Super Bowl party with Wade Graham and Tyson Frizell, Joey Johns health scare
A Super Bowl party with Wade Graham and Tyson Frizell, Joey Johns health scare and referee Matt Cecchin needs help for his Super League switch. It’s all in WHAT’S THE BUZZ.
A Super Bowl party with Wade Graham and Tyson Frizell, Joey Johns health scare and referee Matt Cecchin needs help for his Super League switch. It’s all in WHAT’S THE BUZZ.
SAINT
FOR all the ratbags who’ve brought shame on rugby league in an off-season of scandal, there are some wonderful NRL players doing the right thing. Champion Roosters, Blues and Kangaroos fullback James Tedesco is one of them.
Tedesco recently became a patron for the Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation, joining Mark Taylor, Raelene Boyle and Ellyse Perry to raise awareness for a fantastic charity organisation.
SINNER
WE warned you two months ago about a looming scandal in Melbourne racing. At the time we couldn’t name Darren Weir because it would have blown a police surveillance operation on his stables. The entire racing industry has been rocked by the allegations that include cruelty to horses.
SHOOSH
WHICH rugby league multimedia personality was spotted visiting a plastic surgeon last week to get some work done on his melon?
SHOOSH II
WHICH high-profile NRL player manager gave up his time on Christmas Day to hand out meals to the homeless at the Wesley Mission?
SHOOSH III
WHICH player agent is trying to pinch Latrell Mitchell from his manager, who discovered and mentored him through some tough teenage years?
SHOOSH IV
WHICH high-profile NRL player is hopelessly overweight after a poor off-season and is causing huge concern to his club. He’ll be easy to spot during the trials.
SPOTTED
2GB Continuous Call personality Darryl ‘Big Marn’ Brohman shopping for cheap soap and toothpaste at the Hot Dollar store in Cronulla with his mate Pete the Greek.
SPOTTED II
Veteran player manager Sam Ayoub at courtside in Melbourne last week to watch both the women's and mens finals of the Australian Open
SPOTTED III
PARRAMATTA Eels legends Mick Cronin and Peter Wynn celebrating the arrival of their first grandchildren — both boys — within 24 hours of each other.
STAR TREATMENT AT SUPER BOWL PARTY
THERE is no sporting event on this planet to rival the atmosphere of a Super Bowl and the parties across the United States. Your columnist has been to two of them.
The next best thing is Sydney’s biggest Super Bowl party at The Star on Monday.
A host of current and former NRL stars are expected to attend. The Sharks v Dragons rivalry continues with Wade Graham decked out in a Rams shirt while Tyson Frizell is behind Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.
The Star will host a hot dog-eating competition and other US-inspired activities during the live coverage on the big screen.
The TAB is anticipating record interest in the Super Bowl with betting on the NFL up by 20 per cent this year. The betting agency expects to hold 50,000 bets, including a range of novelty options such as the duration of the national anthem.
SUPER BOWL LIII: Everything you need to know
NEW YEAR, NEW NAME
FOX Sports rugby league personality Yvonne Sampson has taken her new husband’s surname. Yvonne married Channel 9’s Walkley Award-winning reporter Chris O’Keefe in October and from here on it is Yvonne O’Keefe.
“I just think it’s a nice thing to do,” Yvonne told us. “It’s not like Chris was pressuring me but, to be united as a family, it was important for me to do it.”
However she may remain Sampson on TV because her name is such a strong brand.
It has been a super busy off-season for the Fox Sports star. A Southern Highlands wedding, a European honeymoon and now the task of changing her passport, credit cards, driver’s licence and Medicare card to use the new surname.
POPULAR PUGS
There’s no doubt trash talk sells tickets to sporting events. After weeks of bitter exchanges between Paul Gallen and John Hopoate, their big fight at the Hordern Pavilion next Friday night is likely to be sold out within 48 hours. Pay TV numbers in the clubs and pubs are also strong.
