NRL Media Street: Latest news and moves in NRL media

One of St George Illawarra’s most recent recruits was made off the field — check out all the gossip in Media Street.

Wests Tigers media man Chris Warren.

Former NRL.com journalist Chris Kennedy has stepped into the recently vacated media manager position at St George Illawarra.

Kennedy takes over from Jack Brady, who quit his post at the Red-V after six seasons.

Brady has taken up a role with Ampol, far away from the drama during his time at the Dragons, which included coach Paul McGregor’s sacking, Paul Vaughan’s BBQ-gate and Jack de Belin’s sexual assault case.

There was a sense of symmetry to Brady’s time at the Dragons. On his first day in 2017, he announced the signing of Ben Hunt. On his last day in October, he trumpeted the re-signing of the veteran halfback on a two-year extension.

Chris Kennedy.

FREAK INJURY CUTS DOWN RABS’ SON

It was the freak injury at Wests Tigers that cut down the son of legendary broadcaster Ray ‘Rabbits’ Warren.

Well-known Wests Tigers media and communications manager, Chris Warren, has snapped an Achilles during a club’s activity day playing American football at Concord. And it was Ray who helped his son secure the best possible medical treatment.

Chris, 52, who previously worked for 2GB and Fox Sports News, will have plaster removed later this week before being placed in a moon boot for two months.

“It’s called Wellness Wednesday – a bonding and team building session once a month at the club with all the office staff. Each department is in charge of arranging an activity. It might be soccer, touch footy and then we have lunch together,” Warren said, a former Wests Magpies and Western Reds player.

“Everyone gets involved. ‘Sheensy’ (coach Tim Sheens) was out there for the last one when we played touch footy.

“It was the media department who determined we play American footy. I don’t know the rules of Gridiron but I know when the quarterback throws it you have to chase the ball down field and that’s what I tried to do.

Wests Tigers media man Chris Warren.

“The quarterback (club pathways performance coach Ben Musolino) had the ball and I took off straight through the middle and then it snapped and I hit the deck. They all thought it was hilarious until they realised the severity of it. It was a bad one - I knew what I did straight away.

“I got an Uber to hospital, I thought it would be quicker than an ambo. I had to get a referral in the back of the Uber so I rang my dad – he’s got most medicos in Australia on speed dial because he’s a hypochondriac.

“A couple of days later the club doctor (chief medical officer Peter Lorentzos) operated. I’m still working around the clock from home - I can’t walk or drive at the moment. It’s not ideal.

“I’m on crutches with a cast and have got myself a little scooter to get me around the kitchen to bathroom and bedroom. I get out of plaster at the end of this week and then go into a boot for about eight weeks.”

Wests Tigers management sent Warren a food pack to help him through. Warren’s mum, Monica, has moved in to help out over the past few weeks.

“Ever tired cooking or going to the toilet on one leg?” he asked. “Living life on one leg? “It’s bloody hard work.”

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Samoan and Australian stars have been careful to avoid ill journalists in England.

SICK LEAVE FOR WC JOURNOS

The Kangaroos and Samoan players have been keeping their distance from certain members of the travelling Australian media contingent after a number of journalists fell ill over in England.

The travelling media group swelled in size at the quarter-final stage of the tournament as news outlets sent over troops to cover the pointy end of the World Cup.

But a number of journos have faced everything from stomach bugs to the flu as they’ve failed to cope with the chilly English conditions.

Temperatures are expected to reach a high of nine degrees in Manchester on Saturday, local time, for the World Cup final at Old Trafford.

Originally published as NRL Media Street: Latest news and moves in NRL media