What’s the Buzz: Broncos star Payne Haas training with the Fox Sports NRL team

The NRL’s leading broadcaster has been flying a senior producer to Brisbane to help train Broncos superstar Payne Haas in all things TV.

(L-R) Dom Young and Sam Burgess.

Broncos star Payne Haas is undergoing TV training with Fox Sports.

And while he might come across as an unlikely media performer, Fox Sports boss Steve Crawley is suggesting he may have a future in the commentary box.

Senior producer Jamie Lockyer has been flying to Brisbane for sessions with the Broncos powerhouse.

“I was speaking to Kevvie Walters and found out Payne had an interest in television,” Crawley said.

“He’s only 23 and most players look at it towards the end of their careers.

“But we’ve started to do some work with him on his days off. Next season you’ll start to see a bit of him.”

Crawley says Haas is showing some impressive signs.

“He’s keen to learn,” Crawley said, “It’s exciting. Payne Haas is different. I’d admire the way he’s come through some tough moments in his life.

“When you meet him … it shows that you shouldn’t assume what someone is like. He’s a lovely kid and very determined in whatever he does.”

Kevin Walters and Payne Haas address the media. Picture: Peter Wallis

DEAL THAT BROKE BURGESS-BUNNIES

Mario’s Italian restaurant at Broadbeach on the Gold Coast is normally packed with families and holiday-makers in January.

It’s not often you’d find Rabbitohs legend Sam Burgess there with two player agents, a wealthy businessman/third-party sponsor, plus Newcastle winger Dominic Young.

It became the dinner that would trigger the serious tension and falling out between Burgess and Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou that led to the former superstar recently walking out on the club.

The finer details are fascinating.

(L-R) Dom Young and Sam Burgess.

Burgess was on holiday on the Gold Coast when Souths paid the ­airfare for the English winger and try-scoring machine to join him for dinner.

Player managers Mario Tartak and Michael Cincotta, who look after Young, were there.

So too was Burgess and Young, plus a man known as ‘the art dealer’ – wealthy Souths fan Steve Nasteski, who has a history of financially supporting the club’s recruitment.

Burgess desperately wanted his fellow Englishman at Souths.

Young had just had an outstanding World Cup for England, scoring nine tries in four games.

All parties walked away confident a deal would be done.

As Young was weighing up his future at the Knights, Souths suddenly dropped off.

Burgess was overruled by Demetriou, football general manager Mark Ellison and CEO Blake Solly.

Mario's Italian Restaurant at Broadbeach.

Their cap money had been used to extend Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker and Damien Cook and they needed cap space to re-sign Tom Burgess and extend Cameron Murray.

Plus the Rabbitohs already had Alex Johnston, who is likely to break Ken Irvine’s all-time try-scoring record next season, on one wing. They also have high hopes that 18-year-old Indigenous star and local junior Tyrone Munro will emerge next year as one of the NRL’s best wingers.

So Burgess was not happy – and hasn’t been since.

Young ended up accepting an offer to join Souths’ bitter rivals the Sydney Roosters.

Catch Sam Burgess on The Matty Johns Show on Sunday night on Fox League.

Chris O’Keefe.

BUZZ MEDIA

Chris O’Keefe, 35

2GB Radio

First job: A 13-year old paperboy at Oatley West Newsagency. I pushed the papers around on a Sunday morning blasting my whistle to sell the papers. I drove the locals mad, but many left the gold coins underneath the mat or in the letterbox the night before. Sam the newsagent took the cost of each edition of Rugby League Week out of my pay every week, I loved the sport so much.

Sporting heroes: Shane Warne was at the very top. Playing for Mortdale Heights Cricket Club and Illawarra Catholic Club, everyone wanted to be Warnie. I remember we could be playing in the backyard, and we were all called into the house when Warnie took the ball to bowl. While summer was cricket, winter was for league. Nathan Blacklock and Ricky Walford were my favourite Dragons.

Team you support: St George Illawarra Dragons. Never before, never again.

What sports did you play: Everything. I played league for Renown United, union at Southern Districts, I swam at Bexley and Hurstville, soccer at Oatley RSL, baseball at Lugarno, nippers at Wanda SLSC. I was never any good at any of it, but I was competitive and I tried hard.

How do you spend a day off: With Henry and Vonny. They are my world, and every spare second I get is spent with them.

Career highlights: I’ve been lucky enough to travel the world as a reporter with Channel 9. Covering the dawn service at Gallipoli was a highlight, as well as state and federal elections (I’m a political junkie). But breaking stories and fighting for regular Australians is what I love. Exposing a dreadful gas mix-up at Bankstown Hospital that killed a newborn and left another with a lifelong disability was a tragic story to cover. The courage of those families changed the way hospitals are built and gas lines are installed. I am still in awe of them and keep in touch, even all these years later.

Jim Wilson is staying busy.

RADIO TO RESTAURANT

Broadcaster/journalist Jim Wilson has never been busier.

After quitting 2GB last year, Wilson has opened a restaurant in the lower Hunter Valley called the Wollombi Kitchen.

He’s running it with his wife Chris Bath, who is juggling restaurant duties with roles on Channel 10.

Wilson and Bath are getting rave reviews after hiring a new chef, Chris Rummey, who was previously working in up-market Mosman.

Jimmy has also embarked on a new communications and media-training business, the Comms Gurus, with Bath. There’s also mail that he’s in discussions for a major role with Tabcorp and Sky Sports Radio.

“It’s been pretty hectic but I’m loving the work-life balance,” Wilson said.

“I’ve always been a foodie and a wine lover and to do it in a place so close to my heart in Wollombi is something pretty special.

“And Bathy hasn’t hit me with a frying pan yet.