Sport Confidential: Tyrone May-Indiana Cleary dating rumours; James Roberts’ Tigers lifeline

James Roberts seemingly has more lives than the proverbial cat while tongues are wagging about Tyrone May and Indi Cleary, the daughter of Penrith coach Ivan.

A photo of Tyrone May with Indiana Cleary, the daughter of Penrith coach Ivan Cleary, sparked rumours the pair are together.

Wests Tigers will give James Roberts one last crack at the NRL by giving the centre another lifeline.

The Tigers are prepared to hand Roberts a train-and-trial contract, forcing the one-time NSW centre to prove his worth.

The $1000-a-week contract is a far cry from the near $500,000-a-season he was earning just a few years ago. It is similar to the deal handed to Ash Taylor at the Warriors next season.

If Roberts impresses during pre-season, he will be given a one-year deal at the Tigers next year.

James Roberts has been offered a train-and-trial deal at the Tigers. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

It’s amazing to think that Roberts was due to come off-contract at the Broncos this year after re-signing with the club in 2017. Much changed since he landed the richest deal of his career.

He played 11 matches for the Tigers this year on what was billed as a two-year deal. The second year was an option in the club’s favour, which they have decided against taking. Instead, they are giving the 28-year-old the prove yourself or bust deal after there was little interest from rivals.

Roberts played for NSW in 2018 and three years earlier was the Dally M centre of the year.

He was given a one-game ban and fined $7500 for going onto his balcony while in hotel quarantine on the Gold Coast earlier this year.

CONTRACT STOUSH LOOMS

The Warriors and Sharks are about to be entangled in another contract stoush, this time involving rising half Luke Metcalf.

The Warriors want Metcalf to join the club immediately and are prepared to stump up significant cash for the 22-year-old. He has been earmarked to partner ex-Shark Shaun Johnson in the halves at the club. But the Sharks are standing firm.

They are adamant Metcalf, who is on a development deal next season, will need to see out the final 12 months of his contract. The Sharks junior only returned to the club this year after a short stint with Manly. He played six games after making his debut.

Cronulla’s Luke Metcalf is in demand. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

It is expected that regardless Metcalf will sign with the Warriors for 2023 at the very least come next month.

The Warriors will add Ash Taylor on a train-and-trial-contract with the expectation that he will earn a full-time deal next season. Chanel Harris-Tavita is off-contract next year as is Kodi Nikorima.

The Sharks and the Warriors were entangled in a contract war for Toby Rudolf earlier last year. Rudolf backflipped on the Warriors to remain at the Sharks.

Meanwhile the Sharks are set to hand Aiden Tolman another one year deal. Barring injury the contract extension should allow the 32-year-old prop to reach 300 top grade games. He has played 296 matches.

PHOTO SPARKS DATING RUMOURS

Controversial Penrith player Tyrone May’s Instagram feed has created quite a stir this week. He set tongues wagging after he re-posted a photo with Indi Cleary, the daughter of coach Ivan Cleary, calling her “my queen”.

May and Indi Cleary shared reciprocal Instagram posts, with the younger sister of star Penrith halfback Nathan also happily posing with May and describing him as “my king”.

The terms are widely used on social media to describe a person’s partner. However, a Panthers official told us the pair are just good friends and aren’t dating.

Indi Cleary declares Tyrone May her king.

May returns the regal favour.

It’s been quite a week for May. Hours after winning the title on Sunday he thought it was a good idea to post a photo of his court appearance where he was flanked by Ivan.

He praised Ivan for his support and used rapper Drake’s lyrics to take aim at his detractors. Need we remind May that he pleaded guilty and narrowly avoided jail?

The brain-dead post had been deleted by Wednesday.

The Panthers’ players have rightly been enjoying themselves after their premiership success. We’re told James Fisher-Harris and Viliame Kikau have been best on ground.

The Panthers were joined by a few All Blacks in recent days. The likes of TJ Perenra, Akira Ioane and Ardie Savea took part in what has been a few big days for the Penrith boys.

Boo Bailey’s take on the week in NRL.

TRAINER LAUGHS OFF SOUTHS COMPLAINT

Hayden Knowles has been around rugby league for a long time. He has just never been back-page news before.

The experienced Penrith and NSW trainer found himself in the headlines just days out from the premiership decider after the Rabbitohs made a formal complaint to the NRL regarding how much time Knowles spent on the field.

“I actually drew confidence knowing that Souths’ staff were worrying about the wrong things and might not have been on the same page,” Knowles said. “What I mean by that is one of Wayne Bennett’s strengths is knowing what not to worry about.

“There is no way he would worry about that stuff and there is no way he would hang me out to be personally attacked by fans and media. I saw it as a sign that one of his staff were doing it on their own and not totally focused. I actually laughed about it and said to Ivan (Cleary) if I have that much impact on a result of a game I need a pay rise.

