Paul Gallen and Phil Gould to face off on Footy Show, no more nasty Nick and John Grant’s expensive farewell
WHAT’S the Buzz: The new-look Footy Show kicks off next month with long-time enemies to go head to head. Plus, no more nasty Nick and John Grant’s expensive farewell.
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THE new-look Footy Show kicks off next month and the main event? Long-time enemies Phil Gould and Paul Gallen. Plus, Fox’s huge cricket bid and John Grant’s big farewell.
SAINT
LLEYTON Hewitt says Bernard Tomic is unlikely to play Davis Cup for Australia again. This statement is long overdue. Good onya, Lleyton. We love our sporting heroes saying what they actually think rather than hiding their real opinions and emotions.
SINNER
WESTS Tigers paid a ridiculous $1.3 million for rookie Moses Suli before he’d even played first grade. It didn’t work out. So they release him to the Bulldogs. Was it really necessary to then tell the media that he was a poor trainer with a bad attitude to justify their recruitment blunder to fans? Poor form.
DIGNITY: League legends growing old together
BIG BUCKS: Fox’s $1b cricket play
SINNER II
MAL Meninga told us he was putting respect back into the Kangaroos jersey. Yet when Cameron Munster gets sent home from the World Cup for a fight with teammate Ben Hunt, it becomes a cover-up. Not a word said. Good on James Hooper for breaking the story and getting the truth into the public arena.
SHOOSH
WHICH TV sports reporter is chasing Michael Slater’s old job as co-host of Sky Racing’s Big Sports Breakfast show?
SHOOSH II
WHICH club is making a huge play for Canberra Raiders’ off-contract second-rower Josh Papalii for 2019 with an offer Ricky Stuart will struggle to match?
SHOOSH III
WHICH NRL rugby league radio caller has been demoted by his network during the off-season from the main commentary role?
SHOOSH IV
WHICH punter celebrated a recent big win on the horses by purchasing himself a $210,000 Maserati from a North Shore car dealer
NICK OFF ... AND ON
YOU’LL notice the tennis brats ban on these pages has changed. We will resume covering the career of Nick Kyrgios following his spirited performances at the Australian Open combined with much better behaviour. He is also doing some wonderful stuff for charity.
SPOTTED
NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg, Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga and independent commissioner Wayne Pearce enjoying dinner and a long chat at the Centennial Hotel on Tuesday night.
SPOTTED II
FORMER broadcaster and old Manly Sea Eagles legend Peter Zorba Peters leaving Sunshine Coast Private Hospital after undergoing a knee replacement.
SPOTTED III
FORMER Olympian Matt Shirvington at Belmore Sports Ground on Dean Pay’s coaching staff adding much-needed zip to a Canterbury backline that has been far too sluggish. Shirvo also dropped in on South Sydney during their camp at the AIS in Canberra last month.
NINE’S FOOTY REBRAND
CHANNEL Nine will launch its new Monday night version of the Footy Show next month, starring long-time enemies Phil Gould and Paul Gallen. Gould has been the Sharks skipper’s harshest critic, describing his leadership of the NSW Blues as selfish in a scathing attack two years ago. They have barely spoken since.
The show will be hosted by James Bracey in a 9.30pm timeslot. Nine sports reporter and former Today Show executive producer Neil Breen will be on the panel to add a news element to the program. Nine executives hope the show will improve its rugby league credentials to arrest a ratings slump in match coverage in recent years.
CAN’T SILENCE THIS LAMB
CANTERBURY legend Terry Lamb has broken his silence on the bitter Bulldogs board election.
“The current board has done a great job for the last eight to 10 years,” Lamb said. “I’ve been at this place since 1984. It’s in very good shape. Other Sydney clubs would love to be as strong. I’ve got a relationship and played alongside some of the people challenging and I just don’t know why they are doing it.”
YEAH BABY
IT’S a huge year for Sharks forward Wade Graham, who in July will become a father for the first time. His lovely partner Karianne Lafrance is 14 weeks pregnant.
“We’re rapt and I can’t wait,” said Graham, the 27-year-old NSW Blues second-rower.
IT ALL POINTS TO SOCCEROOS
THEY say the deal is already done for highly successful Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold to become our next Socceroos coach.
Arnie knocked the job back for Russia as Ange Postecoglou’s replacement because he felt there wasn’t enough time to put his own team together.
When he ruled himself out of the World Cup job for Russia, Arnold commented: “I am committed to Sydney FC and 100 per cent focused on seeing out this season and winning two more trophies for this great club.” He wouldn’t commit to them for any longer.
CROWD CONTROL
IT’S no wonder no one can use a mobile phone while the Manly Sea Eagles are training.
To replicate the match-day atmosphere, coach Trent Barrett blasts out crowd noise over the public address system while the team is doing ball work.
It apparently helps with calling the moves and also serves to lift the training tempo with game-style atmosphere blaring in the background.
CLEARY THEORY
THERE are some crazy rumours doing the rounds in rugby league circles. We’ve even heard Ivan Cleary and his son Nathan will be heading to the Sydney Roosters as part of their long-term planning.
Both have two years still to run on their contracts at the Wests Tigers and the Panthers.
Ivan has said previously that they would like to be at the same club down the track.
GRANT EXIT A DISGRACEFUL SPLASH OF CASH
AT a time when bush clubs are dying and parents are struggling to pay exorbitant junior registration fees, the money being wasted on a farewell for independent commission Chairman John Grant is a disgrace.
Around 200 guests have been invited to a lavish dinner on February 20 at the Museum of Contemporary Art at Circular Quay … a venue with sweeping harbour views and sky high prices to match.
The NRL has clammed up and won’t provide any details about the cost of the event. But the MCA’s website shows that the glamorous Harbourside function room holds up to 200 guests — with dinner packages ranging from $155 to $205 a head.
Even if Grant takes the cheapest option — and that’s unlikely — the night will set back the game more than $30,000 — and that’s before the airfares, limos, flowers, entertainment and all the other trimmings are added to the bill.
Guests will be able to dine on anything from Pomegranate Glazed Quail and Spanner Crab Salad for entrees, through to Organic Chicken and 36-hour Braised Wagyu beef for main course. Plus the beverages including French champagne and our finest wines.
Seriously, the event should be cancelled.
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Four journos have been invited to Grant’s farewell, including colleague Paul Kent — surprising considering he’s been one of Grant’s critics.
Roy Masters and the Australian’s Brent Read have got a start too. They’ve been much kinder to him.
We do know a number of senior officials will be boycotting the event. Even a big-name from the Gold Coast Titans who was previously a Grant supporter, is brushing it.
As for my invite, we think it’s been lost in the mail.