Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: Kiwi Kalyn’s representative controversy, Dally M clanger, NRL legend’s rehab revelation
A former State of Origin and Australian rep player has made a startling confession about his retirement struggles, revealing a gambling addiction forced him to check into rehab. Buzz Rothfield’s Saint, Sinner, Shoosh.
We’ve heard a stack of stories over the years of old NRL players who have struggled in retirement.
Hard man David Gillespie was one of them.
In a new podcast, ‘Cement’ has admitted to a gambling addiction that once forced him to check into rehab.
Speaking on the Chiming In podcast, which airs on YouTube FanaticsTV on Sunday, Gillespie gives an open and honest account of how his life was spiralling as his career came to end.
“I got into a bit of a vice with gambling and poker machines,” Gillespie tells Steve ‘Chimes’ Gillis.
“I ended up going to a rehab joint for six weeks and that was probably three or four years after I retired.”
Gillespie talks about addiction, rehab and how he managed to get his life back on track.
KIWI KALYN AS FRESH REP CONTROVERSY EMERGES
New Zealand coach Stacey Jones wants to offer Newcastle Knights champion Kalyn Ponga a Kiwi Test jersey, opening a fresh debate and a new round of controversy over the superstar’s rep future.
Ponga created a furore last season when he made himself unavailable for a Kangaroos jersey, preferring to concentrate on his off-season with the Newcastle Knights.
The Newcastle skipper then played for the Maori against the Indigenous All Stars last month, showing his deep passion for his New Zealand heritage.
So we tracked down Kiwi legend Jones to get his thoughts.
“Of course we’d be interested in a world class player like him,” Jones said. “This has been in the back of my mind.
“I’d love to sit down and have a chat with Kalyn. I’ll let him get his season underway but geez, if he was interested … you never know what can happen.
“I watched the All Stars game. For everyone that walks into that environment it’s something very special. That’s what our Kiwi environment is like too.
“It’s hard in these situations where the appeal of Origin is there.”
We approached Ponga’s dad and manager Andre, a proud Maori man, to get a guide on Kalyn’s plans.
He refused to rule anything out.
“We haven’t thought that far ahead or heard anything,” he said. “The Knights are now his main focus; one week at a time.”
It would be a great result for international football for Ponga to be allowed to play for the Kiwis.
Australia already has Penrith’s Dylan Edwards, Broncos star Reece Walsh or Manly’s Tom Trbojevic to choose from at fullback. Even James Tedesco, too.
So why not strengthen the Kiwis with Ponga in the No.1.
The outdated State of Origin eligibility rules need looking at. They were put in place before the huge growth of international league in the Pacific.
It is ludicrous that the likes of Jarome Luai and Stephen Crichton can wear a NSW Blues jersey but then play for Samoa. Or that Haumole Olakau’atu can play both Origin and for Tonga in international football.
But if Ponga chooses New Zealand, he is ineligible to play for Queensland in Origin.
There is another hurdle that needs to be cleared after Ponga played for Australia in an innocuous World Nines event back in 2019.
‘HARDEST THING IN MY LIFE’: KALYN PONGA BARES HIS SOUL
An international rule states: “When a player is selected in a nine’s tournament, he/she is deemed to have elected to play for that nation.”
So we went to International Rugby League boss Troy Grant to get his thoughts.
He didn’t want to go on the record, but revealed there was a process for players to lodge requests to change their choice of country.
And, that the fact it was only a Nines tournament and not a Test match, that Ponga’s case to play for New Zealand would be enhanced.
DALLY M CLANGER
Journalists were often criticised in the old days over Dally M voting.
Then the NRL punted us all and put former players onto the panel.
Last weekend the Manly Sea Eagles flogged the Cowboys 42-12.
Somehow, on the losing side, winger Braidon Burns finished up with a point.
The best winger on the field by a country mile was Manly’s Lehi Hopoate.
It is not right that the NRL uses anonymous judges for such a prestigious award.
Seriously, whoever gave Burns the point should be removed from the judging panel.
He or she has no idea.
FAMILY TRAGEDY STRIKES BELOVED SPORTS JOURNALIST
Rugby league journalists have been left devastated by a terrible tragedy involving one of our own.
Jen McCutcheon (formerly Browning) was one of the most popular and respected footy journalists on the ABC for nearly a decade before taking on a regional role and settling in Gilgandra in the state’s north-west.
