NRL 2023: Andrew Johns must choose between NSW Origin and Channel 9 | Saint, Sinner, Shoosh
The Blues’ attack was shocking in their State of Origin II loss on Wednesday night. It’s time their attacking coach choose between commentating for Channel 9 or sitting in the coach’s box.
Joey Johns has a decision to make … he either works for Channel 9 or for the NSW Blues on State of Origin night.
It’s become blatantly obvious the NSW attacking coach can’t do both.
What happens if our tactics need to be adjusted mid game?
How can he communicate with the NSW coaching boxing while wearing a live microphone?
NSW’s attack was shocking on Wednesday night. Clunky and lacking cohesion. Freddy and those in the coaching box were incapable of fixing it.
The Blues could also have done with Joey’s input when a replacement was needed for Tom Trbojevic in the third minute.
They sent out Damien Cook, who did his best.
However, would the eighth immortal have suggested Cam Murray or Isaah Yeo as better options?
This is the biggest rugby league game of the year and Fittler needs his brains trust working together, bouncing around ideas.
Johnathan Thurston takes the night off from Channel 9 and works for Billy Slater.
He sits on the sideline bench and is constantly in touch with the coach. If he has any issues, any thoughts or any ideas he passes them straight on.
NSW desperately needs that same input from Joey.
There is no point in him running the attack for a 10-day preparation and then being unavailable when we really need him while the game is unfolding.
It’s not the reason we lost on Wednesday night – but it was a contributing factor.
SAINT
Billy Slater. A super coach and magnificent rugby league ambassador. I received this text message from the great old journalist Geoff Prenter on Thursday morning: “We’ve heard a few post-match coach interviews in our time. None come close to Billy Slater’s.”
SINNER I
Phil Gould keeps banging on about building great pathways at the Canterbury Bulldogs. Gibber, gibber, gibber. He allows outstanding Moorebank Rams/Bankstown Sports local junior Jake Averillo to join the Dolphins. There was no money for Averillo because the Dogs are spending it to import the likes of Bronson Xerri and Tyrone May in his position.
SINNER II
The NRL is trying to sell seats to a dead rubber. Jarome Luai jumps on social media and calls potential customers “idiots”. He says he had death threats. Rather than insult all fans, it should have been reported to security.
SHOOSH I
Good on the NRL for ruling that Willie Mason can continue his association with the TAB as the sponsor of his popular podcast while still working for the Canterbury Bulldogs. Most of his work is in mentoring and pathways at Belmore.
SHOOSH II
So who was the experienced NRL assistant coach spotted enjoying getting a pedicure last week?
SHOOSH III
The two men the NSW Blues miss more than anyone is Cronulla coach Craig Fitzgibbon and retired skipper Boyd Cordner. Fitzgibbon for his tactical nous, Cordner for his leadership.
SPOTTED I
Phil Gould walking into Shark Park for the Bulldogs match against Cronulla last Sunday in the company of FIVE security guards.
SPOTTED II
Manly’s assistant coach and incoming St George-Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan watching his son Kyle play for the Bulldogs against Cronulla in Sharks chairman Steve Mace’s suite.
THE CLAUSE THAT COST HOLBROOK
Justin Holbrook was sacked by the Gold Coast Titans because he failed to meet a strict performance clause in his contract.
He had to be in the top eight after the first two months of the season.
Holbrook claimed to be shocked by the termination but it was there in black and white in his contract.
Even when the clause wasn’t met after round eight, Titans boss Steve Mitchell was reluctant to sack him.
At that stage the team was running 10th.
The Titans decided to give Holbrook some extra time, hoping he could turn their season around.
It only got worse.
They were flogged 46-16 by Newcastle, beaten 20-18 by the lowly placed Bulldogs and then whacked 46-28 by the Rabbitohs.
That’s when Mitchell, with the board’s blessing, made contact with Des Hasler, the two-time premiership winning coach.
It might have looked harsh because the competition table showed they were running ninth when he was sacked on Thursday.
But the Titans had used their three byes. They had actually performed as poorly as the bottom clubs.
