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FROM one NRL bad boy to another; the Cronulla Sharks are eyeing Robert Lui to replace sacked five-eighth Todd Carney.
In a fascinating subplot to Friday's clash against Lui's North Queensland at Remondis Stadium, Cronulla staffers have spoken internally about making an approach to the controversial Cowboys playmaker.
Sports Confidential can confirm Lui's management has been approached - on an informal basis - about the off-contract 24-year-old's desire to return to Sydney.
Robert Lui could be bound for Cronulla. Source: News Corp Australia
Lui's previous stint in Sin City - where he spent three seasons at Wests Tigers - ended on an awful note after he was charged and found guilty of assaulting his partner, Tahleah Backo, who was pregnant at the time.
Although there were some peculiar circumstances that led to the incident, Lui's actions were ultimately indefensible and he was banned from playing NRL for much of 2012.
To their credit, the Cowboys have worked overtime to help the couple rehabilitate in Townsville over the past two years.
Lui repaid that faith last season, when he knocked back a $1.2 million offer from the Warriors to stay in the tropics for another 12 months.
Former Cronulla star Todd Carney in action. Source: News Limited
He is once again a free agent, and, as one of the few experienced halves left on the market, has landed on Cronulla's radar as a target to replace Carney in 2015.
Sharks CEO Steve Noyce said he was unaware of the football department's approach, and suspended head coach Shane Flanagan remains banned from recruiting players until early September.
While the irony of chasing a player with a criminal record to replace one with a lengthy rap sheet is sure to be noted, Lui appears to have learned some vital lessons.
As a former Tiger, he also fits the club's recent recruitment criteria and remains extremely close to ex-team mate Andrew Fifita.
Would it be hypocritical for the Sharks to sign Robert Lui having sacked Todd Carney for poor off-field behaviour?
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Sydney FC's new coach Graham Arnold during a training session. Source: News Corp Australia
Winning: Graham Arnold enjoyed a positive start to his Sydney FC tenure on Wednesday night; the Sky Blues thrashing Macarthur Rams 5-1 in their first trial. We're predicting it will be a sign of things to come for the A-League underachievers.
Dunce cap: Come on down Collingwood president Eddie McGuire, who told Sydney to "Get Stuffed" after being dragged kicking and screaming into his latest fight with the Swans. To borrow a line off the Manly Sea Eagles die hards," Guess what Eddie, Sydney hates you too".
Shoosh: Todd Greenberg wasn't the only NRL figure spotted in a meeting with cross-code sensation Israel Folau this week. Our spies at Olympic Park caught the Waratahs weapon having lunch with Tigers halfback Luke Brooks at Ribs & Rumps on Wednesday. Both players are ambassadors for ANZ Stadium, which explains the lunch.
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Daniel Tupou watches Roosters training from the sideline. Source: News Corp Australia
Roosters officials are filthy with the NSWRL for failing to advise them of Daniel Tupou's torn lat muscle, which the towering winger suffered during the first half of Origin III. Tupou carried the injury for 10 days before returning to Roosters HQ on Monday, where it was finally diagnosed.
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David Williams made a quiet return to Sea Eagles training this week, following his season-long ban for betting on NRL games. He will continue to train at Narrabeen for the rest of the year, but has already been linked with the Roosters for 2015.
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On top of uncertainty over their coaching structure, Gold Coast Titans are facing a sizeable salary cap fine for failing to correctly declare Scott Prince's pay-out last year. The NRL is set to announce the fine in the very near future.
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We can only wonder how Wests Tigers coach Mick Potter feels about his old Dragons coach, Brian Smith.
The Tigers paid Smith $25,000 to review Potter's department, a process that included interviews with key players and staff.
Smith returned a report that was far from glowing about the former St George fullback.
We can reveal Potter has an option in his favour for next year, but it can only be activated if the Tigers make the top eight.
Even if they do, it's hard to see how Potter would feel comfortable staying put after learning the contents of Smith's review.
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Speaking of Tigers coaches and much was made of the joint venture's snubbing of Tim Sheens at Tuesday night's gala dinner.
