Sport Confidential: The AFL’s unwelcome invasion of Henson Park, new top dogs in NRL radio wars
The AFL’s attempted infiltration of Henson Park has gone down poorly with one NRL star as the breakfast radio wars take an intriguing twist. That and more in Sport Confidential.
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Cronulla forward Toby Rudolf has delivered a broadside to the AFL after they announced a $4.5 million investment towards the upgrade of Henson Park, home of rugby league’s Newtown Jets.
Rudolf, who was dropped to the Jets only a matter of weeks ago, was shocked to hear that Henson Park had become a second home for the AFL.
The Sharks prop was speaking at the launch of the Beer, Footy and Food Festival, to be held at Henson Park on July 27. Rudolf insisted the AFL would always play second fiddle to rugby league at the famous inner city ground.
Likewise across the rest of Sydney, where the NRL remains king despite the AFL investing hundreds of millions in the city.
“I mean, they’ve been trying to take over Sydney for however many years now and it’s not really working,” Rudolf said.
“Sydney’s always going to be a rugby league town. They can try and dig their claws in but Henson Park - the Newtown Jets have been a foundation club since 1908.
“People around here that live around these buildings have been down to these games for a century. I don’t think that a couple of demountables is going to do much about that.”
The festival will also feature live pro wrestling and fans can purchase tickets online at www.beerfootyfood.com.
OLAKAU’ATU OMISSION SLAMMED
Manly chief execute Tony Mestrov has slammed the decision to axe Haumole Olakau’atu for the deciding State of Origin game, describing his omission as a travesty and saying the Sea Eagles forward wasn’t used properly by Blues’ brain’s trust.
Olakau’atu played limited minutes in Origins I and II, coming off the bench and having minimal impact as the Blues lost game one and then levelled the series at the MCG.
He was then dropped for the decider as Blues coach Michael Maguire opted to select Warriors enforcer Mitch Barnett on the interchange bench.
Mestrov said Olakau’atu was harshly treated given the way he was used in the opening two games - he played 41 minutes across the games.
“He’s been our best forward this year,” Mestrov said.
“If there is anyone who is made for State of Origin it is Haumole. I was so happy for him that he was chosen in the arena.
“He deserved to be in there. Other teams and players are genuinely frightened of him. I just feel from the get-go he wasn’t used properly (in Origin). He is an edge back rower.
“He’s not a middle. For him now to not be in the side, when they need toughness, I think it is a travesty.”
Olakau’atu had 10 runs for 76 metres in Origin I at Accor Stadium but then only had two runs for 22 metres in the second game in Melbourne.
That wasn’t enough to book him a place in the final game of the series, leaving Mestrov and the Sea Eagles fuming at the decision to cut him loose with the series on the line and wanting that he will have something to prove when they take on Newcastle on Sunday afternoon at 4Pines Park.
“He is as tough as they come,” Mestrov said.
“They are in fear of him. He’s exactly what they need. Yet he is the player who has missed out. Why pick him if you are not going to use him properly?
“It was a bit of a joke to be fair. reckon he has a point to prove this week.”
NEW TOP DOG IN NRL RADIO WARS
The breakfast radio wars have taken an intriguing twist with SEN duo of Andrew Voss and Greg Alexander toppling their Big Sports Breakfast counterparts by the smallest of margins for the first time in the most recent ratings survey.
Voss has manned the show since the end of 2020 before Alexander joined him as co-host. The duo rated a 2.4 per cent (up by .6) compared to 2.3 per cent by the Laurie Daley and Michael Clarke hosted show on Sky Sports Radio.
Overall it was a positive survey for SEN who are continuing to make inroads in the highly competitive Sydney market. Jimmy Smith’s afternoon show posted a 3.9 per cent audience share while the ‘The Run Home with Joel Caine and Bryan Fletcher rated 3.8 per cent.
“We’ve seen strong growth across the station in every survey this year,” SEN Sydney’s content director Jeremy Markham said. “It’s great that sports fans in Sydney are making the switch to SEN 1170am.”
RUDOLF’S ALCOHOL DILEMMA
Cronulla forward Toby Rudolf has revealed that a pre-season decision to give up alcohol has helped him overcome a career-threatening toe injury - but may have hurt his form.
