Source :- THE AGE NEWS
The NRL is exploring the idea of turning grand final week into a festival of football with an additional three matches, including a third-place play-off pitting the losers of the preliminary finals against each other ahead of the decider.
Under an audacious plan, club chief executives have come up with three options for matches on the Thursday, Friday and Saturday before the grand final on Sunday.
It’s a stunning move that is sure to divide the game, and it could come as early as this year.
The concept was inspired by the recent soccer World Cup, which featured a thrilling third-place play-off between England and France. That match, won 6-4 by England, was a better spectacle than the dull final between Spain and Argentina.
It piqued the interest of the NRL. The proposal was put forward by Bulldogs boss Aaron Warburton at the NRL chief executives meeting on Wednesday and is being championed by Peter V’landys.
Last year’s losing preliminary finalists were the Sharks and Panthers. It would have been interesting to see how they would have backed up for a third-place play-off given the physical and emotional toll of shattering defeats.
At the CEOs meeting, Warriors boss Cameron George also proposed the annual All Stars match between the Maori and Indigenous teams be shifted to grand final week. That could prove difficult as the annual Koori Knockout is scheduled over four days from October 2. The NRL grand final is on October 4. But the concept is being strongly considered from next year onwards. There is also the possibility of a representative under-21 match between NSW and Queensland on the Thursday before the decider.
V’landys is keen to give fans and broadcasters more content in a week when on-field action is limited.
It’s unclear at this point how the Rugby League Players Association will react to an extra game at short notice, while the broadcasters would need to plan for extra commitment from their staff.
The NRL know the idea of a third-place play-off is open to criticism because it will be viewed as tough on the players. That kind of criticism won’t worry V’landys. He is thinking of the broadcasters and the fans to give them a bigger experience.
The early thought is to offer prizemoney to the clubs as an incentive. It’s understood V’landys wants to make it a rugby league tradition. He sees it as an opportunity to take advantage of the clear air which exists after the AFL grand final the week before the NRL decider.
In his new role of executive chairman, V’landys is embracing the club bosses’ ideas and is keen to give them a greater say and more information about what the NRL has in mind.
Dearden raised prospect of Cowboys release
Cowboys star halfback Tom Dearden has raised the prospect of a release from his North Queensland contract on compassionate grounds on at least one occasion, with a minimum of two Sydney clubs being sounded out as potential destinations.
The last genuine attempt to exit his deal was in March for personal reasons. Dearden’s pregnant partner lives in Sydney. Clubs were quietly sounded out to prepare them for negotiations with the Maroons Origin half.
Dearden signed a five-year contract extension with the Cowboys at the end of the 2023 season through to the end of 2029.
The Dearden issue was raised during the Cowboys’ bye round after their season-opener in Las Vegas. Sydney clubs were called discreetly and had the situation explained to them. They were told what it would take financially to get Dearden. They were also informed a player swap would be part of any deal. This is typical of negotiations around a release and ensuring that a player has somewhere to go before leaving a club.
“I just want to make sure [people know] that’s not the case at all, I don’t feel like I should have to get up here and explain myself against speculation,” Dearden said as he addressed the matter at a press conference on Monday.
“It’s just been a whole lot of nonsense. I’ve got my private life with a partner who’s pregnant, and I’d like for that all to be kept private.”
The problem for Dearden is that it was not nonsense.
We can understand why he would try to shut things down, but it hasn’t helped much. The hard part for Sydney clubs was finding the money to keep him happy.
His salary for 2027 is $1 million, out of a salary cap of $11.7 million. In 2028, his pay rises to $1.331 million or 11 per cent of the cap, whichever is greater. In 2029, it lifts to $1.452 million or 12 per cent of the cap, whichever is greater. That’s a lot out of any club’s salary cap. And it’s why they were being sounded out and asked whether they could afford him.
Zach steps out of father’s shadow
Junior Wallabies centre Zach Fittler has admitted he has had to walk through “minor setbacks” caused by his famous surname – but is now on his own career path in France after securing a one-season deal, with a second year option in his favour, in the toughest rugby competition in the world.
“I’m so proud of the family name … it means so much to me,” said Zach, the son of league icon Brad Fittler.
“Most people don’t care about it. But I’ve had a couple of minor setbacks I’ve dealt with. But I’ve walked past those. The support I get from mum and dad makes everything fine.”
The 20-year-old is about to embark on a journey that dreams are made of after signing with Top 14 club Pau. Rugby Australia – but more specifically the Waratahs – have let another good one slip through their fingers.
Fittler was in great form recently for the Junior Wallabies at the under 20s World Cup in Georgia.
“I’m so excited for what I’m about to do,” he said. “It’s going to be a challenge. I was told they could not do anything at the Waratahs whilst they don’t have a coach and the opportunity in France came up.”
Fittler’s agent, Andrew Fairbairn, said his young client had made “great gains” in the 15-man game over the past two seasons in Sydney, but the opportunities in France were irresistible.
“The opportunity to now live abroad, learn a new language and play a large volume of games in France will continue his development,” he said.
Zach signed a two-year deal with the Waratahs and Rugby Australia at the end of 2024. At the same age, he is physically bigger than his dad was.
“I grew up watching that left-foot step, so that’s part of me,” he said. “He could kick off both feet. I have not got that yet.”
He will need to find his feet in a foreign land soon.
