Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: Inside Broncos’ luxurious pre-game Sydney harbour cruise
Details on the Broncos’ lavish boat cruise in Sydney harbour before losing to the Bunnies, a former federal treasurer to join the Bears, and Kerry Stokes’ NRL love revealed in Saint, Sinner, Shoosh.
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Struggling Broncos coach Michael Maguire has come under fire for taking his players on a Sydney Harbour cruise in the build-up to Friday night’s shock loss to the Rabbitohs.
With just a five-day turnaround after a heavy defeat in Magic Round, the Broncos players travelled to Sydney on Wednesday for an evening on the luxury multi-million dollar cruiser Ghost I, owned by celebrity accountant Anthony Bell.
Bell, who is a close friend of the Broncos coach, normally hires it out for about $1500-an-hour to the rich and famous.
The Broncos players were surprised at being asked to leave for Sydney a day early in a five-day turnaround week, not that they will say as much publicly.
Normally they finish their rehab, do a captain’s run in Brisbane, have a team barbeque and then fly to Sydney on the eve of the game.
Trust me, the players are now confused about the coach’s thinking.
Maguire is a strict disciplinarian who arrived in Brisbane to replace Kevvie Walters with a plan to change the rock star image amongst the playing group.
You’ll all remember his first edict – the six-pack ban – where the players were ordered to keep their shirts on at all times at training.
“It’s about creating the environment that we’re in,” Maguire said. “I want a high standard.”
They went on an army camp and players trained so hard they were seen vomiting.
And then in a complete about-face, they are taken on board the luxury cruiser.
It should be pointed out that players did not drink alcohol.
Rest assured the players weren’t happy about having to leave home early for three nights in Sydney. Not when five-day turnarounds are difficult enough without interruptions to the regular schedule.
The star-studded Broncos have now lost four of their last five games after falling to an injury ravaged South Sydney on Friday night at Accor Stadium.
We’re hearing rumours that Madge’s relationships with some players are deteriorating.
The pressure is on Maguire to do something about it as the team prepares for the State of Origin series without Payne Haas, Pat Carrigan, Ben Hunt and Selwyn Cobbo.
You can guarantee there will be no more harbour cruises, although a friend of Maguire’s rang me on Saturday to try to justify the cruise.
“It was originally supposed to be a cultural experience on Fort Denison,” said the person, who asked not to be named.
“The plan was to use a water taxi but there wasn’t one that could fit the whole team.
“Then there was a problem with Maritime Services about getting onto the island.
“So Madge then contacted Anthony Bell to use his boat.
“He also arranged for Olympic champion sailor Tom Slingsby to come on board to speak to the players about the pressure in sport and having a winning mentality.”
SAINT
Back in the 1970s, when your columnist started in sports journalism, rugby league was such a male-dominated footy code. Women were not invited to the Rothmans Medal. Women didn’t sit on boards. Women didn’t play, coach or referee. Women in the media couldn’t cover coaches’ press conferences because they were held inside the dressing sheds. They had to wait outside. Haven’t times changed? This weekend we celebrate Women in League round and Mother’s Day. Here’s to every female player, coach, referee, volunteer, footy journo, official, and fan who are all such an integral part of modern-day rugby league.
SINNER
The West Australian newspaper front page under the headline THE BAD NEWS BEARS, then this first paragraph: “Premier Roger Cook, a self-confessed rugby league tragic, is making WA taxpayers pay $65 million to relocate a dud second division team in Perth, finally revealing the huge price tag after months of secrecy and deception.” Welcome to Perth, PVL.
SHOOSH
Which NRL chief executive has been getting some fierce backlash from certain board members at his club? Our man still has the full support of the chairman, and will survive.
SPOTTED
Who said South Sydney Rabbitohs and Roosters players don’t get on? Campbell Graham from the Rabbitohs got a start on the guest list for Angus Crichton’s wedding in the Hunter Valley last week.
SPOTTED
St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan having a coffee in Brighton on Tuesday with his manager, the twice-deregistered agent Isaac Moses.
SPOTTED
Hollywood superstar Owen Wilson with Roosters stars Mark Nawaqanitawase and Siua Wong at Penelope bar in Fortitude Valley in Brisbane last Saturday night. Wilson is in Brisbane filming his action-thriller Runner, while the Roosters were there for Magic Round.
