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Luke Keary, concussion, head knock, Sydney Roosters, Lindsay Collins, recovery time

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.”

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NRL 2022: Nathan Cleary spear tackle ban, Penrith Panthers, Paul Kent, Billy Slater, Phil Gould, news

Origin coaches Billy Slater and Brad Fittler have come under fire for suggesting Nathan Cleary be handed a lighter suspension due to his character and standing in the game.

Cleary accepted a five-week ban following his send off for an ugly lifting tackle on Eels star Dylan Brown over the weekend.

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Slater, however, couldn’t fathom Cleary being rubbed out for an extended period of time.

“Do we need to be wiping our best players out of the competition for a quarter of the season for one mistake that they make?” Slater said on Channel Nine’s Billy’s Breakdown.

It was a sentiment echoed by Phil Gould.

“I don’t think we need good players out of the game for six weeks to remind them that that’s not what you do,” he said on 100% Footy.

“That’s just an error of judgement. I know this Penrith tackling technique very well, he’s probably thinking his other two players would support that player a little better than they did. They pulled away from it and he found himself in an awkward position.

“Does Nathan Cleary need six weeks away from the game to learn his lesson that’s the wrong tackle to make? He knew it six seconds after he did it that it was wrong.

“They probably want to send a message to the rest of the competition, they want it to look like the star players don’t get special treatment.”

St George forward Aaron Woods, however, was enraged by the stance.

“Freddy and Billy Slater were coming out and saying ‘he’s a good bloke and we don’t want to be missing these good players before semi-finals’,” Woods said on triple m

“That’s bull crap if you ask me.

“He had a prior charge already on Billy Walters earlier on in the year.

“He would have got four weeks, but he had that and that’s an extra week.

“Freddy came out and said that Liam Martin helped it a bit – no he didn’t. He pulled off the tackle and you see Cleary re-grip and get a hand in between the leg.

“That’s the difference between the one with Karl Lawton at the start of the year…(that tackle) was fully momentum, he got around the waist with both hands and it was just a driving tackle and luckily (Cameron) Murray twisted and landed in a really good position.

“Dylan Brown was still on the ground, you could see how hurt he was and he (Cleary) had all the intent. Just because he comes out on Instagram and says ‘I’m sorry and it was totally out of character’ – that’s what happens on a rugby league field.

“Things can go one way or the other and it obviously had no malice, but that’s just part of the game.

Woods said Cleary was far from a clean skin

“It’s a joke – remember he got in trouble for the TikTok? People forget about that as well. I got 10 in the bin the other week and was like ‘mate you shouldn’t have done that’ but everyone else was like ‘sucked in’.

“If Jared Waerea-Hargreaves does the spear tackle, we’d give him life in this game.

“It just frustrates me, just because they are the players they like – call a spade a spade.”

The NRL360 panel also took aim at those suggesting Clearly be afforded special treatment.

“I heard Billy Slater talking after the game saying how Nathan doesn’t need five weeks on the sideline to realize he’s made a mistake, but you have to put him out,” Paul Kent said on Monday night.

“You just have to do that.”

“What do you mean he doesn’t need five weeks out to learn?,” Braith Anasta questioned.

“Because Nathan’s smart enough to correct it and he knows he made a blue,” Kent replied.

“But why was he saying, why was Billy Slater saying that,” Anasta hit back.

“He wasn’t agreeing with the five week penalty, he was thinking one or two weeks could have been enough,” Kent answered.

“Because it’s Nathan Cleary?” Anasta asked.

“Because it’s Nathan Cleary yes,” Kent said.

The Panthers will now play the remainder of the regular season with Jarome Luai out with a knee injury and Cleary hit with a five match suspension.

Originally published as ‘That’s bull crap’: Freddy, Billy slammed for staggering stance on Nathan Cleary ban

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Patrick Carrigan, hip-drop tackle, Jackson Hastings injury, suspension, Brisbane Broncos

Paul Kent has urged the NRL to “stand up and show some balls” by banishing all hip-drop tackles from the game.

It comes as Broncos star Patrick Carrigan was handed a four-game suspension for his hip-drop tackle on Jackson Hastings — who will now miss the rest of the season with a fracture in his leg and a syndesmosis injury.

