Sport Confidential: V’landys denies Meninga rift, Dane Gagai reveals State of Origin boost
Peter V’landys has denied he’s muscling in on Mal Meninga and Darren Lockyer’s position as Kangaroos selectors, Dane Gagai’s off-season revelation and more in SPORT CONFIDENTIAL
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ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys has hit back at criticism of his role as a selector on the Australian panel alongside coach Mal Meninga.
There is a view V’landys is using his powers to muscle his way onto the Kangaroos’ selection panel for the World Cup, but the ARLC chairman says he has no interest in telling Meninga who to pick for green-and-gold jumpers.
“I have been copping criticism about me being a selector but it’s a requirement for me to do it,” he said. “The chairman has always been a selector, it’s in the ARL Commission constitution. I have no choice but to do it.
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“My predecessors Peter Beattie and John Grant were also part of the Australian selection panel, the chairman of the ARLC must be the chairman of selectors for Australia.
“It’s not like I wanted the power to do it. It’s written in the constitution of the ARLC for me to perform the role. The reality is I don’t get involved in selections. I am there in an official capacity. I report back to the ARLC so I make sure the processes are correct.
“If there is an issue, I am there to resolve an issue, but I don’t tell Mal Meninga who to pick.
“If there is a deadlock, I would have a say, but Mal and Darren Lockyer are very capable people.”
GAGAI’S ORIGIN BOOST AFTER OFF-SEASON SURGERY
Maroons centre Dane Gagai enjoyed his first illness-free Origin preparation in some time after finally having his troublesome tonsils removed.
Gagai was hospitalised during last year’s series due to a severe case of tonsillitis, which was a recurring theme for him over the past decade.
It prompted Gagai to finally go under the knife last off-season, and his doctor was stunned by what he discovered in the Newcastle gun’s throat.
“Every year I have been sick,” Gagai said.
“We went to Perth (2019) and I got tonsillitis then and couldn’t train. I was sick for ages.
“I made sure in the off-season the first thing I got done was to get the operation. The doctor was impressed with how big they were and that I hadn’t got them removed earlier.
“I first started getting tonsillitis when I was 15. When he cut them out, he said they were pretty badly infected. I thought it must have just been infected for a week or two.
“The doctor said ‘no, they would have been like that since you were 15’. So any time I got the flu or anything it triggered my tonsils and my whole body would shut down.
“Now I’ve had them taken out, it’s so much better. I don’t know why I waited until I was bloody 30. I definitely won’t be getting tonsillitis now so you can rule that one out.”
Gagai scored a try in his 20th straight appearance for the Maroons on Wednesday night and despite his tonsillitis struggles, has never missed an Origin game since debuting in 2015.
SECRET TITANS COACH CLAUSES REVEALED
The Titans have held high-powered meetings with Justin Holbrook as pressure intensifies on the Gold Coast coach to stop the rot at Parkwood.
Sport Confidential can reveal Holbrook’s Titans contract, upgraded 18 months ago until the end of 2024, is laced with performance clauses that rewards the coach for success but also protects the club from a substantial payout should they sever ties.
There is no suggestion Holbrook is on the verge of being sacked, but a recent meeting of minds suggests the 46-year-old needs to ignite a Titans fightback this season.
It is understood Titans culture boss Mal Meninga met with Holbrook and his coaching staff following Gold Coast’s dismal 32-6 loss to the Cowboys last Thursday night.
The Titans have lost eight of their past nine games and Holbrook must conjure an upset against Souths on Saturday at Robina.
Since the Covid restrictions have cleared, Meninga has taken on a more active role. Based in Canberra, 1120km away from the Gold Coast, Meninga has been more visible at Titans headquarters in recent months.
The NRL Immortal played a key role in the hiring of Holbrook and wants him to succeed, but Gold Coast’s recent form is alarming. Holbrook has won just four of his past 18 matches. All four wins were against also-rans the Dragons, Warriors (twice) and Wests Tigers.
Of the current bottom-four teams, Holbrook is the only coaching survivor thus far.
Trent Barrett fell on his sword at Canterbury last month, while besieged Wests Tigers coach Michael Maguire and Warriors counterpart Nathan Brown have departed in recent days.
