Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: Police won’t cop noisy Bulldogs, Mal Meninga wrestles with Kangaroos captaincy call

The fun police have put the leash on partying Canterbury Bulldogs fans celebrating the end of their finals drought. That and more in Saint, Sinner, Shoosh.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 28: Australia head coach Mal Meninga looks on after the Men's pacific Championship match between Australia Kangaroos and New Zealand Kiwis at AAMI Park on October 28, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

The fun police have stepped in to fine partying Canterbury fans who have been gathering on the main street of Belmore to celebrate after Bulldogs victories.

Of all the crime issues plaguing this city, local police have targeted Canterbury fans. They have been issuing traffic infringement fines for Illegal Use of a Warning Device (excessive horn beeping).

The penalty notice includes a $337 fine and the loss of demerit points.

Long-time Canterbury football club member Bill Diakos has been there for most of the partying.

“We respect that police have a job to do in respect to noise in neighbourhood areas,” Diakos said.

“No one is looking to cause trouble.

“It’s been a long time since we were successful, and we love to gather and celebrate and show our appreciation to the players. It’s all good-natured fun, and long may it continue.”

COWS PITCH IN FOR VAL

The St George-Illawarra Dragons have got an absolute bargain with the signing of goalkicking winger/centre Val Holmes.

We can reveal the North Queensland Cowboys are actually contributing $350,000
of his salary next year in the Red V jersey.

Holmes was on a ridiculously exorbitant deal worth $1.05 million in Townsville next year.

It was putting enormous pressure on their salary cap, combined with Jason Taumalolo
on $1 million.

MAL’S BIG CAPTAINCY CALL

The most prestigious job in league is up for grabs – and whoever gets it has the task of restoring pride and glory to the Kangaroos jersey.

In six weeks, Mal Meninga will name the Australian captain — and he is spoiled for choices.

Incumbent Roosters champion James Tedesco is in scintillating form and could hang onto the job if the Roosters are there and win on grand final day.

However he failed to make the last two NSW teams behind Dylan Edwards – plus the Kangaroos were pumped 30-0 by the Kiwis under his watch last year.

There are so many outstanding candidates.

Penrith’s co-captains Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo for starters.

Mal Meninga has a decision on his hands. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Daly Cherry-Evans needs to make the side ahead of Cleary, but he is the Queensland skipper and up for the job.

What about Jake Trbojevic, who captained NSW Blues to Origin victory over the Maroons?

Then there’s Cameron Murray, although he appears to have struggled this year under the pressure from outside noises that ruined South Sydney’s season.

Four other club captains are likely to make the Australian side — Knights star Kalyn Ponga, the Cowboys’ Reuben Cotter, Storm’s Harry Grant and Ben Hunt at the Dragons.

Isaah Yeo, Nathan Cleary, Liam Martin and Matt Burton representing the Kangaroos in 2022.

Even Patrick Carrigan at the Broncos is regarded as future captaincy material.

We spoke to big Mal about the situation.

“We’ll have a lot of great players and a lot of great leaders to choose from,” Meninga said.

“We’ve got that luxury. I’ll make a recommendation and then it’s up to Peter V’landys and the commission to make the final call.

“Teddy’s playing the best footy he has for a while and the Roosters are pumping along so he’s obviously still in the picture. Dylan looks like he’s playing a bit injured. We’ll see.

“Origin was such a special series so we’ll be making some judgement calls from there.”

Sydney Roosters captain James Tedesco in the Steggles Charity Nest jersey for the Canberra clash. Pic: Roosters Digital

SAINT

We’re not sure if there’s ever been a more generous sponsor in rugby league than Steggles, on the front of the Roosters jersey. For every point the Roosters win by, Steggles donates $1000 and the Roosters another $250. This started in 2010 when the chicken company became a major sponsor.

They have now raised an incredible $5.5 million for Sydney Children’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, the Children’s Cancer Institute, and the Children’s Hospital Foundation in Brisbane. It’s great stuff. The players will wear the charity nest logo on their jerseys against the Raiders.

SINNER

The Latrell Mitchell one-match ban, more than likely to be served next weekend, despite caretaker coach Ben Hornby telling us two weeks ago he was out for the season.

SHOOSH

Which player has quietly retired from lower grade league in Queensland? Hopefully it has nothing to do with rumours he has been betting on games.

SHOOSH

Which NRL coach has fallen out with several senior players? It’s a story we will be monitoring closely.

Nikita Tszyu and Koen Mazoudier sharing dumplings after the fight

SPOTTED

After bashing the tripe out of each other for nine brutal rounds, boxers Nikita Tszyu and Koen Mazoudier had dinner together in Darling Harbour on Wednesday night, devouring plates of dumplings and rehydrating with jugs of water.

