Mestrov was hired by Manly to transform the club, and there have certainly been changes. In his time there, the influence of the famous Fulton family has come to an end.
He did not offer Daly Cherry-Evans a new contract until Nine News and Herald journalist Michael Chammas revealed the halfback planned to leave, and now he has those connected with management company SFX Sports Group in his sights.
Last week, we revealed the paranoia at Manly when it comes to George Mimis, the face of SFX.
SFX has two coaches on its books, Michael Ennis and Matt Ballin, who have been linked to Seibold’s job. Ennis is an assistant at Manly and has been offered a contract extension.
SFX also represents the Trbojevic brothers. They are managed by Paul Sutton. I have been told by sources with knowledge of the issues at Manly that to get greater buy-in from the brothers, Sutton has suggested they should be involved in developing tactics and planning with Seibold.
That accountability is considered important, and Manly say it is happening.
Mestrov says he has a great relationship with the Trbojevic family.
He also has his suspicions about where anti-Seibold stories are coming from. Mimis and Mestrov went head-to-head over Des Hasler’s messy exit from the club in 2022. However, Mimis has no reason to plot against Seibold.
A year ago, Manly approached Mimis to let him know Ennis was the coach they wanted to take over from Seibold. Ennis is in no hurry to coach in the NRL, and walking into a viper’s nest is only a job for someone who is genuinely ready.
Snoop in the dog house
Ian Roberts has slammed the AFL’s decision to sign Snoop Dogg as its headline act for its grand final entertainment, saying it sends a bad message to young people struggling with their place in the world.
The American rapper has come under fire for homophobic comments and from a host of groups fighting to end violence against women for a history of using misogynistic and sexually demeaning lyrics.
The crowing from the AFL about signing Snoop Dogg has been more subdued than expected. They have been dealing with a homophobic slur from leading Adelaide player Izak Rankine, and now Roberts has spoken out on the two issues.
“It’s all those kids in the suburbs and the regional areas – those kids are dealing with sexual identity,” Roberts said. “The lack of sensitivity the AFL shows … I wish it was surprising, but it’s not.
Snoop Dogg has been hired by the AFL to perform at the grand final on September 27.Credit: Getty Images
“I want to think it’s just thoughtless. They didn’t do their homework. In this day and age it’s not hard to look into someone’s views …
“Someone needs to have a long, hard look at themselves in the AFL. No wonder they are dealing with the issues they have had this week.
“Supporting someone who has those views, and paying him and showing him on their biggest days, is so frustrating. I’m really uncomfortable with it, and I’m disappointed in the people who pay millions to see him.
“Conversations have to be had at some point, and we just avoid that conversation for as long as we can. [If we do] we’ll keep avoiding the truth. We will keep pretending that we’re educating people around this. It’s embarrassing this can happen in a sport as big as the AFL.”
Crows star Izak Rankine.Credit: AFL Photos
Drew believer
Rugby league and racing boss Peter V’landys will make a decision on his future in administration in January after he recharges his depleted batteries.
If he decides to go on as ARL Commission chairman, V’landys is likely to still have NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo as his reliable lieutenant. Abdo has told anyone who bothers asking that he is happy in his role as the game’s CEO.
Abdo was this week outed as having received an approach from a company in January. The NRL had been awash with suggestions he was nearing the end of his reign. A few weeks back I put it to him that there were rumours he may have been unhappy in his position, but he denied that out of hand.
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo and ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys have been a successful partnership.Credit: Nick Moir
I asked V’landys the same thing about Abdo. He said he had no knowledge Abdo wanted to move on.
V’landys did not know about the approach to Abdo, and Abdo has never used outside interest to push up his salary.
Is Abdo happy? There is no question anyone in a high-pressure, high-profile role has moments where things happen out of their control that cause frustration and anger, and that takes its toll.
Abdo works harder than any NRL CEO of recent times, and that level of commitment may eventually lead him to look elsewhere. He also has the tough role of turning ideas hatched by V’landys into reality.
Todd Greenberg (right) and Peter V’landys did not see eye to eye at the end of the former’s tenure at the NRL.Credit: Edwina Pickles
There is no question V’landys pushes his CEO hard to get the best results for the game, and being the person to turn dreams into reality isn’t always easy.
They generally function well as a team and take it as fact Abdo will do anything in his power to please the chairman. That is not always an easy role, but Abdo knew what he was signing up for when he took over from Todd Greenberg at a testing time following the COVID pandemic.
Those close to Abdo say he is not pushing his CV in front of companies. At some point, the game will have a different CEO, but it won’t happen any time soon.
A sorry sight
Wests Tigers have been forced to issue an official apology to a disappointed Greg Inglis following a bungle that led to Tigers players opting against wearing the Goanna Academy’s “stick with it” tape a fortnight ago.
Inglis, the assistant coach for the Tigers’ NRLW team, has been at the forefront of a national mental health campaign during the past month and has been using sports strapping tape as a symbol of resilience through his Goanna Academy foundation.
The strapping, emblazoned with the words “stick with it”, was worn by almost every club in the NRL as a mark of support for Inglis’ work in the mental health space after a public battle throughout his decorated career.
