Dick Johnson (left), Brett Ralph (centre), and Ryan Story (right)
Dick Johnson Racing has announced a change of majority shareholding at the team.
The Stapylton-based Repco Supercars Championship organization confirmed that the Ralph family will become majority shareholders from January 2023.
Dick Johnson and Executive Chairman Ryan Story will maintain their positions and hold onto “a significant share” in the business, according to the team.
The Ralph family’s interest will be held through the Melbourne Aces Baseball Club.
Their portfolio also includes shares in Melbourne Storm National Rugby League Club.
Meanwhile, Brett Ralph is a Director of the Sunshine Coast Lightning Super Netball Team, Melbourne United Basketball Club, and the Australian Baseball League, and is the Chairman of the Melbourne Aces Baseball Club.
Story previously stated that any buy-in to the famous Ford squad would not be open to an investor but rather a strategic partner that adds value.
“I am excited to announce today the team’s partnership with the Ralph Family,” said Story.
“Brett and the Ralph Family are strategic investors at DJR, with the current management structure we have in place continuing to run the business day to day as they have been.
“Brett and the Ralph Family are fantastic people, and we couldn’t imagine partnering with anyone else.
“They are extremely experienced business people with a passion for sport that is undeniable.
“From the moment I first spoke with Brett he and I just clicked, and I knew we would have a fantastic working relationship.”
Johnson added: “Jillie and I are excited to welcome the Ralph Family in to Dick Johnson Racing.
“We are immensely proud of the family culture we have created at DJR and to be working with a family who have the same values and views is extremely exciting and confidence-instilling.”
DJR was founded in 1980, with the Ralph family’s buy-in marking the latest major ownership reshuffle for the organisation.
Roger Penske became a part-owner of the squad in 2014 before selling his stake to Story in late 2020.
During the DJR Team Penske it was the team won three Supercars Championship titles with Scott McLaughlin (2018, 2019, 2020).
DJR, which competes under the Shell V-Power Racing Team banner in Supercars, fields the #11 of Anton De Pasquale and Will Davison in the famed #17.
Newcastle Knights superstar Kalyn Ponga and his teammate are kicked out of the same pub toilet cubicle by a security guard – as club launches investigation
Footage shows Ponga and Kurt Mann being kicked out of a pub toilet cubicle
It’s unclear why the pair were in the same cubicle together
Ponga’s father said he was just sick after a few drinks and his mate helped him
By Kristy Williams For Daily Mail Australia
Published: | Updated:
Footage has emerged of NRL superstar Kalyn Ponga and his Newcastle teammate Kurt Mann being kicked out of the same pub toilet cubicle by security guards.
It’s unclear why the 24-year-old, who signed a whopping five-year $5million contract with the club in April, was in the cubicle with Mann.
The Knights are now aware of the footage, and confirmed to News Corp they had received answers after ‘seeking an explanation’.
In the video, a security guard can be heard saying: ‘Oh! That’s a surprise’ before Mann and Ponga leave the toilet.
Kalyn Ponga (left) and Kurt Mann (right) have been identified in a recently-released video that shows the pair being kicked out of the same toilet cubicle at a pub
Ponga’s father Andre said his son needed assistance from Mann when he fell ill while drinking.
‘He made an exciting house purchase Saturday and celebrated with a few mates drinking. Sick in the toilet and his mate went in to help him, ‘Andre Ponga told the Daily Telegraph.
The claim was backed up by the duo during the club’s investigation, with sources telling News Corp that Mann accompanied Ponga because his mate was sick while the pair were out enjoying drinks on Saturday to celebrate the purchase.
Kalyn Ponga was reportedly celebrating because he bought a new house
The pair told the club the cubicle door was open at all times, which is somewhat confusing giving the security guard can be clearly seen opening the door at the start of the video, before expressing his shock at finding Ponga.
Both men are fully clothed when they exit the cubicle.
Ponga and Mann are very close mates, and often feature on each other’s social media feeds.
The duo are both currently sidelined with injury, and drinking while injured is, at most NRL clubs, is a huge no-no given alcohol impairs healing.