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NRL 360 host Braith Anasta declared the hip-drop tackle “needs to go,” before Kent stressed it was “learned behaviour.”

Kent then called on the NRL to get tough on the tackle given the trauma it’s caused Hastings.

Crawley FUMES at NAS decision | 03:31

Eels outside back Haze Dunster has also been a victim of the hip-drop tackle this year. He ruptured his ACL, PCL and MCL as a result of the tackle from Dragons forward Tyrell Fuimaono, who received a five-game ban.

“Why’s it even in the game?,” he asked.

“This is what gives me the sh**s. These tackles come into the game that clearly cause injuries and rather than the first coach that sees it, identifies it and says ‘you know what guys, we’re not doing this — get it out,’ they all look around the league and see other clubs doing it so say ‘we’re going to have to do it because you get an extra three seconds in the play the ball.’

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O’Brien’s time at Knights running out? | 02:43

“Forget about poor Jackson Hastings, who’s now got five months with his leg in a cast and now has to go through rehab. That’s the price they’re willing to pay these guys.

“The game’s got to stand up and show some balls and actually get it out of the game.

“If Carrigan gets a two-week or three-week penalty, which is what he’s going to ask for, then you just may as well throw it all away and say ‘you know what guys, do your best… take a baseball bat out with you next time.’

“It’s just a joke.”

Carrigan was referred straight to the judiciary for the tackle and fronted the panel on Tuesday night.

His defence, Nick Ghabar, proposed a two-game ban on Tuesday night, however the NRL counsel put forward a five-to-six game suspension.

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David Klemmer, Newcastle Knights, disciplinary action, reason, dropped from team, video, reaction

Newcastle’s torrid season has gone from bad to worse, with enforcer David Klemmer issued a show cause notice over an on-field disciplinary issue.

The incident in question, according to The Daily Telegraph’s Paul Kent, came in the 71st minute of the Knights’ 24-10 loss to the Bulldogs.

Klemmer is said to have refused to come off the field and allegedly verbally abused Newcastle trainer Hayden Knowles, who was trying to make the substitution happen.

“It happened over a series of tackles throughout the last minutes of the game, where they continually tried to get him off the field,” Kent said on Fox League’s ‘NRL 360’.

“Now Klemmer just refused to go. He’s been disciplined, he hasn’t been chosen after this weekend’s game.”

The Knights released a statement on Tuesday confirming an on-field disciplinary matter had taken place, although they opted against going into any further details.

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The Daily Telegraph’s Paul Crawley described the show cause notice as “strange” given Newcastle had taken action by dropping Klemmer before giving him a chance to explain himself.

That was not all Crawley had to say though, with the veteran rugby league reporter claiming that Klemmer’s incident was only a smaller part of much bigger problems in the Hunter.

“It’s bigger than this,” Crawley said.

“There’s a problem up at Newcastle that everyone’s ducking and covering from, there’s players up there that aren’t happy. There’s a division within the club and no one can deny it. You’ve just got to look at their performances.

“There’s obviously some players out there that aren’t real happy and David Klemmer on the weekend has probably fired up.

“Something’s happened to him on the field, he didn’t want to come off but I assure you there’s got to be more to it.”

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David Klemmer is out of the Newcastle line-up this week. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

Crawley’s theory was supported by Braith Anasta, who said blow-ups like the one Klemmer had on Sunday afternoon to being substituted off “happen every weekend”.

“That happens every weekend at a club where a player doesn’t want to come off the field or will argue with his trainers,” Anasta said.

“I don’t know to what extent, but a show cause notice is very dramatic at 6pm on a Tuesday night where they haven’t picked him in the side. There’s got to be more to it. There just has to be.”

As Kent went on to point out, there were reports that Parramatta was looking to snare Klemmer before the mid-season transfer deadline, only adding fuel to the fire.

“It’s interesting yesterday Parramatta approached the Knights to get him on a loan deal,” Kent said.

“My understanding is Klemmer was willing to go, but he’s got next year at Newcastle. He wanted next year at Parramatta plus the year after, which they were not willing to go to, which suggested the fact that maybe he was happy to leave Newcastle.”

JUDICIARY HEARING:Carrigan arrives at hearing as likely ban is revealed

Inside Klemmer’s failed move to the Eels | 02:08

Former teammate James Graham said that Klemmer “looks very frustrated” and could understand why he may have pushed against coming from the field.

