National Rugby League side Brisbane's two-year deal to recruit Anthony Milford "is under scrutiny with the fullback reportedly missing a meeting with NRL salary cap investigators."
The Canberra star’s deal to join the Broncos "is sure to be scrutinised with the NRL investigating claims Brisbane have allegedly overspent" the salary cap by A$450,000 ($417,000) over the past three years (AAP, 8/7). ... Canterbury coach Des Hasler "has called on the NRL to revisit its idea for a video referees' bunker after questioning the accountability of the game’s officials." Hasler: "The simple scenario is the bunker. We’ve been hearing about the bunker [for a while] now. It’s hard for referees because they can’t get hold of the vision, which seems strange in a game that involves a billion dollars" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 8/7). ... NRL side South Sydney Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire "was reluctant to discuss the club's venture into high-altitude training this week" but a A$350 per head fund-raising dinner was held at Doltone House on July 10 to ''assist the Rabbitohs high performance initiative 'Raising Arizona' -- a three-week camp slated to take place in November that will provide them with a competitive edge'' for next year. Souths "are striving to have the 'most professional high-performance program in the NRL''' (SMH, 8/7). ... Vanishing spray "will be used for the first time in English football at the FA Community Shield match between Arsenal and Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday" (PA, 8/7).