What’s the Buzz: Saint, sinner and shoosh
The NRL sprays Sportsbet for the Todd Carney commercial, John Sutton stitched up by teammate and Dragons fire up over James Graham’s snub. It’s all in this week’s saint, sinner and shoosh.
WHAT’S THE BUZZ: Why Val isn’t coming home
SAINT:
Ray ‘Rabs’ Warren. Inducted into the Hall of Fame, the Voice of Rugby League deserves every recognition that comes his way.
However, there were a few of his colleagues that joked the NRL should’ve presented Rabs with a Gameboy, the handheld video game he has worn-out from overuse during air-travel to take his mind off his fear of flying.
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GREENBERG COLUMN: WHY WE GAVE BARB SMITH RING
KEARY: WHY ROOSTERS CAN GO BACK TO BACK
SINNER:
Who else but serial pest Nick Kyrgios. Fined $113,000 — the equivalent of a parking fine given his $10 million in career earnings — for five separate incidents of unsportsmanlike conduct at this week’s Cincinnati Masters.
SHOOSH:
Which high-profile sports coach likes smoking marijuana in his spare time?
SHOOSH II:
Which NRL club have drawn up a shortlist of coaches to sign for 2020 despite their current coach still being under contract?
SHOOSH III:
Which out-of-Sydney club will hold a meeting next week to discuss taking Josh Reynolds off the Wests Tigers hands?
SHOOSH IV:
Which Penrith player on a long-term deal has permission to leave at the end of the season if he can find another club? And it’s not Regan Campbell-Gillard.
SHOOSH V:
Which former Wallaby and schoolboy coach refused to shake the hand of the opposition coach last weekend?
SPOTTED:
Another reason why they’re one seriously slick operation — the entire Roosters coaching staff, including head coach Trent Robinson, assistants Craig Fitzgibbon, Matt King and Adam O’Brien, watching feeder club North Sydney play the Dragons at Kogarah Oval — 24-hours before facing Canberra last Sunday.
SPOTTED II:
Released Knights star Jesse Ramien and his agent Gavin Orr finalising his future in Newcastle on Thursday.
SPOTTED III:
Finance wizard Mark Bouris, Roosters boss Nick Politis, Cronulla chairman Dino Mezzatesta and NSWRL director Ray Dib having lunch at Chifley Square on Monday.
SPOTTED IV:
NRL boss Todd Greenberg at long-serving judiciary chairman Geoff Bellew’s 60th birthday party in Mosman on Friday night.
BEALE SET FOR WORLD CUP SHOW TIME
With world-class skill, a megawatt smile and fist-pumping pride to represent his country, Wallaby Kurtley Beale boasts a profile that transcends far beyond his code.
Set to be announced this week as a key member of Fox Sports upcoming World Cup coverage, Beale is a coup for the broadcaster, given his willingness to speak his mind.
What viewers will see is Beale’s deep insight and analysis, but also a backstage pass to his very personal journey to Japan, where Australia will wear the indigenous away strip he helped design against Uruguay on October 5.
“As an indigenous bloke, I wear my heart on my sleeve and am proud for the Wallabies to represent the First People’s of this country,’’ Beale said.
“For us to wear the indigenous jersey with the world watching is extremely special. I pushed the idea to Michael Cheika, who took it to the Australia rugby board.
“They’ve been awesome in accepting the idea.
“In this country, we are moving forward towards reconciliation and by the Wallabies wearing this jersey, it represents indigenous people as well as non-indigenous people.’’
Having watched the disgusting racial and social media attacks of NRL stars Latrell Mitchell and Blake Ferguson emerge this week, Beale rightfully slammed the abuse.
“This past week, with what Blake and Latrell have had to endure, has shown that as a nation, we still have work to do, particularly in regards to attacks on social media,’’ Beale said.
“Abuse of any kind can’t be tolerated, let alone when it’s directed at the colour of a person’s skin.
“I’m extremely proud of the way Latrell and Blake have handled themselves and also their courage to say, ‘This is unacceptable’.
“But I’m also proud, and this is why I do believe we’re moving towards reconciliation as I’ve said before, is that the wider-Australian community have also stood-up and said, ‘This shouldn’t be tolerated.’’
NRL SPRAYS SPORTSBET, CARNEY FOR TAKING THE P***
The NRL have fired off an angry protest to Sportsbet’s TV advertising campaign that revisits Todd Carney’s notorious bubbler controversy.
The controversial act led to Carney’s sacking from Cronulla in 2014 after a photograph emerged in which he appeared to be urinating into his own mouth in an act referred to as a “bubbler”.
The drama created mass brand-damage for the NRL.
Sportsbet are the NRL’s official wagering partner, which is why rugby league’s governing body is fuming that the incident is being used a promotional tool.
NRL officials have relayed their discontent to Sportsbet.