“He has very high expectations of himself and takes pride in his performances and especially his numbers,” Graham said.

“He can be one of those guys who is reluctant to leave the field of play. This is against his old club from him as well. I can understand why he may have wanted to stay out there.

“There were times the rotation with those middle forwards and Klemmer would protest leaving the field of play if he thought he could have an impact on the result.”

Corey Parker though called it “a load of BS”, taking aim at Newcastle for disciplining Klemmer, who he called a “the alpha male of the club”.

“Seriously, dropping someone because he said no to coming off to the trainer,” Parker said.

“I played 16 years and everytime I was asked to come off I was reluctant to a point where I would say to the trainer a few expletives to let him know I didn’t want to come off. He’s the alpha male of the club playing against his former club.

O’Brien’s time at Knights running out? | 02:43

“Are we playing rugby league? He’s the front rower of a rugby league club, is he just going to bow and come off? I played with and against Klem and he’s a tough, uncompromising, resilient front rower.”

Graham though responded by pointing out that sometimes a player has to put their own personal thoughts to the side and prioritize the team’s best interests.

In this case, even though he thought the decision to take Klemmer off was “strange”, Graham said coach O’Brien may have been trying to set a standard by dropping the enforcer.

“No one wants to come off but if your club is seeing something and you’re part of a rotation and it’s coming from the top,” Graham said.

“It does seem strange [to take him off then]. We’ve all sprayed trainers. I think it’s the fact he didn’t come from the field of play. Personally, I think it’s they’ve had a bad week, O’Brien is trying to set a precedent and build his club from him.

“We’ve heard about O’Brien setting standards for next year.”

‘This is what gives me the s****!’ | 02:04

The drama is hardly what Newcastle needed as it looks to arrest a concerning form slump which has seen the club drop four-straight games and lose 14 of its past 17 to plummet down the ladder.

Knights coach Adam O’Brien came under fire earlier in the week for his comments after the latest loss to the Bulldogs, in which he pointed out his involvement in “four grand finals.”

“It is a hard one for me as well,” O’Brien said at the post-match press conference.

“Previous to getting this job here I was involved in four grand finals.

“I know how those teams prepared. I know the systems they used defensively.

“You don’t unlearn that knowledge. Applying it and getting it ingrained is going to take some time clearly.

“Week to week we can talk about one area of ​​that defense and we can fix it in seven days, but then we will let another area of ​​our defense down.

“It is going to take a bit of time and I know some people don’t want to wait that long, but it is.”

Adam O’Brien’s coaching has come under scrutiny. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images

O’Brien spoke to the media again on Tuesday to clarify those comments, admitting he would “like to have” that press conference back.

“I clearly did not articulate the message I was going to get across and I apologize for that,” he said.

“It looks like I’m an egomaniac. I was trying to get my message across to the supporter who sits on the hill that must be wondering do they practice defense and tackle technique? Are they fit, tough?

“I was trying to talk to them that the boys are training at a really high standard. I’ve tried to give hope to people on the hill that we are training at a high level – that’s not translating to the field and that responsibility is squarely on me.

“I’m not taking the accolades of the success at those clubs, that is Craig (Bellamy’s) and Trent (Robinson’s) work. I’m trying to create that here. We are on the path but we aren’t there yet.”

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Tigers mid-season signings, Chairman Lee Hagipantelis, August 1 signing deadline scrapped, contracts, David Nofoaluma, Oliver Gildart, Storm Roosters, Peter V’landys

Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis has slammed rivals for “exploiting” the August 1 signing deadline after finals contenders raided the merger club’s outside back stocks.

Bellamy’s Storm signed flyer David Nofoaluma, while the Roosters acquired English import Oliver Gildart’s services for the remainder of 2022.

While Hagipantelis agrees there are some benefits of letting players go on short-term loans — he believes clubs should have to look within for recruits to replace injured or suspended squad members.

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“My personal view is I am not a fan of the transfer system this late in the season, I agree with Peter V’landys that it is there to be exploited,” Hagipantelis said on Fox Sports News.

“The intentions when it was introduced were all very altruistic to assist during the Covid pandemic, but it has gone further than that now.

