Roosters playmaker pleads guilty to negligent driving

Sydney Roosters star Sandon Smith has pleaded guilty to a serious driving offence after an incident that left a pedestrian with serious foot injuries.

Smith was charged in September with negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm over the March 13 incident in Vaucluse. He pleaded guilty in Downing Centre Local Court on Friday.

Roosters playmaker Sandon Smith has pleaded guilty to negligent driving.Credit: Getty Images

At the time, sources close to Smith told this masthead the Rooster was reversing out of his driveway when his car was hit by another, pushing Smith’s vehicle into a man who sustained “serious foot injuries”.

Smith, who will be a key playmaker for the Roosters in 2025, will be sentenced in Downing Centre Local Court on December 13.

The Roosters informed the NRL Integrity Unit once Smith was served with the court attendance notice. An NRL spokesman on Friday declined to comment on Smith’s guilty plea.

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Roosters star Spencer Leniu has called for a State of Origin-style, three-Test series to be played between Samoa and Tonga as the game attempts to capitalise on the momentum generated by the Pacific Championships.

The Kangaroos took out the Pacific Championships title with an enthralling win over Tonga in Sunday’s final, the match attracting a sold-out crowd of 28,728 at Parramatta’s Commbank Stadium.

The Australians are expected to embark on an Ashes tour of Great Britain next season, leaving Tonga, Samoa and New Zealand to play in next year’s Pacific Cup. Samoan prop Leniu believes there is enough rugby league interest in the Pacific nations to warrant a three-match series between Tonga and Samoa next year.

“Hopefully they can do an Origin series with us and Tonga,” Leniu said. “It’s probably the biggest Pacific Island rivalry between us and Tonga. It’s unbelievable to see what [Tonga] did this year making it to the grand final. When I saw [Jason] Taumalolo and those guys flip and play for their little nation, it definitely inspired me to want to play for Samoa.

“That’s my goal in my career so far, to let the Samoans around the world that want to play – I want to make sure that they want to play for Samoa. When we went to the World Cup final in 2021, that was one of the proudest moments of my career so far. I reckon Tonga and Samoa has to be like an Origin series. It would be unbelievable. Probably [play] one in New Zealand and then one or two in Sydney or Brisbane.”

Tongan supporters made up a large proportion of the crowd at the Pacific Championships final, creating a memorable atmosphere. There is also a large Samoan rugby league community in western Sydney, raising the hope of more sellout crowds.

Tonga fans came out in force to support their side against the Langaroos in the Pacific Championships final.Credit: NRL Photos

Leniu said he was hopeful a series between the nations could occur, whether it be in the middle of the NRL season or at its conclusion.

“I don’t care when, I just want it to happen,” he said. “There is no bigger rivalry than us and Tonga in the Pacific. They hate us and we hate them so it’ll be a good game. There’s so much respect for them and what they’ve been able to achieve for their small nation. Us two countries going about it on the biggest stage would be good for both nations.

“I reckon you could double [the crowd they attracted on Sunday]. It was majority Tongan fans, but we’d have the same number of Samoan fans there so it’d be blue and red. I think 50,000 would be perfect. They’d turn out anywhere.”

Tigers breach players for returning to pre-season training out of shape

Adrian Proszenko

Wests Tigers have breached several players for returning to pre-season training out of shape as the club ramps up its pursuit of Terrell May.

In an attempt to avoid a fourth consecutive wooden spoon, the Tigers have lifted the intensity and standards at training. Player were expected to meet strict fitness guidelines after resuming from a break and those who didn’t have been given official warnings.

Several Wests Tigers players have been breached for not meeting fitness standards.Credit: NRL Photos

The Tigers’ biggest-name recruit, Jarome Luai, is on annual leave and is yet to return, but his addition is expected to help change the culture at the joint-venture outfit.

Another potential addition to coach Benji Marshall’s roster is Roosters prop May, who has been given permission to explore his options. The Tigers have made their pitch to the Samoan international in the hope of adding him to a new-look team. The Bulldogs and Dragons are other clubs linked to May’s signature.

A civil war erupted at the owners of Tigers last week after the Holman Barnes Group moved to cancel the memberships of three directors. The Tigers insist the drama won’t affect the football club.

Tedesco closing in on one-year contract extension

Adrian Proszenko

James Tedesco believes being overlooked for representative football will prolong his career as he edges towards a one-year extension at the Roosters.

