DIARY UPDATE: Week 1, 2026

MONDAY, JANUARY 5

England cricket captain, Ben Stokes puts his arm around Australian, Marnus Labuschagne during the Sydney Ashes Test and it is not a friendly gesture. Marnus, who would drive anyone crazy, doesn’t look comfortable during the confrontation, although he tries to laugh it off. Evidently it is ‘The Richies’ last appearance in Sydney. The group, formed by just a few mates to pay tribute to former Australian cricket captain Richie Benaud, ultimately attracted thousands of fans of the great man, all dressed in his favourite clobber. Subscribers to Code Sports recently were given the challenge of picking their captain’s XI of cricket’s top commentators of the past 25 years and Richie was number one with Kerry O’Keeffe second and Bill Lawry third.

The Wallabies assemble in Sydney for their first camp of the year. Their players need fewer camps and more match practice so they are hardened for battle like our State of Origin rugby league players

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6

Our daughter, Melanie makes a good point as the wonderful Jane McGrath ‘Pink Day’ unfolds at the Sydney Cricket Ground on day three of the Ashes Test – what a disaster it would have been if it was another two day Test, and we have had two of those in this series. A couple of blokes in pink safari suits almost steal the show. Channel 7 do a great job of cross promoting AFL during their cricket coverage, which is only to be expected given 7 have the rights to Australian rules. But I don’t see the same cross promotion on Channel 9 (the tennis station) ahead of the NRL season, which they will be televising.

Footy sign-on advertisements have started to appear in local publications. In the Hills Echo there are ads for the Albany Creek Crushers Rugby League; Everton Park and Albany Creek union clubs and the Ferny Grove Australian rules club. As usual Aussie rules grab the biggest amount of space, which, as I pointed out this time last year, and the year before etc., is probably fair given they take out the biggest, flashiest ads. Our youngest grandson, Connor has re-signed for Norths’ Devils rugby league.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7

The senior resident at Samford Grove is Olive Gilbey, who has penned a family history. Another resident, Geoff Burtenshaw, is helping Olive with the final draft, which is a lovely gesture. Geoff has also written a love story which he is self publishing. A former bank officer, Geoff coached junior rugby league at Kingaroy where his star player was future Australian forward, Brad Tessmann. Geoff said a local (Kingaroy) chap backed 33/1 shot Lucky Cloud in the 1973 Stradbroke Handicap and nearly sent a bookmaker broke. The punter agreed to be paid in instalments

England batsman, Jacob Bethel’s parents are so proud when he hits a four to register his maiden Test ton. Mark Waugh says he missed his twin brother, Steve’s momentous 100 against England on day 2 of the 2003 Ashes Test at the SCG because he wanted to be at Harold Park Trots for Race 1.

My wife Marie and our daughter, Melanie go to the Brisbane International Tennis tournament at Tennyson and flit between courts.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 8

South Queensland Crushers’ players are keen for numbers to be allocated for their three years in the ARL competition (1995-97). John Jones, Nathan Antonik and Clinton O’Brien are driving forces behind the project.

English players afford Usman Kawaja a guard of honour as he walks to the middle for his last innings for Australia.

Super League club, Warrington thrash Championship side Widnes in a ‘Friendly’ (trial) in Warrington. This is a derby and the rivalry between the towns is intense. Such a shame that Widnes are just a shadow of the formidable sides of the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. There is an ugly incident outside the ground after the game with a 17-year-old taken to hospital with serious injuries while another teenager – from Widnes – is charged by police.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 9

My former Brisbane Brothers’ teammate, Murray Schultz phones to say former Brothers and South Sydney winger, Pat McGuire has passed away while playing lawn bowls at Gaythorne. Pat played wing for Brothers in the 1967 and ’68 Brisbane Grand Finals at Lang Park, with Brothers defeating Norths 6-2 in ’67 in front of a crowd of 31,470 while in ’68 Brothers defeated 21-5 with 36,188 present. Maguire scored a try in the ’68 Grand Final (see Vale Pat Maguire this website).

Former News Ltd journalist, Paul Kent is battling cancer and his former sidekick on FoxSports, QRL CEO Ben Ikin has flown south to give him moral support. ‘Kenty’ has made the headlines for the wrong reasons in recent times, but his heart is in the right place. I had a lot to do with him when I worked for News Ltd and I enjoyed his company and respected his writing ability. There were times I thought he was big headed, but overall I found him a likeable Sydney scribe – and they ARE a different breed.

Famous West Yorkshire Rugby League Club Featherstone Rovers has been denied permission to participate in the English Championship this year given their dire financial situation. That is about as sad as it gets on the rugby league front. Featherstone has the smallest population (14,000) of any rugby league town but there was a time when the club’s home ground held more than 14,000. Featherstone have won thje Challenge Cup Final at Wembley three times and in 1977 the club won the English Championship. Until the late 1980s the town was dominated by the mining industry and miners and their families were a huge source of players and supporters. In 1952 (the year I was born) ‘Fev’ made it to Wembley after beating Leigh 6-2 at Headingley, Leeds. Workington won at Wembley but the Featherstone lads were still afforded an open-top bus welcome back to town. Featherstone also beat Australian touring sides in 1959 and 1963 and were only beaten 18-13 in 1973. That would be like Nambour defeating Great Britain.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 10

Donald Trump’s personal badge looks like Mr XXXX.

One of the great spectator calls at the rugby league is: ‘He’s been doing it all day, ref”. Usman Kawaja captains The Heat in a Big Bash game at the Gabba (against the Thunder) and ‘Usie’ – who is miked up in the field by FoxSports – lets go with ‘They’ve been doing it all day’. I’m not 100 percent sure what he was referring to but I’m sure old rugby league people around the country would have had a chuckle. Our youngest son, Lliam; his two boys Ethan and Connor and our daughter Melanie all attend the match which the Heat win easily, belting the Thunder’s pop gun attack all over the ground. Connor turns 9 today.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 11

The VIP  list for the annual Magic Millions Polo event at The Spit Southport includes rugby league icons, Billy Slater, Luke Ricketson and Matty Johns. I missed out again. Billy actually played in the polo match. I would love to see Matty go as Reg Reagan one year. Last time I saw Reg was at the Marriott Hotel at Surfers Paradise when he gate crashed an Australian Rugby League Team photograph.

In the absence of ‘Macca’ (Ian McNamara) the ABC’s Australia program is broadcast from Lismore with ….the host. The Sunday Mail carries a feature about the best young sporting talent to watch out for in 2026. Incredibly there are five rugby union players and only two from league. I thought union was struggling to keep young talent. One of the two league players – Payton Tarau – also plays union. FoxSports cricket commentator, Mark Waugh sounds lot like Benny Elias today. Hadn’t detected that before. In the Big Bash match from Adelaide Oval the cameras focus on a young mum with her tiny baby in the crowd. That bub is way too young to be at the cricket, and could actually be in danger with the number of sixes being smashed into the stands by the likes of Mitchell Marsh.

I was up at 5.30 this morning and soon after heard a group of cyclists arrive in Samford. “I’ve given you a fucking roof”, one yells out as he approaches the Main Street roundabout. God knows what that was about. I think he said roof.

Two of our neighbours from Samford Grove – Don and Robbie Creed – are on a train trip in Australia’s south and the trip has been eventful to say the least, with bushfires causing also sorts of disruptions to their itinerary.

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