The Inside Mail: Home of all the hottest NRL news and gossip

THERE is an interesting subplot to the series of pub events which threaten Titans forward Greg Bird’s career. Don’t miss all the hottest NRL news and gossip in this week’s Inside Mail.

The Courier-Mail’s rugby league team.

CHIEF RAT WALDRON SPEAKS OUT

FORMER Storm CEO Brian Waldron has given a rare interview to praise Craig Bellamy and Melbourne’s efforts in reaching their seventh grand final.

Waldron was infamously labelled the “chief rat” in the explosive Storm salary-cap rort in 2010 that represented the biggest payments breach in the code’s history.

But six years on, Waldron has moved on with his life, devoting his energies to a sports-apparel company and speaking his mind on Melbourne radio station SEN.

There were fears the Storm would be shut down following the salary-cap scandal but Waldron lauded Bellamy’s efforts in rebuilding the club.

“The Storm have an excellence to everything they do and Craig drives that,” Waldron told Inside Mail.

“Life has moved on since that time (the salary-cap drama), but the Storm was always built around good people like Craig and a great belief in the club’s structures.

“Losing the grand final in 2006 (to Brisbane) when we were all younger really steeled Craig and that made Melbourne even more determined as a club to win premierships.”

Waldron accepts many league fans may see him in a negative light but says his heart is still with the Storm.

“I still watch them,” he said.

“I follow them as closely as I can. I have enormous affinity for the Storm, I understand people may not feel that way about me, but my passion for the Storm has not waned.

“I had some of my best years in life at the Storm and I have massive respect for them. I have seen them all since. I have seen Craig Bellamy and Frank Ponissi (football-operations chief) since.

“I’m always really pleased to see people I respect do really well. I wish the Storm all the best, I’d love to see them win another premiership.”

KIMMORLEY’S GRAND PLAN

HE steered the Storm to their first premiership and Brett Kimmorley is keen to develop the next generation of playmaking superstars.

The former Test halfback has set-up a Playmakers Academy in a bid to improve the footballing education of young halves.

The veteran of 307 NRL games has coached at NRL assistant and under-20s level at Canterbury, Canberra and Wests Tigers and believes emerging playmakers are being shackled.

“I was working at the Wests Tigers last year and thought the young playmakers out there could do with some guidance,” he said.

“A lot of young halves in the game today are told to play a certain structure for 30 weeks of the season and learn nothing new.

“I’m looking at some programs and tools they can use to develop as playmakers. Young halves aren’t getting the full education anymore because structures are too important. Hopefully I can have a positive impact.”

Brett Kimmorley with his Clive Churchill Medal.

Brett Kimmorley also played 140 games for the Sharks.

BRONCOS PAY BIG BUCKS FOR PAYNE

REMEMBER the story of Karl Filiga, the teenager who was signed to a three-year, $600,000 deal by Cronulla in 2007 before he had played a game of first grade?

Well the Broncos have also pulled out the chequebook, paying an estimated $465,000 over three years to win a fierce bidding war for 16-year-old Payne Haas.

As we revealed last week, Australian Schoolboy Haas will be a Bronco in 2017, but the full extent of the bidding war has come to light. Inside Mail understands Bulldogs scouts wanted to pay Haas $400,000, but the Canterbury board refused to take such a gamble.

There’s no doubt Haas is an exciting product at 193cm and 110kg but he is still a long way off NRL level. The Broncos will hope he proves a better investment than Filiga, who played just one first-grade game.

Teen sensation Payne Haas has signed a big-money deal with the Broncos. Picture: David Clark

NEW TWIST IN BIRD CASE

THERE is an interesting subplot to the series of pub events which have thrust Gold Coast Titans forward Greg Bird’s career under the spotlight.

Eels player Cody Nelson.

Bird is under investigation by the NRL’s Integrity Unit over two separate events during the buck’s party weekend of teammate Anthony Don.

Bird was among a group ejected from a Byron Bay pub and the next night refused entry to a hotel in Brunswick Heads.

The Integrity Unit has been told the same security guard was working at each pub on the nights of the incidents.

