Israel Folau NRL rumours start again and Michael Ennis’s hurt over lost wedding ring
WHAT’S THE BUZZ: Israel Folau NRL rumours start up again, Michael Ennis’s hurt over lost wedding ring, and Michael Jennings dodges Eels fine.
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ISRAEL Folau NRL rumours start up again, Michael Ennis’s hurt over lost wedding ring, and Michael Jennings dodges Eels fine.
It’s What’s The Buzz.
SAINT
AT last, someone has had the guts to stand up to Wayne Bennett and slam the door on his ridiculous idea to pick Brett and/or Josh Morris in the England team for next year’s World Cup. Well done, international rugby league federation.
SINNER
WHILE AFL makes huge inroads into junior footy ranks, three 16-year-old boys have been banned from playing for Paddo Colts — the famous old rugby league club two of their fathers played for because their old team, St Charles, refuse to release them. It is a disgrace that eitherTodd Greenbergor Dave Trodden need to act on. The president of St Charles refused to return our phone calls.
WHAT’S THE BUZZ: Dogs and Roosters circling Kieran Foran
SHOOSH
THE wife of which big-name NRL player is spreading horrible rumours about the private life of a big-name player at a rival club? And her husband is then leaking her trash to a TV journo.
SHOOSH II
WHICH struggling coach continues to ignore the pleas of a fatigued State of Origin star who wanted a rest last weekend but was forced to play, despite an injury he has been carrying for weeks?
SHOOSH III
WHICH two NRL player agents working for the same company have had a serious falling-out over one of the biggest names in rugby league? It’s probably a good thing they now live in different cities.
SHOOSH IV
FINAL salary-cap penalties for the Parramatta Eels will be handed down this week but there is absolutely zero chance of the NRL altering the 12-point punishment.
SPOTTED
PHIL Gould’s lovely wife June celebrated her 50th birthday on a harbour cruise on Friday night with family and close friends. We think June deserves a gold medal for putting up with Gus’s madness for more than half of that time.
SPOTTED II
FORMER Manly Sea Eagles superstar Phil Blakedriving a Uber vehicle on Sydney’s northern beaches.
NRL CLUB CHASING FOLAU
ISRAEL Folau is under contract to the Wallabies until the end of 2018 but we have heard that one NRL club has recently made inquiries.
And the club has the support of NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg, who is a huge fan of the rugby union superstar.
“Naturally, everyone in rugby league would love to see Israel return to the game,” Greenberg said.
“He was a young star when he left the code and there’s no doubt he would be a real drawcard if he returned to rugby league. But we will always be mindful of his contractual responsibilities.”
It has emerged there has been friction between Folau’s manager Isaac Mosesand ARU executives over the use of the star’s image in promotional and commercial activity.
Folau’s camp is of the opinion that he is being used way above expectations.
ENNIS DISTRAUGHT
THE Cronulla Sharks have been forced to ramp up dressing room security after hooker Mick Ennis lost his wedding ring during celebrations of the golden point win over the Warriors.
The Sharks traditionally allow up to 50 officials, sponsors and young fans into the rooms after victories to join the players singing ‘up-up Cronulla’.
Coach Shane Flanagan ordered a security crackdown at Saturday night’s game against the Parramatta Eels.
“We don’t know if it was stolen,” Flanagan said, “More lost than likely Mick lost it.
“We’ve had to increase dressing room security as a result and from now on if you haven’t got a pass you don’t get in.”
The Sharks players searched the field of play on Monday in case it had fallen out of Ennis’ back pack on his way to the carpark. There was no sign of it.
“We’ve been married nearly nine years and it’s something very close to my heart,” Ennis said. “Somewhere in between when the game was on and when I got to my car afterwards it’s gone.
“I always put it in the front pocket of my backpack like I’ve done for years.
“When I got to my car I reached into the pocket and it wasn’t there. We rang the cleaners to check if they’d found it in the dressing sheds.
“I really doubt anyone would have pinched it but it ruined a good night.
“A golden point win puts you on a high but then I lose something that means so much to me. Hopefully it will turn up. If anyone finds it, please notify the club.”
HAYNE DEFLATED
WE’RE wondering if the popularity of Jarryd Hayne is on the decline. Not a crash landing but there are certainly signs his reputation and standing as the biggest superstar in Australian sport has taken a hit.