The Sportsbet ad shows Carney standing next to a replica of Belgium’s Manneken Pis statue — a sculpture of a urinating boy.
In the ad, the boy is urinating into his own mouth.
Referring to the app, the Sportsbet voiceover states, “Even whizzkid Todd Carney can use it,” to which he replies, “Yeah piece of p…”.
The NRL have little power to stop the ad from running given Sportsbet have cleverly avoided using any NRL logo or branding.
In a press release to media this week, Sportsbet’s GM of marketing Tim Hernadi said:
“Everyone knows someone who has committed foolish acts or have found themselves in foolish situations.
“Who better than Todd Carney to help us launch our new iPhone app, and we’re confident punters will agree.’’
LAST STAND FOR DE BELIN
Jack De Belin is back in court on Thursday and Friday, where he’ll attempt to overturn the NRL’s no-fault stand down policy.
This is the last throw of the dice for De Belin’s bid to play again before his criminal case begins — that’s expected to be in February next year.
CLUBS LOCK IN LEGENDS
The Rabbitohs, Tigers, Roosters and Sharks will justifiably ensure four retiring legends remain deeply entrenched at their clubs for many years to come.
Call it respect, embedding culture or simply smart business, the Rabbitohs have a plan to employ retiring legend John Sutton in a talent and development role next year.
The Tigers want club great Robbie Farah working behind the scenes in the future.
At the Roosters in 2020, Cooper Cronk will be the halves coach as well as being used to help close deals of a new signing — as was the phone call he made to Cronulla recruit Kyle Flanagan.
While down at the Sharks, head of football Phil Moss views Paul Gallen’s almost 20 years of NRL experience as unprecedented for the Shire club and, as such, invaluable IP for a possible recruitment and retention role, similar to that of Cronk.
‘FOSSIL’ COPS STICK FROM BUNNIES MATES
Here’s proof that even on one of the biggest days of his career, John Sutton can’t escape a gee-up from his mates.
A name placement card, positioned where the Souths legend sat to announce his retirement on Wednesday, was set on a table inside the Redfern Town Hall.
Spotting a pen, Souths prankster Cody Walker couldn’t help himself to remind 34-year-old Sutton — or should we say “Fossil” — that even after 330 NRL games, his teammates aren’t going to give him a cushy farewell.
DRAGONS FIRE UP OVER GRAHAM SNUB
Dragons officials are privately seething that James Graham was overlooked by the NRL from any recognition or official presentation for achieving 400 first-class rugby league games last weekend.
The Dragons felt that if the red carpet is good enough for 400-gamer Cam Smith, it’s good enough for Graham.
However, the NRL told this column that while they respect Graham’s achievement, they weren’t prepared to celebrate an achievement that includes 224 of his 400 matches being played in the English Super League.
GAL FINDS A KIWI GUN
Given their past month of form, the odds are long.
But if Cronulla make this year’s NRL grand final, captain Paul Gallen is eyeing the biggest weekend of his life following the eye-catching finish of his part-owned Kiwi gelding Te Akau Shark on Saturday.
On a leaders-bias track and first-up from a spell, Te Akau Shark came from last to finish second in the $NZ 100,000 Group II Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa.
“The Shark” is $7 favourite for the Epsom Handicap at Randwick on October 5 - the day before this year’s NRL decider.
LISTEN! On a very special episode of the Matty Johns Show one of Matty’s sporting heroes is welcomed to the studio — Liverpool legend Craig Johnston.
TITANS’ BRENNAN CALL BACKFIRES
You have to wonder why the Titans administration were in such a rush to sack coach Garth Brennan.
Without an able replacement for the rest of the season, the decision has backfired horribly.
According to Fox Sports Stats, the Gold Coast are leaking an extra 20 points more, on average, since Brennan was punted.
The Titans were averaging 22.4 points scored against them with Brennan — compared with their embarrassing 42.5 points being scored against them now.
The Brennan-coached Titans were also scoring more points, on average, than they do now.
HALL OF FAME FAIL
The Hall of Fame is one of the best initiatives the has been introduced by the NRL since the Dally M’s.
However, someone in at the League HQ has seriously fallen asleep at the wheel.
How 2GB’s David ‘Thirsty” Morrow — nominated for HOF induction for his incredible contribution to the game as a broadcaster alongside Ray Warren — failed to receive an invite is embarrassing and absurd.
What’s worse is, that’s it not the first time heads have been replaced by pumpkins at HQ.
Last year, a Hall of Fame judge who helped select the inductees also failed to receive an invite.
Panthers take their premiership party onto the water
Penrith’s premiership players took a break from their celebrations with a quiet cruise and the launch of an exclusive commemorative T-shirt but the party is about to kick off again. See the details here.
Terrible reason Panthers can get five-peat
The Panthers won their fourth-straight premiership on Sunday and one league legend believes Ivan Cleary’s juggernaut aren’t slowing down.