Sport Confidential: Wests Tigers’ bid to hit ground running blocked by NRL, player’s union
Roosters rookie Joseph Suaalii has bolted into Kangaroos contention — read all the hottest rugby league news in Sport Confidential.
Sydney Roosters teenage sensation Joseph Suaalii is a step closer to the World Cup after he was selected in a preliminary 42-man squad for the tournament.
National coach Mal Meninga and his fellow selectors convened on Thursday morning for their first selection meeting, where it is understood Suaalii was prominent in the discussion.
The selectors have also discussed taking St George Illawarra captain Ben Hunt as a hooker, which would place pressure on incumbent Australian rake Damien Cook. Harry Grant is expected to be a certain selection.
Suaalii has been floated as a potential Kangaroos bolter and News Corp understands he will be included in the preliminary squad with a view to taking him on the plane to England foe the tournament, which will begin in the middle of October.
The 19-year-old was on the verge of playing State of Origin for NSW this year, having been selected by coach Brad Fittler and adviser Greg Alexander as part of the extended squad.
He has maintained his form since then, playing a starring role in a Roosters side that has won eight straight games.
Suaalii could also have played for Samoa had he not been selected for Australia. However, it is understood his preference is to pull on a Kangaroos jersey and that dream is now a step closer to reality.
Hunt was also at the forefront of the selector’s minds as they met. However, it is understood the discussions centered around using Hunt purely as a hooker rather than in the halves, where Meninga and the selectors are well stocked. Meninga met with Darren Lockyer and Laurie Daley on Thursday morning as the Kangaroos take stock. Players who miss the finals but are in Kangaroos calcualtions will play in a PM’s XIII match against PNG on September 25 at Suncorp Stadium.
Suaalii could also line up for Samoa if he is overlooked by the Kangaroos.
At 19 he would become one of the youngest players to play for Australia if he makes his Test debut. Sione Mata’utia eclipsed Israel Folau’s record as the Australian Kangaroos youngest player in 2014. Mata’utia was 18 years and 129 days old.
Meanwhile, Payne Haas is expected to be cleared of a shoulder injury and be available for selection.
TIGERS’ BID TO HIT GROUND RUNNING BLOCKED
Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens and his incoming assistants Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah had planned to kickstart their coaching revolution this week.
The plan was for the trio to take training through until the grand final, giving them a flying start for next season.
Those plans were scuppered by the NRL and the players union. The Tigers and all other clubs were told that once their season came to an end, they had to send their players on holidays.
Confidential has obtained the email that was sent to the clubs on behalf of the workloads and balance committee.
It included the recommendation that pre-season training for the 2023 season should not commence prior to November 1. It also recommended that players should not be required to train on Sundays when they do return from their breaks.
RUGBY REVENGE: NRL’S BIG LOSS IN POACHING WAR
Rugby Australia is set to claim a major coup by landing one of the football codes brightest prospects in Max Jorgenson – the son of dual code player Peter.
Peter’s former club the Roosters and the Bulldogs were among the NRL club’s chasing the teenage prodigy however Rugby Australia are now the favourites to tie him down.
Jorgenson is in year 12 at St Joseph’s College but a bright future awaits.
Peter played for the Wallabies as well as 103 NRL matches split between Penrith and the Roosters.
“I started playing when I was five, dad got me into it and I started playing both,” Max said in a recent interview with News Corp.
He was named vice-captain of the NSW under-18s team where he played fullback.
XERRI’S AUDACIOUS NRL RETURN BID
Bronson Xerri’s comeback plans have picked up steam after the former Cronulla centre instructed a new agent to find him a club.
Xerri seems hellbent on making his NRL return when his doping ban ends with the speedster now putting himself on the open market when he is free to join a club next year.
Confidential understands that Xerri has agreed to join the stable of Matt Desira, whose company Aria Management looks after the likes of Marty Taupau, Daine Laurie and Jayden Campbell.
