Sea Eagles set to re-sign coach Des Hasler | What’s the Buzz

It’s been a rough year for the Manly Sea Eagles, and the club is set to make a big call on coach Des Hasler’s future this week — check out all the latest NRL chatter and more. The club’s head of football, Mark Ellison, had been in discussions with Addo Carr’s manager, Mario Tartak, for several weeks and made a verbal offer. At the last moment the offer was withdrawn. The Rabbitohs were concerned it would be a public relations nightmare. That it would be wrong to tell Johnston there was no room in the salary cap then bring in another winger on more money. Not when fans were running an online petition to keep Johnston at Redfern. Addo-Carr is now set to sign with the Wests Tigers in the next 48 hours. He is already looking for a home to buy in Sydney’s inner west. Check out all the latest NRL chatter and more in Australia’s hottest sport gossip column. SAINT The BBC in the UK has done the most emotional interview with footy player Rob Burrow who is fighting motor neurone disease. Rob is displaying the most extraordinary courage for his children. It is a lesson to us all. See link at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/53101701 SINNER If you’re wondering why rugby league north of the border is in such a sorry state, look no further than QRL chairman Bruce Hatcher. This is the man who thinks the game’s most exciting youngster Kotoni Staggs shouldn’t play State of Origin for NSW because he’s also eligible to play for Tonga. Never mind the fact he grew up in Wellington. This is also the man who says Manly or Cronulla should relocate as Brisbane’s second side rather than develop their own team. What a goose. SHOOSH Which not-long retired NRL star and multi-millionaire didn’t turn up to his usual coffee club gathering last week on the day it was his turn to shout. SHOOSH Only three referees are supporting their boss Bernard Sutton in an NRL review of his management style. They are his brothers Gerard and Chris, plus Belinda Sharpe. The rest are off him. SHOOSH The chances of Maroons coach Kevvie Walters getting the Brisbane Broncos coaching job are slowly fading despite a massive push from old boys. Paul Green is now considered an odds-on favourite because of his experience and record at club level with the Cowboys. SPOTTED Sydney Swans legend Michael O’Loughlin shopping at IKEA in Tempe last weekend. SPOTTED II Wallaby legend David Campese at Officeworks on Parramatta road at Five Dock. SPOTTED III We’ve found a rugby league player who has played even more games than Cameron Smith. Brett Carroll, 47, played his 500th game for Como Jannali in B grade against Hurstville United in Cronulla juniors on Saturday. He’s won seven premierships since starting in Under 8s. SPOTTED IV Rabbitohs legend Bob McCarthy in the gym at Coogee at 76 years of age. “I try to go every second day,” he says, “all depends on how the old muscles are going.” SPOTTED V Panthers captain James Tamou squeezing his 195cm, 115kg frame into his Hyundai i30 hatch after picking his kids up from school in Penrith this week. SPOTTED VI A new mascot for the SCG — a replica of Sydney’s most iconic sporting landmark — the clock tower atop the Members’ Pavilion. The SCG Trust is running a competition to come up with a name. Register at: www.scgt.nsw.gov.au/mascot. The winner gets a private tour for nine people of the SCG and SCG Museum plus a photo with the new mascot. WIFE’S EMOTIONAL PLEA TO BOXING CHAMP HORN Jeff Horn’s wife, Jo, is pleading with the former world champion to retire from boxing. Two weeks after being savagely beaten by rising superstar Tim Tszyu, Horn is wrestling with the temptation of retirement or one last fight to finish his magnificent career on a better note. “Jo doesn’t want me to continue,” Horn said. “She just doesn’t want to see me go through it again. “Being a woman and the mother of our two children, she doesn’t want to lose me. “She wants to play it safe and quit while we’re ahead.” Horn says he will make a measured decision over the next couple of weeks. “It’s not about money,” he said. “It’s about ending on a high instead of a low. That would be my only consideration in possibly fighting again. “I’m very happy with what I’ve accomplished but it’s sad finishing up like I did. It