While the spotlight has been on Bird, the Integrity Unit is also investigating Parramatta forward Cody Nelson, who was among the group.

The Integrity Unit has also contacted some of Bird’s teammates to get to the bottom of what happened.

The NRL is expected to announce the findings of the Greg Bird investigation after the grand final.

ODD COUPLE SHARE SPECIAL BOND

COOPER Cronk and Jason Taumalolo shared a special moment in being joint winners of the Dally M Medal on Wednesday night.

Given they represent different countries, Cronk and Taumalolo have never played together.

But Cronk vividly remembers the first time they met.

“I met him at a shopping centre a few years ago,” Cronk said.

“He was a kid with his family and I was with mine.”

Taumalolo may only be 23 but he is no longer a kid.

The Cowboys beast is the most explosive forward in the NRL and produced a remarkable season to become the first running forward to win the medal in 26 years.

“The only connection we’ve had is him running over the top of me for the last two years,” Cronk said.

“We respect each other and we’ve now shared a pretty special bond not too many people will.”

Cooper Cronk and Jason Taumalolo with their medals at the Dally M Awards on Wednesday.

HAYNE PLANE TO CHANGE CLUBS

THE Hayne Plane has jumped codes again.

Jarryd Hayne is returning to Fiji as an ambassador for Fiji Airways at the country’s biggest sporting event – the Fiji International golf tournament.

Jarryd Hayne will turn his talents to golf.

Hayne will tee it up as a VIP guest in the tournament pro-am at Natadola Bay before watching some of world’s best golfers compete from October 6-9.

Hayne will play alongside two-time PGA Tour winner Steven Bowditch.

“I love Fiji and I love sport so to be able to come back and witness Fiji’s largest sporting event is a great way to spend some time,” Hayne said.

“I am pumped to be playing in the pro-am with Steven Bowditch. I know he can hit the ball a mile, I can’t wait to see him in action while actually playing with him.

“Playing with a two-time PGA TOUR winner is an incredible opportunity that doesn’t come around very often. I hope that a golf fan out there sees playing with Bowdo and I as a unique experience and that we generate a large donation for the Winston recovery efforts.”

Hayne will start pre-season training with the Titans in mid-November.

TITANS TO OFFLOAD MORE STARS

EXPECT the Gold Coast Titans to be active in the player market over the coming off-season.

Coach Neil Henry dismissed reports by The Courier-Mail he was looking to offload Luke Douglas, Josh Hoffman, William Zillman and David Mead as “media speculation” during the season but three of them are now gone for 2017.

The club will not stand in the way if Zillman can secure a deal elsewhere.

The Titans will add Storm weapon Kevin Proctor to their roster within the coming weeks and they will be looking for more quality.

They have a delicate salary cap to balance since Jarryd Hayne arrived on big money but the early release of Douglas (St Helen’s) and Hoffman (Parramatta) has freed up some space.

Former Origin prop David Shillington could also be on his way to the Super League.

David Shillington.

Will Zillman.

BLACKHAWKS SIGN GUN PLAYMAKER

THE Townsville Blackhawks have secured highly-rated playmaker Shaun Nona.

Nona is an Intrust Super Cup journeyman, having spent time at Easts, Northern Pride and Mackay before joining Illawarra Cutters this season.

Nona will play in the State Championship against Burleigh on Sunday at ANZ Stadium.

He was being chased by Burleigh but will link with the Blackhawks in 2017.

PLAYER BABY BOOM BEGINS

WHILE there is still one game to go, the football gods are looking down favourably on those whose NRL seasons have finished but international seasons are yet to begin.

Earlier this week, Cowboy Justin O’Neill became a dad as he and wife Chantelle welcomed daughter Giselle into the world.

On the exact same day, O’Neill’s Queensland teammate Matt Gillett and his wife Skye were blessed with their second child, a baby boy named Hunter.

And there are still a few to come, with Bronco Ben Hunt’s partner Bridget at full term while Greg Inglis’s wife Sally is due to have their second child in the next week.