Mummy blogger and fashion designer Constance Hall has debuted a new look that has left her feeling more “feminine” than ever.
Hall, who is based in Western Australia, has sported her iconic long black locks for many years but recently decided on the spur of the moment it was time for them to go.
Taking to Facebook, she announced her decision before she debuted her new look, revealing her husband and children were against the decision.
“However I am superstitious and I believe that a woman who changes her hair changes her life,” she wrote.
“I’m also the divine feminine and long hair is about as essential to the divine feminine as perky t*ts.
“I have come to accept that I will always regret cutting my hair off but always feel compelled to do it as the years pass and my desire to let go of old energy increases, the hair gets lopped off, the relief comes and sooner or later the regret kicks in with the long road of hair growth ahead and around and around we go.”
Fans nervously waited before Hall showed a photo of her new jawline-length haircut, revealing she felt sexy and fresh again.
Hall’s followers were quick to compliment her on the new look.
One person said: “I have to say when you announced your hair cut yesterday I was a bit invested in how I thought you should look. But wow! The most amazing part of your new style is your smile. Fricken awesome.”
Another said: “Hair weighs you down mentally and emotionally sometimes – it’s good to feel light again.”
A third added: “WOW, your hair looks great on you, you must feel so free, I wish I had the spirit to do this.”
The day after debuting her new look, Hall shared she hadn’t had numbers on her photos like the reveal in a long time.
She added the comments were a far cry from people telling her she “was her hair” and she felt extremely “feminine”.
She also took advantage of the high traffic on her post to encourage people to have a conversation about organ donation.
“Unless someone you love has waited for that life saving call or you have heard someone talk about what they would do with the miracle of life if it happened or you have seen the look on a mother’s face whose last chance for her son has just ran out of time, you probably haven’t ever really considered what lives your organs could go on to save long once you are no longer here,” she said.
“I’m not trying to convince anyone to donate their organs if it goes against their wishes, I’m trying to minimize the amount of wasted organs, buried with a body who could have and would have saved another life if only someone knew their wishes.”
Mabior Chol continues to make the most of the chance given to him by a Gold Coast Suns side whose slim AFL finals hopes could rest on the boot of the former Richmond forward.
With three rounds of the regular season remaining, the Suns remain a mathematical chance of playing finals football for the first time in the club’s history.
It’s a tall order and the Suns will need other results to go their way, but with Chol in stellar form, it’s not yet impossible.
Having joined the Suns this year from the Tigers, where the regular top-flight football was craved wasn’t forthcoming, Chol has rewarded Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew for believing in him.
The 25-year-old, 200cm giant has kicked 43 goals this season, including a career-best single-game haul of five in the Suns’ three-point weekend win over the West Coast Eagles.
“I’ve been seeking an opportunity for a very long time to show what I can do at the highest level,” Chol said ahead of the Suns’ trip to Tasmania for Saturday’s clash against Hawthorn in Launceston.
“I knew coming up here I wasn’t just going to walk straight in. I knew I was going to have to work hard and earn my position.
“There’s been a lot of hard work since the start of the pre-season and it’s just been an exciting season … I knew what I was capable of doing.”
As did Dew, who said Chol was a “real leader” who gave the Suns “great energy”.
“He’s a real thinker of the game,” the Gold Coast mentor said.
“He sees the game really well, he can understand what’s happening, patterns of play, so when he comes to the bench, he’s really aware of how the game’s going.
“The more he gets confidence to voice that to the greater group he’s going to improve his leadership. “We’re excited by not only what he’s done, but what’s to eat.”
Chol said the Suns weren’t looking ahead to the finals but instead on the immediate task of beating the Hawks for a second time this season after disposing of them by 67 points in Darwin in May.
“We’re just focusing on each game, each week – we’re not trying to look too far ahead. It’s been exciting,” he said.
The Suns are hopeful another former Tiger, Brandon Ellis, overcomes a shoulder problem to play this weekend after he was a late withdrawal from the team that beat the Eagles.
Dew said of Ellis: “We anticipate he’ll be on the plane to Tassie.”
Paul Gallen is set to end his boxing career in the most spectacular way possible: by fighting twice in one night.
Foxsports.com.au understands negotiations are nearing completion for the unique boxing extravaganza, with Gallen to feature in two fights on a star-studded card being planned for a date in September. And in another twist, the NSW Blues legend will attempt the feat deep in enemy territory in Queensland.
