NRL 2021: Manly Sea Eagles abandon Nathan Brown chase | Sports Confidential
Rabbitohs boss Blake Solly is pushing for major change to the match review committee in the wake of Latrell Mitchell’s sanction. SPORTS CONFIDENTIAL
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Nathan Brown is expected to be forced back to the negotiation table with Parramatta after Manly withdrew interest in chasing the NSW Origin forward.
The Sea Eagles held talks with Brown this month but have opted against pursuing the 28-year-old.
That leaves Brown potentially needing to return to his current club to re-open talks. Parramatta withdrew their $1.1 million two year deal for Brown earlier this month having been frustrated by the delayed contract negotiations.
However, it is understood discussions have continued. Brown was chasing a four year deal worth about $650,000 a season – which the Sea Eagles rejected.
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The Eels are watching the market place before again turning their focus to Brown. The Eels’ have strength in their backrow. Aside from Brown they have Shaun Lane, Ryan Matterson and this season’s buy of the year Isaiah Papali’i – who is running around for significantly less than half of Brown’s contract.
Matterson is yet to take up his player option for next year but it is understood he and Mitchell Moses have a few weeks yet to settle on their one year deal. Moses has been linked to a move to Brisbane.
Matterson is expected to make his return from concussion on Saturday – but that will be in reserve grade. The back-rower has taken a cautious approach after he suffered a bad concussion in round two. In consultation with the Eels medical staff, he has taken his time in getting back on the park but there has been no suggestions the latest knock was career-threatening.
The Eels also signed Warriors utility back Hayze Perham until the end of next season.
CALLS FOR CHANGE
South Sydney are pushing for a judiciary overhaul and will present a document to the NRL in the wake of Latrell Mitchell’s four game ban.
Rabbitohs boss Blake Solly confirmed he would spend the next few weeks putting together the document before presenting it to the game’s bosses. ARLC chairman Peter V’landys has indicated there would be a review into the match review committee at season’s end.
Solly has called for an overhaul of the judiciary system.
“We understand that Peters wants to review the process at the end of the year,” Solly said. “We are happy to contribute to that. The easiest thing in the world is to say something is broken without offering any suggestions. We will certainly offer up our ideas and the NRL can do with that what they wish.”
The call for change has come in the wake of Mitchell’s four game ban after he was charged with three offences following South Sydney’s dramatic win against the Tigers last week. It is expected Solly will speak with players, staff and leading lawyer Nick Ghabar before putting the document together. Ghabar represented Mitchell on Tuesday night.
Rabbitohs coach Wayne Bennett was scathing about the process. The suspension will rub Mitchell out of winning the Dally M and puts an Origin recall on the potential backburner.
BAD BLOOD
Onlookers were stunned when rival boxing promoters Will Tomlinson and Angelo Di Carlo had a fight outside Wollongong’s Entertainment Centre after Paul Gallen’s victory over Lucas Browne.
According to an eyewitness, Di Carlo allegedly grabbed Tomlinson in a headlock, before the former super-featherweight world champion broke and a further scuffle ensued.
Bystanders stepped in and separated the pair.
We understand Tomlinson and Di Carlo resolved their issues on Thursday and there is no lingering feud.
The two had an argument over the phone two months ago, and the Gallen fight last Wednesday was the first time they’d seen each other face-to-face since.
Both men have made positive contributions to Australian boxing over many years and we’re told they are understandably sheepish about letting their emotions get out of hand, and are keen to move on quickly.
SPOTTED: DRAGON’S BOXING CAMEO
Dragons centre Zac Lomax will continue to be a cornerman for his close friend Tyler Sargent Wilson after gaining a late clearance for the Gallen-Browne undercard.
Many were surprised to see the NRL’s second-highest pointscorer of 2021 holding the spit bucket for Wilson at WIN Entertainment Centre, as the super-middleweight scored a majority decision to remain undefeated.
Lomax had secured his proper boxing trainer credentials just before the fight and was delighted with the result.
“It was a last-minute thing for me to be in the corner, I didn’t think I’d be able to get in, but it was the best experience ever, my heart was in my throat,” Lomax told Sports Confidential.
“I’m here just to support him, I’m not the one that will be giving him boxing tips, I’m here in support, I’d love to keep doing the corner and being here for whatever he needs.
“We did training over the off-season.
“He wasn’t right into it to start with, he was 1-0 and didn’t want to really pursue it, we tried to convince him and now he’s 2-0.”