“And if there is one thing that NRL clubs are good at doing, that is exploiting the rules.

“I think that this late in the season, clubs that are struggling for reasons of injury or suspension should look to themselves, it is a test of their own resilience and their depth.

“I am not in favor of the top four or top eight teams cherry-picking from the bottom eight to enhance their prospects of a premiership, they should be relying on their own assets.

“But as I say, the rules are there to be exploited.”

‘Can’t be repaired’ – Are Manly split? | 03:58

Hagipantelis was also asked how he thinks the fans have reacted to the club allowing players to leave for the remainder of 2022 — revealing the overwhelming response was positive.

“I think it has been understanding, I think people understand that there is a forensic and financial advantage to an NRL club in this loan system,”

“There can be advantages to the player as well to experience an alternate reality and then come back, David Nofoaluma is a perfect example.

“I know David personally, I think it will be very good for him to get away from Sydney to play in Melbourne and in all likelihood play in the finals.

“He is very keen on coming back to the Wests Tigers with that experience under his belt, we see how David plays when he plays for Samoa when he has something to play for.”

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The Daily Telegraph’s Buzz Rothfield revealed on NRL360 ARLC chairman Peter V’landys was set to move to August 1 deadline back to its original June 30 date.

In 2020, the cut-off was moved to assist teams stuck in Queensland fill their squads without reserve grade competitions taking the field.

NRL360 co-host Paul Kent was “disappointed” the NRL didn’t have the foresight to shift the date back, labeling it an “oversight” from powerbrokers.

“The whole thing is a win for common sense, it needed to happen, I am disappointed it was allowed to happen this year, I think it was an oversight that they have allowed it to happen,” Kent said.

How long will Carrigan get for hip drop? | 03:22

“The fact is, this is wrong for so many reasons this August 1 deadline, it is allowing teams to troubleshoot their rosters.

“The part of the game’s appeal is your 30-man roster gets you through the season, and it is the attrition and the endurance to last the season and to get to the finals in a good state of fitness.

“If you can’t do that for whatever reason… so be it, but that is a part of the magic of this competition.”

Fox League’s James Hooper agreed, explaining clubs making late-season signings “cheapens” the values ​​that NRL clubs have stood for.

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‘ONLY MINOR CONTACT’: MRC reveals why Storm enforcer escaped punishment

It has long been the attitude of the rugby league fraternity that your roster is what you have to work with for that season, and if replacements are needed they came from reserve grade.

Now clubs are able to cast an eye across the competition and cherry pick the best players from teams who will not be playing football finals.

“For a game that has been founded on tribalism, it just cheapens that whole concept because for the weaker clubs, what does it say for their fans,” Hooper said.

V’landys moves transfer deadline | 03:02

“They don’t get anything out of the fact that the strong clubs sit back and know the deadline is looming, know they have got time.

“Look at the Storm, how many players did they go after from Reece Walsh to Adam Doueihi… the list went on.

“That can’t be sitting well with the clubs down the bottom of the ladder.”

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“For those middle teams… they get no benefit out of it, and I actually believe they are harmed by it because they can’t troubleshoot,” Kent said.

“The middle teams are not attracting players and they aren’t loaning players because it is just too tight, they need all hands on deck.

“They were being impacted, it was basically strengthening the top four teams who have the ability to go and pick the eyes out, as has happened, of the bottom four teams and just target their better players.”

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Patrick Carrigan, NRL judiciary, live updates, hip drop tackle on Jackson Hastings, how long is Patrick Carrigan’s suspension, Brisbane Broncos

The NRL have suggested a five-to-six week suspension for Patrick Carrigan for his “classic hip-drop” tackle on Jackson Hastings — however his defense is hoping for a two-game ban.

The Broncos have called on high profile lawyer Nick Ghabar to handle Carrigan’s case with the star forward to learn his fate on Tuesday night.

Carrigan was referred straight to the judiciary for the tackle.

Hastings will undergo ankle surgery and will miss the rest of the season as a result of the tackle, while Carrigan faces a nervous wait after entering a guilty plea to the dangerous contact charge.

The panel comprises of ex-player Dallas Johnson and former player and referee Henry Perenara as well as judicial chairman Justice Geoff Bellew.

