The circus that is an escalating war of words between two sporting heavyweights has taken another humorous turn.
Rugby Australia boss Hamish McLennan and Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V’landys have been providing plenty of fodder for media headlines by slinging mud at one another and at the opposing code.
The slanging match came to a head after boom NRL youngster Joseph Suaalii signed a rich deal with rugby last month.
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The Gilbert-throwing diehards have taken great delight in rugby league’s reaction to that coup, with McLennan last week saying, “They squeal when we take one or two of them back”.
And while the rugby boss has attempted to stay on the high road, he’s now taken a bizarre childish dig at the 13-man game when speaking to Danny Weidler’s column in The Sun-Herald.
“League scrums are so lame,” McLennan said.
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“League talks about toughness but I reckon an arm wrestle at the pub would (be) harder than their scrums. Let’s have a competition between the two best sides and see who’s tougher.
“We’ll do the best of three scrums with the league version and best of three with a rugby version and see who comes out on top.
“Rugby Australia will put $100,000 in the kitty and the winner donates the prizemoney to charity and we’ll get Nine to televise it live.
“If it’s a draw we’ll have a spelling competition to determine the winner.”
The ball is well and truly back in the court of V’landys.
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