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Schoolboy Robbie Hunt goes viral singing Top Gun: Maverick song with 23 million views on TikTok

Robbie Hunt (pictured) has gone viral for his rendition of Jerry Lee Lewis' 1957 hit 'Great Balls of Fire'

Private schoolboy goes viral with stunning verse of Top Gun: Maverick song on TikTok – with almost as many viewers as the population of Australia

  • Robbie Hunt, 18, has gone viral after singing the first verse of ‘Great Balls of Fire’
  • The St Joseph’s College student said the new-found fame was ‘pretty crazy’
  • The clip, shared on his TikTok account, amassed a whopping 23 million views

By Antoinette Milienos For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

A Sydney schoolboy has gone viral for an electrifying 13-second performance of a 1950s rock-and-roll hit he heard for the first time while watching Top Gun: Maverick.

Robbie Hunt, who attends St Joseph’s College at Hunters Hill, belted out a rendition of Jerry Lee Lewis’ 1957 hit ‘Great Balls of Fire’ in one of the school’s music rooms.

The TikTok clip has amassed a whopping 23 million views and shows the 18-year-old wearing his school uniform and playing piano while singing the first verse of the Jerry Lee Lewis classic.

Robbie Hunt (pictured) has gone viral for his rendition of Jerry Lee Lewis' 1957 hit 'Great Balls of Fire'

The 13-second TikTok clip has amassed a whopping 22.9 million views

Robbie Hunt, 18, has gone viral after sharing a 13-second TikTok clip (pictured) where he plays piano while belting out the first verse of Jerry Lee Lewis’ 1957 hit ‘Great Balls of Fire’. The video has amassed 23 million views

Mr Hunt admitted to 2GB host Ben Fordham on Monday that he had never heard the song but was inspired to learn it after watching the Top Gun sequel.

‘I heard the song a couple times and I wanted to learn it but never really took the time to do it,’ Mr Hunt said.

‘I sat down and heard the song and started kind of playing around and I thought, “oh, there it is”.’

Hunt said he did not think the video would receive so much attention and that his new-found fame was ‘pretty crazy’.

‘I just posted it and went to bed,’ Hunt said.

‘When I woke up and my phone kept vibrating, I was like, “that’s very annoying at this time in the morning” and then I went and looked at it.

‘I was like, “Oh, it’s over 500,000 [views]oh that’s a huge number.”

The St Joseph's College student said he first heard the song while watching the iconic scene in Top Gun: Maverick (pictured)

The St Joseph’s College student said he first heard the song while watching the iconic scene in Top Gun: Maverick (pictured)

He then went to class and came back to one million views – which has since soared.

Ben Fordham described Hunt as ‘looking like a movie star’ and social media users agree, with some even asking for his hand in marriage.

‘Holy moly, hot and can sing’, one user wrote.

‘He’s Australian OMG I am too, I want you [for real],’ another user wrote.

A third user chimed: ‘So are you single or what?’

‘Who is this kid and when can I marry him,’ another user commented.

Hunt, who has been singing for ‘nearly [his] whole life’ and playing piano since ‘early primary school’, said he wants to pursue music after school and is focused on doing well in his exams.

Hunt noted his family and friends love how the video has gone viral with some calling it ‘hilarious’. However, his grandparents have warned him not to ‘get a big head’ and let the attention distract him from his HSC trials.

‘Obviously music and that stuff is what I want to do with my life but I think the way I can give back is to put my head down and go well in school and sport,’ Hunt said.

The teen is in the midst of preparing for his HSC trials and has already been accepted into the prestigious JMC Arts Academy.

Hunt (pictured) is in the midst of preparing for his HSC trials and is focused on doing well in his exams despite already being accepted into the prestigious JMC Arts Academy

Hunt (pictured) is in the midst of preparing for his HSC trials and is focused on doing well in his exams despite already being accepted into the prestigious JMC Arts Academy

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Categories
Technology

Rehydration Solution Hydralyte Awards New Launch to 72andSunny Sydney

Peach

72andSunny has been appointed to create a new platform and campaign to launch a new product range for Hydralyte.

Hydralyte is Australia’s number one oral rehydration solution, developing high quality products that rehydrate you faster than water alone, backed by scientific expertise and a philosophy that life is more enjoyable when you feel great.

72andSunny will be responsible for the new product range’s creative strategy and campaign development to drive penetration and growth for the Hydralyte brand. Media planning and buying will be led by This Is Flow.

