The Inside Mail: Home of all the hottest NRL news and gossip
YOU’LL be blown away by how much cash David Mead turned his back on to join Brisbane, Cowboys lose another player, where is Jarryd Hayne and more in this week’s The Inside Mail.
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IN an age where many NRL stars chase the big bucks, David Mead has given up huge dollars to chase premierships.
The Inside Mail understands the Titans flyer has sacrificed around $200,000 in signing with the Broncos for next season.
Mead was on around $350,000 annually at the Titans and received more lucrative offers from Canterbury and rugby’s Western Force.
But Mead is determined to succeed at the Broncos and believes Wayne Bennett can extract the best of him.
COWBOYS LOSE ANOTHER PREMIERSHIP PLAYER
THE Cowboys have lost another member of their premiership-winning squad with coach Paul Green confirming Rory Kostjasyn has signed with Newcastle.
The ever-reliable utility was linked with a move to the Super League but has agreed to terms with the struggling Knights, who are desperate for NRL experience after their dismal campaign.
Nicknamed ‘The Russian’, Kostjasyn has built a respectable resume, playing 124 NRL games and was a key member of the Cowboys’ maiden title win last season.
“Rory is going to Newcastle,” Green confirmed.
“As a club, we wish Rory all the best. The time will come for the thank youse, but I can’t wrap Rory enough, his leadership on and off the field has been tremendous and I wish his family the best for the future.”
The 29-year-old joins James Tamou at the exit gates, with the Cowboys enforcer heading to Penrith on a $3 million deal.
NRL STAR EYES CODE DEFECTION
WHICH big-name star currently involved in the finals is considering a shock walkout on the NRL.
The player in question is one of the code’s most gifted talents and has received lucrative offers to test his skill set in another sport.
If he walks, it will be one of the biggest sporting stories of the past decade.
COWBOYS TRAGEDY BRINGS NEW STRENGTH
LAST year the Winterstein family suffered one of the most heartbreaking losses imaginable.
Francis “Fotu” Winterstein, the beloved brother of Cowboys winger Antonio, took his own life, leaving behind a distraught family.
Antonio, in particular, struggled with the loss of his younger brother, while his wife Brooke became a pillar of strength for him.
Also going through her third pregnancy, it was a rollercoaster year for Brooke as she watched her family experience highs and lows, including Antonio winning last year’s grand final.
But through it all, she never had a chance to grieve. It was something she realised two months after the birth of the couple’s third daughter, Novah Francis-Amora.
And it was what spurred her to take on her biggest challenge, a charity boxing match to raise money for LIVIN.
Brooke said the motivation behind her October fight was not just a chance to release her emotions, but to do something for herself.
“Some people go skydiving, some do a charity fight,” she said.
“I thought it would be cool to do this and have something to work towards. It’s given me an outlet and a way to heal as well.
“Last year I was pregnant and trying to protect my family. I needed to have life as normal as possible for our two children.
“I had to keep our family strong for Antonio. As a result, I didn’t get to grieve as much as everybody else because I needed to be there for them.”
Now it’s time for everyone to be there for Brooke.
“While I’ve been on this journey, it’s been emotional,” she said.
“There have been good tears and angry tears. I’m just glad I’m getting to do it for myself.
“In the beginning, Antonio was pretty blown away by it and a bit anxious and worried.
“Now he’s done training with me and been on the end of a few hits, he is really excited.”
Most importantly, Brooke wants the charity’s message “it ain’t weak to speak” to get through to those who need it.
“If anybody is feeling doubtful about themselves or their life, talk to friends and family,” she said.
“Reach out whenever you can. Look after one another.”
The Fight For Your Cause event will be held on October 8 at Townsville RSL Stadium.
Brooke is raising money and awareness for LIVIN. People can donate at:
give.everydayhero.com/au/i-will-fight-for-you
If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14
BRONCOS RECKON IT’S A KICK IN THE GUTS
THEY did not say much publicly but the Broncos were privately fuming about the circumstances that led to James Roberts being rubbed out of Friday’s semi-final against the Cowboys.
Roberts was unsuccessful in challenging a contrary conduct charge at the judiciary on Wednesday night for kicking former Titans teammate Ryan Simpkins.
