Laughing Hindy Gets Benefit Of Sizeable Doubt
Sydney Morning Herald
Friday May 25, 2007
BLUES second-rower Nathan Hindmarsh sheepishly admitted to his teammates that he didn't ground the ball for his first half try against Queensland on Wednesday night. Referee Paul Simpkins awarded the four-pointer without sending the decision to the video officials, but replays suggested Maroons fullback Karmichael Hunt had held up Hindmarsh. It has also been revealed why Hindmarsh was seen to laugh during the national anthem at Suncorp Stadium. It's not the first time he has done it, according to one Blues teammate. The reason? It's not a lack of patriotism - he just thinks the ordinary voices either side of him are rather funny.
Hodges out of orderWe clearly haven't seen the last of Queensland centre Justin Hodges's sledging ways. On Wednesday night he apparently motioned to Blues skipper Danny Buderus and then told him: "You're No.2 - Smithy's No.1." It was a reference to Maroons hooker Cameron Smith keeping his Australian position for last month's Anzac Test.Sydney won't fill arena For the second year in a row, the only Origin match in Sydney is expected to fall short of a sellout - raising concerns for next season, when Telstra Stadium is scheduled to host two games. Before Wednesday night's series opener in Brisbane, about 55,000 tickets had been sold for Origin II and current projections suggest a crowd of between 60,000 and 70,000. With Telstra Stadium able to accommodate 83,500 fans, more than $1 million in potential revenue may be lost to the game.Some wage spikePenrith are going to have to pay close to $200,000 per season if they hope to keep boom five-eighth Peter Wallace. Allan Gainey, the 21-year-old's manager, said Brisbane - the club that is courting Wallace using the personal touch of 20-year coach Wayne Bennett - had not been scared away by the ball-park figures mentioned in negotiations. "I think Peter is going to be earning somewhere from $160,000 to $220,000 next season," Gainey said. "He's happy at Penrith and players who are happy are usually prepared to stay for a bit less than they can earn elsewhere, but the Broncos are very keen." Wallace, who broke into first-grade midway through last season, is currently earning less than $100,000 annually.Nose for the gameBrett White has got his priorities right. Asked after State of Origin I whether his nose - which was big, red and tender and had bled profusely during the game - would keep him out of this weekend's club round, the NSW and Melbourne prop replied: "No, it's only a nose."Eager BeaverAfter being out for 10 weeks with a groin injury that has not only kept him off the field but also prevented him from playing his next favourite sport, golf, Steve Menzies is aiming to return against South Sydney in three weeks. "I'll be ready for sure by then," said Menzies, a passionate golfer. "I normally play off a handicap of eight, but I reckon I'll be struggling to play to that when I come back. Everyone will want to play with me then, to try to take advantage of me and get my money."Quick off the markWhen the Herald was recently trying to find out who was attending the NRL players' forum, one of the quickest replies came from Todd Carney - the Canberra star facing the sack and possibly jail over his latest motor vehicle offences last weekend. Carney was concerned that he had been unaware of the forum and offered to contact teammates. He got back to us 90 minutes later - a response that contrasted sharply with a few more experienced players, who seemed to have little interest in the forum. The Raiders are expected to suspend 20-year-old Carney, possibly until the end of the season and order him not to drink.smh.com.auORIGIN WRAP: Photo galleries, video, and your say at leaguehq.com.au
© 2007 Sydney Morning Herald
