The Bulldogs are approaching an ambitious triple nosedive that would add significant attacking power to incoming trainer Trent Barrett.
Meanwhile, Joseph Suaalii’s soap opera is dragging on, and South Sydney could get mad if he makes his last call.
Plus, an NRL legend stormed into the box of Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo after last week’s preliminary finals.
All of that and more in James Hooper’s weekly NRL column, Jimmy brings.
Big final
See the Fox League Grand Final Week coverage of Kayo. Stream the latest news and insights up to kick-off, plus half-time and full-time analysis from the Fox League commentary team. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming right away>
BULLDOGS RELOAD THE KENNEL WITH THREE LARGE SIGNATURES
The best out in rugby league AND a new pairing? Not bad for Trent Barrett.Source: Getty Images
Bulldogs near the landing of key signatures from Melbourne’s great finalist Josh Addo-Carr, Sydney Rooster’s halfback Kyle Flanagan and Penrith’s Matt Burton.
And the big Melbourne Storm finalists see Bulldogs winger Reimis Smith as a potential replacement for home winger Addo-Carr.
While the Wests Tigers initially looked to the box to secure Addo-Carr for the next season, the Bulldogs have now emerged as the most likely home for the NSW and Australia winger.
MORE NRL NEWS
DISCARDS TO NRL ELITE: How Storm repeatedly turns Rans into big final stars
‘F ** K THAT’S COLD’: Moment Matty Johns realized that Smith shares Joey’s greatest trait
SIX PANTHERS OFF CONTRACT: You have to cut a line to stay together
The Bulldogs will step up their pursuit of Burton starting November 1, when they can officially get the Panthers’ young gun to sign a contract for 2022.
Then it’s up to the Panthers whether they decide to bring the Dubbo product out a year early.
The Flanagan deal is expected to be stamped in the next 24 hours. Add in Addo-Carr and Burton and suddenly the roster goes from subpar to a decent page.
WILL NADEN REALLY PLAY OR LEAVE RIGHT?
GRAND finalists Penrith tossing Berley in the water to see if center Brent Naden will play in the NRL playoff.
One line that is pushed is that he has trained on the right edge of the panther and is a lock to run out of.
The other line is that the Panthers Tryone May wouldn’t have run in a preliminary final if they didn’t plan to roll the same way in the grand final.
We’re giving Naden, who has scored 12 tries in 17 NRL games this season, the unlucky Panther, who sidelined on Sunday.
ULTIMATE INSULT ON THE QUESTION
Joseph Suaalii from South Sydney could be the Joseph Suaalii of the Sydney RoostersSource: Delivered
The Sydney Roosters have somehow turned out to be the most likely home for the hottest teen in Australian sport, Joseph Suaalii.
If – and given all the backflips, cartwheels, and pirouettes we’ve seen of the kid, it’s already a mighty big IF – Suaalii decides to stay in the rugby league, then the Chooks have taken the box seat to win his signature.
The alternative is for him to take the offered money from Rugby Australia and play for the Wallabies.
The Wests Tigers are also keen to sign the 17-year-old and have put in a three-year deal.
Tiger’s trainer Michael Maguire even traveled as far as Byron Bay to meet one of the prodigy’s advisors in South Sydney so he could see FaceTime Suaalii.
The tigers aren’t the only rangers either.
The Brisbane Broncos have also deployed a player agent to call Suaalii’s family and offer the full-back position.
Regardless, the roosters are now favorites. You have to hand them over to Sydney Rooster’s Queen Nick Politis. There is simply no better deal maker in the business. Sonny Bill Williams, Cooper Cronk, Freddy Fittler and Gus.
If Uncle Nick Suaalii ends up under the guard of arch-rival South Sydney, there is no argument that this is one of his absolute best jobs.
GOWER BARGES IN NRL EXEC BOX
Breathe easy boys, Gowie comes in peace.Source: News Limited
NRL executives could have been forgiven for looking for the exits when Premier League captain Craig Gower rolled into their box after Penrith qualified for the grand finale.
One of the rugby league’s most adorable villains, Gower had spent an afternoon on the Randwick Racecourse for The Everest at ANZ Stadium to watch the Panthers qualify for their first grand final since he took them to the title in 2003 .
