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Joseph Suaalii has shown considerable class by contacting fallen rugby figures Hamish McLennan and Eddie Jones to thank them for their support and assure them he will be honouring his deal with Rugby Australia.
“I’ve been playing phone tennis with him all week,” Jones said. “I know what he wants to say because he spoke to Hamish and I appreciate it. His actions in calling up says it all about the sort of kid he is. He is quality. He will be right when it comes to his deal. He’s fine.”
McLennan is the man who drove the $5 million deal to take Suaalii to rugby in 2025, and he knows it played a big part in his demise as RA chairman. It gave his detractors something headline-grabbing to latch on to. But McLennan doesn’t regret the signing, saying Suaalii will be an “iconic figure” for kids in the game.
As an advertising guru and experienced media man, he knows what sells.
“I’ve talked to Joseph this week,” McLennan said.
“He was decent enough to give me a call, which is a reflection of the kind of young man that he is – and after our conversation I have no doubt he will take his contract up with RA.
Joseph Suaalii.Credit: Getty Images
“I initially contacted his family to tell them I was sorry I would not be there when he was coming. When he called, I didn’t ask him about his intentions but he made it clear he wants to honour his deal.
“He has said all along it was his dream to play for the Wallabies and Waratahs, and I will be so delighted when he does. He wants to make a difference to the sport and help out the boys.
“The criticism of him and the deal is crazy. Before he pulls on a jumper he has generated over $50 million worth of publicity for rugby … and the first time he plays for the Waratahs in front of a full house, he pays for himself. It’s a no-brainer.”
The Roosters were privately hoping Suaalii would change his mind and stay put at Bondi Junction. They have fallen in love with him all over again as a player.
But the Roosters – or more specifically their chairman Nick Politis – certainly haven’t patched up their relationship with Suaalii’s agent, Isaac Moses. There has been speculation Suaalii would consider a new agent, which would help with any future deal to bring him back to the Roosters, who say Suaalii has told them he will return to the club after his rugby contract.
Jones, meanwhile, has left Australia to live in Japan permanently. He flew out on Saturday, the day his RA deal expired. And he says he is going there without a job.
PVL sticks knife in
Peter V’landys has had the last laugh in his battle with rugby as NRL clubs explore the opportunity of a salary cap free-kick when it comes to signing players from the 15-man code.
V’landys’ idea of cap exemptions for NRL clubs signing players from rival codes was first raised in this column at the time of the Suaalii defection, and it’s due to be discussed by the ARLC at its board meeting next month.
Rugby was talking tough about poaching NRL players, but a shocking World Cup, the exit of the Wallabies coach and RA chairman, and the backlash on Suaalii’s salary, combined with financial concerns, has put the brakes on any plans to raid league’s ranks.
V’landys has sat back and watched rugby return to the dark days of Fort Fumble – the name given to the old ARU by the late John Fordham when they failed to sign Andrew Johns. The sport is struggling and V’landys has pointed out that the war between the codes was always an unfair fight.
“I will always do what’s best for rugby league and its fans,” he said. “I’m sure the office-holders of rugby union will do the same for their sport, however I hope they learnt bringing butter knives to a gun fight isn’t the best strategy.”
Sinclair family’s hell goes on
It’s almost five years since the NRL’s off-season from hell, when stars Jarryd Hayne and Jack de Belin were hit with a raft of serious sexual assault charges.
The fallout is being felt today. Hayne is in jail after being found guilty of two counts of sexual intercourse without consent.
De Belin and his co-accused, Callan Sinclair, meanwhile, are free men after a jury found them not guilty of one count of sexual assault and could not reach a verdict on the remaining four charges. But their families are still looking for retribution against the NSW Police in relation to the conduct of an officer involved in their case.
During the first trial in Wollongong, the detective in charge of the investigation, Shawn Adams, was granted a section 128 certificate protecting him from self-incrimination after he admitted lying to the court about legally protected material he accessed on de Belin’s phone.
Judge Andrew Haesler was scathing in his criticism of Adams’ conduct in the investigation but ultimately allowed the case to proceed to preserve public confidence in the legal system.
“Adams lied to the court in his affidavit, in his evidence-in-chief and in his cross-examination, immediately prior to his receiving the section 128 certificate,” Judge Haesler said. “He admitted as much. The lies are also obvious when viewed with the objective evidence.”
Callan Sinclair arrives at the Downing Centre in Sydney in May 2021.Credit: Dominic Lorrimer
A second trial also ended in a hung jury, and the DPP chose not to pursue charges at a third trial. De Belin and Sinclair maintained their innocence throughout both trials. Callan’s parents, Terry and Gai Sinclair, travelled to Sydney from Merimbula for a one-hour chat to tell the world what they are still going through. They are speaking after consulting de Belin’s parents, with whom they have become close friends.
