NRL Nines to be played in Perth in 2020, Todd Carney tells all
If you’ve missed the NRL Nines the past couple of years, get your bags packed for 2020 — you’re off to Perth! PLUS, Todd Carney’s hard truths on his rollercoaster career.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The NRL Nines is back — and it’s headed for Perth.
Blindside can reveal the colourful nine-a-side tournament will return to the rugby league calendar in 2020 with Western Australia to receive more NRL action.
The NRL’s venture to the wild west this year proved a resounding success with 59,721 fans flocking to Perth’s $1 billion Optus Stadium to watch NSW thump Queensland 38-6 in State of Origin II.
Now the West Australian government has upped the ante by making a multimillion-dollar bid to relaunch the Nines.
Live stream the 2019 NRL Telstra Premiership on KAYO SPORTS. Every game of every round live & anytime on your TV or favourite device. Get your 14 day free trial >
The pre-season carnival event has been cancelled for the past two years but during that time private negotiations have been bubbling away with Melbourne and Newcastle flagged as possible hosting cities.
Townsville was another option, with the NRL having fielded approaches to host the Nines at the newly-constructed North Queensland Stadium, which will be operational next year.
The Townsville proposal had major appeal given the Cowboys were the inaugural winners of the Nines tournament and their new stadium was perfectly intimate for a pre-season tournament with its 25,000 capacity.
But barring a last-minute change of heart, the NRL is keen to take the Nines to Perth to capitalise on the goodwill generated by their successful Origin debut in WA.
LISTEN! On a very special episode of the Matty Johns Show one of Matty’s sporting heroes is welcomed to the studio — Liverpool legend Craig Johnston.
It is understood the tournament will be played over two days, with kick off on a Friday in February before the final takes place on Saturday evening.
The Nines was launched in 2014 with all four editions of the tournament having been played at Auckland’s 60,000-capacity Eden Park.
The concept’s debut was a smash hit with Kiwi fans turning out in droves in 2014 before a gradual decline in crowd figures convinced the NRL to briefly put the event on hold due to a crowded pre-season schedule.
CARNEY REVEALS HARD TRUTHS
RUGBY league bad-boy Todd Carney has revealed he sacrificed almost $1 million with his ill-fated decision to chase his NRL dream with the North Queensland Cowboys.
On Monday, Carney will release his autobiography, the aptly named Hard Truth, in which the one-time Dally M Medallist opens up about the triumphs and tribulations of his drama-fuelled 166-game career in the NRL.
Written with veteran league scribe Tony Adams, Carney speaks with raw honesty about his rollercoaster ride, but it was his final chapter with the Cowboys feeder club Northern Pride that proved a costly exercise.
Carney took a staggering $900,000 pay cut by leaving the English Super League to return to Australia. Signed by the Pride, he began training with the Cowboys and was close to an NRL recall when he suddenly pulled the pin to support his sick mother in Sydney.
“I had an offer of around $1 million to stay in England from Hull KR and the Pride offer was around one-tenth of that!,” Carney reveals in the book. “But I am a firm believer that money isn’t everything — that you have to be happy in your life — and I’d been away from friends and family for four long years.
“I hoped against hope that this (joining the Pride) would be my ticket back into the NRL, especially around State of Origin time when the Cowboys would likely be short on troops.
“I was training full-time, half the week with the Pride and then flying to Townsville to train with the Cowboys from Monday to Thursday. All the travelling wasn’t ideal, and it was hard to maintain any sort of form split between two teams, but just training with the Cowboys gave me that taste of NRL and I was really hoping the cards would fall my way.
“Sadly, I got news of Mum’s cancer mid-season and as soon as that happened, I asked for a release on compassionate grounds. I didn’t want her fighting the toughest battle of her life on her own.
“Between Dad’s illness and death and all my stupid stunts — it was a no-brainer that I had to be closer to her to give her support.”
RAMIEN STILL ON COWS’ RADAR
THE Cowboys have ramped up their pursuit of unwanted Knights star Jesse Ramien.
Blindside can reveal the NSW Origin hopeful flew to Townsville in recent days to inspect the Cowboys set-up. Ramien met Cowboys coach Paul Green for talks and walked away highly impressed with North Queensland’s plans to use him a strike weapon.
Ramien has also toured three other clubs, the Tigers, Bulldogs and Sharks. He will finalise his future next week but the Cowboys are a genuine contender as they have the salary cap space to table a competitive offer.
A CHAMPION AT RETIREMENT
QUEENSLAND champion Billy Slater is thriving in retirement. Aside from his excellent commentary work with Channel 9, Slater has made huge waves helping the next generation of Australian school kids with their health and wellbeing.
Slater’s “Billy’s Buddies” program is now an award-winning scheme. It was recently awarded the Best National Preschooler Activity for children aged 3-5. Slater was in Brisbane last week for a Billy’s Buddies promotional day which attracted 380 kids. The program has taken off in Queensland with more than 280 childcare centres and more than 8000 kids having participated since Billy’s Buddies was launched in 2016 while Slater was still playing at the Storm.
The Maroons Origin legend, an active father of two, is determined to make a difference at a time when child obesity is a concern.
“I like to strongly encourage great health, exercise and nutrition habits for our children from an early age,” he said. “With strong foundations, we can develop good habits for our children. Via Billy’s Buddies we teach these fundamentals in a fun, safe and enjoyable environment. It is for girls and boys alike and is also terrific for developing social skills.”
