Sharks rookies may fill big boots

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THE nephew of former Kiwi internationals Dane and Kurt Sorensen could be a shock beneficiary of Cronulla's crippling player drain with the threat of further omissions due to the ASADA findings compounded by the club's devastating injury toll.

Captain Paul Gallen, Anthony Tupou, Nathan Gardner and assistant coach John Morris were all absent from Sharks training on Thursday, as the quartet inched closer towards deciding whether to accept a deal offered by ASADA or use the next nine days as time to respond to show cause notices received on Wednesday.

NRL LATE MAIL: ASADA COULD GROUND GAL

CLOCK TICKING ON ASADA DEAL

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If they are to accept the deal on Friday morning, they would be suspended immediately from any involvement with the club, ruling them out from playing again this season, including this Sunday's wooden-spoon decider against Canberra at Remondis Stadium.

With 13 players, including Wade Graham who is also part of the ASADA inquiry, sidelined through injury, suspension or retirement, interim Sharks coach James Shepherd was forced to pick up the phone to three rookies who in the club's darkest hours could experience one of the highlights of their lives.

Unknown forwards Scott Sorensen, Patrice Siolo and Michael Morris needed to pinch themselves as they gathered at Shark Park alongside the club's remaining stars Michael Gordon, Jeff Robson and Chris Heighington.

ASADA STAIN HARD TO REMOVE

PLAYERS CAUGHT IN ASADA'S SHARK NET

Cronulla training was a quiet affair on Thursday morning. Source: News Corp Australia

Sorensen, a local junior from Endeavour Sports High who plays in the back-row, is the nephew of both Dane and Kurt Sorensen — two of the most feared forwards to play the game.

Both Sorensen and Morris, who is also a local product, are still eligible for the under-20s competition, as is Siolo, who was promoted to play this week in the NSW Cup.

All three players are on a part-time contract, working eight-hour days before training each day with either the under-20s or NSW Cup squads.

Under the watchful eye of TV crews and photographers, Shepherd put the Sharks through their paces for almost 90 minutes on Thursday.

Sharks officials are hoping that the Shire locals will gather to provide an emotional rally of support for the club on Sunday.

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ASADA bans won’t wipe players’ records

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CURRENT players facing ASADA bans have been assured their 2014 records and achievements will stand, guaranteeing Paul Gallen his place in NSW Origin history even if the Blues skipper accepts a backdated suspension.

The prospect of the 12-month bans being backdated to 21 November 2013 created fears among current players that their feats this season could be wiped from the record books.

CLOCK TICKING FOR SHARKS TO TAKE LESSER BAN

ASADA STAIN HARD FOR PLAYERS TO REMOVE

Ten of the 17 players who are in ASADA's sights are still playing NRL, but of those Gallen easily has the notched the most achievements over the past 10 months, including:

· Vice captain of the Australian side that defeated New Zealand 34-2 in the 2013 World Cup final on 30 November.

· First skipper to lead NSW to an Origin series victory since 2005.

· Man of the Match in Origin II

· Winner of the 2014 Wally Lewis medal for best player of the series

NSW's Paul Gallen with the shield after game 3 of the 2014 Origin series. Source: News Corp Australia

Other players in the firing line also have precious milestones at stake.

Before announcing his retirement last week, Sharks veteran John Morris made his 300th NRL appearance against South Sydney in May.

SHARKS FAILED TO PROVIDE SAFE WORKPLACE

In round six against Brisbane, Titans iron man Luke Douglas made his 200th straight appearance since debuting in 2006.

The prop has since played all 14 subsequent games, extending his record most consecutive games over Jason Taylor (194).

Douglas eclipsed Taylor on the season's opening weekend against the most ironic of opponents — his former club Cronulla.

Titans' Luke Douglas thanks the crowd. Source: News Corp Australia

It's understood Gallen has been particularly mindful of having his 2014 records being rendered null and void — as was the case when Melbourne were retrospectively stripped of two premierships after being found guilty of salary cap rorts in 2010.

