What’s the Buzz: Let Shane Warne rest in peace; Scott Morrison’s NRL freebies
The stoush over the cost of Shane Warne’s funeral at the MCG last year, the trio of banished NRL stars making all the right moves in the bush and more in Saint, Sinner, Shoosh.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Former Liberal Prime Minister and league tragic Scott Morrison is still tight with NRL bosses, long after losing the top job.
ScoMo was given 12 free tickets by the NRL for the Cronulla Sharks match against the Parramatta Eels at CommBank Stadium back in March.
It shows up on his parliamentary declaration of interests.
Turns out Sco Mo was there with family and friends, including mates from the Horsley Park Rural Fire Service, who he has kept in touch with since the Black Summer bushfires.
Horlsey Park RFS captain, Darren Notion, is a big Eels fan and has previously gone to Sharks v Parramatta games with ScoMo.
On the night the NRL was not using its corporate box, so they gave it to the former PM.
It wasn’t catered or staffed.
* * * * *
SAINT
You’ve got to admire Ben Hunt’s loyalty to his embattled coach Anthony Griffin. Good on him for expressing his true feelings rather than dodge questions from the media. Jackson Hastings was bagged for doing the same thing in supporting Michael Maguire at Wests Tigers.
SINNER
The stoush over the cost of Shane Warne’s funeral at the MCG last year. We’re talking about a cricket legend who brought squillions into the Victorian economy in Boxing Day Tests, ODIs and the Big Bash. Let the great man rest in peace.
SPOTTED
Former Aussie spinner and Fox Sports caller Kerry O’Keeffe pounding the streets of Mortdale, looking in outstanding shape at age 73.
SPOTTED
A blood splattered boxing referee Will Soulas (above) after the IBO World Cruiserweight title fight in which Australia’s Floyd Masson beat Italian Fabio Turchi in an absolutely brutal contest.
SPOTTED
League legend Laurie Daley, celebrity publican Bobby Tate and player agent Steve Gillis celebrating the retirement of Alan Stephenson after 28 years at Harvey Norman at Souths Juniors. Stevo is well known for his generosity and support of the Family of League organisation and other good causes.
SPOTTED
It’s a tough life for some. Roosters boss and golfing tragic Joe Kelly spent a week at the US Masters in Augusta. Here he is — off a TV grab — at the 14th tee in the final round, watching the winner Jon Rahm.
SPOTTED
Penrith’s junior league nursery just keeps on getting stronger. Their Harold Matthews Under 17s played Canterbury, who finished second on the ladder, last week. They flogged them 52-6.
SHOOSH
Which player manager with some of the biggest names in rugby league is on the verge of retirement. It will spark a feeding frenzy among other agents to sign up his talent.
* * * * *
Tim Simona, Blake Ferguson and Curtis Scott were once worth a combined $2m as elite NRL footballers, before being exiled from the game.
The three former bad boys have now teamed up at bush footy club Thirlmere Roosters in Group 6 where they earn about $1000 a week rather than the big money contracts.
For the rest of the week Simona is a disability carer while Ferguson and Scott have labouring jobs installing electrical cables for NxGen.
Ferguson scored 28 points in the Roosters’ recent victory over the Narellan Jets from three tries, and eight goals from 11 attempts. Co-coach Darren McLeod can’t speak highly enough of Ferguson, 33, Simona, 31, and Scott, 25.
This is about football and not their past misdemeanours.
“It is actually a tremendous thing for bush footy,” McLeod said.
“By playing in this comp these guys are encouraging young kids to take up rugby league.
“People can say we’ve got all these NRL stars but last week we had 10 local juniors in our starting line-up. These guys mix in so well with the locals.”
Their wages are paid by private sponsors and gate-takings from locals who just love their footy.
Ferguson – a Dally M winger of the year and Harry Sunderland medallist – has played for Canberra, Cronulla, the Roosters, Parramatta, the NSW Blues and Australia.
