What’s the Buzz: Bookies install Wests Tigers rival the Dragons as favourites for 2024 wooden spoon
St George Illawarra - not Wests Tigers - have been installed as the favourites to finish with the wooden spoon next year. Plus Channel 9 bracing for TV ratings disaster.
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Shane Flanagan’s appointment as St George Illawarra Dragons head coach has done little to impress bookmakers, who are about to launch their betting markets for next year’s NRL premiership.
The TAB has revealed the Dragons will be wooden spoon (most losses) favourites when the official market for 2024 opens after the grand final.
It probably makes sense considering their captain keeps saying he’s there under sufferance and that they’ve been quiet in recruitment.
The Dragons will be a shorter price than even the Wests Tigers, who have finished stone motherless for the last two seasons.
St George Illawarra will be listed as $67 outsider to win the competition, with the Wests Tigers at $52. They should both be double those odds.
Whichever team wins the grand final on Sunday will no doubt be installed as the favourites.
THE YOUNG BUILDER
We love seeing young rugby league footballers doing well off the field as well on it.
Izack Tago, Penrith’s 21-year-old centre, has ventured into real estate. He is building a four-bedroom investment home in Yarrawonga, near the Victorian border. He also has bought land in Bundaberg, which he plans to build on.
His next aim is to buy his mum and dad a house.
These are great stories for rugby league.
In an environment where it’s so tough out there for families to make ends meet, the game is giving these young players a huge opportunity for a good start in life.
TINY TO’O ON THE WAY
It’s a busy off-season for barnstorming Panthers winger Brian To’o, whose wife is expecting their first child in early November.
He is expected to be available for Samoa against Australia and New Zealand but will be on call if there is any suggestion of an early arrival.
To’o and his wife, Sala Moesha, were married last off-season.
TORN IN TWO
Penrith Panthers star centre Stephen Crichton is torn between his loyalty to Samoa and playing for Australia.
Crichton was born in Samoa before his family moved to New Zealand two years later and then eventually settled in Sydney’s west.
He played his junior football for St Clair Comets and attended Patrician Brothers Blacktown – a renowned powerhouse in schoolboy football.
SAINT, SINNER, SHOOSH: Cleary’s secret grand final stadium session
The fact Samoa will be coached this year by Ben Gardiner – Ivan Cleary’s assistant at the Panthers – will probably sway Crichton towards playing for his country of birth for the upcoming international tournament but he has spoken to his manager Liam Ayoub, recently about the long-term issue.
“Stephen is a proud Samoan and thoroughly enjoyed his time at the World Cup,” Ayoub said.
“At this stage, he’s committed to them.
“However, he is qualified to play for Australia and has always been driven to wear the green and gold since playing all his junior footy in Penrith.
“It’s a decision he and his family will have to make one day.
“Right now his sole focus is winning a third grand final with the Panthers.”
There’s no doubt Crichton would make the current Australian team.
He was named a Dally M Centre of the Year on Wednesday night and was also close to being the NSW Blues’ best player in this year’s State of Origin series.
Mal Meninga has backline vacancies to fill without both Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton from the Kangaroos side that beat Samoa at Old Trafford last year in the World Cup final.
There is also a question mark around the selection of Valentine Holmes over his stupidity in photographing himself on social media with a bag containing a white substance in his mouth.
Crichton plays his last game for the Panthers in today’s grand final before heading across to the Canterbury Bulldogs, where he will most likely play at fullback.
A BOUNCER, AN AGENT AND A PROUD FATHER
There’s a nice story about underrated Broncos forward Kobe Hetherington and how he came to be managed by respected player agent Chris Haddad.
Back in the 1990s when Kobe’s dad, Jason Hetherington, played in three grand finals at the Canterbury Bulldogs, Haddad was working on security as a bouncer at Canterbury Leagues club.
One night Jason consumed a couple too many and Haddad asked him to leave the premises.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Jason said.
“You can try your best but I’m not leaving.”
It was eventually sorted and the pair became great mates, so much so that Jason trusted Haddad with looking after his sons – twins Kobe at the Broncos and Zac at the Bulldogs – when he became a manager.
Jason and the entire Hetherington family will be in Sydney for Sunday’s decider from Gladstone.
“I couldn’t be prouder of both of my boys,” Jason said.
