AAA<\/p>\n
Listen up, you rugby league scribes.<\/p>\n
Benji Marshall and I have had a gutful \u2013 and I mean a Pauline Hanson-like GUTFUL \u2013 of you and your cruel jibes about there being even a hint of a falling out between him and his one-time star player, Jarome Luai<\/a>.<\/p>\n Look, just because Jarome was floated as the saviour of the Tigers, our long-term superstar, only to be suddenly leaving us for not one, but two teams, some of you have suggested there must be a little tension between he and Benji.<\/p>\n But we won\u2019t have it. Tell \u2019em what we think Benji, and don\u2019t miss: \u201cNow what you guys did was turn that into World War 10 and make it something that it\u2019s not, which you\u2019re good at.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that\u2019s unfair … I\u2019m just not gonna cop the bull—- rumours that are made up based on nothing or based on what you guys think might be the case, and it\u2019s not.\u201d<\/p>\n Exactly! All based on NOTHING. The Tigers will be paying $500,000 of Luai\u2019s salary to play with the Eels next year, but so what? Just because we\u2019ll be paying $10,000 a week, every week for a year, for him to play for our most fierce local rivals \u2013 that doesn\u2019t mean Benji and Jarome aren\u2019t thick as thieves, as thieves I tell you!<\/p>\n Sing it after me:<\/p>\n Oh Benji the Tigers\u2019 coach, So he paid 500,000 bucks, You know it makes sense.<\/p>\n And look, while I\u2019ve got your attention, Jarome and I are also pissed off by your suggestions that he has been anything less than a stunning success at the Tigers.<\/p>\n How dare you raise your eyebrows at his overall impact or his departure after fashioning himself as the soul of the team.<\/p>\n Yes, he did say, last year when asked by you journos about his future: \u201cI\u2019m staying, don\u2019t worry … For life … I think when things get hard, people are sort of expecting you to change and I\u2019m not that type of guy. I\u2019m here for the long run and I\u2019m here to change this club around.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n I guess you\u2019re also right that he was monstering Lachie Galvin at about the same time for deciding to go to the Bulldogs, famously posting on Instagram on this very subject, \u201cTeam first.\u201d Certainly, that was interpreted as inferring that Galvin should have put the needs of the Tigers team ahead of all other things, including his own desires. And yes, Luai has himself now put two teams first and second, behind the Tigers who are coming in third \u2013 and since his announcement of leaving, they\u2019ve lost eight of the last 10 matches and have sunk to 14th on the ladder.<\/p>\n But you ingrates, STILL don\u2019t get it! None of this has anything to do with anything Jarome himself has done.<\/p>\n He explained all that, when he posted last week: \u201cGods [sic] plan, not mine.\u201d<\/p>\n How can you bozos not understand, when he puts it so simply? If God says \u201cTake the money and run, Jarome!\u201d who the hell is Jarome to tell GOD what to do?<\/p>\n Thank you for your attention to this matter. That will be all.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the thing about the World Cup<\/p>\n Listen, I get it. When it comes to the soccer World Cup, there is no doubt that in terms of grandeur, eyeballs and international fervour, it could eat the rugby and rugby league World Cups \u2013 not to mention a dozen AFL grand finals \u2013 many times over, and not even burp.<\/p>\n It\u2019s Big Time, do you hear me? As BIG as it gets.<\/p>\n I equally accept that the skills of people like Lionel Messi are mesmerising, the way he has the ball on an absolute string. So, too, the goalies. How do they do that? How do they judge a ball angling away from them at 115 km\/hr and hurl themselves, arms outstretched to stop an otherwise certain goal?<\/p>\n Ditto the likes of Norway\u2019s Erling Haaland, who can not only work out how to get his head on a cross-kick, half-a-metre above defenders, but expertly guide it, through head-deflection exactly where he wants it to go. I repeat. Soccer World Cup = Skills Are Us.<\/p>\n Double ditto, tribal passion. Soccer is streets ahead of all the above big Australian sports.<\/p>\n I grant you all of the above. No contest.<\/p>\n But … here\u2019s the thing.<\/p>\n Is the game itself … sometimes … just a teensy-weensy bit … you know, dull? Only sometimes, I mean! Purely as a spectacle, am I really alone in finding it sometimes a tad underwhelming when one team endlessly kicks back to their own goalie, for safety\u2019s sake?<\/p>\n What equivalent to that dullness has AFL, NRL or rugby union got? Ditto, when they pass it back and forth to either side, and not much else happens?<\/p>\n When the whole game stops for a couple of minutes, after one bloke gets a tiny tap on the ankle, so he can writhe in agony \u2013 only to be up and running like a gazelle when the game gets under way again?