Wests Tigers CEO NRL ban over, NRL’s awful grand final call
After six months enforced absence, Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe will return to his role to sort out the club’s salary cap issues. PLUS, the NRL’s shocking GF decision.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
SAINT
DAVE Warner has returned from his 12-month suspension a much better person for the tough experience. It was a lovely gesture to give away his player-of-the-match award to a young Aussie fan after his century and win against Pakistan at the World Cup.
SINNER
WHY has the NRL agreed to play two grand finals (2020-21) at the SCG instead of showing some entrepreneurial intelligence by selling one decider to Brisbane or Melbourne? The extra ticket sales and government funding would be worth $25 million at the very least.
SHOOSH
WHICH NRL star, who loves a bet on the horses, has been spotted in the company of a former SP bookie and colourful racing identity?
SHOOSH II
WHICH NRL coach had far too much to drink on the night before a recent away game, much to the surprise and shock of his players?
SHOOSH III
MAROONS State of Origin winger Dane Gagai is not the only South Sydney Rabbitohs star who is unhappy at Redfern and possibly looking for a release at the end of the season.
SHOOSH IV
WHICH big-name halfback has been asked to take a $100,000 pay cut (about 8 per cent of his salary) to ease cap pressure at his club?
SPOTTED
RISING boxer Brock Jarvis in hospital in Bangkok with a twisted testicle (ouch) that required emergency surgery. The operation and overnight bed cost his trainer Jeff Fenech $12,000. Brock is recovering well.
SPOTTED II
SYDNEY Roosters and NSW Blues star Latrell Mitchell deep in Cronulla territory shopping for groceries at Caringbah Woolworths. His uncle, Maurice Goolagong, works in the local butcher shop.
SPOTTED III
NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg gave up his Tuesday evening to hand out clothes to Sydney’s homeless in Martin Place.
SPOTTED IV
YOU only had to see Sam Kerr jump into the arms of soccer boss David Gallop and scream, “all the haters can suck on that” after the Matildas’ stirring win over Brazil to understand the support for a change in coach before the World Cup.
DEBUTANT GETS KICK TIPS FROM THE TOP
THE NSW women’s State of Origin team have called in goalkicking legend Daryl Halligan to help sharpen the skills of a Blues debutant who has been handed the kicking duties.
Central Coast and North Sydney Bears star Kirra Dibb will debut for the Blues against Queensland on Friday at North Sydney Oval. The 21-year-old Sydney University student has been picked at five-eighth for NSW.
“I’ve always enjoyed the kicking,” Dibb said. “It was really good to have someone of Daryl’s experience helping me out.”
Dibb gave away rugby league at Kincumber Colts when she was 10 but continued playing touch football and, more recently, rugby league nines before signing with the Bears.
She is studying to be an exercise physiologist.
“I played heaps of sport growing up,” she said.
“It started in league then I went to martial arts, touch footy, soccer, nippers and even a bit of basketball.
“Right now, I’m just loving rugby league and I can’t wait for the Origin game.”
A TRUE BLUE
It’s fair to say little Buster Bruce Woods is in the safest of hands with a couple of handy old Origin props. His dad Aaron Woods met with old Blues and Bulldogs teammate Dave Klemmer to show off his baby boy last week.
PASCOE RETURNS TO TIGERS
Wests Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe returns to work this week after completing a six-month ban over salary cap issues.
His first jobs will be to sort out a mess with the Tigers’ roster and find a replacement for recently departed football general manager Kelly Egan. There are also big calls to be made on the future of club icons Robbie Farah and Benji Marshall.
Chairman Barry O’Farrell has been hanging out for his return.
“Losing a competent leader for six months isn’t good for any business, let alone a football club,” he said, “He’s been a real asset to the club and he’ll continue to show he’s a great asset once he’s back at the desk.”
RUGBY ADDS TO PONGA RUMOURS
We have been writing on these pages for weeks about Kalyn Ponga’s contract situation at Newcastle. We all know he’s worth $1 million a season but is earning $600,000.
It has become more intriguing in light of reports that Wallabies coach Michael Cheika has reached out to the Queensland Maroons superstar about switching to the rah-rahs.
Even more interesting are indications of a really awkward split between Ponga’s father Andre and his agent Wayde Rushton.
Ponga Snr was quoted last week saying his son was not chasing more money. At the same time Rushton has been desperately trying to sit down with Knights boss Phil Gardner to get the star fullback a contract upgrade.
Gardner is off to the US next week so the meeting will not be taking place anytime soon.
TO THE RESCUE
Knights coach Nathan Brown recently dived into a big surf to help out an old swimmer who was caught in a rip at Merewether Beach in Newcastle. Typical of Brown when we phoned to check, he insisted it was no big deal.
“The old bloke was in a bit of trouble and we just helped him in,” Brown said, “It was nothing major. We just gave him a bit of a hand.”
THAT’S A TOUGH DISMISSAL
Australia’s female cricketers have been kicked off the SCG and other major cricket venues around the country for the summer WBBL tournament.
Last season matches were played at the SCG, MCG, Adelaide Oval, the Gabba in Brisbane and Perth’s Optus Stadium.
In a slap in the face for the women’s game, all WBBL matches will now be played at suburban venues. Sydney Thunder and the Sixers with use North Sydney Oval, Hurstville, Blacktown and Drummoyne.
WAGS STAY IN STYLE
Our WAGS have arrived in England for the World Cup over the next two weeks —— and they’ll be well looked after.
As part of the players’ collective bargaining agreement with Cricket Australia, the wives, girlfriends and family members are flown to the UK in premium economy.
They get free accommodation, meals, access to childcare and hospitality at the venues.
The WAGS will stay until the World Cup finals before returning in mid-August for the second and third Ashes tests.
MATILDA MANIA
The Matildas are getting plenty of support from the Socceroos at the World Cup. Coach Graham Arnold was there for the miraculous comeback win over Brazil. He was spotted having a beer after the game with soccer boss David Gallop. Socceroos skipper Mark Milligan arrived from Scotland with his two daughters. They had dinner with the players and their families after the game.
FOOTY FIX
Many of the Matildas players at the World Cup in France are from NSW and QLD and love their rugby league. The girls watched the first State of Origin game from Suncorp Stadium on their iPads on the team bus trip from the Netherlands to France. Game two in Perth next weekend will be on at midday, Paris time.
GREAT TRIBE OF SCRIBES
The NRL has assembled a panel to name a media Hall of Fame. Print media legends Peter Frilingos, Bill Mordey, Ian Heads, Alan Clarkson, E.E Christensen and George Crawford will be among those seriously considered. From TV and radio, the likes of Ray Warren, Rex Mossop, Frank Hyde, Ron Casey, Darryl Eastlake, Peter Peters and Ray Hadley will be under consideration.
CODE-HOPPING BOKS
If you’re looking for a rugby league fix next weekend while the NRL has the weekend off for Origin, South Africa is playing the Cook Islands on Friday night. Yep, South Africa … the country best known for cricket and rugby union actually plays rugby league as well. It’s a World Cup qualifier at Ringrose Park in Wentworthville at 7pm. The team has four players from their own competitions in South Africa with the rest made up from lower graders in NSW and QLD. The winner plays the USA for the final qualifying spot at the 2021 World Cup.