Sport Confidential: Chad Townsend’s media ambition sparks move, calls for return of Caxton Street gauntlet
Chad Townsend has opened up on his motivation for calling it quits at the Cowboys while ’Alfie’ Langer is set to cash in on his new-found popularity.
There was another key reason behind Chad Townsend’s decision to leave the Cowboys at season’s end and sign with the Roosters for 2025.
The champion halfback is keen for a post-football career in the rugby league media.
While many retired players move into the coaching ranks – and Townsend certainly has the football brain for that – the 33-year-old is keen to carve out a career as an expert commentator.
Cooper Cronk moved into a commentary role at Fox Sports after his two-year cameo at the Roosters and Townsend hopes his stint at Bondi can help set him up for life in the NRL media.
Well-spoken, well-groomed and possessing a sharp mind as a premiership playmaker, Townsend would be a handy addition for Fox Sports, Channel 9 or a radio network.
“I’m definitely keen to get into the media,” Townsend said.
“That’s one of the other things that was appealing about me heading back to Sydney.
“It is home for me, but it also creates a great opportunity for a segue into media post-football.
“I have made it clear I have a passion for football media and rugby league and being able to have the chance to do that is something I am looking forward to.”
Asked if he would like to work for Channel 9, Townsend said: “To be honest, I will go to whichever place would take me.
“When you go into the media, you need someone to give you an opportunity.
“If I can put the same work ethic that’s got me 15 years in the NRL into commentary post-football, that’s what I will be doing.
“But right now, I’ve got more to offer as a player and the move to the Roosters is the right deal for me to get my foot back in the door in Sydney.”
BLACK’S BIG BLOW
Brisbane’s injury dramas have continued with Adam Reynolds’ potential successor – boom halfback Coby Black – the latest Bronco to join the casualty ward.
The teenage sensation suffered a broken thumb playing for Souths Logan in their Queensland Cup clash against Easts Tigers last Sunday.
Black’s setback came just a week after the Broncos young gun turned out for the Queensland under-19s in their clash against the Blues at Leichhardt Oval.
But the sight of Black arriving at Broncos training on Tuesday with his arm in a sling adds to a Brisbane injury curse that has claimed Reynolds, Reece Walsh, Jesse Arthars and Payne Haas this season.
The 18-year-old will undergo surgery and faces six to eight weeks on the sidelines.
Underlining his toughness, Black broke his thumb in the first five minutes, but soldiered on for the Magpies until halftime.
SIN CITY BEARS
The mighty Bears could be coming out of hibernation … in Las Vegas!
After more than two decades in the rugby league wilderness, North Sydney bosses are in talks with Western Australia for the Perth Bears to enter the NRL, possibly as early as 2027.
The NRL last week called for expressions of interest, with a Perth Bears joint venture now emerging as the frontrunners ahead of Papua New Guinea to become the code’s 18th franchise.
And if they are successful, the expansion hopefuls are keen to potentially play their historic first premiership match in Sin City.
By 2027, the NRL will be entering the fourth year of their five-year deal to play double headers in Las Vegas and the Bears have informally discussed the prospect of a stunning rebirth to the big league at Allegiant Stadium.
The return of the Bears would be the ultimate feather in the cap for ARLC boss Peter V’landys’ expansion legacy and what better way to celebrate their NRL revival than a launch party in Las Vegas.
ALFIE’S STAR ON RISE
He may be 57 years old, but Broncos legend Allan Langer is still so popular he has signed up with a management stable.
Sport Confidential can reveal Langer has joined forces with Pacific Sports Management, the same agency which looks after the affairs of ‘Alfie’s’ great mate, Broncos coach Kevin Walters.
PSM is one of the biggest agencies in Australian sport with the likes of Jason Taumalolo, former Eels coach Brad Arthur, Queensland Origin assistant Josh Hannay, Jahrome Hughes and Selwyn Cobbo on their books.
Now Langer is in their stable, with PSM director Chris Orr saying Brisbane’s greatest halfback is a man in demand with sponsors and corporates.