Knights star Kalyn Ponga is currently sidelined after suffering yet another concussion recently
Mann is nursing a quad injury, while Ponga has been sidelined since July 22 after suffering his third concussion in six weeks – which is of great concern for the club, who have opted to take a conservative approach.
Ponga said on Sunday that he would not be back for the rest of the season, after suffering from some debilitating side effects – though he admitted it wasn’t his choice to sit out.
‘My season’s done. It’s a bit weird. I feel OK now. At the start I felt a bit weird, headaches and whatnot, but I feel all right now,’ he told Triple M Newcastle.
Ponga (left, pictured with Knights teammate Jack Johns) has reportedly told the club he was in the cubicle because he was sick
Early this year, Tigers winger David Nofoaluma was stood down by the club for drinking while injured. Like Ponga, the 28-year-old was also dealing with concussion.
Corey Norman, Michael Jennings and Joel Thompson are other high-profile examples of players suspended for drinking while injured.
There is no word yet whether either Mann or Ponga will face any disciplinary action for drinking while injured.
Former Bulldogs captain James Graham has said the Dolphins would need to offer Cameron Munster the biggest per-season deal in the history of the NRL in order to pry him away from Melbourne, as the expansion franchise continues to hunt a marquee man for their future.
Graham’s comments on Triple M came after journalist Ben Dobbin declared “in 2024 Munster is a Dolphin, that’s my gut”.
“I think it’ll be a four year deal,” Dobbin added, agreeing with Gorden Tallis’ prediction that the contract would be worth around $6 million over that period.
READMORE:Cameron Smith’s No.1 charge derailed by brutal penalty
READMORE:Handshake sparks fiery brawl between coaches in EPL thriller
“We all know Wayne has got the structures in place around what he thinks players are worth, and how that affects the salary cap – but look at some of these players in this rich list that are out there,” Graham said in response.
The rich list, which was published in The Daily Telegraph over the weekend, lists Nathan Cleary as the highest paid player in the NRL at $1.3 million per year. Graham said Munster would likely set back the Dolphins to contract in the region of $1.5 million-a-season.
“A lot of them are people [on this rich list] who are playing at the club they’ve been at for a long time. I think for Munster to go onto the open market, to go to a new franchise team… he’ll be the highest paid player in the game.”
Dobbin put forward Latrell Mitchell as a ‘smoky’ to reunite with Bennett in Brisbane, but a departure from the Rabbitohs seems exceptionally unlikely; by all accounts, Mitchell is as happy as he’s ever been, and loves the club.
Cameron Munster looks on during the Storm’s round 19 loss against the Rabbitohs. (Getty)
Future moves involving players like Mitchell were the entire reason for letting Adam Reynolds leave – and the Rabbitohs are hopeful of inking not only their star fullback, but also Cody Walker and Damien Cook to extensions in the coming weeks.
Coach Jason Demetriou told the Sun-Herald he was ‘very confident’ that all three would be extending their stay. The trio are currently all off-contract at the end of next season.
Stream the NRL premiership 2022 live and free on9Now
Former NRL enforcer Tallis laughed off suggestions of Mitchell reuniting with Bennett in Queensland, saying it was too far away from the Rabbitohs star’s farm near Taree.
“There’s a bigger picture for him,” Tallis said.
Taree, in northern NSW, is a three-and-a-half hour drive from Redfern, and Mitchell regularly commutes between the two places – a much harder route if he were in Brisbane.
Latrell Mitchell. (Getty Images)
“I’ve never seen a guy more settled – and going back to country, and doing what he’s doing, that’s more important to Latrell now than money,” Tallis said.
“I actually think the balance he’s got in his life, especially at this moment in time, I think he’s the happiest. You just watch him play, the way he’s talking.”
On the back of some of the best footy of his young career, Mitchell and the Rabbitohs are surging.
Since his return from injury, Souths have won six out of seven, including three against top eight teams – their only loss coming in golden point against the Sharks.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter byclicking here!
