Matty Johns fuming over Nelson Asofa-Solomona ban
A furious Matty Johns has blasted the NRL’s decision to ban Melbourne Storm forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona for three Test matches over the Bali brawl. PLUS, NRL GF replay heads west.
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SAINT
MATESHIP, camaraderie and teamwork is part of the Melbourne Storm DNA. It is why the club has been so successful for so long. No one condones what Nelson Asofa-Solomona did in Bali last weekend but, at the same time, he should be applauded for protecting a teammate, albeit in an ugly way.
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SINNER
HIRE company TFH pulled its sponsorship of Gold Coast Titans and blamed poor Ryan James for his unfortunate grand final speech blunder. The backlash from fired-up fans across the game would have cost the company far more than its sponsorship spend … hence the late backflip.
SINNER II
THE $15 million that Premier Gladys Berejiklian has given the NRL to keep grand finals in Sydney could have gone to desperate farmers for drought relief. It was only because minister Stuart Ayres chose to build Allianz Stadium before ANZ’s refurb to suit his powerful mates on the SCG Trust that put the grand finals in Sydney at risk.
SHOOSH
WHICH former star player and Channel 9 commentator was in such a rush to make it to Homebush for the grand final a fortnight ago that he copped a speeding ticket?
SHOOSH II
WHICH Fox Sports commentary expert and ex-player is off contract and will not be back on air next year with the pay TV network?
SHOOSH III
THERE’S never a dull moment at the NRL. A senior figure has made a sudden departure from Moore Park headquarters over allegations of staff bullying.
SHOOSH IV
THE family of which NRL star is involved in a dispute with PR queen Roxy Jacenko over an issue that may soon involve lawyers?
SPOTTED
BRETT “Noddy” Kimmorley working the aisles of Woolworths in Coffs Harbour, where he is staying with his daughters this weekend for the Oz Tag junior national titles.
SPOTTED II
FORMER Newcastle Knights coach Nathan Brown enjoying lunch at Alphabet Street restaurant in Cronulla with his old Dragons boss Peter Doust and club legend Craig Young.
SPOTTED III
FORMER Penrith Panthers star and construction tycoon Lou Zivanovic celebrating his
60th birthday party with family and friends on Sydney’s harbour on Saturday.
SPOTTED IV
RAIDERS legend Laurie Daley having a quiet beer for his 50th birthday at the Bellevue Hotel in Woollahra on Friday with a group of mates. He turns 50 on Sunday.
THROW LIKE A GIRL
FOX Sports has shown its commitment to women’s cricket with the introduction of a new Sunday night show dedicated to the game.
The Blast, co-hosted by Megan Barnard and Mel Jones, will showcase the women’s game and debut tonight on Fox 507 after the WBBL fixture. First up guest is superstar all-rounder Ellyse Perry, who is contracted to the network.
“To have a show dedicated to the Women’s game in Australia is ground breaking and I feel very privileged to be involved,” Perry said, “I’ve always hoped the day would come where the Women’s game copped the same analysis and opinions as the men.
“without any shows like this there are not many forums to make that happen … so the girls are all really excited and keen to get involved.
“I’m looking forward to breaking down all the games and having some fun along the way with Mel and Megan.”
Watch The Blast on Fox Cricket after every WBBL fixture from Sunday, 6.15pm
MATTY STANDS BY STORM
A FURIOUS Matty Johns says he is appalled by the NRL’s decision to ban Melbourne Storm forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona for three Test matches over the Bali brawl.
The Fox Sports star insists the Storm front-rower did the right thing to protect teammate Suliasi Vunivalu from the coward-punch thugs.
“The ban is a disgrace,” Johns said, “Imagine if it was your son who got king hit. You’d want his mates to help like Nelson did. It’s our way of life in Australia to look after your mates.
“I think it’s an appalling decision. If Nelson had walked away there would be some calling him a coward. I’m really disgusted. The ban is just bowing to political correctness.
“No one wants violence but if someone is coming for you with a glass, you don’t just stand there.”
GF REPLAY IN THE WEST
SYDNEY may have kept the NRL premiership decider for the next two years in a $15 million deal with the State Government but the grand final replay is heading west next year.
