Sport Confidential: David Nofoaluma’s park footy return, Roosters close to Crichton deal
Controversial former Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma is joining a host of famous footy faces playing park footy as the Roosters close in on a deal with Angus Crichton.
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Former Tigers winger David Nofoaluma will make his rugby league return after becoming the latest ex-NRL star to sign with the Glebe Dirty Reds.
Nofoaluma’s ill-fated stint with English Super League club Salford lasted just two matches before he was let go. The former Dally M winger of the year was cut loose by the Tigers at the end of last season and he has failed to secure another NRL deal.
At 30 he still has aspirations of potentially making a first grade comeback but for now will play for Glebe in the third-tier Ron Massey Cup. Former Kiwi international Dean Whare also joined the club earlier this month while ex-NRL players Kane Evans and Craig Garvey play for the side.
Nofoaluma is expected to make his club debut on Saturday week as part of Glebe’s inaugural Wenty Park Super Saturday.
Three matches of football will be played at Wentworth Park on June 29 including Glebe taking on Penrith Brothers followed by a NSW Cup clash between Newtown and the Roosters.
At 5pm there will be a Garlo’s Pies eating contest – with the winner walking away with a year’s supply of Garlo’s Pies.
Following the three games will be greyhound racing.
ROOSTERS CLOSE IN ON CRICHTON
The Sydney Roosters hope to have Angus Crichton’s name on a contract as early as this weekend and then they will turn their attention to the future of back rower Sitili Tupouniua.
Crichton,’s agent David Rawlings is expected to meet Roosters boss Nick Politis in coming days to try to bring a close to negotiations over the Blues back rower, whose resurgent form forced a rethink at Bondi Junction headquarters.
Crichton’s preference was always to stay and he looks certain to get his wish. Once his future is resolved, Tupouniua will be next cab off the rank.
The Tongan international has been given permission to explore his options in the NRL and there is believed to be no shortage of suitors as clubs queue to sign the 27-year-old.
The Roosters have plenty of balls in the air heading into the second half of the season. The club is still hopeful of securing rugby union star Mark Nawaqanitawase ahead of schedule, although his quest to qualify for the Olympics has thrown a spanner in the works.
Nawaqanitawase is currently in Fiji attempting to win a place in the men’s sevens team for the Paris Games, although the timing of the team announcement makes things problematic.
The squad for Paris is due to be announced on July 3 – three days after the June 30 deadline for signing players has expired.
The Roosters have sought an exemption from the NRL to sign Nawaqanitawase beyond that date.
AFL’S EMBARRASSING HALL OF FAME GAFFE
Critics often say that when it comes to the AFL, anything not in the Melbourne bubble is considered out of sight, out of mind.
Which may help explain what led to the AFL apologising for prematurely mourning former player Michael Porter’s death at this week’s Australian Football Hall of Fame ceremony.
Hawthorn great John Kennedy Jr couldn’t believe it, mainly because the 79-year-old Porter is alive and well, living in NSW.
“I’d like to send (a cheerio) out to Michael Porter who played in the ’71 Grand Final. ‘Portholes’ they called him,” Kennedy Jr said on Channel 7’s The Front Bar.
“He was noted as deceased last night on the AFL Hall of Fame, as one of the deceased people.
“The issue is he’s alive. So Portholes, if you’re listening mate or you’re up there in NSW, let us know when the wake is because we’ll be all there mate!”
Porter called former Hawks captain David Parkin, who was in the room for the Hall of Fame ceremony in Melbourne, to confirm he was alive and kicking on the night.
What an rabble the Australian football league is this year Vale Mike Porter the ex Hawthorn is 79 years old alive and well living in Adelaide.And we trust this administration to run the league what a disgrace. pic.twitter.com/g8wrcJIA8V
— Kevin Colgan (@bulldogswoof) June 19, 2024
WHY THE EELS KNOCKED BACK COACH CHEIKA
Michael Cheika is more determined than ever to be an NRL coach. Having missed out on the Parramatta job – Josh Hannay and Jason Ryles appear to be locked in a two-horse race to become Brad Arthur’s successor – Cheika insists the rugby league coaching fire still burns.
