Sport Confidential: Wests Tigers ramp up bid to snare Api Koroisau
Fresh from an award-winning night at the glittering NSW Rugby League ceremony, Latrell Mitchell reveals how a common bond of family, football and cattle has drawn him closer to Russell Crowe.
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Latrell Mitchell has opened up about the support he has received from South Sydney co-owner Russell Crowe as he eyes off a return against the Sydney Roosters in round three.
Mitchell, who won the Tru Blue award at a glittering NSW Rugby League ceremony on Wednesday night, has kept a low profile since being suspended for his high shot on Roosters centre Joey Manu at the end of last season.
Mitchell has spent most of his time on the farm he owns in his home town of Taree but also revealed he recently made the trek to Crowe’s property at Nana Glenn, where the pair talked family, football and cattle.
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“I can’t thank the club enough — from the CEO (Blake Solly) and Russell down,” Mitchell said. “I went up and saw Russell the other day. It was good, it was enjoyable. We talked farming, family and had a feed.
“It has been good to get among him and see what he is doing. He has been really busy travelling and doing what he does.
“To go up and see him in his personal life is a privilege and honour. I am starting my own cattle business. I went and saw big Sammy (Burgess) as well.
“From Russell down, (the support) has been unbelievable.”
Mitchell is due to return to training later this month but he will be forced to wait until round three to make his return for the club.
The NRL conveniently scheduled a game between bitter rivals Souths and the Sydney Roosters for that week, meaning Mitchell will make his comeback against Manu — he was suspended for six weeks and missed the grand final after fracturing his former teammate’s cheekbone in the finals.
Solly questioned whether the NRL were picking and choosing their moments to support Mitchell when the draw was announced, but the Rabbitohs superstar chose not get involved, instead congratulating Manu on his new deal - he signed a fresh contract with the Roosters last week.
“We’re in the entertainment business and I am ready to entertain in round three when it comes,” Mitchell said. “Things didn’t pan out (in the finals) - it is a game of footy. We have to move on now. I hope he (Manu) is doing well and I congratulate him on his signing.”
Mitchell, meanwhile, capped his return to Origin with a night of personal vindication as he was rewarded for helping NSW to a series win.
He was presented with the award by an emotional NSW assistant coach Greg Alexander, whose voice quivered as he spoke about Mitchell’s role in the team and leadership qualities.
“The man he has developed himself into is a true credit to himself,” Alexander said.
“I truly believe that he loved the jersey and the team. He was brilliant on the field and some of his team-first efforts were game changing.
“He also brought that off the field as well.”
Mitchell was touched.
“Honestly, it is humbling and a privilege for my coaches to see what quality I bring to the team,” he said. “It shows the character and resilience I have built over the years. I have loved the journey about how my footy career is panning out.
“There are going to be bad times as well and I have learnt from that.”
Tigers’ tempting carrot for prized signing target
Api Koroisau is close to making a call on his future after Wests Tigers formally entered the race for his services by tabling a three-year deal for the NSW representative.
It is understood Koroisau could be only days away from deciding where he will play in 2023. The Tigers have made their intentions clear, having shifted their focus from Canberra veteran Josh Hodgson after they were unable to strike a deal with the Raiders over the Englishman.
The Dolphins are also keeping a close watch on Koroisau but are weighing up whether to make him a long-term offer as they gauge other potential options.
Among them is Harry Grant, the Storm and Queensland rake who is not off-contract until the end of 2023 after Melbourne took up an option in their favour.
Waiting for Grant would mean the Dolphins signing a stopgap for one year. It would be worth it if the Dolphins and their brain’s trust of Wayne Bennett and Peter O’Sullivan can find a way to convince Grant to return to Queensland.
The Tigers and Raiders are also racing to sign Bulldogs outside back Nick Cotric. Canberra remain the front-runners for Cotric, who would return to the club after a one-year absence.
Koroisau has become the most prized hooker on the open market following Reed Mahoney’s decision to join Canterbury and Brandon Smith’s agreement with the Sydney Roosters.
The Panthers are struggling with their salary cap and the Tigers, having initially talked to Canberra about securing an early release for Hodgson, are believed to have improved their deal for Koroisau to include an extra year this week.
They should know soon enough whether it is enough to secure the classy No.9, a move that could likely mean their incumbent rake Jacob Liddle is on the lookout for a new club.
BARBA’S HARD CELL
Fallen rugby league star Ben Barba was set to spend Thursday night in custody after being charged for an alleged attack on his brother-in-law.
