Canberra golfer Brendan Jones is hoping an injection into his wrist will save his season and get him back on the golf course before the year ends. Jones has been battling a wrist problem for more than a month and hasn’t been able to play in crucial tournaments in Japan. Jones was riding high on the Japan Tour money list with $384,000 from his appearances, but five weeks on the sideline has halted his rise. Jones will have an injection on Thursday to try to stop the pain. In the meantime, Jones is teaming up with two rugby union greats and they’re putting themselves up for auction. