Latest news with #rugbyLeague
News.com.au
15 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
NRL greats stunned by NRL's most vicious fan as club's ‘pathetic' act called out
Forget Payne Haas and Liam Martin – the most feared man in the NRL is an apprentice carpenter turned social media sensation. Jean-Claude Bitar, 25, might not even play in the NRL, but has them running scared thanks to a series of social media videos that have gone viral. Declared the 'funniest man on the net at the moment' by Bulldogs legend Reni Maitua after taking down Dragon's father and son Shane and Kyle Flanagan in an X-rated rant that has been viewed almost 500,000 times, Bitar's hard hitting commentary has attracted the attention of rugby league heavyweights, including NRL 360 host Braith Anasta, who has hailed him as 'ruthless.' 'If that were you or one of your mates he was talking about, you'd want to kill him,' Anasta said. 'Can you imagine watching that if you were Shane or Kyle? Oh my God. But as ruthless as he is and sometimes over the top, he is also creative. I couldn't wait to see what he did after the Sharks (v Dragons) game last week. But could you imagine seeing that if you were following him and you were the player?'. Fresh from taking aim at State of Origin referee Ashley Klein following NSW's failed comeback against Queensland in another video that has stormed the net, Bitar revealed he has been blocked from viewing the St George Illawarra website and their social media accounts after being critical of the club. 'I went to look at the team list about six weeks ago and I couldn't find it,' Bitar told 'I thought maybe there was a glitch. Then I went to TikTok and Facebook, and I realised I was blocked on all accounts. I could not believe they were blocking a supporter because he is speaking the thoughts of every fan.' Being blocked did not deter the carpenter from Belfield. 'Na, I made a video straight away saying they were pathetic and it was one of my biggest hits.' A host of NRL players have personally contacted Bitar. Some tell him they love his work. Others tell him to stop. 'The first person to contact me was Blake Lawrie's brother,' he said. 'I was giving it to him a bit, and then I remember his brother reached out to me and said: 'you have got to stop making these videos. You're gonna get yourself in big trouble.' 'But I didn't stop. Not when I knew the players were actually watching my videos.' Most of his videos are about St George Illawarra given Bitar is a 'die hard' Dragons fan who has supported the club since he could walk – and was even in their junior development squad. 'Most of the players are fans,' Bitar said. 'They come up to me at games and recite my jokes'. Filming his first NRL post in February, Bitar's videos have gone viral, and he has now posted more than 150. 'They are all pretty big at the moment,' he said. 'Right now, there's the Origin one that's going around, that's got 300,000 views. I think my biggest is one about my reaction to a game that got almost half a million.' And in a warning to the NRL's underperforming and out-of-form, Bitar declared he has just begun. 'Regardless of whether they block me, I'm gonna keep going with the videos. 'People are enjoying it. I'm enjoying it. I'm doing this for fun. I'm a footy fanatic and I have the right to express my views. I'm just saying what everyone is thinking,' he said.
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Important milestone': Panthers assistant Ben Gardiner signs long-term deal to join Mal Meninga's coaching staff at Bears
Inaugural Perth Bears coach Mal Meninga has locked in a key piece of his staff with Panthers assistant Ben Gardiner set to join the expansion side on a five-year deal that could mean he eventually takes over the team. Gardiner is regarded as one of the best coaches in the game having played an important role as an assistant at the Panthers for their 2023 and 2024 premierships, while he's also in charge of the Samoan side. He will be a huge asset for Meninga in the club's formative years, with Gardiner holding a special connection with the Bears having coached North Sydney for three seasons in the NSW Cup. 'I can't wait to work closely with new people in Western Australia and build a hugely successful team over the next five years as we promote rugby league and grow the game,' he said. 'I have had a close relationship with the North Sydney Bears for a number of years where I was able to coach the NSW Cup team and work in coaching and recruitment as well as with the women's team. 'These experiences allowed me to understand what makes that great club tick. 'These foundations need to be synergised into the Perth Bears to grow a collaboration of new and old. 'I have been able to experience success in winning systems across a number of elite clubs in the NRL and look forward to sharing that knowledge.' While nothing has been suggested as of yet, the Bears could follow the Dolphins who had Wayne Bennett in charge for the first couple of years before Kristian Woolf took over. It's something Perth could look to do with Gardiner, who can learn off Meninga before eventually replacing him when the Immortal's contract expires in 2028. 'He has worked with some great clubs and teams, at premiership and representative level, and he also has Bears DNA to add to his prolific experience,' Meninga said. 'I look forward to Ben helping us to build a club and culture which will set the Bears' future on the right path.' Gardiner will join the Bears at the end of the 2025 season and will remain Samoa coach as they prepare for next year's World Cup. 'We're extremely excited to have Ben join the team,' Perth Bears chief executive Anthony De Ceglie said. 'He's a winner who's renowned for his football knowledge and hard work ethic. 'This is another important milestone as we ensure the Perth Bears lay the right foundations for future success.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
TWO New South Wales stars land in hot water for shocking State of Origin II acts during firey first half in Perth
