Parramatta take first step in rebuilding process appointing new head of football
THE NRL only backed down on the Bulldogs’ $250,000 Mad Monday fine after club boss Lynne Anderson took officials to task over their weak stance on the Sam Burgess sexting scandal. PLUS: Haka security scare and Eels sign new football boss.
- Can Cronk make miracle comeback?
- The sacrifices that remade Fergo
- Maguire wants Broncos job
- The secret of Melbourne’s grand final plans
WEDNESDAY night’s unscripted Haka at the Dally Ms will forever be one of the most stunning moments in rugby league.
But it almost had dire consequences. Moments after Prime Minister Scott Morrison presented Roger Tuivasa-Sheck with the medal on stage, Warriors teammate Issac Luke stood and took off his jacket and pulled out his shirt to begin the Haka.
Warriors teammate Jazz Tevaga (Interchange Player of the Year), Canberra winger Jordan Rapana and Brisbane’s newly-crowned rookie of the year Jamayne Isaako immediately stood and joined in, just as the PM left the stage.
At the first roar of Luke’s war cry, just for a fraction of a second, the Prime Minister’s security detail reacted as they were trained to do.
So much so, a floor manager off stage hit the deck fearing a terrorist attack was happening
EELS FILL THEIR BUCKETS
FORMER Wests Tigers captain Mark “Buckets” O’Neill is set to land the newly created Parramatta head of football role in the first major change for the Eels.
Parramatta have completed their much publicised review into its football operations with the findings expected to be released as soon as next week.
Part of that process included filling a head of football position. O’Neill has emerged as the frontrunner for the role which will take some pressure away from coach Brad Arthur.
Arthur has been spread too thin in recent season as a result of an understaffed Eels organisation.
O’Neill skippered the Tigers 2005 premiership winning side. He resigned as the Tigers football manager in 2016 following a short stint after allegations of inappropriate behaviour. Before that he had spent eight years working with the NRL.
O’Neill played 12 seasons in the NRL from 1994 to 2005, before spending two years in England.
It’s not every day you get an invite into the Prime Minister’s residence at Kirribilli House.
Colleague Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield got a start among Cronulla Sharks players and families ScoMo invited for an end-of-season get-together.
The PM will be at Sunday’s grand final as a guest of the NRL. ScoMo is certainly enjoying his involvement in league. On Wednesday, he was the first Prime Minister since 2005 to announce the PM’s XIII side to take on PNG next month — a team which he had a hand in picking. Later that night he fronted up without fuss for the Dally Ms.
● ● ●
PAUL Gallen’s shoulder injury is so serious that even if the Sharks had beaten Melbourne last Friday he was no chance of playing in Sunday’s grand final. Gallen is expected to resist shoulder surgery which would have potentially delayed the start to his NRL campaign next year in what is his final season. A bout with former NRL player John Hopoate is now unlikely.
CROFT THE SENSIBLE ONE
NOT only is Brodie Croft the general on the field, roommates Curtis Scott and Brandon Smith have dubbed the half the “stable” one of their household.
The trio, along with fellow Storm squad member Scott Drinkwater, moved into a house at the start of the year.
“Curtis Scott’s the pest in the household,” Smith said. “He is always trying to scare you. You can never walk around the house without being alert.
“You never know what wall he is hiding behind.
“It’s good we’ve got Brodie keeping things stable and Drinky (Drinkwater) in there making things fun.”
Scott confirmed he deserved the pest moniker while Croft “is the cleaner and cook”.
“There is never a dull moment,” Scott said. “Drinky and I are probably the pests. Brandon does his own thing. Nothing fazes him and he is pretty cruisy.
“We do get stuck into Crofty a little bit, stirring him up.
“The three of us stood next to each other in the team photo (on Monday). It was a surreal feeling. We just said to each other how unreal it was. I’m playing with two of my best mates on the biggest stage.”
SHOW ME THE MEDAL
BRITTANY Breayley won the Dally M Women’s Player of the Year on Wednesday. But she wasn’t presented with her medal until she was offstage after the NRL forgot to bring the medal up to the dias.
DOGS BOSS LYNNE SHOWS HER BITE
CANTERBURY Bulldogs boss Lynne Anderson doesn’t mince words and was on the front foot in letting the NRL know what she thought of the Integrity Unit’s alarming lack of consistency.
