NRL gossip: Parramatta target Wayne Bennett with Craig Bellamy poised to reject Broncos
THE Broncos coaching saga has taken a twist with Craig Bellamy tipped to stay in Melbourne … and Wayne Bennett linked with a big-money move to a Sydney club. PETER BADEL and TRAVIS MEYN have the latest.
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THE Wayne Bennett-Craig Bellamy saga has taken a fascinating twist with Bellamy tipped to stay loyal to Melbourne … and Bennett being linked with a big-money move to the Eels.
The whispers about Parramatta’s interest in Bennett won’t go away.
Bennett is adamant he has not been approached by the Eels but well-placed Parramatta sources have told Blindside the super coach is their No. 1 target if the blue-and-gold’s dismal season eventually costs besieged Brad Arthur his job.
A move to Sydney would not deter Bennett. He will never move overseas because of his disabled son Justin but Bennett will consider the interstate relocation that saw him coach the Dragons for three seasons between 2009-11.
Bennett revealed to The Courier-Mail last month that he had received interest from two NRL clubs, including one based in Sydney.
The 68-year-old is keen for another term at Red Hill in 2020 but the Broncos are likely to push on with their succession plan, with or without Bellamy.
Even Bennett was privately convinced Bellamy would accept a four-year offer from the Broncos, but the pendulum is swinging towards Melbourne.
Storm multi-millionaire co-owner Matt Tripp had dinner with Bellamy earlier this week and is confident of keeping him in Melbourne.
Should Bellamy commit to the Storm, the Broncos’ succession plan will be in tatters, with Maroons coach and Brisbane legend Kevin Walters one option for the post-Wayne era.
TITANS GET SCHOOLED
FINALLY, common sense has prevailed. The Titans have begun moves to establish official links with Gold Coast’s famous rugby league nursery, Keebra Park High.
In a farcical situation, the Titans have never had ties with Keebra Park since their entry to the NRL in 2007 — despite the school having produced more than 30 NRL players in the Gold Coast’s backyard.
Keebra currently have feeder links with Canterbury and before that delivered their best kids to the Wests Tigers, but Titans coach Garth Brennan confirmed that is about to change.
“We’re in talks at the moment to work with Keebra Park,” Brennan said.
“I said when I took the job that developing Gold Coast kids was a big part of my vision for this club and it’s important we have a good relationship with Keebra.
“There’s no reason why Keebra kids should be going to Sydney clubs when they can be staying at home and playing for the Titans.”
The school has educated a stack of NRL stars including Benji Marshall, Ben Te’o, Corey Norman, Jordan Kahu, Te Maire Martin and Broncos young gun Payne Haas.
Keebra Park’s long-serving league guru Greg Lenton, who coached Marshall, admits it is sad that the Titans have never had a working relationship with the school.
“It’s a strange one,” Lenton said.
“It makes sense for the Titans and Keebra to have feeder links and hopefully that can happen down the track.”
FORGOTTEN COWBOY PART I
LACHLAN Coote’s career at the Cowboys is all but over.
Coote still hasn’t received a formal offer from the club and his latest axing for Friday’s clash for the Warriors is a sign the Cowboys are moving on.
Coote currently has no offers on the table and is fighting to save his NRL career at age 28.
It is a bizarre situation because Coote is a quality player with premiership-winning experience at fullback. His manager will contact the Titans this week to ignite some interest.
“Unless something dramatic changes, Lachlan won’t be at the Cowboys next season,” Coote’s manager Mark Stewart said.
“They haven’t said anything to us at all, so there’s no contract on the table.”
CASH TALKING OATES
ANTHONY Milford’s mega $1 million deal has not been lost on Broncos players.
When the media asked off-contract Corey Oates if he will stay at the Broncos, Milford joked the winger should hurry up and sign a new deal.
Oates didn’t miss Milford with his reply, saying with a laugh: “Give me some of your cash ‘Milf’, I’ll stay for half your wage’.”
LOCKY’S LITTLE LADY
BRONCOS legend Darren Lockyer has finally got his wish for a daughter.
Lockyer’s wife Loren gave birth a fortnight ago to their first girl, which they named Cleo. The couple already had three boys — Sunny, Flynn and Hugo — and the baby bookmakers’ odds were pointing to a fourth son. But Lockyer now has his girl and the former Maroons skipper reports Cleo and Loren are in good health.
IRONMAN TURNS MARATHON MAN
FORMER Broncos skipper Corey Parker was renowned as an NRL ironman.
Now ‘Cozza’ is taking on perhaps his biggest challenge yet — the Gold Coast Marathon. Parker has trimmed down to 95kg and is in training for the 42km event, which is held on Sunday, July 1.
It will be Parker’s first marathon and he is following in the footsteps of former Broncos teammate Ben Hannant, who completed the race in 3 hours 49 minutes last year.
FORGOTTEN COWBOY PART II
LIKE Lachlan Coote, Kyle Laybutt is another Cowboy facing a grim future at the club.
The 22-year-old playmaker made his NRL debut for the club last year but has struggled to break into the top grade this season behind Te Maire Martin, Michael Morgan and Johnathan Thurston.
Laybutt is off-contract at season’s end and his management is currently in talks with the Bulldogs about a possible move to Belmore.
ORIGIN WHISPERS
WHICH current State of Origin star has been selling his old Origin gear on eBay? Somehow we don’t think he will be offering autographed items at the risk of disclosing his identity.
FROM THE VAULT
IF the Maroons of 2018 need any inspiration, here it is.
Exactly 30 years ago, Queensland were basking in their first ever Origin clean-sweep as Wayne Bennett masterminded a 3-0 thrashing of the Blues.
The 1988 Maroons won Game One 26-18, secured the title in the return bout 16-6 and then nailed NSW’s coffin shut with a 38-22 drubbing in Origin III at the SFS.
As Kevin Walters looks to pick up the pieces from Queensland’s 22-12 loss at the MCG, what the Maroons coach would give to have Allan Langer and Wally Lewis in his halves.
PLAYING STOCKS
RISING
Gareth Widdop
The Dragons playmaker is in career-best form and has to be a serious contender to win his first ever Dally M Medal if he leads the Red V to the minor premiership.
The Burgess twins
Tom and George appeared to be on their last legs at the Rabbitohs last season but new coach Anthony Seibold has helped rekindle their power and passion.
Adam Blair
The former Broncos enforcer’s move to the Warriors has been a revelation. Blair seemed to be on the wane at Brisbane but he has added a tougher edge to the Warriors pack.
Kyle Feldt
The one ray of hope in a disastrous Cowboys season. Feldt has been ultra consistent this season and is the forgotten man when it comes to Queensland Origin wing contenders.
FALLING
Anthony Milford
What has happened to Milford this season? He was schooled by Cameron Munster in Brisbane’s loss to the Storm last week and should buy a Lotto ticket after being picked for Origin I.
Paul Green
The Cowboys mentor is facing the toughest test of his career as an NRL coach. It’s just as well Green recently signed a three-year extension because his bargaining power has dropped since last year’s grand-final fairytale.
Daly Cherry-Evans
Embroiled in another off-field saga after former teammate Anthony Watmough’s savage spray accusing DCE of ripping Manly apart. It won’t help his Origin selection hopes with the Maroons family.
Darius Boyd
His bombshell Origin and Test retirement was a sad way to draw the curtain on a wonderful rep career. The Maroons didn’t handle Boyd’s axing for Origin I well and it has cost them another great servant.
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