Joan Isaac, marketing manager, Hydralyte says: “We partnered with 72andSunny due to their innovative, disruptive and challenger mindset that they have displayed across other brands. This came through as we embarked on our journey and the end result will certainly reflect that.”

Ross Berthinussen, president 72andSunny ANZ, says: “Hydralyte is such an essential product with a huge opportunity to grow its household penetration, if we can make it meaningful in the daily lives of Australians. We have built a great relationship with the Hydralyte team and we’re excited with where we can take this brand and new launch together”

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Categories
Business

BP executive Tony Beaumont gave up $200K job to run Jim’s Cleaning Bayview

Tony Beaumont was a high-flying corporate executive with oil giant BP but he found the job had taken over his life in a way he didn't like

Tony Beaumont’s story is not rags to riches but rather riches to (cleaning) rags.

As a high-flying corporate executive he had all the trappings of success including a $200,000 salary, shares in oil giant BP, a company car and 45 staff under him but he gave it all away to scrub floors.

He now owns Jim’s Cleaning Bayview in Sydney’s northern suburbs and says despite taking a ‘financial hit’ he is much happier.

Tony Beaumont was a high-flying corporate executive with oil giant BP but he found the job had taken over his life in a way he didn't like

Tony Beaumont was a high-flying corporate executive with oil giant BP but he found the job had taken over his life in a way he didn’t like

The BP role required him to spend time in Melbourne each month away from his family, leaving behind his wife and two young children in Sydney.

‘My peers were all career-focused, and I had no desire to go to Melbourne ongoing – the corporate culture, drinking until midnight, couldn’t speak to my wife and kids,’ Mr Beaumont told the Sydney Morning Herald.

Mr Beaumont was getting 150 emails a day and was expected to be ‘on’ 24/7.

‘I thought “bugger it”. I had to make a change,’ he said.

As a teenager he cleaned McDonald’s restaurants and thought he might try getting behind a mop again.

‘I wanted to be my own boss,’ Mr Beaumont said.

Mr Beaumont has swapped his corporate suit for casual cleaning attire as the owner of Jim's Cleaning Bayview in Sydney's northern suburbs

Mr Beaumont has swapped his corporate suit for casual cleaning attire as the owner of Jim’s Cleaning Bayview in Sydney’s northern suburbs

‘I didn’t want to manage others anymore. I had had 10 direct and thirty-five indirect people reporting to me. I didn’t want any staff that I had to worry about.’

It seems he has found his niche.

‘I love cleaning as I love to see the happy faces of my clients when they come back to their property and find it perfectly cleaned, freshened up and smelling great!’ he writes on his business website about him.

Mr Beaumont admits he has taken a ‘financial hit’ but says money isn’t everything.

‘I would much rather have a happy family life and watch my kids grow up,’ Mr Beaumont said.

The so-called ‘great resignation’ has been seen many Aussies take advantage of worker shortages to decide on a career change.

Mr Beaumont says the job swap was important to him to spend more time with his young family

Mr Beaumont says the job swap was important to him to spend more time with his young family

With the unemployment rate at four per cent, which is the lowest it has been since 1974, many workers have taken the chance to quit jobs they weren’t happy with.

Nearly 10 per cent of the workforce, 1.3 million people, swapped jobs in the year up until February 2022, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

This was the highest rate of job change in over a decade.

The professional, scientific and technical services areas were particularly notable for an increase in job mobility.

Nearly 40 per cent of managers who left their jobs went into another field, while in sales it was more than 50 per cent of job hoppers who tried something new.

CommSec chief economist Craig James said earlier this year that low unemployment was gave people the opportunity to leave unsatisfactory roles.

‘The great job market shuffle is underway,’ he said.

‘For the first time there are more people that say they are unemployed because they left their lost job rather than those that lost jobs through redundancy, business failure or poor performance.’

Mr Beaumont said even though taking over a cleaning franchise meant he took a 'financial hit' it was worth it

Mr Beaumont said even though taking over a cleaning franchise meant he took a ‘financial hit’ it was worth it

Job availability and mobility may change with rising interest rates expected to slow the economy and borders open once more to let in foreign workers.

With higher unemployment and reduced consumer spending, people may be less willing to leave jobs or take chances on setting up their own businesses.

For Mr Beaumont, however, he says he would make the swap again ‘without a shadow of a doubt’.