Gallen is already regarded as one of Australia’s toughest athletes but the prospect of trying to defeat two opponents on the same night — something rarely seen in professional boxing — will put that reputation to the ultimate test.
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One of Gallen’s opponents will likely be a fellow former NRL star Justin Hodges, who recently won two fights in the space of three weeks by defeating Ben Hannant (via UD) and Jordan Simi (via UD).
Gallen’s second opponent is yet to be decided but foxsports.com.au understands the shortlist includes several former footy stars. Hannant, Sam Thaiday, Russell Packer and Chris Walker are among those to have been sounded out.
With several of the prospective opponents hailing from Queensland, Gallen has the chance to realize a dream he teased recently.
Paul Gallen will need plenty of time to cool down in between fights. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
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speaking to foxsports.com.au ahead of Hodges’ fight against Hannant in June, Gallen claimed the opportunity of “getting to bash two Queenslanders in one night would be fun.”
Hodges and Gallen have engaged in a war of words after the pair made a bet that whichever state won this year’s Origin series would host a fight between the two.
Despite the Maroons great being willing to give up hometown advantage, such is his desperation to fight Gallen, Hodges is set to get to fight in front of a hometown crowd for just the second time in his boxing career.
The time frame between fights is one element yet to be confirmed. Gallen could either take on one opponent earlier on the card and return to the ring for the main event, or fight back-to-back fights in a grievous test of endurance.
Gallen has suggested on numerous occasions he will hang up the gloves at the end of the year, if not before.
But in a career that boasts wins over UFC legend Mark Hunt and Aussie former world heavyweight champion Lucas Browne, the chance to win two fights in the same night would be the perfect way to bow out of the sport for good.
TV presenter Erin Molan has been spotted with a mystery man at an event in Canberra.
Todd Selby was spotted alongside Ms Molan at a book launch for her father Jim Molan at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday before the pair stopped to pose for a photo together.
Newly welcomed onto Sky News with her show ‘Erin’, the mum-of-one told media earlier this year that she was ready to share more about herself and her private life.
Ms Molan confirmed she had met a special someone in May after revealing she was back on the dating scene earlier this year following her shock break-up with finance Sean Ogilvy in September 2021.
The 39-year-old told the Hughesy, Ed and Erin radio show that happy with her new man, but that dating with a kid was “complex.”
The pair were pictured together as Mr Molan launched his new book Danger on our Doorstep in Parliament House.
“It’s still early-ish days. It’s really nice actually. I think anyone who’s been in a long-term relationship, when that ends – particularly if you’ve got kids – you kind of go through this stage where you don’t know if you’ll ever meet anyone again,” she said.
The presenter also revealed the unexpected way she met her partner, saying it seemed like ‘fate’.
“I was driving into the car park, he was driving out. That’s the first time we saw each other but we didn’t meet until a couple of months after that,” she said.
“I’m not a believer in fate… but the timing of it was pretty incredible. We locked eyes and I felt something.”
Erin’s co-host Hughesy described the mystery man as looking “like he might have played rugby league.”
“He’s tall and strong and fit. He’s handsome and he’s got a very deep voice. He’s got a great sense of humour,” he said, adding that the pair look really happy together”.
The former sports reporter who has had her fair share of controversies.
In 2020, Ms Molan put a spotlight on the harms of cyber bullying, tearing up on 60 Minutes as she recounted the horrifying abuse she experienced at the hands of online trolls.
The prospect of throwing cancer survivor Ben Cunnington straight into the North Melbourne team to play Sydney this weekend is “really exciting” and would serve as a huge source of motivation against the top-four contenders, according to caretaker coach Leigh Adams.
Cunnington hasn’t played a senior game since round 19 last year after battling two bouts of testicular cancer that required a tumor to be surgically removed and a nine-week course of chemotherapy respectively.
The star on-baller’s return was further delayed recently by a calf strain and a bout of Covid.
While he’s more likely to line up in the VFL this weekend, if Cunnington gets through training on Thursday, he will be considered for a senior return against the Swans at Marvel Stadium on Sunday.
“Pretty sure I know what his preference will be and the coach’s preference, it’ll just be what’s best for his body going forward,” Adams said at Arden Street on Wednesday.
“But at this time of year, it’s a great story for us, for the motivation of the group and the footy club, really.
“It’s been an amazing journey which will hopefully be capped off very soon.
“The last thing we want to do is put him in there and he breaks down and then he’s out for the rest of the year.
“We’re thinking it’s probably going to be the VFL even though we’d probably love it to be straight back in (the senior team).
