What’s the Buzz: Jason Taylor sacks three Wests Tigers legends in one week

WHAT’S the Buzz: New Wests Tigers coach Jason Taylor has sacked three club legends from his coaching staff in his first week in the job.

NEW Wests Tigers coach Jason Taylor has sacked three club legends from his coaching staff in his first week in the job.

Steve ‘Blocker’ Roach, Paul Sironen and John Skandalis have been told their services are not required as Taylor and his general manager of football Phil Moss begin a major overhaul of the entire football department.

Skandalis has been sacked as the team’s strength and conditioning coach just three days after being awarded the club’s highest honour — life membership.

And former champion second-rower Sironen, who now has two sons playing in his old colours, says he is disappointed.

“New coach, new football manager and new ideas … there’s nothing I can do about it,” Sironen said, “That’s the direction they are going and I’m one of the casualties.

“But I’ll be honest in saying it’s left me with a bitter taste in my mouth.

“I’ve got a gut feel that if you’ve got anything to do with the Balmain side of the merger you’ve got a target on you.

“Having said that it’s all about results I really hope they can turn things around.”

These Wests Tigers legend have been sacked.

Roach too admitted he was upset by the call after such a long and distinguished career at the club.

He launched into the Wests Tigers management and skipper Robbie Farrah recently which obviously didn’t go down well.

“But I’ll move on — I’ve got plenty to do,” Roach said.

Skandalis, who was awarded life membership at the club’s presentation night a week ago, accepted the decision like the great clubman that he is.

He at least has been offered another job.

“JT wants to bring in his own team which is understandable,” Skandalis said.

“I was a bit disappointed at first but Grant Mayer (CEO) rang me later in the week and is looking to place me in another position at the club.

“I’ll always do what’s best for the Wests Tigers.”

FROM TEARS TO CHEERS FOR A BUNNY TRAGIC

THE beauty of rugby league is the emotion and high and lows that go with being a fanatical supporter. Few clubs have ridden the roller-coaster quite like the Rabbitohs.

Below is Jordan Lipson, then aged eight, being comforted by his mum when Souths were kicked out and lost their court case in 2000.

Jordan Lipson aged 8.

And here he is again at ANZ Stadium 14 years later, celebrating last Sunday night’s victory.

Rabbitohs fan Jordan Lipson celebrates.

AUSSIE JOE’S HEART SCARE

FORMER heavyweight champ and much-loved celebrity Aussie Joe Bugner is recovering in a Gold Coast hospital from a heart attack.

The former world-rated boxer, who fought Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, is showing the same courage that was his trademark inside the ring.

“I’m not about to hang my gloves up,” Aussie Joe said from his hospital bed at Griffith University on Saturday. “I’m 64 but there’s still a few years left in me yet.”

Aussie Joe was diagnosed with type-two diabetes last year, a condition that led to the heart disease.

“I’ve just got to be careful with what I eat and drink,” he said. “Any heart attack is serious but I’m not about to give up on my life.”

HINDY AND FLETCH STAYING AT FOX

Nathan Hindmarsh and Bryan Fletcher.

AFTER months of negotiations, Nathan Hindmarsh and Bryan Fletcher have agreed to new contracts at Fox Sports.

The pair will sign three-year up­graded deals this week. Such was their success and popularity this year, there was understandable interest from a free-to-air network ­before the deal was done to ­remain at the pay-TV network.

COLEMAN GETS CARRIED AWAY

THE whole of Sydney has been swept away by Souths’ ­inspirational grand final win over Canterbury, as Rabbitohs legend Craig Coleman found out late last Sunday night.

“I was walking out of ANZ Stadium when a dozen Souths fans charged at me, picked me up, hoisted me over their shoulders and carried me for 20 metres ­singing Glory Glory to South Sydney,” Coleman said.

“It was unreal. In all my life, I’d never seen anything like it.”

FASTEST COACH ON THE PLANET

YOU would swear South Sydney assistant coach Mark Ellison was a former winger judging by his speed to get a start in the Rabbitohs’ team photo after the grand final.

The Daily Telegraph’s victory poster featured Ellison celebrating with the players, but no sign of head coach Michael Maguire.

BOOTS FIT FOR BUNNY

SOUTHS halfback Adam Reynolds has become the ­hottest property in the game.

Not only is his contract up at the Rabbitohs next season, but his boots sponsorship with Nike expired after the grand final.

Nike, Adidas, Puma and Asics are all expected to bid now he is regarded as the best goal-kicker in the NRL.

SAINT

SOCCER boss Frank Lowy has confirmed he’ll respect the rules and stand down as FFA chairman in November next year, even though the game is booming under his regime. Lowy has done a sensational job for the sport for almost a decade in the chair. He is irreplaceable.

SINNER

THE death of Ford in V8 racing. Bathurst just won’t be the same without the great rivalry and tradition of Holden versus Ford.

LACKING IN BACKS

ST GEORGE Illawarra could be flat out fielding a backline next year. Not only is their best player Brett Morris heading to the Bulldogs but centre Gerard Beale is close to doing a deal with the Warriors.

SPOTTED

AFL supremo Gil McLachlan in his board shorts enjoying a schooner at Noosa Surf Club.

PIGGINS’ PRIVATE CHAT

GEORGE Piggins sent an email to Michael Maguire on Monday to congratulate him on the grand final victory but insists the contents will remain private.

REF CAM GOES GLOBAL

FOX Sports has won a major global award for its introduction of Ref Cam in the NRL this season. The internationally-recognised Sportel Golden Podium Awards gave Fox Sports the gong for best innovation this year.

REAL, ARSENAL IN THE GUN

MANCHESTER United, Liverpool, Juventus. Who’s next in the Euro invasion of Australia’s winter? Soccer insiders tell us that Real Madrid and Arsenal are among the big clubs seriously looking at Aussie stopovers next July.

THIS BEAU KNOWS FISHING

Beau Scott doing some fishing.

THERE’S no stopping Knights and Origin forward Beau Scott when it comes to fishing. We showed you the photo recently of the giant flathead he caught on Lake Macquarie. Now he’s landed another monster — a massive Mahi Mahi off the coast of Newcastle.