Barba was charged with assault occasioning bodily harm and appeared via video link at Mackay Magistrates Court on Thursday. He was arrested on Wednesday for the alleged incident on brother-in-law Adrian Currie.
The case was adjourned until Friday, meaning Barba will have spent two nights behind bars before he faces the charges.
Barba was released by the Cronulla Sharks just days after their 2016 NRL premiership success after testing positive to cocaine.
Following that, Barba moved abroad and played French rugby in 2017, playing just four games before having success with St Helens in the Super League.
The 2012 NRL Dally M medallist tried to resurrect his NRL career with the Cowboys for the 2019 season but was sacked before playing a game after an incident with his partner at a Townsville casino.
Barba was linked with a move to play rugby league in America earlier this year.
Following his sacking from the Cowboys, Barba made a code switch last year to Aussie Rules and kicked 13 goals in his debut.
The QRL had approved his return to rugby league but Barba opted to play Aussie Rules in Mackay, where he was named to play in a Queensland representative football match in 2021 after leading the goalscorers tally.
Following his NRL debut in Round 20 of the 2008 season with Canterbury, Barba was earmarked as one of the rising stars of the game. He was awarded the 2012 Dally M Medal as he led the Bulldogs to the grand final against eventual winners Melbourne.
Barba signed with Brisbane for the 2014 season but struggled to recapture his Bulldogs form, ultimately returning to Sydney with the Sharks after just one year.
He was an integral part of the Sharks’ maiden premiership win in 2016, but it ended up being his final NRL appearance after he tested positive to cocaine and was suspended indefinitely by the NRL.
BENNETT’S BIG CHALLENGE
Wayne Bennett built the Broncos from scratch 33 years ago. This time around he is facing a different challenge in trying to build the Dolphins. The NRL’s newest club has added just one player so far but Bennett said he is not panicking.
“It’s a bit different,” Bennett said. “We had a lot of Queensland-based players in the state. They only had to leave Souths or Wynnum-Manly. Now we are trying to bring a lot of people back to Queensland or bring them to Queensland.”
Bennett is not at pre-season training for the first time in nearly four decades. When asked if it was a little different, Bennett said: “I haven’t thought about it. I’m too busy.”
COMMISSION CONTENDER
The ARL Commission is still on the lookout for a new commissioner and Confidential understands that Erica Berchtold — chief executive of The Iconic — has support in some quarters.
Berchtold was formerly the managing director of Rebel and A-Mart Sports, and for a time worked at Harvey Norman, a company well-known for its support of rugby league.
Berchtold has also been on the board of the Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC. It is understood her name has come across the desk of powerbrokers in rugby league as chair Peter V’landys looks to fill the vacant eighth spot on the commission.
For a time, it looked as though NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller would take the role but he was prevented from doing so due to a perceived conflict of interest. Fuller, however, will be back in the mix when his time as police commissioner comes to an end in April.
MILFORD’S CAREER UP IN THE AIR
South Sydney and the NRL viewed CCTV footage of an incident involving Anthony Milford before his registration was refused by head office earlier this week.
It may prove a costly piece of footage for Milford given he now faces an extended time out of the game. Milford isn’t due to return to court until mid-January on charges of assault occasioning bodily harm — even then, his case is only up for mention.
It could be weeks or months before a decision is rendered. In the meantime, Milford has moved to Sydney and is not being paid because his contract with Souths was never registered by the NRL.
That is a story in itself. When Souths announced Milford’s signing in July, they were required to submit the documentation to the NRL soon after.
They did so, but it is understood the NRL sent the contract back to Souths because there was an issue with the way the statutory declarations in the contract had been witnessed.
The contract was never returned to the NRL, a decision that will hit Milford heavily in the hip pocket.
Souths are under no duty to pay Milford while his registration is refused by the NRL.
The club has no doubt taken the more conservative approach given the backlash they faced following allegations involving former captain Sam Burgess.
The NRL is still investigating the claims against Burgess, although he has been cleared by police.
Milford has hired gun lawyer Dave Garratt to handle his case. Garratt is well known in rugby league circles. He has done legal work for the Brisbane Broncos and most recently helped their sacked coach Anthony Seibold.
Garratt declined to comment but sources close to the Milford camp insist that the CCTV footage will help his cause. It is understood they are also confident that the case will be finalised before the season begins.
KAMBOSOS PLOTS NEXT MOVE
George Kambosos’ world has dramatically changed in the wake of his historic win over Teofimo Lopez last weekend.
He has face-timed with YouTube star Jake Paul. He has appeared on ESPN with Max Kellerman. He has begun plotting his next fight and the purse is expected to be in the vicinity of $10 million.
