Sport Confidential: Broncos eye a Dragon — and it’s not Matt Dufty
The NRL transfer market continues to heat up, with Brisbane on the verge of sealing another player signing.
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Brisbane’s dip into the player market has continued with the Broncos on the verge of signing St George Illawarra winger Jordan Pereira to a two-year deal.
Pereira, 28, has struggled to find a regular spot at the Dragons this year, playing just three matches. He was a mainstay in the top squad last year but the off-contract winger, who carries the ball strongly, is expected to help solve some of Brisbane’s outside back problems. The Broncos have already added backs Adam Reynolds and Brenko Lee for next season.
Knights’ pursuit of Broncos prop hits dead end
Matt Lodge’s mooted move to Newcastle is off after he was unable to secure a release from the Broncos.
The Knights had been in discussions about signing the controversial prop immediately in what would have been a big boost to their depleted roster. But after weeks of protracted talks it is understood the Knights have moved on and Lodge won’t be joining the club.
Instead Brisbane will have to continue to pay his $800,000 salary with Lodge able to remain at the club until 2024 with two years of player options in his favour.
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Knights boss Phil Gardner had cleared the path for Lodge to join the club but that won’t happen now.
The cavalry is slowing coming back to Newcastle who have been hammered by serious injuries to their big-name players.
Barring any late hiccup, Mitchell Pearce will make his return for Newcastle’s round 15 match against the Warriors. Pearce has not played since rupturing his pectoral in round four.
Winger Hymel Hunt is also due to play his first game in a month next week.
There are hopes Kalyn Ponga will be fit to play too but is uncertain with his ongoing groin injury. The Maroons are also sweating on the fitness of Ponga, who needs to play to ensure he is in contention for Origin II.
EAGLES, EELS EYE WOODS
Manly and Parramatta have made a play for prop Aaron Woods after he was told by incoming Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon he isn’t wanted for next season.
The Sea Eagles and Eels have both spoken to Woods this past week as they seek to bolster their respective forward packs for 2022. Fitzgibbon had a face-to-face meeting with Woods to let him know the Sharks were “moving in a different direction” next year.
Woods, who is in the final year of a three-year deal worth $600,000 annually, is understood to have offered to stay at Cronulla for just $180,000 next year, but Fitzgibbon was clear there was no space for him.
Woods, 30, can expect to earn more than $200,000 wherever he lands next; a big pay-cut from where he’s at but still enough to keep him in Australia and attempt to reignite his career under a new coach.
STORM SNARE TAHS CENTRE
Melbourne Storm have signed NSW Waratahs centre Tepai Moeroa on an immediate short-term deal that will see the 25-year-old join the NRL premiers immediately.
Moeroa, who played 112 first grade games for Parramatta Eels before his switch to rugby, had a medical with Storm officials last week and gained a release from his contract with Rugby Australia on Wednesday.
It’s understood RA will pay Moeroa around $120,000 to get him off their books, while Storm will pay him $100,000 for the rest of the 2021 season.
Moeroa will be a welcome boost to Melbourne’s forward pack, particularly during the State of Origin period and with star prop Christian Welch battling concussion issues.
His much-hyped move to Super Rugby in 2020 wasn’t a great success, with Moeroa struggling to get game-time for the Waratahs despite being brought in as one of their highest paid players, on a salary of $400,000 a season.
WORLD CLUB CHALLENGE IN UAE?
The UAE could play host to the World Club Challenge and a number of other matches, including a potential nine’s tournament as early as next year.
It is understood a group of entrepreneurs in Australia and England with direct interest in rugby league – led by ex-first grader Jimmy Smith – have developed a proposal which would have the NRL premiers take on the Super League winners in Abu Dhabi next year.
Already plans have been taken to the respective governing bodies as well as some NRL clubs to gauge their interest. Aside from the annual World Club Challenge – which was scrapped this year because of Covid-19 – there is a push to have NRL teams take on Super League clubs in nine-per-side games.
It will form part of a wider strategy for rugby league to be exposed in the UAE. Dubai plays host to the rugby seven’s but there is no major rugby content in Abu Dhabi. The UAE has action to NRL matches.
The warmer conditions, closer proximity and the world-class facilities makes it more appealing for club’s instead of travelling to England in the cold of February. England has hosted all but two of the past 21 World Club Challenge matches.
When contacted Smith said it was an exciting development but too early to make any further comment.