“To make that change … is a huge challenge and one I’d love to master,” Cheika told Sport Con.
“Just like in the game – nothing’s given to you easily.”
Cheika was on a six-man shortlist for the Eels job along with the likes of Hannay, Ryles, assistant coach Trent Barrett and NSW coach Michael Maguire.
It is understood his initial interview was as impressive as any of the other contenders but when push came to shove, the Eels opted not to take the risk on the former Wallabies and Argentina coach, whose resume includes rugby league stints with the Sydney Roosters and Lebanon national team.
It is understood Eels officials told Cheika that they had doubts over his ability to handle the day-to-day demands of being an NRL coach, a decision that some would no doubt find bemusing given his coaching resume.
Cheika juggled the role of coaching Argentina with his commitments with Lebanon at the last rugby league World Cup.
He had two years in the French Top 14 rugby union competition, where he coached over 30 games a season and juggled the challenge of roster building with the demands of French owners, who are notorious for their flightiness and short fuses.
That wasn’t enough to impress Eels officials, who opted for the safer route of current NRL assistants Ryles and Hannay.
While Cheika was disappointed with the outcome, it hasn’t dulled his desire to challenge himself in rugby league as a head coach at some point in time.
He plans to lick his wounds and go again.
“In the French league where you’re coaching up to 35 games per year you also have to deal with the prospect of relegation so I think the pressures are there every day …. not to mention having also handled two years of coaching Waratahs and Wallabies at the same time,” Cheika said.
The Eels are expected to take at least another fortnight to make a decision on their next head coach given Hannay is now in camp with the Maroons and unable to hold his second interview with Parramatta until his state duties are over.
The Sharks then play two days after Origin, which means Hannay won’t be available for at least a fortnight. Ryles is an easier proposition for Parramatta
FLASHBACK
The Australian cricket team were on top of the world on this day 25 years ago. Spin king Shane Warne celebrated with man of the match honours after taking 4-33 against Pakistan in the final.
RETIRED NRL STAR SET FOR SPORTING COMEBACK
Manly great Steve Menzies is making a sporting comeback – this time turning out for Australia’s national touch football team. Menzies will compete at the World Cup in England from July 15-21 as part of the Emus’ over-50 team.
KANGAROOS COACHING OVERHAUL
Change is coming at the Kangaroos with former Titans coach Justin Holbrook expected to join Mal Meninga’s coaching staff.
It is understood that long-term assistant coaches Michael Hagan and Adrian Lam have stood down from their roles with Meninga which is expected to be among a host of changes to the Kangaroos support staff.
Holbrook is expected to be parachuted into the role to work alongside Meninga with the pair having formed a relationship when they were both employed at the Titans. The decision will mean Holbrook has relinquish his position as PNG head coach.
Titans and NSW assistant coach Brett White is part of the Australian set-up.
Holbrook led PNG to a Pacific Bowl win against Fiji last November in his only series in charge of the Kumuls. He has since returned to the Roosters as an assistant coach.
The Kangaroos are coming off a 30-0 loss to the Kiwis last November. Australia, New Zealand and Tonga will compete in the Pacific Championships later this year.
INJURED PONGA NOT SITTING IDLE
Newcastle superstar Kalyn Ponga has taken advantage of an unfortunate stint on the sidelines to reconnect with his creative side.
Ponga, who is about a month away from a return from a foot injury, is in the middle of preparations to renovate his house in Newcastle.
The chance to oversee the renovations has helped take his mind off the Lisfranc injury that cruelled his State of Origin hopes and has prevented him helping the Knights.
“I have a house that I am renovating that starts in a week, the process or organising that has itched that creative side of me,” Ponga said.
“It has been a different experience organising everything with the help of my old man. I wouldn’t know how to swing a hammer at all.
“I wouldn’t know how to hammer a nail in the wall but I know what picture to hang on it.”
STORM SET TO RE-SIGN RISING STAR
Melbourne are on the verge of extending the contract of underrated forward Alec MacDonald. The 22-year-old MacDonald, off contract at the end of 2025, has been a fixture in the Storm side this season, playing all of his 11 games off the interchange bench.
