What’s the Buzz? HowJohn Singleton and Ray Hadley make a splash at their ultimate lunch date

HAPPY, carefree bachelors John Singleton and Ray Hadley landed the ultimate lunchdate.....by gatecrashing.

THIS is how two of Sydney’s wealthiest and most eligible bachelors spend their Saturday afternoons.

John Singleton and Ray Hadley yesterday made their way to exclusive water-access only restaurant, Peats Bite, on the Hawkesbury.

They go there on Singo’s luxury cruiser, thankfully with a skipper, because neither was in any condition to get the boat back to Singo’s home at Killcare by late afternoon.

Former Manpower hunk and now American TV star Jamie Durie was supposed to join them but sent his apologies and baield at the last moment.

At first glance you could be fooled into thinking Hadley’s recent pleas on his top rating radio program for female companions for himself and his boss had the desired effect.

Not so.

This glamorous group of ladies were at the restaurant enjoying a 40th birthday party before the old guys gatecrashed it.

American singer Madonna performs onstage at the Cardiff Millennium Stadium on August 23

MADONNA AND AN ORDINARY GUY

IT’S 30 years since Guy Leech emerged as an unheralded teenager from Manly to win the first Coolangatta Gold.

The race is on again next weekend and the old champ has some wonderful stories
to tell of his days as a personal trainer to the stars, including Madonna.

“I worked out that after training with Madonna for a week she had the mindset of a professional athlete,” Leech says.

“Super-disciplined, structured and organised. It was all about ticking the boxes. Our first session was at Double Bay and she was staying at the Ritz-Carlton. “We were going to meet at 5am so we could get out in the dark before anyone could see her.

“They had security tailing us. I got there 15 minutes early and she was already doing stretching exercises in reception.”

Wendy Harmer & Des Hasler, and Noel Cleal

EAGLES WANT CRUSHER BACK

MANLY want to bring home rugby league’s No. 1 talent scout Noel “Crusher” Cleal to help rebuild the embattled club.

It’s a daring move that will put the Sea Eagles in direct conflict with former coach Des Hasler, who poached Cleal when he left for the Bulldogs three years ago.

While Cleal is fiercely loyal to Hasler, he still lives on the northern beaches, is close to the players and is a club legend from his playing days.

Clean and Hasler rebuilt Manly from an absolute rabble in 2004 to win two premierships. He’s under contract at the Bulldogs but it won’t stop Manly from putting out feelers.

Sharks have reservations about bringing Barba to the Shire.

EPIC HURDLE TO A BARBA MOVE

SHARKS bosses have reservations about any overtures to bring former Dally M champion Ben Barba to the Shire.

Barba lived in Caringbah while playing for the Bulldogs and got himself involved with that lovely mob, the Epic Bender Crew.

Even if Shane Flanagan wants to sign him, the comeback coach will have trouble convincing the board it is in the club’s best interest.

B-MOS JUST A REBEL WITHOUT A CLAUSE

THE real reason Brett Morris walked out on the Dragons is that he felt he had been ripped off. Three years ago, the Test winger signed at below market value with a guarantee his next contract would be upgraded and back-ended. It never was. When he went to negotiate a new deal,
recruitment staff used the old excuse — we have salary cap problems. Not surprisingly he left to join his twin brother at the Bulldogs.

Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold has had a week of lashing out Picture Gregg Porteous

GALLOP HAS A GENTLE TIP FOR ANGRY ARNIE

SYDNEY FC coach Graham Arnold has been on angry pills, spraying everyone in sight.

His targets have included referees, the FFA Cup schedule and the match review panel. Arnie is
also seething about the A-League playing matches in FIFA breaks and having to do Fox Sports interviews during games.

It makes for good showbiz and theatre but leaves Arnie looking a little fragile.

On Friday night at Suncorp Stadium, FFA boss David Gallop was spotted in deep conversation with Arnie in the players’ tunnel, probably reminding him that he once fined Melbourne Storm $50,000 for criticising the NRL judiciary.

FREDDIE PLANS BIG BASH WITH PUNTER

FREDDIE Flintoff will be a fantastic addition to Channel 10s Big Bash commentary team this summer. He told the network’s new Thursday night sports show he was looking forward to working alongside old enemy Ricky Ponting.

“He looks like he’s changed a bit now, he looks like he’s got a new head of hair, he looks like he smiles a lot more so maybe we can take our
relationship to the next level,” Flintoff said. “I’m looking
forward to that.”

Queensland Events is suddenly in hot pursuit of English Premier League giants Liverpool to play in Brisbane.

SUNDAY BEST

SAINT

NRL boss Dave Smith cops plenty of flak, but he’s got a big heart when it comes to grassroots rugby league. He received a personal email from junior club De La Salle last week asking for auction items for a fundraiser for a seriously injured player. Within three hours he replied with a promise of four Origin tickets to next year’s game in Melbourne.

SINNER

THIS columnist has been Paul Gallen’s biggest supporter for a decade in every tackle, every metre and every moment in a Cronulla Sharks jersey. It’s hard, though, to keep defending a man behaving so irrationally on social media. It’s time he pulled his head in.

SHOOSH

THE Sharks have sounded out Rabbitohs boss Shane Richardson about their vacant CEO job. Richardson is a former Cronulla boss but is under contract at South Sydney.

SHOOSH II

WHICH superstar winger is being shopped around to rival NRL clubs because he desperately wants to play fullback.

SHOOSH III

TWO NRL players did their future Kangaroo hopes no favours with their juvenile behaviour on the recent tour to Papua New Guinea.

MOST PAINFUL CUT

ST GEORGE Illawarra boss Peter Doust has more on his mind than losing winger Brett Morris and the club’s salary-cap dramas. Doust entered hospital during the week for a total knee reconstruction after an injury he suffered playing tennis.

POLLIES ON RED ALERT

POLITICIANS love big sports events because they can connect with the common man.

That might explain why Queensland Events, just months from a state election, is suddenly in hot pursuit of English Premier League giants Liverpool to play in Brisbane.

It’s not good news for Destination NSW and Sydney fans, who have enjoyed the visits of Manchester United and Juventus in the past two years. The competition to land this tour is red-hot.

DOG’S HOSPITAL FOOD

GREAT to see Michael Ennis hasn’t forgot his Bulldogs mate Josh Reynolds, delivering Maccas to the five-eighth’s hospital bed as he recovers from shoulder surgery.