“Alfie’s popularity is mind blowing,” he said. “I don’t know many kids today who know older players from his generation but even the younger generation know and love Alfie.
“He’s a great Queenslander and there’s a lot of commercial interest in Alf, so we’re happy to help him.”
GUS CALLS FOR BLUES TO RUN CAXTON ST GAUNTLET
Former NSW Origin coach Phil Gould has called for the return of the famous Caxton Street gauntlet run to fire up the Blues for the Origin decider.
One of Origin’s greatest traditions was the sight of the NSW team bus driving down Caxton as thousands of rabid Maroons fans hurled abuse and XXXX at the terrified Blues.
The practice last occurred in 2011 before being banned by Queensland police for safety reasons.
But as NSW attempt to win their first Origin decider at Suncorp since 2005 on Wednesday week, ‘Gus’ Gould wants the Blues to run the gauntlet again.
Queensland authorities are unlikely to let it happen ever again, but Gould says Michael Maguire’s 2024 Blues squad would relish seeing and feeling the hatred of Queenslanders.
Asked if the NSW bus ride past the Caxton Hotel should be brought back, Gould said on his Channel 9 podcast: “Absolutely. What are they scared of?
“We went down the first two years in 1992-93 (when Gould was coach). We had to get a police escort to the games.
“My first experience was in 1992 and I loved going down Caxton Street.
“What happens is the legend grows and grows and you get idiots who step over the mark. But all the players I coached talk about what a thrill it was and I got to experience it as a coach.
“We embraced it, it’s good for the supporters.
“It’s the modern world now. I do remember the bus shaking and the banging on the side (from Maroons fans hitting the bus).
“There was no police the first time.
“It was great.”
COTTER’S COWBOYS COUP
Cowboys co-captain Reuben Cotter is set for a bumper $2.5 million upgrade in the wake of his rise to the Queensland Origin team.
Sport Confidential can reveal the Cowboys have opened talks with Cotter’s management on an extension ahead of Saturday’s clash against Manly in Townsville.
Cotter is off-contract at the end of next season and is currently one of the lowest-paid players in the State of Origin due to his meteoric burst into the Maroons ranks.
But that is about to change with North Queensland bosses keen to reward the inspirational forward for the brilliant form and leadership that saw Cotter handed the co-captaincy with Tom Dearden in pre-season.
A three-year extension would be worth in excess of $800,000 per season and keep Cotter at the Cowboys until the end of 2028.
Cotter turns 26 in December and has fought back admirably from a series of serious knee injuries that could have ended his career before he reached the top grade in Townsville.
The Cowboys will look to complete a new deal after this year’s Origin series, with Roosters-bound teammate Chad Townsend lauding Cotter’s importance to the club.
“Everything about ‘Rubes’ is inspirational,” Townsend said.
“He leads our team so well, his leadership qualities and actions are incredible.
“It has been awesome to see him grow from where he was to where he is now.
“His growth has been incredible on and off the field _ his maturity, the way he approaches the game and his professionalism.
“He will have a long representative career with Queensland.
“As a New South Welshman, I don’t want to talk him up too much but Rubes will be one of Queensland’s great Origin players.
“He has been an honour to work with and it would be great if the Cowboys kept him for the long haul.”
BRONCOS FACE COACHING WIPEOUT
Broncos coach Kevin Walters will begin the search for fresh blood with his key assistant Lee Briers set to join John Cartwright at the Red Hill exits.
Sport Confidential can reveal the Broncos have opted not to take up the option on Briers’ deal, with the Warrington legend weighing up a return home to the UK.
Walters played with Briers at the Wolves and headhunted the British league legend to join the Broncos last season, with the former playmaker having an instant impact on Brisbane’s success.
In his first season as Brisbane’s attack coach, the Broncos charged to the 2023 grand final on the back of offensive structures implemented by Briers and executed to perfection by skipper Adam Reynolds.
Briers had a 12-month option to remain with the Broncos for the 2025 season. The option lapsed on June 30 and has not been activated, with the parties set to part ways at season’s end.