AJ COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT MUM
THEY say behind every great man there’s a great woman.
There’s no better example than Titans young gun AJ Brimson and his devoted mum Vanessa.
The Titans will celebrate Women in League round this week by wearing a full pink kit against the Eels tonight, and Vanessa will yet again be there in support when Brimson runs onto Cbus Super Stadium.
Brimson is one of the most exciting talents to emerge in the Titans’ history and says his journey to the NRL wouldn’t have been possible without his mum’s sacrifices.
“It’s an awesome round and it’s great to appreciate the women in our lives,” Brimson said.
“Mum did all the early morning drop-offs and pick-ups after school. She would tell me I had a good game even if I didn’t play so well.
“The mum plays a huge part in players’ careers. She is a nervous watcher, she sees what colour boots I have on and just keeps an eye on me throughout the game. She also records the game and then watches it again afterwards.”
Vanessa still can’t believe the little boy she watched as a six-year-old is now a star on the rise in the NRL.
“I’m extremely proud,” she said. “He has worked very hard to get where he is.
“It’s a bit surreal, it (playing NRL) is something he has wanted to achieve since he was a boy and he has achieved it now.
“It’s lovely to watch and see him happy.
“The women give up a lot to support their sons. I will be there at Cbus, we never miss a game, so I will be there willing the Titans on.”
GRANVILLE ON THE OUTER
JAKE Granville is fighting for his future at the Cowboys. Blindside understands the premiership-winning rake is no certainty to win a new contract when his current deal expires next year. Granville turns 31 in February and while he has been a superb servant for the club, he has lost his zip in recent years. The Cowboys last week signed Dragons hooker Reece Robson and have another promising rake in Reuben Cotter coming through. Granville needs a bumper season in 2020 to remain a Cowboy.
WALKER’S GLOBAL GOALS
BEN Walker’s impending departure as Ipswich Jets co-coach came as a major shock but the premiership-winning mentor has other plans. While disappointed to miss out on the Titans NRL post with brother Shane, the Gold Coast snub wasn’t the reason for Ben’s career change. Walker will do personal one-on-one mentoring with athletes in the NBA and English Premier League. The global interest in him is a tribute to the mentoring mind that helped Ipswich win their maiden premiership in 2015.
CHICKO’S CALL
THE Broncos have moved to retain popular hooker James Segeyaro. The 28-year-old only arrived in May on a short-term deal but Broncos coach Anthony Seibold is keen to keep Segeyaro until the end of 2021.
“James has done a tremendous job since he came to our club,” he said. “He has added energy, he has added enthusiasm and he has added another experienced player in our team.
“We’ve made ‘Chicko’ an offer for the next two years we’d like to him to stay but we understand he has a thriving business in Sydney. We’d like to keep him because we have exciting young players and an experienced guy can help them. But it’s a decision he has to make.”
BRONCOS BOSS COULD STAY
PAUL White has not ruled out staying on as Broncos CEO next season. White is off-contract at season’s end and there have been whispers the Broncos boss is considering walking away, but the former policeman has held talks about serving another term. White was appointed in October 2010 and would chalk up 10 years of service as Broncos chief executive if he agrees to another deal. Under his watch, the Broncos have become a financial powerhouse, surpassing $50 million in revenue for the first time last year.
RISING
JAKE TURPIN — Brisbane’s Mr Fixit has the heart of Phar Lap. Never stops trying and that was evidenced when he scooped up the loose pass to score the last-minute match-winner to sink the Cowboys and keep the Broncos’ finals hopes alive.
JAZZ TEVAGA — Unheralded Warriors forward deserved his slice of glory in last week’s upset of Manly. Scored the 77th minute try which killed off the Sea Eagles, sweet reward for a workhorse averaging 38 tackles per game this season.
LATRELL MITCHELL — Has shown great mental fortitude off the field to deal with the sickening social media racist attacks on him. The 22-year-old has done well to bounce back from his NSW Origin axing.
MAIKO SIVO — Scored a crucial try to put Newcastle away and virtually seal the Eels’ finals berth. Leads the NRL tryscoring list this year with 16 and is another example of the blockbusting beauty of Fijian talent.
FALLING
ROBBIE FARAH — Suffered a nasty leg injury in last week’s shock loss to the Bulldogs and is racing the clock to have one more game for the Tigers before his retirement.
MICHAEL MORGAN — The Cowboys’ $5 million man desperately needs to recapture his attacking mojo. Barely threatened against the Broncos in the Queensland derby and needs to finish the season on a positive note.
SHAUN LANE — Another NRL star caught in a “white powder” drama. Lane was fined by the NRL for taking photos of himself with a white substance. It’s an act of stupidity the NRL can do without.
WAYNE BENNETT — The Rabbitohs have lost their way in recent months under the super coach. Souths have won just four of their past 10 matches and Bennett needs to dig into his bag of tricks to ignite a fresh late-season surge.
Originally published as NRL Nines to be played in Perth in 2020, Todd Carney tells all
Club icon dropped, loses Broncos role
The Michael Maguire era has well and truly arrived in Brisbane with another huge move clearing the decks for the incoming coach.
Sydney club pulls off major poaching raid in Cowboys’ backyard
A Sydney club has pulled off a shocking poaching raid on North Queensland’s backyard, signing 14 teenagers – some as young as 14 – to relocate to Sydney for the 2025 season, amid scathing criticism of the NQ pathways.