DELL’S ‘CHINA’ MOMENT
He is well-known as ‘International Dell’ but there was a time when Wendell Sailor was dubbed ‘China’.
“Gorden Tallis was good for a sledge,” Sailor said. “When I went to rugby, he started calling me China because he said ‘you’re expensive and you sit on the bench’.
“There was another time when I was a youngster playing for the Broncos against Cronulla. The forwards kept dropping the ball, I came running in to pump up our forwards. (Sharks hardman) Les Davidson looks at me and says ‘F--- off back to your wing’. I couldn’t put it in reverse quick enough.”
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WARD’S BIG JOB
Ex-Bulldogs prop Barry Ward has been appointed Canterbury’s general manager of pathways and junior league.
Ward’s position is a key appointment for the Bulldogs with Ward overseeing all the areas of development beneath the NRL level.
The new role, which will complement the current coaching structure, will have Ward responsible for the organisation, planning and delivery of the elite football programs and development practices within local junior clubs and region. This includes the operational, welfare, coaching, educational, administrative and logistical support within the pathways and junior league programs.
After a career which netted 91 top grade games, Ward has held numerous positions with the Bulldogs. He was a NSW Cup coach and previously sat on the football and league’s club boards.
Ward, who is a Canterbury life member, was employed in the club’s commercial department.
The Bulldogs remain on the lookout for a head of football.
DAILY TELEGRAPH NRL PODCAST
Phil Rothfield, Michael Carayannis and Adam Mobbs break down the Blues’ big victory over the Maroons and whether Queensland has a chance of turning the tables. Plus, Buzz and Mick fire up over Mal Meninga questioning Jarome Luai’s selection and why the high-tackle crackdown fizzled out.
MAUMALO ON THE MARKET
Warriors winger Ken Maumalo may have played his last game for the club with rival teams made aware the Kiwi international could be on the move.
Maumalo’s agent wrote to clubs this week telling them the 26-year-old is a potential target. And the move could happen before the August 1 deadline.
Maumalo has not played since round 10 after playing the opening 10 matches of the year. He is named on an extended bench to play the Sea Eagles on Friday.
Maumalo has scored 41 tries from 105 games. Maumalo and David Fusitu’a were once staples on the Warriors flank but both have struggled this season.
BULLDOGS EYEING BUNDABERG
Bundaberg could host its first NRL match with the Bulldogs considering moving a match to the regional Queensland town. Canterbury are yet to confirm where they will play their round 20 game against the Titans having needed to shift their round five game from Perth to Sydney because of Covid-19. The Bulldogs are in discussions with Bundaberg who are keen to secure the match having hosted a pre-season game in 2016 between the Broncos and Cowboys. The Bulldogs are also considering playing the game in Wagga Wagga or keeping it in Sydney.
ROUGH CUT
Nathan Cleary had to come from the field after play was stopped for a second time because of his bad cut in Origin I. Under NRL rules players can be taken out the back of play to be attended to by a trainer. But once play is stopped a second time they must be replaced – either via an interchange or the team plays a player short until the cut is repaired.
GAL’S BIG WIN
Paul Gallen has revealed he can block Justis Huni from fighting anyone else later this year due to a unique clause in their fight contract.
Huni’s promoter Dean Lonergan, who has been verbally sparring Gallen since the June 16 fight was announced last month, has given Gallen a rematch clause for October.
But as Gallen explained: “I never insisted on it, they offered it and I wasn’t going to knock it back – but they never approved any rematch for him.
“So this is going to be the greatest night ever if I win, I’m going to laugh in Lonergan’s face like you wouldn’t believe.
“They didn’t put one in for them, if I win there’s no rematch clause for them, it’s only for me.
“It’s in my favour, he can’t fight anyone else unless I release him from the contract. It’s totally in my favour, that’s the arrogance of their team.
“After the Olympics, he’s not allowed to fight anyone else but me, and I’ve got until August 31 to decide if I’ll have the rematch.
“If I win, I hold all the aces. The look on Lonergan’s face is going to be priceless.”
Gallen fights Huni next Wednesday at Sydney’s ICC, with the bout to be shown live on Main Event.
FREDDY’S SMART CALL
Brad Fittler showed his shrewd coaching nous by inviting former first grade referee Gavin Badger to officiate the NSW Blues’ opposed training runs before Origin I.