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Carrigan’s hip drop injuries Hastings | 01:01

CARRIGAN’S DEFENSE RESPONSES

Ghabar — Carrigan’s defense — proposed a two-game suspension.

I have conceded that Carrigan is guilty of “low to moderate carelessness” but pointed out how the two other Broncos players in the tackle impacted Carrigan’s position.

“(Ghabar) admits that Carrigan was not in the ideal position but says the two other tacklers in that tackle actually contributed significantly and overwhelming to the injury,” Jake Duke told NRL 360.

“He also argued that Carrigan lifted his hips as he goes to the ground to actually protect Jackson Hastings… once he realized that tackle had gone wrong and that weight was coming down, he lifted his hips to try and help Hastings.

“They referred to a tackle by Josh McGuire last year, he got five games, they said that tackle was far more careless and far more reckless than Pat Carrigan.”

NRL COUNSEL FRONTS PANEL

The NRL’s legal counsel, Patrick Knowles fronted the panel and referenced Hastings’ injury.

The Tigers star has undergone surgery on a fractured fibula and surgery for syndesmosis. He is looking at three months minimum on the sidelines.

According to NRL.comKnowles said he is not after an “eye for an eye” and has put forward a five or six-week suspension for Carrigan.

CARRIGAN ARRIVES AS POTENTIAL BAN REVEALED

Patrick Carrigan had the option to appear via Zoom but chose to attend the hearing in person, along with team manager Steve Walters.

Fox League’s Jake Duke told NRL 360 that the NRL have put forward a five-to-six week ban for Carrigan, taking into consideration the severity of Hastings’ injury.

“We haven’t heard from his defense yet but we do believe that they will talk about the effect the two other Broncos players in the tackle had on Pat Carrigan and they will reference a tackle in relation to Josh McGuire from Round 10 last year against theStorm. Josh McGuire received five weeks for that tackle,” Duke said.

“The council of the NRL has spoken this even and they are pushing for a five-to-six week penalty for this.

“The NRL’s council are arguing that it is a classic hip-drop tackle, they are citing Jackson Hastings’ medical report and they are suggesting that the serious nature of this offense is why Patrick Carrigan should serve a lengthy stint on the sidelines.”

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The judicial hearing begins at 6pm on Tuesday at NRL headquarters.

Follow the updates in our live blog below. If you can’t see it, click here.

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Luke Brooks, Tim Sheens, Wests Tigers, Benji Marshall, contract, future, transfers

Incoming Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens has confirmed he wants halfback Luke Brooks to remain at the club next season and beyond on a reduced contract.

The Daily Telegraph reported Sheens wants Brooks to see out the remainder of his contract which expires at the end of 2023, before signing an extension on a reduced salary.

Speculation is rife that the Tigers were keen to move Brooks on given his salary is worth a reported $1.3 million on their salary cap for 2023.

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Brooks reportedly twice sought a release from the remainder of his contract last season to move to the Knights, despite denials from the No.7.

The 27-year-old, who is currently injured, has scored 42 tries in 189 games for the Tigers since his debut in 2013, but has never tasted finals football during a tough period for the club, who have the longest finals drought in the NRL stretching back to 2011.

Brooks has been linked to the Dolphins and the Knights for 2023, but Sheens, who will take over the team for 2023 and 2024, wants him to stay, but on a reduced deal.

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Tim Sheens wants Luke Brooks to stay.Source: Supplied

“Obviously everyone would prefer it to be at less money,” Sheens told The Daily Telegraph.

“But we can sit down and negotiate with him and extend the contract out.”

Sheens categorically denied the club were looking to move Brooks on to free up salary cap space for 2023.

“On the record, he’s contracted,” Sheens said.

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Luke Brooks and Benji Marshall.Source: AAP

“Point blank. He is contracted to us and I expect him to turn up for pre-season training.”

Jock Madden starred in Brooks’ absence in a win over the Broncos in Round 20, but remains unsigned beyond 2022, while the club also has Adam Doueihi and Jackson Hastings on their books for next season.

Sheens and incoming assistant Benji Marshall have publicly thrown their support behind the embattled playmaker, but the former refused to guarantee Brooks would finish his career at the Tigers.

