Don’t be surprised if The Dolphins have a crack at former Panthers, Tigers and Raiders playmaker Blake Austin for their inaugural season in 2023.
Unable to sign an experienced half or five-eighth in Australia, the Dolphins have been forced to look outside the square.
And Austin, a classy ball player who spent the last three seasons in Super League, is still only 30 and has plenty of good football left in him.
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Austin recently signed with Leeds for next season from Warrington – but just for one season.
When a player signs a one-year deal, it usually means he is marking time – and that may be what Austin is doing next year before the Dolphins make their NRL debut.
Significantly, Austin recently began following the Dolphins’ Instagram page.
Club takes salary cap rort to new level
Regular readers of this column will know it’s the NRL’s worst kept secret that most clubs cheat the salary cap – but one club has taken it to a new level.
The club has employed the father of its marquee player to work with its women’s team – despite the fact he has absolutely NO qualifications in football.
I’d love to know how much he is getting for his troubles – and whether the NRL – who really don’t want to catch clubs rorting the cap – will bother looking into the matter.
Bulldogs keeping eye on young gun
The Bulldogs have found a good one in former Souths Logan fullback/winger Creedence Toia.
The 20-year-old Queenslander is on a train and trial contract with Canterbury’s NRL side but if he doesn’t make the cut there, the club has signed him up for the NSW Cup.
Toia was a standout in the Queensland Cup last season, attracting the attention of the Bulldogs’ talent scouts.
The youngster has looked right at home at the Bulldogs in the pre-season and will be one to watch next year.
Todd Carney set to return to boxing ring
Todd Carney is putting the boxing gloves back on – for charity – against a fighter trained by the great Jeff Fenech.
Carney will meet Aboud Wehbe in a bout at the Bellevue in Bankstown on February 26, with proceeds going to the families of victims of the devastating Beiruit blast last year that killed over 200 people and injured some 7000 more.
It’s a full-on fight – no headgear or the like – and has attracted a sellout crowd of over 500 and will nett around $200,000 for the victims.
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