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Categories
Entertainment

The Block 2022: Elle and Joel gave up because the show wasn’t ‘on brand’

The Block host Scott Cam has blasted contestants Elle Ferguson (left) and Joel Patfull (right) for their 'p**s poor' excuse for quitting the show

The Block quitters Elle and Joel gave up after 48 hours because the show wasn’t ‘on brand’ and the ‘toilet paper was too scratchy’, says host Scott Cam

By Savanna Young For Daily Mail Australia

Published: | Updated:

The Block host Scott Cam has blasted contestants Elle Ferguson and Joel Patfull for their ‘p**s poor’ excuse for quitting the new season.

The couple’s time on the show was over before it really began, after they threw in the towel for ‘family reasons’ after just 48 hours on the building site in country Victoria.

As reported by TV Week, Scott told the other contestants Elle and Joel left because the show wasn’t ‘on brand’ for them as Sydney influencers.

The Block host Scott Cam has blasted contestants Elle Ferguson (left) and Joel Patfull (right) for their 'p**s poor' excuse for quitting the show

The Block host Scott Cam has blasted contestants Elle Ferguson (left) and Joel Patfull (right) for their ‘p**s poor’ excuse for quitting the show

He also said they had complained ‘the toilet paper was too scratchy’.

Elle, 36, a popular fashion influencer, and Joel, 37, a retired AFL player, have disputed this, insisting they quit because of a legitimate family emergency.

The pair downed tools in April – just two days into filming and after the first challenge – after Joel’s mother Trish fractured her neck during a fall at her home in Adelaide.

They initially tried to stay on the show but left after they ‘couldn’t get a definitive answer’ from producers as to whether Joel could ‘come and go’ from the construction site in Gisborne to visit his ailing mother in South Australia.

Elle later posted a cryptic message on Instagram: ‘Wherever you are in the world. Whatever you are doing. Family always comes first.’

Scott (pictured) told the other contestants Elle and Joel left because the show wasn't 'on brand' for them as Sydney influencers. Elle, 36, a fashion blogger, and Joel, 37, a retired AFL player, have disputed this, insisting they quit because of a legitimate family emergency

Scott (pictured) told the other contestants Elle and Joel left because the show wasn’t ‘on brand’ for them as Sydney influencers. Elle, 36, a fashion blogger, and Joel, 37, a retired AFL player, have disputed this, insisting they quit because of a legitimate family emergency

Scott wasn’t convinced by this explanation, however, telling TV Week he hadn’t heard anything about Joel’s mother before the couple’s abrupt exit.

‘Of course, family comes first on The Block – we’ve stopped production before when people have had family emergencies,’ he said.

‘And of course, I wasn’t referring to somebody going to visit their sick mother… It was because they’d given us no reason.’

Scott previously said at the Logie Awards that Elle and Joel quitting so soon into the competition was ‘unAustralian’ and ‘p**s poor’.

Scott previously said at the Logie Awards that Elle and Joel (pictured) quitting so soon into the competition was 'unAustralian' and 'p**s poor'

Scott previously said at the Logie Awards that Elle and Joel (pictured) quitting so soon into the competition was ‘unAustralian’ and ‘p**s poor’

He told TV Tonight: ‘We had a 48-hour challenge to choose the house that you get and they scarpered after 48 hours. It’s something that’s never happened before.’

‘Forty-five thousand people applied to be on The Block and win life-changing money. These guys got on and they just couldn’t handle the pace after 48 hours,’ he continued.

‘Which to me is a bit unAustralian! Have a go! It’s p**s poor.’

The pair downed tools in April - just two days into filming and after the first challenge - after Joel's mother Trish fractured her neck during a fall at her home in Adelaide

The pair downed tools in April – just two days into filming and after the first challenge – after Joel’s mother Trish fractured her neck during a fall at her home in Adelaide

The couple made the difficult decision to leave the Channel Nine renovation show in April, after Joel’s mum suffered the nasty fall.

The former footy star’s mother reportedly broke her coccyx and fractured her wrist.

A Nine spokesperson confirmed their departure to Daily Mail Australia, saying: ‘Over the weekend, we were surprised to have one of our new contestant teams depart The Block a few days into filming for the upcoming season.

‘We wish them all the best for the future and we’re excited to cast two new Aussies for the opportunity of a lifetime on The Block. The Block Tree Change will air as scheduled later this year.’

After their exit, Elle shared this photo to Instagram of their suitcases at Melbourne Airport, and wrote: 'Wherever you are in the world, whatever you are doing, family always comes first'

After their exit, Elle shared this photo to Instagram of their suitcases at Melbourne Airport, and wrote: ‘Wherever you are in the world, whatever you are doing, family always comes first’

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Categories
Business

Willoughby Homes building company collapses, goes into voluntary administration

Willoughby Homes building company collapses, goes into voluntary administration

A NSW building company has gone into voluntary administration, leaving at least 30 homes in limbo.

