Coast Gossip: The Sniper’s take on all sports with Leilani Latu and Football Gold Coast featuring

There’s a theory doing the rounds when it comes to Leilani Latu’s sudden return to NRL footy, plus expect fireworks in a local football match this weekend. That and more in the latest edition of Coast Gossip: The Sniper’s take on all sports.

GET up to speed on all of the juiciest talk from around town each Wednesday morning in the Bulletin’s new sports confidential column Coast Gossip: The Sniper’s take on all sports.

PLOY BEHIND LATU’S SELECTION

THERE’S a theory doing the rounds when it comes to Leilani Latu’s sudden return to NRL footy.

The 26-year-old played his first game for the Titans in exactly one year in the side’s 38-18 loss to Melbourne at the weekend.

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Latu joined from the Panthers in the 2018 pre-season on a three-year deal reportedly worth $500,000 a season but has spent the majority of his time at Intrust Super Cup feeder club Tweed.

Leilani Latu at training. Picture: Gold Coast Titans

In the first game since Garth Brennan was sacked as coach, Latu was elevated to the Gold Coast bench and several sources around the traps have suggested it could be a means to offload him in the coming off-season – because no one will pick up even a portion of his contract while he is in ISC.

The front-rower is undoubtedly talented and for now has a chance to prove himself once more at the top level. He played 19 minutes against the Storm, making 10 tackles and running for 47m.

FIREWORKS EXPECTED

BRING back the biff!

Well we could get our wish this weekend when Coomera and Nerang renew hostilities in Football Gold Coast Premier League.

Action from a Gold Coast Premier League fixture last year between Coomera and Nerang.

The Sniper hears that last week’s catch-up fixture between the clubs got extra spicy.

And wouldn’t you know it, the sides will meet again this weekend.

“Expect fireworks,” as one person suggested.

IS THIS TIME FOR REAL?

TALK of the Gold Coast regaining an NBL licence is a bit like speaking of the yowie: It’s always there but never real.

Yet The Sniper hears that NBL owner Larry Kestelman has had some informal chats with powerful Gold Coast basketball folks, reviving hopes that a national franchise will return for the first time since 2012.

Larry Kestelman. Picture: Zak Simmonds

With the Rollers and Seahawks both showing strong signs in the QBL, that yowie may be closer than first thought.

COFFEES ON KING

SUNS midfielder Brayden Fiorini says draftee Ben King may owe teammate Michael Rischitelli a few coffees this week.

King was left fuming after taking a mark against Carlton defender Lachie Plowman and after a tussle, threw a blind punch his way.

FIORINI: ‘I’M HERE TO STAY’

Unfortunately for King, he missed Plowman and hit Rischitelli flush on the side of the head. Even worse, he conceded a free kick because of it.

Ben King of the Suns. Picture: Getty Images

“I didn’t realise what happened,” Fiorini said of the incident.

“I saw it after the game. How is it a free kick if we hit our own player?

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“If it was anyone else they probably would have fallen to the ground so lucky it was Rish. He has a hard head on him. It was a good hit. He sent a message out to everyone to say he is all good and thanks for the messages.”

TIME FOR CHANGE

IT’S time we got on the same page as the women’s rugby league competition south of the border.

That’s the view of Tweed Seagulls (and Brisbane NRLW) coach Kelvin Wright.

Currently South East Queensland division one teams are able to pick 19 players for a game and roll substitutions as frequently as they like.

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Wright says that should change to the standard 17 players and a limited number of interchanges, which in turn will bring out the best in smaller players around the state.

Action from the South East Queensland division one match between Tweed and Burleigh. Picture: Richard Gosling

Given NSW’s stranglehold over the women’s Origin arena in recent years, a change is valid now more than ever.

SPORTSMANSHIP ON SHOW

YOU never want to see a game of football end with someone being taken away in an ambulance but that’s unfortunately how Broadbeach’s QFAW division one match against Jindalee concluded on Saturday afternoon.

After a crunching tackle late in the second quarter, one of the Jags lay motionless on the ground inside 50, prompting officials to call an ambulance and the game to be abandoned.

The good news is that the player in question has no spinal damage, just swelling and muscle spasms and also some flowers after the two players involved in the tackle decided to reach out.

In a further act of sportsmanship, Jindalee have contacted AFLQ and asked that Broadbeach be awarded the full points from the incomplete match, keeping the Cats slight hopes of grabbing top spot on the ladder alive.

Now that’s why we love sport.

TITANS DEBUTANT’S POLITICAL AID

Kallum Watkins. Picture: AAP Image/Regi Varghese

YOU know things are getting serious when the pollies weigh in.

With Titans English recruit Kallum Watkins still awaiting a visa clearance to play in the NRL, LNP senator James McGrath stepped up.

He wrote to the Minister for Immigration, David Coleman MP, asking him to look into expediting a visa for Watkins.

Senator McGrath said the former Leeds Rhinos captain would make an excellent addition to the Gold Coast team, and asked on behalf of all Queensland NRL fans for Watkins’ visa to be expedited to allow him to make his debut for his new team.

It must have done the trick, with Watkins in line to play this Saturday against the Broncos at Cbus Super Stadium.

CHAMPION’S TOUGH BREAK

WE’RE sending our best wishes to Surfers Paradise surf life saving star Ali Day after he broke both of his wrists last week.

Ali Day. Credit: HarvPix

The 2018 Nutri-Grain Series winner underwent surgery and is recovering in hospital. It’s unclear whether the injury will impact his ability to compete in the upcoming summer surf series.