Rooster's Dylan Napa has been identified as a recruitment target by the Dragons. Picture Gregg Porteous Source: Gregg Porteous / News Limited
ST GEORGE Illawarra Dragons have identified Sydney Roosters firebrand Dylan Napa as a priority target and are currently attempting to lure the future State of Origin forward away from the Tricolours.
Contracted with the Roosters until the end of this season, Napa, South Sydney's English international Tom Burgess and New Zealand Warriors prop Ben Matulino are the most in-demand prop forwards on the NRL's open market.
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Dylan Napa during a Sydney Roosters training session at Kippax Oval, Moore Park. Picture Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia
The Dragons aren't the only club to have registered a major interest in Napa, with the Gold Coast Titans also in the race, trying to persuade the rookie forward to return home to Queensland.
Still at the Dragons, the New Zealand Warriors' bid to poach Trent Merrin away from the Red V has been amped up, with the NSW Origin forward flying to Auckland to tour the club's facilities last weekend.
When we spoke to Merrin a fortnight ago, the Dragons forward was hopeful of having his future decided before the Red V season kicks off against Melbourne at Jubilee Oval on March 9.
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"For sure. It would be a monkey off the back and the main thing I want to concentrate on is playing the game of rugby league," Merrin said.
"Obviously you have to deal with these things when you come up towards negotiations but I'd like to have it all sorted."
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TENNIS hot shot Nick Kyrgios is an immense talent but his on-court antics hurling abuse at officials has gone down like a bottle of off wine.
It's no secret Pat Rafter has already had a word with the rising star about channelling his aggression in the right context. Kyrgios should do himself a favour and watch some footage of Rod Laver, Ken Rosewall and Rafter. We love his style of play, but drop the attitude.
Nick Kyrgios in action against Andy Murray in their quarterfinals clash on Rod Laver Arena. Picture: Mark Stewart Source: News Corp Australia
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WE'RE tipping that rookie Wests Tigers forward Matt Lodge, who was recently arrested for refusing to leave a Kings Cross nightspot, would had to have been fast-talking trying to explain the incident to his parents. Both are police officers.
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SATURDAY night's blockbuster AFC Asian Cup Final will be played in front of an 80,000-plus crowd at ANZ Stadium — but it will have a TV audience of 800 million, with more than one million Australians tuning in.
The Australia v Korea Republic final will be screened on 80 channels covering the entire globe, including Fox Sports and the ABC here in Australia.
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OWENS BACKING HAYNE NFL BID
FLAMBOYANT NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens is the latest American football superstar to throw his support behind Jarryd Hayne's bid to make the big stage in the US.
Currently on a lightning-fast visit to Australia to host a Superbowl event at Docklands in Melbourne on Monday, Owens rubbed shoulders with Sydney Roosters stars Michael Jennings and Shaun Kenny-Dowall in the Sydney Cricket Ground's Trust Suite on Thursday.
Regarded as one of the NFL's greatest wide receivers, Owens carved out a reputation for blazing touchdowns and then embracing the moment by celebrating in style.
NFL great Terrell Owens with Roosters players Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Michael Jennings at a SCG Superbowl Lunch. Source: News Limited
His theatrics over the years included taking a nap, borrowing a cheerleader's pompoms and signing an autograph on a ball. On Hayne, Owens said: "If he makes it he'll definitely be a trendsetter. Definitely, anything outside of being a punter, we haven't seen that.
"If he can come over and really make an impact then I think it will be a stepping stone for other athletes alike to come over and play American football.
"Playing football obviously is a physical sport. The position he's going for as running back and fullback that's one of those positions where you've got to be tough and you've got to be gritty.
"You've got to be able to go in and hit some guys head up and make some room and really sort of pave the way."
Jarryd Hayne in action for the Eels. Source: Supplied
NEW YEAR WITH NO BEER
A GROUP of the Wests Tigers chose to avoid the temptations of boozy New Year's Eve celebrations by heading to a primitive retreat run by Brian Smith's son Keegan in the Byron Bay hinterland. Called Real Movement Project, the Tigers who attended were Luke Brooks, Mitchell Moses, Curtis Sironen, James Tedesco and Tim Moltzen. Tigers coach Jason Taylor has previously worked with Smith at the Sydney Roosters.
FAMILY TIES BINDING TAHS
THE Waratahs have taken keeping it in the family to a whole new level this season.
New recruit Sam Lousi got a left-field shock when he turned up for training at the Super 15 champions headquarters to be told his Tahs teammate Tolu Latu was also his cousin.
Initially sceptical, Latu needed to explain to Lousi how their mother's fathers were brothers.
Confused? Don't worry, so were we.
Newly discovered cousins Tolu Latu and Sam Lousi at Waratahs training Source: News Corp Australia
The development makes them second cousins. But standing side by side, there's not exactly the most easily recognisable family resemblance.
