NRL make Eels wait for salary cap vedict, Broncos have GI and Manly want a wayward Rooster
PARRAMATTA have to wait for their punishment, Broncos have GI and Manly want to rehabilitate a wayward Rooster. It’s all in WHAT’S THE BUZZ.
NRL
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SAINT
Triathlete Juliana Bahr Thomson will paddle more than 1000 kilometres from Newcastle to Noosa over 42 gruelling days to raise awareness for White Ribbon. She starts on May 1. You can support this tough and brave young lady at www.mermaidwithamessage.com.au.
SINNER
Liam Knight is the rookie Manly forward who was recently caught drink-driving at 130kph in a 70 zone while three times over the limit. Unbelievably, the NRL integrity unit has said he is free to continue playing.
SHOOSH
Todd Payton has knocked back an assistant coaching job offer with a rival NRL club to stick with the Wests Tigers. Why? Because he knows Jason Taylor’s position is so shaky.
SHOOSH II
We’re hearing of moves to start a Super 15 rah-rahs club in Sydney’s west to play out of the new Parramatta Stadium. And the great Sonny Bill Williams has been sounded out to be the face of the franchise.
SPOTTED
Sharks coach Shane Flanagan and 2GB/Channel 9/Lowes personality Darryl Big Marn Brohman enjoying a beer at Woolooware golf club, ending their six-week feud and no talkies.
SPOTTED
Porn shop king Con Ange at the NSW Blues dinner at Star casino on Wednesday night. Ange is a rugby league tragic who loves rubbing shoulders with the stars.
SPOTTED
Cricket legend Greg Matthews riding a push bike from Bondi to Moore Park. Turns out Mo is on an exercise campaign with the aim of losing 10 kilos from his 56-year-old frame.
AFL GOES GOLDEN
WE can reveal why the AFL have copied rugby league and introduced golden point for their grand finals. It’s all about the Victorian government’s bid to secure the NRL decider a week later while ANZ Stadium is under refurbishment.
The government told the AFL they can’t book the MCG for the weekend after their grand final for a rematch unless they were prepared to pay the full price up front to hire the ground. So they changed the rules. It now leaves the MCG free to host the NRL.
NO RUSH TO RULE ON PARRA PUNISHMENT
PARRAMATTA’S salary cap punishment will not be handed down this week.
The NRL integrity unit chief is still assessing the evidence before taking his recommendation to chief executive Todd Greenberg and, because it’s such a big decision, the independent commission.
It’s more likely to be the first week of May. Full marks to Nick Weeks and his team for being so thorough with such a major investigation and legal issue that will affect players, fans and the entire competition.
SUPER CAUTION ON ENFORCER’S RETURN
MANLY have unsuccessfully applied to the NRL integrity unit to have troubled footy player Willis Meehan reinstated as a player. Meehan is the former Roosters rookie who coach Trent Robinson regarded as potentially the best young forward in the game.
Meehan was cut by the Roosters when it was revealed he worked as a standover man for notorious criminals after being found guilty of an assault. The integrity unit has asked Manly to show more proof of a professional rehabilitation program before they consider lifting his ban.
ALL BOYS IN BLUE
ONE of the four police officers shot in New Zealand at a drug siege last month is a rugby league talent scout for the Canterbury Bulldogs. Thankfully all four have now recovered. Last weekend the Bulldogs invited the policemen to their game with the Warriors and flew them to Wellington. Noel “Crusher” Cleal was their host for the day and they got to meet all the players. It was a lovely gesture by the Bulldogs.
STANDING BY OUR DIGGERS
Legendary trainer Dick Caine has mentored a number of Australia’s greatest sporting achievers. But his real heroes in life are our diggers.
It’s why Dick is standing so proudly next to this sign (above) outside his Carss Park swimming and gym complex on the eve of Anzac Day.
It’s why he has such a special offer for our diggers.
“Any veteran, male or female, who have been in active duty can have free use of my pool and gyms for the rest of their lives.”
GIVE BRANDY A BREAK
GREG Alexander is an excellent football commentator and a great judge of rugby league. However, as a Penrith board member, he should not be judging Dally M points for Panthers games. We’re not suggesting he is biased but in close calls he could surely do without the pressure.
UNDER PRESSURE
YOU’VE got to wonder how long James Segeyaro has left at Penrith.
Despite being on the club’s injured list, there is nothing wrong with the talented hooker. With Peter Wallace firing at dummy-half, Jamie Soward and Te Mare Martin combining well in the halves, Segeyaro appears to be on the outer.
REUNION OF CHAMPS
IN A lovely gesture by the NSW Rugby League, all former Blues players have been offered a free ticket to the State of Origin opener on June 1 at ANZ Stadium. Should be a great night.
GI A CERT FOR BRONCOS
THE Brisbane Broncos players don’t think Greg Inglis will be at the club next year. They know he will be. Fullback Darius Boyd has been told GI will be playing in the centres.
WINNERS AND LOSERS
TALK about a good omen tip — in the week Grant Hackett disgraced himself on a Virgin flight, a nag called Drunk On A Plane won at Albury races at the juicy odds of $9.50.
FILLING THE MATTY VOID
WE’RE hearing Channel 9 stars Erin Molan and Yvonne Sampson are both being trialled as replacements for the soon-to-be-departing Matty Johns on the Triple M weekend NRL coverage.
COACH ON THE RISE
ONE recently retired player who appears certain to make it as an NRL coach is Penrith’s under-20s coach Cameron Ciraldo. Ciraldo has coached his young side to six wins from seven matches, with a massive 152 points difference to the second-placed Parramatta. My old mate Gus Gould was asked on Twitter last week who he was most impressed with from the 20s. Gus’s reply: “The coach”.
Originally published as NRL make Eels wait for salary cap vedict, Broncos have GI and Manly want a wayward Rooster
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Kevin Walters linked with NRL expansion coaching job
After interviewing Brad Arthur and Mal Meninga, the NRL have now approached former Brisbane coach Kevin Walters as they look to appoint the first head coach of the Perth Bears.