What’s the Buzz: Saint, sinner, shoosh
GEORGE Burgess has his eye on an acting career once his football career wraps up and from all reports the big fells doesn’t do that badly on the silver screen.
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GEORGE Burgess is following in the footsteps of his father figure, Russell Crowe, with the giant Rabbitohs forward becoming an actor.
Burgess took time out from his NRL commitments with South Sydney on Thursday to play the part of a bouncer in Locusts, an Australian film being directed by award-winning filmmakers Angus Watts and Heath Davis.
Burgess has a dream of becoming a full-time actor after his rugby league career and is being mentored by Crowe, the Academy Award-winning South Sydney co-owner.
“He is bloody great,’’ said Locusts producer/writer Watts.
“He is a big unit with big talent. He definitely has potential and he has Russell working behind him giving him guidance.
“He did a sensational job alongside seasoned performers such as Ben Geurens, Jessica McNamee and Peter Phelps.”
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Burgess wouldn’t be the first South Sydney prop to land a Hollywood gig should he succeed with his acting ambitions.
Former Rabbitohs and Sea Eagles hard man Ian Roberts landed a gig alongside the man of steel in Superman Returns after a cameo in Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones.
Crowe’s next film, Boy Erased, is out in November.
SAINT
ALL NRL players who have spent time at junior rugby league clubs this year, especially those who have done it off their own bats.
While most visits may be club-sanctioned, some of the game’s brightest stars have volunteered to help out junior footy clubs.
Matt Dufty recently spent his day off teaching the Gymea Gorillas under-13s some of the tricks that have made him the NRL’s “Mr Electric”.
SINNER
THE FIBA muppets who decided the suspensions for those involved in the “basketbrawl” in the Philippines.
The Filipinos should have had the book thrown at them for their disgraceful acts. There could have been jail sentences if that happened on the street.
And Daniel Kickert should count himself pretty lucky he didn’t get more than a five-match ban for his shocking elbow.
SPOTTED
YOUR regular columnist, Buzz Rothfield, watching tributes from Russell Crowe, Anthony Mundine, Laurie Daley and Ray Hadley at his 60th birthday celebrations on Friday at The Star.
Mark Bosnich, David Gallop and Graham Arnold also dropped in to say hello. It was such a big occasion, Buzz even ditched his beloved King Wan restaurant for the Golden Century in Sussex St.
SPOTTED II
PAUL Gallen and Phil Gould at Ratha’s Cafe, St Marys. They were raising money for Help2Help, which employs and trains the intellectually disabled.
SPOTTED III
NEW Shark Aaron Woods enjoying life in the Shire with colourful Instagram sensation Ian “Magic” Mathie. The pair was spotted at BodyFit Cafe, Miranda.
SHOOSH
AN online troll who has used disgraceful language to attack NRL executives and media personalities almost daily while hiding behind an anonymous Twitter handle has been outed as a member of the junior rugby league coaching staff at the Coogee Dolphins.
The language used has been so offensive we cannot repeat it. The attacks have been relentless. Questions are being asked about the man’s suitability to look after the welfare of children and whether he should hold any position in the game. The NRL may also look to take up the matter with his employer.
SHOOSH II
WHICH NRL club’s coach and CEO are both on the outer? We have been told the fate of one will decide the other.
SHOOSH III
WHICH State of Origin player got into a nightclub dust-up following game three in Brisbane? He was very lucky the matter was not taken to the police.
POTTER ON THE ROPES AT NEWCASTLE
NEWCASTLE assistant coach Mick Potter looks set to become the first victim of the Knights coaching review, with the veteran coach in the firing line.
We have been told Potter will not be part of Nathan Brown’s coaching staff next year following an internal review of the Knights football staff.
Newcastle chose not to comment when we put it to the club yesterday.
The decision would be a big blow for Potter, who was the man responsible for Fiji’s stunning World Cup campaign.
GOOD BLOODLINES FOR AUSSIE NETBALLER
WHAT do you get when you combine the genes of a tough-as-teak Australian prop and a flying Kangaroos winger?
An Australian Test netballer, of course.