“I’m not sure the staff member who wrote the email and wound up the media watches his games back on eaglecam.

Penrith trainer Hayden Knowles had the last laugh after Souths’ complaint to the NRL. Picture: NRL Imagery

“I couldn’t believe, in the biggest week of the year, that it could be such a slow news week that this was newsworthy. Someone obviously pushed their agenda hard to make it so.”

South Sydney sent an email to NRL head of football Graham Annesley raising concerns of Knowles’ involvement in Penrith’s win against the Storm.

According to Souths, Knowles entered the field 13 times. Knowles said in the first round of the finals when they played South Sydney that “their blue shirt was on the field 10 times in one half and their orange shirt was used as a messenger and not for injuries 16 times”.

“I saw one of the smartest men in rugby league Cooper Cronk comment on Fox saying if I know how to ice a game better than Nathan Cleary than something is wrong,” Knowles said. “Cooper is 100 per cent right. In fact my strength is to know what not to say to Nathan, I believe he performs at his best with a clear mind and staying neutral. I like to eliminate any unnecessary stress, I felt the opposition were creating unnecessary stress and noise.”

He joins the Knights next season.

ARISE, ANOTHER ARTHUR

There is another young Arthur in the Parramatta ranks. The Eels could have the rare situation where the head coach has two sons in the first grade squad. Parramatta coach Brad Arthur handed Jakob Arthur his NRL debut earlier this season now his youngest son Matthew is joining the ranks.

Matthew has been named in Parramatta’s Harold Matthews train-on squad. Rising star Will Penisini’s brother has also been picked.

Wests Tigers would like to extend its congratulations to Life Member Benji Marshall on a truly incredible career.

Thank you for all that you have done for our club, our game and for fans everywhere. 👏

— Wests Tigers (@WestsTigers) October 6, 2021

SOUTHS’ BENJI GESTURE

South Sydney showed genuine class in announcing Benji Marshall’s retirement by giving his former club the Tigers a heads up. That allowed the Tigers enough time to put together a tribute for the club’s favourite son.

TIGERS’ FACELIFT

Wests Tigers have launched a new logo in its first major change since the joint-venture started in 2000. The in-house design is part of a new era at the Tigers which is to coincide with the club’s centre of excellence being finished in March. The logo has ditched the Tiger claws and sharpened the font of the Wests Tigers.

The Wests Tigers have updated their logo.

GLAMOUR COUPLE MOVE ON

Once the glamour couple of Australian sport, Wallabies star Matt To’omua and cricketer Ellyse Perry have well and truly moved on following their divorce.

To’omua is now engaged to Naomi Cameron, a psychologist from Canberra, while Perry is dating AFL star Nat Fyfe.

To’omua and Perry married in 2015, but announced their separation last year.

By the start of 2021 To’omua was dating Cameron and three months ago he posted on social media that they had purchased a home together in Melbourne. Sources close to To’omua revealed that he recently popped the question and Cameron said ‘Yes’.

While To’omua has been struggling with concussion issues that ruled him out of The Rugby Championship and coming northern hemisphere tour, he is said to be ecstatic and in a great headspace off the field.

Meanwhile, Perry and Fyfe have kept their relationship very low key.

They have not shared any photos together on social media, however it has been an open secret in sports circles since Perry was spotted in the Fremantle Dockers dressing room in July after Fyfe’s 200th AFL match.

The dual Brownlow Medalist and Perry have known each other for years.

Ellyse Perry is dating AFL star Nat Fyfe. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

FURY RUMOURS FLY

Tyson Fury is a raging hot favourite to defeat Deontay Wilder again in their trilogy fight this weekend, but rumours continue to persist The Gypsy King was floored twice during sparring sessions in preparation.

The WBC heavyweight title fight in Las Vegas on Sunday (AEST, live on Main Event pay-per-view) has been mired in drama after Fury withdrew from the initial July fight date after contracting Covid-19.

Fury revealed this week he had actually caught Covid twice, but it did not hospitalise him.

Wilder, who was stopped in seven rounds by Fury last year – after their first fight ended in a controversial draw, blamed a heavy suit he wore into the ring and claimed Fury had loaded gloves.

Wilder repeated those claims this week while Fury mocked the American for making excuses, promising yet another KO victory.

However, Wilder and his trainer Malik Scott have said in recent weeks that they have been told Fury was floored twice in separate sparring sessions.

Many in Las Vegas this week are starting to hear similar accounts.

Tyson Fury will defend his WBC heavyweight title against Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas this weekend. Picture: Ethan Miller/Getty Images

ALL EYES ON

It’s officially cricket season. The Australian women’s team take to the pitch again in the second of their Twenty20 clash against India on the Gold Coast on Saturday night.