Titans co-owners Rebecca Frizelle and Darryl Kelly are fans of Holbrook but are watching Gold Coast’s situation closely.
After making the finals last season, the Titans were rated a possible top-six team this year, but while Queensland rivals the Cowboys and Broncos have surged, the Coast have been huge disappointments.
Despite the Titans sitting in 15th spot with next to no hope of making the finals, Holbrook insists their 2022 campaign isn’t a write-off.
“It’s not over,” he said. “We know we’re miles off, but we’re going to keep working at it. We need to string some wins together but we’re definitely not giving up.
“We haven’t given in. There are just big moments that we aren’t winning and then we’re on the end of a big score against us.”
MAL’S ORIGIN CALL HITS DEAD END
ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys insists there will be no overhaul of State of Origin’s eligibility rules in the wake of Australia coach Mal Meninga’s call for more clarity.
Meninga wants Queensland and NSW players of Polynesian heritage to declare immediately after this year’s Origin series whether they wish to represent Australia or another nation at this year’s World Cup.
Meninga has previously questioned whether Polynesian players who are eligible for Tonga and Samoa should also be allowed to play State of Origin if their hearts aren’t set on an Australian jumper.
Current Origin players Payne Haas, Josh Papalii, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Junior Paulo, Stephen Crichton, Jarome Luai, Brian To’o, Joseph Suaalii, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow are all eligible for Samoa.
But V’landys is keen to retain the status quo in the lead-up to this year’s World Cup in England.
“We have been doing a review of Origin for a couple of years,” he said. “We have been keeping a close eye on eligibility and I understand where Mal Meninga is coming from, but there will be no imminent changes.
“Before Covid, we started reviewing it all and there was great debate around the eligibility of Polynesian players. It was healthy debate, some people agreed, some didn’t and it is one of those issues where there is going to be diverse opinion.
“I have no issue with the Polynesian guys being eligible for Origin and playing for Tier Two nations such as Tonga, Samoa and PNG.
“At the same time, we want the Pacific to be strong too so that’s the future of rugby league. We have a lot of Polynesian players in the game and it’s healthy for the Tier Two nations if they are playing State of Origin.”
TITANS COP ROASTING
Gold Coast Titans players have been put on notice for their poor behaviour and attitudes towards media at training.
Following complaints from local media to club powerbrokers, Titans players were last week addressed about their sloppy standards.
It was not unusual for Titans players to loiter, crack jokes and carry on like clowns while teammates were fulfilling NRL-obligated media commitments. There were also numerous instances of players not turning up for scheduled media appearances.
All this from a club that’s running second-last on the ladder. It took complaints from the media before the players were told their behaviour wasn’t good enough.
NO WALK ON THE WILD SIDE
Warriors owner Mark Robinson has ruled out making an approach to the Walker brothers, Ben and Shane, to succeed departed coach Nathan Brown.
The Warriors are on the lookout for a replacement for Brown and the Walker duo have been flagged as an option after Robinson first reached out to the pair two years ago.
The Warriors boss interviewed the premiership-winning Ipswich duo in 2020 and even had a round of golf with the Walkers. But just as the Walkers were tipped to put pen to paper, Brown came from the clouds to snatch the Warriors coaching job.
It is understood the Walkers, who steered the Ipswich Jets to the 2015 Intrust Super Cup premiership, made fresh inquiries with Robinson in the past 24 hours, but the Warriors owner is moving in a different direction.
“To be honest, we won’t be considering the Walker boys,” Robinson said. “We looked at them last time and it’s just not my style on what we are looking for, I don’t think you can have two people as co-coaches.
“It’s not really the type of model I want.”
Robinson dismissed suggestions an Australian coach cannot succeed at the helm of a New Zealand club.
“We’ve got good development in New Zealand so we just need to work out what will be best for the Kiwi boys and Australian players and who could work well with both,” he said.
“I’m sure there are some coaches who would happily live in New Zealand.
“I don’t see why it’s such an issue living in New Zealand, it’s a beautiful country with a lot to offer and if we hire an Australian coach, we have to make sure they are happy to enjoy a new life in New Zealand and want to be part of the club for the long haul.
