What’s the Buzz: Brad Fittler calls on NRL not to give Paul Gallen the Origin medal named in his honour
WHAT’S the Buzz: Brad Fittler has called on NRL not to give Paul Gallen the Origin medal named in his honour, writes Phil Rothfield.
Phil Rothfield
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RUGBY league legend Brad Fittler has called on the NRL not to give Paul Gallen the Origin medal this year that is named in his honour.
The Sharks skipper Paul Gallen was in line for two major player awards before reluctantly accepting his heavily discounted ASADA ban on Friday.
The triumphant Blues State of Origin skipper was favourite to win the Dally M representative player of the year and the Brad Fittler Medal for best NSW performer in the 2-1 series win.
“There is a system the league will go through to determine if Paul is eligible to win the award,” Fittler said.
“In my opinion, given the circumstances that he is suspended, he should be ineligible to win the medal. That’s all I want to say.”
CRONULLA FACE HUGE LEGAL THREATS
This is the first sign from a football legend that the Cronulla players are to be treated as outcasts.
Both of the game’s most prestigious awards will be handed out before the grand final.
Officials were reluctant to comment when asked where Gallen stands.
The Dally M rules state: “The game acknowledges that a player found guilty of a doping offence may be stripped of any award or be ruled ineligible to receive any award subject to the determination of the NRL.”
NRL spokesman Peter Grimshaw told us: “We haven’t considered that yet.”
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‘THIS DRAMA HAS RUINED MY SON’S CAREER’
Gallen is out of contention for any other Dally M individual award because players are deducted three points for every week they are suspended.
NSW Origin coach Laurie Daley was reluctant to comment when asked about Gallen’s Fittler Medal situation although it is known he is privately supporting his skipper.
He rang and spoke to Gallen on Friday, not long after the ASADA suspensions were handed down. NSWRL chief executive Dave Trodden did not return calls. Nor did Fittler.
SHATTERED WRIGHT TO SUE SHARKS
CRONULLA ASADA SAGA FAR FROM FINISHED
Under the terms of the ASADA suspensions, the 2011 Cronulla players are banned from any involvement with the game or their current clubs until November 21.
Whether that includes the Dally M presentation is likely to be decided by NRL CEO Dave Smith and Daily Telegraph editor Paul Whittaker.
In the Test match against New Zealand Gallen made 161 metres from just 66 minutes and was the best forward on the field.
Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens says Gallen will be sorely missed in the upcoming Four Nations series.
“Gal’s always an automatic selection,” Sheens said,” He’s going to leave a big hole to fill.”
TALLIS TELLING TALES
It’s interesting that Maroons legend Gorden Tallis hasn’t been sighted on The Footy Show since his feud erupted with Robbie Farah.
Executive producer Glen Pallister insists there is no tension with Beau Ryan or Darryl Brohman, who both publicly criticised Tallis for giving up a private conversation with the Wests Tigers skipper.
Pallister says Tallis will be back on the panel next week.
We’d love to have a hidden camera in the green room for when they first come face to face because it just could get ugly.
DANGER BEADS JUST PHOOEY
The NRL has ruled that the colourful beads that Parramatta Eels cult hero Fuifui Moimoi wears are perfectly legal.
It follows a complaint from a senior Country Rugby League referees official that they could be classified as ‘dangerous equipment.’
Not so says Nathan McGuirk, the NRL’s general manager of football operations.
“Match Officials do a complete inspection of players’ equipment and boots during the on-field warm up,” he said.
“Fuifui’s hair is held in place by small colourful foam pieces, they are not hard beads. They cause no issues in relation to player safety.”
‘INCREDIBLE CULT’ MOIMOI READY TO DISAPPEAR
SHARK HISTORY
It’s right on 20 years since the Cronulla Sharks won two premierships in one year — the 1994 reserve grade and Under 21’s titles.
Despite all the ASADA drama, the club still hosted a 20-year reunion for the two teams on Friday afternoon.
There were some wonderful old faces from a cracking Under 21’s or Presidents Cup team as it was known — Dave Peachey, Matt Rogers, Adam Ritson, Adam Dykes and Nick Graham. And some handy older boys too who played reggies that day — Chris Quinn, Paul Donaghy, Michael Potter, Robbie Kearns, Craig Greenhill and Aaron Raper.
