League Confidential with Josh Massoud

AWAY from the glare of tonight's season opener, there's one SBW mystery not even Roosters insiders are certain about just yet.

Josh Jackson and Darcy Lussick

JUST about every question has been asked about Sonny Bill Williams this week but, away from the glare of tonight's season opener, there's one SBW mystery not even Roosters insiders are certain about just yet.

Shortly after linking with renegade agent Khoder Nasser in 2008, Williams converted to Islam. However, little is known about how strictly the 27-year-old prescribes to his new faith.

We do know he's fastidious enough to tell Roosters officials that all personal promotion of alcohol or gambling-related club sponsors is off-limits.

Nasser has also stipulated that there's to be no endorsement of banks, because they claim interest on loans, which also contravenes Islamic beliefs.

But what about Ramadan? The holy Islamic fast requires Muslims to abstain from food and water for a month during daylight hours and this year it starts on July 9.

The Roosters are scheduled to play Cronulla, Newcastle and Penrith during that period, with the round 20 Knights clash already scheduled for a Sunday afternoon.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson last night said the subject had not been broached yet, and it is believed chairman Nick Politis is also unaware of Williams' plans.

* * *

FORMER David Jones boss Mark McInnes hasn't lost any chutzpah despite a very public lawsuit involving a female employee several years ago.

Still a member of the Roosters board, McInnes launched an attack at the club's critics while introducing Politis at last Tuesday's season launch at Easts League.

"Rugby league is a performance-based sport and changes needed to be made," McInnes said..

"The club, our chairman and board copped a lot of criticism ... all of it unwarranted, all of it self-serving and all of it misplaced."

McInnes might have been more approving of Williams' unique choice of footwear for the event. Looking like he'd just stepped out of DJs, Williams was a stand-out in his sockless brown leather loafers.

* * *

IT'S been far too long since Luke Ricketson, Craig Wing and co were giving female admirers whiplash as they strolled down the tree-lined boulevards of Sydney's east.

So congratulations to Canterbury and Parramatta for attempting to bring some sex appeal back into the code, respectively entering Josh Reynolds and Darcy Lussick into this year's Cleo Bachelor of the Year.

While Lussick comes from impressive northern beaches stock, blue-collar Reynolds didn't shape as a natural candidate until his move from Belmore to Coogee.

* * *

WHILE Eels insiders are now resigned to Josh Papalii staying in Canberra, there appears to be brighter news on the Corey Norman front.

Norman's manager, Paul Sutton, travelled to Brisbane this week to continue talks with the Broncos.There was no new deal, however, with Norman wanting to see how he fares at fullback against Manly tomorrow night before making a call.

Brisbane also did themselves no favours with a paltry first-up offer.

They've since upped the ante to compete with Parramatta.

* * *

TWO of the game's genuine characters are involved in an unlikely feud that could make interesting watching when Cronulla take on Newcastle later this year.

Beau Ryan recently got under Willie Mason's skin with a cheeky phone prank, firing up Knights forwards ahead of their trial match in Tamworth a fortnight ago.

Big Willie was also unimpressed to be paired with The Footy Show funnyman at a pre-match promotion.

* * *

ACT hairdressers and salons are in the grip of a distressing peroxide shortage thanks to glamour Raiders winger Sandor Earl.

Recently nicknamed White Lightning by his female fans, Earl has gone completely platinum ahead of this week's season-opener against his former Panthers teammates.

"I just thought I'd change it up and do something new," Earl told us.

"I knew the coach (David Furner) might not be fully supportive, so I've really tried to rip in during the trials."

Earl has done just that, continuing his spree from late last year with a haul of five tries in Canberra's three warm-up games.

Keen-eyed Raiders fans will also notice that Earl is one of five speedsters who've sprouted beards.

"It's a bit of a competition the back five are having," he said. "We've all agreed not to shave until we lose three games."

* * *

FORGET Manly and the Roosters having to scramble to get their 2013 salary caps in order.

We've heard the situation at Penrith was far more complex, owing to ratchet clauses in the contracts of Lachlan Coote, Sam McKendry and Tim Grant.

