Monday Buzz: Latrell Mitchell a problem for Roosters as Bulldogs loom
Trouble brewing for the back-to-back premiers, more bad luck for NRL star — check out the highlights, lowlights and talking points from another big weekend in sport.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Monday Buzz: NRL’s richest clubs exploit salary cap loophole
Buzz comment: One of the great moments in rugby league
Check out the highlights, lowlights and talking points from another big weekend in sport.
HIGHLIGHT
Not many sportsmen are still at the top of their game at 50. Jockey Glen Boss has now won the Epsom, The Everest and the Golden Eagle within a month in a remarkable domination of Sydney’s major races.
HIGHLIGHT II
Derby Day in Melbourne has been displaced as No.1 on Australia’s turf calendar, according to TV ratings. Incredibly the Golden Eagle in Rosehill got a much higher audience on Channel 7 than the Derby got on Channel 10 on Saturday afternoon. The Golden Eagle made the top 20 shows on free-to-air TV.
LOWLIGHT
The Australian national anthem before the Test in New Zealand. You switch over to the rugby World Cup final. Black and white South African players bursting with pride as they belt out their anthem. A united footy country. It showed in their performance.
LOWLIGHT II
Kieran Foran’s shoulder injury in New Zealand. More bad luck for a player who has averaged only 13 games each season for the past four years.
SHOOSH
Which NRL club official recently became ill at The Star casino and had to be rushed to hospital late at night.
SHOOSH II
Which Socceroos legend has gone broke and is living on his own in a rented studio apartment. He is too proud to ask for help.
SHOOSH III
Which respected NRL club administrator is being referred to as ‘Bradman’ by his colleagues because he is batting well above his average in the relationship stakes.
LEWIS ON THE RISE
Australian boxer Daniel Lewis has scored another impressive victory in the US. Lewis beat Texan junior middleweight Alexis Gaytan in Los Angeles on points.
EPIC MATCH-UP
We can’t wait for the Broncos to play the Panthers in round four at Penrith next year. We can only hope Viliame Kikau and David Fifita are playing on the same edge. It will be as explosive as it gets.
SPOTTED
Veteran rugby league trainer Ronnie Palmer in a Tongan sarong at Auckland airport on the way home to Sydney. Ronnie was Tonga’s trainer.
LATRELL ATTITUDE A PROBLEM FOR ROOSTERS
Not long after the full-time siren in the Sydney Roosters’ grand final win over the Canberra Raiders, Channel 9’s sideline commentator Brad Fittler tried to interview Latrell Mitchell.
He declined, still apparently dirty about his axing from the NSW State of Origin team after the Blues lost the opening game of the series at Suncorp Stadium. Mitchell insists no one has properly explained to him why he was sacked. The stand-off would indicate Mitchell is unlikely to play Origin for NSW while Fittler is coaching.
Either he’ll make himself unavailable or Freddy won’t pick him.
The Roosters star appears to be suffering from an attitude of self-entitlement. A bit like Anthony Mundine in the early days at the Dragons in the ’90s. A siege mentality.
He is not the first player to be dropped from rep football and won’t be the last.
This brashness is a concern for the Sydney Roosters. While in this frame of mind it would be no surprise if the club offered Mitchell an immediate release from the final year of his contract if the Kangaroos centre signs with the Canterbury Bulldogs, like many expect he will.
The Roosters see no point in him hanging around.
Stories have emerged in recent days about his secret meeting at the home of George Coorey, chairman of the Canterbury Leagues Club.
So secret that even Latrell’s manager Wade Rushton was not invited but another agent was. Nor was Bulldogs CEO Andrew Hill or coach Dean Pay at the meeting.
Latrell apparently feels unloved at the Roosters.
He doesn’t feel their offer of $800,000-a-year is enough, although it would make him the highest paid centre in the competition. While he threw the pass to set up the matchwinning grand final try, his form last season was probably about a seven out of 10. Average to good most weeks.
The other issue is the prestigious World Club Challenge on February 22.
It again clashes with the Indigenous All Stars. This is a touchy subject. The Roosters fully support and encourage his passion and commitment to indigenous causes.
At the same time they would prefer him to play against St Helens in February because he played the All Stars this year. It will be interesting to see how it plays out.