Desira also manages incoming Wests Tigers assistant coach Benji Marshall, who will take over the head coaching duties from Tim Sheens at the end of 2024.
Xerri, at one point regarded as one of the game’s emerging stars, hasn’t played since the end of 2019 after receiving a four-year ban for failing a doping test.
His failed doping test was made public in May 2020 as he made his comeback from a shoulder injury.
Not long before his ban, he had rejected a deal worth $500,000 a season with Cronulla amid rumours that he was in the sights of the Sydney Roosters.
Now he finds himself attempting to start again, provided Desira can find a club that is willing to take a chance on the 21-year-old.
Xerri’s ban ends in November next year but he is free to resume training with a club from September. There were suggestions he would have a crack at the NFL but this move now points to a potential NRL return.
Xerri played 22 games for the Sharks in his only season in 2019 where he was named joint rookie of the year at the club alongside Briton Nikora.
Under clause 10.14.2 of the WADA code, suspended athletes may “return to train with a team or to use the facilities of a club or other member organisation” during the last two months of ineligibility.
It means Xerri is barely 12 months away from returning to the game.
SEA EAGLES KNOCK BACK $20M
Manly chair and owner Scott Penn has confirmed that he rejected a recent bid to buy his stake in the club. Penn, who has been locked in talks with coach Des Hasler over a new deal, confirmed that he had been contacted about a week ago by a group looking to buy his share in the club.
The offer was believed to be in the vicinity of $20 million. Penn revealed the approach was from the same group that targeted the club more than 12 months ago.
It is understood the group is American-based and has raised the prospect of taking the Sea Eagles to train with NFL teams.
“This is the group that approached us a couple of years ago,” Penn told Confidential.
“We stopped discussions very quickly when they couldn’t confirm their proof of funds. We just went there’s no point talking about it.
“We’re in a different position (then) to where we are now. We have zero interest. They reached out again about a week ago.
“We said we have no interest.”
GAL UNLOADS ON SBW
Rugby league legend Paul Gallen has unloaded on Sonny Bill Williams, declaring a full stop to talk of a potential super-bout between the two former footy stars.
Gallen fired up after William mentioned his name at a media event on Thursday to pump up his upcoming fight with MMA star Mark Hunt, who hasn’t fought since being beaten by Gallen two years ago.
That sent Gallen into a frenzy as he outlined the timeline of talks with Williams and his manager Khoder Nasser.
“There is no point talking about it any more,” Gallen told Confidential.
“I have chased it for 10 years. No return call from them, nothing at all from them. Last year on grand final day - I will never forget it - we were in the studio together and I said, ‘Sonny, mate, I am retiring next year, if we are going to fight we need to sort this out.
“I have a contract with No Limit. I can fight you at any point as long as it is 10 weeks prior to one of these events. I had a fight coming in December so I said we need to fight in October or November.
“He said, ‘bro, bro, bro’ - that’s all he says - ‘you know it only takes six weeks’. I said ‘I don’t care, I am telling you now I am retiring next year’.
“That was it, I walked out. March or April comes this year …. I rang Khoder and I said we have to sort this out if the fight is going to happen, because I am retiring at the end of the year.
“The phone call was a waste of time. Not one bit of correspondence from them until Sonny Bill one month ago said sign the 60-40 (percentage split) contract.
“I said what are you talking about. We got off air and I said no chance I am taking 40 [per cent], look at the fights I have had.
“No contact again until today when he mentioned my name again because he was looking for a bit of publicity. It is a waste of time, there is no point talking about it.
“Their arrogance is insane. I am putting a full stop on it, it is never going to happen. It is not my fault, it is their fault.
“It is all crap.”
MATTY WHITE TO REPLACE TRACE?
SEN host Matt White was spotted leaving Nine Network headquarters on Tuesday, the morning after A Current Affair host Tracey Grimshaw confirmed she was retiring later this year.
