CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
Just over 24 hours before State Of Origin Game 1 seals itself as one of the highest-rating Australian sporting events of 2020 and the man that made it all possible is taking a moment to himself.
Sipping on a cold schooner of Tooheys New while staring out the tall windows of the Wollongong Golf Club, Saint Peter V’landy appears completely unaware that there may have been a bit of fanfare in Victoria today.
However, when asked by a glassy if he laid any bets in Melbourne today, the ARL Commissioner gets a bit inquisitive.
“What was happening in Melbourne today?”
“Did they have one of those weird international AFL matches against Ireland or something?”
As both the chair of the NSW Racing Board and the boss of rugby league, it’s no lie that the only Melbourne residents that V’landys has anything to do with is Cameron Smith and Craig Bellamy.
However, the young hospitality workers wide-eyes makes him curious. He keeps asking questions.
“Did they have another coronavirus outbreak because their elitist political class don’t have the necessary systems in place to deal with a major public health event?”
“I don’t think you can’t bet on that stuff can you?”
When informed by the glassy that it was actually Melbourne Cup day today, V’landys giggles.
“Haha is that right?”
“I didn’t think that would have gone ahead”
“You know, considering that Brisbane had to host their VFL grand final and everything”
“But no, short answer, no”
“More of an Everest man myself”