She met a farmer, Andrew McCutcheon, married and had two beautiful little girls — Evie, 3 and Annie, 18 months.
Four weeks ago, their world changed forever when Andrew passed away suddenly, at just 36, from a still unexplained medical episode.
His death has shattered not just Jen and her daughters, but an entire town; mourning the loss of a truly decent, hard-working family man.
ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys and Souths CEO Blake Solly are among a host of NRL heavyweights who have reached out to Jen, along with her old journo mates.
A fundraiser is being planned for later this year to help out and Jen and her little girls. God bless them.
LANGMACK’S HILARIOUS SOUTHS COACHING CALL-UP
There will be some fantastic old footy yarns shared when South Sydney Rabbitohs old boys honour the club’s former head coaches at a home game against the Broncos in May.
None better than the bizarre story of how one of the game’s great characters, Paul Langmack, was appointed coach at the beginning of the 2003 season.
Club legend Craig Coleman had been sacked as head coach just 11 days before the start of the season after being flogged 58-12 by the Wests Tigers in a trial game.
The job was supposed to go to Phil Blake, but Langmack got it by default.
We’ll let him explain the circumstances of how it unfolded.
“We got beaten by 50 in a trial game and George Piggins (chairman) told Tugga he had to resign,” Langmack said.
“I was coaching second grade and Phil Blake had a job there, too.
“David Tapp was the CEO. It was a circus.
“After Tugger resigned, I turned up in my office on Monday to coach the reserve grade and Tappy walks in and says Blakey is the new coach, and that I’m his assistant.
“I said ‘no mate I’m a second-grade coach, I want my own team.’
“He kept saying I had to help Blakey. Anyway, he leaves.
“Now you won’t believe this … half an hour later I get another knock on the door and Tappy walks back in and says ‘congratulations Langers, you’re the new head coach.’
“He’d found out Blakey didn’t have his coaching certificate or qualifications.
“So I got it – like a Stephen Bradbury.”
Langmack ended up signing for three years.
He too was given his marching orders midway through the following season.
“They kept paying me for 18 months until the three years was up,” he said.
SAINT
Andrew Edmondson. Paralympian wheelchair rugby league player.
This guy spoke at the Big Sports Breakfast lunch on Friday, telling the story of how he broke his neck in a surfing accident at just 13, finished up in a wheelchair, but refused to let it ruin his life.
The 27-year-old is such an inspiration.
SINNER
NRL contract clauses. They should be banned. Never, ever to be used again. We now have an outrageous situation where four-time premiership-winning five-eighth Jarome Luai is one game into a five-year contract at the Wests Tigers yet is being linked to the Parramatta Eels. #NRLINCRISIS
SHOOSH: SHARKS’ COVID SCARE
The Cronulla Sharks did well to keep the lid on a Covid outbreak amongst the players when they returned from Las Vegas. Up to six players were struck down with the virus but fully recovered in time for the match against the Cowboys in Townsville.
SHOOSH: 10-YEAR GALVIN DEAL?
Shane Richardson is giving nothing away around plans to keep boom five-eighth Lachlan Galvin in a Tigers jersey and away from the likes of the Eels.
I asked Richo would he be prepared to offer Galvin a 10-year deal.
“All I’ll say is we have the money to retain Lachlan,” he said. “As for the length of the deal and details of an offer – that will remain between us.”
SHOOSH: FORMER EEL BAULKS AT RETURN
Wigan star Bevan French has ruled out a possible return to Parramatta.
Your columnist had a coffee at Starbucks with Super League’s Man of Steel in Vegas where he spoke about his new four-year contract and how he was loving life away from the day-to-day NRL spotlight.
French is from Tingha and wants to eventually return home to work in Indigenous communities.
SPOTTED: TALES OF A LEGEND
Imagine a sportsman these days playing for Australia in three different sports. A new book has been released on the last man to do so — the great Dick Thornett.
Dick represented Australia in water polo at the Rome Olympics, in rugby union for the Wallabies and in rugby league for the Kangaroos. The book gives a fascinating insight into his golden years in the 1960s.
Thornett had nine seasons at the Parramatta Eels.
SPOTTED: NRL EXEC’S ROUGH TRIP
NRL Head of Football Graham Annesley was flattened by a mystery virus on returning from Vegas while also dealing with Cyclone Alfred in Queensland.