Tedesco is contracted for 2025, but the parties are in negotiations to extend his career for a further 12 months. The former NSW and Australian captain was dumped from the state and Test arena last season, a decision he feels will extend his club career.

“I think it does,” Tedesco said.

James Tedesco is close to earning a new Roosters deal.Credit: Getty Images

“The Origin period is very taxing mentally and physically. You’re backing up after games so it does take a toll on your body. I felt this year I had those weeks off and I was playing some of my best footy.

“It definitely aligned there, even at the end of the year your body’s quite sore and tired and then you’re playing more rep footy [after the season]. This time of year, how I’m feeling, I haven’t felt this way in a while. I feel really relaxed and my body feels great, it definitely could prolong [my career].”

Tedesco came second in the Dally M medal race, to Storm star Jahrome Hughes. It was a timely return to form that will result in a new deal at Bondi Junction.

“We’ve all been away so it hasn’t been at the forefront of my mind but I’m back in town now after a nice little holiday so hopefully we get something sorted over the next couple of weeks,” he said.

“There’s no pressure, but I want to get something sorted before I go back to training.”

Tedesco recently passed the 250-game milestone, but said he has plenty of good football left in him.

“We’re only talking about that because of age, whereas I don’t see that as an issue,” he said.

“If things are dropping because of my age, I understand, but after the year I just had at 31, I know what my body’s like, what my mentality is and my work rate.”

Drugs supply charges against NRL playmaker dropped

Adrian Proszenko

Drugs supply charges levelled against former NRL playmaker Brandon Wakeham, who was arrested during an incident which netted police one kilogram of MDMA as part of a wider sting, have been dropped.

Wakeham was playing for feeder club Blacktown in May when he was arrested in the Brookvale Oval carpark after an eight-month investigation into the supply of illicit drugs. The former Canterbury and Wests Tigers half was charged with taking part in the supply of a prohibited drug, greater than a large commercial quantity; taking part in the supply of a prohibited drug, greater than an indictable and less than a commercial quantity; and participating in a criminal group.

All charges were dropped at a charge certification hearing at the Sydney Downing Centre courts on Tuesday.

“Throughout this process, Brandon has maintained his innocence and we fought for him with the same belief,” said his high-profile lawyer Elias Tabchouri.

“Today’s result, with the charges withdrawn and dismissed against him, is a vindication for Brandon and the fact that he never did anything wrong.

“Brandon is very happy with the result and now seek to rebuild his life, having endured a very difficult time.”

Brandon Wakeham in action for Blacktown Workers in May this year.Credit: NRL

The NRL stood Wakeham down after the charges were laid under its no-fault stand-down policy.

Wakeham’s apartment was raided in May and he was subsequently granted bail in Manly Local Court. The Fijian international, who has played 40 NRL games, was allegedly in the passenger’s seat of a car during two instances of alleged drug supply, the court heard. From the outset, Tabchouri said his client didn’t “have any knowledge” of what was going on.

San Souci businessman Sam Amine, 47, and his nephew Nabil Allouche, 24, were also charged at the time.

Amine was charged with 10 offences, including directing the activities of a criminal group, dealing with the proceeds of crime, supplying an unregistered pistol, and seven offences relating to commercial drug supply.

Former Bulldogs and Tigers player Brandon Wakeham was arrested and charged with drug supply offences in May.Credit: Police Media

The NSW Crime Commission has frozen $10 million of Amine’s assets as part of the operation. Police also say they seized cash, phones and drugs from his home.

This is not the first time that Amine has made headlines – he was allegedly kidnapped and beaten in Sydney in 2021 as part of a reported $3 million extortion attempt.

He was at home with his wife in Sans Souci on June 9, 2021, when it’s alleged four armed men broke into the house, pulled him into a stolen BMW and took him to premises in Padstow where he was assaulted. Police say he escaped just before midnight by climbing out of a window. Three men were charged over the incident.

Charges levelled against Amine in 2019 for steroid possession in Fiji, where he owns several gyms, were subsequently dropped.

Allouche was picked up by police in Chester Hill at the time; investigators searching his car allegedly seized one kilogram of MDMA, 56 grams of cocaine and approximately $50,000 in cash.

Both men were refused bail at the time.