Behind the scenes, Panthers officials have been butting heads with the trio's player agents over the precise interpretation of the clauses.

The club is trying to keep their increases to a minimum, even slashing its own salary cap because it can't exploit the $200,000 long-serving player discount after Luke Lewis's shock departure last year.

* * *

LAST year's passing of Robbie Farah's mother Sonia impressed on Wests Tigers just how inconsequential football can be.

The entire club has received another sobering reminder of that fact this week, after young prop Mosese Fotuaika died last Thursday.That's why players and officials last night flew to Brisbane, interrupting their preparations for the season-opener against Newcastle to attend the 20-year-old's funeral this morning.

* * *

IT all started with a chance meeting inside the elevator at his former Sutherland apartment.

"I got talking to the guy who fixed the elevator and thought that might be something I could get in to," recalls Storm prop Bryan Norrie. "So it just went from there and I actually completed my electrician's apprenticeship last year."

To get his ticket, Norrie mixed study and work on his days off in the lead-up to last year's grand final win over Canterbury.

Norrie has previously worked for two companies that install lifts in residential and commercial properties.

This year, however, Norrie has turned his focus to convincing younger players to stick with their apprenticeships and has taken Storm clubmate Dean Britt, the son of Bulldogs prop Darren, under his wing.

"It's good to get advice from a current player who's completed his apprenticeship," Britt said.

* * *

SEAN Garlick split his career between the Roosters and Rabbitohs, so it's no surprise he's drooling ahead of tonight's derby. And to whet the appetite, the former hooker has baked a special range of Garlo's Pies that his son Jackson - a member of South Sydney's Holden Cup squad - was only too happy to sample.

* * *

STANDBY for some good news, Bunnies fans. We've heard local junior John Sutton has just inked another new contract extension that will all-but ensure the five-eighth ends his career at Redfern.

* * *

HE'S never worn the blue and gold, but Luke O'Donnell could soon join the regrettably long list of stars that Parramatta have let slip by. The experienced hard man was in negotiations with the Eels late last year, well before he commenced moves to resume his NRL career at Bondi Junction. O'Donnell's injury history - and his $350,000-a-season asking price - deterred Parramatta's medical staff. The Roosters were able to negotiate a far cheaper deal, partly because O'Donnell was keen to reunite with Trent Robinson. Believe it or not, the pair were teammates at Balmain many, many moons ago. We can also reveal Parramatta officials were in talks with former Panthers wrecking ball Tony Puletua, who now plays for St Helens.

* * *

SPOTTED: Chivalrous Eels pair Tim Mannah and Joseph Paulo wining and dining two attractive young ladies at lavish Sydney noshery, Rockpool.

* * *

LOOK WHO WE BUMPED INTO

IN his heyday, Amos Roberts was one of the game's most electrifying runners of the football.

But in retirement the former Dragons and Roosters star is now flat-out running at all, thanks to a chronic knee problem that prematurely ended his career.

Playing for Wigan in the 2011 World Club Challenge, Roberts fell awkwardly and injured his knee.

With the speedster unable to regain his mojo, doctors decided to remove part of his meniscus in an extreme bid to get the 32-year-old back in action.

"My knee was basically bone on bone and it just didn't feel right when I ran," Roberts lamented.

"For an outside back you need that speed and I'd always relied on it.

"Now I basically can't run until I get another operation to clean it out."

In the meantime, Roberts has been watching others run - on treadmills or tracks - as part of his new incarnation as a personal trainer.

Having gained his certificate within a few months of returning to Australia midway through last year, Roberts has found himself at a CBD Fitness First and also trains clients outdoors near his home in Sydney's inner west.

"I got back and trained a few mates and it sort of went from there," he said.

"It's good having a background in professional sport and a bit of a brand that people know.

"It makes it easier to attract clients."

The father of three is also accommodating his promising nephew, James, who was snapped-up by Penrith after being axed from South Sydney for disciplinary breaches last year.

"I played under (Souths coach) Michael Maguire at Wigan and I understand the culture he's trying to create at Souths," he said. "James has been a bit unlucky with injury and he had that slip-up last year. I think the move to Penrith and the change of scenery has been really good for him."