A legendary farewell for Winx, NBA greats in Sydney, Sam Kerr in demand
Racing NSW is producing a stirring TV ad in the build-up to the retirement of wonder mare Winx. PLUS, a former Origin star’s overdose and Andrew Fifita’s touching gesture.
Racing NSW is producing a stirring TV ad in the build-up to the retirement of wonder mare Winx. PLUS, a former Origin star’s overdose and Andrew Fifita’s touching gesture.
SAINT
HE has been Australia’s most polarising sports star but Anthony Mundine’s trip to Christchurch to visit the wounded in hospital and to attend funerals on Friday shows even his harshest critics that, behind the trash talk, there is a very caring and compassionate side to The Man.
SINNERS
THE disgusting sexual abuse by social media trolls of AFLW star Tayla Harris over the magnificent photograph of her playing the game she loves and excels at. These small-minded cretins and keyboard cowards need to be tracked down and removed from social media.
SHOOSH
WE’RE hearing Trent Barrett will join St George Illawarra as an assistant coach to Paul McGregor once his contract at Manly expires in July.
SHOOSH II
WHICH club has made very discreet inquiries with the NRL about the availability of deregistered Sharks coach Shane Flanagan from next season? We are hearing he won’t be back before 2021.
SHOOSH III
WHICH Bulldogs forward is Cowboys coach Paul Green trying to sign for 2020? The player is not happy at Belmore and may even ask for a release this season.
SHOOSH IV
WHICH Aussie sports star has been caught having an affair with an international model? Don’t expect happy family snaps on his Instagram account any time soon.
SPOTTED
TIM Gilbert, Darryl Brohman, Laurie Daley and their agent Steve Gillis enjoying a long lunch at Black restaurant at The Star on Thursday.
SPOTTED II
KANGAROOS, Rabbitohs and Blues hooker Damien Cook signing a Channel 9 contract to appear on their various rugby league shows.
SPOTTED III
ROOSTERS Luke Keary and James Tedesco at McDonald’s Bondi Beach in the early hours of last Saturday after the loss to the Rabbitohs at the SCG.
IN MY CORNER
CATCH you on Controversy Corner on Sunday night with Graeme Hughes, Blocker Roach and Billy Harrigan on Fox Sports at 9pm after The Matty Johns Show to discuss and debate all the big issues from round 2.
LEGENDARY SALUTE FOR WINX’S FINALE
RACING NSW is producing a stirring TV advertisement featuring the greatest moments in Australia’s sporting history in the build-up to the retirement of wonder mare Winx.
Footage of Cathy Freeman’s 400m gold medal at the Sydney Olympics, Australia II winning the America’s Cup, Don Bradman’s last innings and Norman May’s “gold, gold, gold” call at the 1980 Moscow Olympics are all included.
Racing NSW had to get approval from the IOC in Spain, via Australian Olympic boss John Coates, to use the Freeman 400m highlights for promotional purposes.
The ads will feature on all free-to-air TV networks.
Racing NSW boss Peter V’landys says Winx’s last race appearance in the Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on April 13 will be as special as any of Australia’s sporting highlights.
“Even people with no interest in racing follow and watch Winx,” V’landys said. “She has captured everyone’s imagination.”
A crowd of more than 40,000 is expected at Randwick to farewell in the champion.
SYDNEY GAME FOR NBA GREATS
NBA superstars Steph Curry, Kyrie Irving and LeBron James could be heading to Sydney in August with Team USA for a final tune-up game before the World Cup.
The world’s most glamorous and rich sporting team is already locked in to play Australia’s Boomers in Melbourne on August 22 and 24 as warm-ups for both teams before the World Cup in China.
Now talks are under way about a pit stop in Sydney and a game at Qudos Bank Arena that would sell out within hours.
A full week between the Melbourne series and World Cup opener has given rise to speculation that the Dream Team might extend their stay Down Under.
Our basketball sources tell us that the NBA stars might prefer a few days around Sydney’s harbour and the Opera House rather than the World Cup chaos of Shanghai.
REF’S MOSQUE TRIBUTE
WHILE NRL referees received plenty of raps for their on-field performances in the opening round of the premiership, they have also been busy behind the scenes doing their bit to improve community relations.
In the wake of the horrific terror attack in Christchurch, the entire referees squad quietly visited a western Sydney mosque during the week as a show of sympathy, respect and tolerance. It was apparently a very solemn and deeply moving experience for all concerned.
FIFITA’S TOUCHING GESTURE
THERE is another side to the often wayward Andrew Fifita that is so admirable. On Friday the Cronulla Sharks prop gave his 2018 Dally M Front-rower of the Year award to his former coach Shane Flanagan. He had engraved on the back: “To Flanno. Thank you for bringing the best out in me on and off the field. Your patience and support will never be forgotten.” Flanagan very proudly showed it off on his Instagram account.
FORMER ORIGIN STAR’S OVERDOSE
THERE is a very sad story in rugby league about a former Blues State of Origin player who overdosed on recreational drugs at a 40th birthday party in December and was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.