Lousi is the ex-New Zealand Warriors forward who tips the scales at 126kg and stands 198cm. The ex-leaguie is in line to feature as a second-row/lock in the Tahs forward pack this season after the departure of Wallaby Kane Douglas.
Coach Michael Cheika convinced him to make the switch to rugby union after Lousi impressed ripping it up in the NSW Cup for the Auckland Vulcans.
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The stockier of the duo, Latu is a highly regarded emerging hooker who is the understudy to Wallaby Tatafu Polata-Nau. Now they've both been made aware of their family connection, we're tipping the new teammates will be spending a little more time shooting the breeze.
MAYWEATHER SET TO GET GREEN LIGHT
WORLD champion boxer Floyd Mayweather continues to mount a strong case to be admitted into Australia as promoter Max Markson claims the welterweight's visa should be resolved by Australian immigration officials on Friday.
No stranger to controversy, Mayweather has a detailed record in the US, including spending 60 days in Clark County jail in Las Vegas for pleading guilty to a domestic violence misdemeanour in 2012.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. poses for a photo during a news conference in Las Vegas. Source: AP
Markson has written to Federal Immigration Minister Peter Dutton to plead Mayweather's case, which the promoter claims will inject $1.5 million into the local economy and include charity work for homeless people and Aboriginal children.
Provided Mayweather is given the green light, the world champion boxer will arrive in Melbourne on Sunday, with plans to sit in Andy Murray's box at the Australian Open final if the Brit qualifies.
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TUESDAY night's Allan Border Medal was another wonderful testament to the saying "nice guys don't always finish last''.
Aside from Steve Smith cleaning up, our favourite part of the evening was the excitement from champion wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist when he was inducted into the Hall of Fame. No one epitomised playing the game harder or fairer than Gilly, who told Channel Ten viewers during the Big Bash final coverage he had savoured the moment with plenty of the players he wore the Baggy Green cap with until about 3.30am.
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RUGBY league legends Andrew Johns, Craig Gower, Anthony Minichiello and Brett Finch were all devastated to learn their corporate Super Bowl trip to Arizona had been cancelled at the 11th hour.
The quartet was planning to be involved in a corporate golf tour but a late development meant the trip had to be postponed. They hope to do the trip next year.
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THE NRL is giving fans the opportunity to feature in the new rugby league TV commercial for the 2015 season. Interested NRL club members or fans get to ANZ Stadium on Tuesday and enter through Gate L.
SMITH SUPERB BUT PUP STILL TOP DOG
WE plan to remain big supporters of Test captain Michael Clarke despite a tidal wave of opposition emerging this week to his continued leadership in the Baggy Green.
From the statesman-like way Clarke handled the tragic passing of Phil Hughes to his heroics in batting with a dodgy back to score a ton in Hughes's honour in Adelaide, the Australian skipper has been nothing but first-class.
Kyly and Michael Clarke at the Alan Border Medal. Source: News Corp Australia
But politics in Australian cricket remains a powerful beast and the reality is there is a major push on from within Cricket Australia to saloon Clarke away from the captaincy, especially given the success of Steve Smith.
Clarke will play grade cricket for Western Suburbs this weekend as part of his push to feature in the World Cup, where he will lead the team provided he is fit.
Beyond that, there are no guarantees in the shortened format of the game. Remember how previous captains Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh were tapped on the shoulder and made to step away from one-day cricket?
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There is a push on from within CA for the same thing to happen to Clarke post-World Cup. In our view, Clarke has earned the right to go out on his own terms.
WINNING
CHAMPION fast bowler Brett Lee showed intensity, class and style during his final over in the Big Bash on Wednesday night.
Despite missing out on a hat-trick on the last ball and a mix-up meaning the Scorchers were crowned Twenty20 champions, Lee was the first player over shaking hands with the victorious Perth players.
Legend.
Brett Lee celebrates taking the wicket of Nathan Coulter-Nile of the Scorchers. Source: Getty Images
DUNCE CAP
WE'VE never been fans of the way Nathan Tinkler has chosen to go about his business and the events of the last 48 hours in Newcastle have done nothing to alter our view.
There was hardly a tear shed when Tinkler was forced to bail out of the Newcastle Knights and it could be deja vu now in the A-League. Don't say the alarm bells haven't been blaring for years.
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SPOTTED
JARRYD Hayne enjoying a cold drink with friends at the ultra-trendy Casablanca bar in Double Bay last Sunday.
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SPIN king Shane Warne and Test opening batsman Chris Rogers out and about in St Kilda over the Australia Day long weekend. Rogers has been telling people that he's definitely retiring from
the Baggy Green brigade after the Ashes.
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SACKED Newcastle Jets player David Carney having a few beers at the Clovelly Hotel over the weekend — prior to club owner Nathan Tinkler tearing up his contract
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