Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: Martin Lang says Steve Roach, Benny Elias ‘no longer relevant’ after Tigers snub
Shane Richardson ally, Martin Lang, has delivered a stinging barb to two Balmain Tigers legends who revealed they had been forgotten by the club. PHIL ROTHFIELD reveals all in Saint, Sinner, Shoosh.
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Old Maroons prop Martin Lang has taken a swipe at Balmain legends Steve Roach and Benny Elias on social media.
Benny and Blocker recently revealed on NRL 360 how they felt abandoned by the Wests Tigers and had never been invited to a game as guests.
Lang, whose father John is close to Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson, jumped onto X and opened fire.
“As an ex-player, you’ve got to let it go,” he wrote.
“You’re no longer relevant, it’s life. The contentment comes from enjoying the game for what it is ... on the periphery.”
So we went to Blocker Roach to get his reaction.
“He’s using his friendship through his dad with Shane Richardson to have a go at us,” Roach said. “Not that I’m all that worried by what Martin might think.
“Benny and I have roles in the media and I was asked a question which I answered honestly and from the heart.
“I’m an upfront bloke. We’re genuinely hurt by the treatment from the club. And to say to all former players ‘you’re no longer relevant’ in retirement is a very ordinary thing to say.”
RARE FOX-NINE TRADE
It’s rare to find bitter rivals Fox Sports and Channel Nine doing a deal on anything, such is the competitive nature of the TV sports business.
This is about to change with Fox Sports handing over one of their network stars to work for Channel Nine on loan at the Paris Olympics in July.
AFL 360 host and SEN commentator Gerard Whateley will be the main track and field caller for the Nine network, arguably the most prestigious job in sports broadcasting following in the shoes of Channel 7’s legendary sports caller Bruce McAvaney.
“It’s been Gerard’s dream to call a 100m final at the Olympics,” Fox Sports boss Steve Crawley said.
“I wouldn’t want to stand in the way of that and I know he’ll do a great job.”
Whateley has recently signed a contract until 2028 as breakfast host at SEN in Melbourne.
He needed the approval of Foxtel boss Patrick Delany, Crawley and SEN chief Craig Hutchison to take up Nine’s offer.
“He’s very appreciative that we’ve given him the release,” Crawley said. “He’s an important part of what we do but this is just a couple of weeks.
“We’ve got some of the best callers in the land working at Fox Sports and you like seeing them in positions like this to call an event of this magnitude in Paris.”
Whateley is arguably Australia’s most versatile commentator who has called AFL, cricket Test matches, boxing world title fights, the Melbourne Cup and Super Bowl.
SAINT
Sometimes in rugby league there are little things that are as important as two competition points. I’m talking about Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker. We can bag their form and their footy when it’s warranted but no two players in the game are as proud and passionate about spreading a positive message in indigenous areas like they did in Moree last week.
SINNER
Are they all on the same page at the Wests Tigers? The Holman-Barnes group is planning to spend $12 million on a new Balmain Leagues club fit out on Victoria Road yet Shane Richardson keeps talking about taking fans out of the area by abandoning Leichhardt Oval.
SPOTTED
Old rugby league enforcer and now multi-media personality James Graham playing five-a-side soccer on Wednesday night in the Shire.
SPOTTED
Cody Walker has announced on social media he is to be a dad again. The Souths five-eighth’s partner Ami Curmi is due in August.
SPOTTED
You had to feel for race caller and Wests Tigers fanatic Darren Flindell on Easter Monday as horses were heading to the barrier at Warwick Farm while his footy team was going down to the wire with Parramatta at CommBank. He watched the NRL from his broadcast box on his iPad. They say when Clint Gutherson missed the last penalty kick you could hear the cheer from the broadcast box across the racecourse.
SPOTTED
One of Aussie sport’s toughest — UFC star Alex Volkanovski — buying Barbie showbags for his three daughters at the Royal Easter Show.
SHOOSH
Which player agent recently applied for the job as head of recruitment at a Sydney-based NRL club. The CEO said, ‘Thanks, but no thanks’.
SUNDAY BREKKY
Catch you all Sunday at 9.40am on the Weekend Big Sports Breakfast with Ray Thomas and Dean ‘Bulldog’ Ritchie to discuss all things rugby league.
