James Packer and Nick Politis bury hatchet after a decade

The conversation will stay between those three, and while there is peace again between Packer and Politis, they have some way to go before they can enjoy the deeper friendship they had years ago.

Politis is a hard-nosed businessman, but also a soft touch when it comes to long-term friends. Both men will be better for settling their differences.

Love and religion make former wild child Pearce a changed man

Mitchell Pearce has never been afraid to think differently and be his own man — and he’s continuing down that path in retirement.

Pearce is in a relationship with a Muslim woman he met while playing for Catalans Dragons in France. The pair have been dating for a little more than a year and Pearce is adopting some of her ways. He is observing Ramadan — the ninth months of the Muslim year when strict fasting is observed from dawn to sunset — for the first time as part of his open-minded approach to life.

Pearce has long been very close with Sonny Bill Williams, one of the most prominent Muslim sporting figures in Australia. In keeping with the faith, Pearce has also given up drinking for now. He has not touched alcohol for more than a year.

He has been doing plenty of reading to broaden his mind in the area of religion, faith and mindfulness as he begins a new chapter, helping others cope with life in the spotlight.

Pearce has lived a roller-coaster existence in the public eye, experiencing the highs of a premiership with the Roosters in 2013 and years of being a whipping boy for fans and the media for his performances in State of Origin for NSW and sometimes at club level.

It has given him great experience to try to teach other young sportsmen and women about life in the public eye, and how to deal with pressure. If anyone can speak from first-hand experience, it’s Pearce.

His dad, Wayne, was a pioneer on league professionalism and looking outside the box for an edge in performance, and now Mitchell is following his father’s lead, to some degree. Wayne is a health freak who doesn’t drink and, at the age of 63, looks fitter than most 40-year-olds.

Bunny business?

There are many stories coming out of the South Sydney camp as they deal with a really tough run, but one of the hardest ones to nail down is the existence of an independent report done for club chief executive Blake Solly and coach Jason Demetriou into what the issues at the club are – if any.

After weeks recently in proximity to the club, this column has heard from numerous people connected with the Rabbitohs that there is a report. Club figures I’ve talked to won’t even discuss it, while Solly says there is no report.

Players were interviewed at the end of last season for an official club report, but outgoing staff were not.

As for the external report, I have been told by sources with knowledge of the situation, who do not want to be named due to the sensitivity of the issue, that a report was done and it includes a range of recommendations. Souths won just four of their final 13 matches in 2023 to miss the finals altogether after leading the competition following round 11.

So what did the “alleged” report recommend?

One thing we have been told is it recommended that Latrell Mitchell should have less of a voice in the game to allow him to concentrate on Souths. For the past month or so, Mitchell has been the loudest of voices and the most talked-about figure in the game. And now Souths’ decision makers have stopped him from speaking to the media. It is difficult to know if this is a response to a recommendation in a report, a response to his comments about the racial slur levelled at Ezra Mam by Spencer Leniu in Las Vegas, or a response to Mitchell’s profanity-laden radio interview.

I have been told another recommendation in the report relates to bringing in an assistant coach from outside the club. This has been denied and did not happen.

Souths have been dealing with all kinds of rumours: including players having punch-ups at training, Mitchell switching positions and a host of others.

We also asked the club about two nights out the playing group allegedly had in Mexico while they were in camp at San Diego, which is 30 kilometres from the border. Nothing bad happened, but the club says the story is not true and players did not leave the US. We will never know the full story, but our sources are reliable.

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Jersey boy

Rooster Connor Watson has revealed the moment he knew for sure he wanted to continue playing rugby league as he battled a bad knee injury that kept him out of the NRL for 558 days. While doing a mental exercise with the Roosters about resilience, he produced a jumper from his junior days to explain what drives him.

“It got me through,” he said. “I’d had some dark days and was questioning my future. But the jumper was a reminder of why I got into football and the dreams I had as a young kid. It was crucial.”

Brains trust

The way the Tigers hammered Cronulla last Saturday should not have been a surprise to those who know the inner workings of the club’s coaching set-up.

Benji Marshall has been criticised for being less committed than other coaches, but what has been overlooked is his ability to delegate and trust those around him.

When it comes to knowledge of the Sharks, Marshall only had to turn to his coaching staff to get an insight. Assistant John Morris played 105 games with the Sharks, coached the club 51 times in the top grade, helped develop a number of Cronulla players and would have known their games inside out. It is fair to assume the Tigers players were well armed with the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents.

And that is a strength of Marshall: he trusts the people around him and he’s able to delegate, which displays a maturity beyond his 39 years and a lack of ego.

Forever grateful

Ian Heads’ sad passing on Monday has had a significant impact on journalists and sporting figures. Heads has had plenty written and said about him, and integrity has been a overriding theme.

Heads played a big part in my career and was largely responsible for me getting a start with The Sun–Herald in the mid-1990s. Not only did he recommend me for the job, Headsy was always available with story suggestions and happy to share a contact with me. It was great to see him honoured in the NRL Hall of Fame last year.

My thoughts are with his family in this difficult time.

Fat chance

Racing writer Chris Roots shared this gem with me.

Greyhound Fat Pizza has been to the races 99 times without a victory, but he will have a race named in his honour at Richmond on Sunday. His 100th start will be in the Fat Pizza Easter Miracle Maiden as the dog with a cult following tries to get that elusive win, after placing 40 times.

“He has been working quite well and hopefully he will reign supreme this time,” trainer Nick Kilner said. “He has got a special place in our house because he is our pet. We have persevered with him because he loves it.”

Log cabin fever

Bravo to Penrith star Mitch Kenny. MonSTaR Foundation patron Peter Overton reports that Kenny turned up to the Pennant Hills Golf Club the Friday before last to support a fundraiser for motor neurone disease.

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Mitch opened his speech by saying, “I’m just a footy player”. But he was a hero to those in the room. Off his bat, Kenny donated lunch with himself, Nathan Cleary and Dylan Edwards at The Log Cabin in Penrith, and raised $10,000 for a great cause.

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