Banned Ben Barba considers boxing focus, Manly want Clint Gutherson
Parramatta’s new jewel will offer sports fans some of the cheapest stadium food and beverages in the country. Plus, Ben Barba is considering a career move as he attempts to rebuild his life.
Banned footy player Ben Barba is considering a career in boxing as he attempts to rebuild his life after his NRL exit. Plus, Manly want to bring an errant Eel back to Brookvale Oval.
SAINTS
SYDNEY FC and Western Sydney Wanderers players putting rivalry aside on the eve of their A-League derby to visit sick kids at the Children’s Hospital Westmead.
SINNER
ISRAEL Folau is entitled to his religious beliefs. However, when you are a high-profile sportsman and your views on the gay community are as extreme and hurtful as his, they should be kept to himself. Thank you. ARU. for kicking him out.
SINNER II
Josh McGuire. What a low act attacking the face of Cameron Munster in Townsville on Friday night. Aren’t they supposed to be Maroons teammates?
SHOOSH
WHICH young Melbourne Storm star is struggling to deal with a messy separation from his partner? Footy manager Frank Ponissi is closely monitoring the situation.
SHOOSH II
WHICH NRL star has become a major player in the struggling property market and paid more than $3 million last week for a commercial property?
SPOTTED
RACING legend Kenny Callander, ‘Harvey Norman’ Al Stephenson and ‘Pop-up’ Paul Webster at the Inglis yearling sales on Tuesday at Warwick Farm.
SPOTTED II
SOCCER heavyweights David Gallop and Graham Arnold together at Kogarah Oval for Sydney FC’s 3-3 draw with Shanghai SIPG on Wednesday.
FUNDING SHORTFALL
THERE’S a GoFundMe page to help the SCG pitch invader from the Roosters-Broncos game pay his $5000 fine. There’s still a long way to go … His followers have chipped in only $512.
SPOTTED III
EX-premier and now Wests Tigers chairman Barry O’Farrell getting a roadside breath test at Woolloomooloo last Sunday. He passed with flying colours but, according to O’Farrell, the policeman wasn’t happy about the Tigers’ last-minute loss to Penrith and told him so.
CORNERED
I’LL catch you all on Controversy Corner at 9 on Fox Sports 502 on Sunday night, with Graeme Hughes, Billy Harrigan and Mark ‘Spud’ Carroll to discuss all the biggest NRL issues from round five of the NRL.
UNDERCARD OFFER FOR BEN BARBA
BANNED footy player Ben Barba is considering a career in boxing.
Promoter Matty Rose has approached the former Sharks, Cowboys, Broncos and Bulldogs star to fight on the undercard of Tim Tszyu and Brock Jarvis’s May 15 fight night at The Star casino.
“He’s done the wrong thing but you can’t just abandon him,” Rose said. “He needs something else in his life and he has a young family to support.
“Boxing would give him some direction, some discipline and something to aim for. We’ve spoken about the May 15 date and he’s thinking about it.”
The disgraced former NRL star could make as much as $20,000.
He has had little boxing experience but can “handle himself”, according to Rose.
“He’ll let us know next week if he’s going to do it,” Rose said.
Barba was kicked out of rugby league after he was allegedly involved in a physical altercation with his partner at Townsville casino on Australia Day.
Barba is due to face court on Tuesday when he is expected to plead guilty to two public nuisance charges.
The father of four daughters is now working in a metal workshop in Mackay on about $23 an hour and struggling to make ends meet.
He threw away a $600,000-a-year career with the Cowboys.
Former Broncos star Justin Hodges will have his second professional fight on the same card.
BANKWEST CUTS FOOTBALL COSTS
BANKWEST Stadium will not only be the best sporting venue in Sydney but will also have the best food and beverage prices.
Following the outrage over prices at the SCG for Roosters games where it can cost more than $200 for a family to attend, Venues NSW has released much cheaper options for all NRL and A-League games.
Fans will pay less than $5 for hot chips, a pie, a hot dog, sausage rolls and soft drinks.
Alcohol prices are also way lower than other venues; you can get a light beer for $6.50 and full strength for $7.20. There will also be free public transport on trains and buses for NRL games.
Bankwest Stadium chief executive Daryl Kerry is committed to making a day at the football more affordable for families.
“In conjunction with the clubs, we are doing everything we can to encourage people to leave their loungerooms and get out to the footy,” Kerry said.
“We are confident fans will feel they are getting good value for their money whenever they come to Bankwest Stadium.”
About 30,000 fans are expected at the stadium on Sunday for a community open day.
EARL’S FINE COMEBACK
SANDOR Earl’s comeback after six years for Melbourne Storm on Friday night against the Cowboys wasn’t without last-minute drama.
On the way to training on his motor scooter, Earl was pulled over by Victorian police for not having his helmet strapped on properly, which he challenged.
He was still fined $355 for not wearing his helmet securely.
Earl is now taking the matter to court and will represent himself.
BRING GUTHO HOME
MANLY godfather Ken Arthurson wants his old club to sign Parramatta Eels skipper Clint Gutherson to return home to the northern peninsula in 2020.
Arthurson even phoned Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler last week to encourage him to chase the talented utility back. Hasler has an enormous amount of respect for Arthurson.
Gutherson is off contract after this season and the Eels are refusing to budge on a $500,000-a-year offer. He will make a decision in the near future.
TICKET RUSH FOR BENNY’S BUNNIES
SOUTHS fans are super-confident coach Wayne Bennett can repeat his 2010 premiership magic with the Dragons.
Rabbitohs members snapped up the most grand final tickets when the first release went on sale last week.
Surprisingly, Bennett’s old club the Broncos were No.2 in ticket sales, despite their horror start to the season. Parramatta fans are also big believers, grabbing more than 11 per cent of tickets.
ALL THE BEST, CHOOK
AS a child, the first footy jersey your columnist ever wore was Johnny Raper’s No.8 St George Dragons jumper. On Friday the great man turned 80. The league Immortal is struggling these days and celebrated quietly with family at his nursing home.
AN EXPERT CALL
THE ABC has released broadcaster Tracey Holmes to work for SBS at the FIFA Women’s World Cup in France in June. All Matildas matches, quarter-finals, semis and the final will be shown live.
Holmes is the journalist who revealed the truth about behind-the-scenes unrest in the Matildas camp after the controversial sacking of Alen Stajcic. The SBS coverage will be anchored by Craig Foster.
JESSICA WAY OUT IN FRONT
OLYMPIAN Jessica Thornton has proved you don’t have to win a race to be a champion.
After a few seasons lost with injury, Jessica regained form this year and claimed her first Athletics NSW Open title and ran three international meet qualifying times.
At the nationals in Sydney last weekend, Jessica qualified fastest in the 200m final only to pop her hamstring on the turn. She composed herself and walked the last 100m to finish the race. The 21-year-old then walked off the track and shook hands with all her competitors.
Jessica will now draw on the positives as she focuses on Tokyo 2020. She is one class act.
VALE, WAL
STORM and Origin winger Josh Addo-Carr is mourning the death of his grandfather, boxing legend Wally Carr.
Wally passed away in the early hours of Saturday morning. He was only 64 and had been recently diagnosed with stomach cancer.
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