MANLY have begun an investigation into Peter Peters following claims a fridge he requested for the players was found in the home of one of the former media manager's friends. As we revealed last week, a long-time Sea Eagles backer ended his association with the club amid allegations Peters appropriated the fridge. Our story has sparked an inquiry, with board members Kerry Chrysiliou and Bob Reilly appointed to get to the bottom of ''fridgegate''. The matter has cost Manly $80,000 in lost sponsorship over the next four years. Steve Reilly, the founder of Reilly &Sons Food Services (and no relation to Bob Reilly) made the complaint and has provided the club with a statutory declaration, obtained by The Last Word. It states, in part: ''Towards the end of 2008 Peter Peters personally rang me and requested a commercial fridge for the players' personal use … When the fridge was delivered by our contracted Transport Co to Narrabeen, it was delivered to his office (presumably at his request) … I assumed from his first contact call that the fridge was to be located in the players room as per his request and as per the signed Lease Agreement between the MWDRLFC and ourselves … Some time after the fridge had been delivered I rang up Peters to ask him how the fridge was going for the players, he replied, 'It's great, Beaver, and thanks on behalf of the players' … I understand that no one from the MWDRLFC (players, staff or officials) ever saw the fridge after it was delivered and placed in Peters' office … By accident my son, Aaron, then saw a Riverina Fresh Milk fridge approx 2 years and 3 months later, in March, 2011, in a beachfront house … full of beer in a front room of the house … Clearly if the fridge was also ever at Brookvale Oval there would be a record/memory of it.'' Peters told the Manly Daily that the fridge was removed from the Brookvale dressing rooms when Warringah Council refurbished them last season. In his statement, Steve Reilly said Aaron was met with behaviour that was ''aggressive, threatening and abusive'' when he asked why the fridge was located in a Collaroy house.WOMEN MAY SEIZE MIKES
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FOX SPORTS is finalising its rugby league commentary team and, with negotiations progressing well, it's possible that a deal with Matthew Johns could be struck as soon as this week. However, there could be some other interesting changes afoot. The Last Word can reveal that the pay-TV network is considering using women commentators, which would mark the first time that women have called rugby league. Melanie McLaughlin, an Eels membership ambassador, has done an outstanding job sidelining and hosting A-League games, while Jessica Yates and Sarah Jones have reported from the cricket boundaries during the summer. Potentially, there may be a sideline role for them during the NRL season.
I asked Nine boss David Gyngell last year whether his network would consider women footy commentators. ''It hasn't worked,'' Gyngell said in July. ''I don't see women calling rugby league. Unless there's somebody that comes up, but I've never seen one who does. It's not being sexist, I just don't see it happening.'' Mark Geyer will join the Fox team, while Braith Anasta and Michael Ennis will have increased roles. We've also heard that former Wests Tigers star Joel Caine has been trialled as a Toyota Cup caller for Fox although his role, if any, will be limited due to his 2GB and Channel 10 commitments.Son of Sailor on way
Wendell Sailor's son, Tristan, blitzed the field at the recent Wave Warriors Junior Challenge in North Wollongong. The 13-year-old won four races both on the sand and in the water. Wave Warriors founder, Ironman great Zane Holmes, said Sailor had plenty of potential in the sport: ''Tristan is very fast on the sand and he paddle boarded this year, too. He's an impressive young kid.''LUST A LOVEABLE LOSER
THERE'S no doubt Black Caviar is the best racehorse in Australia. But which is the worst? That title belongs to Vote For Lust, a nine-year-old gelding which remains winless after 84 starts. However, ''VFL'' is no slouch in the popularity stakes - he has more than 600 followers on his Facebook fan page and has even jagged a personal sponsor, Betfair. The cult hero has notched five second placings - with two in two-horse races. Such is his following, VFL started at $38.30 on the local tote despite being $71 on track and odds of $160 being taken on the Betfair exchange at its last race at Gawler a fortnight ago. ''He's become a bit of an icon for a growing group of people who'd love to see him win a race before he finishes up racing,'' Mildura trainer John Castleman said.PUNT ON BOWL BLOOPER
THE actual game is the least interesting part of the Super Bowl. Who could forget that wardrobe malfunction? Or Christina Aguilera stumbling through the national anthem last year? So TAB Sportsbet, which already has 46 markets on the game, has framed a 47th at our request: Will there be any entertainment bloopers/stuff-ups at Super Bowl XLVI? It is providing odds of $1.80 for a yes and $2 if all goes off without a hitch. ''The pressure will be on Kelly Clarkson after Christina Aguilera forgot some of the words to the national anthem last year,'' TAB Sportsbet's Matt Jenkins said.BENNETT WEIGHS IN
WAYNE BENNETT is never afraid to get behind a cause he believes in. Such as Newcastle's goal to sign up 20,000 members this year. The Knights coach hit the studios for a TV ad which will go to air tomorrow and The Last Word was given a sneak peak. In explaining the importance of membership, Bennett says: ''I think it's everything in a club; I think it's what you do it for. You want people to watch you play.'' Bennett will be joined by Phil Gould, Ivan Cleary and Rick Stone as guest speakers at ''A Night With The Super Coaches'', a fund-raiser for the Motor Neurone Disease Foundation in Port Macquarie on Friday night.BILL'S STILL KICKING
BILL HARRIGAN retains a high profile in league despite blowing the whistle on his on-field career some years ago. However, one Raiders player, who will remain nameless, was of the belief he had already gone up to the other man upstairs. While the referees' boss was overseeing a pre-season scrimmage session in the nation's capital, the youngster gasped, within his earshot: ''Billy Harrigan? Is he still alive?''HINDY COUNTDOWN
I COPPED some stick after writing that Nathan Hindmarsh will be finishing up his glittering career this season. The Eels skipper publicly denied he'd made a decision on his future but has confided in those close to him that he won't go on beyond 2012. Parramatta's final home game, against the Dragons in round 26, will be the hottest ticket in town when it's official.GEYER MULLS LEGENDS II
IF THERE was one positive to come out of last year's tragic Queensland floods, it's how the community rallied to help our northern brothers. And no one mustered the league community like Mark Geyer, who put on that memorable legends game. While there won't be a return match in 2012, ''MG'' hopes to stage another Legends of Origin fund-raiser next season. ''I think every second year we should try to put something on,'' said Geyer, an ambassador for muscular dystrophy charity Save Our Sons.
Move over Lydia Ko: meet the 13-year-old Aussie wonder
We may just have a local answer to New Zealand's 14-year-old golf sensation Lydia Ko. While all eyes were on Ko, who became the game's youngest pro tournament winner when she won the NSW Open last week, there was another talented teen carving up the fairways at Oatlands. Shelly Shin, 13, showed maturity beyond her tender years, finishing
at six-over par in just her second crack at the event. Shin lives with her parents in the Carlingford area after the family shifted from South Korea four years ago. She fell in love with the game after being introduced to it by her father, James.
''I first started playing in year four,'' Shin said. ''I liked it, so I haven't stopped playing. I practise every day. My handicap is plus-two. I want to be a professional.''
