Saint Sinner Shoosh: NRL eyes John Barilaro for key role

Strong ties to NRL supremo Peter V’landys and bush footy could land an ex-heavyweight NSW politician a position on the independent commission.

New Premier Dominic Perrottet has backed the Peter V’landys plan to revitalise Sydney’s suburban NRL grounds.

The Premier is a mad Wests Tigers fan who loves a Sunday afternoon at Leichhardt Oval or any of the traditional old grounds, rather than the big empty stadiums that lack atmosphere.

He has a framed and signed 2005 Wests Tigers premiership-winning jersey on his wall at home.

“As a diehard Wests Tigers fan, I appreciate there is nothing like watching a match from one of our iconic suburban stadiums,” the Premier said. “We’re committed to revitalising sporting stadiums across Sydney to make sure they are match-fit for the community’s changing needs.”

The NSW Budget (2021-22) included $8m to develop a final business case for the suburban stadiums strategy to enable the government to commence the development of one stadium by 2023.

Brookvale Oval, Liverpool and Penrith have been mentioned as the likely venues now that support for Kogarah Oval has dropped off.

Catch all the ICC T20 World Cup action live & exclusive to Fox Cricket, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

The iconic hill at Leichhardt Oval. Picture: AAP Image/Mark Evans

V’landys has been close to Perrottet for some time. The premier has been often seen in the Racing NSW chief executive’s director’s suite at Randwick on big race days.

“Having families in Sydney attend suburban grounds is imperative to the future popularity of the game,” V’landys said.

“That’s what tribalism is about. Suburban grounds have an important role to play and should be upgraded for today’s entertainment venue standards.”

The government has warned new facilities would cater for all sports, not just rugby league.

“Any redevelopments would need to include the creation of multi-use facilities that benefit as many people and local communities as possible, and a final business case for the work would need to stack up before we’d consider going ahead,” Perrottet said.

The cost of building each new venue would be about $250m, but would be a huge post-Covid boost for jobs in the building industry.

The NRL will gather data via hi-tech mouthguards in 2022.

NRL TURNS TO NEW TECHNOLOGY TO GATHER HIA DATA

NRL players are preparing to wear hi-tech mouthguards next year that can measure the force and impact of head knocks as part of the fight against the long-term effects of concussion.

Each mouthguard will carry a sensor that will reveal game-day data to not only assist in HIA diagnosis but to store season-long head trauma records for every player in the competition that can be regularly assessed by doctors and high-performance staff at the 16 clubs.

Information from each mouthguard will be transmitted via Bluetooth to a bank of computers.

The NRL’s medical advisory panel is poised to sign off on the technology.

The company HIT.IQ has been carrying out trials for several years and have more recently been working alongside the RLPA with the head-impact data.

RLPA chief executive Clint Newton is a huge supporter.

“We’ve been working closely with the company on this critically important space,” Newton said.

“We endorse the NRL and NRLW players using the mouthguards for 2022 and beyond.

“It will potentially have huge benefits for the game and for the players.

“This would provide sensitive player data and we would like to be granted access to that information.

“You can’t get away from how critical the concussion issue is in rugby league.”

The AFL and other sports overseas including the NFL have trialled similar mouthguards.

They say it will significantly improve the management of head injuries in games and at training.

GIBBS WALKS AFTER REQUEST IGNORED

AUSTRALIA’s most experienced sports doctor has quit Manly in a huge off-season blow.

We revealed this year Nathan Gibbs had been at odds with Manly’s head of high performance Don Singe and coach Des Hasler over the workload and treatment of players. At the time Sea Eagles stars Jake Trbojevic (hip), Josh Schuster (calf), Curtis Sironen (knee) and Cade Cust (hamstring) had all succumbed to injuries at training.

Gibbs has been involved in sports medicine for more than 35 years with NRL clubs, the Kangaroos, NSW Blues and Sydney Swans. He could not be contacted for comment.

Manly’s highly regarded head physio James Rahme has also quit the club to join GWS Giants in the AFL. Rahme had played a crucial role in helping superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic recover from his hamstring issues and the weekly management of the injury.

The Sunday Telegraph can reveal Gibbs recently asked Hasler to make staff changes on his high performance unit. The request was ignored … and so he quit.

SEVEN SIGNS SAM

CHANNEL 7 wants ex-South Sydney star Sam Burgess as part of its NRL news coverage.

The network’s CEO James Warburton is a huge fan of Burgess after watching his performances on SAS Australia and witnessing the huge ratings results.

Burgess was last week cleared by police of domestic violence allegations and drug use.

Despite missing out on the NRL TV rights, Network Seven is keen to strengthen its rugby league credentials and boost support for its outstanding journalist Michelle Bishop.

TICKET-MACHINE TIM

SYDNEYSIDERS starved of live sport are snapping up tickets for the Tim Tszyu v Takeshi Inoue fight on November 17 at Qudos Bank Arena with promoter Matt Rose expecting a 10,000-strong sellout.

