Expect major scalp in NSW Origin review, Jake Friend’s captaincy battle and Mitch Pearce’s loyalty

WHAT’S THE BUZZ II: Expect one major scalp in NSW’s Origin review, Jake Friend’s captaincy battle and Mitch Pearce’s loyalty.

EXPECT one major scalp in NSW’s Origin review, Jake Friend’s captaincy battle and Mitch Pearce’s loyalty. It’s all in What’s the Buzz.

SAINT

THERE is not a better sporting charity in this country than the Men of League organisation that supports former players, referees, coaches, families and the game’s volunteers who have fallen on tough times. It deserves our support at all NRL games over the weekend.

SINNER

IN the week that Wests Tigers sacked club legend Robbie Farah, chief executive Justin Pascoe disappears on a family holiday to southeast Asia. The management of this club is as poor as the coaching.

BUZZ: JILLAROOS SUFFER FROM ANOTHER BAIRD DECISION

Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe has split the scene of Robbie Farah’s axing.

SHOOSH

THE son of which Sydney-based NRL coach (and it’s not Brad Arthur) often wears a Parramatta Eels jersey to tease his old man?

SHOOSH II

THE form and behaviour of which NRL bad boy has improved out of sight in recent months, coinciding with him falling in love with a stunning young lady?

SHOOSH III

WHICH UK Super League club has made a multimillion-dollar offer to sign former Parramatta and Manly Sea Eagles superstar Kieran Foran? The offer has been rejected to allow Foran to work on his health issues.

SHOOSH IV

WHICH former Rabbitohs star has been banned for life from a Double Bay nightclub for repeated bad behaviour?

SPOTTED

A REUNION of former Manly players Anthony Watmough, Brett Stewart, Jason King and Kieran Foran enjoying dinner at Hugos in Manly on Wednesday night.

SPOTTED II

2GB’s Ray Hadley and Fox Sports boss Steve Crawley in a Willoughby cafe on Thursday afternoon. Neither would tell me what they were discussing.

SPOTTED III

NRL referee Jared Maxwell in the car park at Westfield Miranda on Tuesday in his Mazda four-wheel drive.

The makeup of NSW coach Laurie Dale’s backroom staff is expected to change.

BLUES’ SHAKE-UP

THERE will be at least one major scalp when the NSW Blues conduct a review this week into the State of Origin series. Laurie Daley’s job is safe after winning the third game but there will be key changes to his support staff.

Assistant coach Matt Parish is facing the chop. We’re hearing there is a push for Blues and Knights legend Danny Buderus. And talk of Brad Fittler and Joey Johns joining Daley’s staff.

A FRIEND IN NEED

HOOKER Jake Friend is fighting to retain the captaincy at the struggling Sydney Roosters. Not that he’s a poor leader, but the extra responsibility has affected his form since taking over solo from Mitchell Pearce. We’re hearing second-rower Boyd Cordner is already being groomed as the new skipper for next season and beyond.

Interestingly, Cordner spoke about his Blues State of Origin captaincy ambitions last week.

“I’d love to do it,” he said. “There are a lot of good leaders there in the Blues, like Aaron Woods, but if I ever do get the opportunity, words can’t describe how I’d feel.”

Cronulla will pay tribute to Sharks junior Lachlan Smith.

LACHLAN SMITH TRIBUTE

THE Sharks will pay tribute at the Knights game to Lachlan Smith, one of their most outstanding juniors, as part of the Men of League round. The 17-year-old suffered a stroke while playing in the NSW Schoolboys’ championships in Toronto last month and almost died. He faces a long, tough recovery. He captained Cronulla’s champion Harold Matthews side last year.

Your columnist met Lachlan and his mum and dad on Friday and was amazed by his strength and positive outlook. The club will have a bucket collection and Men of League badges on sale. If you can’t make the game but would like to donate to Lachlan’s trust fund the details are: BSB 062150 ACC 10435874

PEARCE LOYALTY

MITCHELL Pearce is off contract at the end of next season and many clubs are already poised to express interest. Still, it is highly unlikely he will be going anywhere despite the fact Johnathan Thurston will be retiring, Cooper Cronk will be locked into his last contract and he’ll be the hottest playmaker on the market. Pearce wants to steer the Roosters back to the finals and he feels he owes the Roosters for their unwavering support during his troubled times ­this year.

Rugby league fans might get to see SBW take on Paul Gallen.

SECONDS OUT

THE news Anthony Mundine is to fight his long-time rival Danny Green has opened the door for Sonny Bill Williams to fight Sharks skipper Paul Gallen before Christmas. Sonny Bill had been mentioned for months as a potential opponent for Green because of doubts over Mundine’s fitness. The SBW-Gallen fight would be a massive event on pay-TV in Australia and New Zealand.

CRAWLEY EXPANDING

IT’S great to see Fox Sports has expanded Steve Crawley’s role to be across the network’s news content as well as live sport. We’re told he’ll be paying particular attention to improving and beefing up the rugby league content on the evening news channel. And not before time.

NO TEXTS FOR TIGERS

THERE is a very good reason why Wests Tigers players haven’t publicly supported their mate Robbie Farah since he was axed. On Thursday night, every player received a text message with a warning not to comment on the issue under any circumstances.

Panthers CEO Corey Payne is making a name for himself.

A PAYNE IN THE ...

PANTHERS CEO Corey Payne is fast gaining a reputation as a know-it-all. He’s been in the job for five minutes yet has an opinion on everything, most of it critical of the NRL. Payne’s latest spray was aimed at World Cup organisers for not taking a game to Penrith, yet his own club takes two NRL home games away from Penrith every year for commercial reasons.

LYON FOR FINALS

AFL legend Garry Lyon is tipped to make a television comeback during the finals — but not alongside Billy Brownless on the Melbourne Footy Show. Nine executives have understandably decided to keep the pair apart because of Lyon’s relationship with Brownless’s ex-wife Nicky. We’re hearing out of Melbourne that Fox Sports have been in discussions with Lyon’s manager.

The Engadine and De La Salle u-6s finished the season on a high.

MEAT PIES ALL ROUND

There have been too many stories in junior rugby league lately of referee assaults and poor sideline behaviour, but here is a story that will restore your faith in the game. Coaches Simon Harvey and Josh Martin look after the Engadine and De La Salle Under 6 teams.

Saturday was their last game of the season so at halftime the two coaches got together to work out which of their kids hadn’t scored a try all season.

As discreetly as possible, they alerted their players to ensure the boys who hadn’t scored got the ball near the line. By fulltime every kid had a try. It was beautiful sportsmanship.

Originally published as Expect major scalp in NSW Origin review, Jake Friend’s captaincy battle and Mitch Pearce’s loyalty