Latest news with #MichaelJennings
Daily Mail
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Footy star Michael Jennings whose past is SO scandalous he was barred from getting one of the NRL's biggest honours has found a lifeline as a tradie
Michael Jennings has traded packed stadium crowds for job sites as he begins a new chapter in construction after quitting his highly controversial NRL career. The former Kangaroos, Tonga and State of Origin star was recently seen in a promotional video for 22 Civil, highlighting his work on a home build in West Ryde, Sydney. 'Hi there, Michael Jennings here from Introbuild and 22 Civil, come and have a look guys,' he said in the clip. The video showed Jennings coordinating with fencing crews and concreters to build a new home. The caption on the video read, 'When strong crews come together, results speak louder,' with 22 Civil praising Jennings' involvement in the project. For many fans, the footage marked the first public appearance of Jennings since a turbulent 2024 season that saw him reach, but not celebrate, one of rugby league's rare milestones. View this post on Instagram A post shared by 22 Civil (@22civil_) Jennings played for the Sydney Roosters in 2024 but was denied a formal acknowledgement of his 300th NRL match and did not appear on grand final day in the retiring parade Jennings made his NRL debut for the Penrith Panthers in 2007 and played more than 120 games for the club. He later joined the Sydney Roosters, winning a premiership in 2013, before signing with Parramatta, where he played over 100 games and became a senior team figure. At the representative level, he wore the blue of New South Wales 18 times and also played for Australia and Tonga. But his career was derailed in 2020 when he was provisionally suspended for testing positive to Ligandrol and Ibutamoren, both banned substances. In 2021, he received a three-year ban from the NRL Anti-Doping Tribunal, effectively ending his career. During this period, Jennings also faced serious legal challenges. His ex-wife Kirra Wilden filed a civil suit accusing him of rape and sexual assault during their relationship. While Jennings denied the claims, the court found him liable in 2023 and ordered him to pay almost $500,000 in damages. Despite this, he returned to the NRL in 2024 and made nine appearances for the Sydney Roosters. However, any hope of a triumphant return was short-lived. Plans to honour Jennings' 300th first-grade game were scrapped by the NRL in April. His ex-wife publicly criticised the league, saying it failed to take women's safety seriously. NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo confirmed the decision to withhold official recognition. 'Due to past conduct, Michael Jennings will not receive official NRL recognition on his 300th match,' he said. The decision followed consultation with ARL Commission chair Peter V'landys, Roosters chairman Nick Politis and coach Trent Robinson. Jennings was also absent from the 2024 grand final retiring parade, where veterans like Shaun Johnson and Aaron Woods were given a chance to farewell fans. After the season ended, Jennings signed with the St Mary's Saints in the Ron Massey Cup. On May 25, he scored a hat-trick in a 46–8 win, showing he still had something left on the field. In January, he joined fellow controversial figures Jarryd Hayne and Ben Barba in a Premier League Nines tournament on the Gold Coast.
The Advertiser
22-05-2025
- Climate
- The Advertiser
Water-logged Blues say wet good prep for sunny Suncorp
NSW insist the state's big wet is providing good State of Origin preparation for a dry Suncorp Stadium, as they deal with a deluge ahead of their trip to Queensland. The Blues' opposed session with a St Marys' Ron Massey Cup side featuring Michael Jennings on Thursday was played in driving rain, with close to 60mm falling in the preceding 24 hours. The Blue Mountains Grammar School field held up relatively well in the circumstances, but water was splashing up with every step taken by players. In contrast, the Maroons were training on the clear and warm Sunshine Coast, and with no rain predicted for Origin I at Suncorp Stadium next Wednesday night. But Blues players maintained the watery conditions could play into their favour, while still attempting to play the way they will in drier conditions. "It provided more of an emphasis on taking care of the football, which is a good thing to have focus on in any game," fullback Dylan Edwards said. "Those sorts of conditions, yes they're challenging to stick tackles and hold the football. "But you have to focus on doing that anyway going up to Suncorp next week, regardless of if it is a dry or wet track." Payne Haas again sat out Thursday's session, but the Blues are confident he will overcome a quad injury to play in the series opener. In the 15 minutes before media were kicked out, Mitch Moses warmed up with a left edge of Angus Crichton, Latrell Mitchell and Brian To'o. Nathan Cleary was on his preferred right side, alongside Liam Martin, Stephen Crichton and Zac Lomax. NSW called in Gerard Sutton to referee the session, while St Marys had Jennings playing right centre and Stephen Crichton's brother Christian playing right wing. Former NSW halfback Craig Gower was an assistant coach for St Marys, giving the Blues a touch of Origin experience to work against. "They gave us a look at the shapes we think Queensland are going to be throwing," second-rower Hudson Young said. "It's pretty cool too because Jenko and Gower did a lot in the game. So for them to give up their time and help us prepare. "We can't control the weather and there are people out there doing it tough in NSW at the moment. We're thinking of them in this period." NSW insist the state's big wet is providing good State of Origin preparation for a dry Suncorp Stadium, as they deal with a deluge ahead of their trip to Queensland. The Blues' opposed session with a St Marys' Ron Massey Cup side featuring Michael Jennings on Thursday was played in driving rain, with close to 60mm falling in the preceding 24 hours. The Blue Mountains Grammar School field held up relatively well in the circumstances, but water was splashing up with every step