Sport Confidential: Souths head to Latrell Mitchell’s farm for training camp
Superstar South Sydney fullback Latrell Mitchell will turn host for his teammates ahead of Christmas — check out all the latest NRL news in Sport Confidential.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
South Sydney players will head to star fullback Latrell Mitchell’s farm in Taree as part of a three-day training camp before the squad breaks for Christmas.
Mitchell will play host to the Rabbitohs squad on Saturday until Monday as new coach Jason Demetriou puts the finishing touches on his first pre-Christmas period in charge.
ROBERTS SNARES NEW NRL DEAL
Wests Tigers have officially handed James Roberts a new deal.
The Tigers enticed Roberts back through a train-and-trial deal during summer but the ex-NSW centre has impressed enough to be given a full-time contract.
Roberts’ joined the Tigers last season on a cut-price deal. He played 11 matches in the top grade for the Tigers. Roberts is the 29th player contracted to the Tigers for next season, leaving them with one roster spot to fill.
Catch every moment of The Ashes live and ad-break free during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free now.
Meantime, NRL clubs are circling ex-Storm flyer Suliasi Vunivalu, who had an unhappy first season with the Queensland Reds.
The Melbourne Storm premiership winner has come on the radar of several clubs in recent weeks with the prospect of signing the 26-year-old when his current deal with rugby ends.
Vunivalu only inked a two-year contract with Rugby Australia. That deal will come to an end next year. He had planned to be part of the Wallabies’ 2023 World Cup campaign but has struggled to find the form and consistency which made him one of the NRL’s most potent attacking weapons. He scored five tries from seven matches with Queensland this year.
REYNOLDS RAKING IT IN AT BRONCOS
Adam Reynolds has quickly become a corporate darling in Brisbane. The veteran halfback was lured to the Broncos by the promise of a big pay cheque and his off-field earnings are set to skyrocket as well.
The 31-year-old already has deals in the works with the Nine Network and Triple MMM. There are talks with Pro Plaster Products.
Shane Richardson, co-founder of Rich Digital, has put together a myriad of deals for Reynolds in tandem with his long-time agent Steve Gillis.
The focus has been on quality rather than quantity. As it stands, Reynolds could earn in excess of $200,000 off the field over the next 12 months.
It is only the beginning, although Richardson is wary of overloading the former South Sydney star given the pressure he will be under to lead Brisbane back to the finals.
“The big thing is to make sure it doesn’t interfere at all with his football because that is what he is up there to do — play,” Richardson said.
“He is a quality guy to promote and Queensland has been a revelation for him. We haven’t had any problems at all in getting interest in Adam and there is more interest to come.
“I think everybody sees him as a leader and a good quality person — a family man. He is going to be a great leader for the Broncos.
“He is in a really good head space. He eats pressure. It never worries him, it never has. He is the calmest guy you have ever seen before and after a match. The pressure of expectation in Brisbane won’t worry him.”
LAWRENCE FORCED TO QUIT TIGERS POST
Chris Lawrence quit his job at the Wests Tigers to attend his own testimonial last week after a Covid-19 scare shut down the entire club.
Under NRL’s rules, Lawrence was told he would have to isolate for at least seven days as he was considered a casual contact after a Tigers staff member tested positive.
That would have meant Lawrence would be sidelined from his own testimonial that took place last Friday to celebrate his decorated career.
Already the event had been postponed three times because of Covid-19 and it was on the verge of being cancelled again on the day.
Lawrence sought advice from NSW Health who deemed the ex-Kangaroo healthy enough to take part in his event provided he returned a negative test.
In order not to breach NRL rules though, Lawrence took the decision to quit.
He did not comment on Thursday.
Lawrence, a life member of the Tigers, had worked on a part-time basis with the club’s wellbeing department since retiring at the end of 2020. He also runs his successful One Wellbeing business which focuses on athlete education.
It is unclear if he will look to – and if he will be allowed to – return to his post at the Tigers in the short-term.
The Knights have shut down training for the rest of the year after a positive Covid-19 case to a development player while the Raiders had a staff member test positive on Thursday.
MILFORD IN RUGBY LEAGUE EXILE
Anthony Milford has returned to the training paddock to try and resurrect his career.
