logo
NRL greats stunned by NRL's most vicious fan as club's ‘pathetic' act called out

NRL greats stunned by NRL's most vicious fan as club's ‘pathetic' act called out

News.com.au5 hours ago

Forget Payne Haas and Liam Martin – the most feared man in the NRL is an apprentice carpenter turned social media sensation.
Jean-Claude Bitar, 25, might not even play in the NRL, but has them running scared thanks to a series of social media videos that have gone viral.
Declared the 'funniest man on the net at the moment' by Bulldogs legend Reni Maitua after taking down Dragon's father and son Shane and Kyle Flanagan in an X-rated rant that has been viewed almost 500,000 times, Bitar's hard hitting commentary has attracted the attention of rugby league heavyweights, including NRL 360 host Braith Anasta, who has hailed him as 'ruthless.'
'If that were you or one of your mates he was talking about, you'd want to kill him,' Anasta said.
'Can you imagine watching that if you were Shane or Kyle? Oh my God. But as ruthless as he is and sometimes over the top, he is also creative. I couldn't wait to see what he did after the Sharks (v Dragons) game last week. But could you imagine seeing that if you were following him and you were the player?'.
Fresh from taking aim at State of Origin referee Ashley Klein following NSW's failed comeback against Queensland in another video that has stormed the net, Bitar revealed he has been blocked from viewing the St George Illawarra website and their social media accounts after being critical of the club.
'I went to look at the team list about six weeks ago and I couldn't find it,' Bitar told news.com.au.
'I thought maybe there was a glitch. Then I went to TikTok and Facebook, and I realised I was blocked on all accounts. I could not believe they were blocking a supporter because he is speaking the thoughts of every fan.'
Being blocked did not deter the carpenter from Belfield.
'Na, I made a video straight away saying they were pathetic and it was one of my biggest hits.'
A host of NRL players have personally contacted Bitar.
Some tell him they love his work. Others tell him to stop.
'The first person to contact me was Blake Lawrie's brother,' he said.
'I was giving it to him a bit, and then I remember his brother reached out to me and said: 'you have got to stop making these videos. You're gonna get yourself in big trouble.'
'But I didn't stop. Not when I knew the players were actually watching my videos.'
Most of his videos are about St George Illawarra given Bitar is a 'die hard' Dragons fan who has supported the club since he could walk – and was even in their junior development squad.
'Most of the players are fans,' Bitar said.
'They come up to me at games and recite my jokes'.
Filming his first NRL post in February, Bitar's videos have gone viral, and he has now posted more than 150.
'They are all pretty big at the moment,' he said.
'Right now, there's the Origin one that's going around, that's got 300,000 views. I think my biggest is one about my reaction to a game that got almost half a million.'
And in a warning to the NRL's underperforming and out-of-form, Bitar declared he has just begun.
'Regardless of whether they block me, I'm gonna keep going with the videos.
'People are enjoying it. I'm enjoying it. I'm doing this for fun. I'm a footy fanatic and I have the right to express my views. I'm just saying what everyone is thinking,' he said.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Success is baked for rising star apprentice jockey Jaylah Kennedy
Success is baked for rising star apprentice jockey Jaylah Kennedy

News.com.au

time17 minutes ago

  • News.com.au

Success is baked for rising star apprentice jockey Jaylah Kennedy

Rising star Jaylah Kennedy is second in pursuit of the Melbourne apprentice jockey title but certainly atop the popularity stakes for sharing home-baked sweet treats on race day. A decadent batch of 'brookies', combined brownie and chocolate chip cookie slice, cut into jockey portion-sized squares, attracted rave reviews last Wednesday at Sandown. Kennedy is lucky to be genetically-blessed to indulge her passion for cooking and baking, an unlikely pastime for most jockeys given the importance of weight management. 'It's a little thing I enjoy doing on the side, when I'm not riding light,' Kennedy said. 'It's cold in winter, so nice to bring something in that can warm peoples' tummies. 'I love cooking, I love baking, I just bought a house and it's got a nice kitchen so I'm making use of it. 'I'm lucky I'm four foot nine … any taller and if I cooked and bake like I do, I probably wouldn't be a jockey.' Jockeys, trainers, race-day officials and stewards polished the brookies last Wednesday. 'I told the stewards they can't suspend me if they're going to eat my baking,' Kennedy laughed. 'I made them bite-sized jockey pieces so everyone could enjoy.' Kennedy has six rides at Flemington on Saturday, including the electric Bold Bastille in the last. 'She's naturally very speedy, I made my way to Werribee the other day to trial her, hoping to keep her race day first-up, and she did everything right,' Kennedy said. 'She pulled up like a horse ready to go to the races now … first up she could be maybe that little bit vulnerable late but … she'll be there to take a bit of running down.' Kennedy has ridden 20 city winners to date this season, one less than clubhouse leader Tom Prebble, a friend and fellow fourth-year apprentice. Prebble has the stronger hand on Saturday with six rides, including favourites Splash Back and Jimmy The Bear. 'I've been going to the races thinking anything can happen lately,' Kennedy said. 'An open book and try not to overthink this. Hopefully it's a good weekend. 'It comes down to the support you've got around you, I've been getting a lot of good opportunities with a lot of big stables … it's always good to be able to repay them. 'This is my first full season riding in town and I'm happy with how things are going, hopefully we can tick off the metro premiership, it's a really big goal of mine this season. 'It's pretty competitive between me and Tom Prebble, he's one of my best mates but at the same I'd be happy to be in first place and him second.' Apprentice jockeys rode five of the nine winners last Saturday at Sandown. â– â– â– â– â– Flemington victory next as Rose blooms A dream Flemington winner would cap a memorable week for apprentice jockey Rose Hammond. Hammond the past seven days has doubled her tally of city winners, now up to four, with success at Sandown Hillside last Saturday and Wednesday respectively. The Melbourne-based Echuca export has two rides at Headquarters on Saturday including the Matt Laurie -trained Yulong-owned filly Sun Setting, a $21 outsider in a competitive 1100m race. Sun Setting has won comfortably the past two starts at Moe and Mornington. 'I'm really excited for her,' Hammond said. 'A huge thank you to (Laurie), he's been a great supporter of mine and backs me. 'Hopefully I get the job done for him … in the Yulong colours, so really keen for that.' Hammond is determined to make up for lost time, as early injury setbacks hampered her progress and riding development. The 22-year-old suffered a broken leg in track work, before she even started her apprenticeship, and then missed time with a fractured collarbone and multiple concussions. 'I've always wanted to be a jockey so that determination is in me, I couldn't think of doing anything else, I love my job,' Hammond said. 'Hopefully the next two years (of apprenticeship) are smooth sailing, got the injuries out of the way. 'I know I've got a lot of improvement to come so hopefully I can keep working on my craft and get momentum.'

Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli to open contract talks next week
Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli to open contract talks next week

News.com.au

time17 minutes ago

  • News.com.au

Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli to open contract talks next week

There's no anxiety for Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli, who won't rush to sign a new contract but is ready to get 'rolling' on talks that will ramp up next week after a series of early season interruptions. One of the best players in the AFL, if not the best, Bontempelli, 29, is off contract in October and yet to ink his next deal despite the season reaching its halfway mark. Bontempelli's last contract was a four-year deal signed in 2021, but amid a changed landscape of longer contracts taking player commitments beyond 2030 for increased money, the six-time All-Australian remains unfazed by the lack of movement. Having endured a pre-season calf injury that delayed his entry to 2025 until round 7, Bontempelli put other matters, including his off-season engagement, ahead of contract talks. But now he's ready to get going and seal his future, which should come as welcome relief to Bulldogs fans. 'It's going well – obviously, it's getting to the point now where things will start to open up,' Bontempelli said. 'There was a lot going on in my life early on in the season and hence why – probably no different to other years – I took my time a little bit with it. 'But those conversations are definitely starting to take place, pretty much as of next week, so the ball can well and truly get rolling with that.' The six-time best and fairest winner also played a straight bat when asked about reports that suggested Collingwood would launch an audacious bid to lure him to the Magpies. 'That information never really came to me at all, to be honest,' Bontempelli said. Things are stabilising at the Bulldogs with the return of troubled teammate Jamarra Ugle-Hagan to the club, and training this week, which excited the skipper who was reluctant to talk about a playing return. 'Ultimately, I want him to just enjoy being back in the environment,' he said. 'Hopefully, getting to the stage in the not-too-distant future where he can look at playing again.'

Don't pin hopes on comeback Swans, cautions coach
Don't pin hopes on comeback Swans, cautions coach

Perth Now

time19 minutes ago

  • Perth Now

Don't pin hopes on comeback Swans, cautions coach

Sydney coach Dean Cox doesn't expect miracles from his returning big guns. And he also doesn't want his Swans to pin hopes of a late-season revival on the comebacks of some top talent for Saturday's away clash against Port Adelaide. Dual All Australian Errol Gulden (ankle) will play his first game since last year's grand final, while Tom Papley, absent since round three, Joel Amartey and Matt Roberts also return. "One thing you don't want to rely on is getting certain players back to turn your season around," Cox told reporters in Adelaide. "They are important players for our football club. "But we have got to make sure that we're building a system and a way we play so when they do come back, they just add. "Time will tell how quickly they dive back into it, but they have worked extremely hard through their rehab process." But the inclusions have Port Adelaide wary ahead of the Adelaide Oval fixture. "On paper they look really good," Power assistant coach Tyson Goldsack told reporters. "We don't know at what level they can perform with their first game back, say Gulden and Papley in particular, Amartey has missed a chunk of footy. "They're really good players, and if they all have a day they're going to be hard to stop. "But at the same time we're in pretty good form, so we will take on all comers." The Power (11th, six wins, seven losses) are two wins outside the top eight ahead of hosting 13th-placed Sydney. "Us and Sydney, we have got a mountain of work to do in the back half of the year," Goldsack said. "But our players are up for the fight." Port lost Brownlow Medallist Ollie Wines and key defender Aliir Aliir to knee injuries, with Lachie Jones among those recalled. Midfielder Jason Horne-Francis was selected despite being on light duties after copping a knock to his right shoulder in last week's win against Melbourne. "He has had a lean week. He got some treatment that should see him play OK with it," Goldsack said. "I don't think it is a big risk, it's just pain management."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store