BY CURTIS WOODWARD

DID SCOTT SATTLER REALLY SAY THAT?

“I’ve got no doubt we’ll see Tim Simona back in the game and I think he deserves it.” That was Scott Sattler last weekend on Channel Nine. There isn’t many people in rugby league that have a bad word to say about Sattler who played the game tough and fair – he now does a great job in the media but for him to say Simona should be allowed back in the game is dumbfounding. To say he deserves it is unbelievable. Sattler’s old teammate Ryan Girdler said something similar on Triple M. For those that agree with me, rest easy, because no coach in his right mind will ever sign up the banished centre.

CROWNBET TAKE BETS IN CAMPBELLTOWN STADIUM CROWD

In a week where one of their players was thrown out of the competition for betting on the opposition in games he was playing, Wests Tigers allowed back-of-jersey sponsor CrownBet to weave their way through the 12,000 people at Campbelltown Stadium taking bets. Yours truly took a snap of CrownBet employees at half-time of the game, at the back of the main grandstand, offering live odds to supporters (some of which were probably on their fixth or sixth beer).

Been told these guys are walking around hitting up half drunk people at HT for bets. Please tell me I'm wrong #NRLTigersPanthers pic.twitter.com/5bWhoRgto7

— Curtis Woodward (@woodward_curtis) March 12, 2017

LEICHHARDT VS CAMPBELLTOWN

Staying on Wests Tigers, a couple of locals put it to me on Sunday after the big loss that the players don’t like playing at Campbelltown and they’d much prefer playing at Leichhardt. A quick look at recent history and results paint a different picture. Last year Wests Tigers won two games at each ground, won more games at Campbelltown in 2012, 2014 and 2015, and won three at both venues in 2011. Since 2010, Wests Tigers have only won more games at Leichhardt in 2013 and 2010 respectively.

GOLD COAST BEARS AS GOOD AN IDEA AS A KICK IN THE FACE

It’s becoming an annual tradition where the Bears are apparently on the cusp of replacing the Titans on the Gold Coast. But ask yourself if it’s a bright idea to scratch the Titans and start over again. One Titans fan on Twitter said he’d start supporting the Cowboys if the Bears bid got up. He wouldn’t be the only one that turned their back on a rebranded Gold Coast outfit.

My back page story in today's @telegraph_sport re the Bears' $7m bid to buy Gold Coast Titans pic.twitter.com/ptEDmeUvhv

— Dean Ritchie (@BulldogRitchie) March 13, 2017

GALLEN IS GOING TO BE A BIG HIT IN RETIREMENT

He may not be everyone’s cup of tea but nobody can ever question Paul Gallen of sugar-coating how he really feels on the current affairs in rugby league. His big opinions will split fans for many years to come.

COVERAGE THIS WEEKEND

The81stMinute Commentary Team is at Campbelltown this Saturday from midday (2pm in New Zealand) for Wests Tigers and New Zealand Warriors in the Intrust Super Premiership. Live and only on steelesports.com.au.

https://twitter.com/The81stMinute/status/841480470772695040

STATE OF ORIGIN IS BIGGER THAN ALL OF US

Those that think State of Origin matches should only be played in Sydney and Brisbane are not looking at the big picture. Origin is a monster and we need to use it to advertise the game. Why can’t we play Origin in Melbourne, Perth, Auckland, America or Hong Kong?

@woodward_curtis