Milford is not only looking to stay fit in the hope of an NRL lifeline but he is taking steps to return to his fleet-footed best after linking up with sprint guru Roger Fabri.
The pair have spent the past three weeks doing multiple sessions a week during Milford’s time to NRL purgatory.
Milford moved to Sydney from Brisbane to link up with the Rabbitohs but has been unable to train with his new club after the NRL refused to register his contract pending criminal proceedings.
Fabri said Milford still had signs of an explosive runner.
“When he was at Canberra he could go the length of the field,” Fabri said. “His back end speed has deteriorated. He can’t hold big speed any more – that’s what we are working on.
“Not many people in the game have the lateral speed that he does and I’ve been exposed to some of the best cross-field runners in the game. His confidence has deteriorated because he feels he doesn’t have the high speed to go the distance.”
Fabri said he had noticed a tangible difference already in Milford’s pace.
“The clock is heading significantly in the right direction,” Fabri said. “That’s not based on opinion, it’s fact. He hasn’t missed a session. His work ethic has been really good.”
DEL BUSSO CUT FROM UNDERCARD
Controversial figure Arabella Del Busso has been pulled from the Paul Gallen vs Darcy Lussick fight card.
Del Busso was to have fought English model Kate McLaren, but the announcement received severe backlash given Del Busso’s dodgy past.
The former girlfriend of NRL star Josh Reynolds faked several pregnancies, used six aliases and has been charged by police with stealing from her former employer.
Even Gallen said he didn’t support having her on his undercard.
Fight promoters No Limit have now decided they don’t want her associated with the event, so McLaren — trained by Jeff Fenech — will instead fight Malakay Moukayber.
SEVENS SQUAD IN ISOLATION
Australia’s women’s Sevens rugby players are in isolation after a player tested positive to Covid.
The team had returned from their back-to-back wins in Dubai and were training at their Sydney base in the Rugby Australia complex.
The player was tested and returned a positive result this week, forcing all teammates into quarantine and the RA building had to close for deep cleaning.
While the team is fully vaccinated, players must be medically cleared before they can join their families for Christmas celebrations.
BATTLE LINES
Family connections counted for little this week when Paul Gallen’s manager was kicked out of a recovery clinic run by his own cousin when Darcy Lussick showed up for treatment.
Lussick, who fights Gallen next Wednesday night, arrived at Roseberry’s BodyWRL clinic for muscle recovery after training last Monday.
It just so happened that Gallen’s manager Peter Mitrevski Jr was in the premises at the time.
Mitrevski Jr’s cousin Deanne Diaz, who runs the popular clinic, decided Lussick may feel uncomfortable with him there so promptly asked her relative to leave.
There is clear tension between the Gallen and Lussick camps after promoters No Limit accommodated Lussick’s request to fight three by two-minute rounds on short notice.
Gallen, who wanted to fight three-minute rounds, believes the odds have been stacked against him.
SHOOSH
Which retired NRL international had his Wikipedia page updated to include the wooden spoon he picked up in his NFL fantasy competition?
‘DAVO’ HONOUR FOR COATES
President of the Australian Olympic Committee and Vice President of the International
Olympic Committee John Coates AC was awarded the NSW Carbine Club’s “Davo Award.”
Named after one of the club’s founding members, Alan Davidson, the award
acknowledges individuals who have made significant contributions to sport and community.
PARIS FLOATS OLYMPIC TWIST
If you thought the Tokyo Olympics were revolutionary, just wait to see what’s in store at the next Games in Paris in 2024.
The French gave the world a sneak preview of what to expect when they revealed their breathtaking vision for the Opening Ceremony.
Instead of marching in a stadium, athletes from around the world will ride in boats down the River Seine past some of the French capital’s most famous landmarks, including Notre Dame and the Eiffel Tower.
Organisers expect more than 600,000 people will cram the banks of the river and the prospect of sailing to the ceremony has already given Australia’s Olympians added motivation to get themselves to the Games.
“The images they put out are just spectacular and I think it shows the creativity and how community minded they are,” Aussie canoeing superstar Jess Fox told Sport Confidential.
