Wayne Bennett set to benefit as Brisbane Broncos in a bind over Craig Bellamy deal
WAYNE Bennett set to benefit with Broncos in a bind over Craig Bellamy, Moses Mbye has a decision to make and the reason why the NRL’s crowd figures are so flexible ...
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
FASCINATING conspiracy theories abound after news broke of Brisbane’s interest in signing Craig Bellamy to replace coach Wayne Bennett.
The best, and cleverest, was that Bennett sparked the leak himself to put the clock on Bellamy and the Broncos to make a decision as Bennett tries to hang on to his job.
It is all fantasy, of course.
Bennett said he recommended Bellamy, some say after he became aware of the club’s quiet interest in North Queensland coach Paul Green.
ORIGIN: No Klemmer in Matty Johns’ Blues
GREAT MATES: JT and Cam’s final meeting?
Bennett has handled himself magnificently. He reminds us of the old US college football coach who said “when they are running you out of town, make it look like you are leading the parade”.
He said at Wednesday’s press conference that he recommended Bellamy to boss Paul White because he put the club first.
The sticking point in the negotiation with Bellamy is time. The Broncos would prefer Bennett to coach next season, the last year of his contract, and for Bellamy to take over in 2020.
Bellamy is off contract this season and has a three-year deal on the table from the Melbourne Storm.
He is interested in the Broncos’ offer but does not want to sit out next season. So the discussion is about whether the Broncos will move Bennett on to prevent losing Bellamy to the Storm for three more years.
Now Bellamy and the Broncos must not only negotiate a deal that is acceptable to both parties, but do it in the white-hot spotlight.
It puts both in a bind, a position of which Bennett would be aware.
Even among the naysayers, it dovetails into Bennett’s stellar reputation for managing the media to his own end.
CALL it a great moment in bad timing or a bad moment of great timing. Clifford Park — home of the Toowoomba Turf Club — has a sportsman’s lunch next Friday. Guest speakers are Craig Bellamy and Wayne Bennett. Tickets are still available.
MEN OF LEAGUE HELP DUBBO WOMAN
FORMER Australian welterweight champion Robert “Gummy” Toomey has run the Pound 4 Pound gym in Dubbo so successfully for so long it spawned the Pound4pound intensive mentoring program for troubled indigenous youth, which he runs with wife Kara.
You cannot begin to count the number of kids they’ve helped.
The program received a setback recently when Kara was diagnosed with breast cancer and radical treatment appears the only option.
The Men of League Foundation has got on board, and on Saturday night Dubbo RSL will host A Night for Kara, with Johnny Lewis guest speaker. For details contact Dubbo Men of League on karatoomeyfundraiser@gmail.com
OPEN MARKET MOSES OR CUT-PRICE TIGER
CANTERBURY fullback Moses Mbye has a choice to make — take up an extra season at the Tigers, and a slight trim on his wages, or back himself to be worth more money when his current deal with Canterbury expires at the end of 2020. Mbye is a victim of the former administration’s back-ended deals.
The Bulldogs don’t want to let him go, but through good form and his young age, Mbye looms as the only real player that clubs are chasing.
Mbye has a three-year deal on offer at the Tigers, which works out slightly less per season than the remaining two years he will get at the Bulldogs — which is worth almost $2 million.
The current Bulldogs administration have made it clear they won’t pitch in a significant deal for anyone to play against them — including Mbye.
So they won’t be low-balled or forced to make a decision like they had to with James Graham last year. And while they are under the cap next year, they still want to clear space as they look to field a more balanced squad.
DOUST’S JOB IS CLASSIFIED
THE Dragons are finally making moves to replace outgoing CEO Peter Doust, who announced in February his intention to stand down. St George Illawarra have officially advertised for the position. Among the 17 duties and responsibilities listed are: innovation, financial stewardship, winning culture and community focus. Applications close on June 13, with a start date on October 1.
● ● ●
DRAGONS fullback Matt Dufty had a verbal running battle with Canberra’s Joey Leilua last Sunday. The pair are close through Dufty’s friendship with Leilua’s brother and Dragons teammate Luciano. Word is that Joey had some inside intel on Dufty which he was happy to use throughout the game in Mudgee.
● ● ●
THE NRL has grown increasingly frustrated by the “leaking” of info stemming from chief executive meetings. That’s why it got on the front foot and announced the impending salary cap dispensation for long-term injury to players in rep games. In a bid to deter information from getting out after Tuesday’s meeting, the NRL again asked for the bosses to keep the meeting in-house.
