The NRL snipe went to Thursday’s Men of League Toughest Twelve charity lunch.

“The highlight of the interviews was definitely the older guys, Noel Kelly, Kevin Ryan and John Sattler who kept the audience riveted,” he reports.

“It was a different game then with no video referee and very little trial by media so to be tough in those days was a lot harder than in modern times.”

He also had this to say: “While it was good to hear some real biffo stories probably the best part of the day was a tribute to Cyril Connell, the Broncos talent scout. The usually media shy Wayne Bennett was quick to the microphone to praise one of life’s gentlemen in Connell, who by the way had signed 15 of the 17 players who won the 2006 NRL title for the Broncos.”

I suggest if you have a son that is well coordinated and maybe has long fingers, forget the tennis or piano lessons.

Get him to a local cricket club for spin bowling lessons because the cupboard is looking decidedly bare at baggy green level, with Stuart MacGill struggling and both he and Brad Hogg at the wrong end of 30.

If selectors can’t find any likely younger candidates maybe they need to look at the ladies team – could be one there – because spin bowling does require a certain amount of finesse.

Both parties are saying “Bring it on” to a proposed trial game between the Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles FOGS Cup club and 2006-7 Maroochy RSL Cup premiers Noosa.

The game will be played as a curtain-raiser to Manly v Warriors at Quad Park in February.

It is a promoter’s dream which was obviously identified by Sea Eagles CEO, Brett Winkler.

I have heard in dispatches that this contest will bring the two parties closer together but personally I would urge caution in regard to pitting the two teams against each other as there will be enough testosterone bubbling over without encouraging it, particularly if the ultimate goal is getting more local club players backing up for the Eagles.

Even though it is only a trial, it should be interesting and, yes, the two parties will be close together ... for 80 minutes anyway.

Just on the Manly-Sunshine Coast deal, they reckon timing is everything.

Well, I wonder whether local developers Reed put much thought into changing the name of the construction arm from Reed Construction to RCQ, which happened recently.

The Manly outfit also has a sponsor called Reed Construction, which is in no way related but looks the same.

Could have been some free advertising for the local outfit, but then again maybe they changed the name for exactly that reason as they are long suffering Penrith and Parramatta supporters.

It is Manly fever on the Coast at the moment, with Beerwah Golf Club pro John Mellish just beside himself about the Sea Eagles coming to town on a more permanent basis.

I heard a rumour that he will befriend and shout beers to anyone that scores an eagle at Royal Beerwah in honour of his beloved Silvertails coming to the Coast.

Great to see Matt Smith get the job as Nambour Crushers coach. He will take on an outfit that are young and were well-coached by Rod West over the last couple of seasons.

Matt had a huge impact as a player last year and I suspect that coaching will come naturally to him.

I do wonder whether his serious knee injury will end his playing future or will it be captain-coach by the end of the year?

By the way, calling all Nambour supporters or members past and present.

On December 5 at 7.30pm, the club is having a future planning meeting chaired by Peter Boyce.

President Les Williams stressed to me that here was a chance for anyone involved in the club or wanting to become involved to play a apart in shaping its future.

Speaking of Nambour, I reckon it will be an interesting time around the Allen family gathering over Christmas lunch.

It is great news for local league that Des “Mr Smiles” Allen is coaching Beerwah next year, but I am not sure how his brother Graeme, a Crushers stalwart, will warm to it. More importantly, it will be interesting to see how his dad Steve, “I Could Ref Better Than That” Allen will feel about it the first time the Crushers play the Bulldogs.