From todays Area News in Griffith ( 2/6/06)
AUSTRALIAN sporting giant Anthony Mundine is set to make a one-off comeback to rugby league for Group 17 club GrifSth Three Ways United in the coming months.
Mundine planned to play for Three Ways tonight against Goolgowi at Griffith but postponed the appearance after captain-coach and close friend Robbie John Simpson was injured last Sunday.
Mundine's company, Boxa International, sponsors the Three Ways team and in a favour to Simpson, Mundine has agreed to travel to Griffith to help out the club in its first year back in the competition.
It is believed Mundine will start on the bench and play about half a game as a favour to Simpson, who formed a close friendship with "The Man" when the pair played for the Dragons in the late 1990s.
Three Ways United president Graham Kilby revealed yesterday the club was close to signing Mundine.
"We're trying to sign Anthony up before the June 30 cut-off," Kilby said. "Anthony was going to come down on Friday night (tonight) until Rob hurt his cheekbone and then decided against it. He's still keen to come down and help out, but at the moment he's not too sure about when."
Kilby said the appearance was most likely to happen once Simpson was back on the field.
"He was going to play this week until Robbie was injured," Kilby said. "Robbie was down there at the fight with him and he's been doing all of the talking with Anthony and he won't play until Robbie is back.
"It'd be great for rugby league out here. We'd probably get heaps of interest, maybe The Footy Show down here and the attention would be great."
Simpson has fractured his cheekbone and was in Albury yesterday for treatment and is expected to miss four to six weeks.
The announcement comes just weeks after Mundine's blockbuster fight over Danny Green in Sydney, which Mundine won on a points decision.
Mundine last played rugby league for St George Illawarra in 2000 when he quit mid-season only months after taking the Dragons to a grand final.
Mundine, along with manager Koda Vazir and father Tony, did not return The -Area News's calls yesterday.
AUSTRALIAN sporting giant Anthony Mundine is set to make a one-off comeback to rugby league for Group 17 club GrifSth Three Ways United in the coming months.
Mundine planned to play for Three Ways tonight against Goolgowi at Griffith but postponed the appearance after captain-coach and close friend Robbie John Simpson was injured last Sunday.
Mundine's company, Boxa International, sponsors the Three Ways team and in a favour to Simpson, Mundine has agreed to travel to Griffith to help out the club in its first year back in the competition.
It is believed Mundine will start on the bench and play about half a game as a favour to Simpson, who formed a close friendship with "The Man" when the pair played for the Dragons in the late 1990s.
Three Ways United president Graham Kilby revealed yesterday the club was close to signing Mundine.
"We're trying to sign Anthony up before the June 30 cut-off," Kilby said. "Anthony was going to come down on Friday night (tonight) until Rob hurt his cheekbone and then decided against it. He's still keen to come down and help out, but at the moment he's not too sure about when."
Kilby said the appearance was most likely to happen once Simpson was back on the field.
"He was going to play this week until Robbie was injured," Kilby said. "Robbie was down there at the fight with him and he's been doing all of the talking with Anthony and he won't play until Robbie is back.
"It'd be great for rugby league out here. We'd probably get heaps of interest, maybe The Footy Show down here and the attention would be great."
Simpson has fractured his cheekbone and was in Albury yesterday for treatment and is expected to miss four to six weeks.
The announcement comes just weeks after Mundine's blockbuster fight over Danny Green in Sydney, which Mundine won on a points decision.
Mundine last played rugby league for St George Illawarra in 2000 when he quit mid-season only months after taking the Dragons to a grand final.
Mundine, along with manager Koda Vazir and father Tony, did not return The -Area News's calls yesterday.