New South Wales stars Jarome Luai and Zac Lomax have both landed in hot water with officials during the first half of State of Origin II. Luai was first put on report for an alleged eye gouge, while Lomax appeared to lash an elbow to the temple of Maroons star Trent Loiero. New South Wales got off to a great start, with Brian To'o crossing the white wash after six minutes. But Queensland hit back not long after with hamiso Tabuai-Fidow touching fown twice in seven minutes. With just over 15 minutes left on the clock in the first half, Luai brought Queensland star Reuben Cotter to the ground and appeared to push his hand in the face of the Cowboys star covering his eyes. A penalty was subsequently given against the Blues, with Cotter appearing to yell out, and push Luai in the face. Lomax, stupidly, threw his arm into the side of the head of Loiero after the Eels star was tackled 30m out from his own line. The referee awarded a penalty against Lomax, with Loiero leaving the field for a head injury assessment. He was replaced by Kurt Mann, Queensland's second-oldest debutant.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Aaron Woods lays into ANOTHER Queensland legend just hours before Origin after his 'grub' insult kicked off Billy Slater scandal
Former New South Wales prop Aaron Woods has fired another shot at a second former Queensland representative star after he branded Maroons coach Billy Slater a 'grub'. The saga between Slater and Woods has exploded ahead of State of Origin II, with the Maroons boss shocking some footy fans on Tuesday after he made a controversial comment about former North Queensland boss Paul Green, who tragically died in 2022. But in the build-up to tonight's match in Perth, Woods has also shot a barb at Brisbane Broncos great Gorden Tallis, after the three-time premiership winner claimed he wasn't as brave as he is on the radio as he was on the pitch. Tallis, speaking on Triple M's Sunday Sin Bin show, rose to the defence of Slater, stating: 'He [Woods] got sacked from six clubs so he knows what it feels like, and when Queensland start listening to a bloke that played his last six years in reserve grade, we've got problems.' 'He wasn't that brave when he was a player, he's braver on the mic,' Tallis added. But Woods wasn't going to let Tallis, who is nicknamed 'The Raging Bull', get away with the shot, taking to Triple M on Wednesday morning to twist his comments back on the former Queensland star. 'When your spokesman is Gorden Tallis that's when you know you're in trouble,' he said on the Triple M breakfast show. 'He said my son got a photo with Billy Slater. My son doesn't know who Billy Slater is. 'If you're going to get your information correct – maybe say the right stuff. 'We don't call him the raging bull in our house any more – it is the raging something else.' Woods began his first-grade footy career with the Wests Tigers back in 2011, before moving around the NRL, spending time at Canterbury, Cronulla, St George and wrapping up his career with the Sea Eagles in 2024. During his final year at the club, he had made two appearances off the bench for the first-grade side, spending the majority of the season playing for Blacktown Workers in the NSW Cup. Woods has also admitted he stands by his sledge at the Queensland boss. 'Those comments I made last Tuesday, I stand by them,' he began. 'You say something about a person, that person is owed a right to reply ... He's had seven days to reply ... he has taken his time, he's been very well thought-out, he's been very measured in what he's had to say. 'A lot of the comments, I agree with. 'But one in particular comment that he did make, I just thought Billy went a little bit over the boundary, and I just think it was really - I just think it was completely unnecessary for the situation.' Slater has since apologised for his comments in regards to Green, both in public and to the former Maroons coach's family. In a press conference on Tuesday, Slater had slammed Woods, claiming that he had no right to a voice in the media. 'When you hold a position in the media or in our game, I feel that's a privilege. And with that privilege comes a responsibility,' Slater said. 'When you degrade someone personally in a derogatory manner, you probably don't deserve one of those privileged positions that we're all in. 'You don't know what people are going through. 'And although I might be able to handle it, the next person mightn't be. Maybe our last coach didn't,' he added, speaking on Green. Slater had fired back at Woods, but appeared to make a controversial comment about the late Maroons coach Paul Green (right), who tragically died in 2022 Slater admitted on Wednesday that he had overstepped the mark with his comments. 'Yesterday I wrongly made the link between Paul Green's death and the pressures of coaching, which wasn't accurate, nor was it appropriate,' Slater said. 'I feel terrible about what I said and I spoke to Amanda Green this morning and apologised for any hurt that it may have caused her and her family. 'I just want to say this, Paul had CTE. It's a different disease from what I was referring to. 'Once again, I'm deeply and genuinely sorry.' Green's brother, Rick, has since broken his silence on the matter, stating that Slater's comments were 'unfortunate' but added that they accepted Slater's apology. He also added that the family were keen to clarify that Green had died as a result of Chronic Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) - not because of a battle with mental health issues.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
State of Origin 2025 Game 2: Qld Maroons v NSW Blues
Update: Date: 2025-06-18T09:00:46.000Z Title: Preamble Content: Hello everybody and welcome to live coverage of State of Origin Game 2. Kick-off between Queensland and New South Wales at Optus Stadium is scheduled for 8:05pm AEST (6.05pm AWST). After selling the peerless quality of Origin footy in the preamble to game one I had the rug pulled from under me during a tepid 80 minutes of representative rugby league. The showpiece was undermined by a desperately poor performance from Queensland who were flattered by the 6-18 scoreline. NSW deserve enormous credit for their control in all facets of the game at Suncorp Stadium, and they look set for a long period of ascendancy with Payne Haas dominating up front, Nathan Cleary dictating terms in the halves, and Zac Lomax demonstrating that precious ability to elevate his performance to the size of the occasion. It is going to require an incredible turnaround for Queensland as the Origin caravan decamps in the west, and coach Billy Slater is already in the crosshairs following last year's limp title defence. Slater has made a statement by putting Daly Cherry-Evans out to pasture, but he has more to worry about than simply who plays first receiver. After four defeats in their past five outings perhaps the famed Queensland underdog spirit will come to the fore and keep the 2025 series alive? Or maybe it will simply be further confirmation that we are in a golden age of NSW rugby league.