But despite the fact Queensland fans would love nothing more than to see the Blues skipper suffer further pain, the NRL's Anti-Doping Code does not contain any provisions to amend records in lieu of a drugs ban.

PLAYERS CAUGHT IN ASADA'S SHARK NET

Nevertheless, CEO Dave Smith might have discretion to do so under his broad brief of power.

But Smith confirmed he would not take such action against any player who decided to accept the ASADA deal, effectively meaning they would be suspended without impact for all but the final three games of 2014.

NRL chief executive Dave Smith. Source: News Corp Australia

"That has never been an intention of ours," Smith said.

Smith stance also indicates that players who decide to reject the deal will have their records protected.

However, turning one's back on the ASADA olive branch means players must contest their show cause notices in either the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT), or the Federal Court.

Should they waive that right, the NRL Anti-Doping Code automatically declares them guilty.

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The players would then appear before the NRL doping tribunal, however the only issue at stake would be the length of their suspension.

The rules also permit the NRL to provisionally suspend players who receive 'show cause' notices, meaning those who do not accept the deal before Friday's 9:30am deadline could be forcibly stood down.

Lawyers acting on behalf of the players have asked the NRL to waive that right, clearing any players who decide to reject the deal to take the field this weekend.

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IRB boss prefers Japan Super Rugby bid

THE identity of a former "ARU Insider" who wrote a scathing column about Ewen McKenzie on a sporting website last week has been a hot topic in Wallabies camp recently.

The column "Steve Hansen and Ewen McKenzie, a tale of two coaches" didn't pull any punches about either man. In fact, it swung them lustily with the author bagging McKenzie as a coach without any major wins and whose primary skill was manipulating public opinion, and Hansen as a second-rate player who got the All Blacks job by being mates with NZRU boss Steve Tew.

The writer, who wrote last year under the pseudonym "The Insider" but changed to the "The Outsider", slammed McKenzie as a PR-driven coach whose bidding was done by "pliant media"; had "campaigned" for Robbie Deans' job and even alleged McKenzie blogged under aliases on websites.

The column on the Roar website has since been taken down.

Many in the ARU have no doubt about the author's identity. The flattering references to Deans — and the comparative shortfalls of McKenzie and Hansen — have people pointing the finger at a former media manager employed by the ARU.

The series of articles as "The Insider" gives numerous clues. The author openly writes about being inside Wallaby dressing rooms in recent years, and players appeared to be ruled out when the author admitted to having coffee with All Blacks players last Friday before the Sydney Test.

It's understood the suspect was fronted in camp about anonymously writing speculative selection pieces prior to squads being announced, but denied it.

A now deleted bio read: "The Outsider was, in a previous life, an Insider with connections to the Australian Rugby Union. Shhh, no names!"

The ex-staffer's name appeared in the comments section but publisher of the Roar, Zac Zavos, said yesterday the site had not been asked to take the column down by the ARU, and declined to comment on the author's identity or why the piece was spiked.

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***

IRB chief executive Brett Gosper has joined the chorus of voices indicating a preference for Japan to be included as the 18th team in Super Rugby.

But with South Africans lobbying for less travel, SANZAR bosses still appear to bizarrely leaning towards Singapore for entry into the 2016 competition.

The two Asian countries have both submitted tenders to SANZAR to join Super Rugby, and a decision is expected in coming months.

Asked recently if the IRB had a preference, Gosper said: "From an IRB point of view, there is some logic for us in creating something in Japan that will ensure the Japanese team is more competitive, that market is more receptive — both in broadcast and spectator markets — to the sport of rugby. From an IRB's perspective, that's interesting for us but it really is entirely SANZAR's decision. We will be interested to see what decision they make."

So with that, the new count is — Team Japan: almost everyone. Team Singapore: South Africa.

***

GLAMOUR couple Matt Toomua and Ellyse Perry are now engaged, breaking the news on Instagram, and naturally people are now wondering just how talented their future offspring could be.

