Boxing legend Jeff Fenech’s podcast chat with nightclub boss John Ibrahim
Jeff Fenech knows how to land a knockout blow and securing a fascinating chat with media-shy nightclub owner John Ibrahim for his new podcast is a winning hook. PLUS, punters jumping on NRL rule change. IT’S SAINT, SINNER, SHOOSH.
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SAINT
We had a call from Bob Lloyd, who is the boss of the beautiful Star of the Sea resort in Terrigal, about the New Zealand Warriors. “We’ve had lots of big sporting groups stay here and they’ve all behaved themselves,” Bob said, “but these Warriors players are something else. Really respectful to other guests and a delight to have around the place.”
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SINNER
THE drug supplier who has potentially ruined Cronulla Sharks star Bronson Xerri.
The teen centre could have said no and will have to own his mistake. He fully deserves a four-year ban if the B sample comes back positive. Thankfully ASADA has his phone, which should provide clues to finding anyone else involved.
SHOOSH
Which under-pressure NRL coach is already offside with his playing group over confusing team selections around the halves, using combinations completely different to how they trained in the off-season?
SHOOSH II
Which recently retired NRL star is doing so well that he purchased two brand new cars last week – a top-of-the-range Ford Ranger and Toyota Kluger.
SPOTTED
NRL 360’s Paul Kent hosting dinner for his co-host Ben Ikin at his trendy inner-west home on Thursday night for the Broncos v Eels game. Kent drank beer while Ikin had a cup of tea.
SPOTTED II
Old coach Wayne Bennett in a Rabbitohs COVID-19 mask — a Russell Crowe innovation for club members. Souths gave away 1700 masks to members over 70 and sold 1000 as merchandise. Such was demand they’ve ordered another 1500.
SPOTTED III
Former Olympic sprinter Melinda Gainsford Taylor still looking in great shape on a midweek jog around Narrabeen Lake.
SPOTTED IV
The coronavirus lockdown has turned us all a little bit M.A.D. Check out cricket champ Dave Warner on social media eating a cob of corn — without having to bite — with his drill in a video on Tik Tok.
SPOTTED V
NRL match officials Gerard Sutton, Belinda Sharpe, Phil Henderson and Henry Perenara sharing the same charter flight as the Parramatta Eels squad from Bankstown Airport to Brisbane and back on Friday.
SPOTTED VI
Former Tigers, Sharks and Knights forward Chris Heighington surfing a massive swell at Avoca on the Central Coast.
FENECH PODCAST PULLS NO PUNCHES
Australian boxing legend Jeff Fenech tells a great yarn about the first time he ran into notorious nightclub owner John Ibrahim in Kings Cross.
Fenech was about to exchange blows in a fight with Ibrahim’s brother Sam at the Tunnel nightclub, when John and his security staff stepped in to separate the protagonists.
“It’s funny because we became really close friends,” Fenech said when the pair caught up at his Five Dock home on Friday for an interview on the boxing champ’s new podcast Standing Eight.
“I can’t even remember what the blue was about. John reckons we were lucky he didn’t knock us both out.”
The interview is a coup for Fenech because Ibrahim does virtually no media. He even spoke about the recent jailing of his brother Michael for 30 years for drug importation.
“Family is family, you can’t replace a brother,” Fenech said. “He gets quite emotional.”
They also spoke about shock jock Kyle Sandilands — who is a very close friend of Ibrahim — and many other situations and colourful acquaintances.
“People will love it,” Fenech said. “He talks about overseas trips when we met Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson on another occasions.
“It’s a rare insight into what John’s really like.”
RACING, RUGBY LEAGUE, NOW RADIO
Surely there has never been a sporting administrator as popular as the NRL’s independent commission chairman Peter V’landys.
So popular in fact that Ben Fordham, the man replacing radio legend Alan Jones on 2GB breakfast, has secured V’landys as a weekly contributor.
“He’ll be my guest for breakfast every Thursday morning,” Fordham said, “Alan Jones told me to be guided by the listeners and the listeners are telling me they like what they see with Mr V’landys.
“I’ve had some listeners go as far as suggesting he’s a future Premier or Prime Minister.
