Bulldog’s Bite highlights and lowlights: NRL coach deals with spies as Cricket Australia and Australian Open go woke

Which paranoid NRL coach has an unorthodox method to deal with spies at training? This and more in DEAN RITCHIE’S return with Bulldog’s Bite.

Bulldog’s Bite is back for the first time in 2024.

Dean Ritchie reveals his sporting highlights and lowlights, which includes a message for Cricket Australia boss Nick Hockley.

HIGHLIGHT

Suspended for a week. I tried to find a highlight from the Australian Open but only saw loud, argumentative, grunting tennis players wearing their caps backwards. Oh for the old days when tennis had some grace and dignity.

LOWLIGHT

Cricket Australia and the Australian Open going woke. How dare they try to ruin and boycott Australia Day. CA CEO Nick Hockley, after a trainwreck radio interview last week when he froze on-air, should resign immediately.

Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley should hand in his papers. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

SPOTTED

Radio giant Ray Hadley, NRL head of football Graham Annesley and Manly godfather Ken Arthurson having breakfast in Main Beach.

SPOTTED

Former Australian Test skipper and co-host of the Big Sports Breakfast radio show, Laurie Daley, on holiday north of Auckland.

SPOTTED

Kangaroos great Noel ‘Crusher’ Cleal enjoying a beer, or two, with son Gareth at Beechwood Hotel, just outside Wauchope.

SPOTTED

Panthers legend Mark Geyer at favourite holiday destination Star of the Sea in Terrigal enjoying the hospitality of resort general manager Bob ‘The Boss’ Lloyd.

SPOTTED

Former Dragons star Mark Gasnier flying down the water slides at Jamberoo Action Park on NSW’s south coast.

SPOTTED

Dragons coach Shane Flanagan working up a sweat with son Kyle walking laps of the Coolangatta Beach pathway.

Dragons coach Shane Flanagan (C) and son Kyle were spotted pounding the Coolangatta sand. Picture: Richard Dobson

SPOTTED

Former first grade champion Craig Field enjoying a beer with popular publican Greg Hodge at Kirra Beach Hotel.

SPOTTED

Former Blues skipper Paul Gallen and ex-Dragons coach Steve Price happily chatting and posing for selfies with punters at Norah Head Sporties.

SPOTTED

Daily Telegraph sports editor-at-large Phil Rothfield having coffee with veteran journo and broadcaster Peter ‘Zorba’ Peters before Buzz’s return to these very pages next week.

SHOOSH I

Which NRL coach has surrounded his club’s training facility with heavy mesh to stop spies peering in?

SHOOSH II

Canterbury has denied it will make internal changes to the football club board at the AGM next month.

SHOOSH III

Which Sydney rugby league journo was left with the bill after catching up for brunch with an NRL coach who is notoriously careful with his money?

SHOOSH IV

Which media sports personality is battling health issues? We will respect his privacy but wish him all the best. He is a champion bloke.

SHOOSH V

Which former player embarrassed himself at a solemn occasion by asking attendees to sign proxy forms for upcoming board elections?

SHOOSH VI

NSW suburban rugby union clubs are still infuriated with the competition’s board amid claims of preferential treatment to elite clubs located in heartland areas. Appeals are being rejected and legal action is possible. NSW Rugby must step in.

SHOOSH VII

Which former Australian forward won his first competition round at his new golf club playing off a 31 handicap? It prompted taunts that he’s a burglar.

SHOOSH VIII

Which former premiership-winning and Test forward is working security for a high-profile beachfront establishment?

SHOOSH IX

Which high-profile sporting journo has cut up his Woolworths rewards card after the supermarket’s horrid decision to boycott Australia Day?

IMAGES EXPOSE BRUTAL BOXING REALITY

These are the images which clearly illustrate the brutality of boxing.

One photo shows Sydney-based Kate McLaren in her previous life as a catwalk model – the other shows the welterweight boxer after being beaten up during a recent bout in Dubbo.

UK-born McLaren once modelled at the Australian Bridal Fashion Week, while also appearing in English catalogues and websites for online clothing stores.

Few would do what McLaren has done – give-up a glamorous and lucrative modelling career for the ferocity of being a full-time boxer.

McLaren’s model face and shoulders were battered and bruised after a recent eight-round decision loss to New Zealander Enja Ryan.

Kate McLaren before her fight...

Kate McLaren after her fight.

“People often ask me why I would give up modelling to box,” McLaren said. “(But) I just love chasing the adrenaline. The bruises have now gone and adversity is about how you bounce back.

“Your mind drives your body. If I want to be a model and then become a professional boxer, and I am telling my mind that’s what I’m going to do, then that’s what I am doing.

“You don’t have to be struck in one box. You can be a tomboy kicking the ball around the park and the next minute you could be in a beautiful
dress in Paris having a lovely dinner speaking French.”

The defeat has only steeled McLaren – who has a 4-1-2 record – to train harder as she chases a world title.

“It was my first loss in three years of professional boxing. As they say, the greatest test of courage on earth is to bear defeat without losing heart,” she said. “I haven’t come this far to only come this far. I will be back.”

McLaren plans to fight again in April.