Buzz Rothfield’s saint, sinner, shoosh: The latest NRL and sports gossip
Ricky Ponting’s gambling job no problem for Cricket Australia’s Integrity Unit, Clarkey and Mo’s fiery exchange and the Roosters’ new $4.5 million HQ open for business.
SAINT
YOU wouldn’t know it after a week of depressing Jack de Belin publicity but you could easily fill these two pages with the wonderful work of many in and around sport. Craig Foster, what a legend. Freddy Fittler setting off with NSW Blues mates on his Hogs for the Homeless charity ride. Joe Root and his stance against homophobic sledging. Pat Cummins winning the Allan Border Medal — a magnificent role model. Ash Barty, Preston Campbell and many more.
SINNER
TAKE nothing away from Alyssa Healy, but why was Ellyse Perry snubbed for a major award on Allan Border Medal night after finishing the WBBL as highest run-scorer in its history? It’s as outrageous as Billy Slater winning last year’s State of Origin player of the series award after playing in a losing team and missing the first game of the series.
SINNER II
A REQUEST from one of my Twitter followers, Dr Brad Robinson, regarding Gold Coast Titan Bryce Cartwright:
SHOOSH
The chairman of which NRL club is in serious danger of losing his job? He has lost the support and confidence of board members who now have the numbers to remove him from the role.
SHOOSH II
Which NRL club is going out of its way to get good media exposure this year? They will be providing free beers to journalists in their press box refrigerator at home games in 2019.
SPOTTED
Panthers supremo Gus Gould and NRL boss Todd Greenberg, enjoying lunch and discussing pertinent rugby league issues at the Centennial Hotel in Paddington.
SPOTTED II
League immortal Bob Fulton and wife Ann in Newcastle on Saturday watching eldest grandson Zac play SG Ball for the Sea Eagles against the Knights. Zac is an edge forward.
SPOTTED III
Ex-Penrith Panthers forward Lou Zivanovic with his new pride and joy — this magnificent 22m sports cruiser that the savvy property developer purchased last week.
SPOTTED IV
Former Wallaby Quade Cooper stopping at a convenience store to buy food and a drink for a homeless man on the streets of Melbourne.
SUTTON WON’T TALK RETIREMENT
AS South Sydney’s John Sutton prepares to celebrate his testimonial match at Redfern Oval on Saturday, the long-serving Rabbitohs star has refused to rule out playing again next year.
Sutton, 34, will lead the Rabbitohs in a “Return to Redfern” trial against Penrith.
Storm champion Cameron Smith had a testimonial game last year but has since signed up for another two seasons.
“I haven’t made any decisions about my future yet,” Sutton said.
“I thought last season may have been it but things constantly change and we will just see where it takes us. I feel great so who knows what may happen.”
Sutton said he was humbled to have a game played in his honour.
“I played all my junior footy with Souths at Redfern Oval — the ground has some very special memories for me,” Sutton said.
Gates open at 12.30pm with the Harold Matthews Cup kicking off at 12.40pm, SG Ball at 2pm, Jersey Flegg at 4pm and the NRL trial commencing at 6pm.
Sutton will donate part of the proceeds from the game to Souths Cares and Panthers on the Prowl charities. Tickets: rabbitohs.com.au/RTRtickets
INTEGRITY FOR THE PUNTER
THE NRL appears to have stricter integrity rules than Cricket Australia.
Footy legend Laurie Daley was recently banned from being a coaching consultant for the Wests Tigers because he works full-time for the TAB-owned Sky Sports Radio.
Yet there are no such problems for former Australian cricket captain Ricky Ponting becoming an assistant coach for Australia’s World Cup campaign, despite being an actual shareholder of bookmaker BetEasy.
The Australian reported last August that Ponting has been given a 1 per cent stake in the outfit worth $1.4 million. He also heads their advertising campaigns.
We put Ponting’s case to Cricket Australia.
“Cricket Australia was, and is aware of Ricky’s personal involvement with BetEasy,” a spokesman said. “Our Integrity Unit is satisfied that Ricky clearly understands his obligations as a contracted coach within the Australia team under all Cricket Australia and ICC Codes and Policies.
“In the contracting process there have been clear perimeters agreed to between all parties regarding Ricky’s personal involvement with BetEasy which ensures no Cricket Australia or ICC Codes and Policies will be breached.
“Cricket Australia is more than satisfied there is no integrity conflict.”
Ponting’s manager James Henderson did not return our phone calls.
CIRALDO STAYING PUT
THE Penrith Panthers have signed assistant coach Cameron Ciraldo on an upgraded new three-year contract. Ciraldo recently missed out on the Cronulla job but is obviously highly regarded by Gus Gould.
FINCHY THE FATHER
WE love nothing better in sport than a good comeback story.
Brett Finch’s life and media career has been under threat in recent years as he battled personal issues and spent time in rehab.
Last year Finch married his long-time partner Elli Johnston, who is now pregnant and due to give birth in June to their first child. This is wonderful news.