Wilson said Lomax was crucial in his decision to pursue a full-time boxing career.
“I had a break, and it was Zac Lomax, he convinced me to take it up again,” Wilson said.
“He convinced me to focus on the career aspect of it, rather than have it as a hobby which is all it was at one stage. This is my full-time job now.
“I’ve know Zac for a while now and he’s been a tremendous asset to the team. He knows what it’s like to compete in front of thousands of people, it was good having that perspective because this is a lot bigger crowd to what I’m used to.”
ROCK AND A HARD PLACE
Another cross-code war is brewing over a talented teenager signed to the Sydney Roosters.
Joshua Wong, who has just turned 18, has been barred by his school Scots College from playing for the Roosters under-20s side this weekend so he can be fresh for the GPS trials.
It’s understood Wong, the school’s First XV captain, was told he’d lose the captaincy if he played.
Problem is, the following weekend Wong is set to play a finals match for the Roosters and is also scheduled to play for Scots, so the tug of war could get ugly.
Rugby Australia is keen to retain Wong in the XV man game, having lost Joseph Suaalii, who is expected to make his NRL debut for the Roosters in coming weeks.
ROOSTERS’ READY TO RE-SIGN RISING STAR
Roosters officials met with Sam Walker’s management on Thursday for the first time since the teenage sensation made his stunning debut.
The Roosters camp are confident a new deal could happen as early as next week as the club looks to tie-down Walker long-term. It is understood the Roosters are pushing for a three year deal but the extension could just be for two seasons which would allow the 18-year-old to again renegotiate when he has spent a few years in the top grade.
The Roosters have been keen to fast-track talks but Walker’s management wanted him to play a few weeks in first week before they kick started talks. There is little doubt he will commit to the Roosters beyond this season.
Walker has impressed all in his first three games in the top grade. The Roosters are also continuing to pursue All Black TJ Perenara.
DYNAMIC DUO
James Tedesco and Lara Pitt will be on opposite sides of the fences on Sunday but the duo teamed up for a good cause at the SCG on Thursday.
Pitt and Tedesco have been announced as patrons of the Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation – which assists families and children who have been diagnosed with cancer in regional areas.
“Having worked with Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation the last few years I know how important the work is they do for families facing a cancer diagnosis for one of their child and how much support they give during a very difficult time,” Pitt said.
“It’s a privilege to be invited on board as a patron and working alongside James Tedesco, Mark Coyne and founder and chairman Mark Taylor in raising awareness for such an important cause.”
Tedesco went to school with the children of the Foundation’s chief executive Jack Hughes.
“It’s a great cause,” Tedesco said. “The opportunity to be an ambassador is really enjoyable.”
Pitt will host Big League Wrap on Anzac Day for Fox League while Tedesco will be trying to break the heart of Pitt and her fellow St George Illawarra fans in the annual Anzac Day clash.
Fox League will show a triple-header of NRL games live from 1pm on Anzac Day.
SPLASHING AROUND
A shipping container filled with AFL players isn’t something you see every day. Unless you’re around the Giants’ training headquarters. A 12 metre long shipping container has been refurbished to a recovery swimming pool and has taken up a permanent fixture at GWS. It can hold about 20 people at a time and has been used to help with recovery and injury management.
SHARK SWIMMING ACROSS THE PACIFIC?
Josh Dugan has revealed he is toying with a code-switch even reaching out to All Blacks Aaron Smith and TJ Perenra for advice.
Dugan is in the final year of his rich Sharks contract and has long had an ambition to try rugby. While he made it clear his first preference is to remain at the Sharks, Dugan would not rule out playing rugby in Japan.
He has shared messages with Smith and Perenara as part of a WhatsApp group the trio are in alongside ex-NRL players Justin Horo and Isaac John.
“Covid has thrown a spanner in the works,” Dugan said. “I have been talking to TJ Perenra and Aaron Smith. They are over there at the moment and they love it. I spoke to Will (Chambers) about it. He said he was a professional trainer because of the international player (quota). I’m open to it. My first priority would be to stay in Sydney. I’ve made it clear I’m happy and wanting to stay here. If it doesn’t unfold that way I have to keep my options open.
“I grew up playing rugby. I played rugby before I played league. It’s always been there for me. I made all the rep sides as a kid in rugby. Went to a rugby dominated school.”
