NRL 2021: Dragons eye Moses Mbye for finals charge | Sport Confidential
Another player transfer is on the cards after the Dragons and Tigers held discussions over Moses Mbye making an immediate move.
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Come now or don’t come at all.
That is the ultimatum the Dragons have given Wests Tigers utility Moses Mbye, who is weighing up a mid-season move to the club.
The Dragons and the Tigers have held discussions in recent days – aided by the fact the clubs are sharing the same hotel. It would mean Mbye could switch clubs without any biosecurity exemptions.
St George Illawarra have made it no secret they want Mbye immediately as they look to push for a finals spot. They are prepared to take up the remaining year on his contract but only if Mbye arrives before the August 2 deadline. If he opts not to make the move for this season, the Dragons will withdraw their interest.
Mbye is understood to be hesitant about leaving the club immediately, while the Tigers remain open to the move given the large chunk of salary cap he is eating into. The Tigers gave Mbye permission to negotiate with rivals earlier this year.
If nothing eventuates between Mbye and the Dragons then the club will spend the final days before the trade window closes knowing they have cap space and a spot to fill this year. They are on the lookout for a utility who can act as cover for Andrew McCullough at dummy half.
Newcastle’s Connor Watson is not on the club’s radar despite the 25-year-old yet to pin-down a contract extension with the Knights.
Meanwhile, Dragons youngster Jayden Sullivan will get a chance to impress on Sunday having been called into the side to replace the suspended Corey Norman.
Sullivan has long been earmarked as a first grade star but his opportunities have been halted by injuries this year. Rival clubs are already circling, knowing they can speak to him come November 1.
V’landys fears ‘mentally killing’ NRL stars
By Paul Crawley
A fired up Peter V’landys has doubled down on critics of Australia’s so-called “cowardly” decision to withdraw from the Rugby League World Cup, declaring: “I will never put anything ahead of human life”.
It comes after frustrated tournament organisers hit out at Australia and New Zealand for abandoning the end-of-season tournament, which they say may have “wide-ranging implications for international rugby league”.
Head of English Rugby League Simon Johnson went as far as to label the verdict “selfish, parochial and cowardly”.
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But despite the outrage V’landys was adamant player welfare had to be the priority.
While V’landys has done all in his power to keep the NRL competition up and running throughout Australia’s developing Covid crisis, he says there was just no way he can justify the risks associated with sending our players to the UK.
“They have got this app in England and if you come close to someone who has got Covid you get a text and you have to isolate for 14 days,” V’landys explained.
“At the moment each week 600,000 people are isolating.
“In a period of two weeks that is 1.2 million.
“So if a player is over there and they come into connection with a close contact that would mean they would have to go and isolate for two weeks.
“Then they would have to come back to Australia and stay in a hotel room for two weeks.
“That is four weeks in a hotel room.
“Mentally you could destroy a player’s life forever if you stuck him in a hotel room for 28 days.
“You can only mentally take so much.
“There was no way I was going to risk them catching Covid.
“And then you send them over there, they catch Covid, and they can’t play anyway. So we wouldn’t be competing anyway. The whole team would be out.
“We would mentally kill the poor buggers.
“I will never put anything ahead of human life.”
V’landys said the ARLC’s decision has cost the game considerable revenue but that was not even a consideration.
“It shows you that money is not the driver for us,” V’landys added.
“It is all about the players’ welfare.”
KANGAROOS, KIWIS SLAMMED BY WORLD CUP ORGANISERS
Frustrated tournament organisers have hit out at the decision by Australia and New Zealand to withdraw from the World Cup which has plunged the tournament into chaos.
It prompted the head of English Rugby League Simon Johnson to label the verdict as “selfish, parochial and cowardly”.
Officials were given just minutes notice by the NRL’s management that the tournament’s biggest drawcards – Australia and New Zealand – were about to officially withdraw. A press release soon followed. The decision drew condemnation from UK sports Minister Nigel Huddleston.
It has left the tournament now facing extreme uncertainty as officials spend the next few days considering if it will go on. A tournament spokesman said the decision may have “wide-ranging implications for international rugby league”.
