’s deadline for submissions closes on Friday and the Broncos, who were part of history last month in Sin City, will not be applying, opening the door for Queensland rivals the Cowboys and Dolphins.
The Cowboys have confirmed their interest in heading to America next season as the ‘away’ team, while Penrith are virtual certainties, with the premiers to undertake a rebuild of their BlueBet home ground in 2025.
The Dolphins have sold a home game to Perth in the 2023-24 seasons and could instead transfer that to Vegas in 2025.
The Panthers would go to Vegas as the ‘home’ team and a derby against traditional foes the Eels, whom they flogged in the 2022 NRL decider, would entice thousands of Penrith and Parramatta fans to make the trip to Vegas.
Melbourne beat the Cowboys in the 2017 NRL grand final and those two teams could square off again on American soil if the Storm are prepared to give up a home game at AAMI Park.
Champion Storm halfback Jahrome Hughes urged Melbourne bosses to lead the Vegas charge in 2025.
“I would love to go to Vegas,” he said.
“It’s something different. I watched the games this year and it looked like a great occasion.
“The fans really got behind it over there, to have 40,000 fans at the double header was awesome and it’s great to see us growing the game.
“Hopefully we put our hand up to play in Vegas next year.
“The Storm have been one of the leading clubs for a long time, so the club would do a great job at promoting the concept.”
WENDELL’S RED V RAGE
Wendell Sailor says son Tristan’s superb fightback at the Brisbane Broncos is sweet vindication for seeking a fresh start in Queensland following his “disgusting” treatment by former club St George Illawarra.
Broncos legend Sailor has lifted the lid on what really happened to Tristan at St George Illawarra, accusing Dragons chiefs of hanging his son out to dry in a snub that could have destroyed his NRL career.
Thrown a lifeline by the Broncos last year, Sailor has been a revelation at Red Hill and a crucial back-up filling in for superstar Reece Walsh, including Thursday night’s clash against Melbourne at AAMI Park.
But just three years ago, Sailor’s NRL career was in tatters after Dragons bosses told him he was surplus to requirements under incoming coach Anthony Griffin for the 2021 season.
Sailor learned he wasn’t wanted in late September, one week before the grand final and just five weeks before the NRL’s annual new contracting period on November 1.
Just a fortnight after being told to find another club, Sailor was charged with sexual assault, but was acquitted of any wrongdoing in March 2022, leading to his return to rugby league at the Broncos.
The Dragons threw Sailor Sr himself a lifeline in 2008 after his cocaine scandal in rugby union, but Wendell says St George Illawarra officialdom’s treatment of Tristan left him seeing red.
“The way Tristan got treated at the Dragons was disgusting,” he said.
“To be honest, it wasn’t just Tristan who got treated poorly.
“Other Dragons kids have been let go ... the culture of the club hasn’t been good since Wayne (Bennett) left.”
Sailor’s grievance isn’t so much that the Dragons moved Tristan on, but rather the late timing which left the then 22-year-old scrambling to find a new home just as NRL clubs were about to begin pre-season.
Tristan played five NRL games for the Dragons but fell out of favour at the club, despite a push at the time for him to replace under-performing five-eighth Corey Norman.
“Tristan loved the Dragons more than me,” Wendell said.
“They picked Corey Norman and that’s fine, I understood that, but Tristan went from starting, to the bench, to 18th man, to No.21 and 22 and out of the squad with no reason at all as to why.
“Then before a game against the Storm - their last game of the (2020) season - a Dragons official walks up to Tristan and says, ‘Thanks for your service, we no longer need you at this club, we’re going in a different direction’.
“Seriously, what a joke.
“Tell Tristan three months earlier to give him a chance to find another club.
“This is a kid who had been at the Dragons since he was 13.
“I had other Dragons players calling me saying what a joke it was. And despite that, Tristan was still doing extras at training.
“I’m no longer upset because Tristan has learned to forgive and forget, so I’ve had to as well, but that summed up the Dragons and how they do business.
“Wayne Bennett would never treat a player like that.
“They just threw him out the backdoor.”
It’s why Sailor is proud of Tristan’s revival at the Broncos, who last year rewarded the former Queensland under-20s star with a new two-year extension.
“To see him getting the fruits of his labour now is rewarding because Tristan went to Queensland with no guarantees,” Wendell said.
“I have never seen him happier. He carries drinks for Broncos players and sets standards at training.
“He is such a nice kid and my hope is that people don’t judge him on my personality or lifestyle because he is a better man than me.
“All he talks about is gratitude. I’ve had my time. Now it’s Tristan’s time.”
Tristan says he doesn’t feel pressure to emulate his father’s famous deeds at the Broncos.
“Not really, I’ve dealt with the comparisons my whole life,” he said.
“It sort of just fades into the background these days.
“I am just me now and everyone at the Broncos is a character. I feel like I can express myself at the Broncos and Kevvie encourages me to be myself.
