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The Brisbane Broncos\u2019 concerns around the potential pulling power of the PNG Chiefs has led them to question why Pat Carrigan\u2019s partner was part of the media pack that descended on Port Moresby last week.<\/p>\n
A number of media figures were flown to PNG to cover the Chiefs logo and jersey launch.<\/p>\n
![\"Bronte](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/2b528b8f210b98cedfe7fc18a153f578f840b8a9.jpeg\")
Bronte Gildea with partner Patrick Carrigan.Instagram<\/p>\n
The Nine representative was Bronte Gildea. Not only is she an accomplished reporter, Gildea is a rising star as a presenter on 9 News in Brisbane. She is highly regarded in the Wide World of Sports ranks and heading towards the status of the likes of Danika Mason and Allana Ferguson and other prominent women at the network.<\/p>\n
In her role as a reporter, she organised with the Chiefs to cover the arrivals of coach Willie Peters, Jarome Luai and Brian To\u2019o, the jersey launch, and everything else to do with the expansion franchise.<\/p>\n
Related Article And like most reporters on the trip, she acknowledged it had been paid for by PNG.<\/p>\n The sole reason she got the gig is because she is a standout media performer.<\/p>\n But in the background, the Broncos \u2013 who, like many clubs, have already been spooked by the Chiefs\u2019 ability to offer tax-free wages courtesy of the federal government \u2013 made inquiries to Port Moresby about why Gildea was the Nine Network representative.<\/p>\n The Broncos are concerned she got the gig because she is Carrigan\u2019s partner. When you consider the fact Carrigan had previously expressed an interest in the Chiefs, you can see why their senses are tingling.<\/p>\n The club is obviously worried Gildea would spread the word about the Chiefs\u2019 set-up to the partners of the Broncos players.<\/p>\n Carrigan, who is contracted to Brisbane until the end of the 2028 season, seems to be a loyal individual and he wants to captain the club he loves.<\/p>\n Maybe the Broncos realise he has been underpaid at the club for most of his career. If he was to chase a pay day when the time is right, you couldn\u2019t blame him. By the time Carrigan is off contract, Gildea will be a bigger part of the Nine coverage and will be an even more widely regarded journalist. Those jobs are hard to come by and tougher to leave.<\/p>\n The Broncos are already on high alert over the influence of Chiefs general Michael Chammas, but he was struck down by illness in PNG and played almost no part in the media visit.<\/p>\n Bears keen to kick off against Manly<\/p>\n The Perth Bears are quietly angling for their NRL return to kick off against traditional enemy Manly.<\/p>\n The history and rivalry is huge. The NRL should seriously consider it, even though it\u2019s been widely reported the Bears will play South Sydney in their return next year. It\u2019s even been reported that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese \u2013 a Rabbitohs diehard \u2013 wants to see that fixture. We know the draw is a difficult thing to navigate, but playing a team you have history with is a no-brainer.<\/p>\n The club is expected to take a significant step towards a steady front office by appointing former North Sydney Bears captain Tony Rea as chief executive following the exit of Anthony de Ceglie earlier this month.<\/p>\n That will be a big move in the right direction.<\/p>\n Titans rookie to test market<\/p>\n The Gold Coast Titans expect rookie No.7 Zane Harrison to go on the open market on November 1. He will attract big dollars.<\/p>\n The figure of $900,000 a year from next year onwards has been denied, but rivals say that\u2019s what it will take to get him out of the Titans. The exit of AJ Brimson will help their cap situation when it happens.<\/p>\n Devil in the detail<\/p>\n A key sticking point in the NRL\u2019s negotiations with the English Super League<\/a> is a demand for unlimited funding for the head body in the UK.<\/p>\n It was a poison pill the Australian Rugby League Commission discovered in the deal proposed by the Rugby Football League and one they couldn\u2019t allow. No well-run organisation would.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not clear if the Super League club owners are aware of that part of the negotiation.<\/p>\n Despite the hitch, a 2028 deal is looking promising.<\/p>\n Munster could land in Sydney<\/p>\n Cameron Munster\u2019s agent will check in with the Storm before seeing what is out there for the Kangaroos and Queensland star from November 1.<\/p>\n What is clear is that Sydney remains a potential landing spot. Munster joked about not wanting to be in Sydney because of its media. But he is a married father of three and not the wild man he once was.<\/p>\n Maroon lifts lid on heart scare<\/p>\n Popular Triple M host Anthony Maroon says he is struggling to deal with the fallout from his heart attack,<\/a> but he could be back on air as soon as Monday \u2013 less than two weeks after having a stent placed in his heart.<\/p>\n Maroon is a highly popular figure in the sports world and he has given us an insight into his life-threatening and life-changing experience.