Just a week after tournament officials declared the competition was on, the Australian Rugby League Commission announced the defending world champions will not compete. Their Kiwi counterparts have followed.
International Rugby League chairman Troy Grant said he found it “difficult to find the words that adequately describe my disappointment with that decision.”
“We will be reconvening to consider our options and next steps once the RLWC2021 Board and UK government have had time to consider and absorb the news themselves,” he said.
Two other nations could be brought into a severely weakened tournament. The increasing concerns regarding Covid-19 has led to the commission backing out of the tournament.
Clubs have also fought against the World Cup. New Zealand signed a participation agreement but had until July 31 to fully endorse the tournament. Australia and New Zealand pledged to support the competition if it is postponed another 12 months.
“Not participating in this year’s World Cup is not a decision the Commission has taken lightly, but we must put the best interests of our players and officials first,” ARL chairman Peter V’landys said.
“Protecting them is our absolute priority. In the current environment, the risks to the safety, health and wellbeing of the players and officials travelling from Australia to participate in the tournament this year are insurmountable.
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH NRL PODCAST
Phil “Buzz” Rothfield, Michael Carayannis and Adam Mobbs give an insight into the nightmare facing NRL families inside Queensland quarantine and analyse the Tevita Pangai Jr saga, plus Buzz shows off his broadcast skills.
“The majority of NRL players are currently living away from home under difficult biosecurity protocols. They would then be required to remain under protocols and away from home for the duration of the tournament before again quarantining on return to Australia. This is too much to ask our players and officials to do.
“We have again requested the International Rugby League and Rugby League World Cup consider postponing the event until 2022 to enable all players to participate.”
It is unclear what this move means for players who are eligible to represent the likes of England, Lebanon, Greece, Tonga, Samoa, Fiji and PNG.
REALITY BITES IN QUARANTINE
The dire quarantine situation on the Gold Coast only got worse for families as their prepared meals started to arrive. Some families had to wait three hours for a cold serving of bacon and eggs. Things didn’t get better when lunch arrived at about 1pm. On the menu was some soggy sweet potato fries and dry chicken tenders, while children were served a slightly more appetising offering of chicken nuggets and chips.
LOVEMORE RETURNS FOR CHARITY
Boxing champion turned lawyer Lovemore Ndou is making a return to the ring later this year to raise funds for South Africans in need.
Sydney-based Ndou has been compelled to action after watching his native country ravaged by Covid-19 and violent riots in recent months, and has spoken to some of the biggest names in boxing to get involved in his charity event.
“We’re in open discussions with Team Mundine and Team Horn, they’re very excited about the prospect of getting back into the ring for a good cause,” Ndou said.
“I’m also keen to go toe-to-toe with Floyd [Mayweather]. It may be an exhibition match but the competitive spirit is always there. I sparred Floyd in the past when I helped him prepare for his fight against Ricky Hatton and surely he knows I will be a way better opponent than Conor McGregor or the YouTuber [Logan Paul] he fought on the last occasion. And based on his last performance, I might even beat him.
“I already have a promoter in Brian Amatruda, from Big Time Boxing, who’s willing to make this happen. We are looking at Stadium Australia or Bankwest Stadium in Western Sydney to host the highly anticipated charity fight night in October-November in a Covid-safe environment.
“The current situation (in South Africa) is disheartening, frustrating and dispiriting. It is the last thing the country needs at a time like this when its economy needs revival during the Covid-19 pandemic. Unless we, as people of the world, provide assistance it is going to take years to rebuild and restore what has been destroyed.”
BULLDOGS FINED FOR BUNGLE
The Bulldogs have been given a $5000 suspended fine for an interchange bungle. Canterbury were hit with the suspended fine after incorrectly listing their starting side against the Roosters earlier this month. Renouf Atoni started in the back-row instead of Joe Stimson who was named to start.
ROOSTERS SNARE RENOUF
The Roosters are set to sign underrated Bulldogs prop Renouf Atoni to a two-year deal from next season. The Roosters beat a host of rivals including Manly, Canberra, North Queensland and Super League clubs to land the 26-year-old.