The case has cost them $1 million in legal fees and other expenses. They had to sell their home and now live in a space under the house owned by Gai’s mum.
“It’s hurt us financially but it’s the best money we’ve ever spent,” said Gai. “We are ordinary people whose life was taken over by an extraordinary situation. The way everything happened makes you question a lot.”
Adams has been the subject of a Law Enforcement Conduct Commission inquiry into his conduct. The LECC passed the case to the Police Standards Commission. In March last year, the PSC Investigations Unit confirmed in an email to the Sinclair family an investigation of police conduct was proceeding.
But, after more than a year, the parents of de Belin and Sinclair can’t find out if Adams is still a serving member of the police force.
“This is before the police standards commission, and occasionally we get an email from them,” said Gai. “We actually did have a meeting at the beginning of last year but we’re actually now on our sixth investigator handling this case. And we have emails going backwards and forwards …we send an email saying, ‘Is there anything happening?’
“And they send it back and say, ‘Well, yes, we are making progress and will be in touch’, or, ‘We’ve got new investigators on it now’.
Said Terry: “It’s like they want us to go away. I’ve got a message for them. We are not. The actions that we are angry about are not hidden. It’s on public record.”
Gai said the ordeal had taken a huge toll on the families. “It has changed us and our lives,” she said. “We know what people say.
“Those boys … they’ve both been through an incredible amount and I’m in awe of them every day in how they carry themselves and handle what they have dealt with.
“It’s not just them, it’s not just us. It’s not just our family and our friends. It’s our whole communities. You know, we’re from a country town – the whole community is affected.
“They know these boys and they know how ridiculous this is. It’s just unfathomable that this could even happen.
“It’s now 2½ years since the last trial finished with no result, even though everybody’s well aware that there’s been misconduct. We know there are investigations under way, but it’s just taking too long. And anything we can do to speed that up by drawing attention to it, we’ll do it.”
Tigers’ AFB Trump card
Wests Tigers abandoned Grappa, their usual wine-and-dine venue, to have lunch with Addin Fonua-Blake at Haberfield Rowers on Thursday, before the unsettled Warriors prop caught up with the Bulldogs at Sydney airport on Friday.
Addin Fonua-Blake met with the Tigers and Bulldogs during the week.Credit: Getty
Tigers recruitment boss Scott Fulton was part of the lunch meeting. He and his late father, Bob, were instrumental in getting Fonua-Blake to Manly after things went south at the Dragons early in his career. It will be interesting to see if the Fulton connection is a factor and if the Dragons exit all those years ago will play on Fonua-Blake’s mind.
Meanwhile, it’s doubtful that Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould will leave it to a brief chat if he is serious about getting Fonua-Blake to the club. Gould is the master salesman and the airport pitch won’t be his main play.
The new Turvey?
We told you all about rising Bulldogs star Mitchell Woods and his decision to choose rugby league over the Swans and AFL. He has agreed to a three-year contact extension at Canterbury.
It’s a coup for the Dogs. Gould met with Woods’ parents and did the deal on Wednesday. He also told radio host Jimmy Smith that Woods reminds him of Steve Mortimer. He certainly looks the real deal in highlights packages I’ve seen.
Partnership broken
At one stage during the Ashes, The Australian’s cricket podcast Cricket Et Cetera was the most popular sports podcast in the country. Keen listeners are now mourning its demise, but those putting out the new version don’t seem to want you to know it’s not what it was.
Well-connected journalist Peter Lalor and respected author Gideon Haigh were hosts of a show that took you into the lives of two writers on the road with our national team. They talked about cricket and their own touring experiences, and it was a good listen. Then, without notice, the hosts changed — but their images were still used to promote the podcast.
There has been speculation about why the pair departed, but the reason is simple: Haigh has quit the paper.
News Corp bosses were prepared let Haigh continue in his podcast role, but the pair wanted to do it independently of the company. And Lalor was not allowed to do that. There is an opening now for two well-respected cricket writers to produce something similar.
Remember the name
Still on cricket, Arjun Singh is a name you probably don’t know yet — but you will. The 13-year-old from Kellyville is the star pupil at Neil D’Costa’s academy. D’Costa is the man who guided the early careers of Michael Clarke and Phillip Hughes and shaped Marnus Labuschagne into a multi-format star.
Singh is making his mark for Blacktown City under-13s and has 375 runs so far this season, including a century and three 50s, plus 11 wickets, including a hat-trick.
“Arjun is a great student of the game,” said D’Costa. “He has amazing attention to detail for someone so young. The future is a mystery but we are enjoying watching him succeed. He is a much loved part of our academy.”
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