Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: Knights chase Reuben Garrick, call for Paul Gallen fight night to be scrapped
Kalyn Ponga’s likely switch to the halves next season opens up the Newcastle fullback spot – and Knights recruitment staff have identified their target.
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Superstar Kalyn Ponga may have played his last game at fullback for Newcastle.
And it has nothing to do with the toilet cubicle drama that has left genuine question marks around his leadership and captaincy.
The Sunday Telegraph can reveal it’s part of a plan to get the million-dollar man more involved from the halves. And it also opens up the fullback role for an attempt to sign Manly Sea Eagles star Rueben Garrick.
Garrick still has a year to run on his Sea Eagles contract but wants to play fullback.
That can’t happen next year with the return of champion fullback Tom Trbojevic.
Garrick is on winger’s money and could double his money as a fullback at a rival club.
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Whether the Knights can negotiate an early release from Manly remains to be seen.
Ponga has returned to non-contact training with the Knights and has been running at five-eighth, not fullback.
He’s also told coach Adam O’Brien he is happy to play where it most benefits the side.
CALL FOR GALLEN DOUBLE HEADER TO BE SCRAPPED
Australia’s most experienced boxing referee and judge has called on authorities to stop the Paul Gallen double-header against old footballers Justin Hodges and Ben Hannant.
Charlie Lucas, who has judged and refereed world title fights around the world over 45 years, phoned your columnist to express his concerns.
“I don’t think the fight should be going ahead,” he said, “It’s bad for boxing.
“In NSW, I’m not sure the combat sports authority would even allow it.
“They have different rules in Queensland.”
Lucas, 77, no longer referees but still judges major fights.
“If I was asked to judge this one, I wouldn’t,” he said.
“To be quite frank, I wouldn’t want anything to do with it. I just don’t agree with anyone fighting twice in one night.
“The Edgar Britt will hit the fan if anyone gets hurt.
“It’s not boxing … it’s just a … I can’t even think of a word to describe how bad it is for the sport.”
Lucas says it’s not the first time a fighter has fought twice in one night. He says back in the old days, Sydney had two stadiums that hosted boxing on the same night.
“There was Leichhardt Stadium and Sydney Stadium at Rushcutters Bay back in the 1930s and ’40s.” he said.
“You’d get fighters who would have a fight early at Leichhardt and then drive across to Rushcutters Bay for another one.
“It was all about making a quick quid.
“Thankfully it was eventually stopped.”
The fight is on Foxtel’s Main Event on September 15.
Colleague Paul Kent, who provides the expert commentary, is in Lucas’ corner.
Kent’s asked his Fox Sports bosses for the night off.
SAINT
The Sharks’ Polynesian winger Ronaldo Mulitalo is deeply religious but, unlike the seven Manly players who recently boycotted a game over a pride jersey, he says he would have no issues wearing one for Cronulla. A couple of his close mates are part of the gay community. He told Channel 9 news: “I support them and love them.”
SINNER
There is seriously nothing worse than a couple of retired old footballers being reduced to circus acts to make a few quick bucks in a boxing ring. It tarnishes the image of a great sport which produced national icons the calibre of Jeff Fenech, Lionel Rose, Johnny Famechon and many others.
SINNER II
Knights director of football Peter Parr is bitterly disappointed that details of NRL drugs tests on Kalyn Ponga and Kurt Mann were leaked to the media. This sums up everything that is wrong with the club. Parr’s disappointment should be aimed at the players for their unprofessional behaviour. His energy should be focused on fixing this mess.
SHOOSH
He may not formally start until next season but new coach Cam Ciraldo is keeping a close watch on Bulldogs’ recruitment. We hear Canterbury is eyeing a gun rookie from a rival Sydney club from north of the border. He could be a very handy acquisition in the spine.
SPOTTED
Former Wallabies Nick Farr-Jones, Tony Melrose, Scott Gourley and Bill Calcraft enjoying a drink and dinner at Manly Skiff Club last week.
SPOTTED
James Tedesco has a busy off-season ahead. He is tipped to be the Kangaroos skipper for the World Cup in England. Then he’s getting married to fiancee Maria Glinellis in January in the Hunter Valley.
SPOTTED
We love seeing youngsters doing great things for charity. Ayden Tippett, 11, ran the City2Surf and was first in the Under 12s division. He ran to raise money for medical research following the death of Rio James Fowler, a youngster who passed away from arterial vasculopathy disease. You can donate at rioslegacy.org.au
SPOTTED
Souths legend Sam Burgess has kickstarted his coaching career with a bang. Burgess guided the Orara Valley Axemen — who only re-entered the competition this season after a two-year absence — to the Group 2 minor premiership. The Axemen, who won 11 of 14 games, now have a bye before contesting the major semi.
