Former Newcastle prop Russell Packer. Source: Peter Lorimer / News Limited
IT'S not often Panthers supremo Phil Gould second guesses himself, but this delicate scheme definitely warrants some wider consultation.
Over the past few weeks Gould has been quietly asking some of his most respected mates for their opinion on incarcerated Kiwi prop Russell Packer, who is serving a two-year sentence in Lithgow Gaol.
Should the 12-month parole he won on appeal be granted, Packer will be a free man on January 6, 2015.
Provided he's not deported to New Zealand upon release, the 24-year-old can then resume playing at the NRL's discretion.
Former Knights prop Russell Packer. Source: News Limited
Newcastle terminated Packer's three-year deal shortly after he pleaded guilty to assaulting a bouncer in November 2013.
Knights officials have monitored Packer's welfare behind bars, and are yet to make a call on whether they will welcome him back.
Enter Panthers coach Ivan Cleary, who debuted Packer with the Warriors in 2008 and needs a younger prop to replace Tim Grant next year.
Cleary has been unashamed about poaching his former New Zealand charges, enticing Lewis Brown and Elijah Taylor to the foot of the mountains in the past two years.
Russell Packer of the Warriors smashes his way through to score a try. Source: News Limited
Interestingly enough, Packer was out in Sydney with Brown on the night his life fell apart.
Cleary has spoken to Gould about his desire to pursue Packer for next year, and Knights officials are aware of Penrith's interest.
From what we've heard, Gould is still to be convinced after being rewarded with heartache for trying to rehabilitate troubled players such as Arana Taumata, Daine Laurie and Yilleen Gordon in recent times.
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Parramatta forward Mitch Allgood Source: Supplied
The overhead projector has been binned, but that hasn't stopped Parramatta from telling players they are welcome to look elsewhere for next season.
Prop Mitch Allgood received the dreaded tap in the past week as the Eels attempt to create room in their 2015 salary cap, possibly in a bid to snare disgruntled Manly back rower Anthony Watmough.
They also re-signed boom teenage forward Tepai Moeroa.
One Eel who definitely won't be sticking around is winger Ken Sio, who looks like finalising a deal in the UK Super League.
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Sam Kasiano of the Bulldogs celebrates after scoring a try. Source: Getty Images
In recruitment news up front at the Bulldogs, improving prop Tim Browne has agreed to a two-year extension while Sam Kasiano is still attracting rumours of a premature switch to St George Illawarra.
We're told Canterbury is desperate to create more salary cap space — and a first grade pathway — for rookie bookend Lloyd Perrett.
Bulldogs CEO Raelene Castle denied any approaches for Kasiano.
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The NRL is even more convinced Cronulla acted appropriately in sacking Todd Carney, having received damning statistics that revealed the infamous 'bubbler' photograph reached 80 per cent of Australia's population (about 18.4 million people) after going viral online.
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Sharks, sea-sickness and big swells were all weighing on Michael Clarke's mind when he agreed to embark on this weekend's annual yacht race from Sydney to Gold Coast.
Clarke will be blessed to escape the trip without encountering at least one of the unholy trinity as he helps the Perpetual Loyal crew to overcome bitter rivals, Wild Oats.
Clarke will be sailing alongside one of his best mates, celebrity accountant Anthony Bell, who was instrumental in organising a fundraising lunch to farewell the Test skipper at Ivy Ballroom on Thursday.
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Test all-rounder Steve Smith this week received a dividend from his latest investment; a four-year gelding named Bold Leo.
The Les Bridge-trained thoroughbred finished third in the final event of Wednesday's card at Canterbury; one of its first runs since Smith purchased a share.
The Sydney Sixers ace said he made the plunge for "a bit of fun".
He added: "I follow how he goes but I'm away so much with cricket that I don't get to see him live."
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Anthony Watmough went on a witch hunt through Manly HQ on Wednesday morning, after The Daily Telegraph published details of the final year of his contract, which is worth $970,000 thanks to deferred bonuses over the past three seasons.
Watmough even confronted Sea Eagles general manager David Perry to ask if the leak had come from head office.
Perry denied any involvement, and reiterated his desire to keep Watmough at Brookvale for life.
Discontent surrounding the decision not to re-sign Glenn Stewart has fuelled Watmough's suspicion that he might suffer the same fate next year.
Sea Eagles officials were planning to meet Watmough yesterday to assure him that won't be the case.
A two-year extension worth $1.2 million has been mooted.
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NRL CEO Dave Smith. Source: News Corp Australia
The NRL is forking out more money on consultants to compile a shortlist of independent directors for the Newcastle Knights and Wests Tigers.
The international recruitment firm, Spencer Stuart, that was used to shortlist the inaugural ARLC candidates has been engaged again.
