7th Tackle - Which NRL team passed on the Semi Trailer?
Kangaroos welcome Joeys
No matter what the sport, the merit of WAGS and children being invited to stay with players in team camps is always a lightning rod for debate and rookie Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga has made his feelings on the issue known this week.
On Tuesday night the better halves of several players began arriving at the team’s Newcastle Hotel. Queensland-based families were expected to arrive on Wednesday and Thursday, with Meninga keen to foster an inclusive culture.
Senior forward Sam Thaiday told us it was not unusual for families to join the team on Kangaroo Tours of the UK, however, it’s never been commonplace practice before for a one-off Test with just five days preparation.
One family member we’re looking forward to meeting is Semi Radradra’s father. We’ve been told Samisoni Waqavatu is making the long trek from his remote Fijian home to witness his boy debut in Green and Gold tomorrow night.
Panthers not Semi interested
Another interesting sidelight to Radradra – he so easily could have been a Panther rather than an Eel.
We’ve been told that straight after securing Radradra while he was playing with Fiji’s Sevens rugby side in 2012, player agent George Christodoulou approached Penrith. The meeting happened at a junior match in Campbelltown.
Christodoulou had a video of his new client playing rugby on his phone; and flashed it to a member of Penrith’s development staff. “Do you want him?” the agent asked.
Wowed by the short clip, the Mountain man from Panthers could not agree quickly enough. And then - by complete chance - the club’s recruitment manager arrived on the scene. He was promptly shown the same video; but had a different opinion. “Not interested,” he dead-panned.
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Christodoulou shrugged his shoulders and mentioned Parramatta as his next option. The rest is history, with the Eels doing everything possible to make Radradra’s transition to life Down Under easier and have reaped the obvious benefits.
Cleanskin a hit
The most refreshing sight of the week was the Kangaroos jersey without sponsors; a long forgotten treat we thought had been lost at sea with Harold Holt and the Titanic.
Looking to boost the team’s pride and profile, coach Mal Meninga has taken an immediate liking to the clean skin look.
In our opinion, it’s certainly an improvement on the billboards for booze and bogan cars of recent years. We know it’s not a commercial reality - and there’s not much of a chance of the ARLC knocking back millions in jersey-front sponsorship – but if Meninga had his way the current jersey would stay just the way it is: a virgin.
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