taken by players. In contrast, the Maroons were training on the clear and warm Sunshine Coast, and with no rain predicted for Origin I at Suncorp Stadium next Wednesday night. But Blues players maintained the watery conditions could play into their favour, while still attempting to play the way they will in drier conditions. "It provided more of an emphasis on taking care of the football, which is a good thing to have focus on in any game," fullback Dylan Edwards said. "Those sorts of conditions, yes they're challenging to stick tackles and hold the football. "But you have to focus on doing that anyway going up to Suncorp next week, regardless of if it is a dry or wet track." Payne Haas again sat out Thursday's session, but the Blues are confident he will overcome a quad injury to play in the series opener. In the 15 minutes before media were kicked out, Mitch Moses warmed up with a left edge of Angus Crichton, Latrell Mitchell and Brian To'o. Nathan Cleary was on his preferred right side, alongside Liam Martin, Stephen Crichton and Zac Lomax. NSW called in Gerard Sutton to referee the session, while St Marys had Jennings playing right centre and Stephen Crichton's brother Christian playing right wing. Former NSW halfback Craig Gower was an assistant coach for St Marys, giving the Blues a touch of Origin experience to work against. "They gave us a look at the shapes we think Queensland are going to be throwing," second-rower Hudson Young said. "It's pretty cool too because Jenko and Gower did a lot in the game. So for them to give up their time and help us prepare. "We can't control the weather and there are people out there doing it tough in NSW at the moment. We're thinking of them in this period." NSW insist the state's big wet is providing good State of Origin preparation for a dry Suncorp Stadium, as they deal with a deluge ahead of their trip to Queensland. The Blues' opposed session with a St Marys' Ron Massey Cup side featuring Michael Jennings on Thursday was played in driving rain, with close to 60mm falling in the preceding 24 hours. The Blue Mountains Grammar School field held up relatively well in the circumstances, but water was splashing up with every step taken by players. In contrast, the Maroons were training on the clear and warm Sunshine Coast, and with no rain predicted for Origin I at Suncorp Stadium next Wednesday night. But Blues players maintained the watery conditions could play into their favour, while still attempting to play the way they will in drier conditions. "It provided more of an emphasis on taking care of the football, which is a good thing to have focus on in any game," fullback Dylan Edwards said. "Those sorts of conditions, yes they're challenging to stick tackles and hold the football. "But you have to focus on doing that anyway going up to Suncorp next week, regardless of if it is a dry or wet track." Payne Haas again sat out Thursday's session, but the Blues are confident he will overcome a quad injury to play in the series opener. In the 15 minutes before media were kicked out, Mitch Moses warmed up with a left edge of Angus Crichton, Latrell Mitchell and Brian To'o. Nathan Cleary was on his preferred right side, alongside Liam Martin, Stephen Crichton and Zac Lomax. NSW called in Gerard Sutton to referee the session, while St Marys had Jennings playing right centre and Stephen Crichton's brother Christian playing right wing. Former NSW halfback Craig Gower was an assistant coach for St Marys, giving the Blues a touch of Origin experience to work against. "They gave us a look at the shapes we think Queensland are going to be throwing," second-rower Hudson Young said. "It's pretty cool too because Jenko and Gower did a lot in the game. So for them to give up their time and help us prepare. "We can't control the weather and there are people out there doing it tough in NSW at the moment. We're thinking of them in this period."
Perth Now
22-05-2025
- Climate
- Perth Now
Water-logged Blues say wet good prep for sunny Suncorp
NSW insist the state's big wet is providing good State of Origin preparation for a dry Suncorp Stadium, as they deal with a deluge ahead of their trip to Queensland. The Blues' opposed session with a St Marys' Ron Massey Cup side featuring Michael Jennings on Thursday was played in driving rain, with close to 60mm falling in the preceding 24 hours. The Blue Mountains Grammar School field held up relatively well in the circumstances, but water was splashing up with every step taken by players. In contrast, the Maroons were training on the clear and warm Sunshine Coast, and with no rain predicted for Origin I at Suncorp Stadium next Wednesday night. But Blues players maintained the watery conditions could play into their favour, while still attempting to play the way they will in drier conditions. "It provided more of an emphasis on taking care of the football, which is a good thing to have focus on in any game," fullback Dylan Edwards said. "Those sorts of conditions, yes they're challenging to stick tackles and hold the football. "But you have to focus on doing that anyway going up to Suncorp next week, regardless of if it is a dry or wet track." Payne Haas again sat out Thursday's session, but the Blues are confident he will overcome a quad injury to play in the series opener. In the 15 minutes before media were kicked out, Mitch Moses warmed up with a left edge of Angus Crichton, Latrell Mitchell and Brian To'o. Nathan Cleary was on his preferred right side, alongside Liam Martin, Stephen Crichton and Zac Lomax. NSW called in Gerard Sutton to referee the session, while St Marys had Jennings playing right centre and Stephen Crichton's brother Christian playing right wing. Former NSW halfback Craig Gower was an assistant coach for St Marys, giving the Blues a touch of Origin experience to work against. "They gave us a look at the shapes we think Queensland are going to be throwing," second-rower Hudson Young said. "It's pretty cool too because Jenko and Gower did a lot in the game. So for them to give up their time and help us prepare. "We can't control the weather and there are people out there doing it tough in NSW at the moment. We're thinking of them in this period."
