NRL 2023: Benji Marshall, Scott Fulton clash over Aiden Sezer signing | Saint, Sinner, Shoosh
Is Scott Fulton’s position at the Wests Tigers becoming untenable? The recruitment boss and Benji Marshall have clashed over the club’s pursuit of Aidan Sezer, writes Phil Rothfield.
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Benji Marshall and Wests Tigers recruitment boss Scott Fulton have had another major disagreement over plans to sign halfback Aidan Sezer from Leeds.
Fulton wanted Jack Cogger from the Panthers instead. Sezer has now agreed to a deal, pending a medical.
Fulton’s position is now almost untenable. His advice is continually ignored by Benji and coach Tim Sheens.
Meanwhile, the parents of Manly Sea Eagles stars Latu and Samuela Fainu met supercoach Wayne Bennett and were given a tour of the Dolphins facilities last week.
The brothers were originally expected to sign with the Wests Tigers. Latu played five-eighth in NSW under-19s victory over Queensland.
SAINT
Referee Ashley Klein for finally blowing the whistle on the State of Origin series and allowing us to shift our focus back to club footy after eight weeks of carnage, controversy and criticism over injuries, scheduling and selections.
SINNER
The behaviour of certain RLPA officials who have been rude to several respected female journalists over their coverage of the CBA dispute.
SHOOSH
No wonder the Jason Ryles contract talks fell over at St George Illawarra in May. We can now reveal Ryles wanted to bring in highly regarded St Helens boss Mike Rush to run the football program. The Dragons knocked it back. No doubt officials thought their jobs would be under threat if such a respected and well-qualified operator moved in.
SHOOSH
Beau Ryan has been chosen in the Australian Men 30s Oz Tag team for the World Cup. The popular TV host and ex- Tigers and Sharks winger has been inundated with texts congratulating him. Turns out it’s the wrong Beau Ryan. There is another one from Queensland who has made the Tagaroos team.
SHOOSH
Banned NRL player Curtis Scott wants to take up boxing. He is looking around for a manager and trainer and wants to fight on a No Limit card. There’s also talk St George Illawarra centre Zac Lomax is keen on having a crack.
SPOTTED
Commission chairman Peter V’landys doing laps of Coles in Gladesville on Saturday morning. He is back in town after an overseas break to hopefully sort out the shocking mess with the RLPA over the CBA.
SPOTTED
Wests Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis has returned fire on broadcaster Alan Jones in a speech at the launch of the club’s NRLW team. He opened his speech by saying: “I have an apology from Alan Jones not being able to make it as he is stuck in 1982 when he was last relevant.” The comment was warmly received by those at the function.
FLANNO TO TEST ENNIS’ CLUB LOYALTY
Mick Ennis is torn between his loyalty to the Cronulla Sharks and his great friend Shane Flanagan.
The Sharks 2016 grand final hooker is employed by Cronulla as head of pathways - but wants to get into coaching.
There has been talk he might link up with Flanagan at the Dragons as a consultant although Saints have already picked up Dean Young from the Cowboys.
Flanagan has also confirmed Ryan Carr will remain at the club as an assistant.
Ennis has also been mentioned in discussions around a replacement for Brad Fittler with the NSW State of Origin team.
PARR COMEBACK
The NSW Blues missed team manager Peter Parr as much as anyone else during this year’s series.
Parr had to stand down to settle into his new job as general manager at the Knights but has made himself available again to manage the Blues next year.
ROOSTERS AND LODGE GRUDGE MATCH AT SCG
It could potentially be the NRL’s biggest grudge match of the year – Manly’s new recruit Matt Lodge against the Sydney Roosters, the club that sacked him.
In four weeks the two clubs meet at the SCG in a game that could determine the finals hopes of both sides.
Lodge left the Roosters in bitter circumstances three weeks ago after falling out with coach Trent Robinson over negotiations for a contract extension.
He’s now at Manly on a train-and-trial contract and will play for their feeder club Blacktown Workers in NSW Cup this afternoon.
He’s got three weeks to press for first grade selection against the Roosters and a one-on-one confrontation with Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, the man who got a one-year extension to force Lodge out.
Lodge tried to play it down when we contacted him on Friday.
“All the boys have messaged me, we still chat and are still mates,” he said.
“It would be a bit weird if anything but I’m only worried about playing well in NSW Cup at the moment. The Roosters game hasn’t crossed my mind.”
Lodge’s position is a far cry from the old days at the Broncos and Warriors when he was earning around $800,000 a season.
At Manly he gets $1100 a week to train and trial and a bonus – around $3000 – if he plays first grade.
Coach Anthony Seibold says he is not looking that far ahead to the Roosters game.
“I’ve just said to Matt he’s got to work hard,” Seibold said. “He knows that.
“He’s got to earn his way into the team from Blacktown, as simple as that.
“We’ve already got a bit of depth and there’s good competition for spots that he’ll be up against.”
A DATE TO REMEMBER
The cricket world farewelled Betty Davidson last week, the longtime wife of legendary all-rounder Alan, who died in late 2021. The couple’s son Neil told the story of their first date, when Alan took Betty to the SCG.
He found Betty a good seat in the Ladies Pavilion and then left her, saying he had something to take care of. The next time Betty saw Alan, he was walking out to bat.
Until then, he hadn’t let on he played. The pair married in 1952, shortly before Alan made his Test debut on the 1953 Ashes tour.
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