The champion halfback quickly made his way to see ARLC chairman Peter V’Landy and CEO Andrew Abdo, which left some executives unfamiliar with Gower’s charms more than a little nervous.
Overseas? Stream the 2020 NRL Telstra Premiership Finals Series from outside Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands on WatchNRL. Every game including the Grand Final Live & On-Demand. Grab your Finals Pass to start streaming>
“I just wanted to thank you both personally for fighting so hard for the game and getting the season going again,” said Gower.
V’landys added, “It was very much appreciated that Craig went out of the way to come in and say what he said.”
V’landys currently has a senior attorney conducting an independent investigation into whether Gower should receive the 2003 Dally M Medal.
The Panthers-Halfback should only use the gong for the Rugby League Players Association to threaten strikes if the demands of the collective agreement of the players were not met.
The NRL immediately canceled the award ceremony and Gower was stripped of the NRL’s most prestigious individual honor.
JACK JOHNS ‘HILARIOUS PRANK ON MATTY
Jack Johns gave his old man a number.Source: Delivered
As proof that the apple never falls from the tree, Jack Johns defeated his old man’s face Fox League Matty with a brilliant prank last weekend.
Matthew is known for being a fan of a cool drink on a hot day, so came home a little tired after a long afternoon.
When the quick-thinking Jack discovered a hole in his old man’s defenses as he fell asleep in the lounge, he grabbed Matty’s phone and began to unwind.
Jack just picked up the phone, dialed a number, then tossed the phone on Matty’s dozing chest.
Honorary members included Peter Sterling, Bob Fulton, Kyle Sandilands, and Eddie Jones, to name a few.
Some of the phone calls reportedly lasted up to 30 minutes.
Great, Jack.
Nine balls of the week
Cameron Smith was Chairman of Suncorp after Storm’s preliminary victory.Source: Getty Images
After assuming the chairmanship of Suncorp Stadium, rugby fans could be forgiven for finally thinking about his plans after the grand finale.
But even the most sycophantic, pompous Cameron cheerleaders found it difficult to handle 17 minutes of insincere, zooper-dooper-sucking shoots of Storm Skipper.
Get the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Register now>
In case you missed it, the Sunshine Coast Storm reads out all of the Cameron Cue cards where no one knows about what the sociopathic winner will be doing next season.
With a little luck with running and transit we will get an answer on Sunday.
NRL Grand Final 2020: Bulldog Transfers, Joseph Suaalii, Craig Gower, James Hooper Column
The Bulldogs are approaching an ambitious triple nosedive that would add significant attacking power to incoming trainer Trent Barrett.
Meanwhile, Joseph Suaalii’s soap opera is dragging on, and South Sydney could get mad if he makes his last call.
Plus, an NRL legend stormed into the box of Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo after last week’s preliminary finals.
All of that and more in James Hooper’s weekly NRL column, Jimmy brings.
See the Fox League Grand Final Week coverage of Kayo. Stream the latest news and insights up to kick-off, plus half-time and full-time analysis from the Fox League commentary team. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming right away>
BULLDOGS RELOAD THE KENNEL WITH THREE LARGE SIGNATURES
Bulldogs near the landing of key signatures from Melbourne’s great finalist Josh Addo-Carr, Sydney Rooster’s halfback Kyle Flanagan and Penrith’s Matt Burton.
And the big Melbourne Storm finalists see Bulldogs winger Reimis Smith as a potential replacement for home winger Addo-Carr.
While the Wests Tigers initially looked to the box to secure Addo-Carr for the next season, the Bulldogs have now emerged as the most likely home for the NSW and Australia winger.
MORE NRL NEWS
DISCARDS TO NRL ELITE: How Storm repeatedly turns Rans into big final stars
‘F ** K THAT’S COLD’: Moment Matty Johns realized that Smith shares Joey’s greatest trait
SIX PANTHERS OFF CONTRACT: You have to cut a line to stay together
The Bulldogs will step up their pursuit of Burton starting November 1, when they can officially get the Panthers’ young gun to sign a contract for 2022.
Then it’s up to the Panthers whether they decide to bring the Dubbo product out a year early.
The Flanagan deal is expected to be stamped in the next 24 hours. Add in Addo-Carr and Burton and suddenly the roster goes from subpar to a decent page.
WILL NADEN REALLY PLAY OR LEAVE RIGHT?
