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Rejected! ... NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has a shot blocked by Nick Kyrgios.Credit:Getty

The premier was facing 2GB breakfast hostBen Fordham and an all-star team including tennis starNick Kyrgios,chefLuke Mangan and Miss Universe Australia 2020Maria Thattilin a charity match to raise money for the Starlight Children’s Foundation.

The six-foot pollie impressed on the court by nailing a couple of baskets but was no match for Kyrgios,who was targeting 40 points for the match and struck up an on-court partnership with former NRL starJamie Sowardas his point guard. The premier’s side eventually went down to the Fordham-Kyrgios crew 37-13.

Suitably humbled – “my kids were more excited about seeing Nick play than me” – Perrottet said he was already preparing for next year’s match but there was some recovery to do first.

“Nick actually broke my ankles on the court,so I’ve pulled up pretty sore,” the premier told CBD on Monday before outlining a dream list for the next match – with some surprising inclusions.

“I’ve already reached out toLauren Jackson,Patty Mills,Ben SimmonsandJosh Giddeyto help even the score.” And who else? “I’ll recruit[NSW Opposition Leader] Chris[Minns] to next year’s team as we need to add some more depth … The Starlight Children’s Foundation is a great charity. I loved being part of Sunday’s game.”

HONOUR ROLL

Blanche D’Alpuget’s name is yet to be set in gold type and added to theBob HawkeBeer and Leisure Centre’s wooden honour board titled “Who we would like to have a beer with”. But that didn’t stop the acclaimed author and former prime minister’s second wife from being greeted as royalty when she attended the packed-out Marrickville watering hole on Sunday afternoon.

The glamorous D’Alpuget was spotted inside the newly opened brewery’s public bar at the weekend,bringing more than a touch of Northbridge to the inner west with her large pearl earrings and striking floral and leopard print top. Ever gracious,D’Alpuget appeared relaxed and happy to pose for photos with adoring patrons.

It’s been close to standing room only inside the retro-inspired brewery,poolroom and Chinese-Australian restaurant since it opened last month in a blaze of Hawke memorabilia and Australiana and regional reccy-club kitsch. It’s the first outpost of Hawke’s Brewing Co,the beer venture that former ad executivesDavid GibsonandNathan Lennonstarted in tribute to the former prime minister,who sits atop the list of Aussies the pair most wanted to share a pint with.

David Gibson and Nathan Lennon’s list of Aussies the pair most want to share a pint with.

The first schooner was poured by Hawke himself in early 2017. The leisure centre opened in late March. The list of individuals the pair would like to have a beer with has grown since too,now immortalised on a wooden honour board in the public bar. Hawke’s name has top billing on the list,which has grown to include activists,athletes,politicians,musicians and other luminaries includingIan “Molly” Meldrum,modelLara Bingle,former PMPaul Keating,Kylie Minogue andGrace Tame. We can only presume D’Alpuget’s name is coming.

OK COMPUTER

Two years into the pandemic and some high achievers are still not getting the hang of online meetings.

Take a recent Coroners Court directions hearing at an inquest into the death of a young Indigenous woman who died in jail after nine calls for help. The case is going to examine Victoria’s bail laws among other things.

Prominent barristerRachel Ellyard, representing Victoria’s chief commissioner of police,found herself with a larger audience than intended when she used the Webex chat function to send a message to her instructor after news broke thatJacqui Hawkins,who was due to oversee the inquest,would be replaced bySimon McGregor.

“I hope the change of coroner is not going to mark a wholesale change of attitude to this case. I recall Coroner McGregor was very gung ho on bail matters and exceptional circumstances in another inquest a few years ago,” Ellyard fired off in an online message.

Alas,a wrong button meant that the message went not just to her instructor but the entire online audience for the hearing,which would have included all court staff,the coroner,other lawyers and relatives of the deceased.

A chastened Ellyard soon responded:“My apologies to all those two messages were not intended for wide dissemination. Clearly after two years I still cannot work the technology.”

You speak for all of us,Rachel.

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