GRAND INCENTIVES FOR WINGERS
CRONULLA flyers Valentine Holmes and Edrick Lee will be hoping to cross for a few four-pointers, with more at stake than just aiming to help their Sharks to a win against the Knights in Newcastle on Sunday.
In support of the Beanie For Brain Cancer round, Sportsbet will donate $1000 for every try scored to the Mark Hughes Foundation. The wingers may also look to give skipper Paul Gallen a helping hand over the try line, with Sportsbet donating $2000 if a captain scores a try this weekend.
RUBBERY CROWD FIGURES
THERE was a flurry of action at the NRL on Tuesday after club CEOs were told of this year’s rise in crowd figures, which we followed up with a phone call when the numbers did not quite add up.
It seems the NRL has adopted a new accounting method to add up its crowd figures, which began last year.
After 11 rounds, 1,378,115 fans had walked through the turnstiles. Given 88 games have been played so far, that works out to 15,660 a game.
Except there were four double-headers, which the NRL counts as one event.
So instead of dividing the total by 88 games, the NRL divided the total by 84 events, raising the average to 16,406.
Suddenly, the NRL found nearly 800 more fans a game, which is still portrayed as a per game figure. (The average presented to club chief executives on Tuesday was 16,620, the average after 10 rounds.)
When asked about the matter on Thursday, NRL chief Todd Greenberg said that NRL bosses received no financial bonuses for overseeing a rise in crowd figures, even though KPIs are built into their performances.
“If we were only motivated through KPIs on crowds,” he said, “it would be counterintuitive to continue to take games to regional communities with much smaller capacities.”
The NRL justifies the change in method by pointing out fans buy tickets to one event, not two games.
So crowds are slightly up on last year, which is good news.
The new accounting method looms as a significant bonus for the NRL next year when all eight games from one round are played in Brisbane over three days. Or three “events”, as it is.
THIS WIG’S TOO SMART
THE smart wig is back after its inaugural success last year.
The Smart Wig 2 will give fanatical Blatchys Blues fans a rare insight into camp NSW.
More than 12,000 were sold last year and it is hoped that number will increase for game two this year.
Smart Wig 2 will have new radio hosts, and a line-up of Blues legends will be interviewed on the night from the Tooheys New Sheds.
There will also be a new radio device implemented for better comfort and fit, while 20 LED lights in each wig will add more colour to the pre-game show.
To join Blatchys Blues, just log on to blatchysblues.com.au.
WHO’S A HUNGRY BOY?
THE morning after last Thursday’s win over Wests Tigers, Penrith’s Reagan Campbell-Gillard had four wisdom teeth removed.
And the big prop could not eat until Wednesday — five ravenous days later.
He runs out for Penrith against St George Illawarra on Saturday night on his march towards Blues selection on Monday night.
SPOTTED: SONS OF GUNS
IT was a schoolboy footy game in Brisbane last week — Ashgrove Marist v St Patrick’s College.
Running out for Marist were Ethan Tallis and Brendan Thorn, the sons of former Broncos greats Gorden Tallis and Brad Thorn.
In the opposition for St Pats was Bailey Carroll and Ben Webcke, the son of Tonie Carroll and nephew of Shane Webcke. For the record, St Pats got the chocolates.
PITCH IN FOR BRAVE TROY
TROY Waters gave his all for boxing and the time has come to give a little back.
With much of his modest earnings from the sweet science taken up in his fight against leukaemia, a trust account has been set up to pay for his funeral next Wednesday, at Greenway Chapel and Memorial Gardens Greenpoint at 2pm, as well as other family costs.
Already a few mates have donated.
Donations can be sent to: Tim Andrews Trust Account BSB: 082574, Account: 754473576 or www.gofundme.com/troy-waters-family.
Originally published as Wayne Bennett set to benefit as Brisbane Broncos in a bind over Craig Bellamy deal
Teams: 19-year-old rookie leads Dons’ charge to Perth
Essendon debutant Vigo Visentini will have a one-out ruck battle with Luke Jackson, with the teams for Essendon’s clash with Freo on Thursday night locked in.
Paul Green’s family responds to Slater act
Paul Green’s family has broken its silence after Billy Slater referenced the former Queensland coach in the lead-up to Game 2.