Inoue is the biggest winner, though, with the venue shift from the Gold Coast to Sydney ensuring he doesn’t have to endure a punishing two weeks in hotel quarantine.

The world No. 7-ranked super-welterweight will fly into Sydney in early November for a solid two-week preparation. Inoue is one of the most revered boxers in the division and is leaving nothing to chance for this blockbuster.

In a clear sign he means business, Inoue will bring his own sparring partners including his most recent opponent, the highly rated Nath Nwachukwu.

Westmead Children’s Hospital nurses enjoying Everest Day as guests of Chris Waller at Royal Randwick.

SAINT

Corporate areas were hard to come by on Everest Day at Randwick last week because of Covid restrictions. Champion trainer Chris Waller, as a slot holder, had one of the best tables on the course. It could easily have gone to his clients, family or friends. Instead Waller donated it to this wonderful group of nurses from Westmead Children’s Hospital who have worked so hard in the most difficult of circumstances in recent months. It was a beautiful gesture.

SINNER

When is a suspension not a suspension? The Panthers have stood down unremorseful sex-tape grub Tyrone May from all club-related duties until further notice. He is on a two-month holiday anyway. The Panthers have no duties until the last week of November. We shall be monitoring this situation.

SHOOSH

Recently departed deputy Premier John Barilaro could be sounded out for a position on the independent commission. He was the politician who stood so closely alongside Peter V’landys last year and backed the May 28 Covid comeback date before any other sport. Barilaro also has a huge passion for bush footy.

SPOTTED

Old league bad boy Josh Dugan may have played his last game of NRL but his tattoos are still a work in progress. This is his latest body art he showed off on social media last week.

Former NRL star Josh Dugan's latest neck tattoo.

SPOTTED

A couple of handy footy coaches Anthony Seibold and Dave Furner watching old warhorse Paul Gallen spar two UFC fighters in his gym in Cronulla on Wednesday morning.

SPOTTED

Former NRL boss David Gallop enjoying a schooner in the sports bar at the Clovelly Hotel with a couple of colourful ex-players – the great Joey Johns and Willie Mason.

SPOTTED

Recently departed Wests Tigers general manager of football Adam Hartigan enjoying a less stressful existence over a brew at Nulla Nulla café in the Shire.

SPOTTED

Champion Manly Sea Eagles fullback Tom Trbojevic with his lovely partner Kristi Wilkinson after a sightseeing helicopter ride over the Whitsunday Islands.

DOLPHINS ARE PRIME REAL ESTATE

The Dolphins have wasted no time picking up a stunning new $5 million front-of-jersey sponsor.

All details will be revealed at a midweek press conference at Redcliffe. The money is coming into rugby league from a major national company that has not previously been involved in the sport.

This is the whole idea of having a 17th team to bring new money, new corporate investors, new membership and new fans into rugby league in a major city.

Sources have revealed the sponsorship dollars average out at approximately $1.25 million over four years, one of the richest jersey sponsorship deals in the game.

The nine Sydney based clubs average around $950,000 for their major sponsorship.

GOLFER HAS TRICK SHOT IN THE BAG

This will have to go down as one of the most extraordinary golf shots ever played … almost too unbelievable to be true.

A group was on the Par 3, 11th hole at Cumberland golf club on Wednesday.

Todd Williams, a 14 handicapper, hit his tee-shot straight into a small plastic bag that was attached to the flag on the pin.

It’s there to hold a card to record names in the closest to the pin competition and had been left slightly open by the previous group.

Todd’s nine-iron shot landed straight into the bag from 150 metres away in what is surely a trillion to one chance.

The ‘trillion to one’ golf shot.

Golfer Todd Williams.

“I hit it nicely and we could see it hit the flag but it didn’t rebound,” Todd said, “So we walked up to the hole and there’s the ball in the bag. Unbelievable.

“I’ve never had a hole-in-one and thought this could have been it.”

The 27-year-old, a sheet-metal worker, has been playing competition golf for only two years.

He had no idea what to do with the ball when he arrived at the hole.

“Lucky the club captain Darren Stocks was in the group ahead of us and he came over and explained the rule,” Todd said.

“I had to take a drop but the ball trickled straight into the hole. I took another drop then tapped in for a birdie.

“At least I got a $25 voucher as closest to the pin to spend at the club.”

Brisbane Norths coach Rohan Smith

YOUNG GUN’S BRAGGING RIGHTS OVER DAD

The jinx of not being able to win a premiership haunted Brian Smith over his entire coaching career.

Smith famously coached 601 games at Illawarra, St George, Parramatta, Newcastle and the Roosters over 25 seasons without winning a comp.

Luckily it doesn’t run in the family. Smith’s son Rohan steered Brisbane Norths to victory over Wynnum Manly in the grand final of the Intrust Super Cup.

He’s an impressive young coach who could make it to NRL level.

Originally published as Saint Sinner Shoosh: NRL eyes John Barilaro for key role