Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: NRL players vent frustration over sin-bin blitz

Tensions have never been higher among NRL players over the lack of consulation on major changes in the game — check out all the latest NRL chatter and more.

Luke Burgess (left) with brothers Thomas and Sam.

Not too many NRL stars become Uber or taxi drivers in retirement.

For many it’s a job in the media, coaching, administration or starting a business.

Not Luke Burgess, the oldest of the four Burgess boys. Luke was spotted last week in the eastern suburbs in his flash BMW X5 as a DiDi driver, which is the opposition to Uber.

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“I signed up a couple of weeks ago,” Burgess said. “I enjoy driving and I enjoy chatting with people. It’s better than sitting around doing nothing.”

Burgess has two other gigs to keep himself busy. He runs the 4B clothing brand – a premium label clothing company he and his brothers Sam, George and Tom started last year.

Luke Burgess (left) with brothers Thomas and Sam show off their 4B clothing brand.

“I tell all my passengers about 4B,” Burgess said.

“We’ve picked up a few good sales from the car.”

He is also a club ambassador for the South Sydney Rabbitohs, a role in which he speaks to corporates and sponsors on game day in the suites at Stadium Australia.

Check out all the latest NRL chatter and more in Australia’s hottest sport gossip column.

Vintage Mode’s promo to help out the Mose Masoe Foundation.

SAINT

Ex-Storm winger Sandor Earl has donated $6000 to the Mose Masoe Foundation to help the former NRL star in his recovery from a severe spinal injury. Earl — via his T-shirt company Vintage Mode — designed shirts for fundraising with all proceeds going to the stricken footy player. The money will go towards airfares to bring Masoe’s family home to Australia in December.

SINNER

It’s been almost 10 years since Clive Palmer’s last attempt at legal action against a sporting organisation over the demise of his Gold Coast A-League team. Clive declared on his Twitter account: “We intend to fight this ludicrous decision by incompetent FFA in the courts.” Palmer had no joy, put in his place well and truly by then FFA boss Frank Lowy.

SHOOSH

Tensions have never been higher among NRL players. An RLPA board meeting took place on Wednesday night involving Wade Graham, Daly Cherry-Evans and Christian Welch. Stars across the game have spoken of their frustrations around the NRL’s lack of consultation on the sin-bin blitz and other rule changes. Luke Keary also slammed the NRL in a radio interview on Thursday.

SHOOSH

Which NRL star is anxiously waiting to go into camp for the State of Origin series because he has had enough of the toxic environment and player unrest at his club?

SHOOSH

Which injured off-contract big-name player did himself no favours in his bid to get a new deal with his current club for next season, by failing to turn up for a home game to support his teammates last weekend.

SPOTTED

Ex-NSW and Kangaroos front-row enforcer Mark O’Meley celebrating his 40th birthday alongside old Bulldogs 2004 NRL premiership teammates including Willie Mason, Andrew Ryan and Brent Sherwin.

Mark O’Meley (right) celebrated his 40th birthday with former teammates Willie Mason and Andrew Ryan. Picture: Chris McGrath/Getty Images

SPOTTED

Not many 17-year-old footy players have a greyhound named after them. A dog called Suaalii won at Maitland on Thursday night as a long odds on $1.20 favourite — his third win from five starts.

SPOTTED

Former NRL boss Todd Greenberg at the Justis Huni v Christian Tsoye fight at Darling Harbour on Wednesday night with Australian cricket powerbroker and manager Neil Maxwell.

SPOTTED

Justis Huni can’t even spell the name of his much-hyped opponent and league legend Paul Gallen. Huni typed out “Gallon” in a social media post on Thursday.

DAILY TELEGRAPH NRL PODCAST

Phil Rothfield, Michael Carayannis and Adam Mobbs weigh in on the messy George Williams saga at the Raiders, how the Dragons’ Matt Dufty divorce heads a bumper free agency frenzy and the head-high crackdown threat over State of Origin.