After a 15-game NRL stint with the Tigers last year, Wakeham switched to the Sea Eagles in the hope of becoming a back-up for established halves Daly Cherry-Evans and Luke Brooks.

What Gutherson’s Dragons deal means for Tyrell Sloan

Christian Nicolussi

Tyrell Sloan will move to the wing and spend time in the centres as St George Illawarra welcome the chance for him to learn from the new owner of his No.1 jersey.

Dragons coach Shane Flanagan has assured Sloan the prized signature of Gutherson from Parramatta will be a blessing for him, even if it means he’ll have to give up his fullback spot.

Why Clint Gutherson’s signing will benefit Tyrell Sloan.Credit: Getty

Flanagan said Sloan had the chance to follow the same path as Queensland and Kangaroos star Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow by playing several positions in the backline before a return to the custodian role.

“We spoke to Sloany at the start of last week about how he hasn’t had a back mentor or leader for a while, and which is what he will now get with Gutho,” Flanagan said. “In three years’ time, Gutho might in the centres or playing another position. For now, he will be our fullback and Sloany will on the wing.

“I look at Sloany like the ‘Hammer’ [Tabuai-Fidow] and being on the same path as him. He’s probably a year behind the Hammer in terms of his development, but he can play a bit of fullback, a bit of wing and centre, and then return [to fullback].

“He’s actually pretty psyched about it. He won’t know himself in 12 months’ time, working with Gutho. The future is bright for Sloany.”

Sloan is a polarising figure among Dragons fans, with his speed and attacking flair balanced out by mistakes and poor reads in defence.

The 22-year-old has been the first-choice fullback for the past two seasons but was demoted to reserve grade late in the season after a poor defensive display against the Broncos.

The Dragons have a vacancy on the wing thanks to with Zac Lomax’s departure to the Eels, while another new recruit, Valentine Holmes, is tipped to play centre but is also no stranger to fullback and wing.

There was brief talk about Gutherson moving into the halves alongside Kyle Flanagan, and the former Eels skipper admitted over the weekend the No.6 spot had appeal.

“I played there earlier in my career,” Gutherson said. “It’s another position exactly like fullback these days – the game is that quick that you’re just playing, and a lot of teams have multiple fullbacks and halves in their team who just go out and play.

“With the game today, you’ve just got to get on the front foot and roll, and all of those positions are pretty similar.”

NRL rule out changes in 2025

Christian Nicolussi

The ARL Commission is unlikely to make any rule changes for the 2025 season and want to give referees the chance to “come up for air” after five years and 20 different amendments and innovations.

Reports on Tuesday suggested the NRL were considering introducing a seven-tackle set when a team received a kick-off inside their own 20m, in an attempt to reduce the number of concussions from players running the ball back from long kick-offs.

ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys said the rule had been mentioned briefly, but the game wanted to soldier ahead with no changes.

“Our preference is not to have any changes for next year, and after a year of record ratings and record crowds there’s no real need to make any changes – the game is better than ever,” V’landys said.

“We only made the one change last year, where there were tap restarts rather than penalties for short drop-outs. That rule actually made things more entertaining, with teams trying to get the ball back.

“But we’ve made enough changes. We want referees to come up for air and focus on interpretations of the current rules.

“I’ve heard of the proposal about seven-tackle sets for long kick-offs, but it never progressed anywhere. I could see merit in it, but it would be yet another rule for the referees to learn.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona’s tackle on Lindsay Collins.Credit: Nine

“The game has already been completely proactive when it comes to head knocks and concussion. We review our systems every year, and we think we have struck the right balance as rugby league is a contact sport.”

Debate about banning the long kick-off to reduce concussions has bubbled away all season, with the Sydney Roosters losing Lindsay Collins with the opening hit-up of the preliminary final against the Melbourne Storm.

St George Illawarra lost Moses Suli when he knocked himself out trying to stop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves in the first play of the game on Anzac Day, which later prompted coach Shane Flanagan to admit: “Short kick-offs take out big collisions, but they bring in other issues, like people jumping and landing on their heads.”

The 20-40 rule and captains’ challenges were brought in for the start of the 2020 season, while the following season featured two-point field-goals and six-agains for 10m ruck infringements, which has arguably had the biggest impact on the modern game.

Meanwhile, the NRL is moving closer to finalising its 2025 draw, with club bosses informed they can expect a final draft by the end of next week.

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