SPOTTED
Raiders coach Ricky Stuart and his Storm counterpart Craig Bellamy having a beer at the Grand Central Hotel in Brisbane last Saturday night, on the day before their teams met at Magic Round.
SPOTTED
Sonny Bill Williams taking a break from training for the Paul Gallen fight in June with his youngest son Muhammad.
OOPS
Schoolwork, and maths in particular, were never my go. It explains why I stuffed up the win percentage of Gold Coast Titans coach Des Hasler in this column last week. Your columnist wrote he had a 21 per cent win record at the Titans … it is in fact 31 per cent. Another Buzz brain fade! My sincere apologies, Dessie.
SOCCEROOS LOSE SUBWAY
The sudden departure of James Johnson as chief executive of Australian soccer coincides with revelations the Socceroos have lost their major sponsor Subway, and the sport has suffered a $9 million loss on its balance sheet.
This is a shocking result considering the financial gains from merchandise sales, TV rights and gate takings from the extraordinary popularity of the Matildas, our favourite national sporting team.
Despite record revenue of $123 million, a blowout in costs and spending around the Socceroos and the Matildas’ international campaigns contributed heavily towards the deficit.
Subway was a $3.5 million sponsor of the Socceroos. Its contract recently expired, and the company has made the decision not to renew the agreement.
It also can be revealed Football Australia is owed significant money from the A-League. One source suggested the APL, which runs the A-League clubs, owes around $4 million.
“There is outstanding money,” the source revealed. “If you look at the annual report, about $4 million has been written off.”
HOCKEY STICKS UP FOR BEARS
Former federal treasurer and US ambassador Joe Hockey is set to join the board of the Perth Bears, in a coup for the NRL’s new franchise.
Hockey is a lifelong Bears tragic who, for years, has been urging commission chairman Peter V’landys to bring back his old club.
“Joe rang me three years ago and wanted to catch up for a coffee,” V’landys said.
“He spent the whole hour telling me why the Bears should come back. He is such a fanatical supporter.”
Hockey, now based in the US running his company Bondi Partners, has been a member of the Bears for more than 30 years.
V’landys said Hockey would be an ideal appointment to the board.
“It’s going to be tough starting a new club, so we want people with experience and qualifications like Joe Hockey to be involved,” V’landys said.
“I asked Joe if he would do it – he indicated he would, so I’m going to hold him to it.”
Hockey is so well connected with business and media heavyweights in Australia and in the US and once played golf with President Donald Trump.
The NRL will establish a seven-person board and appoint a CEO and coach over the next month to head up the new franchise.
Three directors must be based in WA and one of them will be chairman.
There has been talk Channel 9’s impressive sports host James Bracey would be another director although the NRL is wary of potential conflicts given his role with the game’s official free-to-air broadcaster.
SEVENS GUN SARGEANT KEEN FOR CODE SWITCH
One of Australia’s top Olympic Rugby Sevens players wants to quit the sport to play NRL next year.
Hayden Sargeant, who played at the Paris Olympics, is a 26-year-old goalkicking halfback who has asked his manager to explore NRL opportunities.
“He’s a good talker and game manager,” manager Michael Cincotta said.
“He can spiral a pass 35m either side. He’s ambitious and he’s NRL-ready. Rugby wants to sign him for another three years, but his preference is NRL.”
Cincotta says there is already interest out there.
“A couple of clubs are certainly intrigued,” he said. “I understand some might see it as a risk, but we’re really confident he’ll find a club and prove himself.”
NRL expansion sides Perth and PNG will likely need to sift through rugby union ranks for recruits.
Sargeant was a teammate of Sydney Roosters centre/winger Mark Nawaqanitawase at the Paris Games.
He was originally a Melbourne Rebels player, but quit the 15-a-side game after Covid to travel the world to play Sevens.
Another Sevens player, Nathan Lawson, made the switch to the NRL this year. He has been the Dragons’ 18th man for two weeks.
STOKES A BUNNY FOR LIFE
Billionaire Perth-based media boss Kerry Stokes hasn’t always been so anti-rugby league.