Paul Green’s life in pictures: From Sharks prodigy to premiership-winning coach
Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag reportedly canceled a planned day off for his players and forced them into a humiliating running exercise as the fallout from the shock Brentford defeat continues.
Ten Hag, who oversaw a successful pre-season but has endured a nightmare start in the Premier League, was helpless as he watched his side capitulate at the Brentford Community Stadium.
Watch the world’s best footballers every week with beIN SPORTS on Kayo. LIVE coverage from Bundesliga, Ligue 1, Serie A, Carabao Cup, EFL & SPFL. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
It was United’s second straight defeat after the opening day loss to Brentford and consigned the Red Devils to the bottom of the Premier League ladder for the first time in 30 years.
And according to The Telegraph’s Jason Burt, ten Hag was furious with what his team served up against the Bees and ordered his team to come to the club’s training ground for a punishing extra session.
Ange hails ‘first rate’ Celtic as Hoops run riot in five-goal thrashing
Roo Radar: Aussie star set for shock move after exile; young gun makes PL return
“With United not playing again until next Monday, at home to Liverpool, ten Hag had intended to allow his squad not to report to their training HQ, Carrington, for a recovery day,” Burt wrote.
“Instead, having told the players that their performance was ‘shocking’ and agreeing with the post-match analysis that they had played ‘like kids’ ten Hag demanded a response with an intense training session which, surprisingly after a game, included an element of running.”
Over the course of 90 minutes, United ran 95.6km as a team while Brentford chalked up 109.4km.
The shocking margin was another element of ten Hag’s brutal punishment, as Burt claims the Dutchman forced his players to cover 13.8km throughout the training session conducted in 30-degree heat, “exactly the distance they collectively ran less than the Brentford players during the game .”
With a clash against bitter rivals Liverpool on the horizon, things could get much, much worse before they get better for ten Hag and Manchester United.
NRL great PAUL GALLEN will appear on Nine’s 100% FOOTY every Monday night of the NRL season, debating rugby league’s hottest topics alongside Phil Gould and James Bracey. Tune in tonight at 9:45pm (AEST) as the panel looks back at round 22!
The list of the 100 best-paid players in the NRL made for very interesting reading over the weekend, and highlighted just how tricky juggling the salary cap is for each club.
Penrith had one player in the top 30 (Nathan Cleary at No.1) which is not bad for a club that’s six points clear and heavy favorites to win a second successive title. I’ll come back to the Panthers shortly.
At the other end of the scale, Manly have two of the top six (Daly Cherry-Evans at No.2 and Tom Trbojevic at No.6) but will miss the finals for the fifth time in eight seasons.
READMORE:Knights megastar escorted from toilet cubicle
READMORE:Bombers ax coach, club boss quits
READMORE:Smith’s charge derailed by brutal penalty
That doesn’t mean DCE or Turbo are overpaid, far from it.
DCE signed that 10-year deal many years ago, leaving aside the shocker he had against the Titans he’s been a great halfback, and I can’t place any blame for Manly’s struggles at his feet.
But as soon as Turbo went down injured this year you knew the Sea Eagles were gone. No Turbo, no chance. They’re a one-man band. They were last year, and they are this year.
Along with the Titans, Manly are probably the most disappointing team of the season in my opinion. They’ll finish 10th or 11th, but I can’t knock either DCE or Turbo for what they’re earning, because they’re two great players.
Manly skipper Daly Cherry-Evans. (Getty)
When Turbo plays, he’s one of the best in the competition, that’s not even up for question. Unfortunately over the last few years he’s missed a fair amount of football, and that’s where clubs have to think closely about their salary cap. If a player is on a three or four-year deal, but he only plays 50 per cent of matches, how do you quantify what he’s actually worth?
It’s a really hard question, and the problem for Manly is simple. If they hadn’t signed Trbojevic on a big money deal, someone else would have.
Joey’s top-five players in the NRL
It’s a huge balancing act. The coach and the management have to decide which path they want to go down.
It’s the same at the Dragons.
Ben Hunt is always under the microscope but I think he’s been great. I feel sorry for him that the amount he earns is a constant source of criticism, because it’s just not warranted.
