Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: Molan’s role expands, Coyne walks out on Flanno talks
Having just given birth to her first child, Erin Molan is set for a bigger role with Channel Nine, Mark Coyne forced to walk out of his first NRL commission meeting and Sam Kerr comes to Australia’s rescue.
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Having just given birth to her first child, Erin Molan is set for a bigger role with Channel Nine, Mark Coyne forced to walk out of his first NRL commission meeting and Sam Kerr comes to Australia’s rescue.
SAINT
The appointment of Sam Kerr as captain of the Matildas for our World Cup campaign. New skipper, new coach, new belief. And, if body language counts for anything, a much happier playing squad.
SAINTS
Our columnist has been the harshest critic of the NRL hierarchy but the powerful leadership of CEO Todd Greenberg, chairman Peter Beattie and integrity unit boss Nick Weeks on player misbehaviour and alleged violence against women has been just outstanding.
SINNER
The playing surface at Kogarah Oval is so bad there is talk the NRL may have to switch the Dragons’ round 2 Thursday night blockbuster on March 21 against South Sydney Rabbitohs to another venue. A disgrace.
SHOOSH
Which injured (and high profile) NRL player was spotted drinking beers at a trial game last week while his teammates were hard at work? Not a good look from someone who is supposed to be injured.
SPOTTED
Racing legend Kenny Callander, Beau Scott and former surfing champ Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew at a Coogee Surf Club fundraiser on Friday.
SPOTTED II
Hall of Fame boxer Jeff Fenech having dinner with ex-Panthers forward and Sydney developer Lou Zivanovic at The Establishment.
SPOTTED III
Former PM John Howard at a farewell dinner for retiring St George Illawarra CEO Peter Doust at Verde restaurant. McGuigan Wines boss Neil McGuigan presented Doust with a magnum of 2010 Shiraz to acknowledge the Dragons’ premiership victory that year.
SPOTTED IV
Former Dragons, NSW and Australia prop Michael Weyman enjoying a beer at Blues Point Tavern. Weyman was part of the 2010 premiership-winning side
COYNE WALKS OUT ON FLANNO TALKS
Maroons State of Origin legend Mark Coyne had to walk out of his first independent commission meeting on Thursday over a conflict of interest.
While the commissioners were discussing the case and punishment of his close mate and former Sharks coach Shane Flanagan, Coyne got out of his seat and left the room.
“I am good friends with Flanno,” Coyne said, “so I decided not to sit in on those discussions. “There could have been a perception of bias if I’d stayed or if I’d have to vote on it.”
Coyne was also torn over the decision to have to ban Jack de Belin from his old club
St George Illawarra.
“My initial view was innocent until proven guilty,” he said.
“But when you overlay the thoughts of supporters, sponsors and media partners, and keeping the game sustainable from a financial point of view, that had to be the overriding position.
“It hurt because I’m a fan of the club but I had to remove myself from that and make a decision in the best interests of the game.”
MOLAN SET FOR BIGGER ROLE
Network Nine has promoted Erin Molan to a more prominent hosting role this season on Friday night football following the demise of The Footy Show.
The network is heavily relying on the talented presenter to arrest a ratings slump from last season with the addition of stars Johnathan Thurston and Billy Slater to their live game coverage and a bigger female presence via Ruan Sims and Allana Ferguson.
“It was mixed feelings a few months ago with the end of an era at the Footy Show,” Molan said. “But ultimately it’s part and parcel of being in television.”
Molan, who also works on 2GB’s Continuous Call team, has learned how to juggle being a new mum with huge media responsibilities in a rugby league investment worth hundreds of millions to the network.
“Last year was a big one in many ways,” she said. “I had no idea what to expect when it came to having my first child — to do it mid-season and go back to work so quickly was a steep learning curve. I know how blessed I am to do a job I love and have a beautiful, healthy baby.
“I learnt a lot about myself and about what really matters in life.”
BROCKBUSTER!
We’ve seen some fantastic young fighters in Australian boxing over the years but few with the skill and talent of bantamweight Brock ‘The Rock’ Jarvis. The nephew of former NRL warhorse Pat Jarvis is trained by three-time world champion Jeff Fenech. On Friday night, Jarvis, 21, took his record to 16 fights, 16 wins (15KOs) by knocking out Filipino southpaw Philip Luis Cuerdo to claim the IBF youth bantamweight world title. He is something special.
