Sport Confidential: Reece Walsh’s Ralph Lauren link, Zac Lomax’s Dragons push, NRL bad boys return to court
They’re the disgraced former NRL players that will be remembered for their actions off the field rather than on it. Find out when they’re set to return to the courtroom.
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Two big appeals will be heard across NSW next week with Jarryd Hayne and Talatau Amone cases back before the courts.
Ex-Parramatta player Hayne’s hearing is in NSW’s highest court as he appeals his rape conviction for a second time. Hayne was sentenced to four years and nine months behind bars last year.
The hearing on Wednesday is set to last for three to four hours, with Hayne appealing the conviction based on evidence that arose during the trial. He will dial into the courtroom via audiovisual link for the hearing.
Amone, meanwhile is looking to quash his own conviction after he was found guilty of a rooftop hammer attack in Wollongong. He has already started his court-ordered 300 hours of community service.
Amone was deregistered by the NRL because of the conviction.
He is due in Wollongong court on Friday.
WALSH’S HIGH-FASHION MOVE
Reece Walsh has followed in the footsteps of Hollywood A-lister Jessica Chastain, J-Pop star Akira and $550 million New York Yankees superstar Aaron Judge in becoming one of the faces of Ralph Lauren Fragrances.
Walsh posted a video on his social media platforms this week promoting the Ralph Lauren brand, which has used some of the biggest names from the world of sport, movies and music to endorse its products.
It is understood it is the first time Ralph Lauren has dabbled in rugby league. Walsh has become a magnet for sponsors since joining the Broncos, a period in which the club has regained some of its former glory.
AFL star Bailey Smith, boxer Harry Garside, 800-metre runner Peter Bol, NBL trailblazer Isaac Humphries, actor Cameron Robbie and model Lucas White-Smith have also joined the Ralph Lauren Fragrances stable.
SURPRISE BID ENTERS NRL EXPANSION RACE
Fiji has officially entered the race to become the home for an expansion franchise after the government announced their plans to push for men’s and women’s teams in the NRL.
The announcement was made last week after cabinet set up an official bid to secure a licence.
“A successful bid would mean significant player opportunities and extensive profiling of Fiji that will bring major positive economic and social benefits for Fiji,” the government statement said.
“Cabinet also approved an official endorsement of the bid by Rugby League Bid (Fiji) Limited to be conveyed to the Australian Rugby League Commission by the Minister for Youth and Sports.”
In order to garner financial support for the bid, Fijian cabinet approved healthy tax rebates for sponsors. Papua New Guinea remain the short-priced favourites to become the game’s 18th team while competition is heating up for potential 19th and 20th licences.
Two bids have already been announced from the south island of New Zealand while Perth and now Fiji have expressed an interest in being part of the equation.
North Sydney are also lurking in the background, although they are expected to join forces with another consortium.
EVERYTHING SAAB DOES IS FAST
Manly flyer Jason Saab is making a quicker than expected return from a hamstring injury. Originally it was feared that Saab would miss more than two months of action. However, Saab has been progressing well with his rehabilitation and has now earmarked Manly’s round seven clash against former coach Des Hasler as his likely comeback date.
DRAGONS IDENTIFY TARGETS AS LOMAX EYES EXIT
St George Illawarra are preparing for Zac Lomax to ask for an immediate release as the parties prepare for crunch talks next week.
Lomax is again expected to request to exit the club immediately. The Dragons’ indicated before round one that they would put any potential talks on his future on hold until after round four. That time will come next week after the Dragons play Manly on Saturday night. No formal meeting has planned for next week as yet however is an anticipation that a call will come from Lomax’s management to the Dragons camp where they could again intimate Lomax’s desire to leave the club.
The Dragons have already told Lomax they have no intention to release him despite Parramatta circling. The door is slightly ajar to cut Lomax adrift at season’s end which would free up about $800,000 off St George Illawarra’s books. Parramatta have the scope to land him now.
The Dragons could be enticed to let Lomax go immediately should a rival club propose a player swap. They wouldn’t hesitate if the Eels would be prepared to part with emerging young gun Blaize Talagi but that would be at long odds from occurring.
St George Illawarra are also aware of growing unrest regarding Nelson Asofa-Solomona at the Storm.
They are yet to engage in any talks of a potential player swap until they have some clarity surrounding Lomax. Salary cap space is not a concern for the Dragons – they have plenty of wiggle room – but need to secure some high profile players to fill any potential void.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Lomax’s future, he has proved to be a revelation playing on the wing for the Dragons to start the season and has been easily their best player.
His desire to shift back to centre could come as soon as next week with Jack Bird on notice after a poor showing in recent weeks.
His form has been noticed by NSW coach Michael Maguire who has told Lomax that he is on the radar for a potential Origin debut.
HASLER’S NEVER-ENDING RAINBOW JERSEY CURSE
Let’s call it the curse of the Rainbow jersey. First it contributed to Des Hasler’s axing as Manly coach but now the stigma surrounding the pride jersey continues to linger for Hasler, who is yet to win a game since that match in 2022.
