Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: Mitch Pearce retirement changes Connor Watson plans
Mitchell Pearce’s decision not to return to the NRL has had roster impacts with a number of clubs while SBW warns Payne Haas about loyalty.
NRL
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Mitchell Pearce has informed Catalans that he won’t be returning next season and all indications are he is likely to shun an NRL swan song and retire.
The 34-year-old premiership-winning and NSW Origin-winning half has been in sparkling form, leading Catalans to the top of the UK Super League table and on track for what would be the French team’s first title.
Pearce would undoubtedly attract interest from NRL clubs but it is understood he wants to go out on a high before returning home to move on to the next phase of his life.
It’s interesting in that the Sydney Roosters were always planning to leave a spot in their top 30 for Pearce in case he wanted a return to his old club and a farewell NRL season; not that Sam Walker’s job was under threat.
It was more a plan to use him off the bench in the No. 14 jersey.
The Roosters — aware Pearce was heading for retirement — have instead locked in Connor Watson to play the bench-utility role.
It’s a big signing for the Roosters as Watson had big-money offers from both Canterbury Bulldogs and Wests Tigers. He has signed for the Roosters for another two years.
VONNY’S NEW FOUR-YEAR DEAL
Fox Sports star Yvonne Sampson has agreed to a new four-year contract with the network.
Sampson joined Fox Sports from Channel Nine in 2017, poached by Steve Crawley as the face of the network’s live-game coverage.
Crawley says Sampson is world class.
“She is the best in rugby league and close to the best in the world in all sports broadcasting,” Crawley said.
“I watch everything the Americans do on Fox Sports, ESPN and NBC and there’s no one better than Yvonne.
“She’s so well received everywhere.
“We wouldn’t swap her for anyone, anywhere and we’re ecstatic about her new deal.”
Fox Sports is now in talks with Cooper Cronk and his manager George Mimis about a new deal.
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SAINT
Former Test cricketer and Fox Sports commentator Brendon Julian will spend his 54th birthday sleeping out at Allianz Stadium tonight to raise money for the homeless. He is part of the Chappell Foundation’s Sports Stars Sleepout event with 14 other former sports stars. You can make a donation at: www.sportsstarssleepout.com.
SINNER
NRL refereeing. Manly had their season on the line on Friday against the number one team in the comp. The Panthers scored just before halftime from a blatant knock-on. It changed the game. Season over.
SHOOSH
Which Wests Tigers’ Australian schoolboys star wants out after the club’s decision to sign three halves over the top of him – old Aidan Sezer, Latu Fainu and Jayden Sullivan.
SHOOSH
We wonder what NRL integrity unit boss Jason King thinks of Melbourne Storm recently parading replica trophies from the 2007 and 2009 grand finals that were taken off them for salary cap cheating. King played for Manly (right) in the 2007 loss to Melbourne in the decider.
SPOTTED
The NRL try celebrations in July have raised $400,000. Bookmaking firm Sportsbet will hand over a cheque for $200,000 to both Daniel Anderson and Nathan Stapleton thanks to the NRL and NRLW players.
SPOTTED
Some huge sporting names at Accor Stadium last week to watch the Matildas, including tennis superstar Nick Kyrgios and champion Penrith Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary.
SPOTTED
Popular Sky Sports Racing host Dave Stanley has joined forces with Underground Spirits Australia to develop his own brand of Gin called Trot & Canter. Dave’s profits will be generously passed on to the National Jockeys Trust.
SPOTTED
Popular old player manager Steve Gillis has been honoured with life membership of the Coogee Surf club, a fitting reward for 50 years of service that started out as nipper.
SBW’S SHOCK CONTRACT ADVICE FOR HAAS
Footy legend Sonny Bill Williams has opened up about his relationship with champion front-rower Payne Haas and his career advice to the Broncos tearaway.
Since converting to Islam, Haas has forged a close friendship with “SBW” and regularly speaks to the former All Black and NRL premiership- winning superstar about his much-publicised contract negotiations with the Broncos and interest from rival clubs.
“First and foremost, he’s my brother and I’m always here for anything he ever needs,” Williams said.
“I’ve been through it and had this experience myself.
“I’m not against him playing for any club. I want him to do what’s best for himself and his family.
“I say to him ‘Just keep doing what you’re doing on the field, bro. Look after the controllables and the rest will fall into place’.”
In 2008, Williams famously walked out on the Bulldogs over a contract pay dispute, quitting the NRL for rugby union in France.
Haas is now regarded as highly as Williams was back then. He is now the most sought after player in the game, with Canterbury, the Melbourne Storm, the Wests Tigers and the St George Illawarra Dragons among the clubs desperate to pinch him from the Broncos.
Williams hates the fact there could be some questioning Haas’s loyalty, considering the Broncos have offered him more than $1m a season to stay.