White is a former host of A Current Affair’s former rivals. Today Tonight. He hosted the show for four years and his appearance at Nine prompted speculation he could take over from Grimshaw.
The ball is now in SEN’s court.
HOLLIS TO WELCOME BABY
Fox Sports League’s Hannah Hollis will take the rare opportunity to sit on her couch and watch the finals action unfold from her lounge room.
Hollis wrapped up her season last weekend as she prepares for the birth of her first child on September 22. The mother-to-be will sitting on the edge of her seat as a fan instead of her usual hosting duties when the finals kick-off on Friday night.
“Of course I’d love to be part of the finals action like I have in the past but it is going to be cool to watch it as a fan,” Hollis said. “I’m lucky to have a bit of time off before the bub arrives.”
While she is prepared for all the finals action Hollis said her and husband Tom are eyes wide open when it comes to the impending birth of their daughter.
“I’ve had plenty of advice from all the girls – Lara Pitt, Von Sampson and Jess Yates,” Hollis said. “But we don’t really know what to expect. We’re open-minded.
“We are lucky enough that we are having the bub in basically the off-season so we can enjoy some time as a new family of three over summer.”
Hollis will take a break before returning for the start of the netball and NRL seasons next year. Despite knowing the gender of the baby the pair are yet to land on a name.
“We have a short list,” Hollis said. “I said I’d like to see her before we name her. I wasn’t named for a week or so when I was born. It’s part of the casual and relaxed approach that I’m trying to manifest.”
Hollis is tipping the Panthers to face the Sharks in the grand final.
LIDDLE’S DRAGONS MOVE
Only a late mishap will stop Jacob Liddle from joining the Dragons next season after he completed a medical with St George Illawarra officials this week.
Liddle is expected to sign with St George Illawarra for 12 months and challenge Andrew McCullough for the starting hooker role.
The Tigers rake has another 12 months left on his Tigers deal but has been given permission to negotiate with rival clubs.
Meanwhile, the Tigers have confirmed the appointment of David Furner to the club’s coaching staff. Furner will assist head coach Tim Sheens and future mentor Benji Marshall at the club next season.
Furner was at Canterbury this year. He won a premiership under Sheens at the Raiders in 1994 and was part of Sheens’ Kangaroos coaching staff previously.
BRONCO’S SURGERY BLOW
Kurt Capewell will undergo a shoulder reconstruction after the Broncos back-rower carried the injury through the back end of the season. Capewell was hampered at times by the shoulder pain but played on as the Broncos clung onto their top eight hopes. He is expected to be fit to start next season.
RETURN OF ELECTRIC EEL
Ex-Parramatta skipper Nathan Cayless is set to reunite with the club. Cayless, who played 259 top grade games for the club, will join Parramatta’s coaching staff next year. He is expected to take charge of their NSW Cup team and assisting with the NRL team.
Cayless has coached at the Warriors, Roosters and Tigers since leaving the Eels. He was part of the Tigers coaching staff this year.
NRL’S CRYPTO KINGS
Canterbury gained global traction following their launch of the Illuvium jersey they wore against Manly last week.
It was the first time fans could buy a jersey using cryptocurrency with the club selling about 1000 of the one-off items.
The jersey was able to be purchased as a bundle which included an NFT and a 2023 membership.
“Bulldogs’ supporters are amongst the most passionate in the game,” Bulldogs boss Aaron Warburton said. “However, like any business looking to grow, we’re focused on attracting new audience segments. We know how good our product is, and we need to work harder at exposing it to more people.
“I’m delighted that (co-founder) Kieran Warwick and Illuvium share our vision of growth. We now have new fans in over 30 countries around the world.”
GOOD SPONSOR
NOVA Employment, has signed as a gold sponsor for the Skyring Wheelaroos, bolstering ongoing support for the team’s Rugby League World Cup preparations. Their campaign starts on November 3 when they play England in London.
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