It should come as no surprise, given Sheens and the Tigers are scheduled to face-off in the NSW Supreme Court in early December, over the 2005 premiership winner's disputed contract settlement.
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We mentioned a few weeks back how Anthony Watmough had sounded out Eels coach Brad Arthur, amid his disenchantment with Manly management for failing to re-sign Glenn Stewart.
The latest mail suggests Parramatta is willing to buy-out a large chunk of Watmough's heavily back-ended deal for next year, which is worth $970,000.
But Manly coach Geoff Toovey is adamant that no players will be released early and has commenced negotiations with Watmough's management for a two-year extension.
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Here's some exciting news for transparency – a concept ASADA and the NRL have not exactly championed during the supplements investigation.
The AAT this week ruled that Earl can be named in his appeal against ASADA.
The matter is set down for hearing in Sydney on August 18.
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Monday Night with Matty Johns crew with Rise for Alex wrist bands. Source: News Corp Australia
BAND BOND HELPS ALEX
THIS weekend is all about rising for Alex McKinnon, the young man who is teaching humanity a lesson in courage and hope.
The Monday Night with Matty Johns crew from Fox Sports were only too happy to show their support, donning the RiseForAlex wristbands and encouraging people to show their support.
The NRL will chip in $1 for every fan who attends a match this weekend, while The Saturday Daily Telegraph, Fox Sports and Crown Resorts Foundation will also combine to donate $1 for every copy of The Saturday Daily Telegraph sold tomorrow.
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Dave Smith and Nick Politis. Source: News Corp Australia
CRANKY CLUB CHAIRMAN CALL COUNCIL OF WAR
Le Sands restaurant in Brighton has hosted some of the hottest meetings in NRL history and it will be no different next Wednesday, when club chairmen gather to devise a plan to combat the NRL's intention to force them to appoint three independent directors.
Smith's huff and puff in The Sunday Telegraph a fortnight ago has been viewed as a declaration of war from some of the most powerful figures in clubland, led by Roosters chairman Nick Politis and Bulldogs counterpart Ray Dib.
The pair interpreted Smith's desire to parachute external directors into their boardrooms as an insult to their business acumen.
Politis was overseas when the comments were made, but was still astonished.
He and Dib are two of Sydney's most successful businessmen and don't take kindly to be dictated to, particularly when their respective clubs are so profitable.
The NRL has since been in damage control behind-the-scenes, attempting to shift blame.
But the smother tactic hasn't convinced anyone, given Smith has been privately talking up independent directors — including a female — since the start of the year.
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THE reason the New Zealand Warriors are trying to hose down their latest play to lure Manly centre Steve Matai to Auckland is because they are supposed to be forbidden from approaching him until November.
Under the current NRL rules, rival clubs are banned from approaching players from other teams until November of the year they are off-contract.
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THE Australian Rugby Union have been caught dithering over the retention of Wallaby Kurtley Beale.
The Canterbury Bulldogs were in a strong negotiating position with Beale until last weekend, when the NSW inside centre turned in a blinder against Queensland.
The performance coincided with news about the Bulldogs pursuing Beale, meaning Waratahs powerbrokers were immediately putting the heat on the ARU to up the ante on a new deal.
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EDDIE McGuire has been copping it from all angles in Sydney this week but the Collingwood president still found time to talk to Channel Nine supremo David Gyngell. McGurie was miffed about the NRL's push to try to install independent chairmen at every club.
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THE reason ex-NSW premier Barry O'Farrell's name continues to be linked to a role at NRL HQ is because the long-time Tigers fan is the prime candidate to become the Wests Tigers inaugural chairman once the NRL finally announces the club's new boardroom structure.
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OLYMPIC champion Ian Thorpe's decision to speak publicly about his sexuality has been one of the talking points of the week, with plenty of people offering congratulations and others questioning the fact he was paid $400,000 for the interview. There was hardly one hundredth of the fuss when NRL referee Matt Cecchin decided to declare he was gay a couple of seasons ago.
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The NRL is so paranoid about the existence of a sex tape that it's frozen the release of a children's book featuring one of the players rumoured to be involved.
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