On Friday night, Sydney-based Willoughby Homes appointed external administrators.

The company collapsed just over 24 hours after NSW Fair Trading suspended its building license for failing to pay back debts ordered by a court.

Homeowners were informed via email late on Friday that David Mansfield and Jason Tracy of Deloitte’s turnaround and restructuring department had been appointed as joint administrators.

A sister company of Willoughby Homes, Project 360 Degrees, which was run by the same leadership team, is also part of the administration proceedings.

It comes after an extensive news.com.au investigation found the company has been non-functional for some time, with build sites stalling for as long as a year, the company’s home building insurance not being reinstated and finally, all its offices being cleared out and phone lines going straight to voicemail.

News.com.au understands around 30 homes were in the pipeline to be built and that at least 10 creditors are owed money. There are also around eight staff members who will be impacted, although it’s understood they had all ceased working at the company in the last several weeks. Staff had not been paid their superannuation in the months leading up to the collapse and one staff member is owed $53,000 in wages.

One creditor, Regno Trades, is owed $184,000 and has a court date hearing this Wednesday calling for Willoughby Homes to “be wound up in insolvency”.

At least 10 contractors are chasing Willoughby Homes over unpaid debts and more than a dozen customers have taken them to NCAT demanding their deposits or progress payments be returned as works have stalled.

Although Regno Trades has applied for Willoughby Homes to be placed into liquidation over a $184,310 payment, several other creditors have also taken legal action.

Five companies have applied for a default judgment over payments they claim is owed to them: H & R Interiors ($73,925), Prospa Advance Millers ($60,913), Scaffolding Australia ($22,794), ATF Services ($5,658) and Green Resources Material Australia ($6,503). ).

Elba Kitchens claimed to news.com.au that they were owed around $80,000 from Willoughby Homes.

Trueform Frames and Trusses claim they are waiting on an outstanding payment from Willoughby Homes of $24,684 from an invoice issued more than seven months ago while Finese Electrical and Air Conditioning claims it is owed $4531 from jobs done in February.

News.com.au knows of two other suppliers owed money.

It’s understood these creditors have not yet been contacted about the company’s voluntary administration.

News.com.au has contacted the administrators for comment.

Do you know more or have a similar story? Continue the conversation | [email protected]

The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) ordered Willoughby Homes to pay back $76,837 to a customer on June 8 and then last week, on July 21, another homeowner was also awarded $38,456, payable immediately.

Both debts were never paid, prompting the building license of Willoughby Homes to be suspended on Thursday.

Two employees who quit several months are also owed thousands in unpaid superannuation in what they said was a sign that the company was on the brink of collapse.

Xavier* worked in the sales department of Willoughby Homes for more than a year before he was made redundant in February 2021. The father-of-three claims he is still yet to be paid $53,000 from his commission fees. To recover the money, he’s spent around $5,000 on lawyers although his latest legal letter from him has gone ignored for months.

He also learned he was owed about $7000 in unpaid superannuation from Willoughby Homes.

Another staff member, Eric*, was owed about $5000 in super and had to get tax authorities to intercede on his behalf to recover his cash.

In June, news.com.au flagged that Willoughby Homes was on its last legs as some customers watched their dream home languish for months in the final stages of the project.

Several other aspiring homeowners forked out tens of thousands in a deposit as long ago as 2020 and to date, nothing has been done on their empty site.

News.com.au also knows of at least two customers who signed a contract with Willoughby Homes when the company was not able to enter into any new contracts.

NSW insurer iCare had not reinstated Willoughby Homes’ Home Builders Compensation Fund (HBCF) since April 2021, with the state body rejecting multiple applications, it confirmed to news.com.au.

That means the construction firm could not begin any new projects that required HBCF — so any project costing more than $20,000.

A NSW Fair Trading spokesperson told news.com.au that “It is a breach of the Home Building Act for a builder to enter into a contract to complete residential building work above $20,000 without HBCF insurance”.

Mum-of-three Marice Hartono and her husband, from North Ryde, gave out $38,000 to the builder as a deposit while Greg Denton and his wife paid $22,000 for a Central Coast home.

Both customers are not insured as they signed after Willoughby Homes’ HBCF had not been renewed and are not entitled to any compensation from the fund.