SPOTTED

Even the bookies are now scared of Gallen. A punter tried to put $3000 on the old Sharks warhorse last week at odds of $4.65 to win $13,950. His bet was cut to $350.

A NOD TO TIGERS’ FUTURE

The Wests Tigers are on the verge of signing former champion halfback Brett ‘Noddy’ Kimmorley to head up their pathways and junior development.

They hope it will ensure the next Campbelltown juniors of the calibre of James Tedesco, Jarryd Hayne and Israel Folau are captured and kept in their system.

The former NSW Blues and Kangaroos playmaker already has a tremendous knowledge of the game’s best young players through his coaching of emerging Blues for the NSWRL.

“We’ve refocused our strategy over the last couple of years,” Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe said. “That means investing in pathways with the acquisition of someone like Noddy.

“He’s got a great reputation in the game and he’ll be outstanding.

Brett Kimmorley will head up the Wests Tigers’ junior development.

“Imagine him working with young halves when we set up our academy.

“To have him talking to kids and their parents will be invaluable.”

The Wests Tigers have also signed one of Australian cricket’s top development strategists to work alongside Kimmorley.

Matt Betsey headed up cricket’s top coaching academy and has overseen the growth and progress of many youngsters now playing Sheffield Shield and Test cricket.

“These appointments are as much about retention as development,” Pascoe said. “We’re going along well. Our reserve grade side is sitting second, our 21’s are running first, our sponsorship and memberships are at record levels.

“Financially our balance sheet was minus $7 million — now it’s positive. This is why we can now go and invest in people like Noddy and Matt in such crucial roles.”

Friday night’s win over St George Illawarra has kept alive the Tigers’ hopes of playing finals football for the first time in 10 years.

BURTON STICKS SOLID TO BULLDOGS

It will be tough to leave a premiership powerhouse like the Penrith Panthers for the NRL’s likely wooden spooners, the Canterbury Bulldogs, but rising superstar Matt Burton has again pledged his allegiance to the struggling club via his manager.

Veteran agent David Riolo says any suggestion of a late backflip is wrong, despite talk one senior Penrith official has been making overtures about keeping him.

“Matt’s agreed for two years and he’ll be at Belmore,” Riolo said. “He’s a good, honourable kid. His word is his word. He’s comfortable and is confident the Bulldogs will be stronger next year with their new signings.”

The Burton deal is for two years with a third-year option in his favour. There has been talk for weeks since he cemented a regular starting position at the Panthers that he would prefer to stay at the foot of the mountains.

Matt Burton won’t backflip on his deal with Canterbury for next season. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

POLITICS IN CANBERRA IN QUESTION

About 20 years ago your columnist had a major falling out with Canberra Raiders chief executive Don Furner. It was so long ago I can’t even remember what the disagreement was about.

We shouted and exchanged unpleasant remarks over the telephone. (Not sure who hung up first but it was near enough to a dead heat.)

To this day we have not spoken. He doesn’t need me, I don’t need him. However, it got me thinking this week about the bitterness and controversy around the George Williams departure.

Could there have been a calmer, more measured way to handle it?

That the player has claimed on social media that “the club kicked me out the door” while suffering from mental health is a bad look for the game and the club.

I know for a fact how seriously Ricky Stuart takes player welfare.

This is where the NRL and RLPA should step in to ensure all parties have handled the situation in an appropriate manner.

RICKY’S PASSION A REAL PART OF GAME

Get used to Ricky Stuart’s short and sharp press conferences.

After last week’s loss to Storm, Ricky uttered just 100 words in a frosty 114-second chat to the media. (It was like watching Wayne Bennett most weeks.)

It is understandable why the Raiders coach is doing it. After his Magic Round press conference in which he justifiably questioned the NRL’s crazy mid-season sin-bin blitz, there was feedback that NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo was not happy.

This is the same Andrew Abdo who earlier in the year banned Stuart from the sideline.

This is robbing fans of great theatre from the most passionate man in the game.