NRL boss Dave Smith would prefer the appointees not be paid, but might offer between $30,000 and $50,000 per annum to speed up the process.
What already appears set in stone is the fact Matt Gidley will survive as Knights CEO, having almost finalised a two-year extension.
THE REAL DEAL
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Daniel Geale and Gennady Golovkin have chosen strikingly different preparations for Sunday's WBA Middleweight title bout in New York.
While Geale was yesterday mingling with his tight-knit crew and supporters at the Australian Hotel in mid-town Manhattan, Golovkin attended a stage musical theatre show of Rocky on 42nd Street.
One of Geale's fiercest supporters in the Big Apple is none other than Socceroos champion Tim Cahill.
The New York Red Bulls star has been rolling out the red carpet, even offering to accommodate his compatriot in the city in his mansion when Team Geale discovered their hotel rooms in Manhattan weren't ready this week.
Daniel Geale at "The Australian" pub in New York. Source: News Corp Australia
Cahill spoke to Geale on the phone, revealing Aussie rock icon Jimmy Barnes was also crashing at his pad.
Despite also being told he could have the use of a personal chef, Geale politely declined due to his heavy training and promotional commitments.
Cahill also has playing commitments against English Premier League giants Arsenal just a few hours before Geale enters the ring, but is hoping make a swift dash across the city that never sleeps to be ringside at Madison Square Garden.
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The new SCG press room is bigger and more salubrious than most Paddington apartments, and now its tenants are about to get a further treat.
On August 26 the Trust will launch a Media Hall of Honour — a first for any stadium in Sydney.
There will be 15 inaugural inductees, whose names will be proudly displayed on a show panel on level three of the MA Noble Stand.
The late Frank Hyde and Bill O'Reilly are at prohibitive odds to get a start, with only four of the original inductees still alive and working.
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And while we're reminiscing about media highlights at the Grand Old Lady, Ray Warren's book launch in the Long Room on Wednesday attracted one of the most respected fields of sports voices imaginable.
Ken Sutcliffe, Phil Gould, Peter Sterling, Daryl Brohman and Paul Vautin were all there to celebrate Warren's amazing life.
Our favourite anecdote came from the man himself, with Rabs revealing that he'd never read a single book until the manuscript of his own memoirs was printed.
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Darius Boyd's personal problems deepened in earnest long before he and a female guest left a Hunter Valley hotel room with $1500 worth of damage last week.
We've been told Boyd and his wife were experiencing difficulties toward the start of Queensland's Origin campaign in May.
Things were repaired for a few weeks, only to deteriorate on the night of Game Three.
Sources close to Boyd claim the personal situation was to blame for his notoriously foul interview with a Channel Seven reporter outside Queensland's hotel the following morning.
On Monday Boyd's world came crashing down, when he suffered a breakdown and turned to those closest to him for help to fight depression.
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WINNING
No-Doze inundated the ARU with sponsorship requests after last month's 6-0 Test win over France, but on the domestic front rugby hasn't felt this alive for a decade.
Saturday night's Waratahs-Brumbies semi final is threatening to draw a full house at Allianz Stadium, not to mention fans away from Sydney NRL fixtures.
DUNCE CAP
In the 1990s, the Dragons were renowned bridesmaids thanks to four losing grand finals.
Now it's even more humiliating. For the second time in as many seasons the Big Red V has been stood-up by a highly eligible coach.
Wayne Bennett and Craig Bellamy have both enticed St George Illawarra down the aisle, only to abandon them at the altar.
Daly Cherry-Evans kicks during Manly training. Source: News Corp Australia
SPOTTED I
Sea Eagles halfback Daly Cherry-Evans poring over paperwork for more than an hour with a mystery businessman at a Dee Why beach cafe on Tuesday afternoon.
Sea Eagles officials are adamant the gun No. 7 has not agreed to terms beyond the end of 2015.
SPOTTED II
A fired-up Queensland FOG spoiling for a road rage incident from the window of his 4WD in Surry Hills on Tuesday.
SHOOSH
Which high profile forward almost cost his club a $10,000 fine this week, after refusing to get off when coaching staff deemed he was concussed.
The NRL reviewed the footage on Tuesday, but gave the player the benefit of the doubt.
PLAYERS FIND NEW PARTY SPOT
Rugby league's party bus has moved east from its usual Kings Cross haunts, The Sapphire Suite and Beach Haus. Last Saturday night the who's who of NRL were packed into classy Double Bay bar, Casablanca.
Having locked horns the night before, Parramatta and Rabbitohs players including Sam Burgess, Ben Te'o and Jarryd Hayne were spotted rubbing shoulders.
Sharks rookie Michael Lichaa was also on hand to celebrate his 21st birthday.
POOR TASTE
A certain NRL club's official podcast might need some tighter editorial standards after a recent show, during which the host declared: "He's had more touches than Rolf Harris".
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