Sport Confidential: Peter V’landys sounded out for new role

A global organisation has reached out to ARLC chairman Peter V’landys via a third-party associate to gauge his interest in quitting the NRL and Racing NSW.

Dane Gagai had a quiet game in the series opener. Picture: Adam Head

Maroons centre Dane Gagai came under fire for his Origin I performance but we can now reveal just how sick the Queensland star was going in the game.

Gagai was hospitalised for three days on the Gold Coast after coming down with a severe case of tonsillitis last week. He was placed on intravenous antibiotics after his tonsils became infected and sent a genuine scare through Camp Maroon.

Gagai didn’t want the extent of his illness made public which is why the Queensland team was so secretive about his struggles, prompting conspiracy theories about the Maroons playing mind games.

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The news of his hospitalisation only leaked after winger Kyle Feldt dropped it during a Townsville radio station interview on Tuesday.

Gagai missed two crucial training sessions and showed tremendous courage to take the field. Unfortunately, the impact of his illness there to see.

Dane Gagai had a tough night against the Blues. Picture: Adam Head

Gagai has been a sensational player for Queensland in his previous 16 Origin games, regularly producing superhuman performances. But he was restricted to only eight runs for 52m as opposite centre Latrell Mitchell produced one of the great State of Origin performances.

While Gagai was below his best, just making it on to the field was a tremendous effort in itself given the week he had.

He will be looking for redemption when the series moves to Suncorp Stadium on June 27.

V’LANDYS SOUNDED OUT TO QUIT THE NRL

He may be on the nose with some of the NRL’s leading players but ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys has options to walk away from rugby league and racing.

Sport Confidential understands a global organisation has reached out to V’landys via a third-party associate to gauge his interest in quitting the NRL and Racing NSW to explore a new opportunity in sports administration.

The organisation’s identity remains a closely-guarded secret but an approach was made last month. V’landys was not approached directly, with the organisation instead reaching out to a fellow sports executive asking if the ARL Commission chief would be interested in taking on a new challenge.

The organisation has been impressed with V’landys’ handling of the Covid crisis last year when he successfully relaunched the NRL on May 28, well ahead of many other sporting competitions around the world.

As part of the opportunity, V’landys would undertake global travel and attend a host of marquee sporting events around the world. That could present hurdles for V’landys, who is a devoted father of three.

ARLC chairman Peter V’landys has attracted interest from a global organisation. Picture: Jonathan Ng

While some people in the NRL world cannot handle V’landys’ strong personality and can-do attitude, sporting bodies around the world have been taken note of his passion and zest for getting the job done.

V’landys is expected to serve as ARL Commission chair until the end of next year. He is keen to ensure NRL boss Andrew Abdo flourishes in the CEO’s role and said last week a purported player revolt would not drive out him out rugby league.

“If I wanted to walk away, I can’t now, because I would look like a weak bastard and that’s not me,” he said.

RAIDER STILL ON BRONCOS RADAR

The Broncos have expressed interest in Canberra hooker Josh Hodgson ahead of Saturday’s clash with the Raiders at GIO Stadium.

If ever Brisbane rake Jake Turpin had motivation to perform, it is now as he prepares to take on the classy Canberra rival who could steal his Broncos No.9 jumper next season.

The Broncos have been linked with Hodgson for the past month, but coach Kevin Walters has been tight-lipped about the club’s recruitment activities to haul Brisbane out of the NRL cellar.

However, Brisbane’s interest in Hodgson is real with the Broncos keen to have the British Test star on their books to engineer a finals push and save Walters’ job as coach.

The issue for the Broncos is timing. The 31-year-old is off-contract at the end of next season, meaning the Raiders would have agree to an early release for Hodgson to be in Broncos colours in 2022.

Raiders hooker Josh Hodgson is off-contract at the end of next season. Picture: Getty Images

For now, Hodgson is in Canberra colours and the sight of him at GIO Stadium is sure to be like a red rag to a bull for Turpin, who will be desperate to outpoint his Raiders opposite.

The Broncos have a number of recruitment balls up in the air. Brisbane have held talks with the management of Dragons fullback Matt Dufty, but it is understood their priority is securing Hodgson and Queensland Origin back-rower Jaydn Su’A.

Su’A’s Maroons teammate Kurt Capewell has fielded an offer from the Broncos, but is tipped to join either the Cowboys or remain at Penrith.

ORIGIN DEBACLE SUPPORTS EXPANSION PUSH

NSW’s record 50-6 mauling of the Maroons in Origin I has all but guaranteed the NRL will officially expand the competition to 17 teams for 2023.

QRL board member Ben Ikin has warned the code must expand for the sake of Queensland’s Origin health and the Blues’ record romp in Townsville will ring alarm bells for ARL Commission chief Peter V’landys.

V’landys is determined to introduce a second Brisbane team to beef-up the number of NRL players who are eligible for Queensland Origin selection. At the moment, around 20 per cent of the code’s 480 contracted NRL players are eligible for the Maroons.

The success of Origin hinges on the competitiveness of the Maroons and a second Brisbane team will help deliver more players to help Queensland stave off a NSW dynasty.

“Peter V’landys is absolutely right, we need another Queensland team to ensure State of Origin remains healthy,” Firehawks bid chief Shane Richardson said. “I am confident expansion will go ahead — it has to if we want Queensland to be strong in the Origin arena.”