The first draft of the 2020 draw has the Sydney Roosters playing the Canberra Raiders in Perth. The Roosters have a deal to play one game each season in Western Australia and have told the NRL they are keen to take the Raiders game.
The match will be played at HBF Park which holds 20,000 fans. It will be a Fox Sports exclusive Saturday game because Channel 9’s production costs are more than $200,000 which the Roosters would have to pay for. Fox Sports already has an AFL broadcast team in Perth and can do it for much cheaper.
STICKY ALL CLASS
RICKY Stuart continues to show enormous class around the Raiders’ grand final loss.
Rather than dwell on the refereeing controversy, Stuart has encouraged fans not to blame Ben Cummins for his ‘six-again’ error that cost the Raiders so dearly.
After the game he was genuinely concerned for the referee’s welfare. Stuart even spoke to refs boss Bernard Sutton and asked him to pass on his regards to Cummins.
This is so different the old Ricky Stuart who would have blown up deluxe. His gracious acceptance of a really tough situation hasn’t gone unnoticed with the game’s key powerbrokers.
NRL FAN FALL
RUGBY league executives will receive financial bonuses this year despite a fall in crowds.
Last year the game had 3,252,143 fans through the turnstiles, but this year it dropped to 3,176,561 — a decline of around two per cent. Senior executives at the NRL will share $1 million in bonuses for generating more than $500 million in revenue for the first time.
CHOC A KNOCKOUT PARTNER
OLD boxing legend Anthony Mundine stepped back into the ring to spar Australian champion Daniel Lewis at Billy Hussain’s Bodypunch gym in Lakemba on Friday.
At 44, Mundine is preparing to fight kickboxer John Wayne Parr at Cbus Super Stadium on the Gold Coast on November 30.
The highly regarded Lewis is off to the United States next weekend to fight Mexican Alexis Gaytan at light middleweight on a world title undercard in Los Angeles
FOREVER RIVALS
The bitter rivalry between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Sydney Roosters continues. On Friday the Roosters posted on social media they had reached 10,000 members in record time on the back of their grand final triumph. The Rabbitohs cheekily replied on their Twitter account …
Well done @sydneyroosters, you're only 12,200 behind... 🤦â€â™‚ï¸ðŸ‡â¤ï¸ðŸ’š#ForeverInOurShadow #GoRabbitohs https://t.co/MhS0rWkquT
— South Sydney Rabbitohs 🰠(@SSFCRABBITOHS) October 18, 2019
PLAYERS AWARDS FACE CUT
There is talk the RLPA awards will be scrapped next year. The game’s biggest superstars didn’t turn up for the presentation on Monday night. The major award winner James Tedesco was one of the few high-profile players who attended. There is a suggestion the players’ player of the year award should, in future, be combined with the Dally Ms.
WAUGH’S HOLE IN 1
CRICKET legend Steve Waugh hit a hole-in-one in a recent round at Cronulla Golf Club with his son, Austin. The great man did not return our phone calls to explain how he did it.
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A BLUES WHITEWASH
A massive year for the Blues Origin team will be officially recognised among the finalists at the NSW Champions of Sport Awards at The Star on November 18.
It is an unprecedented domination of finalist positions for the NSWRL.
James Tedesco (Athlete of the Year), Brad Fittler (Coach of the Year), NSW Blues (Team of the Year), Dave Trodden (Administrator of the Year), NSWRL (Organisation of the Year) and NSW Wheelchair Rugby League (Team of the Year with a disability)
And a finalist in the young Athlete of the Year award is basketball’s Shyla Heal – the daughter of four-time Olympian Shane Heal.
V’LANDY’S MAKES AN IMPRESSION
PETER V’landys has had his first big test in his dual racing and rugby league roles. On Tuesday night the Racing NSW boss’ first priority had to be the flash Sydney Harbour barrier draw for the Everest. It meant he couldn’t make the official international rugby league board dinner. Not a problem.
The next morning he turned up to make a speech to the IRL Congress. “He was brilliant,” said outgoing chairman Peter Beattie, “the delegates were blown away by his ideas for the international game. It’s incredible how he handled it in such a busy week for racing.”
Originally published as Matty Johns fuming over Nelson Asofa-Solomona ban
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