His home was cut off by floodwaters and lost power and hot water. Annesley had to monitor last weekend’s footy action from an old radio.
Thankfully there were no major refereeing or bunker blunders to deal with.
SPOTTED: GAL SERIOUS ABOUT SBW
We told you two weeks ago the Paul Gallen v Sonny Bill Williams fight was a goer.
Then we saw the Channel 9 commentator and old Cronulla warhorse entering the gym of boxing trainer Graham Shaw in the Shire last week, confirming he was preparing for the grudge fight we’ve all been waiting to see.
FENECH’S SICK FEELING OVER JARVIS
Jeff Fenech was hurting as much as Brock Jarvis as he sat ringside and witnessed his former fighter so brutally knocked out by Keith Thurman at the Hordern Pavilion on Wednesday night.
“I felt sick watching it,” Fenech said. “It was horrible but I will say Brock showed enormous courage to get up twice.”
Fenech and Jarvis had split in the weeks leading up to the fight, leaving the boxer with an inexperienced team in his corner – his dad and ex-footballer Curtis Scott - against a former unified world champion.
Fenech was not consulted when Jarvis agreed to the Thurman fight with No Limit Boxing.
RED DEVIL IN THE DETAIL
Most NRL clubs now run a profitable business thanks to head-office handouts.
The 17 clubs get their salary caps covered in full plus an extra $5 million.
Compare this to the English Premier League where spending is so out of control.
Poor old Manchester United has lost a staggering $615 million in the last three years.
And they’re now talking about building a brand new $4 billion 100,000-seat stadium.
SCG MEMORIAL FOR FARISH
Past and present league types will gather at the SCG on Monday to commemorate the life of the game’s former CFO, Ed Farish, who died suddenly in Brisbane a couple of weeks ago.
Former CEO David Gallop will be there, along with many of Ed’s old colleagues.
“Ed was a central figure in a small but very effective workforce at the NRL for nearly 10 years,” Gallop said, “He was one of those people who helped create a culture of hard work, but fun, as we set about regenerating the game after Super League.
“Ed was untidy but always had the game’s financial function under control. Everyone loved him. He had his own weather system and enjoyed the footy, a mosh pit and a beer.”
AMY KOROISAU: THE BETTER HALF
The better half with Amy Koroisau, wife of Wests Tigers captain Apisai Koroisau.
Api’s had a disrupted pre-season. How has he been the last six months?
Yeah, definitely frustrating. I think missing the Fiji games, the feeling of frustration was probably made a bit less from the joy of having a baby right at that time. I think It was only a couple of weeks before, but he obviously wanted to be there. I think missing Round 1 probably hurt the most. He just wants to get into it, even after training he said ‘I just wanna play‘. It’s very hard to sit and watch.
Big changes at the club this year. Have you noticed a little kick in his step this off-season?
Yeah, definitely having Romy (Jarome Luai) and Tito (Sunia Turuva, who is his cousin, come has made the biggest difference. The team’s got a totally different look but those two, personally, he just gets excited. He’s bouncing around a lot more, just happier.
Everyone’s sort of feeling that it’ll be a very different year. Which gives him a lot of hope I think after the end of last year and where they ended up.
I always ask him, leading up to it, are you excited and nervous? Anything like that and he’s very good at managing it all and I don’t think he gets in the zone or hits him until he steps on the field.
How did you and Api meet?
Ten years ago because our eldest daughter just turned eight. He had just signed with Manly, so the end of 2015. I met him at Bucket List Bondi which I don’t even think is there anymore? That’s how long ago it was. He just asked for my number and the rest is history.
Did you approach him or did he approach you?
He definitely approached me. He was by himself I had no idea who he was. I definitely thought he was attractive, otherwise I wouldn’t have given him my number, but I had no idea (who he was) until probably our first proper date.
What was the first date?
It was in Newtown somewhere, like a salsa tapas bar restaurant. I’m not much of a texter. I think we texted for a few days and then I was like, I can’t get with it so I just called him. He was so shocked that I called. I don’t know whether it’s a common thing these days, but yeah, I just called him.
He was super funny. You would probably know from interviewing him, he has a really unique energy that just draws you in and pretty much since that date we’ve been inseparable.
Favourite part of watching him play?