Stokes’ Seven network owns the AFL free-to-air TV rights, and his media outlets in Western Australia have been giving the new Perth NRL team a shellacking.
It is surprising because Stokes is a life member of the Rabbitohs.
When the Bunnies were kicked out of the competition in 1999, it was Stokes who put up a $3 million guarantee to fund their court case for re-admission.
They were flat broke and had no hope of raising the legal funds without him.
“Without Kerry Stokes, there is no South Sydney,” said South Sydney CEO Blake Solly.
Stokes spoke in an interview back then about why he stepped in.
“I was overwhelmed when they marched in the streets and I felt at the time that such emotion and community support neededto be supported,” he said.
Stokes spoke in an interview back then about why he stepped in.
PREMIER A ‘TRAGIC’
Fox Sports NRL 360 co-host Gorden Tallis was spotted having dinner with Queensland Premier David Crisafulli at the Clam Barin Sydney last week.
“He is such a tragic rugby league fan,” Tallis said.
“He told me he once played at schoolboy level against Matty Bowen, and he loves the Cowboys. He’s a dyed-in-the- wool fan, and he’s determined to keep Magic Round in Brisbane.”
SOCK IT TO ‘EM
The Family of League organisation is running its annual crazy socks promotion to help those in need in the rugby league community.
It will be held over the weekend, starting June 13. Nearly $35,000 was raised last year.
Visit www.familyofleague.org.au to order a pair for yourself or the whole team. The money will go towards players and families who need help.
THE BETTER HALF with Anna Abdo, wife of NRL CEO Andrew Abdo
I’ve got to ask you, who’s Andrew’s toughest boss - you or Peter V’landys?
Well, Peter and I job-share that. Peter handles the weekdays, I handle the weekends. We do our performance appraisal of Andrew together.
I spoke to Philippa V’landys about this earlier in the year. Rugby league bosses hardly have 9-to-5 jobs. How does the family cope?
We cope just fine. It’s when he comes home that the trouble starts.
Just kidding! Well, the footy is on from Thursday to Sunday at home, which we love watching together. Weekends are great because we have our traditions. Kids’ sport in the morning, then games in the afternoon. Friday night games we usually watch together as a family with homemade pizza.
Is his mobile phone ever switched off?
Buzz, I have been told that you don’t appreciate waiting too long for a call back. So no.
Ha, ha. The job comes with a lot of criticism (from myself included) at various times. Do you think it ever gets him down? Like, does he ever bring work home and be in a bad mood?
He cares a great deal about rugby league. He carries a lot of pressure, but he doesn’t stay down for long. I usually give him a list of chores and boss him around a bit to sort him out. He’s really invested in seeing the game succeed - not just because that is his job, but because it has been such an important part of our lives. He works long hours and is always on the clock, but he always finds time for family.
He has achieved some great success for rugby league. I bet you’re proud of him.
I am proud of him, but we keep him on his toes and make sure his feet are firmly on the ground. The kids take great pleasure in providing him feedback on his performance at work and on TV. He’s spoken before of the importance of rugby league to our family. It made us Australians, and our kids have made friends for life through the game.
How does he relax? He was telling me recently that he loves a surf.
He has the busiest weekends known to man, his to-do list is ridiculously long and never ends. He is either up a ladder or down a creek! Relaxing for him is being active outdoors, either in the garden, exercising, or at the beach. Outside of that, Andrew loves spending as much time as possible with family. He also loves sports documentaries.
Please tell me he doesn’t watch MAFS.
Generally Andrew has had his fill of adults yelling at one another by the time he’s finished NRL 360 or 100% Footy, so MAFS isn’t part of his evenings. But me on the other hand …
What about chores around the house?
It is a never-ending hustle … he is pretty handy with a toastie machine, less handy with a drill - although he likes to think he can fix anything.
How did you guys meet, and how did Andrew propose?
We met at school when we were 16. We have known each other for 30-plus years, so we know what makes each other tick and how to tick off the other. He proposed in Central Park, New York, quite a funny story, actually, but for another day …
And what’s the plan for Mother’s Day? I hope he’s spoiling you.
That might depend on what’s said about him elsewhere on these pages. I am expecting my favourite breakfast, my car washed, and all the housework completed with a smile.
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