Tigers shock Broncos in Brisbane | 02:27

“Unless the world changes, that’s what I’m doing (trying to get Brooks to stay),” Sheens said.

“Can I ever (guarantee he’ll stay)? Not one can. But I’m not indicating he’s leaving.

“I like the kid and I want him in the side. Benji loves him and wants him in the side. But we can’t say any more than that.”

Tigers chairman Lee Hagipantelis also threw his support behind Brooks.

“A guarantee is not a word that I use comfortably in my capacity as chairman or as a lawyer, but Luke Brooks has a contract with the Wests Tigers for 2023,” Hagipantelis told Fox Sports News.

“Tim Sheens spoke publicly in the last 24 hours of his intentions to retain him. We are all big fans of Luke.

“He is a one club player. I would love to see him finish out his career at the Wests Tigers.

“Are there challenges there for both parties? Perhaps. Both have identified those.

“But the reality is he is a truly gifted footballer and I would love to see him perform at his best for the Wests Tigers.”

Hagipantelis clarified that there would be no pay cut for Brooks’ existing contract and it would be up to the club and the player to meet in the middle over a contract extension.

“There will be no pay cut concerned with his current contractual arrangements,” Hagipantelis said.

‘Not a fan’ Chairman shares frustrations | 10:15

“He will be paid in full. We will honor that. I think Tim was alluding to the end of the current contractual arrangements.

“Those are matters for the club and the player to negotiate what they think is a fair market value.

“It is always up in the air. There is an underlying tension of course. Players want to receive as much as they can, which is understandable and clubs want to pay as little as they can, which is of course just as understandable.

“At the moment those discussions have not been held. There is a long way to go.

“Tim Sheens, Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah are assimilating themselves into the roster at the moment. They will decide moving forward.

Is O’Brien under pressure at Knights? | 05:59

“Unfortunately the injuries to Luke and Jackson Hastings have thrown a little spanner into the works because I know the boys were very keen to see the combinations work for the balance of this year. But they will work it out.”

However, like Sheens, Hagipantelis left the door ajar for Brooks to potentially move on in the future if it suited both him and the club.

“Never say never because every option would be considered on its merits at the time,” Hagipantelis said when asked if he would consider an offer from another club for Brooks’ services.

“But as we speak at this very moment there is nothing on the table. There is no consideration. There is nothing before me or the board to suggest Luke Brooks will not fulfill his contractual obligations with the Wests Tigers and nothing would make me happier.”

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Nathan Cleary speak tackle ban; Penrith Panthers, suspension, five games, six weeks, NRL 360, Paul Kent, match review committee

Origin coaches Billy Slater and Brad Fittler have come under fire for suggesting Nathan Cleary be handed a lighter suspension due to his character and standing in the game.

Cleary accepted a five-week ban following his send off for an ugly lifting tackle on Eels star Dylan Brown over the weekend.

Slater, however, couldn’t fathom Cleary being rubbed out for an extended period of time.

Clearly accepts five game ban | 00:45

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“Do we need to be wiping our best players out of the competition for a quarter of the season for one mistake that they make?” Slater said on Channel Nine’s Billy’s Breakdown.

It was a sentiment echoed by Phil Gould.

“I don’t think we need good players out of the game for six weeks to remind them that that’s not what you do,” he said on 100% Footy.

“That’s just an error of judgement. I know this Penrith tackling technique very well, he’s probably thinking his other two players would support that player a little better than they did. They pulled away from it and he found himself in an awkward position.

“Does Nathan Cleary need six weeks away from the game to learn his lesson that’s the wrong tackle to make? He knew it six seconds after he did it that it was wrong.

“They probably want to send a message to the rest of the competition, they want it to look like the star players don’t get special treatment.”

St George forward Aaron Woods, however, was enraged by the stance.

“Freddy and Billy Slater were coming out and saying ‘he’s a good bloke and we don’t want to be missing these good players before semi-finals’,” Woods said on triple m

“That’s bull crap if you ask me.

“He had a prior charge already on Billy Walters earlier on in the year.

“He would have got four weeks, but he had that and that’s an extra week.

“Freddy came out and said that Liam Martin helped it a bit – no he didn’t. He pulled off the tackle and you see Cleary re-grip and get a hand in between the leg.