Ms Hartono told news.com.au she was “devastated” to hear the news that the company had gone bust as it’s left so many “unanswered questions” about what this means for her deposit and her plans of a dream home.

Since June, NSW Fair Trading has been actively investigating Willoughby Homes, with the government department telling news.com.au “The investigation into Willoughby Homes Pty Ltd is ongoing and no comment can be made at this time.

“NSW Fair Trading encourages anyone who has contracted with this trader to call 13 32 20.”

On Thursday, the entity used its powers against Willoughby Homes to suspend its license, effectively stopping the company’s ability to trade at all.

NSW Fair Trading took the drastic action of using Section 42A of the Home Building Act 1989, which allowed them to “automatically suspend a contractor license where the holder fails to comply with an order by a court or the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) to pay money for a building claim by the due date”.

Not long after, administrators were appointed to the struggling company.

Customers have been left reeling over the long months of waiting as the company floundered.

Cherry Cobrador-Wong, 33, and her husband Logan Wong, 35, from Sydney’s west, who recently had a baby, are behind in mortgage and rent because they claim their house has been left untouched since November when it was nearing its final stages.

“I’m crying all the time. I’m emotionally saddened and destroyed,” she previously told news.com.au.

Saif Nabi and his wife Hanniya as well as their two-year-old son have also been left in the lurch.

“One and a half years into it and we’re not closer, it’s just an empty lot of land,” Mr Nabi lamented.

At first the Nabi family were ecstatic about building their dream home in Box Hill, forking out $18,000 in an initial deposit.

But as the months passed by, Mr Nabi said the situation turned “into a nightmare” and he called to mutually end the contract.

“Since then it’s just been complete radio silence,” he said.

Sarah Little and Nikki Young are two more impacted homeowners who forked out $29,000 as a deposit but have yet to see a single worker set foot on their vacant lot.

The pair of paramedics signed with Willoughby Homes in March last year for a $291,000 four-bedroom, two-bathroom home in Menangle Park, in Sydney’s south west.

“It’s taken a pretty big toll on our mental health and we’ve gone from being pretty financially stable to now having to really consider if we can even afford the home we dreamed of.”

*Names withheld over privacy concerns

[email protected]

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Categories
Sports

Tolu Latu returns to Australia, Tom Horton joins Leicester Tigers, Rugby World Cup 2023, Rugby Championship

Tolu Latu (C) has signed a one-year deal with the Waratahs, while Tom Horton is heading to England. Photo: Getty Images

Tolu Latu is once again a Waratah, and the hooker could yet emerge as a player of national interest should he keep on the straight and narrow over the next 16 months.

After weeks of negotiations with the Waratahs, the 21-Test hooker signed a one-year deal with the Super Rugby franchise last week.

By doing so, Darren Coleman has opted for the immense capability of Latu over rising hooker Tom Horton to compete with Wallabies incumbent hooker Dave Porecki and Mahe Vailanu.

It can be revealed Horton, 25, will instead join up with England Premiership champions Leicester, who are coached by Eddie Jones’ former right-hand man Steve Borthwick.

Tom Horton is heading to Leicester and won’t return to the Waratahs for 2023 after Tolu Latu signed with Darren Coleman’s men. Photo: Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

With Argentine international Julian Montoya unavailable, Tom Youngs retired and Sydney-born England squad member Nic Dolly injured, Borthwick needs a hooker and Horton will compete for the role once his visa is approved and he touches down in the region.

The short-term deal is the perfect opportunity for Horton to grow after a frustrating few years where injuries have slowed his development.

But the Sydney Uni hooker need only look at his former teammate Porecki for inspiration, with the 29-year-old plying his trade in England for years before an opening popped up back at the Waratahs last year. Porecki’s Wallabies debut was delayed by a year because of an injury, but the experienced rake was one of Dave Rennie’s best players against England in July.

Latu’s return is hardly surprising.

He has been linked to a return with the Waratahs ever since he was let go by Stade Francais earlier in the year.

The Waratahs will have two Test hookers at the franchise with Tolu Latu joining Dave Porecki. Photo: Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

His departure from the Paris-based Top 14 outfit came after more ill-discipline off the pitch and reckless moments on it, which ultimately saw the 21-Test hooker farewelled.

But his incredible potential, where he is one of the best in Australian rugby over the ball and at the scrum, has seen Australian rugby give the cat with nine lives another chance.

It shapes as his last, with Latu to be shown the door if he puts one foot wrong given his history.

Wallaby Tolu Latu has been handed a lifeline by the Waratahs. Photo: AAPSource: AAP

Latu has joined on a contract worth barely six figures, but if he manages to keep on the right side of the boot greater riches lay ahead.

