Sport Confidential: Brandon Smith dubs Gordon Chan Kum Tong “little cheese,” Panthers enter Dom Young race
There is a new cheese in the NRL with Brandon Smith personally dubbing a rival “little cheese” and being a big fan of his playing style. Read the full Sport Confidential.
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Cronulla are putting together the final pieces of their star-studded backline after flyer Sione Katoa agreed to a new three year deal to remain at the club.
The Sharks have been busy ensuring their backline is locked in long-term with Katoa joining Ronaldo Mulitalo (until the end of 2025) and Siosifa Talakai (end of 2026) to agree to new deals during the off-season.
The Sharks remain in talks with fullback Will Kennedy and centre Jesse Ramien after having the bizarre circumstance where their entire starting back five was off-contract at once.
So far the Sharks have done well to secure three of the five ahead of their first game of the season against the Rabbitohs.
Cronulla are also in discussions about extending back-rower Teig Wilton – whose deal ends at the end of this season – and are keen to lock-down Nicho Hynes long-term despite his contract not expiring until the end of next year.
Katoa has become a noted try-scorer for the Sharks having crossed 39 times in his past 48 games. He had his first taste of representative football last year after making his debut for Tonga at the World Cup.
THIRD CLUB ENTERS RACE FOR DOM YOUNG
Penrith have been the latest club linked with Newcastle winger Dom Young as it emerged they were exploring a six-figure salary cap dispensation for injured winger Taylan May.
Young has agreed to join the Sydney Roosters next season and Confidential understands the Knights would consider allowing him to leave if they received a suitable replacement.
As it stands, the Panthers are confident they can replace May internally. However, that hasn’t stopped players’ agents reaching out with potential replacements. It is understood Young was among the names that appeared on their radar as a signing for the rest of the year before he links with the Roosters.
The Knights and the Roosters have held informal discussions about an immediate player swap for Young with the Knights keen on Roosters forwards Egan Butcher or Siua Wong.
May’s injury could open up the door for Young to join the defending premiers on a short-term deal should the NRL green light their request for cap relief.
The Panthers could have the additional money to spend given they are exploring an application for dispensation for May, who was injured in the World Club Challenge against St Helens. May’s season ended after he was caught being tackled in the first half against St Helens with the winger needing a reconstruction to repair the injury.
“We’re looking into it,” Penrith chief executive Matt Cameron said.
“But ultimately it is a decision for the NRL.”
The NRL has a mechanism in place for cap relief for players injured while on Test, Origin or All-Stars duty. Players who miss at least 12 games are given a dollar-for-dollar dispensation up to $350,000.
Fijian international Sunia Turuva is expected to be given first crack as May’s replacement.
May still has a two-game ban to serve for an off-field incident which was delayed during last year’s finals period. It is unclear if he will be allowed to serve the ban while injured.
KINGHTS LATE BLOW
Newcastle veteran Dane Gagai is considered long odds to start the season after injuring his hamstring during Newcastle’s trial last week.
Gagai has improved significantly in recent days and was telling people he is a chance to take on the Warriors in round one but given the travel to New Zealand and the heightened risk, the Knights are expected to take a conservative approach with their outside back.
The likes of rookie Dylan Lucas and Krystian Mapapalangi – who played two games towards the end of last season – are in the mix to partner Bradman Best in the centres.
HECTIC CHEESE’S DIG AT YOUNG RIVAL
There is a new cheese in the NRL with Brandon Smith personally dubbing a rival “little cheese”.
The Roosters rake – known as “big cheese” – could not help himself by calling emerging Manly rake Gordon Chan Kum Tong “little cheese” after the pair played against each other last week.
Smith confirmed in a text message that he liked the way Chan Kum Tong played and had given him the little cheese moniker.
Chan Kum Tong said he had spoken with Smith after the game but “couldn’t really hear” what he told him but his teammates were quick to inform him of Smith’s playful jibe.
Chan Kum Tong – the eldest of nine children – made his mark in the trials and looks destined to make his NRL debut at some stage. He had been labelled too small to progress at the lower grades at Canterbury before Manly signed him.
“I was small though - I am still small,” he said. “Then Manly gave me an opportunity. We have a family motto that mum has told me since I was young: ‘Doubt not, fear not.’