SPOTTED
Braith Anasta and partner Rachael Lee, Australian Skin Cancer Foundation ambassadors, handing over a $100,000 cheque from a community fundraising campaign to back a clinical trial aimed at improving the care, treatment and quality of life for melanoma patients.
STAR RABBITOHS ARE TRUE AMBASSADORS
You’ve got to admire Rabbitohs superstars Cody Walker and Latrell Mitchell.
Sometimes they can come across as grumpy, or even aloof, but deep down they have big hearts.
This item is the proof of that.
After Thursday night’s disappointing loss to the Panthers at Accor Stadium, the pair had a five-hour drive straight to Wagga Wagga. They got there at 4am.
At 8am they were up to start a day of school visits and training clinics as far out as Junee.
They stayed for the junior games on Saturday morning and even ran the water.
It was all part of an Indigenous celebration week in schools in the Riverina.
The kids were just blown away.
They’d seen the two superstars on TV against the Panthers on Thursday night and then in the schoolyard the next morning.
It was a painful loss for the Rabbitohs on the eve of the finals, yet Latrell and Cody knew how important it was to turn up with smiles for the kids.
They are both wonderful ambassadors.
SHOW US THE SALARY CAP
Manly Sea Eagles forward Andrew Davey has spoken of growing player frustration around the NRL’s delay in finalising the salary cap for next year and beyond.
“It is ridiculous that it is still going this late in the season,” says Davey, who is off contract at Manly and looking for a new club.
“It is now the middle of August and we are still waiting for a CBA for next year. As far as players getting their careers sorted next year, it is very frustrating.
“It’s more the mid to low tier players, not the blokes who are on big money who get signed straight away. It is all the blokes who are fighting to get that next jump up in salary.”
Davey has had feelers from the Bulldogs, Eels and Cowboys, who are all waiting for the cap to be finalised.
JOHNSON SHOULD BE IN TEST MIX
It’s hard to believe South Sydney winger Alex Johnston is never in discussions for Kangaroos World Cup selection — even with Blues wingers Brian To’o and Daniel Tupou unavailable because they are playing for Pacific nations.
Mal Meninga still has Selwyn Cobbo, Xavier Coates, Joseph Suaalii and Josh Addo-Carr to choose from as well as Johnston.
The Rabbitohs left winger is arguably the best finisher in the game.
His two tries against the Panthers takes him to 163 in his career — equal-seventh with old Manly superstar Brett Stewart on the all-time list.
It was his eighth double this season and he has now scored multiple tries 44 times in his career.
At age 27 — and barring serious injury — he can play another 100 games.
This is a guy who averages 18 tries per season. The all-time record-holder is wing legend Ken Irvine with 212 tries — 49 more than Johnston.
ONE TO WATCH, BUNNIES
Now here is a future NRLW star if ever we’ve seen one. Kiera Beddy plays alongside the boys and captains Mascot’s under-10s in the South Sydney juniors.
Her team beat Maroubra Lions in last weekend’s grand final at Redfern Oval.
Kiera scored two tries in her team’s triumph, one of them a solo effort from halfway.
The nine-year-old has one dream – to one day captain the Rabbitohs in the NRLW.
WORLD CUP REFS LUCKY DIP
If you think our NRL referees can often struggle, wait for the World Cup in England.
One of the biggest concerns confronting the Kangaroos as they prepare to challenge for the title of world champions is the quality of officiating and speed of the game.
Referees will be drawn from a pool, including many from nations who have never controlled games at the professional level.
This could impact heavily on the Aussies, who will rely on their ability to play fast, open-style football.
It will not help their cause if inexperienced referees allow opposition teams to frustrate the Kangaroos by slowing the game down.
Thankfully there will be a crew of NRL referees going over for the tournament. But it will be interesting to see if any of them are handed the whistle for games involving the Kangaroos, or if organisers adopt a more “neutral referee” policy, particularly when it comes to the finals.
It will be a shame if the tournament is marred by match officials who are simply out of their depth.
FOUR NIGHTS OF NRL 360
Fox Sports wants to take advantage of the almost unprecedented interest in this year’s footy finals by extending NRL 360 for an extra night each week.
The network’s executive director Steve Crawley says it’s all about owning the finals TV coverage.
“More people are going to the show every night,” Crawley said, “Braith (Anasta) as the host has done a remarkable job with the rest of the team.
“This finals series has more interest, before it even begins, than any in the previous 10 years.
“Fans want breaking news and great analysis.”
From the first week of the finals, the show will run from Monday to Thursday nights.
Disclaimer: Your columnist is a panellist on the show.
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