“He’s become one of the most talked-about figures in Australia and I want to hear his thoughts on a whole range of things.”
V’landys will join the show every Thursday at 6.45am for the duration of the footy season.
PUNTERS JUMP ON RULE CHANGE
There has been a huge move on Dally M betting markets – this time without any suggestion of inside knowledge – with all the bookmakers.
The TAB’s Matt Jenkins says the new six-again ruck infringement rules has seen a plunge on the sharper players like Damian Cook, Mitchell Moses, James Tedesco, Mitchell Pearce and Josh Hodgson at the Raiders.
Also big Jason Taumalolo has been well supported because of the extra momentum he’ll get from quicker play the balls.
Tedesco is the $7 favourite to win back to back medals.
PONGA’S BACKING FOR O’BRIEN
The Knights say Kalyn Ponga’s decision to sign a long-term $5 million contract is a huge vote of confidence in new coach Adam O’Brien.
This would never have happened with Nathan Brown at the club. Who will ever forget Ponga’s reaction last year to news of Brown’s exit: “I was at lunch having a nice strawberry thickshake so I wasn’t too sad.”
O’Brien’s been in charge for only two NRL games but the players rate him highly.
ROOSTERS DIDN’T BITE AT XERRI
The Roosters were unlikely to seriously chase suspended Sharks star Bronson Xerri, even before his positive drug test.
There was always a slight concern about the teenager’s character — what with the tattoos, the bleached blond hair and how he might fit into their renowned strong club culture.
Coach Trent Robinson and chairman Nick Politis were both contacted by Xerri’s father about a move to Bondi, but at no stage have they met with the youngster or his manager, David Riollo.
LISTEN! Adam Mobbs, Phil Rothfield and Michael Carayannis are back with The Daily Telegraph NRL Podcast to talk through the Bronson Xerri positive drug test drama, the Parramatta Eels pressure cooker, your top eight picks … and what are we looking forward to most this season!
FREDDY OFF TARGET
In most cases ex-footballers do a terrific job in the rugby league media … but not always.
There was a radio interview with Cronulla Sharks halfback Chad Townsend on Thursday night that proves our point.
It was an opportunity for listeners to get an insight into how the Sharks players and the club were coping with the Bronson Xerri bombshell on the eve of the kick-off.
He was asked one question about the issue by the host.
Then Freddy Fittler jumped straight in without a follow-up question and asked Townsend about his haircut. Freddy is a wonderful character in the game and a fine commentator.
But seriously, in situations like this, it’s not a time to try to be funny.
POLITIS FEEDING HIS CHOOKS
Roosters boss Nick Politis has stepped in to help players and their families during their COVID-19 isolation restrictions.
On Thursday he sent a box of meat and vegetables to each of their homes to save a trip to the supermarkets, which are off-limits to the players.
It’s one of those nice gestures they really appreciate, especially the younger boys on minimum-wage contracts.
The club says it cannot be deemed a salary cap inclusion as the groceries are not being used as an enticement to sign a contract.
MORE NEWS
Brumbies to face Rebels and Reds to host Waratahs in intriguing opening round to Super Rugby AU
CLOCK TICKING FOR HORN
Promoter Matt Rose has set a Friday deadline for Jeff Horn to agree on a rescheduled showdown date to fight his rising star Tim Tszyu.
Rose wants to stage the fight in September, an event he describes as the biggest in Australian boxing since Mundine-Green I at the SFS in 2003 — 17 years later, it still holds the record for the biggest pay-per-view audience
“We need to get it locked in by next weekend,” Rose said.
“If not, we’ll go in a different direction. Tim’s in the prime of his career and needs to be fighting. He’s young, raging and ready to go.”
Both fighters haven’t fought since December – Tszyu easily beat Jack Brubaker while Horn won a colossal contest against Michael Zerafa.
ON THE PUNT
It’s been a huge week for footy types with interests in horse racing.
A two-year-old filly on debut, Seduction Queen, is owned by James Bracey and Neil Breen and won at Goulburn, paying $11.
Also, Anthony Seibold and Chris Lynn co-owned a winner midweek on the Sunshine Coast. Their new nag, One Shy Ruby, won her maiden at just her second start.