“There’s no restraints on anyone at the Broncos, so I just play my way with freedom.”
STORM ALERT FOR PEZET
Titans coach Des Hasler could do worse than consider making a play for Jonah Pezet if the Storm young gun fails to break through at Melbourne.
Pezet is one of the code’s most promising playmakers but the 21-year-old is struggling for regular game time at Melbourne behind big guns Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes.
Pezet is off-contract at the end of 2025, the same year that Titans halfback Tanah Boyd becomes a free agent.
Boyd is under pressure to fire at the Titans after a slow start to 2024 and with Gold Coast veteran Kieran Foran, 33, likely to retire at the end of next year, Hasler needs to weigh up his scrumbase options.
Hughes, 29, hopes Pezet stays at Melbourne, but admits NRL rivals could be circling the NSW under-19s young gun.
“That’s the business side of things in the NRL,” Hughes said.
“You see it happen in the game a lot if a guy can’t get an opportunity.
“It depends what Jonah wants to do and how he wants his career to play out.
“He is definitely NRL quality and at a number of other clubs he would be starting.
“I’m sure he is keen to stay here and bide his time if he loves the club. I did it here at the Storm and so did Cam Munster, but I’m sure other clubs would be looking at Jonah. It’s a tough decision for him because he is a quality young player and has shown what he can do.
“To have someone like Jonah snapping at my heels, it’s always good competition.”
HASLER SPRAY ‘NOT THAT BAD’
Titans players insist Des Hasler’s epic post-match spray after last weekend’s loss to the Dolphins wasn’t as bad as it looked.
Fox League’s dressing room cameras captured an animated Hasler appearing to unload on his players after they surrendered a 10-0 lead on home soil. to lose 30-14.
A carefully placed whiteboard couldn’t hide Hasler when he got out of his chair and blasted the Titans, who are now wooden spoon favourites and remain the NRL’s only team without a win after four rounds.
Titans hooker Chris Randall said the team deserved what they copped from their new coach.
“It was intense, but well deserved,” he said.
“It’s because Des cares so much. He sees potential in us and if we’re not dishing it up then it’s fair enough.
“It wasn’t the first time (he’s sprayed us). He’s very passionate in the way he delivers everything.
“It wasn’t that bad of a spray, it’s just he cares so much. I feel like we’re letting him down and of course he’s going to get emotional.
“He’s putting in a lot of work and we’re going on the field and letting him down.”
Forward Beau Fermor said looks can be deceiving.
“I saw the video and it looks a lot worse than what it was,” he said.
“Des was just saying that we’re not giving ourselves a chance with errors and poor discipline. We’re forever defending our try-line and they’re never having to defend theirs.
“He was more disappointed in the way we let the Dolphins off the hook.”
The Titans’ shocking start to the year has seen them quickly become wooden spoon favourites and it doesn’t get any easier with a trip to Townsville to face the 3-1 Cowboys on Sunday.
BILLY STICKS SOLID
Maroons coach Billy Slater won’t be trying to reinvent the wheel when it comes to Queensland’s preparation for a three-peat of Origin series wins.
Slater has locked in Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast as Queensland’s training base for this year’s Origin series.
While incoming NSW coach Michael Maguire will take the Blues to the Blue Mountains to prepare for the series, Slater is sticking with what’s worked during his first two series in charge of the Maroons.
The Maroons will head to Toowoomba on June 18 for their annual fan day in the lead-up to Game Two of the series.
SPOTTED
Brisbane Lions star Charlie Cameron and six-hitting cricketer Chris Lynn celebrating the Broncos’ big derby win against the Cowboys on Good Friday in Brisbane’s dressing room at Suncorp Stadium.
SHOOSH
Which NRL club spin doctors have been winding up their coach’s press conferences after just three minutes this season?
COWBOYS COLD ON OATES
The Cowboys have ruled out making a play for Corey Oates as the veteran winger fights to save his career at the Broncos.
Oates is off-contract at season’s end and has dropped in the backline pecking order behind young gun Deine Mariner, who has started the 2024 season in sizzling form with fellow winger Jesse Arthars.
Oates scored a try off the bench in their Easter flogging of the Cowboys and at 29, the 203-game stalwart clearly still has something to offer in the NRL.
The former Queensland Origin winger is keen to be a starting player and was linked with the Cowboys when he was off-contract two years ago.
Oates could face a major pay cut to remain at the Broncos next season, but a move to Townsville appears unlikely.
“Corey has been a very good player for a long time,” Cowboys coach Todd Payten said.
“We have a bit of depth in that area. We have Semi Valemei doing some good things in the Queensland Cup, Tom Chester can potentially play on the wing, then we have Viliami Vailea to support our main guys Kyle Feldt and Murray (Taulagi).
“You never say never, but he’s not high on our radar at this stage.”
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