It is understood Briers has a number of offers in the English Super League. The 46-year-old held preliminary talks recently with South Sydney-bound super coach Wayne Bennett, but nothing eventuated from the discussion.
Briers has been a popular assistant with Broncos playmaking stars Reynolds, Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam and was seen at Red Hill regularly talking tactics with Brisbane’s skipper.
Walters will have a new-look coaching brigade in 2025.
In May, his other assistant John Cartwright agreed terms with Hull FC and the Titans foundation coach will depart the Broncos at season’s end to embark on his Super League journey in 2025.
Meanwhile, a third assistant, highly-regarded Matt Ballin, could also be in the sights of NRL rivals.
Speculation sweeping league circles suggested Ballin was close to inking a deal to work with Des Hasler at the Titans, but Gold Coast bosses insist no approach has been made to the former Manly hooker.
Ballin, who is contracted to Brisbane until the end of 2025, has aspirations to become an NRL head coach and he is on the rise.
The 40-year-old joined the Queensland Origin staff this season after Billy Slater’s assistant, Storm legend Cameron Smith, severed ties with Camp Maroon.
Queensland players have been impressed with Ballin’s knowledge and work ethic.
PARO’S AUSSIE SUPER FIGHT
He is Australia’s newest world boxing champion.
Now Mackay mauler Liam Paro is eyeing a blockbuster first world-title defence on home soil against either George Kambosos or Devin Haney, who famously squared off twice in Melbourne in 2022.
Paro returned home to a stunning reception at Brisbane airport in the wake of his monster boilover defeat of Subriel Matias to win the IBF super lightweight world title.
The 28-year-old has engaged Duco Events, the firm that brokered the epic Jeff Horn-Manny Pacquiao bout at Suncorp Stadium in 2017, to put on another world-title spectacular Down Under.
‘The Dream’ Haney regards Australia as a happy hunting ground after he beat Kambosos in back-to-back bouts to become the unified lightweight world champion.
Unbeaten in 25 fights, Paro, who has Italian heritage, says he would relish throwing down with Haney or accepting an all-Australian super fight with ‘Ferocious’ Kambosos.
“I would love to fight Haney or George Kambosos. It doesn’t matter who is next, I will make it 26-0,” Paro said.
“I would 100 per cent fight George if it makes sense.
“He still has a big name in boxing and it can be the Italian versus the Greek.
“The Romans took the Greeks out back in old times and I can take out George in the modern day.
“No disrespect to George, but I’m the world champion and my team will make the decisions.
“I just do the fun part and fight.
“Haney is a great fighter who has been here before, so I would love to have a big show in front of my Australian fans.”
MARATHON EFFORT
The Gold Coast marathon will celebrate the biggest turnout in its decorated 45-year history this Sunday.
The event was founded in 1979, but 2024 will be a milestone year for the Gold Coast Marathon with a record 10,000 competitors to take part in the 42km event.
Such has been the unprecedented demand for entry, GC Marathon bosses have had to reconfigure the course to accommodate the record field after 6700 ran last year.
“It’s a 10,000 sellout,” GC Marathon director Ryan McDonald told the popular Inside Running Podcast.
Asked why marathon running has taken off in Australia, McDonald added: “There’s a combination of factors. Running was the simplest thing to do during Covid, so there’s a lot more people starting their running journey.
“There’s a big focus on people’s health from a physical and mental wellbeing standard, so there’s a lot more people running for their mental health.
“With the cost of living crisis, running is still one of the cheapest things to do.
“If you are delivering good events, people want to come back.
“We would love to have another Australian winner of the Gold Coast marathon _ it’s been a long time since ‘Troopy’ (former Olympian Lee Troop) won in 2006.”
More Coverage
Best 17, rookies to watch: Bulldogs primed for premiership charge
There’s something special about Canterbury heading into 2025. PAMELA WHALEY breaks down the issues facing the club, the rookies to watch and more in our deep dive into the Bulldogs.
Milford signs with Brisbane Broncos feeder club
Former Broncos and Dolphins playmaker Anthony Milford has made a last-ditch effort to revive his NRL career, signing with one of Brisbane’s feeder clubs.