Atoni has been a mainstay of the Bulldogs pack in the past two seasons. He could be groomed to take the spot of Gold Coast bound Isaac Liu.
PRICE UP FOR GRABS
Former Dragons coach Steve Price has come on the radar of a host of NRL clubs given his plan to return to Australia at the end of the year. Price, who is coaching Warrington, has been linked with a move to the Gold Coast where he would work alongside close friend Justin Holbrook.
HELPING HANDS
Clubs are lending a hand in weird and wonderful ways. Cronulla chairman Steve Mace has offered to mow the lawns and walk the dog of interim coach Josh Hannay while Hannay is away with the rest of the Cronulla squad in Queensland.
BOOST FOR BEALE
St George Illawarra veteran Gerard Beale is hopeful he may be able live with his family on the Gold Coast for as long as the Dragons are based in Queensland. Beale and the rest of the NRL are past the midpoint of their hard 14-day quarantine. They will be allowed to live like the rest of the Brisbane population when their lockdown ends. Beale left his young family on the Gold Coast when he joined St George Illawarra in May.
“The relocation has worked in my favour,” Beale said. “I’m excited to see them soon. I saw them at the game but I couldn’t give them a hug. It’ll depend on the Queensland government what we can and can’t do. Fingers crossed (I can live with them).”
FOX LOCKS IN WWE
The two-decade relationship between Fox Sports and the WWE will continue after a new long-term deal between the companies to keep WWE action on pay-TV.
It ensures WWE’s weekly programs including Raw, SmackDown, and NXT remain live on Foxtel’s Fox8 and Fox Sports on Kayo and Foxtel Now. One-hour versions of each show will air the following day and on demand. Main Event is still home to the pay-per-views.
TPJ REUNITES WITH PENRITH STARS
While there has been much speculation about the potential disrupting influence of Tevita Pangai Jr on the Penrith Panthers, his arrival will be an unexpected reunion.
Pangai Jr actually captained Panthers stars Nathan Cleary, Dylan Edwards and Tyrone May when they represented the Junior Kangaroos in 2016.
They defeated the Junior Kiwis 34-20 in Parramatta, with Pangai Jr leading from the front at prop, Cleary at five-eighth, May at lock and Edwards in his customary fullback position.
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has set a strong team-first culture at Penrith and had four conversations with Pangai Jr before the Broncos forward signed for $120,000 for the remainder of the season. The 25-year-old was given permission by Brisbane to do the short-term deal, before he joins the Bulldogs in 2022.
The Dogs are running last on the ladder, and the Broncos second-last, but Pangai Jr now has a chance to win a premiership this season with the Panthers, who will use him off the bench for impact through the middle.
TRAVEL CONCERNS FOR WALLABIES
The Wallabies could be preparing for a Bledisloe Cup showdown in enemy territory, as Rugby Australia assesses multiple options to avoid Covid travel restrictions, including a fortnight in Auckland.
The first Bledisloe match is in Auckland on August 7, followed by the second in Perth two weeks later, on August 21.
Wallabies players are now in a strict bubble at their Sanctuary Cove base, planning to fly to Auckland on August 5, two days before the first match.
Travel from Queensland to New Zealand is still open, but out of an abundance of caution in case the Delta variant spreads rapidly in the sunshine state, all Wallabies players and staff will remain in their bubble from now up until the flight.
But where things will get interesting is after the first Test, with Australian officials considering remaining in New Zealand for a fortnight before flying to Perth for the second Test.
New Zealand has remained Covid-free for some time and would be the safest bet, however coach Dave Rennie may be wary of prying eyes during training sessions across the ditch.
The other option is to fly straight from Auckland to Perth and prepare in the west.
The Wallabies can try to return to their Queensland base and then fly to Perth, but with the virus spreading to different suburbs and cities each day, this is the least likely scenario.
Whatever happens, many players will miss seeing their families for months if lockdowns continue in Sydney and Melbourne.
