Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: Angus Crichton headed back to rugby, Wayne Bennett v Nathan Tinkler
Haumole Olakau’atu and Manly have begun talks on a massive contract extension which could be worth as much as $6m. Don’t miss Phil Rothfield’s Saint, Sinner, Shoosh.
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Manly has begun talks to lock down explosive edge forward Haumole Olakau’atu on a seven-year contract worth around the $6m mark.
Both Sea Eagles chief executive Tony Mestrov and player agent Mario Tartak have confirmed that negotiations are under way to keep Olakau’atu at Brookvale until 2030.
The 24-year-old is regarded among the best edge forwards in the competition alongside the likes of Liam Martin, David Fifita, Billy Kikau, Keaon Koloamatangi and Tyson Frizell.
Olakau’atu is already under contract for another two seasons at Manly but is on below-market value at $500,000-a-season.
Mestrov’s plan is to upgrade his deal for the next two seasons then extend for another five years. The new contract averages out at around $850,000 a season.
This player is not just a powerhouse but has extraordinary skills. Last week against the Tigers, he picked up a loose ball off his feet at full speed to set up a try.
Unbelievable for such a big unit.
ANOTHER ROOSTER HEADED TO RUGBY
The Sydney Roosters are on the verge of losing their second star player to Rugby Australia in just six months.
Edge forward Angus Crichton is tipped to join teammate Joseph Suaalii in a Wallabies jersey from next year.
Colleague Michael Carayannis and your columnist have had it confirmed from multiple sources that the code-switch is set to happen.
Crichton was an Australian Schoolboys rugby star before switching to rugby league with the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2015.
He played three seasons in the Scots College First XV, winning the prestigious GPS title in 2013.
Crichton is still under contract to the Roosters for next season and has been offered an extension.
Officials are impressed by the manner in which he has fought back from being diagnosed with bipolar earlier this year after returning from the World Cup.
He missed the pre-season and first two months of the season while in recovery.
Crichton’s manager David Rawlings declined to comment when contacted by this masthead.
It is understood he has been in talks with Rugby Australia for several weeks.
Unlike Suaalii’s manager Isaac Moses, who kept the Roosters in the dark over his code switch, Rawlings has been upfront with Roosters boss Nick Politis and coach Trent Robinson.
They have been in constant dialogue since Rugby Australia and Wallabies coach Eddie Jones expressed interest in the Kangaroos and NSW forward.
Politis wants to keep Crichton at the Roosters but won’t get into a crazy bidding war.
The financial details of Rugby Australia’s offer are unclear.
It will be nothing like the $1.5 million-a-year they have paid Suaalii but is estimated to be around $800,000 a season.
SAINT
Layton Hartin Smith was seriously injured and suffered brain damage in a car accident at age two. He is a fanatical Penrith fan.
The team is his love and his life. Can you imagine his joy when the Cleary family – coach Ivan, halfback Nathan and mum Bec – turned up at his home for his 21st birthday. Nathan presented him with a signed Panthers jersey.
SINNER
League players should be encouraged to speak up on major issues, not lambasted in the manner in which former players piled on to Eels forward Andrew Davey for his comments in this column last weekend.
SHOOSH
NSW state treasurer Daniel Mookhey has been looking at ways to slash government spending. We hear funding approved by the previous Liberal government for high-performance facilities for St George Illawarra, Canterbury and Wests Tigers at Campbelltown was under threat. Fortunately sports minister Steve Kamper stepped up to ensure the funding is delivered.
SPOTTED
A message over the Virgin loudspeakers at Sydney airport on Thursday at 6.15am: “Urgent call for Mr Reuben Garrick, Brisbane flight preparing for departure.” Next minute the Sea Eagles winger, carrying his cabin luggage, is seen using all his speed, dodging fellow travellers, to make it to the gate just in time. Airports sources clocked him on the Telstra Tracker at 36.9km/h.
SPOTTED
Eels coach Brad Arthur enjoying a beer with the Sea Eagles’ coaching staff and players after last Saturday night’s win over the Tigers at Brookvale. He was at the game to support son Jake, who has been outstanding for Manly since arriving mid-season.
SPOTTED
Basketball superstar Josh Giddey enjoying a chicken schnitty at Bondi Icebergs with mates and washing it down with a schooner of lemonade and raspberry cordial.
SPOTTED
Titans coach Des Hasler has poached his first key Sea Eagles employee – physio Andrew Lowndes, who has looked after Tom Trbojevic’s hammy the past couple of years.
BENNETT’S BIG FALLOUT WITH TINKLER
Old supercoach Wayne Bennett can be a prickly character at times.
He fell out with the Broncos when he left in 2018 and now, for the first time, his volatile relationship with Nathan Tinkler, the former billionaire owner of the Newcastle Knights, has been laid bare.
One particular explosive exchange between Bennett and Tinkler is revealed in an upcoming biography on Bennett called “The Wolf You Feed”, written by sports writer Andrew Webster.
It happened when Tinkler burst into the sheds at halftime as Bennett was addressing the team in a game against the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium.
“Go to that corner over there and stay there and don’t you f..king move – or I’ll throw you out!” Bennett told Tinkler during the round 25 match in 2013.
Bennett had watched a drunken Tinkler question fullback Darius Boyd’s commitment in front of players and officials at a dinner at the Caxton Hotel the previous evening.
“We should put a splash of maroon in your jumper,” Tinkler told Boyd, according to Bennett. “You only play well for Queensland.”
As Bennett reflects now: “Tinkler had the shits with Darius. But Darius was going through a tough time. He’s like me: he’s a high-performing bloke. He was with a mob of guys who weren’t interested. It’s hard, I’m telling you.”
The next day, Tinkler and his associates lunched at Gambaros restaurant across the road before attending the match.
When the Knights trailed 14-0 late in the first half, Tinkler stormed into the dressing-room and told the coach he wanted to address the players.
As Webster writes: “Nobody puts baby in the corner but, on this night, Bennett had no hesitation putting a Boganaire there.”
“You’re talking to f..king nobody,” Bennett told Tinkler, who left halfway through Bennett’s speech and walked out of the stadium, missing the Knights’ 26–18 win – a result that booked their place in the finals.
“He never talked to me again after that,” said Bennett, who left the club the following year to join Brisbane.
Tinkler did not respond to numerous approaches to talk for the book.
The Wolf You Feed by Andrew Webster (Pan Macmillan Australia, $37) is out September 12.
ABDO CHECKS ON PAPS
You’ve got to admire NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo and his care for players.
Abdo was in the NRL’s corporate suite at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night when Storm superstar Ryan Papenhuyzen went down with his shocking injury.
As Papenhuyzen was being treated in the medical room, there was a tap on the door.
In walked Abdo. He’d left his suite and his guests to check in on the Storm fullback.
The Storm players and staff were extremely grateful.
SAINTS MARCHING IN
The St George-Illawarra Dragons have already made good progress on last year.
The club presentation night held in Wollongong last week was attended by every NRL, NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg player – all up around 80 Dragons.
This compares to the embarrassment of last season when only three NRL players turned up.
Hardworking prop Blake Lawrie was a popular choice as the club’s player of the year.
KANGAROOS CALL-OUT
The NRL has issued a call-out to any ex-Kangaroos wishing to be part of the Kangaroos reunion on Saturday, September 30 at the SCG.
The old Roos database mostly included only home addresses, making it difficult to track down all those who’ve worn the green and gold.
Any former Kangaroos players or staff can contact the NRL directly via phone on (02) 9359 8500 or email via feedback@nrl.com.au
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