Los Angeles: Look out Russell, Hollywood has a new set of rugby league stars.
A group of Sydney Roosters players have just found out that a diehard supporter, who is a filmmaker in Hollywood, has been using their names in movies and TV shows aired around the world.
Josh Brandon, a third-generation product of the eastern suburbs who lives in the US, invited players and staff to his Los Angeles home last week for a barbecue and showed them the list of Roosters references he has used over the years in Hollywood.
The filmmaker, who has worked with stars such as Ray Romano, regularly travels to Australia to watch games and is well-known to senior figures at the club. He reached out to the Tricolours via board member Brien Samphier to organise a get-together at his LA home while they were in town preparing for this weekend’s season opener in Las Vegas.
“My family have always been Roosters fans,” Brandon, who also co-wrote William Shatner’s book Boldly Go, told this masthead.
“My dad and my grandfather always took me to games and we bonded over our love for the Roosters. I’ve been back to every grand final, I flew to England for the World Club Challenge. I’ve even converted my wife into a Roosters fan and she’s an American.
The Sydney Roosters players are entertained at super fan Josh Brandon’s LA home.
“My relationship with the club has grown over the years, but I couldn’t have imagined as a kid that one day they would be so accessible to me. They are a really good group of people. They’re so well-mannered and respectful. They all came up and introduced themselves and there was no cynicism about it.”
Brandon produced a slideshow of all the references he has used in his films and television series over the years, leaving the players in stitches. The reference to chairman Nick Politis was a hit.
“Mr Politis isn’t a man to be messed with, son,” a man says while standing over the top of a character he had just attacked in the film Bad Tenant. “You’ve got two days or you’re done for, mate. Two days.”
He’s also managed to get an Eastern Suburbs Roosters mug into a film. The characters he has used, and the Roosters name they reference, include:
- Boyd Davis from Haven (SyFy Network): A tribute to former captain Boyd Cordner.
- Mitchell Pearce from Houdini and Doyle (Fox): The name of the club’s former halfback.
- Julia Hargreaves from Houdini and Doyle (Fox): Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.
- Jennings Shipyards from Houdini and Doyle (Fox): Michael Jennings.
- Dr Frank Keary from A Thousand Little Cuts (Showtime): Luke Keary.
- Mitch Aubusson from A Thousand Little Cuts (Showtime): The former back-rower.
- Detective Crichton from Black Bags (Vision Media): Angus Crichton.
- Dr Tupouniua from Black Bags (Vision Media): Sitili Tupouniua.
- Daniel Tupou Esquire from House of Lies (Lifetime): The winger.
- Cathy King from House of Lies (Lifetime): Life member Cathy King.
- Officer Morris from Be My Baby: Brett Morris.
- Officer Manu from Be My Baby: Joseph Manu.
- Isabelle Kelly from Be My Baby: The club’s NRLW star.
- Lindsay Collins from Be My Baby: The prop forward.
- Trent Robinson from Valentine’s Town: The head coach.
- Jessica Sergis from Bad Tenant (Lifetime): The club’s NRLW star.
- Mr Politis from Bad Tenant (Lifetime): Chairman Nick Politis.
“I first tried to get Boyd Cordner into an episode of a sci-fi film I did, but you can only get away with it if there are more than five people with the name,” he said.
“If they haven’t heard of it you can’t use it, so I came up with Boyd Davis. Then I did this Fox show Houdini and Doyle in northern England and they didn’t mind if names were real because they couldn’t possibly be referring to anyone given it was set in 1901. That’s when I used Mitchell Pearce, Julia Hargreaves and the Jennings Shipyard.”
Brandon organised for a top magician to entertain the players with illusions and tricks at his home. His replica DeLorean time machine from the Back to the Future trilogy was a big hit with his NRL guests.
The DeLorean replica at Brandon’s house (left) and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves at Universal Studios in Los Angeles (right)
He also took several staff members and players, including Angus Crichton, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Lindsay Collins, on a backstage tour of Universal Studios in Los Angeles. Cordner’s knowledge of Harry Potter was impressive.
“I didn’t want to just give them another dinner,” Brandon said. “I wanted to give them something Hollywood.”
Roosters get Clipped
The Sydney Roosters had a night to remember in Los Angeles on Saturday night. They were guests of the LA Clippers NBA team, with about 40 players and staff given tickets to the match against the Sacramento Kings at Crypto.com Arena.
Sydney Roosters stars James Tedesco, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Angus Crichton at the Clippers game on Saturday night.
For some it was the second match in three days, with James Tedesco and Trent Robinson having also attended the LA Lakers game against rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama’s San Antonio Spurs.
Spurs assistant coach Matt Nielsen, who is also the assistant coach for the Boomers, spoke to several Roosters before tip-off. Nielsen is a former NBL most valuable player and championship winner with the Sydney Kings.
American eyes on Jason Saab
The NRL grabbed a spot on mainstream television in Las Vegas with 23-year-old Manly winger Jason Saab interviewed on one of the city’s sports programs.
Saab was a special guest on Sports Wrap, on KLAS 8 News Now, and answered questions from hosts Chris Maathuis and Ron Futrell as momentum builds before the NRL double-header at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday.
Politis’ grandson, friends converge on Vegas
Nick Politis’ grandson is travelling from his home in London to watch this weekend’s NRL action in Las Vegas.
Politis’ grandson has also convinced four of his friends, who live in New York City, to make the trip west to see what rugby league is all about.
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