Hasler is in the midst of a nine-game losing streak including his first two matches in charge with the Titans. It is the worst losing streak of his long career with his last victory coming in round 18, 2022 against Newcastle.
In the past nine matches Hasler’s teams have scored six points or less five times and conceded 28+ points in six games.
Hasler is due to face his former club Manly on April 20, while he continues to sue the club in the background. Mediation talks between the two parties are scheduled for next month but it remains to be seen if there will be an agreement before the Titans and Manly clash.
NRL’S RECORD CROWDS
The NRL is celebrating a bumper start to the season with record crowds off the back of the game’s Las Vegas launch.
More than 532,000 people have attended the first three rounds, with the average attendance up by 18.4 per cent compared to this time last year.
Fourteen of the 24 matches this season have attracted crowds of more than 20,000. “
The NRL made history in Las Vegas in the season openers, and the momentum has continued in weekends that followed,” NRL boss Andrew Abdo said. “Excellent performances from the players are translating into record support from fans.
“The Commission’s innovations in recent years have created a faster, more continuous and compelling contest.”
FIFITA’S SELFLESS GESTURE
A pat on the back for Cronulla grand final hero Andrew Fifita. The Cronulla legend was due to play in a trial match for Woy Woy in the Sutherland Shire last weekend when a young footballer, playing in the game prior for the De La Salle under-15s, was hit in a late tackle by an opposing Gymea player. Extraordinarily, the NSWRL deemed he had no case to answer.
The young halfback required urgent medical attention due to the impact of the injury, leading to the trial match being cancelled and an ambulance being called to Captain Cook playing fields.
In a bid to comfort the young footballer, Fifita stayed by his side for almost an hour during the process of him being assessed by ambulance officers. Fifita’s act of kindness for the teenager, who is continuing to undergo medical testing on his head and neck, is in stark contrast to the anger felt by parents who witnessed the tackle, which flies in the face of the NSWRL’s very own Safeplay code.
MATTY JOHNS ANSWERS JWH FAMILY SOS
Jack Johns has revealed how his father Matthew came to the rescue after an overzealous security guard at Allianz Stadium threatened to make life difficult for the family of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves on the night of his 300th game.
“On his (Matthew Johns) way up the stairs at Allianz, he spotted them and saw they weren’t getting in,” Jack told the latest instalment of The Matty Johns Podcast.
“Cobber (Matthew Johns) got a friend of his from the Roosters’ board and they helped the family in. I thought he was going to start a full-blown riot.
“Jared’s 300th and they weren’t going to let the family in.”
The rest of the night went off without a hitch for the Waerea-Hargreaves family as the Sydney Roosters front rower celebrated his landmark appearance in the NRL with a big win over bitter rivals South Sydney.
He finished the night celebrating the occasion with family and friends over a quiet beer at the Entertainment Quarter.
V’LANDYS SUCCESSOR SHUTS DOWN REPLACEMENT TALK
ARL Commissioner Kate Jones says she is flattered that she has been earmarked as a potential successor to chair Peter V’landys but insists her primary focus right now is on driving participation numbers.
Jones was recently appointed for her second term on the ARL Commission and this week joined the board of Touch Football Australia.
“I love rugby league and I think it is one of those things where the more involved you are, the more you fall in love with it,” Jones said.
“It is the people, it is who we are, it is the fans, the volunteers who give up their time to travel particularly in our regional communities.
“So that is very flattering but right now I am focused on what I have been asked to do, which is drive participation.”
V’landys was reappointed as chair in February and it is understood he has no plans to walk away any time soon.
AUSSIE ATHLETICS’ CEASEFIRE
The civil war that threatened to split NSW athletics is officially over. Athletics NSW and Little Athletics NSW have joined forces after years of bickering to launch the NSW Athletics Partnership.
The new program will offer a unified pathway and end the duplication of competitions and championships that existed when the two bodies were at odds.
“The establishment of the NSW Athletics Partnership is a significant milestone in the history of athletics in NSW and Australia,” Athletics NSW chair Matt Whitbread said.
“For the first time in 56 years, ANSW and LANSW will have a singular focus on providing a unified and exceptional experience of athletics for our members.
“That singular focus will be where it should be – on our athletes and clubs and not on the administrations.”
NEW BLOOD INTO RLPA
Dale Finucane, Chad Townsend and Felise Kaufusi have joined the board of the Rugby League Players Association.
The experienced trio were appointed at the RLPA annual general meeting on Wednesday night.
“I have been lucky enough to play the game for 14 years now and I have seen the RLPA evolve and only grow and get stronger every year,” Townsend said.
“I am a player and I love the players and I will always stand up for the players, so this means a lot to me.”
Kaufusi added: “Becoming a Director on the RLPA Board is an important step in my journey of continuing to advocate for the rights and welfare of rugby league players.”
FLASHBACK
The Dragons were all smiles on this day five years ago. New recruit Corey Norman celebrated his first win at St George Illawarra by landing a field goal to help the Dragons to a 25-24 win against Brisbane. Jack Bird score a try for the Broncos.
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