Saint, Sinner Shoosh: Rabbitohs furious over Venues NSW chairman Tony Shepherd scarf
The Rabbitohs are fuming after Venues NSW chairman Tony Shepherd revealed his true colours. That and more in Australia’s best sporting gossip column.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Souths boss Blake Solly walked into a plush level three Allianz Stadium suite on Friday night to find Venues NSW chairman Tony Shepherd wearing a Sydney Roosters scarf.
He wasn’t happy, especially when Shepherd finished his pre-match speech with the line “Go the Roosters.”
Solly has been negotiating with the Venues NSW boss to move his Rabbitohs from Accor Stadium at Sydney Olympic Park to share the magnificent new Moore Park venue with the Roosters.
Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Shepherd makes no secret of the fact he wants Souths to stay at Homebush.
However in a peace offering, Shepherd and the Venues NSW board have offered the Rabbitohs three games each year for the next five seasons at Allianz – the matches Souths normally take on the road to Perth or regional areas.
We spoke to a frustrated Solly about the situation on Saturday morning.
“If Venues NSW continue to refuse to invest in Accor Stadium we would prefer to play 50 games (at Allianz) over five years — not 15,” he said.
“However our discussions with Minister (Alister) Henskens have been helpful, and we’ll continue to work with him to get a fair go for our members and fans.”
DRAGONS BAN MAD MONDAY
St George Illawarra Dragons players have been banned from having an official Mad Monday booze session.
The players have been told by CEO Ryan Webb that the club does not support any gathering of players other than a family function in Kogarah after the Broncos game.
Webb would not comment when contacted by The Sunday Telegraph other than confirming the club no longer endorses Mad Mondays.
Obviously the club has experienced enough negative headlines in recent years which has led to their tougher stand.
Integrity unit boss Jason King has been in contact with all club CEOs whose teams are finishing up this weekend.
The Dragons’ attitude is different from other clubs.
It’s interesting because if ever two NRL clubs needed good bonding sessions it’s the Dragons and the Manly Sea Eagles.
Both finish their seasons this weekend with fractured playing groups.
Manly because of the pride jersey fiasco and seven straight losses.
And the Dragons because one group of players, led by Ben Hunt, strongly support coach Anthony Griffin while a number of their teammates don’t.
We reported last week of unrest at Saints and that key forwards Jaydn Su’A and Blake Lawrie led a group of disgruntled players.
Unlike the Dragons, Manly CEO Tony Mestrov is supporting the players having a get together.
“We’re really organised in planning venues and a number of security guards,” he said.
“I had a call from Jason King about what we are doing and I’ve sent him our plan.
“We’ve got a pretty good bunch of players. I think everyone in rugby league has learnt from the past. It’s been a tough year but you’ve got to get that balance. The players will have a beer and a good time then we’ll reset for next season.”
Wests Tigers players will have a cruise on Sydney Harbour and then a hotel function on Monday with the full support of CEO Justin Pascoe.
WHAT’S THE BUZZ: PEARCE REACHES OUT TO PONGA
SAINT
The most magnificent sporting atmosphere at Allianz Stadium on Friday night for the Roosters and Rabbitohs — the noise level was up there with an Origin night or a grand final. Even billionaire hospitality king Justin Hemmes was wandering around the bars and food outlets to ensure everything ran smoothly.
SINNER
Penrith’s decision to field a reserve grade side against the Cowboys. We can understand coach Ivan Cleary wants to save his full-strength outfit for the finals, however there needs to be rules in place where clubs are obliged to name their strongest teams every week to keep the fans and the broadcasters onside.
SHOOSH
Which captain of a struggling NRL club is off-side with teammates. This is potentially a huge off-season story. The coach and chief executive are aware of the situation and it is getting to a stage where the skipper may have to be stood down from the role.
SHOOSH
The Dolphins have gone over the top in revealing their latest signing – assistant coach Kristian Woolf. He is described on their press release as “the hottest coaching property in world rugby league”. Please. Leave that description for Robbo, Wayne or Bellyache.
SHOOSH
We keep hearing a consortium of business heavyweights contacted Manly owner Scott Penn with an offer to buy the Sea Eagles. And we’re talking big dollars. We spoke to Penn about the offer but he insisted the club is not for sale under any circumstances.
SPOTTED
Fallen footy star Curtis Scott on a building site in Mosman, looking as fit as. Such a shame really because a guy of his ability should be playing NRL finals this time of year. There is nothing wrong with carting around a wheelbarrow on a building site but he is such a wasted talent.
SPOTTED
South Sydney coach Jason Demetriou walking his pet cavoodle in Caringbah on Wednesday morning, just hours before he tested positive to Covid. Demetriou had to watch the Friday night blockbuster against the Roosters from home as assistants Ben Hornby and John Morris ran the show.
SPOTTED
A wonderful initiative and celebration of unity in soccer’s A-League next season when Melbourne Victory and Adelaide United meet in February to play for the Pride Cup in what will become an annual event to support LGBTI+ and inclusion in sport.
SPOTTED
Former NSW Sports Minister Stuart Ayres in the Venues NSW suite at Allianz Stadium on Friday night as a guest of chairman Tony Shepherd. It was his first major appearance since being forced to stand down over his role in the John Barilaro New York trade-job appointment.
THE GENIUS OF GUS
Tyson Gamble’s comments on Kevin Walters’ coaching last week brought back memories of Phil Gould’s influence at the South Sydney Rabbitohs in the ‘80s.
