What’s the Buzz: NSW Blues’ ‘disrespectful’ Fittler Award no-show, Gal pranks Mansour and Ray Hadley returns a family’s treasure

WHAT’S THE BUZZ II: Blues’ ‘disrespectful’ Fittler Award no-show, Gal pranks Mansour and Ray Hadley returns a family’s treasure.

Ray Hadley presents paramedic Dalton Lynch with his grandfather’s Kangaroos tie.

WHAT’S THE BUZZ II: Blues’ ‘disrespectful’ Fittler Award no-show, Gal pranks Mansour and Ray Hadley returns a family’s treasure.

SAINTS

IN the past 12 months, readership of this sports section has increased by a remarkable 20.2 per cent according to official data. A huge thank you to every reader.

SAINT II

THE NRL could learn a lot from horse racing about value-for-money tickets. The Australian Turf Club has a $49 deal at Rosehill Gardens next Saturday which gets you entry, parking, two beers or wines, a food pack, a racebook and reserved seating in the J.R. Fleming stand. You’re getting more than $100 value for half the price.

WHAT’S THE BUZZ: Ladies of League Life headline Dally Ms

I love and respect all people for who they are and their opinions. but personally, I will not support gay marriage.✌❤🙏

— Israel Folau (@IzzyFolau) September 13, 2017

SINNERS

THE critics of Wallabies superstar Israel Folau on social media for refusing to support same-sex marriage. You can agree or disagree, but don’t deny him the right to voice an opinion. Plus, he did it in a very measured and respectful way.

SHOOSH

WHICH departing St George Illawarra player had a nasty verbal exchange with five-eighth Gareth Widdop at the Dragons’ Mad Monday celebrations? No, it wasn’t Josh Dugan.

SHOOSH II

WHICH journalist recently wrote the autobiography of an NRL star but is struggling to get publicity or promotion for the book because he’s blocked so many sportswriters on his Twitter feed?

SHOOSH III

DESPITE Michael Morgan’s outstanding form for the Cowboys and James Maloney being the incumbent Kangaroos five-eighth, we keep hearing Cameron Munster will be Cooper Cronk’s halves partner for the big games in the World Cup.

Sea Eagles coach Trent Barrett with the Harbord Devils.

SPOTTED

NRL boss Todd Greenberg has spoken about the damaging effect coaches, including Manly’s Trent Barrett, are having on junior footy with referee criticism. The same Trent Barrett who spent the entire winter as a trainer/water boy for his son’s footy team — Harbord Devils under 12s.

SPOTTED II

A GROUP of NRL stars making a hasty exit from a pub when police arrived to check on a reported disturbance.

SPOTTED III

CRICKET legend and Sunday Tele colleague Ian Chappell at Church Point cafe on Pittwater enjoying a quiet Sunday lunch.

SPOTTED IV

HELEN Grant, the wife of under-fire Australian Rugby League Commission chairman John Grant, greeting her husband’s most bitter opponent and Bulldogs boss Ray Dib with a kiss as they crossed paths at the Brad Fittler Medal night.

Ray Hadley presents paramedic Dalton Lynch with his grandfather’s Kangaroos tie.

RAY’S THANKS AND MANY HAPPY RETURNS

TWO weeks ago, Ray Hadley was in trouble when he collapsed at home. Two young ambulance paramedics quickly assessed him and rushed him to hospital. One stayed in the back of the ambulance to keep him conscious.

“This young bloke just kept talking to me and said I knew his grandad,” Hadley said.

Turns out the paramedic, Dalton Lynch, is the grandson of Parramatta and Test legend Ron Lynch.

Hadley spent five days in hospital with influenza B and liver complications. He has no doubt the two young paramedics’ quick action saved him from a far more serious outcome.

As he recovered, Hadley kept thinking about Dalton.

You see, about 10 years ago Ron Lynch had thanked Hadley for some help in a private matter by giving him his Kangaroo tour tie, name tag and blazer pocket.

“Ron was my late dad’s hero and in turn one of my heroes,” Hadley said. “But I never felt quite right about having such treasured mementos in my possession.”

Last week, Hadley contacted Dalton and made a request. Could he take back his grandad’s memorabilia?

At first, Dalton declined but, after discussions with Ron, he accepted Hadley’s offer.

“Such treasured items belong in the family,” Hadley said. “I was very concerned Ron would be perhaps insulted by me returning the items but fate threw Dalton and me together and it just felt like the right thing to do.