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sunoco to acquire Parkland in $9.1bn deal
Sunoco has announced a definitive agreement to acquire all outstanding shares of Parkland Corporation in a transaction valued at approximately $9.1bn (C$12.57bn), including assumed debt. This acquisition is expected to be immediately accretive, with more than 10% accretion to distributable cash flow per common unit and $250m in run-rate synergies by the third year. Under the terms of the agreement, Parkland shareholders will receive 0.295 SUNCorp units and C$19.80 for each Parkland share. Parkland shareholders may also choose to receive C$44 per Parkland share in cash or 0.536 SUNCorp units per Parkland share, subject to proration. For two years following the transaction's close, Sunoco will ensure that SUNCorp unitholders receive the same dividend equivalent as Sunoco unitholders. The transaction will be implemented as part of a plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (Alberta) and will require approval by 66 2/3% of the votes cast by Parkland shareholders. Parkland's directors and senior officers, holding 0.7% of the shares, have committed to vote in favour of the transaction. Parkland executive chairman Michael Jennings said: 'This strategic combination is a compelling outcome for Parkland shareholders. The Board unanimously recommends the proposed transaction, recognising Sunoco's commitment to safeguarding Canadian jobs, retaining the Calgary head office and further investing in Canada. 'This partnership creates significant financial benefits for shareholders and would position the combined company as the largest independent fuel distributor in the Americas.' The deal includes compelling financial benefits, industry-leading scale and stability, and accelerated accretive growth, according to Parkland. Sunoco expects to return to four-times its long-term leverage target within 12–18 months after closing the acquisition. The combined company will benefit from complementary assets, enabling an advantaged fuel supply and further diversifying Sunoco's portfolio and geographic footprint. Parkland president and CEO Bob Espey said: 'This transaction delivers immediate value for shareholders, including an attractive 25% premium. 'Sunoco shares our commitment to growth, customer service, operational excellence and ongoing investment in Canada, making our combined business stronger and better positioned for sustained success.' Sunoco plans to continue to invest in the Burnaby Refinery, known for producing low-carbon fuels, which will continue to operate and supply fuel within the Lower Mainland.
CBC
05-05-2025
- Business
- CBC
U.S. company Sunoco signs deal to buy Parkland in $9.1 billion US agreement
U.S. energy company Sunoco LP has signed an agreement to buy Parkland Corp. in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $9.1 billion US, including assumed debt. The deal comes as Calgary-based Parkland faces an attempt by Simpson Oil Ltd., its largest shareholder, to replace a majority of its board of directors. Parkland cancelled its annual meeting set for Tuesday and rescheduled it to June 24, when shareholders will also be asked to approve the Sunoco deal. Parkland executive chairman Michael Jennings said it is a compelling outcome for shareholders. "The board unanimously recommends the proposed transaction, recognizing Sunoco's commitment to safeguarding Canadian jobs, retaining the Calgary head office, and further investing in Canada," Jennings said in a statement. "This partnership creates significant financial benefits for shareholders and would position the combined company as the largest independent fuel distributor in the Americas." Parkland and Cayman Islands-based Simpson have been at odds over the fuel refiner and retailer's performance and governance for about a year. Simpson owns just under 20 per cent of Parkland's shares and wanted nine of its directors added to Parkland's board at a shareholder meeting, which has been postponed. Under shareholder pressure, Parkland said in March it would review options to boost its share price, including a sale of the entire company. Earlier this month, longtime Parkland CEO Bob Espey announced plans to step down before year-end. As part of the deal, Sunoco intends to form a new publicly traded company named SUNCorp LLC that will hold limited partnership units of Sunoco that are economically equivalent to Sunoco's publicly traded common units. Parkland shareholders will receive 0.295 SUNCorp units and $19.80 Cdn for each Parkland share. Parkland shareholders may also elect to receive $44 Cdn per Parkland share in cash or 0.536 SUNCorp units for each Parkland share, subject to limits. Parkland shares closed at $36.28 Cdn on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Friday. In addition to shareholder and court approvals, the deal is subject to regulatory approvals, including approval under the Investment Canada Act. Sunoco has committed to maintain a Canadian headquarters in Calgary and significant employment levels in Canada.
