Hawaii trial cancelled; Tigers prioritise James Tedesco as rival clubs circle
SPORT CONFIDENTIAL: A NRL trial match scheduled to be played in Hawaii has been cancelled due to lack of interest from TV broadcasters.
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THE NRL trial in Honolulu next February has been postponed because of TV production costs.
Players from Wests Tigers and St George Illawarra were the envy of their rivals when The Daily Telegraph revealed they would go head-to-head at Aloha Stadium.
But Tigers boss Justin Pascoe told us they were forced last week to put the idea on the backburner.
Pascoe remains hopeful the Hawaiian pre-season game will proceed in 2018. Officials from both clubs flew to Hawaii towards the end of the regular season to inspect the facilities and accommodation options.
The Hawaii Tourism Authority was also on board.
It’s understood the authority were of the belief the February 12 trial would be broadcast live in Australia. But given the expensive production costs, which were expected to be north of $200,000, and lack of ratings for a pre-season game of rugby league, the local networks were not exactly queuing up with their chequebooks to take part.
Pascoe said it was more to do with scheduling, with the trial wedged between the Auckland Nines and a final pre-season trial against North Queensland.
“The concept still exists and we’re looking forward to it happening in 2018,’’ Pascoe said.
TIGERS VALUE KEY QUARTET
WESTS Tigers fans are sweating on the club retaining their Big Four — James Tedesco, Aaron Woods, Mitch Moses and Luke Brooks — beyond next season.
Tigers boss Justin Pascoe was tight-lipped about negotiations, but fullback Tedesco is the biggest concern because plenty of rivals are prepared to pay the big price tag.
“We’re confident of retaining all four,’’ Pascoe said. “We think we offer a club that is certainly evolving and is exciting, and we want them to be a part of it.’’
Pascoe would love to have the quartet locked up before the season kicks off, and knows it will be a distraction until their futures are sorted.
SEMI SOLID AS WOOD
L’EQUIPE is one of France’s most respected sports publications, so we read its coverage of the Semi Radradra signing with interest. Unfortunately, we had to rely on an English translation, which left us with, um, interesting results.
“Semi Radradra, twenty-four, solid wood buffet in the islands (1.90m, 100kg) could become the terror of the lawns of the Top 14 next season.” Let’s hope the buffet caters to the Eels’ demands.
HELP FROM ABOVE
PARRAMATTA fans have often looked to the heavens as their club plummeted from one shocking headline to another.
So it is fitting that while the new Eels digs are being built, head office has been relocated down the road ... above a Greek church.
HAIR, THERE AND EVERYWHERE
SYDNEY Swans defender Aliir Aliir is keeping busy in the off-season.
He travelled to Queenstown with teammates, then jetted up to Brisbane, and caught up with a few family members in Perth.
The 22-year-old also treated himself to a new hairstyle, inspired by Manchester United‘s Paul Pogba.
Aliir resumed training this week, but there was more interest in his new streaks down the left side of his head than the dodgy right knee which denied him a grand final appearance. Aliir was not required to have surgery, and made sure he completed plenty of leg weights so he was right for the pre-season.
The defender is also looking forward to potentially playing with Alex Johnson, who has also returned after five knee reconstructions in four years.
“He (Johnson) is a good mate of mine,’’ Aliir said. “I got to see him run that first lap of the SCG not long ago, and he’s a great example of mental toughness.”
ANDRE’S TESTING TIMES
SYDNEY Thunder are sweating on their big West Indian Andre Russell being cleared of anti-doping charges in time for the Big Bash League. The Jamaica Anti-Doping Commission claimed Russell failed to make his whereabouts known for three separate drugs tests last year. An outcome on the hearing is moving about as quick as Matt Renshaw ’s run rate.
LEADING SLEDGE
NIC Maddinson copped some abuse during his Test debut, but it was nothing compared to some of the barbs being tossed around in grade cricket.
“I got a bit of stick from (Tabraiz) Shamsi, but he seemed to think I was getting into him when he was batting, which wasn’t the case,’’ Maddo told us.
“I think I’ve copped more sledging in grade cricket of late. Plus, they didn’t have much time to sledge me.’’
Maddinson made a 12-ball duck.
Clearly, the folk in Bondi aren’t fans of cricket. Handing out coffees as part of a Sydney Sixers promotion at Bondi Public, a teacher got the wrong idea and told Maddo to move along or she’d call the cops.
Originally published as Hawaii trial cancelled; Tigers prioritise James Tedesco as rival clubs circle
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