He is unlikely to come into the reckoning for the Wallabies this year unless a number of injuries, but given his outstanding World Cup campaign in 2019 he is a bolter for next year’s tournament in France.

He will compete with Porecki, Folau Fainga’a and Lachlan Lonergan – all three of whom are in Argentina ahead of the Wallabies’ opening Rugby Championship fixture against Michael Cheika’s Los Pumas in Mendoza on Sunday (AEST).

Argentina’s Australian coach Michael Cheika looks on before the series-deciding international against Scotland at the Madre de Ciudades Stadium in Santiago del Estero. Photo: AFPSource: AFP

Sunday’s Test shapes as a season defining one, especially with the All Blacks fighting fires on a number of fronts.

Not only do the All Blacks have the immense challenge of taking on the Springboks twice in South Africa, they are likely playing for coach Ian Foster’s future.

Foster, unlike two of his assistants, might have been spared the ax following their first series loss on home soil since 1994, but New Zealand Rugby CEO Mark Robinson hardly filled him with confidence when he stopped short of saying he would lead the All Blacks through to next year’s World Cup.

“He’s certainly the person to lead the team to South Africa, and we’re making sure they’ve got everything possible in the way of resourcing and support to make sure that’s successful,” Robinson told Newstalk ZB from Birmingham.

Robinson’s comments came after former All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said relations between the New Zealand Rugby board and the players were at their lowest ebb.

“The relationship between the board and the [executive] with the players at the moment is probably the worst it’s ever been,” he said on local radio.

“I don’t think they’re doing their job right at the moment.”

While former NZR boss David Moffett called for Robinson to stand down.

The rumblings in the front office, and the lingering feeling the All Blacks have the wrong man coaching with Scott Robertson waiting in the wings, have left the feeling the All Blacks are at their most vulnerable in two decades ahead of the Rugby Championship and Bledisloe Cup .

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Categories
Sports

Martin Taupau, Manly Sea Eagles release, Parramatta Eels, Sam Verills to join Gold Coast Titans, Bulldogs sign Andrew Davey, Franklin Pele

The Eels have launched a bid to land the Manly forward.

The Eels haven’t given up hope of landing Martin Taupau — but have until 5pm, Monday to get the deal over the line.

Meanwhile, the Titans may have found a solution to one of their biggest spine problems and the Bulldogs have added two forwards to their pack.

Read on for the latest in NRL Transfer Whispers.

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EELS’ LAST MINUTE CHASE FOR TAUPAU

The Eels arekeen onluring Manly veteran Martin Taupau to the club for the rest of the season — but time is running out.

It was revealed last week that Taupau, who comes off contract at the end of the season, requested an immediate release to join the Eels but was denied.

Eels coach Brad Arthur confirmed his interest in the 32-year-old, saying “he’d be handy for us… but that is Manly’s call,” after his side’s win over the Panthers.

And now, the club are making one last push for the star prop, according to The Sydney Morning Heraldbut have until 5pm Monday to get the deal over the line.

The Herald reports the Eels have been “desperately calling” Manly over the weekend to convince the club to release Taupau but have had no luck.

They will continue their chase on Monday in a bid to secure the 217-gamer before the August 1 deadline closes.

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TITANS TO FINALLY FILL GLARING HOLE

Roosters’ hooker Sam Verrills is reportedly set to sign with the Gold Coast Titans following the Tricolours’ acquisition of Brandon Smith.

Smith signed with the Roosters in December last year, immediately throwing Verrills’ future into the spotlight.

Now, the 23-year-old will make the move north to join the Titans and fill a much-needed hole in the Gold Coast spine according to The Daily Telegraph.

Verrills has been strong in recent weeks, inspiring Trent Robinson’s side to three straight wins.

Prior to the 2022 season, Titans coach Justin Holbrook rolled the dice and deployed the youngest spine in the competition.

The club let Jamal Fogarty walk, but have now signed Kieran Foran to fill their halfback void, and have now moved to lockdown a regular starter in the No.9 jersey.

First-choice hooker Erin Clark has shifted into lock and has been impressive in patches, opening the dummy-half slot for Verrills to potentially take over.

It comes after Holbrook granted following the Titans’ Round 19 loss that he was in the market for a dummy-half.

However, the Titans may have a fight on their hands with Phil Rothfield telling Sky Sports Radio that “St George Illawarra might come in with an offer,” for Verrills too.

