Dragon the chain

Michael Maguire knows he is coaching for his future,and a bad sign was Wests Tigers dropping out of the chase for Dragons utilityJack Bird. Maguire was keen to sign Bird and key playmakerJackson Hastings was also pushing the idea.

The club overruled the coach – their experience with other big-name recruits with injury histories turned them off. This clearly shows Maguire is not getting everything his way.

Sonny and share

Paul Gallen made more money from a short time in boxing than in his storied career in rugby league,but he knows he has left plenty of cash on the table. He is convinced that a series of three fights againstSonny Bill Williams would have made the fighters at least $10 million. It’s hard to argue with that,as Gallen made more than $500,000 from his last fight against relative unknownKris Terzievski,who did precious little to promote the bout.

By George,he’s got it

George Burgess will be making another appearance on the silver screen,this time in the upcoming local filmChristmess. The Dragon has a cameo as a doorman at the Beer Shed and is involved in one of the key scenes. The film,about an unsentimental Aussie Christmas,is being shot in Campbelltown and the fourth feature by Heath Davis,whose previous movies,Broke,Locusts andBook Week,received critical acclaim.

Mal content

Mal Meninga has been wearing plenty of flak for the Titans’ failures on the field,and as a big earner he is entitled to some of the blame. Meninga is no longer the club’s head of culture and performance,but he is not ducking for cover.

“My role at the club has been lessened two years ago due to COVID and not living on the Gold Coast any more,” said Meninga,who now lives in Canberra. “My role is a senior advisor. I speak to the coach weekly,as well as the recruitment manager. I occasionally sit in on conversations around the football department. I go up to the coast at least monthly,but mostly over phone or video conferencing. I am not involved in day-to-day[operations],but I did assist in setting the club up for the future,albeit we are obviously not doing well at the moment.”

Celebrating Benji

Few players have had a bigger impact on the footballers of this generation thanBenji Marshall. He changed the way they attacked and showed so much toughness to come back from five major shoulder operations.
Now that great career is being honoured with a testimonial on June 9. It will be a star-studded event with the likes ofTim Sheens,Wayne Bennett andRobbie Farah speaking. It will be hosted by Channel Nine’sEmma Lawrence and there are still some tickets available. Go to benjitestimonial.com.au for more information.

Rinse,repeat Laundy

There has been plenty of spin about the relationship between the Bulldogs and their major sponsor,Laundy Hotels. It would appear to be in reasonable shape,givenArthur Laundy andPhil Gould caught up at Canterbury League Club during the week. The outcome is likely to be an extension of the sponsorship deal,but it’s worth noting that they have been front-of-jumper sponsors at a heavily discounted rate. The club should have a million-dollar sponsor on the front of the jumper.

Strong foundation

More than 400 guests attended the inaugural Chumpy Pullin Foundation gala dinner on May 19. The foundation honours the legacy of world champion snowboarderAlex “Chumpy” Pullin,who tragically lost his life freediving on the Gold Coast two years ago. More than $100,000 was raised,with investorTrevor Folsom paying $16,000 for Pullin’s Red Bull helmet. Pro surfer and World Surf League commentatorLaura Enever won a Harley-Davidson in a raffle,which she generously donated back to the foundation. It was won on a redraw by former world championJoel Parkinson.

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