“Auckland, it’s quite expensive but so is Sydney and NRL coaches are paid well, so the cost of living won’t be an issue for a head coach.
“Moving can be a big ask if you have kids involved, but I’m confident we can fit the right coach to take our club forward.”
MURDOCH MAKES ORIGIN SPLASH
State of Origin’s return to NSW has attracted star power with News Corporation co-chairman Lachlan Murdoch attending the series opener at Accor Stadium.
Murdoch is a noted footy fan – he is an unabashed supporter of the Brisbane Broncos – and the 50-year-old was a guest of the NRL for Queensland’s epic 16-10 defeat of the Blues in Origin I.
ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys has strong ties with Murdoch, who went home a happy man, with NRL spies saying he relished the sight of Broncos stars Pat Carrigan and Selwyn Cobbo celebrating Queensland’s superb win.
One big-name absentee was NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo, who was forced to watch Origin I from his bedroom after contracting Covid and isolating from his family.
BRONCO HEADS TO OLD DART
Unsung Broncos forward Rhys Kennedy will quit the club at season’s end to continue his career in England.
One of the tallest players in the NRL at 197cm, Kennedy is off-contract at the Broncos this year and his management has advised the club he will be playing in the Super League next season.
A number of British clubs have been linked with Kennedy, including Hull KR, Warrington Wolves and Salford Red Devils.
The 27-year-old has played 41 games for the Broncos since his arrival from Souths in 2019 and has proved a handy back-up forward with his size and team-first attitude.
DOLPHINS CONVERT ON FIRE
Dolphins rugby recruit Valynce Te Whare has been turning heads in the Brisbane Rugby League.
Te Whare was the top tryscorer in the BRL going into last week, crossing eight times in three games for Brighton, including consecutive hat-tricks.
His BRL performances prompted the Dolphins to bump Te Whare up to the Hostplus Cup, where he bagged a double on debut.
The Dolphins have brought Te Whare across the ditch from New Zealand where he was a gun rugby player. He had never played league, but is quickly getting a grasp on the 13-man code ahead of the Dolphins’ NRL launch next year.
MULLETS GETTING THE CHOP
The filthiest mullets at the Brisbane Broncos are getting the chop.
Tyson Gamble and Keenan Palasia have agreed to cut their flowing locks to raise funds for the Children’s Hospital Foundation.
The Broncos have been inspired by young fan Nate, a regular at training who has been battling acute lymphoblastic leukaemia for the past few years and recently finished his last bout of chemotherapy.
“He makes us realise the little things in life,” Palasia said.
“It’s always good seeing a smile on his face even though he’s going through chemo.
“We’re doing this to raise some money for the children’s hospital foundation.
“I had a mate that passed away from cancer a few years ago in 2019 so this is close to me.”
ALFIE WALKING FOR A GOOD CAUSE
Queensland legend Allan Langer will be strapping on his runners for a good cause.
“Alfie” is joining prostate cancer’s Walk for Him to support former Maroons teammates Trevor Gillmeister and Gary Larson, who have battled the disease.
The walk will take place next week and involves taking 49,000 steps, in honour of the 49 Australian men diagnosed with prostate cancer every day, across seven days.
Anyone can get involved by heading to walkforhim.org.au
REYNOLDS INK
Broncos skipper Adam Reynolds has used his recent time on the sidelines to get a new tattoo.
Reynolds has added fresh ink of boxing icon Muhammad Ali to his heavily-tattooed body in the lead-up to his planned comeback from injury against the Raiders on Saturday night at Suncorp Stadium.
Reynolds, who is racing the clock with a hamstring injury, is a massive fan of Ali and has proven it with more body artwork.
The Broncos halfback’s latest tattoo may surprise.
Just two years ago, Reynolds said he has questioned getting so many tattoos, saying: “If I had my time over again I would probably be a cleanskin. I think sometimes, ‘What an idiot’. You’ve got to make sure you love it before you get it.”
Originally published as Sport Confidential: V’landys denies Meninga rift, Dane Gagai reveals State of Origin boost
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