Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: NRL and Channel 9 feud, Sea Eagles sideline agent

Channel 9 can expect a ‘please explain’ from the NRL, the Sea Eagles sideline a controversial agent and more in Australia’s best sporting gossip column.

(L-R) ARLC Chairman Peter V'landys and Today host Karl Stefanovic.

It wouldn’t be a rugby league season without a disagreement between Channel 9 and the NRL.

You’ll remember the savaging their old boss Hugh Marks once gave Todd Greenberg.

The relationship between the free-to-air network and the NRL is again at rock bottom.

Both commission chairman Peter V’landys and CEO Andrew Abdo have had to formally complain to the network’s chief executive Mike Sneesby in recent weeks – furious about Nine’s lack of promotion for league in the key breakfast TV market.

The Today Show is regularly broadcasting and promoting AFL stories to a national audience but rarely gives the NRL a run.

They were even in Adelaide with the show three weeks ago for the AFL’s Gather Round.

It doesn’t help that Nine’s director of sport Brett Thompson lives in AFL heartland Melbourne.

(L-R) ARLC Chairman Peter V'landys and Today host Karl Stefanovic.

Nine’s push for AFL on the Today Show is a manoeuvre to try to break Channel 7 and Sunrise’s national stranglehold on the morning TV ratings.

It is unusual, however, in that Nine is promoting the sport for rival network and AFL rights holders Channel 7. And then there’s virtually nothing to promote their own NRL coverage.

In fairness, Nine’s league ratings are up by 6.4 per cent. Although it is nothing compared to Fox Sports, up by 22 per cent.

The NRL will be monitoring the situation closely.

Obviously the Today Show will make a bigger effort around Origin, with the opening game of the series in Adelaide this month.

However the NRL wants a more consistent season-long coverage as it looks to grow the game nationally.

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SAINT

Celebrating the NRL’s Indigenous round and wonderful memories of Arthur Beetson, Larry Corowa and Cliff Lyons. And then Steve Renouf, Laurie Daley, Gordon Tallis, Anthony Mundine, Greg Inglis and Johnathan Thurston. Now the breathtaking skills of superstars Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker and Nicho Hynes.

SINNER

Ian Healy has a morning radio show on SENQ in Brisbane. Not a very good one judging by the latest ratings in which it finished last. He might have more listeners if he bothered to check his facts when launching tirades at your columnist and others in the media.

NRL clubs are closely watching Bradman Best. Picture: Getty Images

SHOOSH

Bradman Best is under contract to Newcastle until the end of next year. This hasn’t stopped speculation the centre is looking for a new club. NRL rivals are aware of the situation and are monitoring it closely.

SHOOSH

Which major sponsor is on the verge of withdrawing support for an NRL team because of poor form – not on the field – but in the front office.

SHOOSH

Penrith Panthers could be on the move to Parramatta to play out of CommBank Stadium for 18 months. Premier Chris Minns will honour the previous government’s $309m funding pledge to build a new stadium on the existing site in Penrith. However the old Stuart Ayres plan to purchase Penrith Paceway for the new stadium has been scrapped. The move to Parramatta is likely to happen in 2025.

Eels nrlw star Kelsey Clark and dad Geoff Clark

SPOTTED

League has had a stack of ‘Sons of Guns’ stories over the years; sons who have followed their dads into the NRL. Now we have a dad and a daughter. Geoff Clark was a handy centre for North Sydney in the late 1980s. His daughter Kelsey, 24, has been snapped up by Parramatta for the NRLW season. She, too, is a centre.

SPOTTED

Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis, CEO Justin Pascoe, new recruitment boss Scott Fulton and player agent Mario Tartak dining at Totti’s Rozelle last week, no doubt discussing potential recruits for next year and beyond. Interesting in that Tim Sheens and demoted head of recruitment Warren McDonnell were not invited.

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SEA EAGLES TO SIDESTEP MOSES STARS

Manly has become wary of signing footballers managed by controversial player agent Isaac Moses.

The Sea Eagles were on the verge of picking up unwanted Bulldogs half Kyle Flanagan two weeks ago but dropped off at the last moment.

They have also ruled out signing another Moses-aligned player, front-rower Matt Lodge, who is off contract at the Sydney Roosters.

The club had received backlash for signing Tommy Talau from Wests Tigers (for 2024), Aaron Woods from St George Illawarra and Cooper Johns from Melbourne Storm – all from the Moses stable.

The club is concerned about the fact Moses also manages its coach Anthony Seibold and the perception of his players getting an inside run.

NRL player agent Isaac Moses.

Officially, Manly is saying it is no longer interested in Flanagan because he wanted a deal until the end of 2025. The club was only prepared to take him for the remainder of this year.

This Moses relationship has been a problem for Seibold previously.