Gamble, the soon-to-depart Broncos star, revealed on a podcast how veteran halfback Adam Reynolds was the man players turned to for advice, not Walters.
“Reyno is the go-to man for everybody,” Gamble said. “If you’ve got a question about footy or the team you go to him.”
Gus Gould had a similar impact on the Rabbitohs when he played under George Piggins.
Legendary halfback Craig Coleman can clearly recall how Gus was much more than just a second-row forward for Souths in the 1986 season.
“Gus was unbelievable,” Coleman said. “It was George’s first year as coach.
“He said he was going to sign the smartest footballer in the game — and that was Gus.
“Gus was a deadset genius. There’s something etched in my mind forever.
“We played St George in our first game and we’re training at Booralee Park in Botany.
“We’re on the field and Gus starts drawing all these moves in the dirt with his finger.
“We were deadset spellbound.”
Using Gould’s tactics, the Rabbitohs flogged the Dragons.
“St George were grand-finalists the year before and we ended up putting 30 on them,” Coleman said. “That year we got beaten by a just point for the minor premiership.
“George had his own way but Gus was his right-hand man.
“George treated us like we were his sons and we all wanted to play for him.”
Coleman says the Reynolds situation at the Broncos is so similar.
“There’s no question he is having the same effect on the Broncos that Gus had with us,” he said. “I’ve heard Kevvie acknowledge that at his press conferences.
“Reyno is playing as good as he’s ever played but it’s what he’s doing during the week.”
ROOSTERS CROWING AT NEW STADIUM
There’s no questioning the power and influence of billionaire Sydney Roosters chairman Nick Politis. Just ask the Parramatta Eels.
When Bankwest Stadium was originally opened in 2019, the Eels wanted their own logo and signage on the outside of the venue.
The request was rejected by the state government because the stadium was to be shared with other NRL clubs and the Western Sydney Wanderers in the A-League.
The same state government had no issues with Politis and the Roosters at the new Allianz Stadium. There is now a huge ‘Home of the Sydney Roosters’ sign on the Moore Park Rd end of the ground.
And while the Eels were told they had to share their stadium with other clubs, the same government has made it clear the South Sydney Rabbitohs are not welcome.
Parramatta has been monitoring the situation closely.
The Eels will now seek a meeting with sports Minister Alister Henskens to ask for the same as what the Roosters got. And how could they possibly say no?
BISHOP A TRUE PRO
Father’s Day is extra special this year for Channel 7’s rugby league presenter Michelle Bishop. Michelle’s dad Allan is wheelchair bound with a spinal cord tumour located by doctors after he had surgery for prostate cancer.
Despite her dad’s health battles, Michelle has worked incredible hours.
She visits her dad each morning, does a radio gig on SEN, chases stories for Seven news and has been presenting the sports bulletin while Mel McLaughlin’s been away.
Seven CEO James Warburton even contacted Michelle last week to thank her for her efforts at such a difficult and emotional time for her family.
EELS LEGEND GOES UNDER KNIFE
Parramatta Eels legend Peter Wynn was back in hospital last week to repair a 40-year-old injury with a full knee replacement.
The popular sports store owner still remembers the exact game in which he suffered a season-ending PCL injury against arch rivals the Canterbury Bulldogs.
“It was round 2 in 1981 at the old Cumberland Oval,” Wynn said.
“In the first half I got the ball from a tap and George Peponis hit me right on the knee and it went on me. I actually stayed on the field and kept playing until halftime.”
In hospital, after surgery, he suffered from a golden staph infection. His regular visitors included coaching legend Jack Gibson and his right-hand man Ron Massey.
“One day they even brought in a big seafood platter,” Wynn said, “I hardly got a prawn – Mass ate just about all of it.”
FORGOTTEN HISTORY
The state’s new sports Minister Alister Henskens needs a history lesson. Henskens has expressed reservations about the names chosen by Venues NSW on the new grandstands at Allianz Stadium — sporting legends Arthur Beetson, Ron Coote, Betty Cuthbert, Nicholas Shehadie and Johnny Warren.
“All of the athletes who are currently acknowledged would be largely unknown to people under the age of 50,” he said. What a load of rubbish.
OLD ROOSTER’S BIG TRIP
Former Great Britain Test captain Phil Clarke travelled 17,000 kilometres from the north of England to attend the opening of Allianz Stadium on Friday night with the Sydney Roosters.
Clarke had two seasons with the Roosters (1995 and 1996) before a neck injury in a game against the Cowboys in Townsville ended his career.
“I will always be in debt to the Roosters for the way they looked after me when I got hurt,” Clarke said “That’s why I’ve come all this way for the game. It’s such an important night for the club.”
SPOTTED EXTRA
An extra SPOTTED from the sporting details pages of The Daily Telegraph — former rugby league officials Peter Doust and David Gallop winning the midweek pairs at NSW golf course in La Perouse. Plus, we bumped into another ex-footy boss on Friday night at Allianz — Venues NSW board member Todd Greenberg. He’s looking far more relaxed these days out of the snake pit that can be rugby league.
Vale Brian Lockwood: Balmain legend dies aged 78
An English import who became famous for his creativity and ball-playing ability for a forward, Brian Lockwood, who played for Canterbury and Balmain in the 70s, has died.
Robinson flown to hospital after explosion
Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson and his wife were airlifted to hospital after a BBQ gas bottle exploded in the Hunter Valley.