Anderson put the NRL firmly in its place about its heavy-handed treatment of the Bulldogs surrounding their Mad Monday dramas stemming from September 3, and the weak action taken against South Sydney, who were allowed to get away with a “nothing to see here” defence of the recent “sexting” scandal that engulfed the Rabbitohs’ club.
So much so, it was a key reason the Dogs had their fine halved from $250,000 to $125,000.
HUNGRY FOR A KLEMMER BURGER?
CANTERBURY firebrand David Klemmer was hoping he would have been preparing to deliver the Bulldogs a premiership this week. Instead he teamed up with Deliveroo to cook, and then deliver, the first “Klemmer Burger” at the Burger Project in the city.
The burger is made up of grass-fed beef, loads of bacon, cheese, onion, pickles, BBQ and Tabasco sauce and it’s on sale until Sunday..
Klemmer will be part of Mal Meninga’s PM’s XIII team to take on Papua New Guinea next week.
HE may have missed out on a grand final appearance but Jahrome Hughes is set to be awarded with a contract extension. Hughes was on standby to replace Billy Slater if the Storm fullback was suspended at the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night. While he will be watching from the stands on Sunday, Hughes is set to be an NRL regular next year adding another two years to his deal which was set to expire at the end of next year.
● ● ●
FORMER Gold Coast coach Neil Henry will make his coaching return after being appointed coach of the Junior Kangaroos. Henry will travel to PNG with the PM’s XIII side which features a host of Junior Kangaroos. Henry — who was linked to the role at Manly — has not coached since being dumped by the Titans last year.
● ● ●
MELBOURNE have been unable to use their regular Sydney base in Coogee in the lead-up to the grand final. Instead the squad have been staying at the InterContinental Sydney before they relocate to Homebush.
THE SECRET TO ROBBO’S SUCCESS
ROOSTERS coach Trent Robinson said lifting the premiership trophy is the ultimate prize but there are other factors to having a successful football club.
The Roosters secured their fourth minor premiership in six years as they look to add a second title in that time frame on Sunday.
“(Winning the NRL) is the goal of any team,” Robinson said. “There is only one goal each football year.
“Both clubs are really proud of picking up minor premierships along the way
“Sport around the world in consistency of teams are measured by the amount of wins over the course of the season. It shows the quality of your club not just your team. I’m really proud of that. “There are other bits (such as) developing people, the environment around a club, the affect you have of lives and the community. Rugby league is bigger than just on the weekends but at the day you’ve got to win a comp.
“That’s what you’re here to do. That’s the ultimate prize but you better not forget the others on the way.”
● ● ●
THERE will be plenty of cheer should the Roosters win the comp. The players have made a pact to ban the booze in their quest for an NRL premiership. The Chooks have been off the drink for about six weeks.
SHOOSH: WHICH star player was overheard trying to entice a rival player to join his club in the aftermath of Wednesday night’s Dally M Awards. The would-be teammates were heard discussing the move, which included the player telling the potential recruit that he would line-up a chat with the coach to make it happen.
SHOOSH II: WHICH player has ruled himself out of Kangaroos contention because of a pre-planned holiday?
CIRALDO ON THE FRONT FOOT
CARETAKER Panthers coach Cameron Ciraldo isn’t sitting idle waiting to see whether Penrith give him the top job on a full-time basis.
The 33-year-old, who fell just short of guiding the Pennys to a preliminary final, will embark on a solo fact-finding mission to New York next month and a behind-the-scenes look at NFL side the Jets.
At 194cm, Ciraldo won’t look out of place at Madison Square Garden where he plans to catch the NBA clash between the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets, before joining wife Kim and their five kids for a holiday in Hawaii.
Get ready for cricket like never before. FREE Sport HD + Entertainment until the first 4K cricket ball as part of 3 months free on a 12 month plan. SIGN UP TODAY. T&Cs apply.
Gus’ ‘doctored’ claim ignites NRL conspiracy
The NRL Grand Final’s controversial no try scandal has taken a wild turn despite the game releasing the angle the decision was based on.
Kangaroos selection shocks: NRL legends’ Test careers appear over
Mal Meninga has dropped a major selection bombshell by overlooking both James Tedesco and Kalyn Ponga for Kangaroos selection, with the list of surprise omissions and debutants not ending there. See the full squad.