His imminent retention comes as the Storm press ahead with plans to extend the contract of fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen and begin preliminary talks with hooker Harry Grant over an extension to his existing deal.
Papenhuyzen is off contract at the end of 2025 but the club has outlined plans to keep him at the club beyond that.
In his recent absence, Sue Faalogo – on contract until the end of 2028 – has been brilliant and Storm fans will catch a glimpse of the pair playing together on Friday night as they unite against the Dolphins.
Grant, meanwhile, has an option in his contract for the 2026 season, meaning he could be free to speak to rival clubs as soon as November 1.
The Storm are keen to tie Grant to a long-term deal before it comes to that.
EDWARDS’ UNLIKELY ORIGIN DEBUT
Dylan Edwards may have missed out on a formal NSW debut last month but he still had a debut of a different kind – it was the first time he had ever attended an Origin match.
Edwards sat in the box alongside coach Michael Maguire for Origin I after injury robbed him of making his long-awaited appearance.
“It was a great experience – it was the first Origin game I’ve ever been to,” Edwards said. “I got to see it from the coach’s perspective.
“It was awesome. I’ve played in front of big crowds at that stadium before but to see it was pretty special.”
While plenty of debate has followed the attention Reece Walsh received in game one and what he can expect heading into game two, Edwards can understand the situation better than most.
“It’s such a high speed, you change levels, body height and it takes a split second for something to go wrong,” Edwards said. “There is not a lot of malice in it.”
SHOOSH
Which club had an animated halftime phone call with a high ranking NRL official in a bid to try and receive a free interchange during the weekend? The club staffer was unhappy with the ruling of the ground manager and interchange officials so tried to take it to the top. He had little joy.
KEARY STILL RECONSIDERING RETIREMENT CALL
Despite some denials there is an increasing likelihood that Luke Keary will extend his career in the Super League next season. While people were quick to pour cold water on suggestions that Keary would play at the Catalans, it seems like that will happen. This comes despite Keary opting to back out of a one-year contract extension with the Roosters to hang the boots up.
Since making that call Keary has returned to his best and has been on the cusp of NSW selection.
Catalans have a two-year offer on the table for the three-time premiership winning half.
EX-TIGERS CHAIR SET FOR COMEBACK
Former Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis will make his return to rugby league after being appointed to the Family of League Foundation board.
GOODMAN FOLLOWING IN TSZYU’S STEPS
Aussie boxing star Sam Goodman has taken a leaf out of Tim Tszyu’s playbook with his decision to fight on his own terms and not wait on the murky world of boxing politics.
Goodman’s decision to take on world No.8 Chanoi Worawut in Wollongong on July 10 is a similar play to that used previously by Tszyu and his promoters the Rose brothers, the brains behind No Limit Boxing.
When Tszyu’s undisputed title shot with Jerrell Charlo fell through, he took fights against Tony Harrison, Carlos Ocampo and Brian Mendoza on his way to becoming world champion in his own right.
Goodman recently returned from Japan where he jumped in the ring to call out current undisputed champion Naoya ‘The Monster’ Inoue. With only a verbal offer to fight Inoue in September – and nothing guaranteed – Goodman will again headline in his hometown of Wollongong against an undefeated Thai knockout artist in Worawut.
“I’ve constantly got to be pushing myself and testing myself,” Goodman said.
“So, you know, I need these challenges and to be put in these uncomfortable situations. And that’s what this is.
“It’s another test, another challenge. And if I want to be an undisputed champion, I need to be tested and tried and challenged, you know, to be battle hardened for what lies ahead.
“I never started this sport for money. You know, I started it for love and to become a world champion. You know, it’s always nice to get paid along the way. Don’t get me wrong, but look, it’s all my focus is on becoming undisputed world champion. That’s what it is for me. That’s what I’m worried about. And my team believes taking a fight here will do that for me.
“I’ll show that I’m a real threat to the undisputed title. And look, that’s what I’m about to show so look, I’m on their radar. They’re obviously on mine and I’m keen to get it on, but I’ve got a test in front of me, and I can’t look too far ahead. It’s in the back of my mind. I know what’s there, but I’ll, you know, I’ll get this job done first, and then onto the next.
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