The Broncos believed there was insufficient force for Roberts to be charged with kicking, and therefore he should have copped a dangerous contact charge.
If that was the case, he would have escaped suspension with an early guilty plea.
Having touched a referee earlier this year, Roberts received 50 per cent loading for his contrary conduct charge which took him over the 100-point threshold and for a one-week ban.
Regardless of the semantics behind the situation, you can’t lash out with your foot and Roberts has paid the price for his brain snap.
TAUMALOLO SET FOR HUGE PAY DAY
JASON Taumalolo could become the NRL’s highest-paid forward following his breakthrough award this week.
Taumalolo was crowned the Players’ Champion at the Rugby League Players’ Association awards night.
The award is voted for by the players and some consider it to be the highest accolade.
Taumalolo is off-contract at the end of 2017 and has asserted himself as the best forward in the game this year.
At just 23, it is scary to think what he is capable of if he continues to develop.
If the salary cap receives a bumper upgrade from 2018, Taumalolo could be set for a massive payday.
He should move past million-dollar man Sam Burgess and become the highest-paid big man in the game.
There will be plenty of interest from rival clubs and the Cowboys face a fight to keep Taumalolo in Townsville.
STORM’S CRACK AT COWBOYS EGGHEADS
THE Cowboys were the butt of jokes last week following the bizarre egg-throwing incident.
Jason Taumalolo and Tautau Moga were fined $2500 for their involvement and will pay for damages caused to the cars.
Many people had a dig at the Cowboys, most in a lighthearted way, and even Storm CEO Dave Donaghy couldn’t let the opportunity slip.
Donaghy was speaking at a corporate function before the Storm-Cowboys game at AAMI Park when he dropped an “eggscelent” joke.
His counterpart, Cowboys CEO Greg Tonner, was in the room and everyone had a little giggle.
The Storm have some big names in their supporting ranks, none more so than Gold Logie winner Waleed Aly who watched them beat the Cowboys 16-10 to move within a game of the grand final.
NO REST FOR TITANS BOSS
SPARE a thought for Gold Coast Titans CEO Graham Annesley.
Last week The Inside Mail told you about Annesley’s 14,000km round trip to Hong Kong before the Titans’ elimination final against the Broncos.
Annesley hopped back on a plane just hours after the Titans were knocked out of the finals, this time bound for the United Kingdom to meet with his wife, Erica.
Annesley was only scheduled to spend a week on holidays before returning to the Gold Coast for next Monday’s presentation night.
He had only been in the UK for a day before news broke of Jarryd Hayne being filmed with a bikie.
To make matters worse, Annesley picked up a virus somewhere between Hong Kong, Australia and the UK and has been bedridden for much of the trip.
HAYNE PLANE TOUCHES DOWN IN BYRON
JARRYD Hayne appears to be readying himself to escape the drama of his first week of pre-season.
The Titans fullback shared a photo to Instagram late last night of a stunning getaway house in Byron Bay. He simply captioned it, “summer chills”.
HURRELL GETS HIS FAIRYTALE
KONRAD Hurrell is enjoying his off-season in a way you wouldn’t usually expect from rugby league players.
While his Titans teammates have raised eyebrows for partying with the wrong type of people, Hurrell has been keeping it pretty simple by watching some Disney classics.
Hurrell has shared videos to Instagram of himself choosing from his large DVD collection and then watching Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs, singing and whistling along to a number of the tunes. In case you were wondering, his favourite dwarf is Dopey.
BLACKHAWKS EXODUS
THERE is more misery for Intrust Super Cup side Townsville Blackhawks.
After their shock loss to Sunshine Coast last week, the club is set to lose three star players for next season.
Back-rower Rhyse Martin, recently named in the Intrust Super Cup’s team of the year, has signed a two-year deal with NRL club the Bulldogs, while centre Moses Pangai will link with the Broncos next season.
Meanwhile, rugged prop Brenden Santi has again attracted interest from NRL clubs after an outstanding season.
The former Wests Tigers bookend has interest from two NRL clubs and hopes to secure his future in the coming weeks.
Blackhawks coach Kristian Woolf has done a superb job over the last two seasons and faces another rebuilding task to clinch a maiden premiership.
Originally published as The Inside Mail: Home of all the hottest NRL news and gossip
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