The Weekend Hangover is back with all the drama and controversy from round five of the 2019 NRL season.
Today, there's news on Brad Fittler's possible centres shake-up, John Hopoate's advice to a rising star and a commentator's Twitter war with fans.
Read on below.
Origin star off drugs and booze intake down: Will it be enough?
There has been a lot of speculation over James Roberts’ Origin prospects following his drama-filled start to the season.
Brad Fittler is seriously considering Tom Trbojevic at centre for game one, assuming the Manly star is fit, but has not completely given up on Roberts.
He knows the Broncos star is a match winner with flaws, as illustrated again with his drunken exit from a house party.
Gus reminded us this week just how far Roberts has come.
“He doesn’t drink anything like he used to, he doesn’t do recreational drugs anymore, he doesn’t do prescription drugs anymore, which were all part of his childhood growing up,” Gould said.
“That boy has battled demons all his life. Every now again he breaks out and makes mistakes.
“He’s got to be squeaky clean.”
There is still enough time for Roberts to convince Fittler he is worth retaining.
You won’t believe who wants to go on Married at First Sight
Gus Gould on Married at First Sight?
The Panthers boss is an unashamed MAFS fan and week even offered to buy his way into the show next year.
“I am paying to go to all the dinner parties next year. There are some things I’ve got to say,” Gus told 100 Per Cent Footy.
“They just need some fatherly advice. We can straighten them out.”
What food and drink prices should look like
With the cost of buying food or drink at the footy back in the news, we were again reminded that it doesn’t have to be so.
As the below tweet shows, if the hosts of the US Masters – one of the world’s biggest sporting events – can keep things to an affordable level, why can we get prices right at the SCG, Brookie, Shark Park et al?
Getting a bit of shrapnel back in change from a $10 note for a can of VB is the closest thing you will find to unarmed robbery.
We’d argue even a fiver is too much for that muck!
Can't beat the Food and Beveridge prices at the Masters. The way event pricing should be. #TheMasters pic.twitter.com/tfW2EU8ilH
— Sports Freakshow ⚽🏈🏉🏀⚾🏏 (@aussiebeastmode) April 11, 2019
The advice given to a rising NRL star: ‘Stay away from girls’
It seems Manase Fainu is following John Hopoate’s advice and steering clear of the opposite sex.
The Sea Eagles hooker revealed this week that Hoppa had been his guiding light through troubled times, offering assistance and a few words of wisdom after a run-in with the law.
The youngster filmed a sexual act with a woman without her consent and posted it on social media,
It landed him a good behaviour bond following a court appearance.
Asked what message he took away from Hopoate’s teachings, Fainu said simply: "Stay out of trouble. Stay away from girls."
A quick poll of his Manly teammates Fainu is doing just that, slowing down his social life to concentrate on footy.
Vossy under fire from outraged fans
Andrew Voss is one of the real good guys of rugby league.
He calls and reports on the game with great enthusiasm, can take the mickey out of himself and always has plenty of time for fans, either in person or via social media.
That love is usually reciprocated.
But not this week.
Vossy received a taste of Twitter venom this week when he waded into the Israel Folau affair when it was at peak anger mode.
The Fox Sports caller argued that by giving comment from Folau and the likes of antivaxxer Anthony Mundine ‘oxygen’, it only encouraged them to sprout more bullshit.
“I choose to ignore them 100% on the issues they speak,” he wrote.
Vossy then battened down the hatches as they came at him from all angles.
One fan wrote: “Poor take, Vossy. Allowing ridiculous stances regarding vaccination & LGBTQ hatred to go unchecked breeds boldness & ignorance, and makes society a worse place.”
That was one of the more measured responses.
We’re tipping Vossy will stick to the footy from here on.
Never understood the level of outrage around what @Anthony_Mundine says, nor @IzzyFolau. We live in a democracy. We have choices, and I choose to ignore them 100% on the issues they speak. It's really easy! On with life. So many more important things. #Mundine #Folau
— Andrew Voss (@AndrewVossy) April 10, 2019