![DANNY WICKS DANNY WICKS](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/storypad-3ZMaZUzN3dKuM6vrzTJmtN/3dbe0375-bd11-43c2-a2a2-bcc000357cd5.jpg/r0_3_1200_678_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Thursday, June 12
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I READ with interest that Parramatta have expressed interest in securing the services of former Knights forward Danny Wicks, who has not played in the NRL since his drug bust five years ago.
‘‘We’ve had a discussion. It was very preliminary, and that’s it,’’ a Parramatta spokesperson says.
What is even more intriguing about this yarn is that it says the Eels are understood to be facing competition from Wicks’s former clubs, Newcastle and St George Illawarra.
Some would say that after all the drama of the past few months, the last thing the Knights need is to re-employ a convicted drug dealer who spent 18 months in prison.
But Seven Days, for one, would have no problems with it.
I’m not condoning what Wicksy did, but I can’t help admiring the way he took his medicine.
I’ll never forget the day of his judgment at Newcastle Local Court, when the big fella was killing time in the Grand Hotel before he was sent on a holiday to the big house.
Fellow Herald hack Brett Keeble and I walked past and stopped for a chat.
We hadn’t spoken to Wicksy for almost two years, and he was entitled to be dark on the media in general.
Instead he shook our hands, introduced us to his family and said he was ‘‘looking forward to getting it over with’’.
As Justice Helen Syme said an hour or so later in handing down Wicks’s sentence: ‘‘This is a sad case ... from time to time, good people do bad things.’’
The court heard there was no evidence Wicks had made any profit from his crimes, and Justice Syme said Wicks had merely been ‘‘a cog’’ in a chain of drug supply.
Now he’s done his time. If the Knights (or the Dragons or Eels) were to throw him a career lifeline, I’d wish him all the best.
The same goodwill, incidentally, does not apply to Russell Packer. I have to draw the line somewhere.
Friday, June 13
NRL boss Dave Smith is preparing to board a flight from Brisbane to Newcastle to announce Nathan Tinkler has formally relinquished control of the Knights, only to learn there has been an 11th-hour hold-up.
An outrageous theory is floated that Hunter Sports Group are dragging the chain deliberately to sabotage a planned press conference.
I reckon this is completely unfair.
The critics can say what they like about HSG, but one thing they can’t deny is that when it comes to looking after the media, they have always been friendly, cooperative and respectful.
Anway, this last-minute hiccup is merely delaying the inevitable for a few hours.
On reflection, there is a weird symmetry to Tinkler’s tenure.
HSG’s first day in charge of the Knights was April 1, 2011 – April Fool’s Day. Their last day was June 13, 2014 – Black Friday.
Sums it all up really.
Saturday, June 14
DAVE Smith and his entourage arrive at Hunter Sports Stadium to announce the Knights handover.
This is the first time I’ve met Smith, and I have to admit he’s impressive.
I’m a bit worried he might make reference to Chief Gidley and Matt Harragon, but there is no such slip-up.
Probably the only criticism I could make of the Welsh banker (that’s not rhyming slang, by the way) is that he keeps mentioning the community and proud history of New-cass-ell.
New-cass-ell this. New-cass-ell that.
It’s New-car-sell, Dave.
When Smithy is finished, I hit the road to Sydney, but not to watch the Knights cop a pizzling from the Chooks.
I’ve actually been invited to a ‘‘divorce party’’. True story.
The timing is coincidental and makes me reflect on another recently failed marriage, between Tinks and the people of Newcastle.
It started out with whirlwind romance, followed by the honeymoon period, then the relationship quickly cooled off, followed by a complete breakdown in trust and a battle for custody and assets.
In the end, things got so bitter there was even a public squabble over the prenuptial agreement.
Hopefully now everyone can move forward and get on with their new lives.
Sunday, June 15
I NOTICE a news bulletin that features Israel Folau bumping into NSW Origin players at the airport and exchanging cuzzy-bro handshakes.
Big Izzy admits he’s a bit jealous of the blokes who play real footy, especially at Origin time.
‘‘I do miss it a little bit, to be honest, but, in saying that, I’m pretty grateful that I’ve been there before and I’m enjoying being where I am right now in my career," he says.
‘‘If I can get some tickets, I’ll try to go to the game.’’
Being an outside-the-square kind of guy, Seven Days can’t help thinking there is an opportunity here for a code-hopping mercenary like Israel to kill a few birds with one stone.
Instead of signing a long-term deal with the game they allegedly play in heaven, why doesn’t he just become a freelancer/subcontractor?
For example, he could turn out for the Wallabies on the weekend, then back up for the Cane Toads a few days later, and maybe even squeeze in a guest appearance here and there for the GWS Giants.
It would seem a win-win situation for all concerned, if you ask me.
Monday, June 16
I FIND myself choking on my corn flakes as I read the broadside Knights coach Wayne Bennett fires at Roosters prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, who is accused of using his elbow to terrorise defenders.
‘‘If that’s acceptable in the game, well, the game’s going to change enormously,’’ Bennett is quoted as saying.
‘‘We all saw it on replay, the video ref saw it, and they obviously all said it was acceptable. Anybody that knows rugby league knows that’s not acceptable, but that was their take on it tonight, so we’ll see what the future brings.’’
Bennett may have a short memory, but this columnist doesn’t.
It was about this time last year that the master coach was furious when Penrith’s Ivan Cleary complained publicly about an incident involving Knights prop Kade Snowden, who subsequently copped a two-week suspension.
‘‘The NRL talk pretty tough about coaches not commenting on judiciary," Bennett said at the time.
‘‘I’ve got no doubt at all he [Cleary] got Kade the extra week.
‘‘Kade lifted his knee, I’m not disputing that. But Ivan came to the press conference and was very condemning about the action ...
‘‘The game talks tough and we get a player who gets a suspension because of it or partly because of it, but there is no action taken at the other end of the spectrum.
‘‘I’m disputing that there has been no penalty or fine given to the Penrith club because of the outspoken position that Ivan Cleary took on it, which proved to be wrong anyway.’’
I don’t really know what to make of this apparent policy backflip.
Maybe Wayne figures if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.
Tuesday, June 17
WAEREA-Hargreaves is ruled to have no case to answer.
‘‘The match review committee believed the arm was not cocked horizontally going into the tackle and most of the contact was on Jeremy Smith’s shoulder,’’ the NRL says.
Hmmm. I guess there are two conclusions that can be drawn from this situation.
The first is that Bennett just got it wrong (surely not).
Alternatively, not everyone remains convinced that our Wayne is the Messiah.
Perhaps nobody wants to listen when your team is running last.
Wednesday, June 18
GOLD Coast Titans ease their halves crisis by signing Daniel Mortimer until the end of 2016.
The news comes only days after his agent is quoted as saying: ‘‘Daniel is happy at the Roosters — the club has been good to him and he has a premiership ring from last season.
‘‘We haven’t had any firm offer from any other club, so I can’t see him going anywhere.’’
It’s official – with less than two weeks remaining before the June 30 deadline for mid-year transfers, rugby league’s silly season is in full swing.