Sports Confidential: Is James Roberts on outer at Brisbane?

Close eyes are being kept on James Roberts’ situation with rumours continuing to swirl the explosive outside back’s relationship with Anthony Seibold has soured.

• NO WAY: Dogs desperate to avoid spoon

• ROOSTERS: Chooks down Dragons on Anzac Day

Close eyes are being kept on James Roberts’ situation at Brisbane.

Word is the relationship between Roberts and coach Anthony Seibold is less than ideal. Roberts does not share the same relationship with Seibold as he did with the previous coach Wayne Bennett and Roberts’ recent drunken episode is another black mark as far as Seibold is concerned.

This all dovetails into Bennett’s move to South Sydney over the summer and Greg Inglis’s shock retirement less than a fortnight ago.

Roberts has endured a tough start to the season. AAP Image/Darren England.

Asked if there was any movement to replace Inglis, Bennett replied: “Very quiet.”

Asked if he was looking, he said: “Not too hard.”

MUNDINE PICKS UP THE CLIPBOARD

Fresh from announcing his return to playing rugby league – former NSW player Anthony Mundine will turn to coaching senior football for the first time this weekend.

Mundine is taking charge of his local side the Under 18 Kogarah Cougars alongside Rabeh Awada who kickstart their season on Sunday.

“I know the game and the structure of the NRL standard,” Mundine said. “I want to use my knowledge. I played under some great coaches in Brian Smith, Wayne Bennett and David Waite who will really help me set these boys up to get into a professional structure.

Mundine is coaching the Under 18s at the Kogarah Cougars. Picture by Christian Gilles.

“I haven’t really coached before. I coached under-12s when my son was 12 and really had fun with it.

“This is the first time I’ve coached the older boys. They will be able to learn a lot about the game.

“Little things – the one percenters that people don’t know about at this level.”

Mundine will play his first season of rugby league with the Matraville Tigers - since retiring midway through 2000 at St George Illawarra. He will play alongside son CJ.

Mundine hasn’t ruled out pursuing a coaching position in the future.

Mundine is keen to give back to rugby league. Picture by Christian Gilles.

“We’ll see what happens and how much I enjoy this,” Mundine said. “If you’ve got a good team it’s all about managing their personalities and egos. That’s why Wayne Bennett was so good.

“You need to know about footy and earn the respect of your players. I know I can motivate. I can motivate anyone. It’s all about positivity and effort. Great things happen from laying effort on effort.”

FINAL STRAW FOR GUS

A certain irony went through the NRL when details leaked that the final straw for Phil Gould was a player contract extension he signed without Ivan Cleary’s knowledge.

Gould has fallen out with coaches before because he signed players, sacked players or extended players without the coach’s knowledge.

Of course, that is part of his role as the general manager of football, although it was felt a small courtesy in consulting the coach would’ve been nice.

The Panthers attempted to head this off by forming a retention and recruitment committee, which included Gould, Cleary, chief executive Brian Fletcher and club legend and board member Greg Alexander.

In the past Gould always won the battle over the coach’s protests. This time wasn’t the case.

Gould is out of Penrith. Photo by Renee McKay/Getty Images,

NO MUCKING AROUND FOR NINES

Australian coach Mal Meninga is looking to pick a genuine world class nine’s team ahead of the inaugural tournament this year. Meninga confirmed he will take charge of the Kangaroos side to play in the 12-team World Cup tournament at Bankwest Stadium in October. This could see the likes of excitement machines including Kalyn Ponga and Josh Addo-Carr handed their first Test jumpers.

Meninga is also mindful of using the tournament to help with Australia’s preparations in the lead-up to their Test against New Zealand a week later on October 25.

“We will see who is available and who wants to play but I will be picking a genuine nine’s team,” Meninga said. I am a huge fan of the nine’s concept and think it will promote our game.

“The nine’s concept makes the tournament a big equaliser.”

England, New Zealand, Tonga, Samoa, France, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Wales, Lebanon, the Cook Islands and the United States are the other teams competing.

Meninga would love to use the tournament to take the matches into new markets.

“I would love to see it played around the globe,” Meninga said.

Australia play New Zealand and Tonga in end of year Tests.

CANBERRA’S BATEMAN A HANDFUL

Jake Trbojevic hasn’t forgotten the first time he crossed paths with Englishman John Bateman. It was the opening World Cup game in 2017 when Bateman – playing at centre for England – left a last impression on the Kangaroos players.

“He was really strong and hard to handle,” Trbojevic said. “I remember thinking it during the game. When I saw he was coming to the NRL I’ve kept an eye on him and watched closely. He has been really good.

“I don’t watch too much Super League so I don’t know all the players over there when I played when I definitely remember him from that.

“When you watch him play it looks like he has spiders on him. He knows where to be and when he gets the ball you can’t get him down.”

Bateman has fast become one of the best forwards in the league. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images.

The pair will cross-paths for the first time in the NRL on Sunday when Trbojevic’s Manly side play Bateman’s Canberra.

The Sea Eagles are leaking an average of 10 points less per game this year. New coach Des Hasler has brought in a defensive mindset this year after Manly leaked more than any side last year. They have conceded 100 points this year – with only Melbourne, Canberra, South Sydney and Parramatta giving up less.

“Des is very adamant in what he wants,” Trbojevic said. “When we train we train really hard at it. In the off-season we did some tough sessions.

“Some of the sessions are mentally draining. We had some really long sessions. It felt like we were out there for 10 hours. It was really hard.”

BLUE IN THE SHIRE?

There was an interesting on-field disagreement between Cronulla players Andrew Fifita and Josh Morris during the Sharks’ dramatic come from behind win against Penrith last week. Fifita gave Morris a slight shove and a bit of a verbal bashing when the Panthers crossed for what looked to have been the match winning try when Waqa Blake scored midway through the second half to extend the lead to 20-6.

Cronulla's Andrew Fifita and Josh Morris clash after a Penrith try.

SHOOSH I

Which board member has taken to social media to defend the club’s coach – replying to fans who dare criticise the coach on the club’s official Facebook page?

SHOOSH II

Which senior NRL official has moved next door to a leading NRL player?

SPOTTED

NRL boss Todd Greenberg on top of the harbour bridge Thursday morning to commemorate Anzac Day. Greenberg was part of a dawn service on the iconic venue to raise money for RSL Defence Care.

Greenberg climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge on Anzac Day. Picture by Toby Zerna.

THOMPSON ON THE MOVE

English Super League club Leeds have emerged as the frontrunners to secure Manly back-rower Joel Thompson.

The Sea Eagles are keen to lock down the 30-year-old but are struggling to match the long-term deal offered by the David Furner-coached Rhinos.

MORGAN OUT WIDE?

There is some mail that Michael Morgan may slot in at centre for the Maroons during this years Origin series. That would enable Queensland to fit in-form players Cameron Munster, Daly Cherry-Evans and Ben Hunt into the 17.

Morgan has started at centre for the Maroons once before – game three 2017. The retirement of Greg Inglis leaves a vacant centre spot open allowing Dane Gagai to return to the wing.