Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: Cronulla stand by Braydon Trindall as Sharks star goes to rehab
Cronulla stand by Braydon Trindall as the playmaker enters a rehabilitation clinic following his failed roadside drug test, Ray Hadley’s sign of success and more in PHIL ROTHFIELD’s Saint, Sinner, Shoosh.
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Cronulla five-eighth Braydon Trindall won’t be playing for the Sharks again anytime soon – he’ll be undergoing rehab treatment.
The 24-year-old failed a roadside drug and alcohol test last week and was found to be driving with an expired licence. He returned a breath analysis reading of 0.124, as well as a positive result to cocaine.
Sharks boss Dino Mezzatesta has confirmed the club was backing Trindall in his recovery. “It’s important we understand the issues, and, more importantly, that we attend to them,” he said.
“He’s under the care of our welfare officer, and we’ll make sure the best possible treatment is made available to him, like we would with any other player at our club.”
Trindall celebrated last Sunday’s victory over the Cowboys, but was pulled over by police the next morning on Captain Cook Drive, Caringbah, about 9.45am.
He will face the charges at Sutherland Local Court on May 17.
Your columnist understands this is not the first issue that Trindall has had to deal with in recent years.
Hence the club’s decision to put the 24-year-old in a rehab facility from Monday morning to get professional help.
The Sharks feel it is an encouraging sign that he has enthusiastically agreed to the treatment.
Trindall also has the full backing of the playing group.
While they are disappointed in his actions, they are determined to support him.
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SAINTS
Tom, Jake and Ben Trbojevic visited 12-year-old Beau Hewitt from their junior club, the Mona Vale Raiders, in Sydney Children’s Hospital. The youngster was recently diagnosed with stage-four non-hodgkin lymphoma.
SINNER
What a terrible rip-off in these tough times of high interest rates, petrol and grocery prices … the NRL merchandise shop is selling NSW and Queensland captain’s run jerseys for an outrageous $200. They are $20 more expensive than the actual match jerseys.
SHOOSH
Sam Walker will be the next big contract the Sydney Roosters lock down later this season. He had an absolute blinder on Anzac Day and is the future of the club. Walker is free to talk to rival clubs from November. He is a Queenslander and there will be interest from the Titans and the Broncos when Adam Reynolds retires. However, you can back him to stick with the Roosters.
SPOTTED
The Manly Sea Eagles are now facing $1.8 million in combined payouts to Josh Schuster and Des Hasler. Imagine what that sort of money could do for pathways footy on the northern peninsula. The $4 million contract Schuster signed last year was the worst I can recall.
SPOTTED
There is one never-to-be broken rugby league record that larrikin footy player Terry Hill will take to his grave. He scored the first ever try at Olympic Stadium in Homebush for the Manly Sea Eagles against the Newcastle Knights in the first game of a double header in March, 1999.
SPOTTED
Former Prime Minister John Howard at Allianz Stadium on Anzac Day as his beloved Dragons got touched up by the Sydney Roosters.
SPOTTED
Retiring Shark Dale Finucane doing laps of Caringbah Woolworths, a chore he will no doubt be doing more often without the daily grind of playing NRL.
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We reported last year how there was a kerfuffle between broadcaster Ray Hadley and Venues NSW over his 2GB broadcast box at Allianz Stadium.
Hadley was supposed to have his name on a plaque outside the broadcast box when the stadium was first built. A tradie working on the site actually sent Hadley a photo of the plaque on the wall.
Then it suddenly disappeared.
Venues NSW communication general manager Phillip Heads explained the situation: “The original room signage to honour Ray was plastic, small and in no way befitting of his contribution.”
On Thursday Hadley turned up to Allianz for the Anzac Day game.
And outside the commentary box was this massive sign: “Don’t touch the sets, don’t touch the dials, don’t go anywhere.”
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You’ve got to follow Cooper Johns on social media if you enjoy good banter and a laugh.
Last week he posted photos of Manly Sea Eagles forward Matt Lodge, appearing as though he’s paid a visit to an Ashley & Martin hair clinic.
Hair that wasn’t there in recent years has suddenly returned.
Cooper posted the pictures with the caption, ‘Well done to the doctors in Turkey who have revived me mate’s hair’
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After more than a decade based at the home of the Grand Final, Accor Stadium, the NRL referees have recently moved into new digs at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence.
With their own office space and access to the lecture theatre, gymnasium, and the NSW Blues training field and high-performance gym, the whistleblowers now have access to some of the best facilities in the game.
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Who would have thought the once mighty South Sydney Rabbitohs would be second favourites to win the NRL wooden spoon after eight rounds.
After another shocking performance against Melbourne Storm on Thursday night in Melbourne the Rabbitohs are now at $4 on the TAB to finish the season with most losses.
Their wooden spoon price at the beginning of the season was $81.
This is the side that opened the competition $9 third favourite to win the premiership. They are now out to $81.
The Rabbitohs last won the wooden spoon in 2006.
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Footy fans in the Cook Islands have never had access to NRL games on TV, despite rugby league being their number one sport.
The broadcast costs are too expensive.
This has now changed thanks to the generosity of the Sydney Roosters.
The Roosters are now sponsoring two games each week – the Roosters NRL side and their NRLW team.
They will be beamed live into the Island from the Fox Sports feed.
It is fitting in that the Roosters’ superstar centre Joey Manu is of Cook Island heritage.
“Our Club has a rich history of supporting the growth of our great game both domestically and internationally through our League of Roosters Program,” said Roosters CEO Joe Kelly.
“We look forward to supporting Cook Islands Rugby League to bring our great game into the households of Cook Islanders for the remainder of the 2024 NRL and NRLW premiership seasons.”
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