JOEY’S NEURO CHECK
LEAGUE Immortal Andrew Johns is off to Melbourne for an appointment with one of Australia’s leading neuro specialists. The Sunday Telegraph recently revealed Johns collapsed in a north coast coffee shop after suffering a seizure. He has had some episodes in recent years which have concerned his family. Johns has spoken to Channel 9 colleague and fellow Immortal Wally Lewis, who once suffered from epilepsy, about his illness.
2GB HOOK TALENT
HE may not be coaching in 2019 but footy fans will hear and read plenty from former Panthers coach Anthony Griffin during the season. Ray Hadley’s 2GB Continuous Call team has signed Griffin as a co-commentator for Saturday night games. Griffin will also write columns for The Daily Telegraph.
“He’s one of the most insightful minds in the game,” Hadley said. “We think he’ll add plenty to our coverage.”
Despite a messy exit from Penrith and the criticism he received from Phil Gould and Cameron Ciraldo, Griffin is still a respected figure in the game. Fox Sports commentator Michael Ennis wanted the Sharks to appoint him as Shane Flanagan’s replacement.
CECCHIN ASKS FOR VISA HELP
AFTER two failed attempts to get a work visa in England, referee Matt Cecchin has sought help from the Australian government to join the UK Super League next season.
The NRL fan favourite has confirmed his career in Australia is over and is pressing ahead with plans to referee overseas. Cecchin was the subject of death threats and the victim of appalling treatment from NRL refereeing officials last year.
I sent Cecchin this text message: “Just wondering what you are up to. I heard there a visa issues in the UK. You’ve got a few fans out there so I just wanted to update them in my column on Sunday.”
He replied: “A ref with a few fans? Not possible, you’re embellishing.
“The issue is that the referees/officials in the UK don’t have a classification under the visa for sports professionals the same way players, coaches and conditioning staff do.
“Should I be rejected for a third time then the Australian government has agreed to make a diplomatic approach on my behalf.
“My partner and the dog are ready to go and I have given Super League/RFL a commitment to going over and will exhaust all possibilities.”
Many of league’s biggest names have been supporting Cecchin behind the scenes after such a difficult 2018.
“I have been humbled by the people that have made personal contact asking me to return to the NRL,” he said, “Commentators, current and past players and even John Quayle.
“Graham (Annesley) has been very accommodating and in close contact however I won’t go back on my word.”
BRAVE GUHA AT HER MOTHER’S SIDE
Fox Sports cricket caller Isa Guha is mourning the passing of her mother after a brave year-long battle with cancer.
Behind the stunning smile, Isa has been dealing with the private heartache of her mum’s health battle. She rushed home to England from Brisbane after the first day of the Gabba Test to spend the final days at Roma’s bedside.
“Isa has been so strong,” said Fox Sports’ Steve Crawley, “She kept her mother’s battle tight, slipping back to London for a couple of days between the Perth and Melbourne Tests for an early Christmas together.
“The quiet respect she is afforded by all her colleagues has made everyone stop and contemplate her loss. We were all deeply saddened.”
CHICK IN SHARKS LIMBO
James Segeyaro’s hopes of remaining a Cronulla Shark will be determined by the NRL’s investigation into the club’s salary cap dealings. Cronulla faces a substantial fine and cap reduction for the next two seasons, similar to what the Manly Sea Eagles copped in recent times. Segeyaro is living in the Shire but is training on his own. New Sharks coach John Morris wants him on the roster but can’t do a deal until the cap issues have been sorted.
DOG COUP
In a huge boost for the Canterbury Bulldogs, former Cronulla Sharks doctor Dave Givney has joined the club as chief medico. Givney was also the Blues’ former State of Origin doctor and is one of the most respected doctors in Australian sport.
COYNE ON BOARD
Former Maroons and Dragons star Mark Coyne will make his debut on rugby league’s independent commission this week. He has been invited as an observer but doesn’t officially start until next month. The commission has a number of big items on the agenda including the Sharks cap scandal and the future of Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe.
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