was disappointing. I fought like crap and I still don’t know why I was gone so early. I can’t put it down to anything. On the night I just couldn’t switch on. “It was kind of like I’d be drugged. I was just lethargic and couldn’t get up for it. “It was weird.” He says the decision he makes will be final. There will be no retirement then a shock comeback like many boxers do. “I don’t want to make a quick decision,” he said. “I’m just laying back and enjoying my family. “Whatever decision I make will be final.” HASLER SET TO GET LIFT WITH NEW EAGLES DEAL Despite a disappointing season by Manly standards, the Sea Eagles are about to extend the contract of veteran coach Des Hasler, probably this week. CEO Steve Humphreys says: “We’re in the final throes of sorting out an extension beyond next year. It’s very close. We’re 12th on the ladder but there’s no lack of confidence in Des. It’s more about a shocking run with injuries. We’re probably only a few days away from finalising everything.” ROSE’S SMART MOVE GETTING TOP MARKS We used to think most retired old front-rowers were one beer short of a six pack. Not always. Big Georgy Rose is soon to graduate in business and commerce at Sydney University. “He’s super smart,” says his brother, fight promoter Matt Rose. George works at the NRL in indigenous affairs but is about to quit to join his brother’s management and boxing stable. They look after Tim Tszyu, Latrell Mitchell, Cody Walker and Jack Wighton. EXPANDING ORIGIN BUBBLE The State of Origin series to be played after the grand final in November is posing plenty of logistical issues in the COVID environment. Larger than usual squads will be announced as teams drop out of the finals, so players in contention can move into Origin biosecurity bubbles and continue training in case they’re required when teams for each game are selected. It remains to be seen whether some players, who may only consider themselves fringe hopes, will be prepared to put themselves back under strict Origin protocol requirements, having just spent six months under similar restrictions with their own clubs. FORDHAM’S BIG COLLECT Over four decades the late and great celebrity agent John Fordham regularly contributed to these pages. Fordo passed away earlier this year but his memory proudly lives on. During the week his lovely wife Veronica and son Nick collected Fordo’s AM medal from the Governor General which was awarded to him shortly before his death. Another great mate of ours, turf legend Kenny Calendar, collected his too. FALLOUT OVER JT’S CHOICE They won a premiership together in 2015 but Johnathan Thurston and coach Paul Green are not quite as close as they used to be. Thurston is backing Kevin Walters as the next coach of the Broncos ahead of his old Cowboys coach, which didn’t go down well with Green. “Kevvie has a strong connection to the Broncos, he won six premierships ... that’s his coaching resume right there,” Thurston said. “He has a connection to the city as well, the sponsors and the fans. TIGHT CALL AT CHANNEL SEVEN There are some nervous commentators at Channel 7 with doubts about the network’s commitment to cricket. The likes of ex-Test stars Ricky Ponting, Glenn McGrath, Damien Fleming and Michael Slater are all on long-term arrangements worth millions of dollars to call the game. Seven is trying to cancel the remainder of its $450 million deal, citing a belief that Cricket Australia is in breach of the contract. TIGERS SET FOR HOMECOMING The Balmain Tigers are returning home after development approval for their famous old leagues club site on Victoria Road at Rozelle. The building project will include 167 residential apartments, commercial space, a supermarket, specialty retail outlets and a new Tigers Leagues Club built on the lower levels of the complex. The Leagues Club shut its doors when it went into voluntary administration in 2018. Wests Ashfield CEO Simon Cook said the approval was crucial to keep Balmain Leagues Club alive. “It’s the first step in bringing the Balmain Tigers back to its home at Rozelle and is a truly historical moment in ensuring the continuation of grassroots rugby league in the area,” he said. “I think the Broncos are starting to see cracks in the club with their fans and Kevvie is man who can bring it all together.”