“Deep down I know he’d love to play seniors, particularly being a game in Melbourne this weekend and we travel next weekend, so to have his support network and his family that have been through so much with him to be at the game would be fantastic.
“But … it’s only an hour flight to Adelaide (for the game against the Crows in round 22), take his family over there so it’s not too far.”
Adams admitted Cunnington had left a void in the North Melbourne midfield for the past 12 months that the Roos had struggled to fill. The bottom-ranked club remains on course for back-to-back wooden spoons for the first time in 87 years.
Paul Curtis and Aaron Hall are pressing for senior recalls after missing last week due to Covid, but Jack Mahony and Lachie Young will be line ball as they entered protocols on Sunday, which means they would exit them on game day.
Super coach Alastair Clarkson continues to be linked to North’s vacant senior coaching position for next season and Adams was excited by the possibility of the four-time premiership mentor signing on.
“The credibility as a footy club that would be gained by bringing in someone like him would be fantastic,” Adams said.
The future of Cam Zurhaar remains under a cloud after the out-of-contract forward put off talks until the end of the season, and Adams said the club would “love” the talented 24-year-old to stay at Arden Street.
“He’s obviously a fantastic player for us and a little bit of a barometer when we’re playing well,” Adams said.
And the North caretaker had similar feelings about Todd Goldstein, who is strongly rumored to be joining another club next season.
“I’ve got a soft spot for ‘Goldy’, I got drafted the same year as ‘Goldy’,” Adams said.
“I’d just love to see him be a one-club player.”
North/s 1996 premiership players will be in attendance on Sunday, and Adams said their presence would give the players an extra boost.
“It’ll be awesome,” Adams said. ”It’s exciting to have such great footy people around our footy club to impart some knowledge to our younger boys.”
After months of stock shortages and surging new-car prices, there was some good news for buyers today, as some of the biggest brands appear to be getting on top of supply issues.
More than 84,400 new cars found a home in July, a slight increase on the Covid-19 lockdown affected month the previous year.
Hyundai, Kia, Toyota and Mitsubishi all showed strong growth in July compared to the previous year, as stocks of popular models improved.
Utes and family-focused SUVs were the strongest performers last months.
The Toyota HiLux ute was the best selling vehicle in the country with 6441 examples finding a new home. It was followed by the Ford Ranger, which found just 2934 buyers. Ranger sales are expected to skyrocket in the coming months, though, as a new model has just landed in showrooms.
Family-focused SUVs filled the next places on the sales chart.
Toyota’s RAV4 (2437), Mazda’s CX-5 (2346) and Hyundai’s Tucson (2186) rounded out the top 5.
Sales of the Kia Sportage were up more than 200 per cent for the month and the Hyundai Tucson grew more than 72 per cent on the back of improved supply.
Australia’s love of big four-wheel drives and utes continued with the Toyota LandCruiser (2146), Isuzu D-Max (1930) and Mitsubishi Triton (1879) all making the top 10.
The Toyota Corolla (1982) was the only hatchback or sedan to make the bestsellers list, showing the monumental change in Australia’s buying habits in the past 10 years
The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries chief, Tony Weber, doesn’t think the market is out of the woods yet.
“Vehicle and component manufacturing operations remain affected by plant shutdowns caused by Covid-19. Logistics, including shipping, remain unpredictable,” said Mr Weber.
“While small growth on the same month in 2021 is encouraging, we do not expect the supply of vehicles to Australia to stabilize in the near future.”
“Once again Australia is following the global trend of demand for new vehicles exceeding supply,” he said.
European brands such as Volkswagen and Skoda have been particularly hit hard, with sales down about 40 per cent for the year. Luxury marques such as Lexus and Mercedes-Benz are also struggling.
Mitsubishi Australia boss Shaun Westcott said the supply and semiconductor unpredictability wouldn’t end any time soon.
“The world is in a very unpredictable phase at the moment, which extends beyond semiconductor supply and these things will resolve themselves eventually. But we are talking about three, four or five years,” said Mr Westcott.
He also said that the increased prevalence of electric cars and plug-in hybrids, which require three to four times more semiconductors than petrol cars, was crunching supply even more.
“Every car maker has supply chain issues – a five or six month backlog. So not only is there the backlog to recover, there is also a surge in demand as more EVs and PHEVs are built,” he said.
“There is a catch-up game that is going to take a number of years to play out here.”