FLASHBACK

Des Hasler quit as Sea Eagles coach just six days after guiding the club to victory on this day 10 years ago. The Daily Telegraph broke the news that Hasler agreed to coach the Bulldogs on the Friday before the grand final.

BLAST FROM THE PAST

Ben Mowen, 15 Tests for Wallabies, 91 Super Rugby games

What is the ultimate coaching goal of former Wallabies captain Ben Mowen?

“I’d like to be the World Cup-winning coach for Australia,” Mowen said.

“I say World Cup winning because I don’t think, if your heart’s really in it, you say, ‘I want to be the coach of Australia’ because it’s got to be tied to some sort of delivery or reward for everyone involved. So that’s my long-term dream.”

Mowen, 36, has just taken over as first grade coach for the Brisbane Easts club he played for as a teenager and led to premiership glory in his final match last year.

His rugby career was remarkable for its disrupted start and then sudden Test retirement.

Mowen captained Queensland under-19s and Australia’s under-21s team that lost the World Cup final to South Africa in 2005.

It was a team stacked with future Wallabies including James Horwill, Benn Robinson, Tatafu Polota-Nau, Dean Mumm and Digby Ioane.

Ben Mowen has ambitions to coach the Wallabies.

“We had something like 13 Wallabies come out of that squad, I was straight into the Queensland Reds academy after that, but I spent a large portion of my two-year contract injured,” Mowen said.

“It was my body adapting to the expectations of professional rugby and the training standard each day

“You always tell your kids, ‘Don’t worry about what everyone else is doing, just worry about yourself’. But certainly at that stage of my career, immaturely, I was looking over the fence at all those guys that come through the 21s and had really good success at Super Rugby and national level and my career was just stagnant, hadn’t moved at all.

“I was told that there wasn’t a future for me at the Reds. It was disappointing to hear, but a really powerful moment in my life and then I was contacted by Ewen McKenzie and he invited me to come down and be a part of the Waratahs.

“I took that gig knowing at that stage there were four Wallaby backrowers ahead of me.

“I knew that’d be a really great apprenticeship, because if I could land a spot then you’re going to be in the reckoning for the national honours.”

Mowen credits McKenzie as one of the key figures in his career.

After 40 games for NSW between 2008-11, Mowen joined the Brumbies in 2012, essentially swapping places with Rocky Elsom who joined the Tahs.

Ben Mowen played 15 tests for the Wallabies. Picture: Ian Walton/Getty Images

Then Brumbies coach Jake White named Mowen captain of the team.

“There was a really talented young side, but just amazing coaching staff in Laurie Fisher, Jake White, Stevie Larkham and Dean Benton was head of S&C (strength and conditioning) down there.

“I probably didn’t realise it at the time, but they’re all amazing coaches in their own right. It was just a really special moment in time.”

By 2013, Mowen was 28 and most believed his chance to become a Wallaby had passed him by. Not so. He was chosen by Robbie Deans to play in the series against the British & Irish Lions.

Under Mowen, the Brumbies reached the 2013 Super Rugby final, narrowly losing to the Chiefs. After McKenzie replaced Deans as Wallabies coach, he made the shock call at the end of 2013 to replace Horwill with Mowen as national captain despite his limited Test experience.

Yet after just 15 Tests, Mowen stunned Australian rugby by quitting to take up a contract with French club Montpellier.

“I was a 29-year-old footballer exactly where I wanted to be in the Wallabies, we had a strong team two years out from a World Cup, but on the other side I’d become a father the year before and hadn’t really spent any time with my daughter at all,” Mowen said.

“That weighed pretty heavily on me.

Ben Mowen returned from France in 2019 to play with Easts in Brisbane. Picture: AAP/David Clark

“I would be on the road and not seeing the wife and kids, it just didn’t align with the person I was. There was inner turmoil, do I just focus on what makes me happy professionally, or do I focus on what really makes me happy. And for me, the balance needed to be returned and the decision became simple.”

Mowen and wife Lauren relocated to Montpellier, and then in 2016 he joined rival club Pau.

The couple had two more children in France, they all learned French, and Lauren set up a restaurant in Pau called Beanz Café, which she still owns.

Mowen played out his professional career at Pau, retiring in 2019 before his swansong in club rugby in 2020. He was assistant coach of the Australian under-20s side and is now determined to succeed as a mentor.

“I really want to have success at the club level before anything higher, so it’s got to be a good two to three years at least where I’m bedding down my coaching principles and the great thing about club rugby is you get to experiment,” Mowen said.

“If you get to that top level, Super Rugby and above, there’s just no time left for experimentation. You’ve got to know what your philosophies are, what works, what doesn’t work.”

Originally published as Sport Confidential: Tyrone May-Indiana Cleary dating rumours; James Roberts’ Tigers lifeline