GREEN KEEN FOR SECOND BRISBANE TEAM

Paul Green’s horror debut as Queensland Origin coach has not stopped prospective NRL franchise the Brisbane Firehawks targeting him to spearhead the code’s proposed 17th team in 2023.

Green was on the end of a shock 50-6 hiding in the Origin opener on Wednesday night in Townsville but it appears only a matter of time before the former Cowboys premiership mentor is lost to Camp Maroon.

The NRL will make a definitive call on expansion next month and should they give the green light to a second Brisbane club as expected, it will ignite a frenzy to find the code’s 17th coach.

Wayne Bennett has been widely touted as a shoo-in to head up Queensland’s fourth team, but Green is emerging as the dark horse to take charge of a second Brisbane side to rival the Broncos.

Firehawks bid chief Shane Richardson confirmed the Easts Tigers-backed consortium has Green’s name on a hit list of potential coaches.

Maroons coach Paul Green is on the Firehawks’ hit list of possible coaches. Picture: Getty Images

Green played for Easts Tigers, is a born-and-bred Queenslander and is a proven NRL coach, having delivered the Cowboys’ maiden premiership in 2015 during seven largely successful seasons in Townsville.

Green has an option to remain with Queensland in 2022 but QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher said he would have no issue if the Maroons mentor wanted to relaunch his NRL career with a second Brisbane team.

“I have no doubt Paul will get another NRL gig for sure and he would be great for a second Brisbane team,” Hatcher said. “We negotiated with our eyes wide open and we said in the event you get another NRL job, you can go.”

MORGO’S SHOCK COWBOYS COMEBACK

Retired Cowboys legend Michael Morgan has answered an Origin SOS for North Queensland’s clash against Manly on Friday night ... sort of.

No, Morgan isn’t making an official comeback to the NRL. But, just eight weeks after announcing his retirement due to a chronic shoulder injury, Morgan was back running at Cowboys training to help the side prepare for their clash with the Sea Eagles.

Morgan still looked as fit as ever running at fullback at training for the Cowboys, who are depleted this week following the loss of Valentine Holmes, Kyle Feldt and Coen Hess to Origin duties.

While Holmes, Feldt and Hess ran at the Maroons’ captain’s run on Tuesday at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, ‘Morgo’ was just a punt kick away taking part at Cowboys training at their slick new headquarters.

Michael Morgan helped the Cowboys prepare for their clash with Manly on Friday night. Picture: Alix Sweeney

But it was clear the injured Morgan was off-limits to contact, with the former Maroons utility wearing a bib with a big red cross on it, meaning he could not be tackled by Cowboys teammates.

Morgan is in good spirits. The following day he was seen on the Strand playing with his young daughter and smiling as he lifted her in the air. It was that sort of moment that convinced Morgan to walk away before his shoulder was damaged beyond repair.

REIBEL TO THE RESCUE

Cowboys chief Jeff Reibel came to the rescue of NRL head of football Graham Annesley in the early hours of Thursday morning.

No, Annesley wasn’t out partying after the historic Townsville State of Origin on Wednesday night. He was standing out the front of his hotel at 5am trying to find an Uber or taxi to get him to the airport for a 6am flight to Brisbane.

Annesley was having no luck and started to get a little nervous as the clock kept ticking.

Reibel, who was on his way to the airport for a 6am flight to Sydney, must have a sixth sense because he called Annesley to check how he was going, after the two spoke about their early flights the previous night.

Annesley issued an SOS and Reibel arrived minutes later to chauffeur him to the airport just in time for their flights. There’s nothing like north Queensland hospitality!

CAPEWELL TOURS COWBOYS BASE

Queensland Origin utility Kurt Capewell has toured the Cowboys’ $40 million headquarters as the Panthers ace considers a career move to Townsville.

Capewell remains off-contract and used Queensland’s trip to Townsville for Origin I as a chance to check out North Queensland’s superb training base.

The Cowboys and Panthers have both offered the same terms, a two-year deal worth about $400,000 a season.

Kurt Capewell is weighing up an offer from the Cowboys. Picture: Getty Images

So Capewell’s decision will ultimately come down to whether he wants to chase a premiership at Penrith or the challenge of turning the Cowboys into a title force again.

Capewell admits it would be difficult to walk away from a Penrith side motivated for a premiership after last year’s grand-final loss to Melbourne.

“It’s awesome being at Penrith,” he said. “No one misses a beat. Everyone is really switched on and trains well. It is just great to be a part of a winning club.

“I am not in a massive rush to get anything done. I just want to get through this Origin period and keep playing good footy.”

PRICE IS RIGHT IN TOWNSVILLE

The son of Queensland Origin legend Steve Price is making waves at the Cowboys.

Boom back-rower Riley Price is continuing his rise in the tropics by inking a two-year contract extension as he looks to emulate his famous father by playing NRL.

Price celebrated his 20th birthday on Monday, two days before Origin I, and is eyeing a future in first grade after making his Intrust Super Cup debut for feeder-club Townsville Blackhawks in April.

While Price suffered a broken clavicle just two weeks later, the Cowboys hold him in such high regard they have brokered a two-year upgrade until the end of the 2023 season.

Steve Price was renowned for his remarkable work ethic and relentless midfield charges and the Cowboys see that same attitude in Riley.

Originally published as Sport Confidential: Peter V’landys sounded out for new role