We asked triple-code star Israel Folau if the future children of his Wallabies teammate Toomua and dual-international Perry could grow up to play more sports than he has.

"I think so," Folau said. "I think they'll be talented kids, if one day they have kids.

"Congrats to Pup (Toomua), it's a pretty big call [to get engaged] during the week, he's done well and now he can focus on the game."

Matt Toomua and Ellyse Perry got engaged this week. Source: News Limited

***

THE revealing interview with Israel Folau in last Saturday's Telegraph prompted many to ask if the superstar Wallabies fullback is a teetotaller.

In fact, Folau enjoys a drink every now and again, but you'll never see him intoxicated.

"I don't drink that much, I'll have a glass of wine here or there at dinner, or a few beers with the team after a good win, but not going over the top," Folau said.

"I want to mix with the team as well, but I know my limit and where I stand in my identity."

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***

IT'S been a tumultuous few weeks for North Harbour Rays giant Greg Petersen.

The former Waratahs lock was glassed in a cowards' punch episode last month while out celebrating with Manly Marlins, and the assailant faced Manly court yesterday on charges of recklessly causing grievous bodily harm and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The big forward was then the subject of a dispute between the Rays and the Vikings over his services for the NRC, after Petersen was offered a spot in Canberra, as a possible trial for a Brumbies gig.

An arbitration was held with the two clubs, the NRC commission and RUPA, where it was determined Petersen had to stay with the Rays.

After all that, to his great surprise he was this week named skipper of the side to play against Melbourne on Sunday.

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***

THERE was plenty made about the 101-0 result in Sydney GPS rugby recently, but here's proof that such hammerings don't lead to destruction and demise.

Randwick's first-grade Colts team was defeated by the exact same score, 101-0, by Sydney University in last year's major semi-final.

Then last weekend, the Randwick Colts defeated Uni 23-17 in this year's grand final.

It is the first time since 2006 that Uni has not won the first-grade Colts premiership, and a great reminder to all in rugby that sometimes humiliation breeds courage and resilience, not mental fragility.

***

PLANS of individual NRC clubs to have live streaming of their non-televised games appear to have fallen over, due to costs.

Melbourne Rising will at least do live radio calls via their app.

***

A BIG congrats to the Australian Youth Olympic girls sevens team, who won a gold medal in Nanjing on Wednesday.

Aged between 16 and 18, the team beat Canada in the final and we learned two things: Canadians must only start counting birthdays aged five, based on the size of some of their players, and Toowoomba is a breeding ground sevens stars.

The Queensland city has six girls who are currently representing Australia in sevens: senior stars Emilee Cherry, Gemma Etheridge and Nikki Etheridge, and Youth Olympic tyros Dom du Toit (the Games' top try-scorer), Shenae Ciesiolka and Georgina Rackeman.

***

New Zealand and Australian Defence Force supporters of the All Blacks and Wallabies get into the spirit of the game at Al Minhad Air Base, UAE. Source: Supplied

AMONG the interested spectators of last week's Bledisloe Cup Test were armed servicemen and women in the Middle East and Afghanistan, with a live stream of the game organised by Fox Sports and Accenture.

There were plenty of Aussie and Kiwi fans decked out in national colours at the Al Minhad Airbase in the UAE.

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The Old Bill calls on Bosnich

FORMER Socceroos star and Fox Sports personality Mark Bosnich had some sobering business to attend to after his FIFA World Cup jaunt — an interview with British police over the News Of The World phone hacking scandal.

With evidence that Bosnich's phone was hacked by ­the newspaper's reporters at various stages ­between 2000 and 2010, police advised the 42-year-old earlier this year of their intention to travel to Australia to interview him.

However, Bosnich instead decided to meet them in London on July 31, following a post-Brazil holiday in Croatia.