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BULLDOGS ADD TO PACK

Bulldogs supreme Phil Gould has reportedly landed two new forwards — Franklin Pele and Andrew Davey.

Davey, who has become a first-grade regular, and Pele, who has just one NRL game under his belt for the Sharks, will make the move to Belmore according to TheDaily Telegraph.

Pele, 21, weighs more than 120kg and has a cult following at Cronulla’s feeder club the Newton Jets.

According to reports the Bulldogs are hoping to get the hulking prop fit and increase his potential minutes.

Meanwhile, 30-year-old Davey, who was a late bloomer in first grade, is set to make the switch.

Davey made his NRL debut at the Eels in 2020, becoming the fourth-oldest debutant in the history of the game at 28-years old.

After making the switch to the Sea Eagles in 2021, Davey suffered a season-ending knee injury but has been strong in 2022.

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Categories
Business

Qantas travelers faced massive delays due to IT glitch at Melbourne airport

Qantas travelers faced massive delays due to IT glitch at Melbourne airport

Qantas is battling to deal with nightmare queues at Melbourne Airport this morning after a nationwide computer outage grounded flights on Sunday evening.

Travelers looking to jet from the Victorian capital to Sydney today were met with huge lines snaking all the way to the international terminal as the airline struggled to deal with the “domino effect” caused by the IT glitch.

“(The queue) snakes all the way back pretty much to the international terminal,” Today reporter Christine Ahern said.

“On top of this, there’s a fairly long queue for the service desk as well because there are three canceled flights to Sydney. So, people are trying to be rebooked on other flights.”

According to the carrier, the issues began at 2.30pm on Sunday, with at least a dozen flights affected.

By Monday morning, several people had taken to Twitter to share angry messages about their flights being cancelled.

The latest issue to hit the embattled airline has also led to renewed calls for CEO Alan Joyce to stand down.

Hello @Qantas. Again flight cancellation W*F. ‘We are sorry we had to cancel your flight QF417 from Sydney at 06:45 on Mon 1 Aug’. Alan Joyce please resign,” wrote a Twitter user.

Qantas forced to increase costs

Recently, Qantas was also forced to cut several flights from their schedule, while hiking up the price of domestic flights due to higher fuel costs.

On Thursday, the airline said they had been pushed to “rebalance capacity and fares,” so they could increase the number of passengers flying on the remaining flights.

Prices saw an increase of up to 2.6 per cent, adding around an extra $10 per ticket. This comes as jet fuel has seen increases of 28 per cent throughout 2022, soaring at prices of around A$208 a barrel.

Speaking to 2GB’s Ben Fordham, Qantas Domestic and International CEO Andrew David said that flights would be reduced over July and August and apologized to customers.

“We are the national carrier, people have high expectations of us, we have high expectations of ourselves and clearly over the last few months we have not been delivering what we did pre-COVID,” he said.

“We have reduced some of our flying this month and we’re planning to do the same next month, recognizing the operation pressures we have.”

Read related topics:melbourneqantas

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Categories
Sports

Sydney Swans v GWS Giants, Mark McVeigh, coach, job, Alastair Clarkson, vacant position, brutally honest, checked out, embarrassing loss, criticism, Nick Riewoldt

Sydney Swans v GWS Giants, Mark McVeigh, coach, job, Alastair Clarkson, vacant position, brutally honest, checked out, embarrassing loss, criticism, Nick Riewoldt

Mark McVeigh’s brutally honest assessment that his players “checked out” in the 73-point Sydney derby loss could cost him the Giants’ senior coaching job, Fox Footy’s Nick Riewoldt has warned.

McVeigh did not hold back in his post-match criticism, as he labeled the performance “embarrassing” and “extremely disappointing”, while stating only eight players “went to the wall” for four quarters.

Speaking about McVeigh’s stunning statement, Riewoldt said he feared the comments could cost the caretaker coach the full-time gig in 2023.

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“I think it puts a line through it (his coaching aspirations at GWS),” he said on Best on Ground.

“If that’s the concession that you’re making as a coach, that you think some of your players have checked out and you are responsible for getting the players up every week, I think it becomes very difficult for the club to say: ‘You ‘re the man going forward’.”

McVeigh remains in the running for the full-time job next season, reportedly alongside four-time premiership coach Alastair Clarkson, Melbourne’s Adem Yze and Richmond’s Adam Kingsley.

Fellow panelist and former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley said he admired McVeigh’s honesty.

“That’s the first time I’ve heard those comments,” he said.

“That’s as honest as you can get.