Just seeing how much he puts into games, he’s always giving 150 per cent. He’s always leading on the field.
From a family perspective I would say it’s the girls just running out onto the field afterwards and him being able to share that experience with them.
Do you struggle to watch the games when things aren’t going his way?
Yeah definitely I think watching him give 150 per cent and then the team not getting the result or the frustrations that he would feel, that’s the hardest part because we’ve all seen his premierships so we know the quality of player he and his teammates are, so knowing that and falling short is hard to watch.
What do you do for work? Does Api ever help out?
I own Kalana Natural Rejuvenation Clinic in Dee Why, but I have a baby who’s only four months old so I’m not involved in the businesses as much, but I’m still just trying to do what I can, managing things from home.
Before bub, he was very supportive, helping with the kids on the days off so that I can do what I need to do. But he has been more hands on too, coming in for facials before and sharing on his socials.
If Api wasn’t an NRL player what do you think he would be doing with his life?
He studied coaching and I think he does want to go into that. And he’s really good at leading but that’s still in the NRL.
He’s freakishly good at math so he would suit being an accountant, even though I’m sure he would find that very boring.
Api is a more senior player now, have you guys spoken about life after footy?
We have, but honestly I feel like he gets better with age, so it wouldn’t be a surprise if he was to play at least another four or five years.
But he will get on that pathway into coaching. I think he does want to be a coach. He spoke about it, but he’s also been doing a lot of appearances on Fox. Even when he retires, I don’t think (Wests Tigers coach) Benji (Marshall) will wanna let him go too far.
What chores does he do? What keeps him busy when he’s not on the field?
Oh my god! He’s got this thing where he stress cleans, which helps me so much because whenever he is stressed — usually after a game, if they lose — he will just go and clean the whole house.
What’s he do to wind down from a game?
He’ll usually just have some Kava, chill out cause he’ll need to calm down from all the adrenaline. It’s a relaxant so I think it just helps because they come home and they’re still pumping full of adrenaline. They need to wind down to be able to sleep because it’s really hard to sleep after a game.
Does he have a favourite meal?
He likes lemon garlic chicken and potato bake.
Does he consider himself a chef?
He thinks he’s a bit of a steak connoisseur. He’s actually pretty good. He won’t let anyone else cook him steak because he’ll season it perfectly.
Does he have weird superstitions before a game?
When we were first together I think he had a couple of superstitions but, as he got older, he actually stopped them.
He reads a lot of self-development books. I don’t know whether it was because of that or whether he had a chat with someone, but he switched his mindset to the fact that if you have the superstitions it’ll limit the potential, or the outcome, or the gains or whatever you might do, so now he doesn’t have any.
Does he ever bring the intensity home?
He only really stresses after the games if they lose. If they win it’s totally fine but I guess he doesn’t bring the intensity as much. It’s more that there’s just a bit of a low after the games but he’s pretty good at switching on and off.
Does he watch his games back religiously?
Yeah, if they win he’ll watch it 100 times. If he loses he’ll just take time to process and his own head and then they watch it, I think, for a few times.
Worst gift he has ever gotten you?
The worst gift he’s gotten me would probably be one Christmas, he got me this Grinch onesie. I love Christmas. I am the biggest Christmas person.
The girls and I call him the Grinch all the time so I think it was a little bit of payback getting me the Grinch onesie.
Does he compete with you off the field like he does on it?
I’m going to take all of the glory titles on that. We’re both really competitive but he cannot beat me at a board game or a card game. I will win 20 times in a row. Drives him crazy, I have to tell him ‘you might win’ to keep him playing.
Have the losses on the field gotten easier to deal with?
I don’t think it ever gets easier. He’s still probably the same. After every loss, he just takes it to heart and being captain now, it’s probably made him take it a lot harder than before. He carries more weight. He’s low for probably half the week, so by that time it’s usually almost time for the next game.
Add your comment to this story
Challenges facing big-money halves Brown, Luai
Champion halfback Cooper Cronk sees uncanny parallels in the career paths of Jarome Luai and Dylan Brown, warning the two stars of the harsh realities set to confront them at their new clubs.
Casualty Ward: Penrith’s huge blow, Manly’s Turbo boost
Penrith could be without Dylan Edwards for four weeks after scans confirmed the representative fullback suffered a grade one groin strain, while the news was better for a pair of Manly stars.
To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register
Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout