A tale of two Lukes – Brooks and Thompson – has the potential to impact several NRL clubs, and shake up the game, this week.
Luke Brooks is being positioned to leave Wests Tigers, with his management saying he would prefer not to be coached by Michael Maguire. He has been linked with the Bulldogs and the Knights.
Luke Thompson and Luke Brooks. Credit: Getty, NRL Photos
Luke Thompson’s situation is potentially more explosive. He has been butting heads with Bulldogs management about COVID vaccination. He has told them a number of times that he does not want to be vaccinated. He didn’t even want to wear a mask in Brisbane when players were required to do so after the competition was relocated to Queensland.
I revealed a few weeks ago on Channel Nine news that Bulldogs players were told they had to be double vaccinated by the start of pre-season training on November 1.
I sent Thompson questions about his opposition to vaccinations, but received no reply. Bulldogs chief executive Aaron Warburton also declined to comment.
Canterbury would be happy if Thompson took his attitude towards COVID elsewhere. One of Thompson’s best mates is Wests Tigers UK recruit Oliver Gildart. I’ve been told Gildart has been trying to recruit Thompson to the Tigers, without much luck.
And this is where the two Lukes are linked. If Thompson moved on, there would be money for Brooks at Belmore. It is my understanding that Brooks would be happy to be coached by Trent Barrett. The Tigers have specialist halfback Jackson Hastings counting down the minutes in quarantine after his return from the UK Super League.
The other issue for the Bulldogs is they already have a No.7, Kyle Flanagan. Even if they wanted Brooks – and got him at a discounted rate – the Bulldogs would still have more than $1.3million tied up in the two halfbacks. That’s a big drain on their salary cap.
Pearce wants out
Mitchell Pearce is expected to meet with Knights officials this week and ask for a release to join Catalans on a potential three-year deal. He has been wrestling with the decision for weeks.
I reported weeks ago that James Maloney, Sam Moa and others had been lobbying for Pearce to join the Super League outfit. Pearce is a loyal club man though: he made a commitment to Newcastle to win a comp when he signed four years ago and is aware next season is the best chance to achieve that.
Catalans want Mitchell Pearce to build on James Maloney’s legacy.Credit: NRL Photos
He has a great relationship with coach Adam O’Brien and officials, and does not want to let them down. But the opportunity to play out his career at Catalans is appealing for the 310-game NRL veteran. Pearce has spoken to a host of people about the decision, including former teammates, club legends and Super League players.
It remains to be seen if Newcastle will grant him permission but, given the Knights have depth and salary-cap relief to pursue a replacement, it could be an ideal scenario for the Knights and Pearce.
Hair today ...
There is a story behind the wild and woolly look sported by former Panthers, Roosters, Eels, Blues and Kangaroos star Michael Jennings. The premiership winner was demonstrating that he was prepared at any time to give a hair sample to try and assist his case.
Jennings tested positive to Ligandrol and Ibutamoren in October last year, but has vowed to attempt to return to the NRL once his reduced three-year ban is over at the end of the 2023 season. Sport Integrity Australia proposed a four-year ban to the NRL last month, with Jennings recently agreeing to a deal reduced by 12 months to keep his slim hopes of an NRL return alive.
Jennings has maintained he doesn’t know how the banned substances got into his system.
His long hair hadn’t been cut since August 2020, prior to his positive test. A toxicology report of Jennings’ hair, commissioned by his legal team after his original positive test, revealed no banned substances, so he grew it further and sent samples to France, where they specialise in testing hair for banned substances. With his case now over, Jennings went back to the old look he sported throughout his career.
Burgess won’t talk
Sam Burgess has decided to stay out of the media after he was cleared by police during the week, even though his ex-wife, Phoebe, has been talking to selected journalists.
NSW Police said on Wednesday they would not take any action against Burgess after Phoebe accused him of domestic violence and drug abuse. Sam is now exploring his legal options. He has made it clear he regrets what happened during his marriage, but has always maintained his innocence when it comes to the domestic violence allegations.
Firing back in the media at Phoebe will only damage his children, who will read everything about their parents one day.
Fighting words
Paul Gallen has come out swinging at Josh Aloiai in a barrage more devastating than most of the punches in his arsenal. Speculation is mounting about a boxing showdown between the pair. Aloiai confirmed on Triple M radio during the week that he had challenged Gallen to a bout in December.
“He keeps on giving it to me for not agreeing to the fight, calling me old man and all of that,” Gallen said. “I’ll tell you why I have not agreed, it’s because he is asking for four two-minute rounds. What a bloody joke. This is the bloke who is questioning me and my toughness and my ability, and he wants a fight that short? How embarrassing for him.
“I’ll do six three-minute rounds with him. I’m 40. Isn’t he supposed to be the professional footballer? Although I do question his professionalism as he was calling me out when Manly were in the finals. He didn’t play much all year so at least he was doing something to earn the big bucks Manly were paying him.”
Tyrone may have to go
The Panthers baulked at sacking Tyrone May for his part in the 2018 sex-tapes scandal that rocked the club to its core, but after Wednesday’s board meeting, it’s the club, and not May, which will be under scrutiny if it doesn’t act this time.
Penrith gave May a big second chance when they chose not to dismiss him after he narrowly escaped a custodial sentence last year. May pleaded guilty in 2019 to four counts of intentionally recording an intimate image without consent. During his sentencing in January 2020, Magistrate Robyn Denes said May’s behaviour was “right on the cusp of a custodial sentence”.
The Panthers did the right thing by subsequently helping him with counselling as they sought to assist his rehabilitation. However, they now have more than enough ammunition to dismiss him after his third very public strike.
May appeared to play the victim in a social media post following Penrith’s grand final win when he captioned a photo of himself and Panthers coach Ivan Cleary leaving Parramatta Local Court with lyrics from Canadian rapper Drake: “And the dirt that they threw on my name turned to soil and I grew up out it.”
May was stood down by the club on Tuesday after the NRL fined him $7500 and instructed him to complete further education programs after “social media posts which do not align with the values of the game”.
Now questions are being asked about why the Panthers would not let him go.
At the start of last season he was the other player involved in the TikTok COVID-19 breach with Nathan Cleary. Throw in his recent issues and Penrith have more than enough to sack him. The issue, however, is there is significant support for May at the Panthers.
Digging into the sex-tapes scandal at Penrith in 2018 revealed a meeting that the panicked Panthers had with their players. Players were asked to come clean about any potential breaches of the club’s code of conduct, misbehaviour or further sex tapes. I’ve been told that as many as 18 of the club’s full list of contracted players raised their hands to confess to one form of misdemeanour or another.
To be clear, I am not suggesting that 18 players admitted to appearing in sex tapes, but sources with knowledge of the meeting have told me 18 players admitted to some form of indiscretion.
If May survives this latest stupidity, Panthers officials are going to be the ones under pressure and any slip-up from a player will bring untold attention on the club.
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