Jamie-Lee Price is on the verge of joining her father, Steve, as an Australian international after being selected in the Diamonds squad. Steve declared his brother-in-law, Brent Tate, should take as much credit as him when it came to giving the Giants star her sporting genes.
“I think Jamie got my thick skin and big bones,’’ Price said. “She is bloody tough.
“But I think she got her skill and speed from uncle Brent.”
Both former Kangaroos have become Giants fans. “I am a season ticket-holder,’’ Price said. “And Brent is often in Sydney for his roles in the media and goes to games whenever he can.”
Jo Price — Tate’s sister and Steve’s wife — was also a talented netballer.
WE’VE COME A LONG WAY, BIG DOG
THIS is the picture that Jake Clifford sent to Johnathan Thurston after learning he would make his NRL debut playing alongside the future
Immortal. Touted as JT’s heir apparent, Clifford, 20, fulfilled his childhood dream of partnering his NRL hero when the Cowboys took on the Dragons.
HASTINGS SET FOR QUICK SWITCH
JACKSON Hastings could make his Super League debut as soon as this week, with the unwanted Sea Eagle hoping to play for the Salford Reds next Saturday night. Hastings is expecting his UK work visa to lob on Tuesday and he will board a plane straight to France for the clash against Catalans — should it arrive.
MORE CASH FOR DCE
IT’S not as if he needs the cash, but Daly Cherry-Evans is selling his Gold Coast property. The Manly halfback paid $1.45 million for this flash pad in 2015, before reneging on a move to the Titans. It’s ironic that Cherry-Evans is selling now that the Queenslanders have finally forgiven him for his backflip.
COWBOYS BREAK OUT THE WHIP FOR NENE, VAL
THE Cowboys are pulling out all stops to lure two locals home.
Dragon Nene MacDonald and the Shark Valentine Holmes are both contracted next season. But, with the Cowboys desperately needing to restock their outside backs, the former Townsville residents are in the crosshairs.
The Cowboys have let a stack of talent walk out the door in recent years, including Kalyn Ponga, Viliame Kikau and Tariq Sims.
DAVE REYNOLDS IS BATTING MERRIN’S
DAVE Reynolds — the Holden V8 driver vying to win this year’s Supercars Championship crown — reckons he already has Australia’s most prized trophy.
“I reckon I have already been awarded the gong for batting above my average when it comes to my girlfriend,” Reynolds said of Tahan Lew.
“I am the captain-coach of the fighting-out-of my-weight class team.’’
And we aren’t going to argue.
Former Big Brother runner-up Tahan last month made the finals of Miss Universe Australia.
The now full-time model won the Victorian title before being shaded for national honours and a shot at world fame.
But Reynolds’ chance at V8 glory is still alive with the Erebus Motorsport driver a championship chance following a giant-killing season.
DOGS WILL HANG ONTO MARTIN
THE Bulldogs have had a rare recruitment win, with the salary cap- troubled club about to announce it has signed Rhyse Martin to a new deal.
The club was expected to lose Martin after the North Queensland reject stormed onto the NRL scene to attract interest from cashed-up rivals.
Martin turned his back on a lucrative Super League deal to continue his so far, so good career at Belmore. The deal is expected to be finalised this week.
Despite playing just eight NRL games, the 25-year-old PNG international is already a cult hero among Supercoach fans given his penchant for racking up big scores with his kicking and high work rate.
FROM BELLYACHE TO DOGFACE
CRAIG Bellamy might be known as “Bellyache’’ by most — but some at the club have given him a more unfortunate nickname.
Some at the Storm have been known to call Bellamy “Dogface’’, a not-so-flattering reference to the expressions he makes when delivering his mouth-frothing sprays at halftime.
ARTHUR SAFE DESPITE EELS STRUGGLES
BRAD Arthur’s coaching job is safe. Fresh from the win that could save Parramatta from the wooden spoon, we can reveal Arthur will survive beyond this year. But others won’t. The coach has been given the go-ahead to clean out his football department and no one is safe. In other Eels news, a star player is also on the outer. Michael Jennings looks set to pay the price for the Eels’ year from hell, with the former NSW centre being shopped to rival clubs.
Originally published as What’s the Buzz: Saint, sinner, shoosh
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