Jeff Horn must consider retirement, Nathan Cleary tipped for Panthers captaincy
There is strong mail the Panthers will have a new skipper in 2020, Jeff Horn’s career could be over and Buzz ends his UFC ban.
NRL
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SAINT
LEICHHARDT Oval. Sudden-death footy. Sunday afternoon. No empty seats. Robbie and Gal. Hot dogs, pies and cold beer. Benji Marshall. Blocker and Benny on Fox Sports … carn the Sharkies!
SINNER
Hudson Young’s eye-gouging in the Raiders loss to the Warriors yesterday. To do it once is disgraceful. To do it twice in one season is as low and disgusting as it gets. The Canberra Raiders forward should be suspended for 12 months if he is found guilty by the judiciary.
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SHOOSH
WHICH Warriors forward has had a massive falling out with coach Stephen Kearney and desperately wants out despite being under contract?
SHOOSH II
STILL on NZ Warriors, we’re hearing that renowned non-winner Brian Smith is under as much pressure as Kearney over the team’s dismal year. Smith joined the club as general manager in 2017.
SPOTTED
FOX Sports stars Matthew Johns and Bryan Fletcher with former Sea Eagles Tony Melrose and Ray Brown at Manly’s Steyne Hotel.
SPOTTED II
CELEBRITY agent Max Markson chatting to semi-retired boxing legend Anthony Mundine on Goulburn Street on Thursday.
SPOTTED III
FORMER Penrith Panthers forward Lou Zivanovic — the construction and scaffolding king — watching Forest Rugby Union club win a thrilling shock Barraclough Cup grand final 27-26 over Hunters Hill at Concord Oval last weekend.
MY UFC COMEBACK
MY UFC-free zone is over. Your columnist can’t justify banning the sport but still cover boxing after the sickening Jeff Horn fight finish in Bendigo last weekend.
That the referee didn’t stop the fight or that his trainer Glenn Rushton refused to throw in the towel was a disgrace and put Horn’s safety and future at risk. On Friday, we bumped into UFC champion Robbie Whittaker in Cronulla doing a training session with his fitness guru Justin Lang.
SPOTTED IV
FORMER NSW Blues captain and coach Laurie Daley sunning himself in Mykonos, Greece, with family and friends.
SPOTTED V
FORMER Australia Test opener Michael Slater wandering down the Corso, Manly, checking out the shops.
TIME’S UP FOR HORN
Bob Arum, the world’s biggest boxing promoter, is concerned for the future of Jeff Horn.
The Top Rank supremo says he was stunned by the brutal punishment the former world champion received against fellow Australian middleweight Michael Zerafa in his ninth-round loss by knockout in Bendigo last Saturday night.
“Going up to middleweight was a bridge too far,” Aram said.
“It probably wasn’t wise. I was shocked by the result.”
Arum promoted Horn’s blockbuster fight and victory over legend Manny Pacquiao in Brisbane in 2017 and his defeat by Terrance Crawford in Las Vegas last year.
“Boxing is a very tough business,” Arum said.
“If the spark and dedication isn’t there, then maybe it is time to retire. He has a young family now and you don’t want him to take another beating like he did the other night.
“That’s not good for his future and his family. You don’t want him to be adversely affected by his time in the sport. But Jeff’s a smart kid and he’ll make the right decision.”
Horn remains undecided about his future.
He replied to a text message on Thursday: “I need a bit of time to process myself. I’ll know in a couple of weeks.”
BIG DAYS FOR LAWRENCE SIBLINGS
It’s going to be a huge couple of days for the Lawrence family.
Wests Tigers backrower Chris Lawrence will suit up for what could be his last at Leichhart Oval against the Sharks on Sunday.
The 30-year-old, 239-game Tigers veteran is still to sort his future in the game.
The following day his sister and rising media star, Emma Lawrence, will co-host her first Brad Fittler Medal at The Star Event Centre on Monday night.
Emma — a sports reporter for Channel 10, Triple M and The Professor’s Late Hit on Fox League on Fox Sports — will be joined by former Today Show presenter Tim Gilbert.
“I’m really excited,” Emma said, “I’ve hosted some events before but I guess it’s a real honour and privilege to even be asked to do something as big as the Brad Fittler Medal.
“Having covered the Blues throughout the entire Origin series, and working so closely with Freddy, Bedsy (Danny Buderus) and Brandy (Greg Alexander) and developing strong relationships with them, it’s great to be part of the whole journey and cover the end-of-season awards as well.”