“I am five foot something but I like to think I am 6’5.
“Size has never been an issue. My mum has always told me never t doubt myself and tackle things front on. Coaches have always looked at me as small and overlooked me sometimes. I just love to prove people wrong.”
NO DECISION ON TROUBLED DRAGON
The NRL will wait until the outcome of St George Illawarra’s Francis Molo’s court case before deciding if the prop will be subject to the game’s no fault stand-down policy.
The NRL has the discretion to stand players down immediately if chargers relate to children or women.
In Molo’s case he has pleaded guilty to stalking/intimidating a woman however his lawyer told the court some details of the December 17 incident would be disputed.
The matter will return to court next month.
“The matter remains before the court,” an NRL spokesman said. “The NRL will await the conclusion of those proceedings before finalising its process, and determining any applicable sanction, under the NRL Rules.
In an unrelated matter, the NRL had already cleared Molo to play in St George Illawarra’s first match of the season after allowing him to count Samoa’s World Cup games to his suspension.
Molo still had two games to serve after being sent-off against the Titans in round 23 last year. Despite not being part of the final Samoan squad, the NRL received correspondence from Samoan officials which indicated he would have been picked had it not been for his ban.
MANLY YOUNG GUN WINS ‘SUPER SUB’ ROLE
Manly sensation Kaeo Weekes will be named as the Sea Eagles’ super sub in the season opener but he is in no rush to make a call on future.
Weekes will take over the role vacated by Warriors recruit Dylan Walker with his pre-season form proving too hard for coach Anthony Seibold to ignore.
Weekes is off-contract at the end of the season and the Sea Eagles are keen to extend the 21-year-olds deal.
“It is with my management but I do love the club,” Weekes said. “If they are interested, I would love to stay here. But I think it is really up to me and how I go this year. Hopefully I play good footy and secure a deal here. I don’t really think about it too much. By the end of the year I am pretty sure we will have something figured out.”
For the moment, Weekes is happy to watch and learn off the likes of superstar fullback Tom Trbojevic. While Reuben Garrick has been the long-term understudy to Trbojevic, it is expected that Weekes should fill the void if Trbojevic misses any games.
“I watch a lot of what Tommy does because he makes something out of nothing,” Weekes said. “I have a great life here. I am enjoying every moment.
“If I am playing good footy, hopefully I am picked somewhere in the 17 each week.”
While his future is unclear, Weekes is certain he wants to remain in the NRL despite being touted as a future rugby star.
“I started playing rugby union when I was 11 or 12 because my old man played it back in the day and I ended up at Newington College,” Weekes said. “I played that until year 12. After that I had to figure out which way to go and league was the better way for me.
“They had a better vision for me. I love league but I am not quite sure what the future is for me. League is where I want to be now and league is where I want to stay.”
DRAGONS FORGET WINNING CUSTOM
South Sydney officials were a little puzzled when they received the Charity Shield back from St George Illawarra only for the shield to be missing a plaque from 2022. The Dragons won the shield last year for the first time in a decade and as has been the custom the winning team engraves the shield. It is unclear if the Rabbitohs will invoice the Dragons or not.
RIVALS POACH FORMER REF FROM TIGERS
Former referee Gavin Badger has switched from the Tigers to join South Sydney ahead of the season. Badger spent two seasons as a consultant at the Tigers but has linked up with the Rabbitohs this off-season. He also worked with the NSW Team.
SEA EAGLES SHAVE IT OFF
Manly players raised about $35,000 after shaving their heads in support of Bear Cottage. The likes of Daly Cherry-Evans, Tom Trbojevic, Toff Sipley and Lachlan Croker had their hairtrimmed on Thursday to raise money.
Fresh cuts ðŸ‘
— Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (@SeaEagles) February 23, 2023
More than $35,000 has been raised for our friends at Bear Cottage. You still have time to donatehttps://t.co/xvNq0Yrbqh#ManlyForever
FRIDAY FLASHBACK
The Roosters were growing in confidence on this day 10 years ago after rookie coach Trent Robinson beat the Tigers 28-16 in a pre-season hit-out. The Roosters would go on to win the title.
Originally published as Sport Confidential: Brandon Smith dubs Gordon Chan Kum Tong “little cheese,” Panthers enter Dom Young race
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