He spent a couple of hours confirming dates, times and whereabouts at Jubilee House in Putney. He was also shown evidence from files on former News Of The World investigator Glenn Mulcaire, who last month received a suspended six-month prison sentence, and former Sunday Mirror journalist Dan Evans, who has turned police informant.

Bosnich doesn't know where the case will turn next, but expects more charges to be laid after his meeting.

"It would have been nice to hear some of the things that were recorded, but the police said it wasn't in my interests," he said.

"The meeting did confirm a lot of suspicions. It was nice to know that I wasn't dreaming."

The dramas abroad didn't stop there for Bosnich, whose credit card was also scammed for $12,000 in Brazil.

●●●

LAST week's item on Terry Campese being unwanted by the Raiders raised the ire of club boss Don Furner, who ­insists there was no deal in the works for the skipper to transfer to Hull FC in June.

He has even threatened to sue us, but in the meantime we'll stick by the story and the sources behind it.

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One thing the Raiders cannot deny, however, was their intention to send the club captain back to NSW Cup.

Campese will travel to Sydney on Friday for training with Mounties before his debut with the feeder club against Penrith at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday afternoon.

His agent, Jim Banaghan, is in the UK trying to stitch ­together an 11th-hour deal for next year. We're told he isn't having much luck, with most Super League clubs at the limit of their meagre salary caps.

●●●

STILL on the Raiders and there's some welcome good news on the horizon — form centre Jarrod Croker is close to signing off on a three-year extension that will keep him at the club until the end of 2018.

Jarrod Croker is poised to extend his contract with the Raiders. Source: Getty Images

MEN OF LEAGUE INTO BAT TO HELP BOMBER

YOU'D be hard-pressed finding a more genuine bloke in rugby league than champion five-eighth John "Bomber" Peard.

Since having a stroke in 2002, Peard has progressively had less movement in the left side of his body, to the point where he struggles to get dressed by himself or put toothpaste on his toothbrush. Enter Men of League.

Peard recently watched the special report on the 60 Minutes program on Channel 9 on the miracle cure being trialled for stroke victims in Florida in the US.

Retired Australian five-eighth John "Bomber" Peard training at his home gym in his garage. Source: News Corp Australia

It means having an injection in the back of his spinal column and there's an 80 per cent chance he'll get the movement back in his left hand.

Men of League is having a fundraiser at Sharkies Leagues Club on Thursday September 4, where it is hoping to raise $25,000 to help Peard get to the US to try the treatment.

MINI TO RECEIVE THE FAREWELL HE DESERVES

ROOSTERS champion Anthony Minichiello is rightfully preparing for a huge farewell tour over the next seven weeks, with the Tri-­colours icon hoping to equal great mate Luke Ricketson's club record of 301 NRL appearances.

For Mini to get there, the premiers need to continue winning well into the finals because the Roosters fullback is set to be sitting on 299 matches after the regular season.

Sydney Roosters captain Anthony Minichiello in his junior days for East Valley United. Source: Supplied

To mark Mini's last club game in round 26, the Roosters intend to host a huge farewell bash at Allianz Stadium against archrivals South Sydney on September 4.

Roosters favourite Sonny Bill Williams will also be honoured in his last match for the club. The Tricolours are planning to hand out 10,000 face masks of the pair.

As this pic shows, this was Mini back in the day as an East Valley United junior before being signed by the Roosters at age 16.

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●●●

THE hottest ticket in town right now is the hip Chiner Diner eatery in Bondi, where some of sport's biggest stars have been seen over the last couple of weeks.

A group of Sydney Swans headed by Buddy Franklin and Adam Goodes were seen there last week, before Wallabies Adam Ashley-Cooper and Bernard Foley were spotted with injured Waratahs captain Dave Dennis last Sunday.

FC YOUNG GUN HAS GONE TO THE DOGS

BIG things are expected of Sydney FC young gun Terry Antonis after his encouraging return from injury late in the 2013-14 season. Off the pitch, the 20-year-old has been preparing for a very different challenge — as a volunteer at the RSPCA. Antonis and girlfriend Christinaare mad animal lovers and have just begun a two-month training course to handle all creatures great and small.