It comes down to cap management, including what sort of demand there is at the time you sign the player. If a player is in demand then sometimes you need to give them an extra year on the contract, or an extra $100,000.
Ben Hunt often finds himself under scrutiny. (NRL)
The club then has to work out whether it’s worth the extra length on the deal, or the extra money, and balance that with what it costs to replace a player. Often it costs more to get a replacement, or it might cost you the same to get a replacement who’s not quite as good as the player you’re losing. That’s where the clubs have to make the tough decisions.
There are times when those decisions don’t pay off, but you don’t know that until 2-3 years later. It’s a professional sport, the players have to earn as much money as they can, but sometimes the big-money, long-term deal doesn’t work out, and that’s when the clubs find themselves under fire.
The single scenario that highlights this perfectly is at Parramatta, where they’ve signed Josh Hodgson to replace Reed Mahoney. That’s the exact situation where a club might have been better off spending a bit more to keep their current player, or maybe going the extra year on the deal.
In my opinion, Hodgson will be paid roughly what Mahoney is being paid, but Mahoney is 24-years-old and Hodgson is about to turn 33, and has missed this season after doing his ACL.
Reed Mahoney is joining the Bulldogs in 2023. (Getty)
Hodgson has been a terrific player, but if you’re thinking long-term, if they’re earning similar amounts then Mahoney is the better value bet. We won’t know for a few years, but I suspect if we look back in 2025 we might see that the Eels would have been better meeting Mahoney’s demands.
The problem for clubs is if they screw up the cap, it can ruin you for years. It’s not something that can be fixed in 12 months. It generally takes about three years to get it back on track. And the problem is, during that time, unless you can somehow manage to have some on-field success, or you have a coach or player who can attract talent, you’re going to struggle to get other big names to come to the club .
Then you’ve got to pay overs to get a big name to allow you to sign other big names, and the whole process ends up dragging on for five years.
The Wests Tigers have been in disarray for 10 years. It’s been a massive problem for them. If you stuff it up, you’re looking at three years to fix the mess on the money side of things, then another three years to fix the on-field problems and get the playing group right.
Josh Hodgson will replace Reed Mahoney at Parramatta. (Getty)
It’s a massive challenge, and the Tigers are the perfect example of how long you can be in exile for if you get it wrong. They haven’t played finals since 2011, and right now they’re sitting in last place.
They’ve got a junior nursey at Campbelltown that should rival Penrith and Parramatta, so don’t get me started on the fact they’ve just established their center of excellence at Concord.
They should be hidden at Campbelltown. I’m sure they’ve got a plan as to why they’re at Concord, but it really doesn’t make sense.
It’s really important their best juniors don’t get poached because that’s where Penrith has done so well, the good juniors want to stay at the club.
Penrith are going so well on the field, and the facilities are so good, the kids don’t want to leave. You look at the Tigers, what’s the gun 16 or 17-year-old from Campbelltown got to look forward to? They’ve done nothing for a decade, and their amazing new center of excellence is at Concord.
Wests Tigers have struggled for a decade. (Getty)
The Penrith approach has been to get the marquee player right – Nathan Cleary – and surround him with young talent who are not necessarily earning massive amounts. But there comes a time when that’s not going to work, because as the other players around Clearly develop into stars in their own right, they come off contract and they need to start putting themselves first.
They’re now premiership-winners and State of Origin players, and at market value it becomes tricky for Penrith to keep them all. That’s where you’ve got to regenerate, and fortunately for them the Panthers have the largest nursey in the game.
There comes a time when you come off contract, and you put your hand out for more money, but it all depends on what you want out of your career. If you’re just there for the money, it’s all about you. But at the end of the day, rugby league is a team sport and you shouldn’t have that attitude.
It’s the reason some clubs are better than others, despite having the same salary cap to spend. They have a better culture, a winning feeling, and that means players want to play there, and they’ll take less money to do so.
To win premierships and have long-term success you need at least six or seven players willing to stay for less money than they could earn elsewhere. If you get that, you’re in business.
Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary is the highest paid player in the game. (Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Playing rugby league when you’re losing week-in, week-out is no fun at all. When you sign your contract, you might think the money is great, but you’d give up at least $50,000 a year to be in a winning side.
To be at Penrith, you’d sign for $500,000, when you might be worth $600,000.
It’s a totally different situation. You turn up to training and you’re having fun. The last four or five years of my career, we had success at Cronulla, we won a comp, played in preliminary finals, and it was so enjoyable.
There’s no worries in the world, the game is fun, training is enjoyable. Early in my career we were struggling and it was a real grind to get going. It wasn’t enjoyable.
Everyone trains so hard in pre-season, you’re getting flogged. If you’re doing the pre-season thinking that if you have a great year you might just sneak into the semis, it’s hard.
There’s pros and cons to every approach to the salary cap, and there’s no correct answer. It’s what works best for each club.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter byclicking here!
Paul Green’s life in pictures: From Sharks prodigy to premiership-winning coach
Sea Eagles utility Dylan Walker has been charged with a Careless High Tackle on Titan Jojo Fifita following Sunday’s clash on the Gold Coast.
The Grade One offense will result in a $750 fine with an early guilty plea, increasing to $1000 if Walker fights the charge and is unsuccessful at the judiciary.
Rooster Joseph Suaali you have taken the early guilty plea to a Careless High Tackle charge on Tom Dearden and will be fined $1000.
Luciano Leila was also charged from the game with the forward cited for a Grade One Crusher Tackle on Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. Leilua faces a $1,500 fine with an early guilty plea as it is also his first offense of the season.
Elsewhere, Sharks forward Teig Wilton faces an $1,800 fine with an early guilty plea after he was charged with a Grade One Dangerous Contact offense in his side’s win over Wests Tigers, while Knights playmaker Anthony Milford faces a $3,000 fine for his shoulder charge offense on Broncos prop Ryan James.
As it is Milford’s second offense of the season, he will miss two matches if he unsuccessfully contests the charge at the judiciary.
bulldogs five-eighth Matt Burton has been charged for the second time with a Shoulder Charge and faces a fine of $1,800 with an early guilty plea.
eels back-rower Ryan Matterson was charged with Dangerous Contact in Friday’s second game and faces an $1,800 fine with an early guilty plea.
melbourne forward Tui Kamikamica faces a fine after being charged with Dangerous Contact on Panthers forward Spencer Leniu in Thursday night’s win over the Panthers. Kamikamica’s offense is a Grade One and will see him fined $1,000 with an early guilty plea or $1,500 if he fights the charge and loses.
Collingwood lost its first game since Round 9 on the weekend to Sydney and now needs a win in the final round of the season to guarantee a top four position.
Craig McRae’s side suffered a 27-point loss to the Swans on Sunday at the SCG in a clash where the Magpies threatened a comeback for much of the second half that didn’t eventuate.
With the margin 23 points at three quarter time, Collingwood has made a theme of final quarter comebacks in recent victories, but couldn’t pull it off on this occasion.
David King isn’t concerned the loss could halt the club’s immense momentum.
“Eventually someone was going to get them, you can’t keep winning like that,” King told SEN’s Whateley
“But what he (McRae) has been able to do is give a club an opportunity to still finish top four, it’s been an unbelievable ride this year, so there’s no reason why they can’t gather and go again next week.”
But discussing why the Pies’ couldn’t dominate the final quarter on the scoreboard, King threw up the absence of Jordan De Goey as a reason.
De Goey was a late out with a hip flexor issue ahead of Sunday’s match after two strong games since returning from a quad injury.
He’d averaged 24 disposals, seven clearances, 4.5 inside 50s and 1.5 goals in the last fortnight, but Collingwood missed his “spark” against the Swans.
“What it (the loss) does do, it highlights what life’s like without De Goey,” King stated.
“When you just needed that one spark on the weekend it wasn’t there, when you haven’t got that player (it becomes more difficult).