HALL OF FAME
The SCG is to unveil a media Hall of Fame that will include legends Richie Benaud, Alan McGilvray, Norman May, Frank Hyde, Ray Warren and the doyen of footy writers, Ian Heads.
It’s a shame no women are among the 15 inaugural inductions to be revealed on Tuesday. Easily the most deserving is ABC veteran Debbie Spillane, who has been covering big time sport at the venue for more than three decades.
In the early ‘80s it was Spillane who broke down the barriers and dressing shed doors of a male-only rugby league media to pave the way for the many talented females who now cover NRL and other major footy codes across the country.
SBW’S HERO’S WELCOME
Sonny Bill Williams was treated like a rock star when he headed back to Samoa to promote the NRL’s pacific strategy last week.
SBW realised what he was in for when he was mobbed by waiting airport staff and fans at Apia Airport — even though his plane didn’t arrive until midnight.
But it was tourism officials who were cheering loudest when he ripped off his shirt and danced at a function to promote Samoa as a holiday destination.
Sonny Bill left the audience gasping with his moves, and physique, on the dance floor and gave rugby league the kind of promotion it could only dream about.
CEO Dave Smith shouldn’t be in any doubt that he needs to use marquee allowance powers to bring SBW back to the NRL after his stint in rugby finishes.
LATE-NIGHT LOVE
Look out NRL and AFL because the popularity of soccer continues to grow.
Last weekend the opening Premier League game of the season from the UK rated 150,000, which is more than some live NRL games on Fox Sports.
And it didn’t even include Liverpool, traditionally the highest rating team in Australia.
The audience is all the more remarkable considering EPL games are shown late at night.
Throw in the 17,000 at Pirtek Stadium on Wednesday night for the Wanderers Asian Champions League quarter-final and it’s obvious the recent World Cup in Brazil has increased interest in this country.
PREMIER LEAGUE RD 2: ULTIMATE GUIDE
It’s well known Australian cricket coach Darren Boof Lehman was a heavy smoker during his playing days and it appears some of his players have followed suit.
We spotted Glen Maxwell puffing away outside Sydney’s Intercontinental Hotel last week.
EASY ON THE CAKES
The Atlanta Falcons have come up with a bold new tactic to fill the Georgia Dome for their NFL games this season.
They have taken out advertisements offering alcohol-infused cupcakes to supporters. Beats lining in the beer queue and saves on cups.
SAINT
It might be the A-League off-season but Wanderers supporters and the RBB are still the best and most passionate in Australian sport. On a cold and windy Wednesday night 17,093 turned up to Pirtek Stadium for the Asian Champions League, putting recent NRL night-time attendance figures to shame.
SINNER
ASADA, Todd Carney, a possible wooden-spoon and now a high profile player, Andrew Fifita, allegedly involved in road rage. This boofhead should be heavily fined by the Sharks for making a difficult year even worse.
SHOOSH
There is a very understandable reason why one big-name NRL player has been struggling in recent times.
His brother was recently arrested in a drug bust and faces a lengthy stretch behind bars.
GIVING AND GETTING LIP
World Cup-winning soccer coach Marcello Lippi has had an eventful few days in Sydney for the Asian Champions League. He not only stormed onto the field to remonstrate with the referee but also got an official warning from staff at the Parramatta Novatel for lighting up a cigar in his non-smoking room.
BRATH FULL OF BEANS
Braith Anasta has wasted no time preparing for life after footy.
As well as inking a new three-year deal with Fox Sports, the Wests Tigers veteran, who will retire this season, has undertaken a barista’s course so that he can serve coffee at his mother’s restaurant, The Boatshed, in La Perouse.
HADLEY MAKES THE CALL
Ray Hadley will return to radio calling in the coming weeks. He’ll work at the NRL grand final with the Continuous Call team and the week before at the NSWRL grand final. Station owner John Singleton has been at Hadley for two years to do more calling on his radio station and it seems he’s getting his way.
GOLDEN SMILE
We’re loving a tweet from ESPN during the week to promote the upcoming gridiron season with a picture of Dolphins star Louis Delmas and what is surely the world’s most expensive set of Barry Beath. They are all gold plated.
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