Terry Antonis with Girlfriend, Kristina Carreno who are both volunteering their time to the RSPCA. Source: News Corp Australia

A BUNCH OF HAPPY LITTLE BUNNIES NOW

A MONTH ago there was a whisper campaign that suggested South Sydney coach Michael Maguire was wearing thin with some of the Rabbitohs' players.

What a difference winning some big games can make.

With the Rabbitohs powering towards the club's first premiership in 43 seasons, the noise has gone quiet.

Maguire's toughest decision now will be where to fit captain John Sutton into the side given the outstanding form of rookie halves Luke Keary and AdamReynolds.

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TARA'S BACK ON THE BOX

A-LEAGUE glamour Tara Rushton will be back for a second season as one of Fox Sports' faces of the round-ball code come October. Rushton impressed television executives with her down-to-earth nature and hosting abilities.

●●●

TELEVISION types were left laughing behind closed doors when a newly appointed non- racing executive at the TVN network tossed up the idea of following the fields each week with cameras attached to a horse and
a jockey. The only problem? Punters want to know who actually won the race, not who ran last or what the field looked like from the rear.

Fox Sports A-League expert Tara Rushton. Source: Supplied

SHOOSH

SENIOR officials at several clubs are adamant the NRL has quietly advised them to inflate crowds over the closing rounds in order to ensure average attendances are up this year.

●●●

SPOTTED: Former ARL supremo Ken Arthurson sucking down pints of beer at
a Gold Coast nightspot last weekend. Despite being 84 years old, Arthurson can well and truly hold his own.

WINNING

FOR all the flak the Sydney Swans copped for signing $10 million man Buddy Franklin, it's pretty hard to argue given what the champion forward has produced on the field this season.

Booting nine last weekend was a massive statement, with the Swans in the box seat to challenge for another flag come September.

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DUNCE CAP

WAYNE Bennett has slapped a media ban on Sione Mata'utia because he reckons the rookie superstar "doesn't need the bullshit". In our humble view, the only "bullshit" comments regarding Mata'utia have come directly from Bennett, who has burdened the 18-year-old with predictions of greatness and the Knights captaincy.

Sione Mata' Utia celebrates with team mate Joey Leilua against the Warriors. Source: Getty Images

TOO HARD BASKET

SYDNEYSIDERS have been treated to the Major League Baseball and ice hockey this year, but the true American prize would be an NBA match.

Sadly, it's unlikely to happen after Allphones Arena had a crack at bringing a team Down Under and found the price too exorbitant. Even if the 21,000-seater was sold-out for two straight nights at $150 a head, the $6 million windfall would barely cover half the costs of travel and accommodation.

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Save the praise until All Blacks beaten

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ANY back-slapping for the Wallabies closing the gap on the All Blacks is surely misplaced when climbing the greatest mountain as clinical closers in these Bledisloe Cup stoushes is still to be conquered.

You rarely, if ever, get second chances against the All Blacks, which is the foreboding that was on Thursday packed in the luggage hold of Qantas Flight 147 as it flew out from Sydney to surprising clearer weather in Auckland for Saturday's big Test.

That's the fallout of the unpalatable 12-all draw last weekend. Instead of blowing a hole in the bank vault for a heist of the Bledisloe Cup, the All Blacks have been gifted a week to change the safe's combination, add extra guards and coat it further in unbreachable black cement.

The folklore of the Wallabies reserves a special place for "the tackle" made by George Gregan and "the kick" of John Eales to grab Bledisloe Cup glory.

In the fine print somewhere should be "the poor pass", "the rubbish kick", "the mix-up", "the carve-up", "the non-tackle" and "the dodgy refereeing call" which have all contributed to Australia's pain at Eden Park in their run of 14 straight losses there to the All Blacks.