PANTHERS’ CAPTAIN CLEARY
We are getting very strong mail from the foot of the Blue Mountains that the Penrith Panthers will have a new captain next year.
It is going to be a major story because coach Ivan Cleary apparently wants his son Nathan to take over as skipper. There is no question the Panthers have had leadership issues this year.
That’s not to say old front-rower James Tamou has done a poor job but he does lack some communication skills.
With James Maloney leaving, Nathan Cleary gets the opportunity to take ownership of the team rather than sharing the playmaker duties.
Still, having a father and son as the captain and coach could be somewhat risky.
It would be hard enough coaching your own son in any elite sport, let alone dealing with the pressure and holding him accountable for the team’s on-field leadership and performances.
THE TRUTH DOWN UNDER
NBA superstar Paul Pierce is coming to Australia as a celebrity guest for the NRL grand final.
The Boston Celtics legend known as “The Truth” will also be part of the NRL’s Fan Fest at Martin Place in the week leading up to the decider.
As part of what is being billed as the “You’re A Legend Tour”, NRL fans will have the chance to meet Pierce and our very own legend Johnathan Thurston at the grand final.
Thurston is a huge fan of Pierce and from all reports is dusting off his old Celtics jersey in preparation for meeting his idol.
For your chance to go to the NRL Grand Final and meet these two legends, go to www.bealegend.nba.com and tell us which NRL player would make it in the NBA and why.
The competition opens on Monday, Sep 9.
NO BELLYACHE WITH FLANNO
Melbourne Storm’s super coach Craig Bellamy is supporting moves for the return of banned Cronulla Sharks coach Shane Flanagan.
We reported last week that Flanagan had met with NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg and will put his case to the independent commission on October 16.
“Shane’s done his time,” Bellamy said, “It’s been a tough penalty.
“He deserves to be coaching again, at least in some capacity next year.”
LISTEN! Matty Johns and Paul Kent are joined by Balmain champion Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach, talking up the big eighth place battle at Leichhardt Oval Sunday, look at some of Manly’s best ever hit men and the time Kenty got completely jammed by Mark Geyer.
GORMAN’S EXIT
Lyall Gorman, the man in charge of the Cronulla Sharks during their $1 million salary cap rorting, has surprisingly stood down from the board of Cricket NSW.
Your columnist contacted Gorman to ask if his decision was salary cap related.
He replied with the following text message: “Good afternoon Phil. Great to hear from you. After six years of service time to free up some time and move on to pursue some other passions I have in life. Nothing more, nothing less and my choice.”
QUESTIONS FOR DOGS
The departure of Chris Anderson from the Canterbury Bulldogs board coincides with questions being raised about the collapse of his private business.
Your columnist spoke to Anderson’s wife Lynne about the situation two weeks ago. The company — Anderson Recruitment and Training Pty Ltd — was put into liquidation in June.
He is the third board member to step down after club legends Steve Mortimer and Steve Price, who has taken on the role as football club general manager.
V'LANDYS TO SAVE SUBURBAN FOOTY
Sydney NRL clubs and their grounds will be safe from Channel 9’s push to slash teams if Racing NSW boss Peter V’landys becomes independent commission chairman.
V’landys spoke last year about the importance of tradition and tribalism and will lobby the government to bring the likes of Brookvale Oval, Leichhardt and Shark Park up to scratch.
“Having families in Sydney attend suburban grounds is imperative to the future popularity of the game,” he said. “That’s what tribalism is about.
“I’m strongly of the belief that suburban grounds have an important role to play and should be upgraded for today’s entertainment venue standards.”
V’landys is also passionate about bush footy and will increase support for struggling country clubs if elected.
ECONOMY ERIN
Not everyone at Channel 9 gets the business-class treatment like the great Ray Warren enjoys on flights.
We spotted Nine host Erin Molan in seat 26A on a Qantas trip to Melbourne on Friday for Storm’s game against the Cowboys.
PM MISSES OUT
Sometimes footy dads have to put their families first — even prime ministers.
Cronulla Sharks tragic Scott Morrison can’t make it to Leichhardt Oval on Sunday for his team’s sudden death blockbuster against the Wests Tigers, because his daughter Abbey is in a dancing competition and he has to be there.
We’re sure Sco Mo will be taking a sneak peak for score updates on his mobile through the afternoon.
TURBO A WINNER
The great Tom Trbojevic may have been ruled out for the season but a greyhound named after the Manly Sea Eagles fullback just keeps on winning. A dishlicker called Turbo Thomas bolted in at Maitland on Thursday at $1.70. The dog has won six of its last seven starts, including a win at Wentworth Park.