What’s the Buzz: Gould lures boom Dragon to play halfback for Bulldogs

He still has more than two seasons to go on his contract, but expect the Dragons to lose one of their young guns to the Bulldogs next year, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.

The NRL is about to face its toughest television ratings battle of the year.

On Thursday week Sam Kerr and the Matildas open the FIFA World Cup on Channel 7 up against St George-Illawarra v Wests Tigers – two hopelessly out of form NRL teams.

The Matildas are playing their first game against Republic of Ireland in front of 80,000 fans at Accor Stadium and an anticipated national TV audience north of three million.

At the same time the NRL will be flat out getting 8000 to Wollongong.

And on the same night Australia is playing England in the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford on 9 GEM.

Making it even harder for the NRL is that their players are now on a media strike.

There will be little or no promotion of the game between two sides where the only interest is which of them can avoid the wooden spoon.

Sam Kerr is a huge drawcard for the Matildas.

Channel 7 insiders are suggesting the Matildas will attract a national audience of more than three million viewers – higher than State of Origin – for the first soccer World Cup game this country has hosted.

Recent marketing surveys showed the Matildas have overtaken the Wallabies as the fourth most popular Australian national sporting team, behind the Kangaroos, the Socceroos, and the Australian cricket team.

The game was originally scheduled for Allianz Stadium but had to be switched to Accor to cope with the unprecedented public demand for tickets.

Seven’s coverage will be led by veteran presenter Bruce McAvaney and Mel McLaughlin.

The tournament runs over four weeks with the final in Sydney at Accor on Sunday, August 20.

The Ashes is attracting ratings. Picture: AFP

POLITIS FORCED TO RELENT TO FIFA

Not even the Sydney Roosters’ billionaire chairman Nick Politis can get his own way all the time.

Not when the world’s most powerful sporting body FIFA is in town to host the Women’s World Cup.

You will remember the drama from earlier this year when Allianz Stadium joint tenants Sydney FC covered up the ‘Home of the Sydney Roosters’ sign with a $150 Bunning tarpaulin.

Well, FIFA is about to do the same thing.

All World Cup games have to be played at ‘clean’ venues. There can be no sponsorship signs or team names displayed at the stadiums over the month of the tournament.

We hope FIFA can do a better job than Sydney FC with the cheap tarpaulin.

The "Home of the Sydney Roosters" sign at Allianz Stadium covered up by a $152 Bunnings tarpaulin.

JETT CLEARY’S UNIQUE CONTRACT SITUATION

It’s going to be difficult for any NRL club to pinch teenager Jett Cleary, the younger brother of Penrith Panthers superstar Nathan Cleary.

For starters the 18-year-old doesn’t have a manager.

Instead, he is being guided by his mum and dad, Ivan, the two-time premiership winning Panthers coach.

This should put to bed speculation that the Warriors were poised to try to pinch him.

Jett has been playing at the Australian Schoolboys this week at Redcliffe. He scored three tries in NSW Combined Catholic Colleges win over Combined Affiliated States.

It’s been a busy year because he’s also sitting for the HSC at St Dominic’s college in Penrith.

The teenager has been earmarked to play starting halfback for the Panthers’ SG Ball side next year.

No doubt he will eventually join the management stable of George Mimis, who looks after both Nathan and Ivan.

Like his older brother, Jett is a halfback. Down the track they could even play together in the halves.

Jett Cleary after winning player of the match in the game against the Combined Affiliated States.

WORK TO START ON $309M PENRITH STADIUM UPGRADE

Work will begin on the Penrith Panthers’ new $309 million stadium at the end of next season.

Chief executive Brian Fletcher will sit down with government officials next week to finalise a plan for the venue.

The Panthers had originally hoped to build a stadium similar to CommBank at Parramatta, capable of holding more than 30,000 fans.

Instead the project will be scaled back.

Work will begin after the Panthers’ final home game next year. They will play at CommBank in 2025 and return home the following year.

HEARTWARMING GRAND FINAL TRIBUTE TO TINA TURNER

Tina Turner’s iconic rugby league music and memories will be revived in a heartwarming grand final spectacular at Accor Stadium.

