What’s the Buzz: Jack Cogger gets his answer from Newcastle, Gus’s generosity and Michelle Payne: the movie!

WHAT’S THE BUZZ with MICHAEL CARAYANNIS: Jack Cogger gets his answer from Newcastle, Gus’s generosity and Michelle Payne: the movie!

Jack Cogger won’t be granted a release. (Tony Feder/Getty Images)

WHAT’S THE BUZZ with MICHAEL CARAYANNIS: Jack Cogger gets his answer from Newcastle, Gus’s generosity and Michelle Payne: the movie!

SAINT

AT the ripe old age of 42, Anthony Mundine showed “The Man” still has plenty of fight left in him after a brutal knockout win over tommy Browne at The Star on Wednesday night. Let’s hope that a fight with Jeff Horn happens this year.

SINNER

THE English & Wales Cricket Board for its handling of the Ben Stokes situation. So, Stokes was stood down when he wasn’t charged for an offence but is now cleared to return despite being charged with affray. Confused? Me, too.

SPOTTED

Anthony Milford carrying a little extra something.

BRISBANE fans were unrelenting when the Broncos posted this photo of Anthony Milford on Instagram. One told him to “lay off the meat pies” and another said “if Milf would ditch that spare tyre, then they might float better”.

SPOTTED II

DRAGONS veteran Jason Nightingale and former boxing world champion Billy Dib spreading holiday cheer at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead.

SPOTTED III

FORMER Wallaby Phil Kearns having lunch at Balcon in the City on Wednesday.

SPOTTED IV

SOUTHS flyer Alex Johnston carrying an Australian flag to lead out boxer Jai Opetaia to the ring on Wednesday night.

SPOTTED V

AARON Woods, David Klemmer, Brett Stewart and Kieran Foran at Toko Sydney.

SPOTTED VI

DUMPED Queensland Reds player Quade Cooper enjoying life out of the limelight while playing golf in New Zealand as his former teammates battled the heat at pre-season training.

SHOOSH

WHICH NRL recruit had a drink-driving charge against their name during the holiday period?

SHOOSH II

WHICH Kangaroos international was told the ARU couldn’t afford his big price tag?

SHOOSH III

WHICH NRL boss visited three AFL clubs in Melbourne last week?

SHOOSH IV

WHICH senior staff member was forced out of an NRL club after falling foul of the boss?

SHOOSH V

WHICH married NSW racing identity has been booted out of home after a bust-up with their partner? We hear they’ve been caught playing the field.

COGGER A RELUCTANT KNIGHT

JACK Cogger will remain at the Knights this year despite requesting a release to join Canterbury after signing with the Bulldogs for the next two years.

Jack Cogger won’t be granted a release. (Tony Feder/Getty Images)

While Mitchell Pearce and Connor Watson will start in the halves, Cogger could be called on should there be any injuries to the Knights’ starting halves.

The Knights’ tune may have been softened had they not allowed Trent Hodkinson to discuss an early exit from his contract.

Manly are still super keen to sign the former NSW halfback but are waiting on the NRL to finish its salary cap investigations into the club. If Hodkinson does not make a return to the Sea Eagles, expect Lachlan Croker to partner Daly Cherry-Evans having impressed during the pre-season.

A PAIR OF GREAT SPORTS

PENRITH Panthers bosses Brian Fletcher and Phil Gould showed great generosity during the NRL side’s visit to Port Macquarie last week.

Fletcher decided all funds raised from a sportsman’s lunch would go to a local family whose young daughter had her leg amputated because of a genetic condition after meeting the family the day before.

Gould immediately bought the first auction item — the club’s own donated signed jersey — for $15,000 with the money and the jersey going to the family.

They are making a movie of Michelle Payne’s journey to Melbourne Cup history. (Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

RACING TO FIND ‘YOUNG’ PAYNE

THE race is on to find a girl to play a young Michelle Payne in the movie of her life, Ride Like A Girl.

The casting agency is looking for an eight- or nine-year-old with horse riding experience to play Payne — who was the first woman to win the Melbourne Cup — in the film.

Hacksaw Ridge star Teresa Palmer will play an older Payne in a star-studded cast that includes Sam Neill and Jacki Weaver.

Rachel Griffiths will direct the movie.

The ad for the young Payne role said no acting experience was necessary. Email a photo, age, location and contact details to: [e-mail]

CROFT GETS IN EARLY

THE reports from Melbourne are that Brodie Croft has been, to use the old rugby league cliche, training the house down as he sets himself up to be the long-term No.7 option for Storm. Croft has been among the best trainers at Storm during pre-season as he looks to fill in the space left by Cooper Cronk’s departure.

Originally published as What’s the Buzz: Jack Cogger gets his answer from Newcastle, Gus’s generosity and Michelle Payne: the movie!