What’s the Buzz: Jamal Fogarty’s selfless act, Latrell Mitchell to join Fox Sports
Too often rugby league’s off-season is marred by stories of players doing the wrong thing, but thankfully for every boofhead there’s a guy like Jamal Fogarty.
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Next time a boofhead rugby league player gets into strife, rest assured there are many more out there doing some great stuff in the community.
The story of Canberra Raiders halfback Jamal Fogarty is a wonderful example of that.
Fogarty moved to the national capital last year and wanted to help out in the community.
He became the Ronald McDonald House ACT and southeast NSW ambassador, a role to promote the house and help to raise money for their operations.
Fogarty has gone above and beyond his duties.
He visits families there every week to see how they are doing; families really struggling with sick children. He turns up with groceries and goodies he’s paid for himself.
The halfback also recently auctioned off his 2022 playing kit, which raised enough money to house a family for 17 nights.
He’s done all this without seeking any recognition and has no idea we are publishing this story.
This fella is more than just a talented playmaker. He’s a genuinely good human.
SAINT
Australia’s best sporting charity has had a name change to keep in step with the broadening demographic of rugby league. The Men of League organisation is now the Family of League. This is a fantastic charity in its 20th year. The organisation has handed out more than $10m of financial support and 10,000 hours of volunteer service to rugby league people in need.
SINNER
The NRL integrity unit can’t always get it right. Almost three years ago they received information from a young woman claiming to have been physically abused by former Storm and Canberra Raiders centre Curtis Scott. Nothing came of it and Scott played on.
The young lady, Tay-Leiha Clark, didn’t make a formal complaint but eventually went to the police last year. Scott was charged, found guilty and convicted of assaulting his girlfriend and intimidating her with threats to kill as their relationship broke down in 2018. A magistrate has sentenced the 25-year-old to a 12-month community corrections order.
SHOOSH
Which clubs have been checking the laws around making changes to the independent commission as tensions mount over the funding furore. Ten clubs and the state bodies, the NSWRL and QRL, can remove a commissioner at any time.
SHOOSH
Which NRL coach had dinner with a big-name player from a rival club last week. Stay tuned.
SPOTTED
The World Cup and the Kangaroos have brought South Sydney Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters players much closer. After the final, Roosters star Angus Crichton and Rabbitohs centre Campbell Graham travelled to London together for a Kendrick Lamar concert at 02 Arena. Hopefully we won’t get seven sin bins next time they play.
SPOTTED
Boxer Harry Garside will headline a celebrity curtain-raiser to the BBL clash between Sydney Thunder and Sydney Sixers at Sydney Showground on January 8. Fellow boxer George Kambosos Jr, NRL star Ryan Papenhuyzen, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, Fox Sports’ Megan Barnard and NRL legends Paul Sironen and Brad Clyde will also be part of the match. Tickets available via Ticketmaster.
SPOTTED
Cronulla utility forward Cameron McInnes at Caringbah Bunnings on Thursday. Nice to see our footy stars doing some home handiwork in their down time
SPOTTED
Back from the World Cup, Sydney Roosters star Luke Keary with his wife and two kids building sandcastles at North Mollymook Beach.
SPOTTED
Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly at the Lord Mayor’s Christmas party at Sydney Town Hall on Wednesday on his way to the Paul Gallen v Justin Hodges fight at the International Convention Centre.
SHEENS HAS HIS EYE ON AN EEL
Tim Sheens has secretly met Parramatta Eels forward Nathan Brown as he looks to further strengthen Wests Tigers’ pack.
The pair were spotted having a coffee at Bar Biscotti in Strathfield on Wednesday.
Brown is under contract to the Eels next season but was given permission to negotiate with rival clubs midway through last season.
He was not used by coach Brad Arthur at the back end of the season until finally getting a start in the 17-man grand final squad.
Wests Tigers have already strengthened their pack with the additions of Dave Klemmer, Isaiah Papali’i and hooker Api Koroisau.
