Des Hasler had absolutely no involvement in the Cameron Smith story that angered Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy on the eve of his side’s clash with the Sea Eagles.
Bellamy insinuated Hasler was the ‘backstage singer’ to former Manly hooker Max Krilich, who unleashed on Smith in the Daily Telegraph.
Krilich told the Tele: “Melbourne lay all over the ball and the players but it’s ruled play on because it’s Cameron. They are scared of him and it’s a disgrace.”
Bellamy responded: “I’m not quite sure why he (Krilich) would come out and say that – perhaps someone (inferring Hasler) was singing from backstage.”
Hasler goes out of his way to avoid upsetting the opposition and had no idea of the story until he saw it in print.
The Repeat Set was sitting next to Telegraph league reporter – and Sporting News Australia regular – Dean Ritchie at Brookvale Oval last Sunday when Krilich rang to get his point across about Smith.
It was totally unsolicited.
Krilich rang Ritchie back the next day to further emphasise his point.
The Storm probably won’t believe it, but the story wasn’t a plant by Manly.
But the Sea Eagles may still pay a heavy price.
NRL LEAKS: Paul McGregor is safe - but the rest of the Dragons coaching staff should be nervous
MELBOURNE REMEMBERS WHILE OTHERS CAN'T FORGET
Melbourne will hold their annual old boys’ day on Saturday, with the names of players from their 1999 and 2009 teams honoured on the Storm jerseys for the game against Manly.
But it’s fair to say the move to commemorate the 2009 grand final win has not gone down well with all rugby league fans.
The team that beat the Eels in that year’s decider was later found to be over the salary cap and the title stripped.
Same deal for the 2007 team that beat Manly.
And fans just won’t let them forget it.
The Storm argue that they are celebrating a grand final win, not necessarily a premiership.
“You can’t pretend the grand final didn’t happen,” one club insider told The Repeat Set.
The boys will be running out this weekend in our 2019 heritage jersey, it features the names of all the players from the 1999 and 2009 Grand Final teams 🙌🔥
— Melbourne Storm (@storm) July 23, 2019
Shop now: https://t.co/MBgjOCYjbD pic.twitter.com/bzaUiBDpxS
COME HOME, BLAKE
If the Panthers can’t lure Tyrone Peachey back with the money freed up by James Maloney’s departure, they should go after Blake Austin.
Penrith great Mark Geyer wants his old club to chase Austin, who is leading the way in Super League’s Man of Steel award after scoring 18 tries in his first year at Warrington.
Austin debuted with the Panthers in 2011 before moving to Wests Tigers and then onto Canberra.
It was at the Raiders he really came of age but things quickly soured and he’s found a new lease of life in the Super League, winning selection in England’s training squad after gaining eligibility via his English grandmother.
🏴 Blake Austin makes the England Performance Squad!
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) July 15, 2019
Find out more 👉 https://t.co/sknSbScmM4 pic.twitter.com/No90QBpWUJ
“I’d love to see Blake Austin at Penrith,” MG declared.
“As soon as he went over there I thought ‘what a waste’. He is a quality player and in the best form of his life.”
But it appears Austin is settled at Warrington and is not craving a return to the NRL.
That leaves another former Panther - Tyrone Peachey - as the player most likely to replace Maloney.
Geyer said of the Peach: “He tried to get back before June 30 but there was a bit of communication breakdown between the two clubs.
“He loves Penrith and he’s obviously unhappy at the Titans.
“Don’t be surprised to see T Peachey back in the number 6 role for the Panthers next year.”
MOST SELFISH: Robbie Farah given all-time spray by former assistant coach
NOT IN THOSE BOOTS, THANKS
Robbie Farah played the first of his 299 first grade games way back in 2003.
And while it may have been 16 years ago, he can vividly remember the moment coach Tim Sheens called him to tell him he would be debuting.
“Sheensy pulled me into the office at Leichhardt Oval after the captain’s run and said: ‘I’m thinking of playing you tomorrow but you can’t wear those white boots’,” Farah told Triple M.
“I was a pretty lairy sort of kid but I didn’t have a boot sponsor back then so I got a black texta and coloured my boots in.
“We lost to Manly but to debut at Leichhardt – my favourite place in the world – was a dream come true.”
Farah has a boot sponsor these days and ran out in some pink and purple Adidas ‘wheels’ for his 300th game against Newcastle on Friday night.
KEVIN WALTERS WANTS TO FEEL THE LOVE
On July 14 – around an hour before he was due to go on air to call the Parra-Tigers game for Fox Sports – Kevin Walters was corralled by four journos in the Bankwest Stadium media area.
It was four days after Queensland’s defeat in game three of the Origin series and Walters had the following to say about the vacant Titans job: “I’m committed to coaching Queensland – that’s what I want to do next year.
“That’s where my heart lies. I am so passionate about Queensland. I want to get that right.”
So, what changed in less than a fortnight to now have Walters on the verge of throwing the Maroons gig in and taking over at the Gold Coast?
It was simple. Walters didn’t want to chase the Titans – he wanted them to chase him.
The Maroons boss was not prepared to go through the humiliation of an interview process only to miss out, as was the case at the Broncos when they brushed him for Anthony Seibold.
The Titans will decide over the weekend whether they go for Walters or Justin Holbrook, with the smart money on Kevvie.