What’s the Buzz: Hindmarsh’s tips to handle streakers, Gallen doubts SBW fight will go ahead
Warhorse Paul Gallen believes a much-hyped fight with Sonny Bill Williams may never happen. Find out why in Australia’s best sporting gossip column.
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Paul Gallen now has serious doubts if his fight with Sonny Bill Williams will ever happen.
The old Cronulla Sharks warhorse wanted to fight SBW on a midweek night in June between Origin I in Sydney and Origin II in Perth but talks have broken down.
Gallen has unloaded on SBW’s manager Khoder Nasser, claiming: “They don’t want this fight to happen.”
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“I spoke to Khoder a few days after Sonny Bill beat Barry Hall.
“I asked for a 50/50 cut and he said there’s no way I’ll be getting that.
“He also said I won’t be getting a cent out of the New Zealand pay-per-view numbers.
“It wasn’t a conversation where we could find any common ground and I’m not going to get screwed over. I’d like to fight Sonny but I don’t need to fight him. I’ve got enough money.
“To be honest I’ve moved on to concentrate on my next fight in Newcastle on May 11.”
NRL GREAT PUT STARCH IN SECURITY
The reason footy ground security guards are so adept with their tackling technique is that they were taught by none other than Parramatta Eels legend Nathan Hindmarsh.
This happened way back in 2013 after serial streaker Wati Holmwood dashed naked 90-metres during a State of Origin match.
Wati copped a three-month jail sentence and security staff got lessons from Hindy.
“I told them they’ve got to wear footy boots for starters,” Hindmarsh said, “It was a bit of fun and a bit of serious stuff. The streakers want to dodge and step these guys.
“My advice to them was to steady the feet before contact. A lot of them just want to charge and go in bull at a gate. Set yourself then go for the hit. Up hard, hold and then go.”
SAINT
Sutherland court magistrate Phillip Stewart for sending Shark Park pitch invader and serial pest Andy George to jail for three months, delivering a long overdue message to these imbecilic protesters.
SINNER
Criticism of South Sydney for taking a hard-line stance on Anthony Milford. Six months ago they were smashed for taking a soft stance on Sam Burgess. Sometimes you just can’t win in the greatest game of all.
SHOOSH
The NRL hands out 20 premiership rings each year to the grand final winners. Each is beautifully crafted by Affinity Jewellers from 50 grams of gold and a two-carat mix of diamonds. They are valued at $10,000 each and are strictly for the players and coaching staff who do all the hard yakka. Clubs often purchase replicas made of silver for $700 each. Penrith bought 40 for football club staff and administrators.
CEO Brian Fletcher (above) wasn’t happy with his replica. He went back to the jeweller and ordered another $10,000 version for himself. It has been the subject of much discussion among players and coaching staff.
SPOTTED
GB’s breakfast presenter Ben Fordham with his 17-year-old cousin Sienna Williams, who captains the mighty North Sydney Bears in the Tarsha Gale Cup. Sienna is not just a good footy player, she scored 99.15 in the HSC.
SPOTTED II
RICKY Stuart and the entire Canberra Raiders squad in Tumut on Tuesday to support halfback Sam Williams at his dad’s funeral. It was a lovely mark of respect for a teammate and Sam’s grieving family.
SPOTTED III
SIMON Pryce from the Wiggles, a mad Eels fan, at Parramatta’s 75th anniversary luncheon at CommBank Stadium on Thursday.
SPOTTED IV
HERE’s proof not all ex-boxers finish up punch-drunk. Western Sydney-based Lovemore Ndou has seven university degrees. He collected his latest, a Master of Politics and Policy, at Deakin Uni last week. The former three-time world champion, who had 64 professional fights, is a successful lawyer.
RUGBY LEAGUE’S $3.5 MILLION MAN
Lee Hagipantelis drives a $750,000 Ferrari Spider F8 and is principal of Brydens Lawyers and chairman of Wests Tigers.
He is the major sponsor of Wests Tigers and the NSW Blues … but it doesn’t stop there. His company is also on the jersey of South Sydney Rabbitohs and Newcastle Knights.
Then there’s Wests Magpies, Balmain, Mounties, Wentworthville Magpies, Blacktown Workers, Milperra Colts, Illawarra Red Devils, Bankstown Giants and NSW Police rugby league.
“I discovered a long time ago that those who follow rugby league are our demographic,” Hagipantelis said.
“I don’t act for the big end of town. We’re about the mums and dads and the people you see on the hill every weekend.”
The lawyer describes it as a personal and professional investment.
“There’s obviously a commercial component,” he said, “but I get enormous pride out of seeing the logo on the jumper of teams from Mounties under-6s all the way through to State of Origin.
“A significant part of our business comes from these relationships.
“I’m also a sponsor of the Sydney Kings, Sydney Flames which gives me a database of over three million names through members of the clubs.