SPOTTED

Blocker Roach, Laurie Daley and a who’s who of personalities at the 60th birthday party of fitness guru and celebrity Matt Garry in Woolloomooloo.

Cronulla Sharks at a cafe

SPOTTED

The Cronulla Sharks boys enjoying brekky at Rushi cafe in the Shire, a venue also frequented by Canterbury Bulldogs stars and coach Cameron Ciraldo.

GRAHAM WRESTLES WITH A CHALLENGE

Former Bulldogs and Dragons warhorse James Graham is about to make his debut as a wrestler.

The Fox Sports and Triple M personality was recently called out by Pro Wrestling Australian heavyweight champ Ricky South.

They will fight as part of a tag-team match-up on October 13 at the Metro Theatre, an event that will be live-streamed to wrestling fans.

Graham was an NRL powerhouse and trained to grapple throughout his 16 years in the NRL and the UK Super League.

“I’m just responding to the challenge,” Graham said.

“Ricky South came out and said I wouldn’t last two minutes.

“Let’s see about that. Let’s just do it.

“Some ex-footballers want to go boxing … I’m having a go at wrestling. I can’t wait.

“Expect me to come off the top turnbuckle!”

The Cowboys will be pitching in a decent chunk of Valentine Holmes' salary at the Dragons next year. Credit: NRL Images.

A KNOCKOUT SHOW

Your columnist has been to some great fights over the years, none more so than Jeff Horn v Manny Pacquiao in 2017 at Suncorp Stadium.

Well, Wednesday night at the ICC in Darling Harbour was right up there with the best shows I’ve seen.

It had everything … theatre, drama, ‘colourful’ identities throughout the venue, and the highest quality of fights.

I’ve had a million stinks with No Limit promoter Matt Rose over the years, but you’ve got to admit it – he’s a genius at putting on a world-class show.

Jazzy Parr beats Pannaporn Kaewpawong on Wednesday night

JAZZY BOXER’S 5M HITS

Born into combat sports royalty as the daughter of legendary fighter John-Wayne Parr, ‘Princess’ Jazzy Parr is turning heads inside and outside the ring.

A weigh-in video, posted the day before the 21-year-old put in a stellar performance on the No Limit fight card in Sydney, has amassed almost five million views on social media.

One post from boxing journo Jai Marcus McAllister on TikTok alone has done 4.4 million views.

To put that in perspective, the shocking scenes after the Michael Zerafa v Tommy Browne fight reached one million views.

Promoters George and Matt Rose are already scouting her next opponents, confident she will be ready to challenge for a world title within the next 12 months.

TEXT LEAK TENSIONS

There has been a falling out at one NRL club between a big-name player and a recruitment boss over a leaked text message. The recruitment man bagged the player in a text message last year that the player has now seen. He is not happy about it.

Ron Coote poses as the 14th Immortal. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

COOTE PARTY FOR GOOD CAUSE

The Family of League organisation is throwing an 80th birthday party for rugby league’s 14th Immortal Ron Coote as part of a major fundraiser.

Guests will include a couple of champion old locks – Wayne Pearce and Brad Clyde – at Canterbury Leagues Club on October 18.

Coote was the founding chairman of the charity – formerly known as the Men of League – and has worked tirelessly over two decades to raise funds for battling former players and their families.

Tickets are $250 per person, or $2400 for a table of 10, with all profits going to the charity.

You can make a booking on the website familyofleague.org.au.

OLD RIVALS CLASH TOO CLOSE TO CALL

Laurie Daley and Greg ‘Brandy‘ Alexander have been rivals going back almost 35 years.

Back in 1990, Daley’s Canberra Raiders beat Alexander’s Panthers 18-14 in the grand final.

In 1991 Brandy reversed the result, beating Daley’s Raiders 19-12 in the decider.

All these years later they are still at it – this time on breakfast radio. Brandy works alongside Andrew Voss on SEN, while Daley is on the Big Sports Breakfast with Michael Clark and Gerard Middleton.

In the latest ratings survey released last week, they dead-heated with 2.3.

SEN went down slightly, while the BSB held steady.

It was a huge survey for my mates and colleagues Ray Thomas and Dean ‘Bulldog’ Ritchie on the Weekend Big Sports Breakfast. They had a huge increase rate at 3.5.

Sunday rugby league ratings saw the 2GB Continuous Call team on top again in Sydney.

However, it’s a different story in the combined Sydney and Brisbane markets in the rugby league states, with Triple M on top (16.6), 2GB (12.9), Aunty ABC (9.6) and SEN (1.1).

Originally published as Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: Police won’t cop noisy Bulldogs, Mal Meninga wrestles with Kangaroos captaincy call