What’s the Buzz: Saint, Sinner, Shoosh
SAINT, SINNER, SHOOSH: Todd Carney’s publishing problem, Tyrone Peachey’s big day — check out the all latest NRL chatter and more in Australia’s hottest sport gossip column.
All the latest NRL chatter and more in Australia’s hottest sport gossip column.
SAINT
Thank goodness for Rishabh Pant. This year’s summer of cricket would be pretty dull without India’s most famous babysitter. The wicketkeeper’s sledging and batting has been a lot better than Australia’s so far. And what a champion for posing with Tim Paine’s family after the Aussie captain asked him to look after his kids during a side-splitting on-field exchange.
SINNER
Michael Chee-Kam continued the NRL’s shocking run of bad off-field behaviour when he was charged with assaulting an Uber driver. The Wests Tigers forward became the latest NRL player to be charged with a criminal offence following a night out in Bondi. Chee-Kam joins a long list of NRL players waiting to front court with Jarryd Hayne, Jack de Belin and Zane Musgrave all charged with offences in a black-eye finish to 2018 for rugby league.
SPOTTED
An extremely sunburnt Buzz Rothfield cruising Port Hacking on his new boat “Sterlo II’’. Taking a well-deserved break, your regular columnist was spotted taking a prominent player agent for a spin in the vessel he named after his long-time sparring partner Peter Sterling. We know Buzz is looking forward to seeing his column filled with UFC and Supercars while kicking back to read James Phelps’ latest crime book, Australian Heist.
SPOTTED II
Shane Flanagan knocking back a beer at Woolooware Golf club on the day John Morris was officially given his old job. The ousted Sharks coach is back in the Sutherland Shire after a trip to the Gold Coast.
SPOTTED III
South Sydney hooker Damian Cook watching on at the SCG as the Indian batsmen plundered the Australian bowling attack on day two of the Sydney Test. The Rabbitoh attacking gun was a guest of the TAB.
SPOTTED IV
Tyronne Peachey might just have stayed at the Panthers had he known Ivan Cleary would be coaching them this year. Sharing a close bond that almost saw Cleary recruit the Blues utility to the Tigers, the Panthers coach travelled to northern NSW last week to watch Peachey marry sweetheart Kellie McNamara in Kingscliff. After attempting to back out of his deal with the Titans, Peachey is settled on the Gold Coast. Cleary was contracted to the Tigers when Peachey quit Penrith.
SHOOSH
Don’t be surprised to see another big-name NRL player switch clubs. Parramatta are still sniffing around for a playmaker to replace Corey Norman after the No. 6 switched to the Dragons. The Warriors have also been keeping player agents busy with trans-Tasman phone calls.
CARNEY’S STRIFE AND TIMES IS A HARD SELL
It is the book that may never see the light of day.
Despite vowing to lift the lid on some of the most infamous off-field incidents in recent rugby league history — think pub urinal party tricks, police chases and bans from entire towns — Todd Carney is struggling to convince a publisher to print his book.
The NRL outcast is looking to cash in on his infamy with the now bush footy player attempting to sell his life story. Promising a warts-and-all account of his career, Carney has been shopping his autobiography to publishers.
The former Dally M medallist has received only minor interest so far with Carney’s story considered “too hot to handle’’.
Carney’s career has been riddled with indiscretions. Sacked by the Raiders in 2008 after allegedly urinating on a man in a nightclub, Carney also had a contract with the Roosters terminated early following three alcohol-related incidents.
His NRL career finished when he was sacked by the Sharks for being caught appearing to urinate in his own mouth. The vile act became known as ‘the bubbler’. Among all the mayhem, Carney found time to win a Dally M Medal and play in a grand final, represent NSW in State of Origin and earn a Kangaroos jersey.
As you can see, we had a crack at imagining what the cover could look like. You would think this would all make for compelling copy but publishers are running scared.
“It wouldn’t exactly be a coffee-table book,’’ one publisher said.
“I would imagine there would also be some legal issues.’’
Carney has signed on to play bush football in Byron Bay with the Devils as the club’s captain-coach.
FINANCIAL ‘SNAGS’ HELP TODD SIZZLE
Todd Hazelwood is the V8 driver proving you don’t need a family fortune to become a Supercars star.
While many V8 careers are bankrolled by rich mums and dads, the Holden driver is funding his dream with a pair of tongs and old-fashioned hard work.
The rookie pilot was recently spotted selling sausages at Glynde Mitre 10 in Adelaide. Hazelwood revealed his mum Sharon and dad Russell regularly join him for fundraising ‘‘sausage sizzles’’.
“It’s something that goes back to my Formula Ford and karting days when we used to raise funds to go racing,’’ he said.
“Every little bit counts so mum, dad and I still get down to Glynde Mitre 10 when we are home and throw a few snags on the barbie.
“The support we get in SA is extraordinary and was a big help in getting me into Supercars.
“It’s tough but the plan is to work our way up the grid.”
Hazelwood, 23, just finished his first full-time season in Supercars after beating Paul Dumbrell to take out the Dunlop Super2 crown in 2017.
THE RECIPE TO KOHLI’S SUCCESS
Meet Sai Harsha Chittajallu, the young Indian chef serving up delicacies from home for Virat Kohli and his teammates.
Sai has been working at the SCG for five years and, operating out of the members’ pavilion, looks after India’s cricketers whenever they’re in town.
“It is like a dream come true,’’ Sai said. “I never thought I would get to cook for Team India. Any young Indian would be very proud to get this opportunity.”
The players dine on vegetable dals, curries and home-style breads. Sai is from Hyderabad, birthplace of the great VVS Laxman and home to the IPL’s Sunrisers.
The members’ pavilion’s longtime dressing room catering attendant Warren Richards said Sai’s arrival at the SCG had made the relationship with Team India seamless.
“If there are any special requests, Sai is straight down there,” he said.
WE’RE PRETTY AWFUL ON OUR DAY
What do Hong Kong, Nepal and The Netherlands have in common?
All had better one-day international records last year than Australia — the worst side in world cricket. If recent history is anything to go by, Australia’s summer of pain will continue should these statistics — and the form of the Test team — be anything to go by.
Set to kick off their one-day campaign against India at the SCG on Saturday, Australia will be out to avenge the season in which they won just two of 13 one-day matches with a side that included Steve Smith and Dave Warner for part of the year.
That’s a worse strike rate than some of cricket’s most obscure nations — The Netherlands (50 per cent), Nepal (33.3) and Papua New Guinea (25) all outdoing us, albeit against weak oppositions. It might be a tall order given India lost just four matches last year to be rated the best 50-over team in world cricket.
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