“He goes where the problem is. Getting beaten in the midfield? Put De Goey in. He’ll go in and it’s all rip, tear and bust, it’s a classier version of Jake Stringer. He’s their Shai Bolton.
“Going well again? Slip him forward after the center bounce, so just be careful what you wish for with De Goey is my advice if you’re Collingwood.”
It led to King urging the Magpies to hold onto midfielder-forward. The club put off contract talks with the 26-year-old earlier in the year after an off-field incident and he’s understood to have drawn interest from St Kilda.
He doesn’t have a deal for 2023.
“I wouldn’t be rushing him out the door because you need him, this group needs Jordan De Goey,” King continued.
“If they’re to have success in the next two or three years, he’s not just a part of it, he’s a major driver.
“I know he might cost a bit more and there’s going to be some late nights where you’re going to think, ‘I hope the phone doesn’t ring’, and some off-season occasions when you think, ‘Gee, where is he?’
“But on game day, those two hours, when he’s not there as opposed to when he is, they’re poles apart.”
Collingwood requires a win against Carlton in the final round of the home and away season to lock in a double chance in the finals series.
Rugby league legend Mark Geyer has made a bold prediction following the Bulldogs’ appointment of rookie coach Cameron Ciraldo — while Fox League’s Andrew Voss is concerned the club’s “gamble” could backfire.
Ciraldo inked a five-year contract to join the Belmore club from 2023 onwards in a deal reportedly worth around $800,000-per-season.
Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
The 38-year-old was the hottest property on the coaching market following the axing of multiple coaches including Trent Barrett, but in the end NRL supremo Phil Gould got his man.
Ciraldo has been Ivan Cleary’s assistant for several years and former Panther Mark Geyer believes his appointment means Matt Burton’s tenure with the Bulldogs will almost certainly extend past 2023 after knocking back his player option for 2024.
“He’ll be the youngest coach in the NRL, 38-years of age and signs a five-year deal as I said it’s a major coup, but what it does is makes Matt Burton, now his signature will be a lot longer, he’ll sign on for longer,” Geyer said on Triple M.
“That means that Kikau won’t get cold feet, it means Reed Mahoney won’t get cold feet, the Fox (Josh Addo Carr).
“It’s a massive signing, a lot of people will be saying look he hasn’t done much but, he’s been an assistant coach but what he’s done is he’s very articulate in the way he prepares.”
Geyer also believes the Bulldogs are set for a “special” rebuild, going as far to say they could be premiership contenders within five years.
“It’s all about the team with Cameron Ciraldo it’s never about him so I think this is a major, major boost for the Bulldogs in the next five years,” he said.
“Cameron Ciraldo will, I’m not going to say it but they’re going to do something special in five years but they’re going to be close I would say.
“I reckon they’re going to be close to pulling off the biggest prize of all within five years.”
The Daily Telegraph’s Buzz Rothfield echoed Geyer’s remarks — but explained assistants who have been mentored by elite coaches don’t always become successful bosses themselves.
“At 38 he’ll be the youngest coach in the NRL but a terrific talent, he’s been a great right hand man for Ivan Cleary at the Panthers with all their success in recent years,” Rothfield said on the Big Sports Breakfast.
“He’s their minister for defense there, he’s the one who designed all the strategies to keep their line intact which has been so outstanding in recent times.
“Look the only thing I will say is just because you’re out of a Penrith system or Melbourne system it doesn’t automatically make you a great coach.
“I wrote this morning about Trent Barrett only having a 40 per cent win record despite the rap on ‘Baz’ (Barrett) when he came out of Penrith and Garth Brennan too.
“You look at guys like Adam O’Brien who came out of Melbourne and had a year under Trent Robinson.
“It doesn’t mean you’re going to be an immediate success but I’ve got this feeling that Cameron Ciraldo will prove that theory wrong, he’s got what it takes.
“I think it’s enormous for Canterbury and that he knows the pathways so well at Penrith, he’s been there over a decade on their coaching staff.
“He knows how to bring young players through, I think it’s a huge move for the Bulldogs.