“That’s the difference between the one with Karl Lawton at the start of the year…(that tackle) was fully momentum, he got around the waist with both hands and it was just a driving tackle and luckily (Cameron) Murray twisted and landed in a really good position.

“Dylan Brown was still on the ground, you could see how hurt he was and he (Cleary) had all the intent. Just because he comes out on Instagram and says ‘I’m sorry and it was totally out of character’ – that’s what happens on a rugby league field.

“Things can go one way or the other and it obviously had no malice, but that’s just part of the game.

Clearly MARCHED in 18th minute! | 00:45

Woods said Cleary was far from a clean skin

“It’s a joke – remember he got in trouble for the TikTok? People forget about that as well. I got 10 in the bin the other week and was like ‘mate you shouldn’t have done that’ but everyone else was like ‘sucked in’.

“If Jared Waerea-Hargreaves does the spear tackle, we’d give him life in this game.

“It just frustrates me, just because they are the players they like – call a spade a spade.”

The NRL360 panel also took aim at those suggesting Clearly be afforded special treatment.

“I heard Billy Slater talking after the game saying how Nathan doesn’t need five weeks on the sideline to realize he’s made a mistake, but you have to put him out,” Paul Kent said on Monday night.

“You just have to do that.”

“What do you mean he doesn’t need five weeks out to learn?,” Braith Anasta questioned.

“Because Nathan’s smart enough to correct it and he knows he made a blue,” Kent replied.

“But why was he saying, why was Billy Slater saying that,” Anasta hit back.

“He wasn’t agreeing with the five week penalty, he was thinking one or two weeks could have been enough,” Kent answered.

“Because it’s Nathan Cleary?” Anasta asked.

“Because it’s Nathan Cleary yes,” Kent said.

The Panthers will now play the remainder of the regular season with Jarome Luai out with a knee injury and Cleary hit with a five match suspension.

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ARLC chairman Peter V’landys, suburban stadium upgrades NRL, Penrith Stadium, Shark Park, NSW Government, Dominic Perrottet, news, Queensland grand final

Sydney is at risk of losing the NRL grand final to its northern rivals unless the NSW Government delivers on its promise to upgrade suburban stadiums.

ARLC chairman Peter V’landys had a meeting with Premier Dominic Perrottet on Monday night, hoping to guarantee the deal to revamp four stadiums would be honored.

The agreement would see Brookvale Oval, Leichhardt Oval, Penrith Stadium and Shark Park receive significant upgrades — and if delivered, the grand finale would remain in Sydney for the next 20 years until 2042.

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But, according to The Daily Telegraph, V’landys is fuming as the initial deal struck in May to spend $800 million on stadium improvements is now in doubt.

“We are in delicate negotiations with the NSW government,” V’landys said.

“All options will be on the table if these negotiations fail.”

Last year, the Queensland government allowed the competition to continue, relocating all teams into the ‘Sunshine State’ due to Covid-19.

As a result, the end-of-year spectacle was played at Suncorp Stadium and now V’landys has left the door open for Queensland to host the grand final again if no deal is confirmed with the NSW government.

How long will Carrigan get for hip drop? | 03:22

Meanwhile, the only stadium given confirmation of a $300 million upgrade has been Penrith’s — in the electorate of sports minister Stuart Ayres.

Mr Ayres told 2GB on Tuesday that the Premier’s negotiations are “ongoing” with the NRL, but explained there were “limitations” to the budget.

“We have been really clear with the NRL about the limitations that exist on our budget,” he said.

“We have invested well in excess of $1.5 billion. Part of that is to say that we would like to have a long-term commitment from the NRL for the grand finale.

“I think there comes a point where you have got to say we have invested enough in that sporting infrastructure and when we have got the capacity to invest in more sporting infrastructure in the future there is no reason why we won’t do that.”

During the Covid pandemic, the $800 million upgrade of Accor Stadium was scrapped and the NRL moved to shift those funds to suburban grounds — and as a result the grand finale would remain in Sydney.

But now, that money which was said to be allocated towards Brookvale, Leichhardt and Sharks Park is unlikely to be put towards upgrades.

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V’landys moves transfer deadline | 03:02

The Queensland government is now readying a bid to claim to NRL grand final for years to come.