Realistically they were again looking unlikely to play finals football, despite having a player roster that is good enough to be among the top eight teams in the competition.
It’s interesting that in interviews after his dismissal, Holbrook made no mention of the performance clause.
He used lines like: “I did not see this coming at all, that’s what I am pissed off about.
“If they were a bit more open about the way things were heading, I would have been able to digest this, but it’s hit me out of the blue. I had no inkling at all.”
At the end of the day the Titans board agreed they were not going to challenge for a premiership under Holbrook.
That Hasler was the man who could improve the side to become a serious contender.
TEENAGER RAISES $50K
She is the western Sydney teenager who inspired a record $50,000 Paralympic donation.
Matilda Mobbs is the face of Paralympics Australia’s 2023 Tax Appeal, the organisation’s major annual fundraiser that encourages kids with disabilities to get involved in para-sports.
The 13-year-old is an aspiring dual Paralympian. She holds the NSW state record for the S8 shortcourse 400m freestyle, and in January became the youngest classified para archer in the world.
One donor was so inspired by Matilda’s story, that she donated $50,000 to help fund programs such as nationwide Multi-Sport Days, which offer people with a disability the chance to try Para-sports, and where Matilda was discovered for archery. To donate before June 30, head to: https://fundraise.paralympic.org.au/2023-tax-appeal.
PERTH RATES FOR ORIGIN
The NRL would be thrilled with the Perth TV audience for Origin II — up by 11 per cent on the opening game of the series.
This is in the same week Peter V’landys revealed the West Australian premier Roger Cook had contacted him to start lobbying for Perth to be included in expansion discussions for an 18th team.
In all other states the Origin audience was down on game one in Adelaide, obviously because the game was more one-sided and it was obvious the Maroons were going to win from early in the second half at 16-nil.
ASCOT BACKS A WINNER IN ALLY
Sky Racing’s Ally Mosley has been a revelation at Royal Ascot.
She was snapped up by British broadcaster Sky Sports to make guest appearances during their coverage of the UK’s famed racing carnival this week.
Mosley is highly regarded by Frenchs Forest bosses and is likely to be more prominent on the network over the Everest Carnival in Sydney.
LEVY FINALLY COMES AROUND
2GB broadcaster Mark Levy has put away the pompoms and retired as a NSW Blues cheerleader.
Before Origin II Levy ranted: “I’m sick and tired of people criticising NSW and some of the rubbish that gets written south of the Tweed.
“I keep hearing about mass changes, Freddy has got to be sacked. It’s rubbish.”
Straight after Wednesday night’s loss to the Maroons, Levy did a Gus Gould-type backflip.
“I’ve been one of the cheerleaders as I’ve been described,” he said on 2GB’s post-match show.
“I’ve tried to remain positive about NSW but there’s not a lot to be positive about tonight following on from that performance from the Blues.
“There’s a few questions for Brad Fittler to answer.”
Levy takes over from a holidaying Ben Fordham on the 2GB breakfast show this week. He can sure do with a break from rugby league.
MEDIA PROFILE: YVONNE SAMPSON, Fox Sports
Age: Old enough for Paul Hauff to be my first footy crush
First Job: Teaching kids how to ride a horse. My first job in media was covering sport in the Wide Bay area for Seven Local News.
Sporting heroes: Wally Lewis, the greatest competitor and gentleman in the game. Eventing champion Andrew Hoy and eight-time Olympian.
What team do you follow? Dad was from Balmain, so grew up as a Tiger, but in ’88 I was an instant Brisbane Broncos fan.
What sport did you play? I grew up riding horses and was on the National Young Riders Dressage Team. I rode competitively in Denmark and England. I also had a ball playing rugby league for the Sunshine Coast Sirens.
How do you like to spend a day off? With my beautiful little family. (2GB broadcaster Chris O’Keefe and son Henry)
Career Highlights? The three years of historic NRL deciders in the 2014, ’15 & 2016 grand finals, hosting State of Origin and being a part of helping launch Fox League — the world’s first 24-hour rugby league channel.
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