“Ron and Betty Lynch and Dalton’s parents, Ben and Kim, are immensely proud of this young man and so they should be.”

RESPECT FOR BLUES STARS TAKES A DIVE

FOUR NSW Blues players snubbed the Brad Fittler Medal presentation at The Star casino last week — Aaron Woods, James Tedesco, Jack Bird and Nathan Peats.

It is the NSW State of Origin team’s most prestigious award and their no-shows have been described as “disrespectful’’ by Blues officials.

Woods and Tedesco had a weekend away in Melbourne and didn’t get back in time. At least Peats was on the Gold Coast and is supporting his wife and a new baby.

As for Bird, it’s probably not surprising. This is the same person who brushed the 300-game dinners for Paul Gallen, Luke Lewis and Chris Heighington during the season.

Other Cronulla Sharks stars James Maloney, Wade Graham, Andrew Fifita and Paul Gallen even left their Mad Monday drinks to be there as a mark of respect to the Blues jersey.

A WRITE OF PASSAGE

PENRITH winger Josh Mansour has fallen for a Mad Monday prank by Cronulla Sharks skipper Paul Gallen. As last year’s premiers were on the booze at the Caringbah Inn, Gallen rang his old NSW Blues teammate posing as a Daily Telegraph sports writer.

It lasted about 10 minutes as Gallen kept firing him questions about Anthony Griffin, Gus Gould, his teammates and the Broncos game. Mansour discovered it was a gee-up a couple of hours later when his old teammate Jeremy Latimore rang to let him know.

Shane Watson is still working hard to be his bets. Picture: Gregg Porteous

A-GRADE SKIPPER

SYDNEY Thunder skipper Shane Watson is heading back to grade cricket. The 36-year-old former Test all-rounder will play for Sutherland to get his eye in before the Big Bash tournament begins.

This is another sign of Watson’s incredible professionalism at an age when a lot of older players treat it as just smash-and-bash cricket. Last year, he was a slow starter for the Thunder.

NO ACTION ON AGENTS

MORE than 12 months ago the NRL told us player managers involved in the Parramatta Eels salary cap scandal would have their accreditation revoked. To this day, nothing has happened.

NRL sources have told us that up to 10 agents were found to be involved in either dubious or illegal dealings.

The delay in handing down the penalties is interesting. There is genuine concern the agents involved will spill the beans on other activity involving at least one prominent NRL figure.

NRL DIGITS DON’T ADD UP

THE NRL still hasn’t secured the $30 million bank loan it so desperately needs to fund the 16 premiership clubs, with the first instalment of grants due to be paid by the end of next month.

So far, the NRL has been knocked back by several lenders but is still in negotiations with a leading bank. Time is fast running out.

Many of the clubs rely on the grants to keep their own businesses running.

It is astonishing that the game remains in such a financial mess yet the NRL is about to employ 35 new staff members for its digital media department.

Tedesco’s win left many scratching their heads. Picture: Toby Zerna

PLAYERS IN FANTASYLAND

YEARS ago, the RLPA started its own awards because it wasn’t happy with the Dally Ms and a judging panel of journos, TV types and ex-players who replaced refs when the Rothmans Medal folded. The stars would do it themselves. And then they give the 2017 major gong to Wests Tigers fullback James Tedesco. With respect, this is an embarrassment. Appears everyone but the players know Cameron Smith has been the No. 1 player this season by the length of a footy field.

FREDDY’S 7 CAMEO OK

BRAD Fittler has been a Channel Nine stalwart since he quit footy. That’s why he looked so odd holding the microphone of bitter rivals Channel Seven last week.

Freddy was being interviewed by sports anchor Mel McLaughlin for the 6pm news. This would normally be a no-no but Nine was OK with it as it was the Brad Fittler Medal night at The Star.

“It’s only one night and it’s promoting rugby league, which is a good thing,” Nine’s director of sport, Tom Malone, said.

MAN UP!

WE’RE hearing Anthony Mundine has been invited to play alongside Gorden Tallis and Wendell Sailor in a Brisbane Broncos side at the Legends of League tournament at Gosford on November 18. Already, 2500 tickets have been sold.

POM BASH

CHANNEL Ten has signed two colourful English commentators, Michael Vaughan and Graeme Swann, to join its Big Bash team over the summer. The tournament has been expanded from 35 to 43 games with finals to be played after the Australian Open tennis.