Kobe plays the game with the same toughness that was the trademark of his dad’s game.
While he might not get the accolades of a Reece Walsh, Adam Reynolds or Payne Haas, coach Kevvie Walters wouldn’t swap him for anyone as a crucial and reliable impact player off the bench.
HEAT’S ON THE NRL
The NRL has taken additional measures to guard against the predicted hot weather at Accor.
They could even have 20-minute drinks breaks, especially in the curtain raisers, or an extended halftime to ensure player safety.
Other measures will include extra eskies and water tubs on the sideline, additional bags of ice for each team, additional water carriers for hydration, slushie machines in dressing rooms, and misting fans on the sideline.
The temperature is expected to reach as high as 36c at Sydney Olympic Park.
DOG’S FINEST CLUBMAN
Canterbury legend Mick Potter is a wonderful clubman who will do anything to help the Bulldogs climb from near the bottom of the ladder.
Even if it means stepping aside to allow Jason Taylor to join Cameron Ciraldo in an assistant’s role.
Potter did a great job in 2022 as acting NRL coach, in fact better than what Ciraldo has done, even with a stronger squad. He is expected to be coaching reserve grade next year.
“I’m happy to help out in any way I can,” Potter said. “It looks like I’ll be doing reggies (NSW Cup) and assisting Ciro with the NRL team.
“I’m sure Jason (Taylor) will add some value to the coaching staff.”
MEDIA BUZZ
Fatima Kdouh, 37
The Daily Telegraph
First Job
When I wasn’t studying or reading a book (I’m a big nerd), after school or weekends I was working the checkout at my local IGA supermarket. My first real job as a journo was at Sky News. I produced the news and business bulletins — the 4am starts weren’t fun — but thankfully it wasn’t long before I landed the job I really wanted to do — be a rugby league journalist.
Sporting heroes
Rafael Nadal. He epitomises the saying that “hard work beats talent”.
I also admire his competitive nature. His never-say-die attitude and sheer doggedness.
What NRL team do you follow?
The Canberra Raiders. They’re not good for my anxiety or blood pressure these days. Funnily enough everyone assumes I’m a Doggies fan though. I’ve learned to embrace it ... haha!
What sports did you play?
I don’t have an athletic bone in my body! And I never had any natural athletic talent. At school I played a bit of soccer and some cricket — I wasn’t very good at either.
How do you spend a day off?
Catching up with friends and hanging out with my nieces and nephew. I don’t mind a spot of brunch and trying new restaurants. Keeping fit and active is important so I’ll hit the gym, and the stunning coastal walks Sydney has to offer.
Career highlights
There’s a few. Covering Canberra in the 2019 grand final was a surreal experience. Moving to Queensland for three months as part of the NRL Covid bubble in 2021 was another. But the one that means the most is probably my first Daily Telegraph back page (above).
I remember thinking how proud my dad would have been if he was around to see his daughter’s name on the back page. He’s the reason I love rugby league.
ALL EYES ON TV RATINGS
Channel 9 will be hoping for a huge improvement in it’s grand final TV ratings.
The national audience last year for the Panthers against the Eels was 2.37 million — the first NRL grand final lower than 2.5 million viewers since 1999.
Having a Queensland side playing will obviously help with the Broncos’ massive following from north of the border.
Plus, Brisbane is such an appealing side to watch play footy through the likes Reece Walsh, Selwyn Cobbo and co.
Nine’s NRL coverage was flogged last weekend by Channel 7 AFL numbers.
HADLEY BREAKS HYDE’S RECORD
It is a proud occasion for veteran 2GB broadcaster Ray Hadley, who will break the great Frank Hyde’s record of calling 33 grand finals at Accor tonight.
Hadley called his first — the last decider at the SCG — in 1987 when Manly knocked off Canberra. He had recently retired Eels superstar Ray Price as his co-commentator.
“I was very nervous from the top level of Brewongle Stand,” Hadley remembered.
“It was a long way away from the action so my binoculars got a good workout.”
He received a note of congratulations from Frank Hyde’s son Pat during the week.
“It was special, very humbling,” he said. “Pat said Frank would be very proud that the young bloke he mentored back in 1987 was setting a new mark.”
Asked for his favourite moment, Hadley says: “It’s impossible to go past Darren Albert’s try for the Knights in 1997 and what Newcastle winning meant to the game.”
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