GRAND finalists Penrith tossing Berley in the water to see if center Brent Naden will play in the NRL playoff.
One line that is pushed is that he has trained on the right edge of the panther and is a lock to run out of.
The other line is that the Panthers Tryone May wouldn’t have run in a preliminary final if they didn’t plan to roll the same way in the grand final.
We’re giving Naden, who has scored 12 tries in 17 NRL games this season, the unlucky Panther, who sidelined on Sunday.
ULTIMATE INSULT ON THE QUESTION
The Sydney Roosters have somehow turned out to be the most likely home for the hottest teen in Australian sport, Joseph Suaalii.
If – and given all the backflips, cartwheels, and pirouettes we’ve seen of the kid, it’s already a mighty big IF – Suaalii decides to stay in the rugby league, then the Chooks have taken the box seat to win his signature.
The alternative is for him to take the offered money from Rugby Australia and play for the Wallabies.
The Wests Tigers are also keen to sign the 17-year-old and have put in a three-year deal.
Tiger’s trainer Michael Maguire even traveled as far as Byron Bay to meet one of the prodigy’s advisors in South Sydney so he could see FaceTime Suaalii.
The tigers aren’t the only rangers either.
The Brisbane Broncos have also deployed a player agent to call Suaalii’s family and offer the full-back position.
Regardless, the roosters are now favorites. You have to hand them over to Sydney Rooster’s Queen Nick Politis. There is simply no better deal maker in the business. Sonny Bill Williams, Cooper Cronk, Freddy Fittler and Gus.
If Uncle Nick Suaalii ends up under the guard of arch-rival South Sydney, there is no argument that this is one of his absolute best jobs.
GOWER BARGES IN NRL EXEC BOX
NRL executives could have been forgiven for looking for the exits when Premier League captain Craig Gower rolled into their box after Penrith qualified for the grand finale.
One of the rugby league’s most adorable villains, Gower had spent an afternoon on the Randwick Racecourse for The Everest at ANZ Stadium to watch the Panthers qualify for their first grand final since he took them to the title in 2003 .
The champion halfback quickly made his way to see ARLC chairman Peter V’Landy and CEO Andrew Abdo, which left some executives unfamiliar with Gower’s charms more than a little nervous.
Overseas? Stream the 2020 NRL Telstra Premiership Finals Series from outside Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands on WatchNRL. Every game including the Grand Final Live & On-Demand. Grab your Finals Pass to start streaming>
“I just wanted to thank you both personally for fighting so hard for the game and getting the season going again,” said Gower.
V’landys added, “It was very much appreciated that Craig went out of the way to come in and say what he said.”
V’landys currently has a senior attorney conducting an independent investigation into whether Gower should receive the 2003 Dally M Medal.
The Panthers-Halfback should only use the gong for the Rugby League Players Association to threaten strikes if the demands of the collective agreement of the players were not met.
The NRL immediately canceled the award ceremony and Gower was stripped of the NRL’s most prestigious individual honor.
JACK JOHNS ‘HILARIOUS PRANK ON MATTY
As proof that the apple never falls from the tree, Jack Johns defeated his old man’s face Fox League Matty with a brilliant prank last weekend.
Matthew is known for being a fan of a cool drink on a hot day, so came home a little tired after a long afternoon.
When the quick-thinking Jack discovered a hole in his old man’s defenses as he fell asleep in the lounge, he grabbed Matty’s phone and began to unwind.
Jack just picked up the phone, dialed a number, then tossed the phone on Matty’s dozing chest.
Honorary members included Peter Sterling, Bob Fulton, Kyle Sandilands, and Eddie Jones, to name a few.
Some of the phone calls reportedly lasted up to 30 minutes.
Great, Jack.
Nine balls of the week
After assuming the chairmanship of Suncorp Stadium, rugby fans could be forgiven for finally thinking about his plans after the grand finale.
But even the most sycophantic, pompous Cameron cheerleaders found it difficult to handle 17 minutes of insincere, zooper-dooper-sucking shoots of Storm Skipper.
Get the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Register now>
In case you missed it, the Sunshine Coast Storm reads out all of the Cameron Cue cards where no one knows about what the sociopathic winner will be doing next season.
With a little luck with running and transit we will get an answer on Sunday.
On the other hand, don’t hold your breath.
.
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