Legendary broadcaster and coach Alan Jones attacks NRL over Immortals snub
STAR radio broadcaster and former Balmain Tigers and South Sydney coach Alan Jones has fired a stunning broadside at the NRL after being snubbed as an Immortal judge.
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STAR radio broadcaster Alan Jones has fired a broadside at the NRL after being snubbed as an Immortal judge.
“The job seems to be beyond you,” Jones said of the NRL on Monday.
“Rugby league is looking like the plumber sent in to perform open heart surgery.
“I couldn’t give a rat’s really but it was the way it happened.”
Jones, 2GB’s No.1 morning broadcaster, was invited to be part of the Immortals judging panel before NRL official Frank Puletua changed his mind.
The problem is that no one bothered to tell Jones in what has become another embarrassment for the game.
Had it not been for Phil Rothfield’s story in Monday’s Daily Telegraph, in which he revealed Jones was no longer wanted, the former Balmain coach would have attended Tuesday’s meeting to decide the next two Immortals.
It was left to Jones’s staff to inform him he wasn’t required.
“In the league, the left hand doesn’t know what the right hand is doing,” Jones said.
“I had an hour of my time wasted by this (Puletua), whatever his name is, telling me I was in and would I do it?
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“I said I would and we discussed what it was about, and so on.
“Bozo (Bob Fulton) rang and said it was on next Tuesday and we’ve got to sort something out.
“I’ve heard nothing from anyone other than what I have read from Phil (Rothfield).
“I haven’t heard from anybody. Look, in my schedule, I’m rather grateful – I’ve got enough to do.
“It’s like the bunker, like everything else. It’s the way these things are done. That’s the issue.
“It doesn’t bother me but if they don’t pick Norm Provan (as an Immortal), I will have something to say.”
Jones questioned the manners of Puletua and the NRL.
“Of course it is manners,’’ he said. “They wasted an hour of my time.
“I’m not whingeing, we’re big boys here. But it was an hour of my time and I haven’t heard from anyone.
“And I still haven’t. And if it hadn’t been for Phil, I most probably would have rocked up (today).”
Jones also questioned other aspects of rugby league, including Puletua, CEO Todd Greenberg and ARLC chairman Peter Beattie attending a RLIF meeting in Singapore over the weekend.
“This (the Immortal snub) isn’t the biggest rugby league story in the world,’’ Jones said.
“It’s not as bad as the bunker. And the millions of dollars wasted on the bunker, which has cost teams spots in the finals.
“There are too many of them (NRL staff). There are blazers everywhere. Currently there is this Puletua, whatever his name is. What the hell are they doing in Singapore?
“What’s that got to do with rugby league? There are parents out there who can’t afford to kit their kids out for a game.
“That money could be saved and spent on grassroots rugby league.
“Shut down the bunker, get rid of two referees. This is just another metaphor of the problem.”
Radio 2GB stablemate Ray Hadley was also overlooked for the Immortals judging panel.
“I’m in good company,” Jones said.
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