“Professor Chris Levi from Newcastle went above and beyond ... Wally Lewis helped me through it ... family and friends. I can live a normal life but I just need to watch myself. If I go surfing I shouldn’t go alone ... things like that are key.” Joey could have another battle on his hands when he appears on The Matty Johns Show on Foxtel. Given Joey is a key part of Channel Nine’s league coverage, he can expect a warm welcome from his brother. “I don’t know how it came about,” he said. “I think [head of Fox Sports television] Steve Crawley rang the bosses at Nine and they gave it the all-clear. I’m more nervous about appearing on there than playing Origin. I am trying to prepare for whatever he can throw at me. There could be an upside to it as I’ll get an opportunity to get back at him after 44 years of copping it.’’ Cross-code friendship forged by son’s diagnosis It’s a friendship formed in the most modern way possible — reality TV and social media. Australian basketball superstar Utah Jazz small forward Joe Ingles was watching Survivor and thought he’d like to be mates with Mat Rogers, who was a contestant on the show.

It was only after the birth of his twins that they became firm friends. One of Ingles’ twins, Jacob, was recently diagnosed with autism — something that Rogers has dealt with in the most public way with his son Max. Sharing the struggle: Joe and Renae Ingles with Jacob. ‘‘Joe was watching Survivor and we both really liked Mat on the show ... they got in touch through Instagram and a friendship that has gone from there,’’ Ingles’ wife, Renae, herself a professional netballer, said. ‘‘And their friendship and mine with [Rogers’ wife] Chloe has gone from there. ‘‘They have been amazing as we have learnt about life with Jacob. Chloe has been an amazing support. ‘‘We had the feeling that something was up [with Jacob] ... his development was a bit slower in some areas and we started to get some tests. It was on January 8 that we had it confirmed to us and I have to say it was and has been a very emotional and stressful time for us. It’s been tough on us as a family as we try to get our heads around it all.’’

The support from the Rogers family has led to Joe and Renae joining the charity that Mat and Chloe have established. Amazing support: Mat Rogers with wife Chloe Maxwell and son Max. Credit:Paul Harris ‘‘The support that 4ASDKids has provided for families over the last 10 years is incredible,’’ Joe said. ‘‘We are thrilled we can add to this now and into the future. We are passionate about giving back to the community, and 4ASDKids is the perfect fit.’’ Renae said: ‘‘Having a child on the spectrum is tough, and expensive, which is stressful. However, early intervention is the key. Raising awareness and funding for families in need is our new passion. ‘‘Jacob is receiving between 20 and 25 hours a week of ABA [applied behaviour analysis] therapy, and is also doing both speech and occupational therapy. It’s been a really big adjustment for all of us.

‘‘However, other than the obvious change in therapy hours, we have tried to keep life the same as before his diagnosis. We want to guide the way for our kids to be happy, resilient, passionate people so we are riding the challenges as they come.’’ Talk the game down Forget the club bosses, it is the NRL who will be most anxious next weekend as the first ratings and crowd figures for the 2019 season are revealed. Ratings for the Indigenous All Stars match were down 23 per cent this year. Charity Shield ratings were down 31 per cent. If ratings fall when the NRL season starts, it will be a disaster for the game as those missing fans are hard to recapture. None of this is surprising given the scandals that have plagued the off-season. What has made it worse is that ARLC chairman Peter Beattie has been fuelling the outrage by jumping at every opportunity to talk about them. Headline act: Peter Beattie embarrassed the ARL Commission with his slip-up on the ABC's 7.30. Credit:Steven Siewert