During his disastrous run at the Brisbane Broncos in 2019 and 2020, he was heavily criticised over his recruitment of players from his manager’s stable. The Broncos had eight players managed by Moses – Lodge, Kotoni Staggs, Jake Turpin, Alex Glenn, Tevita Pangai Jr, Jordan Kahu, Andrew McCullough and Sean O’Sullivan.

It became an issue that was raised at board level.

Manly chief executive Tony Mestrov is reading the room better than the Broncos did.

He has had a quiet word to the Sea Eagles’ new recruitment boss Peter Gentle about the situation.

Moses also manages Newcastle Knights coach Adam O’Brien.

The Knights have five players managed by Moses – Kurt Mann, Bailey Hodgson, Hymel Hunt, Jack Johns and Enari Tuala.

Jayze Tuigamala signing with Canberra Raiders

RAIDERS POACH SHARKS YOUNG GUN

The Raiders have signed one of their youngest ever players – a 16-year-old front-rower from the Cronulla Sharks juniors.

Jayze Tuigamala played Harold Matthews for the Sharks this year and was chased by a number of NRL clubs, according to his agent Luke Lombardi.

“I had multiple clubs interested but we were very impressed with the pathway Canberra had to offer,” Lombardi said. “I strongly believe the Raiders have signed the best 16-year-old in the country”.

The Raiders last year pinched another of the Sharks best youngsters – fullback Chevy Stewart. He has a four-year deal at the Raiders.

HOW MIMIS MANAGES FOUR COACHES

Sometimes, it can be difficult juggling your responsibilities as an NRL player manager.

Agent George Mimis looks after four coaches – Jason Ryles, Ben Hornby, Cameron Ciraldo and Des Hasler – three of whom have been mentioned for the St George Illawarra gig.

The Dragons are not interested in Hasler but have spoken to both Hornby and Ryles.

So how does Mimis manage it?

“It comes down to trust, communication and respect,” he said. “I’ve been looking after these guys for more than 20 years.

Agent George Mimis.

“Ultimately, the club decides who they are going to employ.

“My job is to prepare my clients to the best of their capabilities around their vision and philosophies.

“It’s not like I decide who gets the job.”

Mimis has managed both Hornby and Ryles since they started out as youngsters playing NRL.

“We have deep, longstanding and respectful relationships,” he said.

“The clubs shortlist the candidates then decide who they want to talk to. In my view, Des (Hasler) and Shane Flanagan are the best credentialed but they don’t want to talk to them. So, you just do your best for the guys they want to talk to.”

ALBO TIPPING UP A STORM

No one takes his rugby league tipping competition as seriously as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

Regardless of where he is in the world, or what he’s got on his plate, Albo each week personally emails his tips through to sports editor James Silver.

Obviously, he tips the Bunnies every week and loves to gloat about their recent success in some of his emails. For the record, Albo is seven behind the leaders.

Mark Levy 2GB radio host. (Supplied)

2GB SHOW MUST GO ON

2GB broadcaster Mark Levy has been struck down with Covid. His illness forced last-minute team changes on the Continuous Call team over the weekend.

The station’s $10 million man Ray Hadley gave up his usual round of golf on Saturday at Castle Hill to make a comeback in the hosting chair.

The very capable James Willis — executive producer of the Ben Fordham morning show — filled in for Levy on Friday night for the call of the Eels v Rabbitohs NRL match at Allianz Stadium.

It was a good night for Levy to have off — he is a South Sydney tragic and would have been dirty at the way his Rabbitohs were completely outplayed by underdogs Parramatta.

Fox Sports presenter Jake Duke. Picture: Brett Costello

MEDIA PROFILE: JAKE DUKE, 29 (FOX SPORTS)

First job: Glassy at the Burleigh Bears Leagues Club. Then I got a cadetship with the Gold Coast Titans during my holidays to do a little bit of work in media and their website. After that I got an Indigenous scholarship that got me jobs at SBS, Fox Sports and Nine over the course of a year. It was a great experience.

Sporting Heroes: Ryan Girdler and Preston Campbell when I was a kid. NBA star Steph Curry now.

What NRL team do you follow: First team I loved was the Panthers. Started following the Titans when they came in 2007 because I grew up on the Gold Coast. Always have a soft spot for South Sydney as well.

What sports did you play? Rugby league was my main sport. Played from under 6s to under 17s at the Burleigh Bears. Also, played school footy for Palm Beach Currumbin. Outside of league I did swimming and surf lifesaving competitively. Plus, touch footy and Oztag in the off-season.

How do you spend a day off? Cafe, gym and watching any other sport that’s on from around the world, much to my girlfriend’s disappointment.

Career highlights? Covering the Rugby League World Cup for Fox Sports in the UK last year. Getting the chance to tell unique rugby league stories on ‘Face to Face’ on Fox League.