The Tigers, however, did not wear the tape in the match against the Bulldogs at CommBank Stadium in what was the club’s most memorable victory in years. All members of Inglis’ Wests Tigers NRLW team wore the tape.
Apisai Koroisau and the Tigers try to make amends by showing the “stick with it” tape after their clash with the Bulldogs.Credit: NRL Photos
It is this columnist’s understanding that the Tigers’ NRL players were only informed of Inglis’ campaign during the team’s warm-up, and opted not to change the tape to avoid disrupting to their routine.
Compounding the situation for Inglis is the fact that several players in the Bulldogs team decided to support the campaign by wearing the tape.
Tigers management became aware of the issue during the game and attempted to save face by asking players to pose for photos with the tape after the game.
Tigers CEO Shane Richardson, who launched the Goanna Academy with Inglis several years ago, was left to apologise to the former Queensland and Australia star.
Inglis was invited by his former clubs, South Sydney and Melbourne, to speak to players in the week leading up to the matches about his own struggles and the importance of raising awareness of mental resilience through the “stick with it” campaign.
Despite being contracted at Wests Tigers, Inglis wasn’t asked to address the NRL team. It meant the players were unaware of the significance of the tape when asked to wear it by team management before the game.
Cook lands in Sydney
Bears heavyweights will host Western Australia premier Roger Cook at North Sydney oval on Sunday. The NSW Cup side is playing arch-rivals Manly. Expect CEO Anthony De Ceglie, board members and, most likely, coach Mal Meninga to gather to cheer on the team as they prepare the club to enter the NRL in 2027.
Roo culture shock for Kev
Kevin Walters is privately fuming that Gorden Tallis has been blocked by the ARL Commission from being his “Minister of Culture” on the Kangaroo tour. Tallis is not happy either.
Tallis is now being considered for another role, potentially as assistant coach. The ARLC has told Walters no one with NRL club coaching affiliation can be an assistant.
Walters and Tallis are best mates and Tallis rides shotgun for Walters in the media.
Tallis was knocked back because the ARLC believes it is the coach’s job to create team culture.
Agent of change
There was a lunch on the Gold Coast last week that boasted more rugby league IQ and history than could be found at NRL headquarters in its current incarnation. It was a gathering of some of Wayne Beavis’ best mates, including Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould, former player and coaching great Frank Stanton, ex-coach Peter Sharp and agents Steve Gillis and Allan Gainey.
They were all there to let the man known as “Eager Beaver” know just how much they love a character who forged a path for modern-day agents.
Frank Stanton, Greg Hodge, Peter Sharp, Steve Gillis and Garry Lawler (back) join Allan Gainey, Phil Gould and Wayne Beavis (front) to celebrate Beavis’ career.
Beavis has been in poor health for years and his mates wanted to have a moment with the biggest agent in the game, who guided the likes of Gould, Brad Fittler, Jarryd Hayne and hundreds of others through their careers.
Fittler was emotional when discussing the man who set up his life off the field.
“I would be living a very different life if it wasn’t for Wayne,” Fittler said. “He has been there always.”
Gould is as close to Beavis as anyone in the game.
“Wayne Beavis was the original and best,” said Gould, who makes regular trips to visit him. “He was the first player manager to give it professionalism and real player care.
“I first met Wayne when he was on the Canterbury football committee back in the early ’80s. We had common interests in rugby league and horse racing, and have been mates ever since.
“He was perfect as a player manager. He was a chartered accountant. He looked after players’ money, taxation, investments, personal welfare, family issues, legal matters. He was very well-connected and there was no problem that he couldn’t solve.
“Whilst he always did his best for his client with contract negotiations, he also had a great understanding of the game and the needs of the club. He valued loyalty and stability. He valued having his clients in good environments and strong cultures.
“He also worked tirelessly for charities and for people who fell upon hard times. He organised many huge fundraisers to help not just rugby league players both past and present, but even their extended families or close friends.
“He was also the world’s best practical joker and his life was full of fun and good times.
“Wayne Beavis is one of a kind. Many people owe so much to his care and expertise.”
One of the game’s great officials also praised Beavis.
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“Wayne was a trailblazer … the best,” said Roosters chairman Nick Politis, the toughest dealmaker in the NRL. “There are some agents I will never speak to and then there is Wayne, who I will always speak to.”
Beavis went into business with Gillis and Gainey at various stages.
“Apart from being a great mate, Wayne has been a wonderful mentor to me,” Gillis said. “He’s a very clever operator with a deep passion and understanding of rugby league and sports management.”
“Life is never boring when you are in his company,” Gainey said. “A loveable larrikin who I’ve known for 45 years. As a business partner and mentor he was my guiding light in player management. There was never a dull moment when in his company, always fun and laughter.”
Fergie time
The Nine Network is continuing to strengthen its primetime football offering 100% Footy. Expect Allana Ferguson to play a significant role for the rest of the season. Ferguson has a sharp analytical mind and won’t mind mixing it with the likes of regulars Paul Gallen, Cameron Smith and the headline-generating Gould.
The program is also now boasting a segment called “100% dribble” featuring the boys from the Hello Sport podcast. They had previously had an arrangement with Kayo but are now with the Nine Network, where they will feature on the program hosted by James Bracey.
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