Hayne took to social media last week to alert his fans of a 38 per cent discount on his own line of shirts, singlets, caps and NFL footballs that haven’t sold in the numbers expected.
Not that the punters seemed all that interested in snapping up a bargain judging by the response on Twitter.
“Thirty dollars for a baseball cap promoting you? You’re kidding old matey,” wrote one.
“Jarryd, you seem to be still selling footballs from the previous dream. Maybe change to current dream balls or original dream 1s,” said another. And “Why gridiron stuff when you play 7s now???” Hayne is back in Sydney getting medical help for a quad injury.
So sorry to hear of @sallypearson injury and subsequent withdraw from Rio. Lost my medal winning buddy! #beijingsilver #londongold #champion
— Anna Meares (@AnnaMeares) June 29, 2016
ATHLETES QUICK TO SUPPORT SAL
SALLY Pearsonreceived a huge number of text messages after tearing her hamstring and being ruled out of Rio Games, including from Matt Shirvington, Tamsyn Lewisand Anna Meares. “It’s been really nice to read ... it proves when someone is upset or hurting, everyone is ready to gather around. It helps you through it.”
DIG DEEP FOR DAMO
NOT all rugby league quadriplegic cases get as much media coverage and support as Alex McKinnon.
Damian Jobson is 35 and a father of two who broke his C4 and C5 vertebrae when a tackle went wrong while playing for Windale recently in the Newcastle rugby league.
A number of fundraisers are being organised for the family and Damian’s long-term care.
The main dinner is at Wests City in Newcastle on August 12. If you would like to donate an auction item or buy a ticket for the dinner, please contactDave Wildvia email at admin@nhrl.com.au.
IT’S FINE FOR SOME
THERE appears to be a discipline problem at the Parramatta Eels outside of Semi Radradra, Kieran Foran and Corey Norman. Blues State of Origin centreMichael Jenningswas an unexplained late show at training last Sunday. We’re told he escaped without a fine, unlike Foran. We guess these dramas were always going to arise at a club without a chairman and chief executive.
ARSENAL KEEP IT CHEAP
FANS will get to see EPL giants Arsenal from just $39 after Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers insisted the games be kept affordable. It’s 40 years since Arsenal visited Australia and the club is determined to connect with fans on their week-long tour of Sydney when they are brought out by Destination NSW. Adult tickets will start from $39 and family tickets from $99. Tickets to the games at ANZ Stadium go on sale on July 19. More than 40,000 fans are on a tickets waitlist, to join go to arsenalinsydney.com
SHARKS LOOKING TO EXPAND
CRONULLA Sharks are desperately trying to expand their business into other sports. It can be revealed they recently tried to enter a franchise into the NSW netball premier league but were pipped at the post by GWS Giants. They are now also trying to get the franchise for a planned third Sydney A-League team. This would give the Sharks a great case for government funding of a Shark Park upgrade.
UNWANTED PUP
WITH Sydney’s two Big Bash teams Thunder and Sixers close to finalising their playing rosters, there is still no sign of any interest in former Australia skipper Michael Clarke. It is a shame because the tournament has given fans the opportunity to farewell legends of the game such as Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey, Brett Lee and Shane Watson. Still, no one wants Clarke. I keep hearing he is regarded as high maintenance and not popular in the rooms.
FLANNO’S FAMILY TIES
NO wonder Sharks coach Shane Flanaganwas watching Saturday’s Holden Cup match against Parramatta so closely. Flanno’s son Kyle, 17, was making his debut in the competition as a halfback. Like Ivan Cleary’s son Nathan, Kyle has played in all the big junior rep teams and is highly rated by talent scouts at rival clubs. He has his own manager and his dad plays no role in his contract negotiations with the Sharks.
THIS PIERCE STILL ALIVE AND WELL
LAST weekend former Cronulla Sharks chief executive Greg Pierce started getting phone calls from concerned friends and relatives after a story and photos were published that he had died. They were obviously relieved each time he answered.
In an embarrassing case of mistaken identity, The Daily Mail’s Australian website ran the former Cronulla official’s picture with a story about the death of a Sharks legend with the same name — former Kangaroos skipper Greg Pierce.
It wasn’t until Pierce complained to the editor that his photos were removed two days later.
Originally published as Israel Folau NRL rumours start again and Michael Ennis’s hurt over lost wedding ring
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