“I’ve heard clubs talk about loyalty and how much they love the player, and then five days later they’re getting cut to bring someone else in,” he said.
“What really pees me off is when people in a position of power pull out the loyalty card. They have no right to.
“Whenever it’s a story about a contract negotiation, you’re the big, bad wolf, and people want to line you up.
“Where are the officials in the corporate boxes who are being fed off the game? Are their salaries made public? Where’s the scrutiny?
“One thing I talk to Payne about is the length of a footy career, statistically.
“It’s less than five years, on average. That’s the reality of the game.”
Williams said Haas and his agent, Merhi Ahmad, had much to consider before he went on the open market in November.
“He has to take all the factors into consideration,” Williams said.
“There’s the cost of living between Brisbane and Sydney and his family situation.
“I’m not here to tell him to do this or do that, I’m just here to support him.
“He’s a big boy, too, and can make his own decisions with the good people around him.”
FINALS PRIZEMONEY UP
The NRL has increased prizemoney for this year’s finals series by up to 150 per cent.
Whichever team wins on grand final day will receive $1 million, up from $400,000, to be shared between the club and players. The runner up gets $400,000, up from $200,000.
The minor premiership-winning prizemoney rises from $100,000 to $200,000.
Whether it’s enough to stop the likes of Ivan Cleary or Kevvie Walters from resting players in the final premiership round remains to be seen.
CLASH OF THE TITANS
The Gold Coast will host a battle of the super coaches in the NRL and AFL next year.
Between them, Des Hasler (Titans) and Damien Hardwick (Suns) have won five premierships.
Hardwick (307 games) won three flags at Richmond and Hasler (458 games) two titles at Manly.
ALEXANDER’S HOLIDAY ONE RIPPING YARN
Fox Sports star Greg Alexander has returned home from a European holiday with a frightening story of being caught in a rip and washed 150m from his boat off an island in Malta.
Alexander and 10 extended family members had travelled to Madrid to watch his niece play for Australia in the under-19 World Basketball Championships.
Afterwards they holidayed in Malta, where the drama occurred.
Brandy has had some anxious moments in his footy over the years, none more than during this year’s State of Origin series alongside his great mate and NSW coach Freddy Fittler – but nothing like this.
We’ll let him tell the story.
“We hired a boat to take us around the islands,” he said.
“There was one spot where we anchored, the water was beautiful and dead still, and you’re not thinking anything could go wrong.
“So we jumped in. All of a sudden we’re 60m away from the boat, then 100m and then 150m. This current was whipping us around the point of the island.
“They couldn’t hear us calling out to the boat.
“I was with Peter Shiels, my brother-in-law (former Knights and Western Reds player) and my sister. Pete’s got bad arthritis in the shoulder from his playing days and can’t get his arm over to swim properly.
“So we’re heading out to sea pretty quickly. I’m thinking for a second, f---, we’re in trouble here.
“Anyway they eventually got to us and plucked us out of the water.
“I can now see how bad accidents can happen.”
WARRIORS’ DREAM RUN
The Warriors have had a dream run with penalty counts since May when their major sponsor Jason Paris accused NRL referees of cheating in a social media rant.
“How biased are the @NRL bunker and referees against the @NZWarriors? Have they got money on them to lose?” he said.
The comments were later withdrawn and Paris apologised.
However, since his tirade, the Warriors have lost only one penalty count in 11 games – in the round 17 match against St George-Illawarra.
It’s no reflection on the refs, they’ve obviously just become a more disciplined team!
MEDIA BUZZ
David Basheer
Age: 57
Employer: Channel 7 FIFA Women’s World Cup caller
First Job:
Production assistant Radio 5AD Adelaide, before joining 5AA as a producer, presenter and sports reporter. My first commentary job was with the ABC in Melbourne and Adelaide where I called cricket, AFL and the National Soccer League.
Sporting Heroes:
How can I pick just one?
Diego Maradona, Carlos Valderrama, Johnny Warren, Mark Viduka and Lisa De Vanna are people I idolise, along with the entire Matildas FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 team.
I greatly admire them and the team’s history.
What team/teams do you support:
Western United & Adelaide United (my hometown), South Melbourne FC and FC Barcelona.
What sports did you play:
A variety in a combative and average manner … Australian Rules and cricket at school and football with a splash of tennis and golf.
How do you spend a day off:
I love playing golf and dream of breaking 80. I better get moving!
Career highlights:
Calling the Matildas at this World Cup has been incredibly emotional and inspiring. The Men’s World Cup last year in Qatar was the same with the Socceroos. I’ve been fortunate to call the Men’s World Cup final in 2010 (Johannesburg) and Women’s World Cup final in 2019 (Lyon).
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