Canterbury rule out making a move for All Blacks star Sonny Bill Williams
THE Bulldogs have categorically denied rumours they’ve discussed bringing former star and current All Black Sonny Bill Williams back to the club.
IT began as a nice romantic notion — for the sentimentalists among us — but unfortunately, rumours that Khoder Nasser was engaging in secret talks with Bulldogs officials about the prospect of Sonny Bill Williams returning to Canterbury have been knocked on the head.
“Categorically no,” chief executive Andrew Hill told Sport Confidential.
Nasser flew to France this week and was unavailable for comment, but not before a flurry of whispers swept the league of a private meeting with a Bulldogs board member about Williams returning to the club where he began his career.
The Bulldogs, clearly, are in the hunt for new talent with David Klemmer demanding a release.
But Williams has not been mentioned in any of the recruitment meetings involving Dean Pay and his football staff.
NO TOP JOB FOR COYNE
MARK Coyne has long been linked with running the NRL. The only problem is the former St George captain has no intention of replacing NRL boss Todd Greenberg.
“I’m not interested in being CEO I can guarantee that,” Coyne said.
“I’m a CEO of my business which I am fully committed to. I’m not looking to usurp or take Todd’s role.”
Coyne will make, what many have thought, a long-overdue return to the game after last week being announced as the next ARL commissioner, replacing Chris Sarra in February.
Current chair Peter Beattie has already anointing Coyne, Racing NSW chief Peter V’landys and media executive Amanda Laing as potential successors.
“In terms of the chairmanship I’m not even thinking of that,” Coyne said. “I’m not even in the seat yet and people are talking about that. I need to go in there and see if I will add value and see how things play out.
“There has always been a bit of speculation about whether I’d be asked to be onto the commission. I was never formally approached. Peter gave me a call this year and said they were interested in me coming onto the commission. I said if there was a position I would but this year I was flat out with work. I didn’t want to take away from work — that’s my priority and how I earn my living.
“A month later they said ‘Chris is leaving early in the new year, if you’re still interested we’d like to have you on’. The timing was right.”
For Coyne’s part he adds football nous and business acumen having been chief executive of Employees Mutual Limited for the past seven years where he oversees a staff of 2000 people.
“The biggest challenge is getting people to go to the games,” Coyne said. “It’s a great product and great product for TV. How do we make it more accessible to go and watch it?”
DOGS WANT NAPA TO REPLACE KLEMMER
CANTERBURY are considering offering Sydney Roosters premiership winner Dylan Napa a three year-deal in what they believe is a ready-made replacement for Newcastle-bound David Klemmer. The Bulldogs have drafted up a hit list of potential would-be signings with Maroons firebrand Napa on top of that list.
The 25-year-old is off-contract at the end of next season. While the Roosters would be reluctant to let Napa leave prematurely they would not be able to compete with any big-money deals which could come Napa’s way.
Klemmer would be a Knight as early as next week.
KOUKASH HEADING TO SIN CITY
THANKFULLY — or maybe unfortunately — Sydney is better thong-wearing weather than Melbourne, a fact that has not escaped UK businessman Marwan Koukash.
Koukash owns Melbourne Cup favourite Magic Circle and promised to don his glittery G-string if his horse saluted, as he did at the Werribee international media call days before the great race.
To the relief of many, Magic Circle failed to stay the distance and finished 16th.
But Koukash, who is still keen to own an NRL team after missing out on the Newcastle Knights and then the Gold Coast Titans last year, has not given up his dream.
What’s a man, if he cannot dream?
Koukash now intends to be in Sydney shortly after the NRL season kicks off but more importantly when the Autumn Carnival will be in full swing.
Koukash plans to have a horse in The Everest. He has promised his G-string will be the first item packed
FLYING FOX A GAME CHANGER
FOX Cricket has launched a game changer in terms of interview access during matches.
The camera — dubbed “the flying fox” — allows players to be interviewed before and during play without having to wear any equipment. The camera was launched during Australia’s loss to South Africa last Sunday where the likes of Josh Hazlewood, Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc were interviewed.
It is an adaptation of the spider cam which Fox Cricket has evolved to allow commentators to talk to anyone in the ground, a world first in broadcasting technology.
The flying fox has a speaker which allows the commentators to talk to anyone without them having to be mic-ed up.
It will be used again on Friday, and for all international men’s matches this summer.
MELBOURNE CUP WORRIES
CONCERNS about the Melbourne Cup no longer being a true handicap — and eroding the very tool that wove it into the Australian fabric — are on the mark.
Best Solution carried top weight of just 57.5kg for the Cup after failing to be penalised for his Caulfield Cup win.
More concerning is the northern hemisphere three-year-olds being tossed in at the weights they are given.
Cup winner Cross Counter carried just 51kg while last year’s winner, Rekindling, had 0.5kg more. Both were entered as European three-year-olds and had turned four by the time the gates opened.
The last topweight to win the Cup was Makybe Diva in 2005 and even she benefited by Racing Victoria’s decision to condense the weights to attract the internationals.
BUNNIES CUTTING IT FINE
SOUTH Sydney’s interest in moving the Burgess twins along shows just how tight the Rabbitohs are doing it after the meteoric rise of NSW and Australian hooker Damien Cook.
The Rabbitohs have tabled an offer to Cook but are unable to register it with the NRL because it would put them over the salary cap.
Cook went from a part-time player in 2018 to a NSW and Australia star, collecting the Dally M Hooker of the Year Award along the way.
So the Rabbitohs are quietly shopping around several players, including Alex Johnston, Kyle Turner and Zane Musgrove, in an attempt to create salary cap room.
While twins George and Tom are still wanted by the Rabbitohs their tight squeeze with the salary cap has them exploring all options.
CHOC SLIMS DOWN
ANTHONY Mundine has drafted in South Sydney’s nutritionist in a bid to finetune his preparation.
At the behest of manager Emaid Dib, Mundine will work closely with Ryan Pinto who heads to Brisbane on Sunday in the lead-up to Mundine’s bout with Jeff Horn on November 30 at Suncorp Stadium.
Aside from his work with the Rabbitohs, Pinto is also head of nutrition for Cricket NSW and the Waratahs.
RIDE IT COWBOY
JOHNATHAN Thurston’s hot new ride, his 1967 Shelby Mustang, almost sent the internet into meltdown last week.
Thurston was inundated with requests to chauffeur weddings, school formals and several more desperate adventures in what is Australia’s coolest car.
Fair play, though, Thurston has put the car away to save precious kilometres.
SPORTSBET SAYS SORRY
IT may have been a blessing in disguise for some punters when Sportsbet’s app crashed in the lead-up to Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup.
But the betting agency has coughed up some cash to its customers by giving punters a $10 bonus bet. “We’re really sorry for any trouble you had accessing your Sportsbet account on Tuesday,” a text received yesterday read.
DCE UP FOR THE CUP
A HOST of NRL stars including Daly Cherry-Evans were among those in Melbourne for the race.
The reports were that the Manly skipper wooed those around him with his affable nature and willingness to pose for photos.
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