There is a far greater problem than player misbehaviour that Mick Fuller will be faced with if, as expected, he is approved to join the ARL Commission this week.
Commission chairman Peter V’landys is increasingly concerned about links between players and underworld figures. Fuller, 52, is expected to fill the vacant position on the commission before Friday’s annual general meeting. The prospect of Fuller joining the commission has been accepted, but his critics say he has a far more important role to play in his day job as Police Commissioner than attending to drunken footballers. V’landys says there is a bigger issue at play, however.
NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller.Credit: Jessica Hromas
“There is a bigger problem facing the game that Mick needs to help us with and that is making sure the players are not associating with criminal figures, whether that be with those in the underworld or those with links to unsavoury people,” V’landys said.
In the past, images have surfaced of NRL players dining with gang members and other controversial figures.
“It has been something we have been worried about and there have been instances where these kind of people have been associated with NRL players,” V’landys said.
“There is no one better to help the NRL through this kind of thing than Mick. The players need to know that these people will treat them like some kind of commodity that they can use for their purpose and then they discard them.
“We can’t let these figures who are known to police get their hooks into our players and, as a result of that, into the game. The integrity of the game is all important and Mick will help keep the game clean and maintain the standards that we demand and expect from the players and anyone else associated with the game.”
Tigers saga leaves bitter taste for Aloiai
The truth behind Josh Aloiai’s messy departure from Wests Tigers has never been fully explained, but today we can take you inside the dealings that led to his sudden departure.
“My character was assassinated,” he said. “But the details will remain with me. The club doesn’t need the firestorm because they cop it enough and there are a lot of great people there. I think 90 per cent or more of the players made the effort of contacting me when I was going through the drama I went through. I can look back on that time and I have my integrity.”
Aloiai became a target for Tigers officials when he agitated for an immediate release in November to join the Sea Eagles. The matter got uglier still when Aloiai texted chief executive Justin Pascoe to say, “I’ll never wear the jersey again”.
Josh Aloiai has signed with Manly after a bitter split with the Wests Tigers.Credit: NRL Photos
For some time this column has been making enquiries about the deal with Manly that saw Aloiai end up being branded greedy. The contract he signed with the Sea Eagles was for $30,000 more than what the Tigers were offering, so hardly the sort of money that would prompt you to ask for an immediate release.
Aloiai and his agent, Tyran Smith, approached the club to ask for an extension. They had a simple message for general manager of football Adam Hartigan: they wanted an easy negotiation and asked for the club’s best offer. An offer of $400,000 with $425,000 for the second year was put forward, but it was only on the table for 24 hours. It was a take-it-or-leave-it deal.
Aloiai had been among the Tigers’ best players in recent years and led the way in most of the key areas forwards are judged on.
The offer did not sit well with Aloiai or Smith. Eventually the offer was upped to $475,000 and $500,000. The issue was escalated to Pascoe, but things only got worse, even though the money on offer increased. Pascoe claimed he was not aware of the details of the deal, but I have been told he was copied in on emails about the negotiations. Aloiai then called out Pascoe on this. With all of this going on behind the scenes, Aloiai was getting torn to shreds publicly. To this day he won’t speak about what took place.
“My contract negotiations are private,” he said. “If I ever had to get into a debate on the facts in public I’d be comfortable that I’d win the debate. That’s all I will say.”
Pascoe did not respond to requests for comment.
Burgess pays the price
Sam Burgess is already paying a price for his lost court case against former father-in-law, Mitchell Hooke, and his upcoming appeal is vital when it comes to his ability to earn and provide in coming years.
Moss Vale Local Court magistrate Robert Rabbidge found on February 5 Burgess had intimidated Hooke at the family’s Glenquarry property in October 2019 with the intention of causing him physical and mental harm.
Burgess was a notable absentee at the Fox League launch. He knows he has to clear his name to avoid bringing unwanted attention to any employer. He will be an assistant coach to Wayne Bennett for Souths’ first-grade squad, but he has given up his roll as coach of Souths’ SG Ball team.
I attempted to ask Hooke some questions about the case and Burgess. I received a response from his lawyer, who did not want to answer any queries.
It is a very challenging situation for all involved, but Burgess is desperate to maintain a strong and loving relationship with his children.
Pearce and love
The cancellation of Mitchell Pearce’s wedding created significant headlines during the off-season after he was caught sending intimate text messages to a female Knights staffer.
Mitchell Pearce and Kristin Scott in 2019.Credit: Getty Images
What has not been mentioned is the hard work he has been doing to make amends to fiancee Kristin Scott.
In a good sign, she was at a gathering of Knights wives and partners last Saturday at the home of Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien.
Rights and wrongs
There are the usual noises coming from the same old places trying to drive a wedge between Channel Nine and the NRL, but behind the scenes there have already been talks about a new TV deal – and more talks are imminent.
State of Origin moved to a post-season series in 2020, and wasn’t the ratings winner it usually is.Credit: Getty
The NRL is usually quick to crow about TV ratings successes. Not this year. That is because its premium products, State of Origin and the grand final, recorded big drops in viewers on free-to-air TV. The marquee events usually make up three or four of the top five free-to-air programs of the year. It is what makes the NRL rights so valuable.
However, last year the AFL moved its grand final from the afternoon to the night and it immediately became the top rating show with more than 3 million viewers across the state capitals. The NRL grand final attracted 2.1 million viewers in the capital cities.
The real problem for the NRL is the Origin ratings. It is only six years since Origin was at its ratings peak, attracting a record 4 million viewers. Last year the best average national audience – for the game three decider – was 2.7 million. Worse still, the other two games were beaten in the capital city ratings by the Australian Open, The Block and Lego Masters. Even the New Year’s Eve fireworks on the ABC beat Origin II last year. So it is no surprise Nine Entertainment Co – the owner of this masthead – is taking a considered approach when it comes to the next television deal.
The NRL put up an array of excuses last year – from the pandemic to the US presidential election – for the ratings dip. It won’t have those excuses this year.
It is hard to believe it would be the governing body trying to push the line it may take the rights to a rival network. Instead it seems to be a tired agenda.
It is hard to know which network can bid for the rights. Channel Seven already has AFL rights and Channel10 has been cutting costs by offering redundancies to some of its most popular personalities.
Cherry Blossoms
The new management group set up by Joe Wehbe is kicking goals. Ignite Sports management has just landed a big client in Queensland captain Daly Cherry-Evans.
Ignite, which is run by Anthony Field and Wehbe’s nephew Jonathan, who is the accredited agent for the group, also has Blues captain James Tedesco on its books. Ignite Sports was created after the split between Wehbe and Isaac Moses, the manager to the stars who has had his accreditation cancelled by the NRL. Wehbe had a legal win against Moses and is now providing input to the new company.
Under Wehbe’s guidance, DCE’s game has gone to a new level.
SBW fighting fit
There are plenty who want to scoff at the boxing ability of Sonny Bill Williams, but things are about to get serious. SBW has been working on building his own boxing gym as he prepares for a series of fights.
Dog gone
The Adam Elliott saga has been handled well by the Bulldogs, but the strange dismissal of players liaison officer Yvette Davey is hard to understand. Loved by players and their partners, Davey has now consulted a lawyer to get answers about why the club has let her go.
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