The host of the party, Willie Mason’s brother Les, has since been charged by police with drug supply offences, unrelated to the overdose. The former player survived after spending two days in intensive care.
The NRL has been helping out behind the scenes by organising care and treatment at a rehab facility. The ex-player is making good progress on a long road to recovery with terrific family support.
WORLD WANTS SAM
MATILDAS captain Sam Kerr continues to make a huge corporate impression on the international stage.
Kerr was the star of a flash Nike World Cup jersey launch in Paris last week and has featured on billboards alongside male superstars Ronaldo and Neymar.
The glamour girl of Australian sport is also about to announce a new agreement with Mastercard, a company that sponsors only at the high end with the UEFA Champions League and Brazilian men’s team.
She has other sponsorship/ambassador roles with FFA, Fox Sports, Powerade, Hyundai and Aldi. The World Cup in June in France will only increase her profile.
WALKER’S SON IN DEMAND
At least half a dozen NRL clubs are chasing the signature of 16-year-old Queenslander Sam Walker, the son of former NRL star Ben Walker. Sam is a halfback with so much talent that good judges are tipping he will play first grade at 18.
He is on contract with the Broncos for another 12 months but his agent Clinton Shifcofske is getting inundated with phone calls and offers from rival clubs.
FROM GRAND PRIX TO HOSPITAL BED
FOX Sports star Jess Yates is recovering in hospital after being struck down with pneumonia.
Yates was hosting the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne when she became ill last Thursday week but somehow managed to work through till Saturday afternoon.
On Sunday morning Yates was too ill to continue.
She phoned Fox Sports boss Steve Crawley and her husband, former surf champion Luke Egan, to say she was flying home.
“We knew it was something serious because Jess has always soldiered on, even when she’s not well,” Egan said.
“We went to the local medical centre and they thought it was just a virus that would go away.
“Then on Monday morning she couldn’t get out of bed and her temperature got up to 39.8.
“So we took her to hospital and she’s been in ever since. The good news is Jess is getting better each day and we’re hoping to have her home by Tuesday.”
A renowned workaholic, Yates hosts shows on a variety of sports for the TV network — including Supercars, NRL and cricket. Doctors have ordered her to stay away from work for at least another week.
THE BIG O’S 15 TO 1: @bigotrivia
The greatest club halves combinations since 1970
15. SCOTT HILL/BRETT KIMMORLEY: They first paired up in 1997 at the Hunter Mariners before coming of age at Storm.
14. CHRIS O’SULLIVAN/RICKY STUART: This Raiders halves pairing was the conductor of one of the most lethal backlines ever.
13. DENIS PITTARD/BOBBY GRANT: An unheralded halves combination that guided the great South Sydney sides of the early 1970s to multiple titles.
12. LUKE KEARY/COOPER CRONK: The NRL’s premier halves combination. Both played an instrumental role in the tricolours’ premiership last season.
11. JOHN PEARD/JOHNNY MAYES: During the mid-70s, there was none better. Both were small in stature but stood tall in steering a Roosters juggernaut.
10. CAMERON MUNSTER/COOPER CRONK: Had this outstanding six and seven been together last year, Storm would have gone back-to-back.
9. MICHAEL MORGAN/JOHNATHAN THURSTON: The catalyst behind the Cowboys’ unforgettable title in 2015.
8. MATTHEW JOHNS/ANDREW JOHNS: The only halves combination that were brothers to have won a premiership. In 1997, they were the toast of Newcastle.
7. BENJI MARSHALL/SCOTT PRINCE: Their scintillating combination was pivotal in the Tigers’ fairytale 2005 premiership.
6. KIERAN FORAN/DALY CHERRY-EVANS: From 2011 to 2013, was there a better halves combination in the NRL? I don’t believe so.
5. CLIFF LYONS/GEOFF TOOVEY: This pair complemented each other wondrously during the Eagles’ halcyon years of the mid-90s.
4. STEVE MORTIMER/TERRY LAMB: Their initial season together found immediate success, winning titles in 1984 and ‘85.
3. LAURIE DALEY/RICKY STUART: In 1991, when Daley made the permanent switch to five-eighth to partner Sticky, the Green Machine went to another level.
2. KEVIN WALTERS/ALLAN LANGER: The cornerstone behind the Broncos’ domination during the 1990s. Alfie and Kevvy won four titles together.
1. BRETT KENNY/PETER STERLING: Not only did they dominate together winning four premierships at Parramatta, they also excelled at Origin and Test level. There was none better.
‘Biggest Test in 30 years’ as Kangaroos fight to avoid relegation
Mal Meninga has declared the Kangaroos clash against bitter rivals New Zealand is the Australia’s biggest Test match in 30 years, as he faces the real possibility of relegation.
NRL Off-Season Power Rankings: Scandals, gains and losses, injuries
From off-field scandals and contract showdowns to selection dilemmas and casualty wards - we examine how prepared your club is to tackle the NRL pre-season.