What’s the Buzz: Anthony Mundine can’t split Horn and Tszyu
Anthony Mundine is never one to hold back on his opinions, but the champ was careful with his prediction when asked who would win the Tim Tszyu v Jeff Horn fight. This and much more in another edition of Saint, Sinner, Shoosh.
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Racing stewards found text messages from cricket champion Dave Warner and NRL star James Maloney on the mobile phone of jockey Adam Hyeronimus in the investigation into his illegal betting activities.
Their names came up in forensic examination of the jockey’s mobile phone from two years ago.
Both Warner and Maloney have been cleared of any illegal activity.
“There is no suggestion they’ve done anything wrong,” said Racing NSW boss Peter V’landys, “It was just general chatter between mates who follow the horses.”
Warner and Maloney both enjoy a day at the races and the occasional punt.
Hyeronimus has been banned by stewards for three years after being found guilty of multiple betting offences. He has appealed the ban.
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SPLIT DECISION
Anthony Mundine is never one to sit on the fence with his predictions.
But the former world boxing champion says he can’t split Jeff Horn and Tim Tszyu in their super fight in Townsville on Wednesday night.
“It’s a 50/50 fight bra,” Mundine said, “It depends who applies their plan the best on the night.
“I think Tszyu is the better boxer technically but he’s never fought someone as rugged, as strong and as unconventional as Horn.
“Horn has got a big edge in experience in big fights so you could probably lean towards him. But if it goes the distance I can see Tszyu maybe getting it on points. It will be a great fight.”
Another old champion Danny Green is also reluctant to call a winner.
“I honestly don’t know,” he said. “Jeff has fought better opponents than Tim has.
“The question for me is whether Jeff has got enough left in the tank to handle a young and hungry up and comer. It’s just great for Australian boxing that we are going to see a contest like this.
AGENTS TAKE LEGAL ACTION
Three of the NRL’s most powerful agents have launched legal action on behalf of their clients against the collapsed Toronto Wolfpack and their former owner David Argyle.
Wayne Beavis, Sam Ayoub and Steve Gillis fired off a warning letter last week to try to recover more than $1 million of contract money which is owed their players.
Ricky Leutele, Darcy Lussick, Bodene Thompson and Josh McCrone haven’t been paid for three months. The agents are also chasing their management fees from the club.
Argyle also stopped paying superstar Sonny Bill Williams two months ago. His agent Khoder Nasser is monitoring the situation.
The treatment of the Aussie players has been disgraceful. Their visas were cancelled, the club stopped paying the rent on their houses and their club cars have been repossessed.
Argyle recently said: “My wealth has been severely impacted by COVID-19. It’s a question of weathering the storm financially. I’m in a jam, the club is in a jam.”
SEN-SATIONAL COUP
Sydney’s new sports radio network 1170 SEN has signed Fox Sports stars Bryan Fletcher and Andrew Voss for its launch next month.
Voss will host the breakfast program with Fletcher and Joel Caine doing drive. Other hosts will be revealed in the next fortnight for the 24-hour sports coverage.
Fletcher’s looking forward to his first stint in radio. “It will a bit of madness, a bit of fun with a tiny bit of serious stuff,” he said.
ROOSTERS SAVE SBW FROM REGO RUMBLE
Sonny Bill Williams has narrowly escaped his first major drama with the slick $400,000 Bentley he is driving while playing for the Roosters.
The day after he picked up the car from manager Khoder Nasser, the Roosters checked out the registration details for security and parking permits.
Turns out the rego expired that day, unbeknown to SBW, who could have been booked for driving an unregistered vehicle. A quick phone call to Service NSW sorted it out.
LAYING DOWN THE LAW
Supreme Court judge Jeff Bellew is the best NRL judiciary chairman since the legendary Jim Comans in the wild old days of the 80s.
He’s also one of the toughest. Bellew has been off work in the courts since having recent shoulder surgery but still turned up for the Kevin Proctor biting hearing on Tuesday night because it was such an important case.
They say his performance was outstanding, putting in place the Titans legal team, Proctor and Shaun Johnson for the manner which they had behaved prior to the hearing.
SEIBOLD NOT ALL ALONE
Our column last week about embattled Broncos coach Anthony Seibold feeling abandoned by the NRL sparked a nice reaction from Moore Park headquarters. Acting chief executive Andrew Abdo was straight on the phone to Seibold to check on his welfare.
So too was ex-coach Neil Henry, who is in charge of wellbeing for the coach’s association.
In another nice touch, Channel 9’s Erin Molan reached out. Molan has been the victim of some disgraceful social media trolls over the years and no doubt had some good advice on how to cope with it.
BOXING DAY TEST GOES WEST
The traditional MCG Boxing Day Test is looking highly unlikely because of coronavirus. We hear Optus Stadium in Perth is now the favoured venue for Australia v India. The prime time TV ratings in the eastern states would be huge.
VERBAL STORM
Guests in the corporate suites on the fourth floor at Bankwest Stadium on Friday night got an exclusive insight into the coaching madness of Melbourne Storm’s Craig Bellamy.
Bellyache forgot to close the door of his coaching box for much of the first half. His loud and sometimes colourful language and the ranting and raving could be heard along the corridors.
SAINT
NRL major sponsor Telstra has generously allowed the New Zealand Warriors to renew a sponsorship deal with fierce rivals Vodafone. Under the terms of their multimillion-dollar naming-rights contract, Telstra has an exclusivity clause that prevents the 16 clubs from signing with telco rivals. Telstra dropped the clause to ensure the club can survive in these difficult times.
SINNER
Players taking dives to get penalties for their team from crusher tackles. The ploy was a blatantly obvious tactic the Parramatta Eels used against Melbourne Storm in their 14-0 win on Friday night that the bunker kept falling for.
SHOOSH
Which major retail chain is in negotiations with Channel 9 star Erin Molan to stock her new range of baby clothing, Baby Singlets by Erin.
SHOOSH II
Shane Flanagan is likely to finish up at the St George-Illawarra in five weeks. He signed only a one-year contract as an assistant to Paul McGregor.
SHOOSH III
The NRL is closely monitoring Sonny Bill Williams’ comeback date for Sydney Roosters. If he plays before the round 17 game against Canberra, the NRL will charge the Roosters more in their salary cap. The $150,000 deal for SBW was four premiership games and the finals.
SHOOSH IV
Acting NRL boss Andrew Abdo will move a step closer to getting the CEO role permanently at an ARLC meeting this week. Abdo has impressed all since replacing Todd Greenberg in April.
SHOOSH V
Which NRL club PR manager had a blazing row with a sports writer inside a press box last week in front of startled colleagues.
SHOOSH VI
Which 2GB broadcaster has rejected an approach from SEN 1170 — Sydney’s new sports radio station that will begin broadcasting next month in time for the finals and State of Origin.
SHOOSH VII
Which highly-regarded official from a rival club is being considered by the Brisbane Broncos for a role as a general manager of football next year on a revamped management team. This guy is a good operator who can fix their culture issues.
SPOTTED
Cronulla Sharks accused drug cheat Bronson Xerri at Captain Cook Oval in Caringbah last weekend watching his old club Aquinas Colts juniors. There’s still no word from the slow coaches at ASADA on a resolution to his case.
SPOTTED II
Panthers legend and Fox Sports league commentator Greg Alexander showing off his gardening and fertilising skills in the front yard of his northern beaches home on Thursday.