GWS Giants press conference | 10:43

“That comment… I love to see that because that is absolutely honest. If that’s his opinion of him, and you’ve got to take that at face value, it’s a real challenge.

The Giants were smashed in all the stats that mattered, down -117 in disposals, -33 in inside 50s and -24 in tackles – including laying just six inside 50 for the match.

Riewoldt said the result isn’t a direct reflection on McVeigh’s ability as a coach, but raised questions about his connection with the players.

“It doesn’t mean that he can’t coach. But the ability to get this group up … how can the Giants, if they think the players have checked out under his coaching, how can they have confidence to make that appointment?” Riewoldt said.

“I think it puts them in a really difficult position to go and appoint him after that.”

Buckley said he now wanted to see what sort of response the Giants players had in the clash with Essendon.

why? Preuss FLATTENS Rowbottom | 00:23

“The next couple of weeks will be what tells you about Mark McVeigh’s bona fides as a coach and his connection with those players because they will respond to that? Because there’s always something to play for,” he said.

“The response is going to say more than the comment.”

Earlier this month, McVeigh confirmed he would enter the race to become the Giants coach for 2023 and beyond.

(The club hierarchy) have been very open with me and terrific, they’ve been amazing and they’ve supported me,” he said.

“There are other coaches that they’ll be talking to, which is absolutely right (to do), and I’m just another one of those that are trying to win the role.

“I certainly know where it sits and I’m very clear on the approach going forward.”

GWS will face Essendon, the Western Bulldogs and Fremantle in the final three rounds.

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Categories
Australia

Blockade Australia climate activist can’t use encrypted apps, must let police access phone

A hand holds up a smartphone in an orange case.

Since late June, Greg Rolles must produce on demand his computer and mobile phone for police inspection, and tell them his passwords.

He is not allowed to use any encrypted messaging apps, like Signal or WhatsApp. He can only have one mobile phone.

And there is a list of 38 people, many of whom are his friends, who he’s not allowed to associate with in any way — even, another activist found, liking a post on social media.

These are the strict technology-related bail conditions imposed on some Blockade Australia climate protesters—a development legal experts have criticized as “unusual” and “extreme”.

The climate action network was linked to a series of protests earlier this year, targeting ports and freight trains in New South Wales, and a property where activists were gathered was raided by police.

More than 30 people were arrested for unauthorized protests and disrupting traffic, among other charges, according to police statements.

In April, the NSW Parliament passed laws with steep fines and jail time for activities that “shut down major economic activity”, including protesting illegally on public roads, rail lines, tunnels, bridges and industrial estates.

a person is held while police officers place handcuffs on the person
A Blockade Australia protester is arrested by NSW Police. Eleven activists were arrested following action in Sydney on June 27.(Twitter: Blockade Australia)

Mr Rolles was arrested in late June, when he was pulled off the street in Sydney for allegedly blocking roads and obstructing traffic.

As soon as he was released under the bail conditions, he deleted Signal and lost many of his contacts. Because he ca n’t use WhatsApp, he said he can no longer communicate with people in Afghanistan for whom he was organizing assistance with his church.

The vagueness of the encryption ban is also a concern for him. As well as barring specific apps like Signal and Telegram, it states “the defendant is prohibited from possessing or having access to an encrypted communications device and/or possessing an encrypted application/media application”.

Large swathes of the internet are encrypted, which simply means that information is converted into code to protect it from unwanted access. Apps from online banking to streaming services are typically encrypted.

“Encryption is everywhere because it’s a fundamental part of keeping modern communications technology secure and functional,” a spokesperson for Electronic Frontiers Australia said.

“[That includes] essentially any modern device, including laptops, mobile phones, ATMs, TVs, PlayStations, and government websites such as myGov, Medicare, and Centrelink.”

Mr Rolles said he was worried the provision could be read in its most strict interpretation.

“I’m quite afraid of how that’ll be enforced.

“I definitely always have that kind of background anxiety — will the police just knock on my door?

“If a police officer was a bit annoyed at me, could they say, ‘you’ve been making phone calls, that’s encrypted’?”

Mr Rolles has pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial.

Facebook ‘thumbs up’ lands activist in hot water

Defense lawyer Mark Davis, who is representing some of the Blockade Australia activists, said the vagueness of the prohibition was concerning.

“It used to name the things you couldn’t have, and then they made it all encrypted communication,” he said.

“It could be you’re on your PlayStation.”

He also takes issue with the non-association rules, and the lack of specificity about what an “association” might be.

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