Rugby league is poorer for not having this on display in front of the TV cameras.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

BOZO’S TIPS TAKEOVER

Bob Fulton’s NRL tips will remain in The Sunday Telegraph for the rest of the season, via his grandkids.

Bozo had eight grandchildren he absolutely adored – Zac, Jorga, Kobe, Zali, Jake, Ethan, Hannah and Alexa.

They will each get one tip for the eight games, co-ordinated by Bozo’s wife Ann.

There is only one rule – and it doesn’t matter if Manly is playing the Panthers, Storm or anyone else – the kids must tip the Sea Eagles every week, exactly as Bozo did.

‘MISTAKEN’ IDENTITY

There have been a thousand great Bozo Fulton stories since his passing last Sunday.

The great Mick Cronin recalls Bozo whacking him in the head in a Roosters v Eels game in the late 70s.

“What’s that about,” Cronin said to Bozo.

“Sorry mate I thought you were Pricey (Ray Price),” Bozo replied.

Typical Bozo … Price had long hair and Cronin short back and sides. It was impossible to mistake them.

PANTHERS PUNISHED

Sometimes it’s hard on Penrith Panthers players around State of Origin selection time.

Former champion Panthers halfback, board member and local hero Greg Alexander is a Blues selector. Brandy can sometimes be guilty of judging Penrith players harsher than others to avoid any perception of club bias.

It got your columnist thinking about the NSW Blues No.6 jersey.

Penrith five-eighth Jarome Luai has been the form pivot in the NRL by the length of a football field. Understandably there is support for Jack Wighton but I feel Luai has done enough.

Blues selector Greg Alexander. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

VICTOR’S BAN COSTS $45,000

Victor Radley’s five-week ban will cost him $45,000. That’s what he would have earned from playing three Origins for the NSW Blues. There is good mail he had already been pencilled in by Brad Fittler and Greg Alexander to wear the No.13 jersey for the very reason he got suspended … the way he intimidates and hurts his opponents with brutal defence.

RYLES TO THE ROOSTERS

Sydney Roosters have spoken to highly regarded Melbourne Storm assistant Jason Ryles as a potential replacement for Craig Fitzgibbon.

It will depend on whether he is prepared to commit for at least two seasons to work under Trent Robinson. The Roosters want stability because they have lost both Adam O’Brien and now Fitzgibbon to rival clubs in recent years.

Ryles is regarded alongside Penrith’s Cameron Ciraldo as one of the NRL’s best defence coaches.

AXEMEN ARE OKAY

Last week this column reported that Sam Burgess’ coaching debut could be with the Orara Valley Axemen – a club that had been saved by Russell Crowe after going broke. The Axemen tell me that, in fact, the club has cash in the bank, doesn’t owe any debts and has merely gone into temporary hiatus due to a lack of players. Planning is well under way for the 2022 season with a Sportsmans Evening to be held on July 17 at Pacific Bay Resort in Coffs Harbour. If you are in the area why not support the club and purchase a ticket.

Sydney Roosters five-eighth Drew Hutchison could be back on the field next month.

HUTCHO MADE OF TOUGH STUFF

Sydney Roosters five-eighth Drew Hutchison has undergone surgery to repair his punctured lung in St George Private Hospital and, miraculously, could be back on the field within a month. His agent David Riolo says doctors are convinced he will make a full and quick recovery. Riolo is now in talks with the Roosters about a contract extension for Hutchison.

BULLDOGS BEEF-UP

Heavyweight boxer and former Roosters front-rower Willis Meehan has agreed to join the Canterbury Bulldogs for the remainder of the season. The club is now waiting for a clearance from the NRL’s integrity unit because of off-field issues from 2015 when his contract was deregistered. If cleared, Meehan will be a good signing to add some much-needed oomph to the Bulldogs pack. Canterbury is now a $1.40 favourite with the betting agencies to win the wooden spoon.

Originally published as Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: NRL players vent frustration over sin-bin blitz