Coast Gossip: The Sniper’s take on all sports

Check out the juiciest sports talk from around town on the Gold Coast.

WELCOME to the Bulletin’s new sports confidential column Coast Gossip: The Sniper’s take on all sports.

We’ll run through all of the juiciest talk from around town each Wednesday morning.

MUSIC OVER FOOTBALL

There’s scheduling chaos in Football Gold Coast.

After rain forced one top level game to be postponed in recent weeks, the catchup fixture was slated for this weekend ... only for the visitors to then decline so their players could attend a popular music concert.

SPLASH THE CASH?

THE insistence of Titans chairman Dennis Watt this week that the club would splash the cash on a new mentor was met with a giggle by one player agent.

The manager had pushed one of his clients last time the Gold Coast NRL coaching post was up for grabs, only to go cold on the role when he learnt of the ballpark figure for a salary.

Gold Coast Titans executive chairman Dennis Watt speaks to the media following the sacking of Garth Brennan. Picture: AAP Image

Fair to say it was the lowest in the league and comparable to some assistant roles.

Let’s hope the Titans find those extra funds this time.

WESTERN SYDNEY TRIO BATTLING FOR ARROW’S SIGNATURE

TEETOTALLING FOR A CAUSE

GOLD Coast Turf Club chairman Brett Cook will be due to shout the bar at the start of next month.

Cook is taking part in Dry July and is currently the top fundraiser across the foundation with $21,241 already raised after giving up grog for the month.

He is also part of the top team with his combined tally with partner Michelle Thompson standing at $24,400.

Brett Cook is the highest fundraiser in the country for Dry July. Picture: Tertius Pickard

It’s an incredible feat considering 43,710 people have pledged to go dry for the foundation.

BIZARRE METHODS BEHIND AXING

Which Coast club decided to part ways with their head coach midway through the season after some questionable disciplinary tactics?

We hear there were some very unusual ploys which led to the departure.

THE ASH TAYLOR DILEMMA FOR NEXT TITANS COACH

QUESTIONS SURROUND COACH NO SHOW

Are cracks appearing at Football Gold Coast club Nerang Eagles? Coach Dave Benigno was last night absent from the sideline and technical director Keith Garland was in charge.

We’ve been told to watch this space.

Nerang Eagles 2019 Premier League football coach Dave Benigno. Picture: Luke Sorensen

Benigno denied there was anything to his absence, declaring he was on the Sunshine Coast for a family event.

THE POT CALLING THE KETTLE BLACK

Which local hockey club didn’t contribute to the Bulletin’s Top 10 local hockey list and then were the first ones to complain about the final product?

TALENT NO SUBSTITUTE FOR HARD WORK

WE’VE been told there is a certain rugby league player on the Gold Coast who definitely has the potential to have a crack at the NRL.

SIGN UP FOR OUR FULL ON FOOTY GOLD COAST RUGBY LEAGUE NEWSLETTER

The problem? Their discipline is badly letting them down.

They could find themselves on a slippery slope if they don’t get their act together soon.

THE WIN SUNS HAD ON SATURDAY NIGHT

Tom Nicholls (right). Picture: Getty Images

THE Gold Coast Suns may not be tracking the best on field but there is no doubting their commitment to the community.

Ruckman Tom Nicholls made a fan’s night at Metricon Stadium when Gold Coast lost to Adelaide.

Expressing her thanks through one of the club’s fan groups on Facebook, Donna Wilson revealed her father, who is not a member, had a medical incident that required him to go to hospital at halftime a week earlier when the club played Richmond at the same ground.

‘WE HAVE TALENT TO FIX THIS’: WITTS

“We were all impressed with the professionalism of the stadium attendants, security and Metricon stadium medical staff, within a matter of minutes we were attended by all of these staff who called an ambulance immediately and within no more than 10 minutes we were on our way to hospital.

Nicholls. Picture: Alix Sweeney

“Fast forward to (the Adelaide) game, sitting in our seats at half time we were tapped on our shoulder by two Gold Coast Suns officials and Tom Nicholls who had heard about the incident and just wanted to check on our welfare and have a chat.

“It’s these extra little things off the field that make our club so special as they not only invest in their players but also their members and the Gold Coast community.”

“Thanks Gold Coast Suns from our family to yours on becoming the community club of the AFL. Yes we are struggling on the field but we are kicking goals off the field and I’m sure it won’t be long before we see that on the field also.”

DON’T HAVE A COW, MAN

It seems the crackdown by football stadium staff has reached Queensland, with one Suns member having his cow bell confiscated during Gold Coast’s loss to Adelaide last weekend.

The member has been using it all season but staff decided in Round 17 that it was against stadium rules.

“It seems it was against stadium rules and it was confiscated by security guards,” a Suns fan nearby to the incident said.

“Everyone around us who enjoy the bell and our chants got really cranky because they were taking it away from us.

“Not to mention the guys attitude towards us all.

“Why should we go to games if we can’t be loud and support our team? May as well sit at home and watch it on TV, why be a member?

“He has been using it all year. It just seems they are cracking down on fun.”

OPINION

Ipswich co-coaches Ben and Shane Walker. Picture: Stewart McLean

Ben and Shane Walker have already been put forward as an option to replace Garth Brennan as Gold Coast NRL coach in 2020.

There’s no doubt they’d make for a ton of entertainment, both in the playing style they encourage and the bold statements they regularly make in public, but now more than ever the Titans are not in a position to gamble – and the Walker brothers would be the ultimate punt.

SALARY CAP DRAMA

Word has it one of Gold Coast’s top football teams is sailing close to the wind when it comes to their salary cap.

The team has had to be creative with team selections in recent times in order to ensure they have enough room in the cap to last the season and play their best 22 on the run home without worrying about match payments.