Kambosos has become a global superstar and he is expected to receive a huge reception when he returns to Sydney early next week.
“I am hearing there is going to be a big audience at the airport — 5-10,000 people,” he said.
“It should be quite fun.”
The plan is still to host his first title defence in Australia. Kambosos is talking about a stadium fight before 80,000 people.
The next few weeks will likely determine who is next in line. Vasily Lomachenko, Devin Haney and Gervonta Davis are big-money bouts in the lightweight division.
Kambosos can take his pick. He has the belts.
“I am the top dog now, I am the undisputed champion,” he said.
“There are some really good fights in the lightweight division in the coming weeks. I want to see who shines the best because I put on an unbelievable performance a couple of days ago.
“I want to see who puts on a good performance and that most likely could be the choice.”
EARLY BLOW FOR COWBOYS
Cowboys utility Ben Hampton is racing the clock to be fit for round one after he suffered a serious hamstring injury at training. There were fears Hampton had torn his hamstring off the bone – which would have sidelined him long-term.
Instead, he was given some good news with that hamstring still partially attached. However, it still means he is in grave doubt to start the season.
PERFECT PITCH FOR SEA EAGLES
The days of 4Pines Park, formerly known as Brookvale Oval, being a deathtrap are over. Manly chief executive Steve Humphreys has boldly declared the much-maligned ground will have the best surface in Sydney as it undergoes a multimillion-dollar facelift.
“I am told we will have the best surface in Sydney,” Humphreys said.
“We have completely excavated everything that was there. The drainage, the irrigation. It has all been carted away and we are building it from the base up again.
“It will be the best possible surface that money can buy.“
The grass itself will boast Santa Ana couch, the same grass used to line the fairways of the prestigious Royal Sydney golf course.
It will be meshed with a system of fibres that mimic the natural root structure, ensuring the surface is more stable and resilient.
The cost will be measured in millions when it is completed but it is money well spent given the reputation the ground has garnered over the years.
The shifting surface and sandy base were blamed for a litany of injuries, prompting the NRL at one point to investigate the surface.
Those days would now appear to be over. Crucially, the changes will mean Manly can train at the ground more regularly. The work has been done with the support of the NSW government and Northern Beaches Council.
“The grass itself is Santa Anna couch, which is premium turf,” Humphreys said.
“It is at the very top end. In addition to that we have got synthetic fibres that are in the sand base. They attach to the roots of the grass.
“That keeps it more firmly in place, so it makes it more durable, which is important for us because we be training at Brookvale as well as playing.
“It is cutting edge. It is best-in-class technology. It will now be the place where everyone wants to play.”
SIGHTSEEING SUPERSTAR
Matildas superstar Sam Kerr and her American girlfriend Kristie Mewis have been getting snug sightseeing around Sydney after going head-to-head on the football field.
The 28-year-old Chelsea forward squared off against Mewis’ Team USA in Newcastle on Tuesday in the second of two international friendlies.
The pair put their on-field rivlary aside as they cruised around Sydney.
Kerr posted a snap on Instagram of Mewis enjoying the view at Crown Towers Barangaroo on Wednesday, hours after the pair climbed the Harbour Bridge.
WEDDING ON HOLD
Glamour rugby couple Charlotte Caslick and Lewis Holland have been forced to delay their wedding again due to Covid-related border restrictions and sporting commitments.
Originally planning to wed last year, the pair have now agreed to postpone their big day until the end of 2022.
“It’s pretty frustrating, but there are a lot of couples doing the same,” Caslick told us.
“This is the second postponement.
“My season goes until October, we have to postpone 12 months every single time to try to fit it in around rugby, but I want to make sure when I have it, everyone I love and want to be there is there.
“I want it to be a massive party so I don’t want people worried about coming, be comfortable moving across borders, our families are from different states so we’re just waiting for everything to be OK again.
“We’re getting married at our farm in Queensland on November 19 next year. It was originally going to be the 19th of December 2020, so it’s been a long engagement, but that’s OK.”
ACCESS ALL AREAS
Fox Sports cameras are following around Paul Gallen and Darcy Lussick in the lead-up to their December 22 fight for an All Access documentary to screen on the eve of the bout.
And judging by some of the interactions already observed, Lussick’s outspoken father Jason may take the limelight.
Jason Lussick has two sons on the card, with Sydney Roosters hooker Freddy Lussick fighting against Penrith centre Taylan May – the younger brother of sacked Panther Tyrone May.
Jason, a tough-talking VIP security guard, does not mince words when assessing his boys’ training form.
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