Adding Brown, 29, would leave them with one of the more experienced forward packs in the comp.
Brown would play at lock, the position originally earmarked for Jackson Hastings before he quit the club to play halfback for Newcastle Knights.
TRELL’S BOMBSHELL 2023 TV DEAL
Fox Sports has signed South Sydney Rabbitohs superstar Latrell Mitchell to play a role on the network’s NRL coverage next season.
It is a huge coup for the pay TV network to snare the biggest name and most colourful character in rugby league to add to the current stable of ex footy stars.
Boxing promoter and Latrell’s agent Matt Rose has been in talks with Steve Crawley, the executive director of Fox Sports, for several months.
“Latrell is one of our great players and we’re excited about it,” Crawley said.
“He’s different to the others. He’s got a quality that brings people in and his comfort is growing with public speaking and being in the spotlight.
“He’s handling it particularly well. This is about building his future.”
There is no specific role at this stage although Latrell is likely to make appearances on the Matty Johns Show and match-day coverage.
“He’s ready to work,” Crawley said, “We’ll look at areas where he’s most comfortable.
“His interest in the business is real and we just want a relationship with him and build it over time.
“In our business you’ve got to be modern, you’ve got to be contemporary.
“It’s great to have all the stars of yesterday but you’ve got to have the stars of today as well.”
Crawley is also looking at a role with Cooper Johns, Matty’s son who left Melbourne Storm at the end of last season to join the Manly Sea Eagles.
“Cooper has been around our place forever,” Crawley said.
“Now he’s come back from Melbourne we’re going to have a look at what he can do around his footy at Manly.
“He’s a kid you look at and think there’s something going on there as far as television goes.”
LANGER WON’T BE HELD BACK: CEO
Channel 7 won’t hold back former coach Justin Langer from interviewing Australian players at this week’s first Test match against West Indies in Perth.
Seven’s chief executive James Warburton said Cricket Australia would be in breach of its contract if players declined to be interviewed. In a bombshell News Corp interview, Langer last week used the word “cowards” to describe players who had leaked stories from inside the Australian dressing room while he was coach.
“Justin is not there to criticise the players,” Warburton said. “He’s there to take the viewers into the dressing room and behind the scenes from his experiences.
“Justin is also free to talk to the players with the rest of our commentary team.
“Cricket Australia would otherwise be in breach of the broadcast contract. They’ve got to make the players available.
“It’s not in our interests to have a barney with anyone. We’re paying top dollar for the rights so it’s wrong if they’re not talking to us.”
TEENAGER STORMS THE CASTLE
Schoolboy Keean Holmes mastered Sydney’s blustery conditions to win the Men’s B-Grade Club Championship at Castle Hill Country Club golf course last weekend.
Not too bad for a 15-year-old.
Keean is the son of Gareth Holmes, rugby league’s well-respected administrator, former manager of the Kangaroos and current CEO of the North Sydney Bears.
The proud dad was in Manchester for the Rugby League World Cup final so his wife, Alli, was on hand to provide score updates.
The Championships at Castle Hill always draws plenty of interest, with the likes of 2GB’s Ray Hadley and Parramatta Eels legend Nathan Cayless also competing across the various grades.
ROOS CUP JERSEY SELLOUT
The popularity of the Rugby League World Cup even caught sports store guru Peter Wynn by surprise.
The Parramatta Eels legend sold out of stock before the Kangaroos v Samoa final.
“In the old days it was all about fans wanting a Kangaroos jersey,” Wynn said.
“This time it was all Tonga and Samoa. Flags, jerseys and everything. I had nothing left.
“Their fans came into the store and were so passionate about the teams and their heroes.
“It was actually really special for our staff. Their enthusiasm was infectious.”
It has been a huge year for the Eels legend and Peter Wynn Score on the back of the World Cup and the Parramatta Eels charging into the grand final.
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