What’s the Buzz: Nine family share Molan’s baby joy; Piggins and Crowe reconcile
WHAT’S The Buzz I: Rugby league’s longest running feud is officially over while Erin Molan has had to postpone her wedding since finding out she was pregnant.
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ERIN Molan and her partner Sean Ogilvy travelled to Bali in October to get away and plan their wedding. It was supposed to be next weekend, December 9.
The Channel Nine star was two days into the holiday and feeling unusually sick. She was pregnant.
“We’ve had to postpone the wedding,” Molan told The Sunday Telegraph. “Getting married without champagne just wasn’t an option.”
It was her Footy Show mate Darryl “Big Marn” Brohman who, outside of family, was first to know.
“Big Marn and Darling (Brohman’s wife) were in Bali when I found out,” she said. “He’s rock solid and kept it a secret.”
WHAT’S THE BUZZ (Part 2): Saint, Sinner, Shoosh
Molan broke the news to her employers at Nine and 2GB last week.
“I was a bit nervous letting them know but their excitement and support has been incredible,” she said.
“Hugh Marks (Nine CEO) was thrilled and said Nine would support me in every way and Ray Hadley is looking forward to being an ‘uncle’.
“Work has been my life for over a decade and it’s incredibly important to me.
“I’m blessed to have brilliant support and lucky I have a very good on-air schedule where I can do most of my prep from home so I will be back on air in no time — maybe just grumpier, more tired, and covered in spew — but they’re all the same.”
PIGGINS AND CROWE BURY THE HATCHET
RUGBY league’s longest-running feud is officially over.
South Sydney Rabbitohs legend George Piggins and Hollywood star Russell Crowe have called a ceasefire after a decade of bitterness.
Crowe has paid for a table for a tribute dinner in February to honour Piggins’ magnificent contribution to the Rabbitohs as a player, coach and official.
All proceeds will go to the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse charity.
Crowe told The Sunday Telegraph he always had the highest regard for Piggins despite the ugly falling out in 2006 when he bought the club.
“My taking over Souths, as I said at the time, was to keep the legacy of former players like George Piggins alive and relevant,” Crowe said.
“Among other things, annually the club presents our best and fairest medal that bears his name.
“It was one of the best parts of the day for me on October 5, 2014, to know that George was in the stadium to see South Sydney victorious once again.
“I know about the dinner, I’m purchasing a table and the club will do the same. Unfortunately, I’m out of the country working during February so I won’t get to attend but I’ll fill my table with Souths mates and footy tragics and they will love the opportunity to honour the great man.”
The dinner is at Doltone House in the Australian Technology Park in Redfern on Saturday, February 10. A limited number of tickets are still available. For information, contact Paul Lahood on 0430 844 118.
TEDDY UNDER THE KNIFE
YOU won’t be seeing a lot of the Roosters’ million-dollar fullback James Tedesco at pre-season training. Like his skipper, Boyd Cordner, Tedesco is about to have revolutionary stem cell surgery to repair a knee cartilage injury. Surgeons inject Tedesco with his own fat tissue to accelerate the regeneration of the damage in his knee. Both players are unlikely to play in the trials but are expected to be fully fit for the opening round of the 2018 season.
SMART MOVE
WHILE most footy clubs are winding down for Christmas, Cowboys coach Paul Green is off to Harvard University to do a leadership and management course. It is a week-long course where students stay on the campus in Boston. Green has arranged study tours of two NFL franchises. The Cowboys coach, who is off contract next year, has begun negotiations for a new deal.
LONELY SCHOOLIES FOR MATTY’S MISSUS
MATTY Johns has been baching in his northern beaches home all week. His son Cooper, who recently signed with Melbourne Storm, was supposed to be in Bali enjoying schoolies.
Matty agreed he could go but only if his wife Trish went too and stayed in a nearby hotel in case there was a problem. They would keep it quiet and get separate flights so not to embarrass Cooper.
The very protective Fox Sports and Triple M star booked his wife’s airfares and accommodation. Then Storm rang and offered Cooper a contract. He had to start straight away which meant cancelling schoolies. Trish’s flight and accommodation were non-refundable.
So Trish went off on her own. On Thursday her flight home was cancelled due to ash clouds.
Trish drove for 14 hours to pick up a ferry to Java and then a flight back to Sydney.