With NRL teams struggling under the new crackdown on high contact and crusher tackles, Fittler brought Badger into the camp so players could feel as though they were playing under the pressure of the new rules during training.
It resulted in a disciplined Blues performance as they thrashed Queensland 50-6 in Townsville, and it was quite the sight to see Badger cheering on NSW behind Fittler in the coaching box.
LOVE FOR LAURIE
Could Wests Tigers fullback Daine Laurie find love on a reality TV show. The casting team of Love Island Australia certainly think so after reaching out to Laurie on his Instagram account. He could follow the lead of teammate Jake Simpkin who is now dating former Love Island contestant Cartier Surjan.
DEBUT TO REMEMBER
Jake Trbojevic has spoken about the emotion of watching younger brother Ben making his NRL debut. Jake and Tom presented the jersey to Ben, who featured in Manly’s last-start loss to Newcastle.
“It was really cool and a memorable moment,” Trbojevic said. “I will deadest never forget that I hope we can do it many more times. He is only young, he has to do his time and see how he goes.
“I get nervous as it is and having him there I was really nervous. I was just happy for him. He didn’t get much time. It was still a dream come true.”
SPECIAL TOUCH
The four South Sydney teams will wear special socks to raise funds and awareness for the fight against Cystic Fibrosis. The Rabbitohs NRL, NSW Cup, Jersey Flegg Cup and Women’s Premiership players’ socks will be auctioned after the match with money raised going towards Cystic Fibrosis Community Care.
ALL EYES ON
Karmichael Hunt will play his first NRL match in 11 years. In between there has been a couple of code switchers and some off-field drama. It is the second longest break in the game’s history with Vic Hey missing 12 seasons in between games – 1935 for Wests and 1948 for the Eels.
FLASHBACK
How good was life looking for the Tigers on this day five years ago? James Tedesco was in the No.1 jersey as the Tigers beat South Sydney 30-14, with Aaron Woods captaining the Tigers. Mitchell Moses scored a try and kicked two goals in front of 14490 people at Stadium Australia.
BLAST FROM THE PAST
PAT RICHARDS — 119 top grade games (37 for Parramatta 2000-2003, 82 Wests Tigers 2004-05, 2014-15)
Pat Richards risked it all to play in the 2005 grand final. After hurting his ankle in the preliminary final he was given next to no chance to play in the decider against the Cowboys. That was until a meeting with the doctor just four days before kick-off.
“I thought I was no chance,” Richards said. “There was a bit of pain. The doctor said there was no break and we could roll the dice and have a needle. He told me ‘there’s a possibility if it goes bad it can end your career’. I just said ‘let’s have a crack at it.’
“I wouldn’t have been able to live with myself if I missed the game. During captain’s run I realised my knee was sore too – I actually tore the cartilage in my knee. So I had injections in my knee too. I had a run down the tunnel at Sydney Olympic Park during captain’s run and for the first time I could feel no pain.
“I told Tim Sheens and he just said he trusted me. I told the boys and they just erupted.”
Richards then combined for one of the most iconic grand final moments when he pounced on a Benji Marshall flick pass before shrugging off Rod Jensen to score.
“By grand final day, my foot was black,” Richards said. “I got the swelling down enough…I couldn’t feel my ankle and I was running on memory.
“When Benji passed the ball I didn’t realise it was a flick pass. It’s an amazing moment to be involved in and people stop me in the street. It still makes my hairs stand-up still talking about it.”
Richards arrived at the Tigers after an injury plagued stint at the Eels. He tore his anterior cruciate ligament midway through 2001 and missed Parramatta’s grand final appearance. The knee continued to cause issues and restricted him to just 14 games in two years before Sheens approached him.
“He sold the vision of the club and spoke about the young guys coming through like Benji, Robbie, Halatau and Fulton,” Richards said.
After being part of the Tigers’ World Seven’s winning side in 2004, injury again struck.
“I dislocated my ankle in the pre-season,” Richards said. “I thought these injuries were going to continue and I wasn’t going to be able to get going. That was one of the reasons I signed with Wigan midway through 2005.”
Despite turning his fortunes around and starring in the Tigers’ premiership season, Richards had no intention of reneging on his Super League deal although there was an option to remain in Australia.
He dominated the Super League before returning to the Tigers for two seasons. Richards is now a Tigers ambassador and works with the outside backs.
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