Meanwhile, RA has been buoyed by the news Brisbane will host the 2032 Olympic Games and believe it further strengthens their bid for Australia to be awarded the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
At the start of the century, Australia was the sporting hub of the world, with Sydney hosting the 2000 Olympics, the British & Irish Lions touring in 2001, and then the Rugby World Cup played here in 2003.
The Lions will tour Australia again in 2025, and we could have the World Cup in 2027 followed by the Olympics in 2032.
World Rugby will vote on the 2027 World Cup venue next May, with Australia the favourite against United States, who are more likely to host in 2031.
THOR SEEKING BOOT SPONSOR
Cult figure Taniela “Tongan Thor” Tupou gave away his boots to a young fan after the Wallabies defeated France last Saturday, then asked down the television camera if any manufacturer could sponsor him.
Problem is, Tupou has had boot sponsors before, but lost the deals because he is highly superstitious and will only play in white boots.
Tupou had a deal with Adidas, who sent him a range of boots in their new season colours. While he trained in them, the giant prop would revert to his old white boots when playing, so they dropped him.
The Wallabies have a sponsorship deal with Asics, who’ve had the same issues.
Tupou, 25, wore a coloured pair of Asics boots when Queensland played the Hurricanes in Wellington last month, but after suffering a 43-14 hammering he declared he’d only wear the white boots on the field.
It remains to be seen if any manufacturer would make white Thor boots, or if the 135kg bulldozer will continue to have to order them online.
ALL EYES ON
The Knights. They have been so meek when things have gone against them this year. They have the talent to make a run but can they find that desire?
FLASHBACK
The Rugby League World Cup was in the headlines again for all the wrong reasons on this day four years ago. Rugby League World Cup chief executive Michael Brown was forced to quit after bullying voicemail threats to then Penrith chief executive Corey Payne came to light. Brown also quit as the NRL’s chief commercial officer.
BLAST FROM THE PAST
TERRY CAMPESE — 139 top grade games for Canberra between 2004-2014 plus one game for NSW and one Test for Australia.
Had it not been for a disagreement with a junior rugby coach, Terry Campese could have easily stuck with the 15-man game. Campese had attracted interest from both codes as a teen. He loved league but it wasn’t until that conversation with the junior rugby coach which tipped Campese towards a path with the Raiders.
Campese went on to win a competition with the Queanbeyan Blues first grade side in 2002 before being graded by the Raiders. He was playing in the NRL two years later.
“(Coach) Matt Elliott called me into his office,” Campese said. “He had footage of Tony Puletua and Joe Galuvao playing and he said ‘you’ll be tackling one of these blokes this weekend’. Penrith had just won the comp and they were a pretty scary back-row. I was over the moon, excited and scared the same time.”
Campese played just eight games the next two seasons and suddenly found himself out of the Raiders top-25. He was demoted to part-time footballer and given the captaincy of the reserve grade team in 2006. The ACT Brumbies called again but Campese felt he had unfinished business.
“As soon as they make you skipper for reggies your career is almost over,” Campese said. “I just stuck with it. I was passionate about my dream to be a professional footy player.
Determination kept me there. I’m a loyal person – I didn’t look at playing for another club. I wanted to give it one last crack.”
Campese was rewarded with a return to the top squad in 2007 but was again in and out of first grade. It wasn’t until 2008 that he finally found his feet.
“I remember playing a handful of games in 2007 and won three of five man of the matches but got dropped when Michael Dobson came back into the team,” Campese said. “It blew me apart. I had no idea what I had to do to cement a spot. When Todd Carney was moved on I was guaranteed to play first grade every week. I gained confidence that no matter what I tried on the footy field I would be there.”
By the end of 2009, Campese had made his Origin and Test debut playing one game each and inking a five-year contract extension.
Campese was on a high before injuries struck. He tore his ACL during the 2010 finals series and then ruptured his pectoral in the gym prior to his comeback. In just his second tackle during his return game he tore his groin off the bone.
Another ACL on the same knee followed in 2013 and by 2014 he was in and out of first grade and told to asked to on at season’s end.
His two year stint in England was plagued by another knee reconstruction on his opposite knee. Campese, who runs his own foundation, has returned to captain-coach Queanbeyan.
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