By Danny Weidler
FORMER motorcycling world champion Wayne Gardner has hit out at rumours he allegedly grabbed his Fox Sports co-host, Jessica Yates (pictured), on the backside during the first round of Superbikes at Phillip Island. Yates apparently told a number of her colleagues about the alleged incident, including management. But while Fox Sports executives acknowledge they had looked into the matter, they made it clear there was no formal complaint and the matter would not be taken any further. Yates apparently has said she would talk to Gardner to address her concerns. Gardner is furious about the claims. ''I don't know why this was investigated - there was nothing in it,'' he said. ''Look, there was no formal complaint, we were just shooting a promo and then this. Look, nothing happened and you are barking up the wrong tree.'' Yates presented last week's coverage with Gardner by her side.
PARTY TIME FOR THE MAN
ANTHONY MUNDINE was a guest at Russell Crowe's private party after the actor and Souths owner was recognised with a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. ''Russell is my man,'' Mundine said. ''For him to get that honour - it's like a world title. He deserved that a long time ago.'' At the party, Mundine mixed with Avatar star Sam Worthington, who wanted to see the man in action, so he visited him training in Freddie Roach's gym. Roach trains Manny Pacquiao.
DOGS LIKE LOOK OF LIMA
CANTERBURY are looking seriously at Melbourne prop Jeff Lima as the man to replace Ben Hannant. The Bulldogs are prepared to release him and Hannant wants to go - Brisbane are now his best hope. Hannant is not easily rattled, but the information being spread that he wants out of the Bulldogs for other than family reasons has him riled. He fronted me at Bulldogs training on Monday wanting to know where the information was coming from. ''It's wrong,'' he said, about 12 inches from my face - but without a hint of anger. More disappointment. ''This is being put out there [by me and other reporters] and I want people to know that the reason I looked to go home is because of my family,'' he said. ''I've got a manager looking around because I've got to do the best for myself and the family - I've got a mortgage to pay and I've got a wife who wants to head home. There is nothing wrong with doing the best for myself, but it's not a money-driven thing. All of this talk is off the mark.'' So Ben, what you are trying to say is that you would even return home for, say, $200,000? ''Yeah, if I had to take a pay cut I'd do it for sure,'' he said. That's dropping about $100,000 - or a bit more. ''I've taken pay cuts before, I've taken them all my career, actually.''
AN ANGRY YOUNG COOTE
PANTHERS fullback Lachlan Coote is as tough as they come on the field - and he's got plenty of fight in him off it as well. Bored one night, Luke Lewis and Wade Graham played a joke on their teammate. ''We started making some noise out the front, rattled his bins around and we got a reaction,'' he said. ''Lachlan was searching around inside for a knife and was ready to use it.''
REBORN ROOSTER TODD'S TRIBUTE TO HIS MOTHER HEN
TODD CARNEY has publicly thanked his greatest supporter - his mum - for helping him through his darkest days. The rejuvenated Roosters fullback is sporting new ink behind his ears - an L in a heart for mum Leanne and a D for his dad Daryl, who died in 2008 after battling dementia. ''Dad was the bloke who shaped me and coached me from the age of six through to 16, but it was mum who was my rock,'' the former Canberra Raider said. ''She's my best friend and I don't know if it's normal for a 24-year-old to ring his mum every day for a chat, but that's me. She never says no to me if I'm in need and I have caused her a few headaches, let me promise you. She is my biggest fan and when I really needed her she dropped everything and moved to Atherton with me to be by my side. That was pretty good for her to because it helped her get over dad's death.'' Daryl's death took it out of Todd, too. ''He had dementia - I wasn't there when he first started showing the signs, but it was hard to see him at the end. If you knew what kind of bloke he was, he would have preferred a bullet than what he went through. The tatts are just a way of expressing my love and thanks.''
DRAMAS NOW BEHIND INGLIS
GREG INGLIS stayed with mates on Sunday night - fearful the media might jump him after his address was exposed in the newspapers during the initial frenzy that followed his assault charge. Now that Inglis has put his court drama behind him, expect the corporates to get back behind him. Inglis was close to signing a very lucrative deal with Gatorade - believed to be worth $50,000 - just before he landed in trouble. Inglis was advised by the Storm to use the best lawyer he could afford. His legal bill is said to be in the tens of thousands. It would be unlikely that the Storm could help pay that bill given the salary cap crackdown.
SHARKS FUMING OVER RUMOUR
NATHAN BROWN won't say anything publicly - but there is no doubt he was asked if he was interested in taking on the Sharks job. He's told those close to him it happened - the approach came from a third party saying they were linked with Sharks chairman Damian Irvine. Brown told the person in question he'd only be interested if Ricky Stuart was leaving - he would not white-ant Stuart, a close mate. Irvine is insisting he was not behind the approach. ''I want to find out who's the third party and why they are using my name. I've talked with Ricky about this several times and I've told him I didn't do anything of the sort. It's not right.''
ROSS PONDERS FUTURE
BEN ROSS has admitted he needs to get back on the football field for reasons other than just the desire to play again. ''I went to Souths for the chance to play at a good club, not for the money, and I have to play to earn anything,'' he said. ''If I'm not going to get out there and play, I have to start to think about my future in other areas.'' I sat with Ross in the waiting room at St Vincent's Hospital and was sure he was going to be cleared to make a return from his neck injury. But when his surgeon called Errol Alcott, Souths' high performance manager, into his room with Ross, it was clear the news wasn't good. ''I just want to get out there again - I'm so frustrated,'' Ross said. ''I'm getting sick of being a professional trainer. I know my doctor is doing the right thing by me and I'm a millimetre away from getting a clearance, but I can't take the slightest risk.''
GOLDEN GIRL IN EVERY WAY
IT'S not every day you get your hair cut beside an Olympic gold medallist but that's what happened to me on Friday when Torah Bright walked into the Channel Nine hairdressers before recording a Wide World of Sports interview. The word ''nice'' is often used to describe her but doesn't do her justice. We talked about life after Olympics: ''It's been so nice hearing everyone's stories, where they were when they watched the final.'' We talked about fame: ''I love getting out there and meeting people, the travel has been huge - I wish I could hop into a teleporter.'' About her pending marriage: ''I'm so excited.'' Sponsorship: ''There are a lot out there for me, but we are sorting through it and want to pick sponsors we can have lasting relationships with.'' A gold medal person, on and off the slopes.
PRINCE ON A MISSION
SCOTT PRINCE is considering rushing back from his thumb fracture to try to break into the Australian side. Incumbent Kangaroos halfback Johnathan Thurston has said he'll be back in two to three weeks - his Cowboys coach, Neil Henry, says he'll be back in four, but Thurston has told friends he'll be back in four to five weeks. Hence, Prince is keen to get back on the field with the Gold Coast Titans as quickly as possible. It will also help him take his mind off the damage to his reputation that occurred during the incorrect allegations of a salary cap rort.
Danny Weidler is a reporter for Nine News.