“Put them (Kikau and Mahoney) in with Matty Burton and the rest of the team I think they’re going to be a real top eight chance next year.”
While many are backing Ciraldo to be a success, rugby league commentator Andrew Voss stated he wouldn’t be “signing a rookie coach for five years”.
Five-year coaching contracts have in the past gone pear-shaped — Anthony Seibold’s short-lived Broncos deal being the most recent.
Voss explained there are only a handful of coaches across the league that could warrant the long-term contract signed by Ciraldo.
“Any five-year deal, there’s an element of a gamble in it, even with a player.”
“But five years for an untried coach?” Penrith Panthers legend Greg Alexander asked.
Voss continued: “What if they haven’t played finals in a couple of years? I think five years is too much.
“Five years for a rookie coach? Trying to think of a coach you’d sign for five years, I think you’ve got to have the runs on the board.
“(Craig) Bellamy, (Trent) Robinson, (Ivan) Cleary, I don’t think there’s too many more.
“I’m not signing a rookie coach for five years.
“But, I wish Cameron Ciraldo all the very best.”
Originally published as Why Phil Gould’s $4 million gamble on Cameron Ciraldo could backfire
Daniil Medvedev has found support in an unlikely place after video emerged of him confronting a group of Canadian tennis fans over a ‘loser’ chant in Montreal.
In the video, Medvedev was leaving the locker rooms following his 6-7 6-4 6-2 loss to Nick Kyrgios when a group of fans started chanting ‘loser’ to the 26-year-old Russian.
He turned on his heel and confronted the crowd, but what he was saying could not be heard. The focus of Medvedev’s attention appeared to be a young male fan in the middle of the crowd.
READMORE:Cameron Smith’s No.1 charge derailed by brutal penalty
READMORE:Handshake sparks fiery brawl between coaches in EPL thriller
Speaking ahead of the ATP Cincinnati Masters event, Medvedev declined to go into detail about what exactly he said to the young fan.
“I was disappointed after losing the match… but when someone mocks me, I’ll respond,” he said.
“It would be bad to let people shout bad things at me and just keep walking. I will ask what his problem is.”
Medvedev said the young fan was standing next to his father, who also joined in the chant.
“The father of the guy said something to me also – I say educate your kid. I won’t let people mock me.”
Medvedev said that kind of heckling didn’t happen often, and it was one of the first times it had happened to him.
The man who beat him in that match, Nick Kyrgios tweeted his support for Medvedev and called for fans to show more respect.
“This is the best we have in the sport, fans need to show some respect,” he said.
Both Medvedev and Kyrgios will continue their US Open preparations at the Cincinnati Masters. Medvedev will take on Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, while Kyrgios will face Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter byclicking here!
The backstories and controversies that have ignited feuds involving athletes
South Sydney superstar Latrell Mitchell failed to finish training on Monday and left Redfern Oval with his right groin heavily iced.
Mitchell, whose excellent form is a large reason Souths have won six of their past seven games, came from the field midway through the club’s main session. He immediately consulted physio Eddie Farah and the club’s top physician Travis Touma.
After being put through a range of stretches on the ground, Mitchell had his groin iced and took no further part in the morning session.
Souths have a short turnaround to Thursday night when they host premiers Penrith at Accor Stadium. It is the first time in 23 games the Panthers will start as outsiders with the bookies.
Back-up Bunnies fullback Kodi Nikorima has been battling a hamstring injury and is at least another week away from returning. Blake Taaffe is the likely fullback option if Mitchell fails to overcome his injury.
Halfback Lachlan Ilias skipped the first part of Monday’s blowout because of an ongoing back issue, but later joined the main group. Izaac Thompson, the powerhouse rookie winger, hit the showers early because of a right quad or groin strain.
Latrell Mitchell did not finish training on Monday because of a groin issue.Credit:Getty Images
Coach Jason Demetriou told the herald the club was just being cautious with Mitchell.
“We’ve got back-to-back short turnarounds, he had his biggest numbers for the season on the weekend [against Parramatta] in terms of running loads, so we’re just resting him up,” Demetriou said.