There would be no one prouder than Fox Sports boss Steve Crawley who gave Finch one last opportunity when other media organisations gave up on him.
CHIPPY STILL PART OF THE GAME
IT now sits behind the last row in the upper deck of the old pavilion, which is where league reporters covered matches until the late 1970s. Your columnist recalls sitting up there as a rookie reporter in awe of media icons EE Christensen, Alan Clarkson, Bill Mordey and Ian Heads.
There were no free pies, Wi-Fi or even enough phones to file from. It’s great that Chippy’s legacy lives on at the SCG. Now it’s about time the NRL did something in honour of one of our legends at its own museum.
CLARKE, MATTHEWS ROW
A COUPLE of handy old cricketers were involved in a heated verbal exchange on Friday at Wests Ashfield.
Michael Clarke and Greg ”Mo” Matthews were on a panel at a lunch to honour the internationals who have played for Wests when Clarke told the audience the sandpaper ball-tampering scandal wouldn’t have happened on his watch.
Matthews then launched into the former Australia captain about ball tampering in a Hobart Test while Clarke captained the team. Other panellists had to step in to cool the situation when it looked like getting out of hand.
SHIP-SHAPE ROOSTERS
THIS is what $4.5m and 40-odd shipping containers looks like — stitched together into the Roosters’ new administration and training facility. The Roosters move into the new building this month in the Entertainment Quarter after spending two months in a basement of the SCG.
Trent Robinson and his men will be in before the season starts, so there will be no excuses for their premiership defence.
TRIPLE THE DOSE
SUNDAY is your chance to experience some good old-fashioned rugby league tradition with a triple header at Wentworth Park involving some of the great clubs of the past.
Sydney University take on Ryde Eastwood at 1.15pm, Glebe — the first club formed in Australia back on January 9, 1908 — tackle North Sydney Bears at 3pm and Newtown and Norths square off in the Intrust Super Premiership at 5pm.
Tickets are $10 and kids are free.
ON YOUR MARK
We told you last week about the upcoming Cronulla Sharks board elections. We can now reveal ex-Kangaroos and Origin centre Mark McGaw is standing along with three others. There’s been a huge boardroom turnover with four directors quitting over the salary cap scandal.
CLUB RUGBY THRIVING
WITH the NRL in crisis over atrocious player misbehaviour, Sydney club rugby union continues to thrive.
Some of Australia’s biggest brands and companies have continued their investment in the competition including Intrust Super, Fujitsu, Canon and Charter Hall.
The Intrust Super Shute Shield kicks off on April 6 and the match of the round will continue on Network Seven along with replays on Fox Sports. The 2018 grand final between Warringah and Sydney University at North Sydney Oval drew an all-time high attendance approaching 20,000.
THE BIG O’S 15 TO 1 @bigotrivia
THE GREATEST STREAKS IN AUSTRALIAN SPORT SINCE 1950
15. MARK WOODFORDE & TODD WOODBRIDGE: As a doubles combination, they won five Wimbledon titles from 1993.
14. NSW CRICKET: Having their Test players available for the most part, this star-studded line-up won the Sheffield Shield nine years in a row from 1953.
13. MAKYBE DIVA: The only horse in 157 years to win three Melbourne Cups in succession (2003-04-05).
12. HERB ELLIOTT: Never defeated over 1500m or a mile in a career spanning 42 races from 1957 to 1961.
11. TOMMY SMITH: Dominated Sydney horseracing over four decades, winning the training premiership every year from 1953 to 1985.
10. BLACK CAVIAR: Unbeaten in 25 races from 2009 to 2012, including 15 Group 1 events.
9. BRISBANE ROAR: Went on a 36-match undefeated streak from 2010 in the A-League, breaking numerous Australian records.
8. MICK DOOHAN: Won five consecutive 500cc motorcycle world championship titles from 1994 to 1998.
7. GREG NORMAN: Held the world No.1 ranking in golf for 95 consecutive weeks from 1995 to 1997.
6. WINX: The world’s best racehorse racked up her 30th consecutive win yesterday, including a record 22 Group 1s.
5. AUSTRALIAN TEST CRICKET: Under the captaincy of Steve Waugh they won 16 Tests in a row, a world record that was equalled seven years later with Ricky Ponting in charge.
4. QUEENSLAND ORIGIN: The dynasty began in 2006 and lasted for eight painful years before NSW stopped the rot briefly in 2014.
3. HEATHER McKAY: The winner of 16 consecutive British squash opens and remarkably remained undefeated from 1962 through to 1981 when she retired.
2. AUSTRALIAN ONE-DAY SIDE: This World Cup unbeaten stretch began during the 1999 tournament and lasted for 29 matches until they were finally defeated at the 2011 World Cup in India.
1. ST GEORGE RUGBY LEAGUE: Arguably the greatest club side of all time. From 1956 to 1966, the Dragons won 11 premierships in a row, a record that will never be beaten.
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