Rudolf, who was dropped to NSW Cup a fortnight ago after a shocker against the Bulldogs, made a promise during the pre-season to stop drinking, albeit with the caveat that he would give himself three nights out during the year.
The decision has helped with his toe problem but he fears it may have had something to do with his dip in performances.
“I think the no-drinking thing has been a thing where look, I’ve got to let a little steam off,” Rudolf said.
“Sometimes it gets monotonous footy, you know, although it’s one of the great loves of my life and it’s something I hold so dear to my heart, sometimes you just need to have a break from it.
“And I was getting a bit too in my own head as well. I was overthinking a lot of things. And, you know, the fitness hadn’t been where it has been, and I couldn’t figure out why.
“I said before the start of the year that if I had the worst year of my career - so far it has been - I was just going to get blind halfway through the year.
“I wanted to see through it, I wanted to see if it made me better. The one thing it has done is I had a chronic toe injury that nearly sidelined me for the rest of my career. Right now the toe is feeling really good.
“So staying off the piss has aided me in a certain way for sure. So in terms of the rest of the year I might have one drink in Townsville or here depending got where I am playing.
“Than that will be it for the season. Back end of the season most of the NRL is pulling its head in and preparing for grand final footy and I will be doing the same.”
Rudolf revealed coach Craig Fitzgibbon had recently delivered some home truths. Rudolf conceded the chat was warranted given the way he had been playing - he conceded he had cost his side a chance to win the Bulldogs game with his performance.
“Let in the first try when me and Braydon Trindall had a muck up,” Rudolf said.
“And then Reed Mahoney goes in when I was at marker. And then there was a penalty goal as well. So that was 14 points that were pretty directly related to me.
“That wasn’t the sole reason. There were a lot of things leading up to it. And although I had some good games on - against the Broncos a few weeks prior to that, I was pretty strong.
“But there has been no consistency to my football at the moment. He [Fitzgibbon] questioned my off-field habits, he questioned a few things that I probably needed to be questioned on, to be honest.
“And Fitzy will never have a hidden agenda. He’ll tell you how it is. And there’s no better coach in the game, I reckon for that sort of thing.
“Look it was obviously a bit of a stinger - no one wants to be told that they’re not where they think they are.”
Rudolf said he had been talking to Sharks premiership-winner James Maloney about becoming better at moving on from mistakes on the field.
“He was a goldfish - he was one that would throw a cut-out intercept pass and then behind the line would be blowing up at his forwards for not making tackles,” Rudolf said.
“That’s something that I’m trying to adopt as well. You’ve got to let yourself feel the emotion of letting yourself and the team down for a certain part of the week and the hours directly afterwards, but then it’s back to work.”
STORM STAR PLOTS POST-FOOTY BREW
Storm centre Reimis Smith wasn’t a fan of coffee when he first lobbed in Melbourne. Now he can’t get enough of it. Smith is so immersed in coffee it as become his passion project as he begins plotting life after footy.
What started with a conversation about the future with his father - former player Tyran Smith - has turned into a coffee brand called Lone Crow Coffee, which has found its way onto the shelves of Woolworths.
“We were talking about what I was going to do after footy,” Smith said.
“I looked in a couple of areas and started a business called Reimco. I had a family friend (Ben Hams) who is now my business partner and he had a connection to coffee.
“That is how it came about. Before moving to Melbourne I didn’t like coffee. I had it here and there. Then I moved to Melbourne and I was surrounded by it.
“On our off days the boys always want to meet for a coffee. It got me hook, line and sinker.”
Smith and Hams source their coffee beans from a roaster in Sydney and personally sample the coffee before it is given the green light.
“I think it is called cupping - they give you the beans and then you taste it,” Smith said.
“Then they put it together for you. That’s how you create your taste. I’m starting to love the business side of it.
“It’s what I want to do after footy - I want to move in the business space.”
He may have started as a coffee novice but he has now become the resident expert at the Storm. He has enlisted some of his teammates to lend their considerable weight to the cause - Harry Grant and Cameron Munster are among the teammates to help out on social media.
“I look after them,” Smith said.
“Cameron and Harry help me out a bit. Cameron loves his coffee.”
As for the Storm’s resident coffee snob, Smith can’t go past Christian Welch.
