Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: Mitchell Moses must decide future as Parramatta, Wests Tigers wait

SAINT, SINNER, SHOOSH: The longer Mitchell Moses delays the decision on his future, the more punters will question his form, writes Phil Rothfield.

Leichhardt Oval has been in dire need of a restoration. Picture: NRL Photos

Inner West Council has come under fire for its neglect of Sydney’s most famous old suburban ground – instead spending $55 million to purchase a new office block in Liverpool.

Wests Tigers return to Leichhardt this afternoon for the match against the Gold Coast Titans, with the venue still in desperate need of an upgrade.

The council has spent $1 million on some cosmetic improvements at Leichhardt Oval during the off-season but nowhere near the amount required to bring the ground up to NRL standards.

Leichhardt Council has spent $55 million to purchase this building in Liverpool.

Local mayor Darcy Byrne has been a huge critic of Premier Dominic Perrottet for refusing to spend money at the venue, yet he is hardly helping out himself.

“Dominic Perrottet is happy to spend $300 million in Stuart Ayres’ seat (Penrith), to build a shiny, new Panthers Stadium for the exclusive use of one club,” Byrne says.

“But the Wests Tigers, and all of the other men’s and women’s rugby league, soccer and rugby union teams who regularly use Leichhardt Oval get nothing.

“The Premier will be missing from Leichhardt Oval this Sunday because the fans on the Wayne Pearce Hill would boo him for his betrayal of our club.”

Leichhardt Oval has been in dire need of a restoration. Picture: NRL Photos

The Premier has declined an invitation to attend as a guest of Wests Tigers.

The council argues that the $55 million Liverpool investment property will return $3 million in rent each year for Leichhardt residents.

SAINT

Cronulla Sharks’ cult hero Toby Rudolf is about to have his first haircut in four years as part of the World’s Greatest Shave fundraiser. Rudolf’s aim is to raise $10,000 for the Leukaemia Foundation. You can support him and make a donation on the World’s Greatest Shave website.

Sharks forward Toby Rudolph is an ambassador for the World's Greatest Shave.

SINNER

When is a four-year $5m salary not enough? Surely Eels half-back Mitchell Moses has had enough time to make a decision. The longer the delay, the more punters will question his form. He had his backside smacked by Jahrome Hughes on Friday night.

SHOOSH

Who is the disgruntled general manager of football not happy at his NRL club and now looking elsewhere for employment opportunities.

SHOOSH

The NRL will consider changing the name of the Dally M award for the women’s player of the year. There is a feeling among NRLW players it should be named after a female —possibly the Tarsha Gale or Karyn Murphy Medal; two women who made enormous contributions. A decision will be made by the independent commission before the NRLW kick-off.

SHOOSH

Which NRL player narrowly escaped injury when he crashed a quad bike on a farm last weekend after an afternoon on the booze.

SHOOSH

Which NRL coach couldn’t wait for the season kick-off more than others: “I’m sick of my wife beating me each week at golf.”

SPOTTED

It’s rare for Rabbitohs tragic Candice Warner to miss a game on TV or at the ground. Unless it’s for a Harry Styles concert. She and hubby Dave were at Accor Stadium last night rather than Shark Park to watch Souths v Cronulla.

SPOTTED

Raiders legend John “Chicka” Ferguson, the club’s first try-scorer Gerry De La Cruz and inaugural Raider Lui Bon in Townsville on Thursday night with Ricky’s Stuart’s team.

SPOTTED

Storm boss Frank Ponissi having a coffee with wannabe premier Chris Minns at Homebush on Thursday morning before the match against the Eels.

SPOTTED

Manly has filled Noel Cleal’s old role as recruitment manager. Anthony Seibold’s former assistant at the Broncos, Peter Gentle, has stepped into the job.

SPOTTED

Winger Dominic Young on the front page of a Newcastle Herald NRL season guide lift-out — an odd choice considering he is leaving the club and wanted to join the Roosters a year early.

FITZY DISPLAYS HIS REAL CLASS

Twenty years ago Craig Fitzgibbon won rugby league’s most prestigious award – the Clive Churchill Medal.

In the most generous act, the Cronulla Sharks coach is now donating it back to the Sydney Roosters for its new museum at Allianz Stadium.

It will sit alongside Luke Keary’s medal from the 2018 grand final and Brad Fittler’s jersey, shorts and premiership ring from 2002.

Craig Fitzgibbon won the Clive Churchill Medal in 2002. Picture: Gregg Porteous

Fitzgibbon won the Churchill Medal in that game.

That night he scored a try and kicked five goals in the Roosters’ 30 to 8 win over the Warriors, under Ricky Stuart.

He played 10 seasons and 228 games for the Roosters before joining Trent Robinson’s coaching staff.

Although he’s now entrenched as head coach at the Cronulla Sharks, Fitzgibbon offered his medal to the Roosters when he heard about the club’s new museum.

“It’s a lovely gesture,” said Roosters chairman Nick Politis, “and typical of the person that Fitzy is.

“He’s got a really proud history at our club and we’re extremely grateful.”

Fitzgibbon declined to comment when we contacted him before Saturday night’s match against the Rabbitohs at Sharks Park. He didn’t want any fuss made of it.

PROOF THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE STORM

HE might be a Sydney Rooster but Brandon Smith still loves his old Melbourne Storm.

Smith was at the Storm v Eels NRL kick-off on Thursday night and was seen in the Melbourne dressing sheds after the match.

He also had dinner with the team at Homebush on Wednesday night. Cronulla Sharks star Nicho Hynes was there for the dinner too.

It shows the sort of club that Storm is. Any player who wears their jersey will always be part of the family.

Brandon Smith watches on during Melbourne’s clash with Parramatta.

TSZYU SETS SIGHTS ON HUGE PRIZE

Tim Tszyu’s minders have mapped out an ambitious program where the boxing champ could earn $30 million this year and become one of Australia’s highest-paid sportsmen.

A planned three-fight super deal would put Tszyu up alongside basketballer Ben Simmons and golfer Cameron Smith, and above NFL star Jordan Mailata and race driver Daniel Ricciardo.

Tszyu has his eyes set on three of the biggest names in boxing and wants to fight them all in 2023. Should he nail the trifecta, Tszyu will become unquestionably one of Australia’s biggest global stars and cement his own boxing legacy out of the shadows of his father Kostya.

Tim Tszyu has mapped out a massive year ahead.

It’s a trio of fights that not even his father could lay claim to achieving.

First up is Tony Harrison next Sunday for the interim WBO super welterweight world title at Qudos Bank Arena.

Then its previously planned opponent, undisputed champion Jermell Charlo, for all four belts, mooted for July in Las Vegas.

Then Errol Spence, the IBF, WBA and WBC welterweight king, who has been trolling Tszyu on Twitter by backing his opponents in recent bouts, including Harrison.

Tszyu is already enjoying the riches of boxing success. He recently paid cash for a flash new home in the Sutherland Shire. He drives a Mercedes and recently purchased a 1955 Chevy Bel Air coupe. Plus the $50,000 diamond Cartier watch he picked up in his recent trip to the United States.

BRANDY JR SET FOR ROOSTERS DEBUT

Greg Alexander’s son Braith will make his debut for the Sydney Roosters as a halfback in Jersey Flegg against Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval today.

Braith moved to the Roosters last year after playing junior reps at Penrith.

It’s a tough one for his dad ‘Brandy’, who has to be on the Fox Sports panel for the Roosters v Dolphins game. He will watch the first half of Jersey Flegg and then dash across to Fox Sports studios.