KELLY BOARDS TO USA
Sydney Roosters CEO Joe Kelly has been appointed to the USA Rugby League board to help grow the game on the back of traction gained from the Las Vegas season-opener.
Kelly is one of our most experienced sporting administrators who has worked at EPL giant Chelsea plus three NRL clubs. He is a huge gain for the game in America on the back of the NRL’s five-year commitment for Vegas double headers.
Roosters chairman Nick Politis has backed the move.
“Joe’s leadership, strategic insight and passion for the growth and development of the game will contribute immensely to the growth and success of rugby league in the US,” he said.
“It’s fantastic for the Sydney Roosters to connect with rugby league in the United States. Down the track we see this as a wonderful opportunity to recruit up-and-coming American rugby league players.”
TSZYU SHOULD’VE BEEN STOPPED
Australia’s two most experienced boxing medicos would both have stopped Tim Tszyu’s world title fight bloodbath in Las Vegas last weekend if the fight had been in Sydney.
Both agreed Tszyu’s safety was put at risk once his vision was impaired as blood gushed from the shocking forehead wound into his eyes.
Dr Lou Lewis has been a ringside physician for 45 years and has seen it all in the most brutal sport of them all in world title fights both here and overseas.
“I definitely would have stopped it,” he says, “I wouldn’t have hesitated.
“The crowd may not have liked it but you’ve got to put the boxer’s welfare first.”
Dr Alan Saunders is now the ringside medico at all major events for No Limit boxing shows in Australia.
He feels exactly the same.
“The rule in NSW is that if blood from a cut is interfering with a fighter’s vision you stop it,” Dr Saunders said.
“If some big towering guy is throwing punches at your head you want to be able to see them coming.
“I you can’t see what you’re doing you can’t fight and you’re going to cop a beating.
“Put a patch over one eye and see how you go. In my view, his safety was put at risk.”
There has always been pressure on ringside medicos at major events in which tens of thousands have paid big money at the venue and on pay-TV to watch.
“Over here we’re completely neutral,” Dr Lewis said, “No one can put pressure on us.
“You’re always under more pressure in the bigger fights but you just ignore that.
“When blood is going into your eyes like what happened it takes away any chance you have of winning the fight.
“There’s a safety issue when you can’t see properly to protect yourself.
“That’s why I would have stopped it.”
NAS NOT FOR SALE
Melbourne Storm chairman Matt Tripp has declared game-breaking forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona is not for sale under any circumstances.
The future of the giant Kiwi forward has been the subject of much speculation in recent weeks with him being overlooked for selection in the opening rounds.
Tripp had a long conversation with Asofa-Solomona in the sheds after Storm’s victory over the Brisbane Broncos at AAMI Park on Thursday night.
“It was a really good chat,” Tripp said.
“There’s been nothing from our end about him leaving.
“He’s not for sale, absolutely not.
“I said to him we’re competitive when he’s not in the side but we’re a genuine premiership threat when he’s fit and firing.”
The giant forward is now one of the highest paid forwards in the competition on $900,000-a-season, having knocked back the Wallabies last year to re-sign at Storm.
Tripp is hopeful Asofa-Solomona will be available for selection next weekend against the Bulldogs.
“He had a niggling hamstring all summer which held him back,” Tripp said.
“He’s a big bloke who needs miles in his legs. That’s why we’ve been playing him at Norths to get his match fitness right.”
NRL FLIES VIC FLAG
Rugby league is flying in AFL heartland in Victoria. For the first time, Melbourne Storm has attracted crowds of more than 20,000 for three straight home games.
Victorian participation numbers are on the rise too. Male registration numbers have increased by 20 per cent and females by 28 per cent.
VEGAS DEADLINE CLOSES
At least 10 NRL clubs have applied to be part of next year’s double header in Las Vegas.
Penrith, Parramatta, Cronulla, Canberra, Melbourne, New Zealand, St George-Illawarra, North Queensland and the Dolphins all want in. Applications closed Friday.
“Clubs want to go because they can see the enormous opportunity for growth in an expanding market,” said NRL boss Andrew Abdo.
“We want to finalise the clubs soon to ensure travelling fans have as much notice as possible.
“Year one of our US strategy was a great success.We want to continue that momentum as part of our long-term commitment to the US market.”
NRL heavyweights the Storm and Panthers are the two early favourites. The broadcasters will want a Queensland side which puts the Cowboys in the box seat.
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