2GB’S Ben Fordham questioned Mr Ayres surrounding the Panthers upgrade being approved, while other grounds are looking unlikely to receive any funding.

“You’re the Sports Minister, your home ground is Penrith, you’re a Panthers fan and for all I know you’re probably the number one ticket holder,” Fordham said.

“So they got the $300 million, so what about Brookvale, Shark Park, Leichhardt Oval… I would be seriously surprised if you don’t know the answer I am posing to you.

“Why did your home ground get the money at your home ground and the others didn’t?

“Why don’t we just tell the listeners now, those other grounds aren’t getting their redevelopments?”

“Ben, there’s a long-term strategy,” Ayres said.

Inside Klemmer’s failed move to the Eels | 02:08

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“We made decisions in what was the best interests of the public.

“We’ve had a long-term stadia strategy that we’ve been delivering since 2015. We’ve rebuilt Parramatta Stadium, we’re just about to open the new Sydney Football stadium.

“We’re committed to a stadium in Penrith, it reflects our three city strategy.

“We’ve invested well in excess of $1.5b dollars, part of that is, we’d like to have a long-term commitment from the NRL for the grand finale.

“We’ve just had Covid, we’ve had substantial flood impacts that have put more pressure on the budget.”

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Manly Sea Eagles player split, Manly seven, Pride jersey, Round 21, Des Hasler, Daly Cherry-Evans

There is reportedly a divide in the Manly dressing room between the players who played in the Pride jersey and the seven stars who boycotted their crucial loss to the Roosters.

The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield believes there is a lingering resentment between the players that played and those that chose to put their beliefs ahead of the team’s final aspirations.

“I think there is a split,” Rothfield said of the playing group on NRL 360.

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“I think the players that took the field cannot understand why the other seven didn’t.

“I think the meeting yesterday cleared it up a little bit, but you can’t repair a split of this magnitude with a bandaid in a 45 minute meeting.

“I think when something as drastic as this happens when seven men pull out of a finals crunch match over a view and an opinion and the other guys are totally on the opposite side.

“They put their views and opinions ahead of a finals berth almost.”

Paul Kent also believes there is a split between the Manly seven and the owner who incorrectly said they would backflip on their stance in time for next season.

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Daly Cherry-Evans and DesHasler.Source: News Corp Australia

“What about the owner coming out and saying the players had gone back on what they originally intended, which they have heavily refuted,” Kent said.

Braith Anasta agreed with Rothfield that as a player he would be frustrated with the seven players who put their beliefs above a goal the team has worked for since pre-season in November.

“I agree with and I’m just thinking now as a player the majority of the playing group you train from November all the way through,” Anasta said.

“You put your body on the line every week. You put your heart and soul into it. You make sacrifices every single day.

“These players have got a few teammates who have made a different decision than the rest of the team and it can cause a divide and it seems to be that way.

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Jake Trbojevic and Manly players process the loss to the Roosters.Source: Getty Images

“It could derail their season. We spoke about it before the game that it could happen and it is possibly happening right now.

“There are no winners and losers here. The fact is it doesn’t matter what they are arguing over or have a split of opinion over. It can cause a divide and it seems to be causing a divide.”

The Daily Telegraph’s Dean Ritchie has no doubt there is a rift between the seven players and the rest of the squad and it will take time to heal the wounds of the last week.

“There is divisions at Manly and anyone who tells you there is not telling a fib,” Ritchie said on The Big Sports Breakfast.

“The players that played were dirty on the players that didn’t play.

Sea Eagles players at training.Source: News Corp Australia

“They are trying to sort it out and understand each other’s religious beliefs and views, but there is a division there.

“You speak to one player and he will say we can move forward from this and you speak to others who say this is going to take a lot longer.”

Laurie Daley questioned how both sides of the split can come together with no common ground on the issue.

“You have got two parties that don’t agree and you talk about finding common ground, but where is the common ground in this?” Daley said.

How long will Carrigan get for hip drop? | 03:22

“There is no giving,” Ritchie replied.

“Both sides are quite staunch in their views. The players are dirty the others didn’t play and the seven players are saying, we are not backing down.

“To be fair to them they have been staunch from the beginning and have stuck tight through a lot of criticism, so they are not clearly going to apologize.

“I don’t know how one meeting is going to fix this problem at Manly.”

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