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the days leading up to it I was OK,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m on annual leave, which I don\u2019t really like because I find it hard to fill the time so I was training a couple of times a day. There were no obvious issues with the heart attack at the time.\u201d<\/p>\n He recalled the moment that he knew he was in trouble.<\/p>\n \u201cI first felt a pain where my pec muscles meet,\u201d he said. \u201cI was in my kitchen. I wasn\u2019t sure if it was a heart attack, but I had never felt this pain before and it was really hardcore. \u201d<\/p>\n He acted quickly.<\/p>\n \u201cI rang my GP and went straight up. I drove myself,\u201d he said. \u201cHis rooms are in Matraville and I live in Little Bay. It was a worrying drive.\u201d<\/p>\n Things escalated quickly from there. \u201cWhen I got to doctor, it was pretty much confirmed what was happening. An ambulance came, and I think within an hour of calling the GP I was on the table getting a stent put in. It was full-on. And I can\u2019t begin to say how grateful I am to everyone who played a part in helping me.\u201d<\/p>\n Speaking to Maroon, he seems in good spirits \u2013 but that\u2019s not quite the case.<\/p>\n \u201cMore than anything it\u2019s playing games with my head,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to believe it happened and happened to me. It doesn\u2019t really help when people tell me how lucky I am. I know what they are saying, but it doesn\u2019t help. I have to say the support has been overwhelming. More than anything, I\u2019m worried for my wife worrying about me.<\/p>\n \u201cI probably need to change my training a little, but I wasn\u2019t doing too much wrong. I can\u2019t wait to get back to work tomorrow.\u201d<\/p>\n Chiefs merch going cheap<\/p>\n The PNG Chiefs sold 10,000 jerseys in the first 24 hours of their release on Wednesday<\/a>. The club is charging $30 for a T-shirt style jersey, and the NRL has ensured their main replica jumper can sell for $100 \u2013 which is a significant cut on the cost of most jerseys.<\/p>\n Josh Addo Carr\u2019s management is aware the Eels are leaning towards sacking him after he allegedly returned a positive result for cocaine when stopped for random testing last month in Sydney\u2019s inner west<\/a>.<\/p>\n They knew it even before there was a meeting this week with Eels general manager Mark O\u2019Neill.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not a move the Eels are happy about or one they want to talk about. It was the second time Addo-Carr has been embroiled in a drugs drama after the representative winger provided a positive roadside test while at Canterbury, which led to his axing by the club<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Eels won\u2019t abandon Addo-Carr or his family despite their stance. He had been supported before he spent time in a rehabilitation centre, and they have supported him since he left the clinic. The rehab was tough, but a month in there has allowed Addo-Carr time to reflect and start the road towards healing.<\/p>\n Addo-Carr is facing a ban of 12 matches for his second offence, in line with the NRL\u2019s illicit drugs policy, which would rule him out for virtually half of next season.<\/p>\n Freddy steps up<\/p>\n Rugby league great Brad Fittler had the best sidestep this columnist has seen \u2013 so in light of the ankle-breaking step Kayln Ponga put on in the World Cup opener against New Zealand when he shot past Reece Walsh, we asked Freddy for his best five steppers.<\/p>\n Fittler nominated Melbourne Storm star Sua Faalogo as his No.1, pointing to the devastating speed which makes him so elusive. Fittler didn\u2019t rank the rest of his list, but Ponga gets a run, as does my No.2 Benji Marshall. His style was mimicked by kids who were watching football as long as he played.<\/p>\n Walsh and his light feet also gets a start, while the only forward to grab a place is cross-code legend Sonny Bill Williams.<\/p>\n Good luck pinning any of them down.<\/p>\n News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Gildea](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/4e2bac1e8bd02bf9cae65a9749e6ece7cb215af6.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Bronte](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/49f9a43af9cf1fc6c2f3947d41e009897b4ee3a4.jpeg\")
Bronte Gildea (blue) on a media tour in Port Moresby with Chiefs head of pathways, Joey Grima.<\/p>\n![\"South](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/92f8cb69cee1f2677a4debd2da547a771bccfb9e.jpeg\")
South Sydney diehard Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Souths coach Wayne Bennett after a Rabbitohs game. Instagram <\/p>\n![\"Heart](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/056285c8c79612404521aec6b336a9c41a652cd1.jpeg\")
Heart scare: Anthony Maroon.<\/p>\n![\"PNG](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/7a3b5c52287453c4574faf82f2c2fc5917f2bcef.jpeg\")
PNG Chiefs development players Gairo Voro, Morea Morea and Finley Glare showcase their 2028 NRL kit.PNG ChiefsFoxx on the rocks<\/p>\n![\"Josh](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/f15dd152d24cbf18c7ff20c08dd8639e7556809a.jpeg\")
Josh Addo-Carr\u2019s career hangs in the balance.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Kalyn](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/a59809f258f6e2121c8510912ced4c5741ec14e7.jpeg\")
Kalyn Ponga steps past Reece Walsh.AP Photo\/Mark Baker<\/p>\n