Tesla is showing how outside factors are affecting its supply. In the past three months the American electric car maker has sold about 200 vehicles after shipments from its Shanghai factory dried up due to Covid-19 closures.
A US online trading platform, which experienced a boom in customers during the pandemic, has slashed its staff by 23 per cent after being hit by the cryptocurrency market crash and record inflation.
It’s the second round of staff sackings for the company called Robinhood, which laid off 9 per cent of its 3,900 employees in April.
Yesterday’s announcement saw the company shed 23 per cent of remaining positions — about 815 jobs — meaning the company will have sacked more than 1000 employees in a matter of months between the two rounds of redundancies. Roles in operations, marketing and program management the most impacted by yesterday’s decision.
Robinhood was embroiled in the Gamestop controversy early last year when Reddit renegades and amateur investors blew up the share price of the brick-and-mortar video game retailers, but this momentum has failed to continue.
Robinhood’s chief executive Vlad Tenev said that letting go of 9 per cent the workforce in April to focus on “greater cost discipline” for the organization “did not go far enough” in a blog post on the company’s website.
“Since that time, we have seen additional deterioration of the macro environment, with inflation at 40-year highs accompanied by a broad crypto market crash. This has further reduced customer trading activity and assets under custody,” Mr Tenev said.
“Last year, we staffed many of our operations functions under the assumption that the heightened retail engagement we had been seeing with the stock and crypto markets in the Covid era would persist into 2022.
“In this new environment, we are operating with more staffing than appropriate. As CEO, I approved and took responsibility for our ambitious staffing trajectory – this is on me.”
Last year, Robinhood grew from 700 roles at the end of 2019 to nearly 3,900 by the first half of 2021, but its 2,022 cuts take its total workforce down to 2,600.
Mr Tenev said staff would receive an email and Slack message with their employment status after the company wide meeting announced the redundancies on Tuesday.
He added the cuts were a “painful decision” and meant the company would be “parting ways with many incredibly talented people”, although staff would be given the opportunity to remain with the company until October 1.
Robinhood also revealed its second quarter results which showed its monthly active years plunged to 14 million down by 34 per cent from a year earlier.
Revenue also plummeted by a whopping 44 per cent to $US318 million ($A461 million).
Robinhood became a trading phenomenon during the pandemic as it offered an easy to use, mobile first platform and in the second quarter of last year it boasted more than 21 million active users who were keen to trade crypto and meme stocks.
But with lockdowns in the past, revenue tied to customer’s trading dropped 55 per cent in the latest quarter to $US202 million ($A292 million).
The company has also been slugged with a $US30 million ($A43 million) fine from the New York State Department of Financial Service for alleged violations of anti-money laundering and cybersecurity regulation in its cryptocurrency trading unit.
A global tech bloodbath has seen a spate of companies laying off staff.
In Australia a crypto company called Immutable, which valued at $3.5 billion, is facing a fierce backlash after sacking 17 per cent of its staff from its gaming division, while continuing to “hire aggressively” after raising $280 million in funding in March.
Meanwhile, Australia healthcare start-up Eucalyptus, which provides treatments for obesity, acne and erectile dysfunction fired up to 20 per cent of staff after an investment firm pulled its funding at the last minute.
Debt collection start-up Indebted sacked 40 of its employees just before the end of the financial year, despite its valuation soaring to more than $200 million, with most of the redundancies made across sales and marketing.
Then there was Australian buy now, pay later provider Brighte, that offers money for home improvements and solar power, which let go of 15 per cent of its staff in June, with roles primarily based on corporate and new product development.
Another buy now, pay later provider with offices in Sydney called BizPay made 30 per cent of its redundant workforce blaming market conditions for the huge cut to staffing in May.
Earlier this year, a start-up focused on the solar sector called 5B Solar, which boasts backing from former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, also sacked 25 per cent of its staff after completing a capital raise that would inject $30 million into the business
A large family that produces too much rubbish for one general waste bin every week has been shut down by locals after claiming they “deserved” an additional bin.
The household in Townsville, Queensland, was quick to receive push-back after a member took to a local community group arguing “the council should give every home two red bins”.
“Because let’s face it, how many people every week struggle to fit their rubbish in the bin?” the man wrote in his post about him.
“Especially a bigger family! And why not? We are all taxpayers so I think we deserve it.”
Townsville City Council issues households a 240 liter waste and 240 liter recycling bin, with households given the option to pay for additional bins.
While it was unclear just how many family members occupied the home that claimed to need another bin, there were few people that supported their cause.