“I looked after him with some coffee beans,” Smith said.
“He said he would see how it goes. I haven’t head back from him so he must have liked it.”
COMMENTARY LEGEND FAST-TRACKED INTO THE NRL HALL OF FAME
Veteran sports commentator David Morrow will be fast-tracked into the NRL Hall of Fame as he continues to battle inoperable brain cancer.
Broadcaster and close friend Ray Hadley emotionally announced Morrow’s induction as a contributor on Thursday morning after telling him on Wednesday following a meeting of the judges.
“At the end of the voting, I declared an interest that I’ve known David since 1981-82,” Hadley said on 2GB. “We’ve been to various Olympics, opposing broadcast boxes for nearly three decades. More recently he joined the Continuous Call Team.
“The feeling in the room was one of sorrow but joy that David was to be acknowledged…he is a really good bloke.”
Hadley broke the news to Morrow and his wife Christine on Wednesday.
“(It was) a very emotional time. I tried to hold it together as best as I could.
“Thirsty (Morrow) was sleeping and then woke. I explained while he was awake what had happened. He let out a cry.”
Morrow, 71, was diagnosed with brain cancer before Christmas and immediately retired from his calling duties as he underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatment.
The popular 2GB and former ABC caller began his career more than 50 years ago. He has covered eight Olympic Games and six Commonwealth Games, and been arguably the country’s most versatile radio talent, having called rugby league, racing and cricket.
Morrow was awarded an OAM in 2005 for services to the community, sport and sports broadcasting.
He is a media Hall of Fame inductee at the Sydney Cricket ground alongside some of the biggest names in the Australian sporting media.
“I’m so pleased that the group was unanimous around the induction of David Morrow,” ARL chairman Peter V’landys said. “David is a legendary contributor to the game over many decades and has provided colourful and insightful coverage of the game in his own unique style.”
FLASHBACK
Ex-Maroons public enemy No.1 Josh McGuire made headlines on this day five years ago.
While Nate Myles dominated headlines in Origin I this year for his sledge of debutant Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii it was McGuire’s comments which left the Blues fuming during the Origin decider.
McGuire launched a personal attack on Blake Ferguson which led to a confrontation with David Klemmer.
SEA EAGLE CLOSE TO FLIGHT AGAIN
There is some good news for Manly hooker Lachlan Croker who has returned to training after a career threatening concussion/neck problem.
Croker hasn’t played since round one and there were genuine fears he may not return to the field.
However, he has taken positive steps in recent weeks including returning to full training last week.
Croker is now eyeing a return in the coming weeks. He has been such an important part of Manly’s side in recent years with the 27-year-old a notable absentee from the Sea Eagles line-up.
SUTTON FEARS
There are fears for Ryan Sutton’s playing future after he lasted just 14 minutes in his return game this season before suffering another serious injury.
Sutton requires surgery to repair a badly damaged patella tendon with the injury expected to sideline him for nine months. There are now concerns that the injury could force the Englishman into premature retirement.
He came from the field last Saturday in his first game of 2024 after suffering a serious knee injury to the same knee in the pre-season.
Sutton, 28, still has 12 months left on his contract at the Bulldogs but could now be facing an up-hill battle to get back on the paddock.
DRAGONS FOR LIFE
Premiership winners Ben Hornby, Jason Nightingale and Ben Creagh were awarded the first three life memberships of St George Illawarra as part of the club’s 25-year celebration.
The trio were announced at a gala lunch on Thursday as the Dragons celebrate a quarter of a century since St George and Illawarra joined together.
The club had until now resisted inducting life members. Inaugural chairman Doug McClelland and benefactor Bruce Gordon were the first two officials inducted.
EXPANSION CRUNCH TIME
A Super Sunday looms when the NRL push ahead with an 18th team in 2027.
The introduction of a Western Australian side – aligned with the Bears – will mean an extra game each weekend.
While there is some suggestion that Monday night football could make a return, that seems unlikely given the short turnaround between games. It seems likely that a third game would be played on the Sunday – most likely in the evening – to fit in with the current schedule of 2pm, 4pm and either a 6pm or 630pm start to complete the round of matches.
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Originally published as Sport Confidential: The AFL’s unwelcome invasion of Henson Park, new top dogs in NRL radio wars
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