“I’ve been there for the World Cup and loved every minute of it,” Fittler said. “I didn’t think the language was an issue when I went but with the coaching I’ll need to get on top of it.”
He has friends in France and is likely to go over there on his own.
“I think mum would like to get over there and visit her home country [Greece], but I’ll do it on my own.”
Dad has let him find his way. “He does give me advice,” Zach said. “Just to support my teammates and be busier than a bee.”
And after spending time in the Roosters system as a junior, the obvious question is whether he would consider a code switch to league in the future.
“Not for a while … but it’s not something I’d ever shut out.”
Loz onto a winner with ‘Health Whisperer’
The nonsense report that a health scare had forced Laurie Daley to officially step away from the Blues last week can be shut down by revelations today that the Origin-winning coach’s only concern was shedding weight to stave off any potential issues that men over 50 commonly face.
It was triggered after a regular check-up well before the Origin period and some home truths after he weighed in at 100 kilograms.
“That was on Easter Monday and I took control of my health,” Daley, 56, said. “When I decided to move on I’ve never been healthier. I feel Iike I could play again.”
Given his Indigenous heritage and predisposition to issues that added weight could bring on, Daley knew he had to get serious about his health.
He gave up alcohol and shed 20kg in four months. His real secret weapon, though, was his “Health Whisperer” – Teresa Kryger, a nutritionist and health coach with 18 years’ experience.
“Laurie was referred to me because he wasn’t happy with where he was health-wise,” Kryger said.
“My role as a nutritionist was to look at Loz’s health status, discuss his goals … I wrote him a personalised nutrition, lifestyle and supplement plan to support him to achieve his health goals, and he absolutely smashed it.
“I’ve been working in clinic with clients over 18 years, and what blew me away with Laurie was how quickly he transformed his health … I was so impressed with his results.”
For obvious reasons, Kryger can’t divulge everything.
“I can’t give away all our secrets, but I will tell you that the plan was prescriptive and specific to Laurie, his health status and his health goals,” Kryger said.
“My nutrition approach is to take a client’s current nutrition intake and eating habits, tweak it, fill in the gaps, and be quite strategic with meal placement through the day, macro ratios, but most importantly, it must be whole food, nutrient-dense meals.
“I’m just so proud of Laurie. His discipline and his dedication to his health and nutrition program resulted in, truly, a health transformation.”
Blue steel to ‘nice guy’ King
Don’t take incoming Blues coach Matt King’s kindness, compassion and dedication to his family as a sign NSW have a weak coach on their hands.
The “too nice” tag is already being placed on King after he declared in an interview on Nine News that Origin hate is “old school and prehistoric”.
But a crowd at a function the day before game II of the Origin series against Queensland in Melbourne saw a very different side to King.
“We went to a function for Movember,” NSW Rugby League boss David Trodden said.
“He was asked a question on stage by someone, and they wanted to know the approach the Blues would take the following night. He silenced the room when he said, ‘We will throw the first punch’ – and I’m giving you the family-friendly version of how he actually said it. People were shocked and knew he meant business.
“He has steel to him that is very evident. I’ve seen it plenty of times. Laurie was seen the same way – as a nice guy – but he had the hard edge and so does Matt.”
And for the record, King went through a thorough process to get the job. Yes, he was part of the succession plan as Daley’s assistant coach, but he still had to present his vision to the NSWRL board – even though he was runner-up to Daley last time around.
You can’t help but think even with four-time Panthers premiership-winning coach Ivan Cleary in the running down the track, NSW assistant Boyd Cordner would be a man who could do the job if and when King is eventually snapped up by an NRL club.
Humphreys set to stay a Bunny
Jamie Humphreys is on the verge of re-signing with South Sydney.
This is despite lots of talk that they are not negotiating with any player other than back-rower Tallis Duncan. Humphreys was courted by the Bears and went to Perth. He was expected to do a deal with the new franchise, but decided Sydney life was for him. Two other Sydney teams showed interest, but they believe he is going to stay at Souths.
Good cop, bad cop
The NRL’s controversial media cop policy has captured the attention of everyone in the game.
Rugby League Players’ Association boss Clint Newton is in favour of eliminating personal attacks driven by media identities conflicted by their roles with clubs.
The cop would police rugby league commentators who are perceived to have competing roles in the game and also extend to callers deemed to be too negative in their coverage. If individuals are deemed to have broken the NRL’s rules, they could be removed from their roles following a thorough process involving the network and the individual.
The rule is included as a clause in the NRL’s recently signed-off $5.3 billion broadcast agreement with Nine (the owner of this masthead), Foxtel Group and Sky NZ.
“The RLPA was made aware from the broadcast negotiations that there would be measures aimed at better protecting the game’s broadcast product,” Newton said.
“But we weren’t involved in designing the mechanism or briefed on it as being a ‘media cop’ with a broad jurisdiction.
“We’ve consistently said there’s a difference between robust criticism of professional sport and sustained personal attacks, obvious agendas or reporting that isn’t constructive.
“We support the former and have privately and publicly raised concerns about the latter. The media must have freedom to critique, but the media also can be held accountable if there are conflicts or misinformation.
“Ultimately, though, these are matters are for the NRL to manage as part of its broadcast arrangements. The mechanism must be used appropriately while in support of every stakeholder in the game.”
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