Of more than 300 people to respond, most encouraged the family to consider how they could reduce the volume of waste they produced before applying for another bin.
“I think if you’re filling more than one bin in a span of a week you definitely should be trying a lot harder to be more eco friendly and reduce you’re consumption of plastics,” one person wrote in a comment.
“You need to try and recycle more and buy less plastic and other wasteful items. More than happy to drop some print outs of what goes in each bin and tips on recycling and reducing your waste in your mailbox if you’d like,” someone else said.
Others offered up information on measures the family could adopt to reduce the amount of waste they needed to put in their general waste bin.
“As a household with three adults, we have found that knowing how to recycle, compost and collect soft plastics has eliminated almost all our household waste,” one wrote.
They added their red bin only went out for collection once a month with “a handful of items in it”.
“While I appreciate that different age groups may have different waste needs, there are strategies to cut down/out waste for these too,” they said.
Someone else pointed to how expensive and harmful landfill was, arguing “we all need to create less landfill and recover our waste better”.
“You can compost or worm farm your kitchen scraps and garden waste at home, and with a lot of packaging waste going into the yellow recycling bin there should be very little rubbish going into the red bin,” they wrote.
Massive cost of landfill
About 1500 Townsville households are currently partaking in a trial of the Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) bin program, which prevents organic matter from going into landfill.
The trial will continue until October 2022, after which it may be rolled out on a permanent basis, as is the case for 43 NSW councils and four suburbs in the ACT.
According to a Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts report, the cost of disposing of waste to putrescible landfill is estimated at between $42 and $102 per tonne of waste in urban areas and between $41 and $101 per tonne in rural areas.
A Canberra mum shared with news.com.au last year how she avoided putting her general waste bin out for collection for 40 weeks.
She revealed the subtle changes her family made that saved up to 5600 liters of waste from leaving their house and getting dumped in landfill.
Roosters star Luke Keary has opened up on his concussion battles, how he’s dealt with the setbacks and why it can be one of the more frustrating injuries.
He has also revealed that teammate Lindsay Collins will take a break from the game after suffering a head knock against Manly — his second in as many weeks.
Keary suffered a head knock in the Roosters’ Round 14 loss to the Storm and was sidelined for four weeks before starring in his return game against the Knights.
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The 30-year-old has a well-documented history with concussion. He suffered four in the space of 14 months between January 2018 and May 2019 — with the last one during that period forcing him into an extended break from the game.
When he suffered his latest knock, many in the game feared for his long-term future. But Keary had the advice of those who know best to guide him through a tricky period.
Speaking for the first time since that head knock, Keary told the Fox League Podcast that he was “a little bit nervous” to return in Round 19.
But shared that “compartmentalizing” and listening to medical advice is what helped him get back onto the field.
“I think the way you deal with it initially and the big one is the medical advice you get. I found the top neurologist in the country giving you advice — they’re the ones you should listen to,” he said.
“There’s a lot of people who are going to have an opinion about it, which is fair enough, but if you can just listen to them (neurologist), they’re not going to put you at risk. They’re not going to let you get back out there if they think there’s a risk to your long-term future.
“If you can kind of compartmentalize everything and take the right people’s advice it makes you a little less nervous to come back.
“But it’s always a tough one to come back from… you don’t want to get them as a player and you don’t want to see other players get them.”
O’Brien’s time at Knights running out? | 02:43
Keary also gave a rare insight into what the recovery period actually looks like for players — and why it’s different for everyone.
“I’ve had ones where I’ve had symptoms and with those you can’t do anything, you’ve just got to rest and wait for the symptoms to go, the NRL has a return to play policy which you follow and it’s a pretty safe way to get back into contact and games,” he said.
“Then there’s others… In 2019 I had a few in a row and I had a forced six-week lay-off. I was actually fine, I didn’t have any symptoms, but the doctors thought it was the best thing to have a month off.
“I was fine the whole time, I had a couple of weeks off then I trained with the boys for three or four weeks. I think they’re all different depending on symptoms.”
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It’s those types of concussions where there’s no symptoms that Keary admitted are “definitely” frustrating because his body may have felt fine but he had to put his long-term health first.
“Obviously with other injuries you just know straight away, whatever it is there’s sort of a set time limit. Head (injuries) are very different,” he said.
“Every single player is different. Some players take an hour to recover, some take weeks, some take months.
“The neurologist will tell you too, I think it’s the brain patterns don’t go back to normal for a few weeks so I think in society and even in medical they admit don’t have all the information they need at the moment.
