What’s the Buzz: Saint, sinner, shoosh

Valentine Holmes waves goodbye to 2019, a Sydney club chase JT’s services and Anthony Mundine opens up ahead of fight. It’s all in this week’s edition of saint, sinner, shoosh.

Valentine Holmes of the Cronulla Sharks NRL team poses for a portrait at Cronulla, Sydney. Picture: Brett Costello

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Even if he gets homesick or fails to make it in the NFL next season, Val Holmes has effectively ruled himself out of playing NRL in 2019.

The Kangaroos winger could always return to Australia before June 30 but under the terms of his release he can play only for the Cronulla Sharks.

The problem is coach Shane Flanagan is already shopping for a replacement and there will be no money in their salary cap to accommodate the 23-year-old superstar.

SAINT

The wonderful contribution of all sporting types to White Ribbon Day to raise public awareness of the shocking statistics that reveal, on average, one woman a week in Australia is murdered by her current or former partner.

SINNER

Valentine Holmes’ managers Gavin and Chris Orr knew weeks ago that the Cronulla and Kangaroos winger wanted to quit the NRL for a crack at American football but didn’t have the courtesy to tell anyone at the Sharks.

These are the same agents who once paraded Daly Cherry-Evans around the carpark of Cronulla Leagues Club, flew him to the Gold Coast, signed a contract, then reneged.

No wonder Sonny Bill Williams punted them long ago.

Matty Johns is giving up radio.

SHOOSH

The reason Triple M demanded a one-year non-compete clause in Matty Johns’ exit agreement from the Grill Team breakfast show is to stop his agent John Singleton from delivering him to Radio 2GB.

SHOOSH II

Which Sydney based NRL club is chasing Johnathan Thurston as a part-time halves coach for 2019, even while he is working for the Cowboys.

SPOTTED

Ray Warren and Ray Hadley farewelling their 80 year-old mate, Dick Hoyle at Castle Hill Country Club. After over 30 years of playing most Mondays and Fridays together, Dickie is retiring to Port Macquarie with his wife Judy.

Both Rabs and Hadley and are convinced they’ve paid the stamp duty on the beachside unit their mate has purchased on the Mid North Coast via their losses to the veteran over the years.

Warren and Hadley have been golfing partners for many years.

SPOTTED II

English cricket legend Sir Ian Botham launching his new range of fine wines from the Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills in the Members’ pavilion at the SCG.

Beefy has signed up with Dan Murphys and Cellarmasters to sell his wines in Australia.

Sir Ian Botham in the Barossa Valley, for his new wine label, Botham Wines.

SPOTTED III

Sea Eagles’ assistant coach John Cartwright on the Manly fast ferry to Circular Quay.

SPOTTED IV

Good to see Dessie Hasler and his new Manly football staff have got the players eating the right food.

During the week we spotted skipper Daly Cherry Evans at the counter of McDonalds at Manly.

KENT VS CHOC ENDS IN TEARS

We warned you last week about potential fireworks in colleague Paul Kent’s TV interview with Anthony Mundine that goes to air on Fox Sports on Tuesday at 8.30pm.

Well we can now reveal the normally unflappable Mundine was reduced to tears during the interview when a question was raised about a very personal issue in his colourful past.

Kent was particularly critical of some of Mundine’s statements over the years.

“I can’t remember man, there has been so many things,” Mundine says.

“I mean listen, I’ve said some stuff that I look back and I probably meant it in a good way but I said it, my delivery wasn’t great and I said it raw and uncut.”

The interview will be replayed throughout the week in the build-up to the fight with Jeff Horn at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night, which will be broadcast on Foxtel’s Main Event channel.

Mundine will bear it all in an upcoming interview with Paul Kent.

CHOC BACKS THE AMERICAN DREAM

Anthony Mundine is backing Val Holmes’ attempt to make it in the NFL. The boxer quit rugby league himself at 24 to challenge himself in the toughest sports arena of them all. He has made more than $40 million from boxing.

“If Val’s heart’s in it then go and do it,” Mundine said, “Give it your best shot. Don’t take no for an answer. Refuse to lose like I did. I had setbacks and got knocked out. That’s what happens when you take on new challenges.

“He’s got a great running style. He’s just got to believe in himself. It’s a big step going into the unknown.”

HADLEY WILL FIGHT AGAIN

Ray Hadley’s last involvement with boxing in Brisbane was when your columnist, in an inebriated state, whacked him at the Park Royal in the wee small hours of the morning back in 1986.

Now Hadley is to come out of boxing commentary retirement to call the Horn v Mundine fight at Suncorp Stadium in a coup for Macquarie Sports Radio. He’ll be joined ringside by former world titleholder Billy Dib. I can confirm there will NOT be a rematch. This will be the first time Hadley has broadcast sport on 954am since 2001,

FENECH HANGS THEM UP

The man responsible for the “falcon”, Mario Fenech is about to hang up his boots for good.

After 22 years at NRL headquarters, Mario has decided he will retire to spend more time with his family from next month.

Mario played 181 matches for his beloved South Sydney Rabbitohs, along with successful stints with the North Sydney Bears and South Queensland Crushers, before joining the NRL as a sponsorship manager.

He moved on to the NRL’s Community team where he proved a hit, particularly with school kids who remember his feats on the field and his appearances on the Channel 9 Footy Show when it was at its peak.

Despite an illustrious career which saw him play State of Origin for NSW, Fenech is best remembered for an inconsequential moment in a game with the Crushers when the football hit him on the head — and the “falcon” was born.

In a note to staff, CEO Todd Greenberg said everyone in the game would miss Mario.

“His occasional trips to the Judiciary have been well and truly superseded by the passion, love for and dedication to the game as a whole,” Greenberg said.

“Mario has been an incredibly important part of the game and will continue to be in retirement.”

Mario Fenech Men of League Foundation National Gala Dinner Hyatt Regency Sydney

GRAND SLAM STAYS STRONG

Not only did Wallabies teams coached by Alan Jones achieve historic Grand Slam and Bledisloe Cup success but the camaraderie among the players is still very much alive three decades on.

Members of the 1984 Grand Slam and 1986 Bledisloe Cup teams get together annually and they were in fine spirits again at Balmain’s Royal Hotel on Friday.

Jones and a host of his players were in attendance including his all-conquering front-row of Enrique (Topo) Rodriguez, Tommy Lawton and Andy McIntyre.

Even old league lovers like your columnist will never forget the pushover try they engineered against Wales at the old Cardiff Arms Park exactly 34 years ago on Saturday, as the Wallabies smashed the home team. How the 2018 Wallabies could do with forwards of this substance.

Hunter Valley winemaker Neil McGuigan selected his finest drops for the occasion, with mine host Maureen Thornett, widow of the late former Wallabies and Kangaroos great Dick Thornett, ensuring nobody left hungry.

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Originally published as What’s the Buzz: Saint, sinner, shoosh