Sport Confidential: Mundine’s low-key retirement, Sharks’ stadium rush and Fergo’s Origin lifeline

Anthony Mundine’s quiet retirement from boxing, Cronulla’s stadium woes ahead of first home game and Blake Ferguson thrown an Origin lifeline. It’s all in Sport Confidential.

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Anthony Mundine officially retired during the week.

In what can only be described as one of sport’s biggest ironies, given the hallmarks of his career were exaggerated self-promotion and over-hype, Mundine retired without even a statement to say he was done.

Anthony Mundine has retired from boxing. Picture: Brett Costello

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Mundine was in and out of negotiations with MainEvent about having one more fight, and possibly going out a winner, before hanging up the gloves for good, but the on-again, off-again fight was finally called off after Mundine struggled to find a worthy opponent, which would have made it hard to sell as a pay-per-view.

While Mundine polarised the country throughout his career nobody can deny he was one of the country’s biggest sports stars for more than two decades.

Work going on at Shark Park just days prior to their home season opener.

SHARKS RUSH TO GET STADIUM READY

The $40 million can’t come soon enough for the Sharks.

Staff at Cronulla’s Southern Cross Group Stadium were hurriedly putting the finishing touches on general repairs in the main grandstand this week ahead of tomorrow’s clash against the Gold Coast.

Scaffolding and cranes were a constant at the ground as they looked to repair rust damage on the stand while patchwork was also being done on the big screen.

CHAD PUTS HOWLER IN THE PAST

Chad Townsend has watched that pass plenty of times this week. The Cronulla halfback threw a crucial intercept which resulted in former teammate Edrick Lee racing away to give the Knights an upset round one win.

“I saw plenty of space and jamming defence,” Townsend said. “Being a half you want to back yourself. I backed myself but it didn’t come off. I can live with it. Sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t. It’s just the way it goes. I don’t dwell on things like that. I move on straight away. I can’t control that it’s happened. All I can control is what happens next. Not only that aspect but my whole game.

Chad Townsend has put his tough season opener behind him. (AAP Image/Darren Pateman)

“Straight after the moment I move on straight away. I don’t think about it. In video I sit down with the coaches and (they ask) what are you thinking here, what are you seeing. And then you move on. People don’t remember what happens at the start of the year, they remember what happens at the end of the year. It’s the same for me.

“I can guarantee I’ll make more mistakes this season. It’s what you do next (which matters).”

Lee offered up a simple ‘sorry bra’ when the two shook hands after the game. The premiership winning half will play his 100th top grade game for the Sharks on Saturday. The local junior said some of his earliest memories are sitting on the Shark Park hill cheering on the likes of Mat Rogers, Adam Dykes and Mitch Healey.

“It means a lot,” Townsend said. “I come from this community and this area. You have to pinch yourself at times to realise exactly what you’re doing. I don’t take anything from granted.

“When I left (in 2014) I didn’t think I was going to come back. But the stars aligned and I found myself back here. It’s been an enjoyable ride.”

Luke Garner lost his mouthguard while celebrating his first NRL try. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

GARNER’S MOMENT COMES AT A COST

Tigers back-rower Luke Garner lost his mouthguard in the midst of scoring his first NRL try. Garner was impressive in the starting role against Manly on Saturday but his joy was tempered a little bit when he realised he had dropped his mouth guard on the Leichhardt Oval surface. He spent time looking for it with no luck.

FREDDY LEAVES LINE OPEN FOR FERGO

IF Blake Ferguson wants back into the NSW squad his first step will be picking up the phone to Blues coach Brad Fittler. Ferguson said he was keen on returning to the Blues line-up after being overlooked last year. The Parramatta winger missed a camp in December to instead train with new Eels teammates. Fittler said the door was open.

“Blake’s got my number,” Fittler said on Macquarie Sports Radio on Thursday morning. I’m sure if he wants to have a chat he can give me a call.”

CRONULLA RETIREES PAIRING UP AGAIN

Former premiership-winning teammates Luke Lewis and Chris Heighington will again join forces after agreeing to be part of ABC Grandstand’s rugby league coverage. The 300-gamers will join the commentary team headlined by Andrew Moore.

Wayne Bennett and Darren Lockyer have different versions of the same story. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

LOCKY, BENNY TELL DIFFERENT TALES

Darren Lockyer’s appearance on 100% Footy on Monday has taken a solid stick to Wayne Bennett’s version that he was part of the decision making to approach Craig Bellamy as a future coach of the broncos.

Lockyer was talking about the damaged relationship with his former coach and mentor, which came after Lockyer, a Broncos board member, was part of the sub-committee tasked to appoint the next coach.

“When Craig Bellamy became available, from the club’s perspective, he was the future beyond Wayne, when Wayne was to retire,” Lockyer said on Channel 9’s 100% Footy.

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“But once that approach to Craig had become public, then relationships were fractured at the club and in the end … it became untenable.”

This is different from the version Bennett tried to peddle last year when the word leaked that the Broncos had secretly met with Bellamy.

“I initiated it (the meeting). You’ve got to be honest in life,” Bennett said.

“I didn’t want it unfolding without me having some control over it, without me being a part of it.

“I told Paul we want to get the best coach possible for this club.

“I was part of the discussion and I said we’d be silly not to look at Craig who is coming off contract.”

Justin Hodges wants to return to the ring. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)

HODGES EYES A SECOND BOUT

Champion centre Justin Hodges is planning to glove up and jump in the boxing ring for another fight.

The whisper about Hodges when he played in the NRL was to steer clear if all hell broke loose because the Queenslander knew how to handle himself.

And after a successful foray into the ring on the NRL fight night on Fox Sports earlier this year, Hodges has got the taste and wants another crack.

He’ll need to continue to sharpen his ring smarts but already the smart money says Hodges might even angle for the ultimate NSW vs Queensland grudge match against ex-Blues skipper Paul Gallen.

It’s a way off yet but if Hodges can make steady progress, the promoters are already queuing up.