We wouldn't be having another hoodoo session with our local shrink if the 2006 Wallabies had converted their superb 20-11 half-time lead or Berrick Barnes's flip ball had connected with something other than George Smith's head with the tryline beckoning in 2009.

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Instead of a 17-3 jump, it was bye-bye Bledisloe for another season. Winning in Auckland is that hard.

Eden Park, with its perpetually skiddy turf, does faze the Wallabies. Remember all those lineball refereeing calls from Jaco Peyper that went the Wallabies' way in Sydney last weekend? The home town factor will have many of those marginal calls go against the men in gold in Auckland under Romain Poite.

In Wellington last year, there wasn't even a referral to the video ref when hooker Stephen Moore may have smeared the ball on the tryline. No try, no Bledisloe.

Botched kick-off receptions, charged down kicks, stepping into touch, being in front of the kicker at the kick-off ... somehow the Wallabies overcame all those messy moments to admirably reach 12-all. Those cuts by their own hand will convert to a 15-point loss in Auckland.

Captain Michael Hooper's ability to explode into contact when running with the ball was superb. Will Skelton did something few manage against the All Blacks.

When he crashed through Ben Franks and forced Kieran Read and Keven Mealamu to help out on the tackle, he had skittled three All Blacks out of the defensive line and on to the turf. Give him more than 10 minutes in Auckland.

Not all Wallabies teams of recent years truly believed they could win at Eden Park.

This side does but save the back-slapping until they actually nail it.

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Tinkler: Mistakes, and no more footy

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NATHAN Tinker has tipped the bucket on his old home town of Newcastle and the Knights as he prepares to off-load his entire racehorse empire and A-League side the Jets.

Businessman Gerry Harvey has called in his debt and will sell off Tinkler's Patinack Farm racing and breeding operation at an unreserved auction inext month.

In an explosive interview, Tinkler talks about his decision to sever all ties with Australian sport.

That includes walking away from his dream of becoming Australian racing's most powerful owner, his decision to relinquish his stake in the Newcastle Knights and plans to sell off the Jets.

"I said recently that there will be no racing stables or football teams in my future and I stand by that,'' Tinkler said. "I got a bit sick of funding other people's playthings and being blamed when they didn't work out.''

Nathan Tinkler has finally spoken about the implosion of his sporting ambitions. Source: News Corp Australia

The Patinack empire is said to contain more than $50 million in property and some 600 thoroughbred racing and breeding stock, including champion stallions like American sensation Lope de Vega, Trusting, Murtajill and Monaco Consul.

Harvey holds a caveat over all Patinack horse breeding and racing assets and they will go under the hammer at Magic Millions in the last week of September.

In May, it was announced Patinack Farm would be sold to Dubai-based firm, Cibola Capital, and sources close to Tinkler suggested he would receive more than $130 million from the sale, but the deal fell through.

Tinkler was reluctant to talk about the money he owes Harvey except to say that it is "a bit less" than the $40 million reported.

BUDERUS TO ASSIST STONE AT KNIGHTS

ASADA: KNIGHTS IN THE FIRING LINE

MATA'UTIA BROTHERS AND BREAD WINNERS

Tinkler meets with Knights coach Wanye Bennett when everything looked rosy in 2012. Source: News Limited

NO MORE KNIGHTS

Tinkler was once a lower-grade player at the Knights and the club remains close to his heart.

But the billionaire miner has been embittered by his NRL experience and concedes he doesn't miss his time as the club's owner.

"I've been very good to Newcastle,'' Tinkler said. "But that place hasn't done anything but shit on me.

"I was disappointed with the way the team (Knights) went this year, the same as everyone was, Wayne (Bennett) was.

"But I didn't manage that team, I didn't choose who to recruit, and I got sick of being blamed for it to tell you the truth and that became the catalyst for me to drop that.

"The Newcastle Jets are for sale, as well, I can't wait to get them out the door, too.''

Tinkler's Patinack Farm and thoroughbred stock are all for sale. Source: News Limited

PACKING UP PATINACK

Tinkler said he has been keen to sell off his thoroughbred racing and breeding empire for 18 months.

