CHANNEL Nine has turned to Hollywood to decorate the jewel in the network’s rugby league coverage crown, recruiting Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson for Wednesday night’s State of Origin I blockbuster.

A Channel Nine crew flew to Los Angeles earlier this month to shoot The Rock waxing lyrical about the legends of Joey Johns and Darren Lockyer, with the Hollywood superstar set to be rolled out as part of what is guaranteed to be a huge ratings winner.

The top two rating programs on free-to-air television last year were State of Origins I and II, with the game where the Blues ended the Maroons eight-year domination attracting an audience more than million viewers.

INSIGHT: Brown helping Blues stay golden

Sport Confidential can also reveal Nine supremo David Gyngell and NRL CEO Dave Smith have been in regular dialogue over the next broadcast rights deal, with Nine determined to retain rugby league as one of its sporting flagships.

Gyngell has even asked Smith about the prospect of cutting an early deal, despite still having two years to run on the existing contract.

The NRL has rejected this notion, telling Nine they intend to test the market to gain a true value on a deal expected to surpass the $1.5 billion mark. There is even some talk in TV circles about Nine and Seven joining forces to make a play at the next NRL and AFL broadcast deals.

CONFIDENTIAL: Hoppa to coach Manly juniors?

media_camera Anthony Minichiello with Callum Casey, 10, Shelby Dean, 10, and Kate Chadwick, 16.

MINI COUNTS ON SUPPORT FOR YOUTH CANCER FIGHT

NRL good guy Anthony Minichiello will celebrate a wonderful career and help raise money for the Sony Foundation with a gala testimonial dinner at the Ivy in Sydney on Friday night.

The Sydney Roosters champion has always been swift to draw an A-list crowd, with Channel Nine’s Karl Stefanovic to MC the 400-strong event and breakfast radio king Alan Jones to feature as guest speaker.

We caught up with Mini at Roosters training earlier in the week, where the retired Tricolours fullback arranged for a number of kids from the Sony Foundation to attend a training session and spend the morning with the players. It was a smash hit.

“It’s great to put a smile on the kids faces and hopefully we can raise plenty of money for the Sony Foundation on Friday night,” Minichiello said.

CAPTAINS UNITE FOR GOOD CAUSE

THEY’VE been sworn enemies for their entire careers but NSW Origin captain Robbie Farah and Queensland counterpart Cameron Smith have joined forces for a new TV advertising campaign to help combat the very serious issue of mental health.

Launched on Thursday night, the TV commercial depicting Farah and Smith has been titled State of Mind and will air regularly throughout the State of Origin series. With statistics showing one in two Australians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime, it’s a wonderful cause.

media_camera NSW Origin enforcer Beau Scott shows off his latest catch.

SCOTT HOOKS ANOTHER

WHEN NSW Origin enforcer Beau Scott isn’t angling to get his hooks into Queensland playmaker Johnathan Thurston, the Blues backrower can be found dangling a line around his other favourite hobby.

As you can see from the size of these Blue Eye Cod caught last week at Browns Mountain, Scott is also a gun fisherman. Pictured here with Knights teammate Robbie Rochow, the pair took around half an hour to reel in these 15kg Blue Eye’s at the popular deep sea fishing spot, which is about two hours off Sydney.

GREAT SCOTT: The man that gives Maroons nightmares

Show your support for NSW and become a brick in the #BLUEWALL

BLUES ROOMMATES

LAST year, the Blues had some teething problems in their Coffs Harbour camp when they discovered all rooms were kitted with one double and one single bed. No such problems this year, with the NSW side bunkering down primarily in groups of three at the Novotel Resort.

The Blues roommates are the fullback and left edge pairing of Josh Dugan, Michael Jennings and Daniel Tupou. The all-you-can-eat trio of Aaron Woods, David Klemmer and Andrew Fifita.

The senior statesman trio of Ryan Hoffman, James Tamou and Beau Scott. Playmakers Trent Hodkinson and Mitchell Pearce are sharing with William Hopoate, while captain Robbie Farah has his own digs. Compared to the Queensland camp, the Blues is all smooth sailing.

CHAD’S RETURN TO BE CONFIRMED

THE return of Cronulla junior Chad Townsend to the Sharks next season is all but rubber-stamped, with the Shire outfit expected to make an official announcement any day. English Super League forward Mose Masoe is also soon expected to be announced at St George Illawarra, with Eels prop Darcy Lussick also strongly tipped to return to Manly.