Monday Buzz: David Gyngell has strong backing to replace John Grant
DAVID Gyngell has backing to replace John Grant at the NRL — but there’s something holding it back, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
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DEPARTED Channel Nine boss David Gyngell has backing to replace John Grant as chairman of the NRL’s independent commission — but there’s something preventing that from happening.
Plus check out the highlights and lowlights from the weekend’s sporting action.
HIGHLIGHT
Rugby league is at long last getting back in touch with its bread-and-butter fans.
And it’s all happened in the two weeks since the departure of CEO Dave Smith.
The $35 early bird State of Origin tickets are a fantastic initiative.
LOWLIGHT
The UFC thuggery. It’s a sad indictment on our society that so many people would want to spend a Sunday afternoon watching it.
GYNGELL’S THE ONE
Phil Gould and other powerful NRL officials feel departed Channel Nine boss David Gyngell should replace John Grant as chairman of the independent commission.
It’s a great idea in principle but surely couldn’t work while Gyngell remains on the Nine board and would be privy to rival networks bidding for the broadcasting rights.
GIVE A TOSS
Cricket Test results are determined too often by the toss of a coin.
This Perth Test was over as soon as Steve Smith won the toss and batted on Friday. The same thing happened in Brisbane at the Gabba.
The country batting first should alternate during a Test series.
SHOOSH
Manly are already planning for 2017 and will soon make an offer too good to refuse to a NSW State of Origin star. Stay tuned.
SPOTTED
Legendary Aussie cricketer Dougie Walters enjoying lunch and a few beers at the Oatley hotel on Sunday.
SHOW SOME INTEGRITY
It will be interesting to see what the NRL integrity unit does with Bob Reilly, the former Manly Leagues Club boss who has been banned for three years and found to be not a fit and proper person to be in the club industry.
Reilly is still a director of Manly District Football Club.
KENNY’S CLOUD
Lively forward Kenny Edwards continues to train with the Parramatta Eels for next season despite his future being under a cloud over a drug test incident last year.
He faces an integrity unit hearing for allegedly submitting a urine sample on behalf of teammate Kaysa Pritchard last February.
Why NRL’s most-hyped recruit was snubbed for five months
Souths’ big-money recruit Lewis Dodd finally got his chance at halfback, but was hooked after 68 minutes. Go inside the back story of the deal that has the entire NRL talking.
Munster linked to Perth as Storm close in on Hughes deal
With expansion teams sniffing around, Melbourne are closing in on finalising a long-term extension to keep Jahrome Hughes at the club, a move which could have an impact on the future of Cameron Munster.