“This is more of a hobby, having some fun and giving back to rugby league,” Ferguson said. “I enjoy playing in the different towns rather than big stadiums. I deadset love it.”
Simona was banned from the NRL in 2017 for gambling on matches.
He’s still hoping there might be an opportunity in the English Super League one day.
Scott was banned by the NRL after being convicted of assaulting his former partner.
He is playing five-eighth and making a huge impression.
“Curtis is like a third coach,” McLeod said. “He’s played under Craig Bellamy and Ricky Stuart.
“He’s passing on all the tips from what he’s learnt under those guys.
“We’re really happy to have all three of them.”
* * * * *
The younger sister of South Sydney Rabbitohs forward Keaon Koloamatangi is making a huge impression in rugby league.
Kylani Koloamatangi, 17, is an edge forward – like her brother – in the Canterbury Bulldogs’ undefeated Tarsha Gale Cup team and headed towards NRLW.
She runs the football with a strikingly similar action and with just as much force.
Kylani is also a champion junior swimmer who recently won a gold medal at the national age championships.
Last month she won three golds at the Sydney East Swimming Championships, then dashed off to Belmore for footy training.
The teenager has now put swimming on hold to concentrate on rugby league.
The sporting bloodlines run thick and fast in the family.
Their elder sister Kailah, 31, is a former national swimming and surf lifesaving champion.
“We’re so proud of them all,” says mum Nicole, who was a netballer, swimmer and water polo player.
Dad Isi played in Souths junior rugby league for more than a decade.
* * * * *
Most NRL forwards at 32 years of age are getting towards the end of their footy careers.
St George Illawarra star Jack de Belin is a different story. He had two years off while fighting – and beating – sexual assault charges.
In three seasons (2019 to 2021) he played only 11 games of football.
That he missed more than two seasons means his body is in much better shape than players his same age.
De Belin is now a free agent and continues to weigh up all options at the Dragons.
He has an option for 2024 in his favour and has another six weeks before he needs to make a decision.
Although a calf injury slowed his progress in the opening rounds, De Belin is now playing well and will no doubt attract interest from other clubs.
The fact that the Dragons supported him in his toughest years will no doubt work in their favour.
* * * * *
* * * * *
The North Queensland Cowboys are not about to lose emerging coach Dean Young without a fight.
The former St George-Illawarra hooker and son of club legend Craig Young has been mentioned among the top candidates to replace Anthony Griffin.
He has been Todd Payten’s assistant at the Cowboys for two years.
The Cowboys have already begun negotiating a new long-term deal with Young in the hope he will reject any overtures from the Dragons.
Young is understood to be extremely happy in North Queensland and was instrumental in their return to form last season.
The Canberra Raiders might be in danger of losing their best player Jack Wighton – but it’s not all bad news in the national capital.
In a huge boost for the club, teenage sensation Chevy Stewart has signed a new four-year contract.
The youngster started the year in S.G Ball before advancing to Jersey Flegg and now NSW Cup.
He is playing fullback in NSW Cup ahead of NRL star Xavier Savage.
Stewart was rated the number one junior in rugby league last year in a Daily Telegraph Top 50.
He is a Cronulla Sharks junior who attended Endeavour Sports High.
At least six NRL clubs were chasing him last year before he settled on the Canberra Raiders.
* * * * *
Roosters enforcer Victor Radley won’t be available to play for the NSW Blues in this year’s State of Origin series because he played for England at the World Cup.
New qualification rules are being drawn up to allow all players who played their junior football in Australia to qualify for Origin. Yet it won’t be done in time for this year’s series.
NRL Rich 100: Walsh among nine snubbed Maroons stars
Reece Walsh is among a posse of Queensland Origin stars that didn’t make the 2024 Rich 100 list, in proof that big bucks doesn’t guarantee big-name performances. See the analysis of notable omissions and underperforming inclusions.
Coach unleashes blistering NRL attack
Outgoing Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett has taken aim at the NRL as he launched a scathing attack on the controversial Bunker system.