Tony “T-Rex” Williams set for NRL return with Manly
Dinosaurs aren’t dead. Three games after making his rugby league return for Blacktown, former Eels star Tony Williams is on the verge of an NRL comeback with the Sea Eagles.
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Just when you thought the T-Rex was extinct …
Manly are considering promoting former Test back-rower Tony Williams into the club’s top 30 next year at a bargain base price.
Williams is contracted to Manly’s feeder club Blacktown this year, but the Sea Eagles are considering offering him a spot in their NRL squad in 2020.
It would come at a far cheaper price than when Manly coach Des Hasler secured Williams on a big-money deal to follow him to Canterbury in 2013.
The Sea Eagles have very little room on their cap for next year, meaning Williams’ cut-price deal could be attractive to the club.
Hasler and Williams have a long association dating back to 2009 when Williams joined the Sea Eagles from Parramatta. He starred during his 73-game stint at the club.
Williams, 30, is six games into his rugby league return having had his contract ripped up by the Eels last year for failing a second illicit drugs test. He served a 12-game ban before making his comeback for Blacktown where he has split his time between back-row and prop — playing the full 80 minutes in the past three games.
Williams has played just six NRL games since leaving Canterbury at the end of 2016.
QUIET CALLS FOR QUAYLE
THERE has rightly been a push to have legendary rugby league administrator John Quayle brought onto the ARL Commission.
But there has also been some quiet work in the background to have Quayle — the former NSWRL general manager and ARL chief executive officer — appointed as the next chairman of the international game.
The southern hemisphere contingent is leading the charge to make Quayle chairman of the International Rugby League Federation.
LISTEN! Brett Finch and Paul Kent are back in the studio with Matty Johns to dig out some fun memories for ‘70s Retro Round, analyse Kalyn Ponga’s mega-deal and Kenty details his Tuesday feud with Ivan Cleary.
Meantime, pressure is mounting from the Queensland based clubs to have one of their own replace Mark Coyne on the ARL Commission. While Coyne is a Queenslander, he has lived the bulk of his life in Sydney since relocating to play for the St George Dragons in the 1980s.
The whole commission now lives in Sydney, with the Broncos, Cowboys and Titans, and the Queensland Rugby League, pushing for a Queenslander who resides in the state to be parachuted onto the commission.
One person who has been mentioned is former QRL chairman Peter Betros who stood down in 2016 having been on the board since 1999.
ROBERTS WOULDN’T BE DEAD FOR QUIDS
IAN Roberts rocking an Eastern Suburbs jersey?
The former South Sydney and Manly rugby league hardman isn’t on the verge of a miraculous comeback at 54, instead Roberts pulled on the old-school “City Ford” Easts jersey as an extra in the ABC drama Les Norton, based on the series of books by the late Robert G Barrett.
Roberts also plays a bouncer throughout the series, which also features David Wenham and Rebel Wilson in the 10-part Sunday night miniseries.
That’s big red-headed Les (Alexander Bertrand) in the background on a shoot at Erskineville Oval.
RAIDERS’ FROSTY WELCOME FOR ROOSTERS
WELCOME to Canbrrrrrrrrrrrra.
The capital will host two huge matches this weekend in absolutely freezing conditions, with snow on the nearby hills.
GWS will play Hawthorn on Friday night with the temperature to be around 2C when the first ball is bounced. Giants officials told us they’ll have heaters on the bench, electric throw blankets and hand warmers to try to keep the players warm.
The Roosters play the Raiders on Sunday with both sides entrenched in the top four. Temperatures are expected to be as low as 7C for kick-off.
At least it will be a bit warmer than the clash between Canberra and Wests Tigers in 2000 where the snow pelted down.
BULLDOGS PROMOTE YOUNG PUP
CANTERBURY will continue to build on reclaiming its reputation as the “family club” by signing the son of one of the Bulldogs’ greatest players.
South Sydney prop Dean Britt is set to follow in his famous father Darren’s footsteps in wearing the blue and white jersey.
Dean Britt is close to agreeing to a two year deal which will see him move over to Belmore next year. It will mean a Britt will wear a Bulldogs jersey for the first time since prop forward Darren left the club for St Helens in 2001.
Darren had a decorated eight-year career at Canterbury, including skippering the side in their 1998 grand final loss to Brisbane, and being part of the premiership-winning team three years earlier.
He played 168 top grade games for the Bulldogs and nine Test matches for Australia.
Dean, 25, has played eight matches for South Sydney this year.
He made his NRL debut for Melbourne in 2017 playing one game, before making a mid-year switch to the Rabbitohs where he featured in a single match. He played one top grade game last year.
Canterbury have quietly gone about building a better roster for next year.
Dallin Watene-Zelezniak has been an outstanding mid-season signing from Penrith, while Melbourne backrower Joe Stimson will also be a boost in 2020.
Canterbury are hopeful of landing Herman Ese’Ese and Api Koroisau, while they have signalled their intention to speak with former Cronulla and Newcastle centre Jesse Ramien.
@SamBurgess8 thoughts. RT @goonerinoz1: @SamBurgess8 Tattoos, @Rendiggiti gets the 3 lions tattoo, you get the Southern Cross? sounds like a good plan to me
— Adam Reynolds (@Rendiggiti) July 31, 2019
ASHES CRICKET BUNNIES
THE Adam Reynolds v Sam Burgess friendly rivalry is on again with the Rabbitohs’ pair now clashing over the Ashes.
The South Sydney duo sparked plenty of laughs during the cricket World Cup where, aside from having some money on the Australian and England outcomes, the loser of the games had to rock the national jersey of their rivals.
While Burgess had the last laugh in the one day event, Reynolds enjoyed getting one up on him this week after the Edgbaston test
“It takes away things from the field which is good,” Reynolds said.
“You can relax away from footy. It’s important for footy players. We can’t get caught up 24/7 in the game. Sends you crazy if you do.
“I’ve got him 1-0 at the moment. There is a bet every game — a bit of cash there. You choose a player and if they score more than his player in the first innings that’s a little side bet.”
Ok - my bet with @Rendiggiti for the ashes. $100 per test match.
— Sam Burgess (@SamBurgess8) August 1, 2019
$50 per match for highest total of individual player selected per test.
OVERALL loser - must dress in full kit, pads/helmet/bat/the works and SING winning teams national anthem. Full blast.ON THE SCG.Amazing. #ASHES
SHOOSH
Which troubled NRL player could make a return to his former club next year?
SPOTTED
Steelers great Rod Wishart looking for a new car at Blakehurst.
SPOTTED II
Congratulations to Jillaroo Sam Bremner and husband Wayne who welcomed their first son — Reef Lenny.
MBYE IN THE DARK
MYSTERY still surrounds what exactly led to Moses Mbye’s serious allergic reaction which almost killed him in the lead-up to Origin II. Mbye has undergone all the tests to try to work out what happened but is yet to receive the results.
BMX EARBUDS
ONE of Australia’s best podcasts — The Howie Games — has a rare opportunity to do a live recording as Mark Howard chats with Olympic silver medallist and two-time BMX World Champion Sam Willoughby.
At the top of his game just one month after the Rio games, Willoughby suffered a horrific spinal injury. He’ll speak about his ordeal at the ARA Darling Quarter Theatre on August 21. Tickets available at moshtix.
Originally published as Tony “T-Rex” Williams set for NRL return with Manly
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