<\/p>\n Isn\u2019t some of it, sometimes, just a bit meh?<\/p>\n I think it is.<\/p>\n Fire at will. See if I care. I will be in my trailer.<\/p>\n 20-year suspension overturned<\/p>\n My friend and yours, The Mole, had a disturbing piece up on the nine.com.au<\/a> website last week.<\/p>\n It was about an Indigenous rugby league player Matt Nean, who was sent from the field in 2016 for allegedly man-handling a referee while playing for West Tamworth in the 2016 Group 4 grand final.<\/p>\n Suspended for 18 weeks, he appealed and got a 20-year suspension instead. No, really.<\/p>\n Having served 10 years, this year he appealed one more time for the road and had the ban overturned.<\/p>\n But here\u2019s the killer. Look at the original sin! Straight to you from the cameras of NBN. They clearly show that Nean barely touched the referee. 20 years, for that? Somewhere, somehow, someone needs to offer an explanation.<\/p>\n For if you didn\u2019t know better, you\u2019d say such a suspension for so trifle feels like something that belongs in southern Alabama in the 1950s, not Tamworth, a decade ago.<\/p>\n What they said<\/p>\n Lautaro Martinez on scoring the World Cup semi-final winner for Argentina against England: \u201cThe first time my dad bought me a pair of boots, I always dreamed of scoring this goal.\u201d Nawww. Love it.<\/p>\n Banner held up by Argentinian players after the game: \u201cLas Malvinas son Argentinas.\u201d Read, \u201cThe Falkland Islands are Argentinian\u201d.<\/p>\n French midfielder Rayan Cherki after France lost 2-0 to Spain in their World Cup semi-final: \u201cIt\u2019s an immense disappointment. We lost against ourselves. We didn\u2019t lose against the referee, we didn\u2019t lose against Spain, we lost against ourselves. You all know that everyone was scared of us. The only team who were capable of eliminating us was ourselves. Today is terrible.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the Twitterati : \u201cIf Spain beat Argentina, Trump has to give the World Cup trophy to Spain. In light of Trump\u2019s views about Spain I think that would be brilliant & very funny.\u201d So do I. Not as much fun as Belgium beating the USA 4-1, but close!<\/p>\n In response to TFF\u2019s contention last week that the Wallabies had had an honourable defeat to Ireland, a reader sent me this quote from Test cricketer and journalist Derek Pringle: \u201cHonourable defeat. For an Australian it\u2019s an oxymoron, for an Englishman it\u2019s a tautology.\u201d <\/p>\n Wallabies skipper Harry Wilson after another defeat, this time to France last Saturday: \u201cWe\u2019re learning that you need to play good for 80 minutes. We\u2019re losing moments \u2026 it\u2019s not good enough.\u201d<\/p>\n Departing Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt after said loss: \u201cIt\u2019s hard to find positives.\u201d There\u2019s only one, coach. The Wallabies have proved themselves consistently competitive against the best in the world. Just need to finish the job!<\/p>\n Brendon McCullum on being sacked as England cricket coach: \u201cThere\u2019ve been some unbelievable highs and a few tough days along the way, but that\u2019s all part of taking on a challenge like this. Of course I\u2019m gutted not to be continuing, but I respect the decision.\u201d<\/p>\n Pierluigi Collina, the chairman of the FIFA Referees Committee on referees being able to look at tablets on the sideline for key decisions: \u201cThere was something quite weird that, at a match, all of the people sitting around the field of play and on the bench were able to see on their device what was going on, on the field of play. And the only one who had not had that chance was the one who had to make the decision.\u201d<\/p>\n Jarome Luai on leaving the Tigers before his contract is over, in a situation that sounds a lot like the Lachie Galvin one:\u201cI\u2019m grateful to everyone involved with the club for everything over the last two seasons.\u201d <\/p>\n Canberra coach Ricky Stuart after they defeated the Bulldogs: \u201cAgain, publicly it\u2019s very hard for me to sit here when we\u2019re getting beaten and telling you what I think I know because you\u2019re only gonna get bashed up socially and bashed up publicly, but those d**ks don\u2019t know.\u201d I resemble that remark!<\/p>\n Gold Coast Suns coach Damien Hardwick on being accosted by fans in Adelaide: \u201cBut at the end of the day, those sort of people are the guys that live in their mum\u2019s basements and type on bloody social media forums and that sort of stuff … Security is OK, but we don\u2019t need people being peanuts about it. Get out of the basement, mate.\u201d<\/p>\n Linda Noskova on winning Wimbledon: \u201cWhat really helped me, the first step I took off court, the trophies were there. I was like: \u2019I\u2019m not going to take the small one, I\u2019m taking the big one.\u201d<\/p>\n Erling Haaland on his World Cup: \u201cI think we put Norway on the map.