What’s the Buzz: Saint, sinner, shoosh - Why we can’t listen to Bennett
Premier Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has thrown his support behind embattled Cronulla Sharks coach John “Bomber” Morris.
Rabbitohs
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When we reported last year that the South Sydney Rabbitohs were about to sign James Roberts, Wayne Bennett said: “It starts with you guys (the media) sitting in coffee rooms and thinkin’, ‘What am I going to make up today?’. James won’t be coming to South Sydney, this year or next year.”
A few months later he also rubbished our exclusive report linking superstar Latrell Mitchell to the Rabbitohs.
The issue over Wayne’s future is hardly the media’s fault. The South Sydney Rabbitohs made the decision to terminate Bennett’s contract at the end of next season to run with Jason Demetriou.
Bennett then announced he wanted to keep coaching. This created the conjecture about his next job, not the rugby league journos.
His denials about leaving South Sydney at the end of the season for the Bulldogs or St George Illawarra cannot be taken seriously. His track record of misleading fans and the media is the reason why.
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SAINTS
The people most responsible for Australia winning the rights to stage the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup are no longer involved in the game. Your columnist was in Russia two years ago to witness David Gallop and the Lowy family lobbying the most powerful figures in the world game. Couldn’t the A-League do with their expertise and business connections right now?
SINNER
Talk of the Kangaroos playing the All Blacks in a mickey mouse exhibition game at a time when the NZRL is almost broke and Tonga is trying to grow as an international league force, is wrong. We should be trying to promote and further develop the Pacific nations instead of playing a meaningless hybrid game.
SHOOSH
Suggestions the Sydney Roosters have joined the race to sign boom Broncos forward David Fifita are wrong. Coach Trent Robinson is looking to upgrade key players next year, including champion fullback James Tedesco and five-eighth Luke Keary.
SHOOSH II
Fox Sports resumes its A-League coverage next month but will be without long-time commentator Simon Hill. His contract has expired and will not be renewed. Brenton Speed will take over as head caller while Foxtel has the rights for the next 12 months.
SHOOSH III
There is much talk at the foot of the Blue Mountains about Penrith’s magnificent revival this year and the fact they have a much happier and more stable footy environment since the great Gus Gould went out the door
SHOOSH IV
Which highly regarded rugby league TV commentator has been offered to Canterbury in a package deal with old super coach Wayne Bennett for 2021?
SPOTTED
The great Brett Kimmorley putting back into junior rugby league as an assistant coach with De La Salle Under 17s in the Cronulla junior competition
SPOTTED II
Fearless Sea Eagles forward Marty Taupau is a softie away from football. He gave his wife Michelle this beautiful bunch of flowers to celebrate her appointment on the board of Share the Dignity, a wonderful organisation that provides assistance to homeless women.
SPOTTED III
Aussie cricketer Alyssa Healy has changed her surname to that of her husband, champion fast-bowler Mitchell Starc. And how did we know? The golf results in Monday’s Daily Tele listed an A Starc winning a par event at Long Reef Golf Club where they are both members.
MOLONEY PAYS THE PRICE BUT WILL BATTLE ON
This is the battered face of a man who looks like he’s been mugged in the street.
Boxer Andrew Moloney put his world title belt up for grabs against tough Texan Joshua Franco on Wednesday but finished up in the casualty ward of a Las Vegas hospital.
There have been few braver performances from an Australian boxer in America in recent times.
Moloney suffered perforated eardrums in both ears. By the end of the fight he could not even hear instructions from his corner.
He also suffered a broken nose, heavy facial bruising and needed six stitches in a cut next to his left eye and another three stitches inside his mouth.
Moloney was also forced to undergo a COVID-19 test and locked in his hotel room for 24 hours for leaving the Top Rank bubble to go to hospital for treatment.
Typically, this tough super flyweight is not complaining.
He just wants to make it home for his son’s first birthday in three weeks.
It means leaving the United States in the next 48 hours to spend two weeks in quarantine in Sydney before heading home.
Despite losing, the fight has put Moloney on the map in America, such was his courage to go the distance and almost beat Franco.
“I’m disappointed,” Moloney said. “He got me with some good body shots mid-fight. I was well in front but it slowed me down and I lost my rhythm. I’m just kicking myself I couldn’t get the job done. It would have really set things up for me.
“I’ll rest up and get back to the drawing board and hopefully get another shot at getting my belt back.”
Moloney’s twin brother Jason fought on Friday, stopping experienced Mexican Leonardo Baez after seven rounds.
Jason is returning to Australia now ranked in the top five bantamweights in the world and is expected to get a shot at a world title fight later this year.
NO MORE CHOC, PLEASE
Your columnist has been trying to talk 45-year-old A nthony Mundine out of having another fight.
There is talk he will step into the ring against Michael Zerafa, the 28-year-old who beat Jeff Horn but lost a brutal rematch. The fight would take place in Bendigo in November.
Mundine will not listen to anyone who is concerned for his safety.
“It’s going to happen — I’m going to shock the world again, bra,” he said.
“People like yourself can doubt me but it doesn’t matter.
“I’m a special breed. I’m going to school this cat. I won the (Danny) Green fight, I got robbed against John Wayne Parr.
“I’m going to knock this guy out so it doesn’t go to the judges.”
SUPER LEAGUE ON THE ROPES
There are grave concerns about the state of rugby league in England with still no date set for the resumption of Super League, or even training.
If the competition resumes, the grand final would be played in December, which would almost certainly mean the cancellation of next year’s World Club Challenge.
A number of clubs are struggling to pay the bills with no footy and no income. Wealthy club bosses who normally cover the losses each year are struggling themselves post-COVID-19. The situation will be raised at the independent commission meeting at NRL headquarters on Tuesday.
ROBBO BACKS BOMBER
Premier Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson has thrown his support behind embattled Cronulla Sharks coach John “Bomber” Morris.
“Pressure comes with the territory,” Robinson said. “There’s no issue with that. But John Morris has developed a lot of those young players who are coming through.
“He’s had salary cap pressure through no fault of his own. It’s not right that his name is being brought up.
“Everyone at the club should be working together and saying how do we rebuild this rather than just blaming him.’’
RICHO LETS LOOSE
Former South Sydney boss Shane Richardson has spent none of his $500,000 redundancy payment on razor blades. We spotted big Richo at the Moore Park entertainment quarters last week with a fluffy grey beard almost down to his chest.
POWERBROKERS MEET UP
We spotted a couple of NRL powerbrokers enjoying a delicious seafood lunch at Brighton on Friday afternoon — Roosters chairman Nick Politis and Cronulla Sharks chief executive Dino Mezzatesta.
We hope Politis shouted because the Sharks have done the Roosters a massive favour by allowing the premiers to take both Kyle Flanagan and Josh Morris from the Shire.
THE TRUTH BEHIND CLEARY’S RISE
Nathan Cleary’s exceptional form at the Panthers will help Trent Barrett get another head-coaching role in the not-too-distant future.
In his previous job at the Sea Eagles, Barrett helped Daly Cherry Evans progress from a very good halfback to a great one — in turn becoming the captain of Queensland and the Kangaroos’ first-choice No.7.
Cleary’s going down this same path. He’s already made up for his off-season misbehaviour and is improving every week under Baz, Cameron Ciraldo and his father Ivan.
It’s a shame Barrett was poorly advised in his last gig on the northern beaches. He should never have spat the dummy over the ‘‘backyard furniture’’ situation, but has no doubt learnt from that.