Dugan said he wants to speak with incoming coach Craig Fitzgibbon in the ‘near future’. The former representative player is expected to make his return from concussion against the Bulldogs on Saturday.
He was rested last week after failing to complete successive matches because of head knocks.
“The back to back weeks of coping a knock rolled into one,” Dugan said. “I had a few headaches and low energy. I didn’t come good until Friday. I came in on Monday and did what I had to. Everything has gone to plan.
“I felt all right after the Cowboys knock.
“I wasn’t too worried about it. It rolling into one just feeling fatigued. It wasn’t ideal. I’m not too worried. They weren’t bad ones where I went out. I was a bit dizzy and blurry eyed.”
BROTHERLY LOVE
Blayke Brailey did his best to get under the skin of his older brother Jayden ahead of their first match against each other last Friday. While Blayke takes the points for the pre-game banter it was Jayden who walked away all smiles with the victory.
“The day before the game he sent me a text saying ‘Chad’s out. He went down in captain’s run. Braydon Trindall starting halfback,” Jayden told ABC Sport. “Then he goes ‘oh sorry I meant to send that to dad’. I go ‘how stupid do you think I am mate’.
“Then 90 minutes before kick-off I’m getting in the zone and have my headphones on. I have four text messages from Blayke. Tick, tock, tick tock. That really pissed me off. He tried to do a few little things to get under the old dogs skin.”
ALL THE WAY WITH CNK
There was some good news for Canberra fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad during the week that he won’t need an operation to repair his injured neck. While there is no exact time frame on his return, it is understood he will miss about six more matches.
BUZZ’S FURY
Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield is well known for tipping his beloved Cronulla Sharks every week. Well, not anymore. For the second week in a row Buzz has tipped the Sharks’ opponents – and this week that means it’s the $5.75 Canterbury. It’s likely related to his anger over the treatment of coach John Morris.
ALL EYES ON
The Bulldogs have at least managed to score points, now the next step is winning a game. Their worst start to the season came in 1964 where they managed just a draw in their opening 13 games.
FLASHBACK
The Daily Telegraph revealed it was Wayne Bennett who played a key role in Parramatta’s bid to poach Chris Sandow from South Sydney on this day 10 years ago. Bennett recommended Sandow to Eels coach Stephen Kearney. Sandow ended up leaving the Rabbitohs for a very mixed four year stint at the Eels.
BLAST FROM THE PAST
Matt Hilder 201 top grade games (81 Cronulla, 19 Gold Coast, 101 Newcastle) from 2003-06.
Matt Hilder feared his career was over before it even started. As a Sharks junior he progressed through the grades but struggled with injuries late in his teens.
“I wasn’t where I wanted to be,” Hilder said. “I started looking to do other things. I put on a fair bit of muscle size and my knees couldn’t put up with it. I had pains and it was really hard to run for nearly a whole year.”
He had long dreamt about wearing a Sharks jersey and was a permanent fixture on the hill cheering on the likes of Andrew Ettingshausen. Hilder persisted and progressed to Cronulla’s reserve grade side before earning a first grade shot in 2003 off the bench against the Storm.
“We were winning by a fair bit and the Storm came back and beat us,” Hilder said. “I scored a try - we made a break and someone got tackled a couple of metres from the line and Phil Bailey jumped out of dummy half and crashed me short and I scored.”
Hilder cemented his spot in Cronulla’s top squad largely rotating between hooker and lock. He had only started playing dummy half in reserve grade.
He left the club at the end of 2006 to take up a one year deal with the Titans.
“They offered me to stay but I got offered similar money to go to the Gold Coast,” Hilder said. “(Titans coach) John Cartwright asked me to play a bit of five-eighth and back-row. I always wanted to play five-eighth so I thought I’d give it a go for a year.”
The Titans offered a contract extension but when Newcastle were prepared to give Hilder a multi-year deal he switched to the Knights where he played six seasons.
He generally featured at either hooker or lock.
“I liked mixing it up,” Hilder, who now runs his own plumbing business in Newcastle, said.
Hilder’s final season netted six games – where he played as many finals matches as he did regular season matches under Wayne Bennett.
His last game was a preliminary finals loss to the Roosters.
“Wayne was a really good coach,” Hilder said. “He gave great guidance to the young players. I was ready to retire. I could keep up but I wasn’t as a fast as I used to be and players were getting better. I was slowly falling behind I thought. It was good to give it up.”
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