"I thought I had the place sold twice,'' Tinkler said.

"I was pretty fair to both buyers, giving them time to perform and they haven't.

"When it became obvious this last guy wasn't going to perform my view hadn't changed, I wanted it sold. So I sat down and worked it out with Gerry to get this done.

"I haven't hidden the fact I wanted to get out and Gerry knows I'm back in Australia only about twice a year.

"He knows it makes no sense for me to keep it. This is one of those decisions you make and you move on."

HARVEY CALLS TIME ON TINKLER DEBT

Tinkler with Tom Waterhouse at the Cox Plate preview at Moonee Valley. Source: News Limited

DUBAI BID DUPE

When Daniel Kelly and Cibola Capital made their multi-million dollar offer to buy Patinack, Tinkler was relieved. He would finally have the cash flow to pay off Harvey and get out of Australian racing.

But the alarm bells starting ringing when it became difficult to track down the Dubai-based bidders who ended up duping Tinkler.

"They approached us early days,'' Tinkler recalled. "But we went down the path with another guy in Queensland.

"He paid a deposit for Patinack but didn't turn up with the money.

"So we went back to the guys in Dubai, who were the underbidders if you like, and we signed up with them.

"But it is fair to say we weren't the only ones duped.

"They purchased a couple of stallions in France about the same time, which made us think they were very serious players. It's fair to say Daniel Kenny and Cibola Capital are not my favourite people.''

Tinkler won't be watching the Knights again anytime soon. Source: News Limited

HORSING AROUND

Tinkler can be a polarising figure and he certainly has his detractors in horse racing circles, but he maintains he still enjoys the sport.

"It was a lot of fun, especially in the early days,'' Tinkler said.

"But I haven't lived in Australia for three years now and my interest has been waning. I used to study the nominations and acceptances but now I pick up the paper on a Saturday morning to see if I have a runner.

"There was a time that I would make four calls a day to (trainer) John Thompson, but now it is once a week or once a fortnight.''

Damien Oliver salutes after winning on Casino Prince at Royal Randwick. Source: News Limited

MISTAKES MADE

Tinkler was criticised from day one for trying to get too big too fast in horse racing. In hindsight, Tinkler wished he had listened.

"Looking back, I don't there is much doubt about that,'' he said.

"I should have gone down the breeding side slower, I should have done everything slower.

"Racing is a very hard market to break into and even though it is tough we still have so much success. No one will acknowledge or talk about our success, but that's fine, I don't care. Not too many people can say they picked out a horse (Casino Prince) before it won a Group 1, won a Group 1 race with him and then turned him into a champion sire.

"Not too many people can say they bred a horse (All Too Hard) out of that sire and then sold him as a sire.

"And for somebody who supposedly turned over huge numbers of staff I'm very proud of the fact John Thompson had more than 500 winners with me.''

Tinkler says he's ready to move on and build his life outside Australia. Source: News Corp Australia

RACING REGRETS

Tinkler said he is not one to harbour regrets and prefers not to dwell on his period in horse racing and sports club ownership.

"I've had a lot of great times in racing, I would be a fool to say otherwise," Tinkler said.

"But a lot of things change in your life as you get older.

"I was young then and I thought it was all fun but I have a different view of the industry now. I walked in eyes wide open and consequently got hit fair between the eyes.

"It is time to move on now. I don't live in Australia anymore and my life is very different now."

Tinkler will also relinquish ownership of the Newcastle Jets. Source: Getty Images

THE FUTURE

Mining remains Tinkler's core business and he will concentrate on that side of his empire in the years to come.

"Singapore is my main residence now but I do spend a lot of time in the United States and Europe," he said.

"I'm looking forward to simplifying my life greatly.

"There will definitely be no more involvement with footy teams. But horses don't talk anywhere near as much as people.

"I'm sure I can still enjoy racing again one day but on a much smaller scale."

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