RETURN OF STRAIGHT AND SLIPPERY
We’re loving the new Fox League TV advertisement and the roles of Straight Benny (Ikin) and Slippery Pauly (Kent) who are preparing for their comeback NRL show on Monday night. Your columnist will join the boys for the opening show of the year to discuss all the big off-season issues.
REUNION OF LEGENDS
Four of the heroes from Manly’s grand final victory in 2011 held a mini-reunion on the northern beaches last week. The once inseparable Anthony Watmough, Kieran Foran, Glenn and Brett Stewart enjoyed lunch at the Brookvale Hotel to reminisce about the good old days. Foran, who hasn’t touched a drink since Christmas, settled for mineral water.
BRONCOS COFFEE FOR COMMENT
Brisbane Broncos are trying to improve their relationship with the media by encouraging players to be more open with journalists. The club has even introduced a weekly in-house media award where a $20 coffee shop voucher goes to the player who does the best to promote the club.
First-up winner is the notoriously shy Anthony Milford, who is normally wary of journos. He turned up for the Broncos’ media open day last week, even though he wasn’t playing this weekend and didn’t have to be there.
RACE-DAY ICONS
You have to admire old footy players putting back into sport. South Sydney greats Ron Coote and Bob McCarthy will head a wonderful list of former league champions attending the Tuncurry Forster Jockey Club Men of League day on Saturday.
Other stars trackside include Harry Wells, Ziggy Niszczot, Dennis Tutty and John Baker. “It’s coastal country racing at its best,” TFJC president Garry McQuillan said.
GAYLE ON THE OUTER
Cricket’s No.1 excitement machine Chris Gayle is still on the outer with Sydney’s Big Bash clubs Thunder and Sixers. Despite the desperate need to add personality players to a competition that put fans to sleep over summer, Gayle apparently still carries too much old baggage.
This is the guy who smashed 162 runs, including 14 sixes, off 96 balls against the Poms last week.
THE BIG O’S 15 TO 1
The great players since 1970 who would have excelled at Twenty20 cricket
15. GARY GILMOUR: A genuine all-rounder who, in a semi-final of the 1975 World Cup, claimed 6-14 and then top scored with 28 not out to guide Australia to victory.
14. JOEL GARNER: The most difficult bowler to score off in limited-over cricket, conceding just three runs an over.
13. TONY GREIG: A hard-hitting batsman who once took 13 wickets in a Test match with a variety of medium pace and spin.
12. MALCOLM MARSHALL: Arguably the greatest bowler of his era and the scorer of 11,000 first-class runs.
11. DAVID HOOKES: An explosive batsman who held the world record for the fastest first-class century scored off just 34 balls.
10. BARRY RICHARDS: One of the greatest opening batsman of all who scored 300 runs in a day against a West Australian attack that included Dennis Lillee.
9. MIKE PROCTOR: Scored 48 centuries and took more than 1400 wickets during a stellar career in first-class cricket.
8. RICHARD HADLEE: The Kiwis’ greatest player. His record at Test level with the ball was sublime while he was also a very useful batsman who scored two Test centuries.
7. GRAEME POLLOCK: Averaged more than 60 in Tests and, at the age of 42, scored a breathtaking 100 against the 1985 rebel Australians treating Alderman, Hogg and Hohns with contempt.
6. KAPIL DEV: At the World Cup in 1983 when India were 5-17, he scored a masterful 175 to win the match. Did I mention he has 434 Test wickets on his resume?
5. IAN BOTHAM: Scored many a Test 100 at a run-a-ball and took 1172 first-class wickets.
4. WASIM AKRAM: The greatest left-arm fast bowler in history. Also was used as a pinch-hitter and scorer of a Test double century.
3. IMRAN KHAN: Match-winner with either bat or ball and one of the great captains.
2. VIVIAN RICHARDS: Without a shadow of a doubt the greatest batsman of his generation in all forms of the game.
1. GARFIELD SOBERS: The first player to hit six sixes in an over, he was three cricketers rolled into one. A magnificent batsman, medium fast bowler who bowled wrist spin. Sobers would send an IPL auction into meltdown
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