“But I’m pretty experienced with them so I can tell you they’re very cautious and they don’t take footy into consideration — they take into consideration your health.
“As a game we’re doing as good a job as we can to protect the players and put in the best measures and protocols we know at the moment which are going to help.
“It’s never going to be perfect because as I said even the top docs will admit they just don’t have enough information yet.”
Nofoaluma vows to honor Tigers deal | 01:16
Between Keary’s history and the early retirements of Boyd Cordner and Jake Friend last season, the Roosters are well-equipped for concussion challenges.
They’ll take their time with Collins, who suffered a head knock in Origin III and then another against Manly last Thursday.
Keary revealed Collins, who is “in good spirits,” will take a break but is hopeful of returning before the end of the season.
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“It was real unfortunate,” Keary said of Collins’ concussion.
“Obviously the Origin one and then first game back, that wasn’t a pretty sight. But he was in really good spirits.
“It’s funny, everyone’s different and some knocks you’re rattled by, they make you sick and then others you’re fine five minutes late.
“Linds was in real good spirits after the game, he’s been at training every day — he wanted to train with us yesterday but the doctors wouldn’t let him.
“He’s obviously going to have some time off, get himself right, make sure his head and neck are right, make sure everything is OK, go see some independent doctors and take the time he needs to come back, make sure he’s healthy and strong and to make sure he’s OK to play.
“Hopefully we get him back before the end of the season, but if not, we all just want Linds to get healthy again.”
Wests Tigers winger Ken Maumalo has revealed a chat with cousin Nelson Asofa-Solomona almost convinced him to head to the Storm on loan for the rest of the season, but in the end, his young family kept him in Sydney.
Maumalo and teammate Daine Laurie were reportedly some of the players the Storm chased before the August 1 deadline as they looked to bolster their outside backs after long-term injuries to Ryan Papenhuyzen, Reimis Smith and George Jennings.
And while Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma did make the move south, his teammates stayed put.
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David Nofoaluma has settled right in with teammates Brandon Smith and Xavier Coates. Picture: Tony GoughSource: News Corp Australia
“They’re looking for some players at the moment, but I just said that I’ve got a family and it’s too much of a move for me,” Maumalo said.
“’Nofa’ is the perfect person to go over because he’s got no family, no kids, so it’s better for him.
“I got my cousin who called me from Melbourne – Nelson – and he said that Craig (Storm coach Craig Bellamy) mentioned my name to him.
“He said I should keep it on the backburner and just see where things are at. I said if things go well and to plan, then why not, but it was too much of a move.”
Maumalo said the lure of playing football finals and potentially winning a premiership was tempting, but he couldn’t turn his back on the Tigers who are looking to bring back the glory days under Tim Sheens and Benji Marshall.
“It’s a good opportunity to go over and be in a good system and a system that has been good for a number of years now,” he said.
“That was the exciting part of it, but I’m doing this for my family, myself and my teammates here. I’m trying to build this club up again to where it was back in 2005.”
Tigers fullback Daine Laurie was also linked with a move to Melbourne, but the youngster says that may not have been entirely true.
Daine Laurie denies he was ever linked to the Storm. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images
“I didn’t know anything about it. I only saw it in the media,” he said.
“I saw it on Instagram and I was kind of confused about it because I hadn’t heard anything off my manager.
“I would’ve been shy as if I’d gone down there. If that opportunity had come, then I probably would’ve wanted to stay here anyway.”
Maumalo’s focus remains on helping the Tigers finish strongly in 2022, but he does have one eye on the World Cup at the end of the year.
The 28-year-old has represented both New Zealand and Samoa, but says he’s ready to commit to the Kiwis.
Ken Maumalo is hoping for more of this in the UK. Picture: AAP Image/David RowlandSource: AAP
New Zealand has lost a number of players, including Jason Taumalolo, to second-tier nations over the past few years, but Maumalo says the team is getting back to its best as they look to dethrone the Kangaroos at the World Cup.
“The Kiwis jersey sort of lost itself around 2016-17 when those players were jumping ship to play for Tonga and Samoa,” he said.
“I was lucky enough to debut in 2018 to help build that jersey with the number of players that were there.
“The jersey is in a good spot now where it should have been for the past couple of years, and now I’m keen to push that jersey and keep building on that jersey.
“There’s so much depth now in the Kiwis squad, so no matter who turns to Tonga or Samoa, we’ve still got a big roster with a number of good Kiwis playing across the NRL and the UK.”