Exactly 30 years after the late rock’n’roll superstar played at the Broncos v Dragons grand final at Allianz Stadium, the NRL is in discussions with the management of Tina the Musical, currently playing at the Theatre Royal in Sydney.

Alfie Langer and Tina Turner holding the Winfield Cup. The NRL is planning a grand final tribute for Turner.

Tina passed away in May this year, aged 83, revitalising the old memories of rugby league fans for her spectacular TV commercial campaigns that delivered unprecedented exposure to the code – and tens of thousands of new fans.

The iconic songs Simply the Best and What You Get is What you See will blast out of Accor Stadium on Sunday October 21 in a musical extravaganza before the kick-off.

Former NRL boss John Quayle, who signed up Tina back in the 90’s, loves the idea.

“Tina’s death brought alive the memories of how much she was loved in Australia from her connection with rugby league and the commercials,” Quayle said.

“The show in London, New York and now Sydney has been so hugely successful.

“This is a fantastic tribute to Tina and the fans will love it.”

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo declined to comment while in the middle of negotiations.

Rugby league has sometimes been criticised in the past for its big-game entertainment.

The AFL did it best last year by securing English mega-pop star Robbie Williams as the headline act.

Tina, however, will go gangbusters.

Ruva Ngwenya, an Australian of Zimbabwean heritage, has been highly acclaimed for her performances as Tina in the Sydney show.

The victorious Brisbane Broncos with Tina Turner after their grand final win 1993. Picture: Colin Whelan © Action Photographics

SAINT

Mitchell Marsh’s magnificent run-a-ball century at Headingly. He comes across as such a humble team player and a really decent fella who has overcome so many setbacks.

SINNER

Brad Fittler says the media is trying to drive a wedge between him and certain players. He’s doing a pretty good job of that himself. Last year Freddy said of Reagan Campbell-Gillard, “he doesn’t suit the way we want to play.” He also brushed Josh Addo-Carr, who went on to score 12 tries at the World Cup. This year he has given 10 minutes to Nicho Hynes and Stefano Utoikamanu – then abandoned both of them. It is a disgrace he is blaming the media for all his selection stuff-ups.

SHOOSH

Halfback Jayden Sullivan remains under contract at the St George-Illawarra Dragons until the end of 2025. It means nothing. He will be feeding the scrums for the Canterbury Bulldogs next year, mark my words. We’re also hearing Kyle Flanagan will be following his dad Shane to Saints.

SHOOSH

Which NRL club has quietly raised the possibility of signing Justin Holbrook just three weeks after his ruthless sacking from the Gold Coast Titans, knowing he could possibly deliver David Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui for next season.

SHOOSH

Bradman Best always wanted to be a rugby league player but could also have made it in boxing. As a teenager he hit the pads and sparred at a Central Coast PCYC where trainers tried to convince him to fight instead of play footy.

SPOTTED

Old Parramatta Eels legends Peter Wynn, Bob ‘The Bear’ O’Reilly and Mick Cronin having lunch with their great mate John Singleton at Trattoria on Bondi Beach.

Advertising guru John Singleton (third from left) with league legends Peter Wynn, Bob O’Reilly and Mick Cronin.

SPOTTED

A horse called First Immortal, by the sire Churchill, won at Flemington last Saturday. The three-year-old was named after the late and great Clive Churchill and has now won five races.

The horse was originally to be registered as The Little Master but the name was knocked back by racing authorities. Barry Vandenbergh, a close friend of the Churchill family, owns the three-year-old. Good judges say it’s got the ability to win big Group races and could aim for the 2024 Melbourne Cup.

BUMPER LINE UP FOR BRAIN CANCER FUNDRAISER

There is a huge sporting lunch next month where guest speakers include Ray Warren, Peter V’landys, Gus Gould, Chris Waller and legendary turf journalist Kenny Callander.

Tickets are $2500 per table of 10 and include full entertainment, a three-course meal and drinks in the function room in the WINX grandstand at Royal Randwick on Friday, August 18.

All money raised goes to research into brain cancer. Tickets are available on 0451 151 871 or at www.australianturfclub.com.au/brain-cancer

Originally published as What’s the Buzz: Gould lures boom Dragon to play halfback for Bulldogs