“It’s all about being involved in sport in a real and meaningful way and being able to make a difference.”
Hagipantelis grew up on the Central Coast at Ettalong and became a lawyer via Knox College and Sydney University. He got to know former Balmain Tigers prop Steve Lavers, who lived on the Central Coast, in the late 1970s.
“Steve introduced me to the game,” Hagipantelis said, “and I fell in love with it.”
Rugby league also has old Balmain Tigers and Kangaroo legends Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach and Paul Sironen to thank for the lawyer’s commercial involvement.
“Steve and Paul came out and saw me to sell a corporate membership,” Hagipantelis said, “I ended up buying two. Through that, it grew.
“I sponsored the Wests Tigers academy and then the opportunity came up to become a major sponsor of the NRL side which I seized with both hands. It’s been enormously rewarding.”
* * * * *
The Cronulla Sharks are stepping up in the world … they have bought the players a luxury bus.
It has reclining seats, USB chargers in every row, televisions and a bathroom.
The players had their first ride to Sydney airport on Friday for the flight to Melbourne.
Costs have been eased from sponsor contributions to have their branding on the bus.
The players will now travel together for all games as far away as Newcastle and Canberra.
It will also be made available for junior rep players to travel for Harold Matthews and S.G Ball.
* * * * *
Matty and Andrew Johns are being tipped to make their international coaching debuts with Samoa in a mid-season Test match.
It would give the emerging Pacific Island team an enormous lift as they prepare for the World Cup in England at the end of the season.
The Sunday Telegraph understands Matt Parish will step down from the role.
The Johns brothers have offered to take on their roles free of charge, even as assistants to allow a day-to-day NRL coach to step in. There is talk former Sharks coach John Morris will be sounded out.
The NRL will use the stand-alone State of Origin weekend in Perth in June to relaunch international football for the first time since 2019.
On Saturday June 25 the Kiwis will play Tonga at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland before Fiji plays PNG and Samoa plays the Cook Islands in a double header in Sydney.
* * * * *
Network Ten’s $35 million a year deal with Football Australia is yet to reach its first anniversary, but already things are starting to sour.
The Socceroos abject World Cup campaign has hurt TV ratings and undermined the value of the deal, but the relationship really turned bitter after Football Australia sold the rights to an exclusive behind-the-scenes documentary on Sam Kerr and the Matildas to US conglomerate Disney.
That upset Network Ten, whose US owners Viacom CBS are major corporate rivals of Disney, who own the ABC network in the US and control sports channel ESPN.
We’re told things became farcical in Townsville last weekend when Network Ten cameras were barred from the team hotel and the dressing room before the match against New Zealand while Disney cameras had a free run.
Ten expects better treatment for its $35 million, which actually pays the bills for the Matildas.
* * * * *
The Redcliffe Dolphins know how to do things in style. Old supercoach Wayne Bennett, CEO Terry Reader and recruitment boss Peter O’Sullivan booked the penthouse at the luxurious Star of the Sea Resort overlooking Terrigal beach for their meeting with Knights superstar Kalyn Ponga two weeks ago to make sure they wouldn’t be seen in public at a cafe or restaurant.
The resort’s general manager Bob Lloyd delivered lunch (hamburgers from the poolside cafe) to the room so that even staff wouldn’t see them.
* * * * *
The Rabbitohs have taken another important step to strengthen their long-term roster.
Front-rower Davvy Moale is often spoken about as another version of Payne Haas.
He’s a metre eater with a big motor.
Moale is under contract until the end of 2023 but the club has now begun talks for a three-year extension.
* * * * *
Club legend Peter Wynn was a late scratching from the Parramatta Eels’ 75th birthday luncheon at CommBank Stadium on Thursday.
Wynn, who recovered from a heart attack last year, was back in hospital last week for a full hip replacement after a fall at home on a slippery surface.
Eels CEO Jim Sarantinos also missed the lunch after being struck down with Covid.
* * * * *
As Gillon McLachlan, contemplates the life of a footy code ex-CEO, he need look no further than two former NRL bosses David Gallop and Todd Greenberg.
Both appear to be doing OK these days getting around town in flash Porsche cars.
Gallop is on the board of a number of Australian companies including as chairman of ASX listed Step One Clothing, men’s telehealth business, MOSH, and sports consultancy, Alacria Global.
He is also a director of Tabcorp and Cricket NSW.
Greenberg has strongly established himself in the important role of CEO for the cricket players’ association.
In contrast to McLachlan, whose chairman Richard Goyder was lavish in his praise of his CEO, neither Gallop nor Greenberg would be exchanging Christmas cards with their chairman, John Grant and Peter V’landys.
No doubt the former NRL bosses would have plenty of advice for McLachlan as he navigates the adjustment to life away from the day-to-day pressure of the role.
McLachlan was a first-class operator and will no doubt have many opportunities ahead of him
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