The Eels were not aware of Wehbe and Hayne having a professional relationship, but they wont try to stop it. If it works to clear a players mind, its not a bad thing.
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The Eels say criticism of Hayne, who has failed to set the world on fire in his return to the club as the blue and golds have slumped to the bottom of the NRL ladder, is well and truly off the mark. Coach Brad Arthur has told people that Hayne has been great and his attitude excellent. Hayne is expected toreturn from a hip injury in round eight or nine.
Hayne is not the problem at the Eels. By the same token, he is not the player the club is missing most. That player is Clint Gutherson. He is the man who held Paramatta together during their salary-cap crisis in 2016. Gutherson led from the front when the club needed it – with actions and words. He has a big voice in the team and they miss his influence.
There has been plenty of talk this week among Eels players. The players have taken to each other and delivered some home truths. It may be the conversation that turns their season around.
But the absence of Hayne, Gutherson and injured back Bevan French is still an issue. Its more of an issue than a player having a glass of wine in the city on a Monday before a game. And it is more of an issue than the dressing room on game day. A couple of coaches have mentioned the dressing room culture at the club. They say it is best explained by the blaring music coming out the sheds as they prepare for a game.
Head down: Corey Norman's confidence has taken a battering during the Eels' calamitous run of form.
“You couldnt talk to a player because they couldnt hear a word you were saying,” observed one coach. “I get it, players listen to music, but its a dressing room thats more like a disco from what Ive been told.”
The argument countering that is that the same music was blaring when the Eels made the top four last year.
The other hot topic at the Eels is Corey Norman, who was described by Andrew Johns as “legless”. Arthur has had issues with Norman, but due to his form, not his attitude. Normans ego has taken a beating because the side is losing.
And as for a feud between Norman and Mitchell Moses? Their breakfast catch-ups every second day would suggest otherwise.
Tigers contemplate another season for resurgent Benji
The revival of Benji Marshall has been one of the NRLs early season highlights, and the Tigers say another season for their favourite son is not out of the question.
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Marshall wont cost the Tigers big dollars, but they may not get away with paying the type of money they are now. Marshall is on about $150,000 a season, but this year was never about the dollars. It was about returning home, potentially going out the right way and rebranding himself in Sydney as he looks at a media career or even a role in the Tigers footy department.
Wests Tigers know there may be ebbs and flows with Marshall this year as he is not the fresh-faced superstar who brought a title to the club in 2005. The club will examine how he feels about round 15 and are certainly open to the idea of another year if Marshall wants to go on.
Right now youd think there is no reason for Marshall not to go around again, but if a suitable off-field option was presented to him it may be hard to turn down.
Is Vlandys lining up to make a run at NRLs top job?
NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg was described as an “honest bastard” by Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter Beattie recently. But that may not be enough to save him from a run at the top job from newly appointed commissioner Peter Vlandys.
Beattie recently said that the two new appointees to the ARLC, Vlandys and Amanda Laing, could be his successors. But that doesnt really make sense when it comes to Vlandys. Why would anyone want to do Beatties job, which pays $180,000, when you could have a crack at Greenbergs position, which is a $1 million-plus pay packet.
Vlandys will most likely deny any interest in Greenbergs job – its always the way – but Greenberg is well and truly aware of it.
VLandys has a number of leading media figures on his speed dial and will be able to water down any real interest. However, prominent NRL figures say VLandys is definitely interested.
The NRL is jumpy because there is talk Vlandys has been meeting with Nick Politis – one of the biggest powerbrokers in the game and a man who is hardly a fan of the current administration.
Legal (ex)Eagle
Bob Fultons lawyers have requested to see the NRLs 115-page report into the goings on at Manly during the five-year period where $1.5 million of salary-cap rorting took place.
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Fulton wants to know why his name has been front and centre and what recourse he may have. Fulton was hoping to have looked at the documents during the week, and when he does he wont be allowed to have a copy of the report to take with him.
Lucky Dog
Moses Mbye was knocked into Disneyland on Good Friday. On Sunday morning he was all smiles at North Bondi in a different role – as a devoted dad. He was splashing around in the kids pool with his children and was happy to recount his Friday experience, telling interested observers that he was knocked out cold and that his jaw moved out and then back into place, straining a ligament in the process.
Mbye was full of spark and, apart from a few stitches in his chin, he was chipper and not missing a beat.
Wizard and Roz
The retirement of South African quick Morne Morkel was lost in the drama of the ball-tampering scandal of recent weeks, but there is a strong Australian connection there. Morkels wife is former Nine sports reporter and presenter Roz Kelly.
Kelly was featured on Fox Sports cricket coverage. There was not a lot of emotion from Morkel and clearly he was ready to quit the Test scene.
Kelly, whose last gig was with Channel Ten covering the Big Bash, will be back in Australia in September and will be in demand should she decide to hop back into the media full-time.
Happy wife …
Our item last week about Nine Sports editor Cameron Williams putting forward Glenn Lazarus as a potential Immortal drew considerable response, including from Lazarus wife, Tess. She admits she is clearly biased, but had a crack at those who made the decision on who gets a look-in for these awards.
“The reality is that if you are not part of the clique you are often overlooked for these types of opportunities, she wrote.
Immortal bolter: Glenn Lazarus and wife Tess at Parliament House in Canberra.
Photo: Alex Ellinghausen
He is grateful for everything the game has given him and for all the opportunities it has offered – including the chance to do much good for people in need and build life-long friendships with wonderful people.
He came back from a dislocated ankle in 1997 while playing with the Broncos in England in a World Club Challenge, missing out on playing in another grand final. Many thought it would end his career – but it didnt.
While he developed golden staph and had to have the ankle reconnected twice (one surgeon even suggesting that if it didnt improve he may lose the foot altogether), he worked hard and stayed focused and somehow managed to fight his way back through incredible pain and ongoing physio to go on to captain and help launch Melbourne in 1998.
He has not only achieved great things, he has overcome great odds to stay on the paddock and keep playing the game he loves. I am sure there are probably many other players with great stories. These are the men that should be honoured. They exhibit the true passion, values and commitment that makes the NRL the great game it is.
I sincerely appreciate it and I know Glenn is very honoured to know you feel he is worthy.
Danny Weidler is a reporter with Channel Nine news.
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Danny Weidler is a sport columnist for The Sydney Morning Herald.
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