Andrew Johns weds long-time partner in secret Bali ceremony

When asked about the prospect of Hadley joining Fox Sports in commentary, or as an expert on NRL360, Crawley said: “We haven’t spoken … We’ve known each other for a long time, so we will probably have a chat at some stage, but I have to say we’re very happy with our NRL callers and 360 is flying with Braith [Anasta] and Gorden [Tallis] hosting.”

Hadley was a brilliant radio commentator, but was often criticised when he tried to make the transition to television as a match caller.

For many years Hadley had a strained relationship with high-profile Fox commentator Voss. Hadley and Voss fell out after Voss criticised a statue of Ray Warren. Voss questioned the likeness of the statue. Hadley’s attack on Voss on radio resulted in Voss taking Hadley to court. The matter was settled and Hadley made a brief apology.

Hadley was something of a mentor to Voss in his early days in the media industry, giving him a start on radio. Voss was working at the Nine Network at the time he criticised the Warren statue, and he left the network at the end of his deal. He has since made a career for himself at Fox Sports and working on SEN radio, where he hosts a breakfast program.

I put it to Crawley that there could be an issue between the pair if Hadley was employed.

“There’s issues everywhere in our business,” Crawley said.

That is a fact. However, when I contacted Hadley he revealed the long-running feud with Voss was over.

“Andrew and I have been in communication for the last year … there is no issue there,” Hadley said. I have been told Voss messaged Hadley after he announced his radio retirement.

It is difficult to make out who is the No.1 caller at Fox these days with the rise of Dan Ginnane. It would appear to be between Ginnane and Voss. Their profiles have risen above long-term Fox caller Warren Smith.

Where Hadley would fit into that mix remains to be seen, but he has years of experience on panel shows, which could translate into an NRL 360 role.

I had no drama with Hunt: Flanagan

The Broncos are leaving Ben Hunt in no doubt about their interest. They rolled out the red carpet in Brisbane and flew to Sydney late in the week for further discussions with the star halfback. The Bulldogs have not made Hunt an offer.

Dragons coach Shane Flanagan, meanwhile, has spoken about the departure of Hunt on an upcoming episode of The Bye Round podcast, saying he never had an argument with his departing captain.

There is no question that the relationship between Flanagan and Hunt deteriorated, to the point where Hunt’s management did not want the coach involved in his exit from the club. And then in the immediate aftermath of the split with the Dragons, Hunt revealed he had not heard from Flanagan.

Speaking to former Bulldogs and Dragons star James Graham, Flanagan painted a different picture.

“I’ve never had an argument with Ben Hunt,” Flanagan said. “We’ve always got along fine, but in the end, I’m comfortable with it because I just feel that Ben wanted it and we’re comfortable with it now.

“If he came back this year, it would have been tricky to navigate all that … [because] we weren’t going to re-sign him for ’26. It would have been in the media for the whole 12 months.

“So I just think, you know, in the end, Ben’s happy, we’re happy. When I see Ben Hunt, I’d shake his hand and get on with it.”

Already out-of-date

It is hard be in marketing in rugby league, as these calendars below of the Eels and Dragons, featuring the now-departed Clint Gutherson and Ben Hunt demonstrate. Things change quickly.

Pappy Dog tale

It is important to get one thing clear when it comes to Ryan Papenhuyzen’s decision to stay in Melbourne: he was the one expressing interest about a potential move to the Bulldogs. The interest was driven by Papenhuyzen, not Canterbury.

And Papenhuyzen has left the door open to a move to the Bulldogs in his next contract talks. Canterbury general manager Phil Gould flew to Melbourne to meet Papenhuyzen, but the star No.1 told Gould he was finding it impossible to leave the Storm.

Staying in Melbourne was always the easy option for Papenhuyzen, but the fact that he was seriously considering joining the Bulldogs shows how far Canterbury have come. Papenhuyzen would have accelerated that rise.

Papenhuyzen’s motivation is premierships and personal growth. That’s what made the Bulldogs interest worth considering, as very few coaches in the game have a better insight into personal development than Canterbury’s Cameron Ciraldo.

The Bulldogs coach works tirelessly on himself as a professional, and that appealed to Papenhuyzen. There is no question that the exit of some key Storm figures – not in the playing ranks – made Papenhuyzen consider his options.

New Parramatta coach Jason Ryles worked closely with Papenhuyzen in Melbourne, so that made it somewhat surprising the Eels did not make a genuine attempt to land the star No.1.

Jones fallout

Alan Jones was impossible to ignore as a sports reporter and columnist in Sydney. Now, things are very different.

The veteran broadcaster is maintaining his innocence after being charged with 26 offences involving nine alleged victims. Jones was arrested on Monday following a nine-month investigation into alleged indecent assault and sexual touching incidents from 2001 to 2019.

Jones’ public relationships with sports stars and officials over the years has been hard to figure out. There is a series of columns in that. The anecdotes are hard to write at the moment, because of the charges Jones is facing.

This columnist has considerable knowledge of at least one of the people who have made their situation known to police. About 12 months ago, a long-term friend reached out to ask for contact details for Herald investigative reporter Kate McClymont. He said his son had been impacted by Jones. McClymont broke the stories that started the police investigation into Jones.

McClymont has since talked to that young man and, more importantly, police have interviewed him on a number of occasions.

“For all the pretences of championing the future for young people, I will never understand the bullying and mental disintegration that my son was put through; treated as if he was nothing,” his father told me.

“He [Jones] ruined his ambition and confidence for quite some time. Luckily [he is] strong enough to rebound and be successful, but now the reminders are everywhere again and badly triggering the impacts of a journey that was so awful. As a parent, my heart breaks again. My son did nothing wrong. We can only hope for a full trial and true justice.”

Loading

To hear his dad relate what his son has been through is difficult. The latest flood of publicity is obviously triggering for all involved. Naturally, the young man is doing it tough but, fortunately, he has the support of family and others to get him through an extremely difficult time. He may be strong enough to tell his story one day. Now is not the time.

There is a degree of relief from the family that Jones has been charged, but the main focus for them is on their son’s wellbeing.

Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.