“This is going to be a Games for everyone, not just those who buy tickets. It’s really making the most of the city and celebrating the city of Paris, the country of France, and I think it just looks incredible so of course I’d love to be part of that.
“Seeing those images definitely got me excited and I love the idea, it’s just such a unique concept.”
Already a three-time Olympian with four medals in her collection, including her unforgettable gold from Tokyo, Fox is among the early favourites to carry the Australian flag at the ceremony in Paris.
Not only is she one of Australia’s most successful and admired Olympians, but her mother is a French Olympic medallist and Jess herself was born in Marseilles before the family relocated to Australia and settled in Penrith.
“For me personally, and my family, it’ll be a very special Olympics,” she said.
“I definitely want to celebrate my roots and my connection to France and I think it’ll be wonderful to bring the French and the Australians together.”
FITZY’S HISTORY LESSONS A HIT
Craig Fitzgibbon is already making a lasting impression with his Cronulla players. The new Sharks coach has started given his team weekly history lessons into the club, which has included a detailed look at Cronulla legends.
“Once or twice a week he has been showing us footage of legends of the club and getting everyone to know the history of the club,” half Matt Moylan said.
“It’s been good. Some of the young boys might not have known a lot about them. It’s good to recognise what the players have done in the past and the jersey they paved the way for.
“We see a bit of footage. He talks about them and shows their career stats.”
Household names including Gavin Miller, David Peachey and Andrew Ettingshausen have been among the first spoken about.
Fullback Will Kennedy said the change in the club has been obvious since Fitzgibbon’s arrival.
“The lessons about the past players shows how good this club is,” Kennedy said. “It has helped getting to know who we are playing for.”
BLOCKER EXTENDS STAY
Popular Fox League commentator Steve Roach has inked a long-term deal to remain as part of the network. The former firebrand Tiger has made a home for himself on the pay television network. He will remain as part of the Fox League team for at least two more seasons where he will continue to call matches.
NEW HOME FOR ASIATA
John Asiata has been handed a rugby league lifeline just days after being axed from the Bulldogs for failing to be vaccinated.
The premiership winning ex-Cowboy will link with English Championship side Leigh Centurions. It is unclear if Asiata will be able to travel to the UK without being vaccinated.
He was due to take up a one-year deal at Canterbury following a 12 month stint with the Broncos this year. However, he became the first player to part ways with their club for failing to have the Covid-19 vaccination.
Leigh are now coached by ex-Roosters Adrian Lam who joined the club after a stint at Wigan.
“I want to say how grateful I am for the opportunity,” Asiata said on the club’s Twitter account. “It’s been a long and tough couple of months but I am excited for this next challenge and journey ahead with my family.”
Asiata played 138 top grade games.
HEAVYHITTERS HEADING TO MELBOURNE
Some of the greatest leaders in world sport are set to descend on Melbourne in April next year as part of a summit to coincide with the Australian Grand Prix.
The summit has been pieced together by SportNXT — a company that is chaired by Eddie McGuire and counts Melbourne co-owner Bart Campbell among its directors — in conjunction with the Victorian government.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver, US women’s soccer captain Megan Rapinoe and World Athletics president Lord Sebastian Coe will among the speakers.
The summit will be held from April 6-8 and tickets can be booked through Ticketek.
MATEO’S NEW ROLE
Benji Marshall isn’t the only familiar face walking around Concord these days. Ex-Parramatta, Warriors and Manly back-rower Feleti Mateo has been appointed assistant coach of Wests Tigers Jersey Flegg team.
ALL EYES ON
Covid-19 cases infiltrating the NRL. Clubs are nervous with the growing risk to exposure and the two week period which players are unable to fully train. Will be a developing story heading into the new year.
More Coverage
Originally published as Sport Confidential: Souths head to Latrell Mitchell’s farm for training camp
‘Blowhard’: Cornes backlash turns prickly
Kane Cornes has been roasted by a high profile colleague over comments that have left NRL commentators in disbelief.
Parramatta legend: ‘24 Panthers don’t have a hope against ‘83 Eels
Penrith have claimed their place in the rugby league record books, but Parramatta great Ray Price has rejected suggestions they’ve gone past his Eels, claiming they had “every position and we every tactic covered”. WHO IS BETTER? VOTE NOW.