\u201d<\/p>\n Essendon coach Dean Solomon\u2019s message to fans: \u201cStick strong and be patient.\u201d If they\u2019re still there after 25 years without a premiership, we can assume they\u2019re fairly patient?<\/p>\n Four-time Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar: \u201cI have haters and haters gonna hate. To all the booers who are there, they just give more boost to my teammates. They put wood on the fire.\u201d<\/p>\n Jannik Sinner on winning Wimbledon: \u201cThere\u2019s no better place to play tennis. This one means a lot because [it] was a tough one after Paris again. I\u2019m proud of myself and my team, which continues to push me in the right direction.\u201d<\/p>\n Team of the week<\/p>\n Cruz Hewitt. Runner-up in the Wimbledon Junior Boys, and if he went to a fancy dress party as \u201cthe future,\u201d he\u2019d fit.<\/p>\n Wallabies. Take on Italy tonight in Perth. Need a win!<\/p>\n Spain\/Argentina. Contesting Monday morning\u2019s World Cup final. Amazingly, Spain drew with Cape Verde, while Argentina only beat the tiny nation deep into extra-time in their round of 32 clash.<\/p>\n Related Article The Ryde Hunters Hill, and Gordon North Sydney hockey clubs. In the lead up to the Hockey World Cup next month, the clubs will hold a Family Day on August 1, rejoicing in the significant contribution that families have made to both organisations. Festivities include the first grade women match from 2pm; and the men\u2019s from 330pm at Keith Thompson Hockey Centre.<\/p>\n Novak Djokovic. Hasn\u2019t won a grand slam in three years. Only other time he\u2019s had a streak like this was his first three years on the tour. The 39-year-old\u2019s doing a fine job raging against the dying of the light, but is unlikely to move off his number of having won 24 grand slam singles titles.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n![\"Jarome](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784320332_861_2089cb75a40a9bf293be49c800677a2d210fe755.jpeg\")
Jarome Luai at Wests Tigers training on Thursday.Steven Siewert<\/p>\n![\"Benji](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/20a776f0f8c69a8c66c49c1e713a91f61fa9460c.jpeg\")
Benji Marshall attacked the media over their coverage of Jarome Luai\u2019s exit from the Tigers.Kate Geraghty<\/p>\n
He swore with a friendly grin,
\u201cJarome and I are mates for life,
No bad blood can creep in.\u201d<\/p>\n
A most remarkable fee,
To watch his best mate wear blue and gold,
And not the Tigers\u2019 jersey.<\/p>\n![\"Jarome](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/4df321bc940cba4ef59cbcd4d8231fee9da542c7.jpeg\")
Jarome Luai\u2019s Instagram story after news of his potential early exit broke.Instagram<\/p>\n![\"Lionel](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/d2ab05e93ee30821e7833724086d4833d9a3372b.jpeg\")
Lionel Messi controls the ball against England in their World Cup semi-final.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Argentina\u2019s](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/24c5f131dc132b4c4f1d06ca97a38b36e9f61817.jpeg\")
Argentina\u2019s Lautaro Martinez has starred for Argentina during the World Cup.AP Photo\/Jeff Roberson<\/p>\n![\"Brendon](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/5495955501832a08dfbf7a8e3d637e44caa4b453.jpeg\")
Brendon McCullum is out at England Test coach.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Linda](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/06da5b2167299c462e8dcf933bae66bc152a4a1d.jpeg\")
Linda Noskova celebrates her Wimbledon win.Getty<\/p>\n![\"Lionel](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1784320338_587_c3dbadad8731867f36eff6e0c0b9ef6364aac9cbd1980064e9da2b809412206e.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Peter](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1770505750_728_5007589ee5e35bf578da8cd4e47dc1b24b7f7930.png\")
Peter FitzSimons<\/a> is a journalist and columnist with The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X<\/a>.From our partners<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"July 18, 2026 \u2014 5:00am Save You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":806800,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[568],"tags":[64,63,761,762,158,85],"class_list":["post-806799","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-nrl","tag-au","tag-australia","tag-national-rugby-league","tag-nationalrugbyleague","tag-nrl","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/806799","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=806799"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/806799\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/806800"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=806799"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=806799"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=806799"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}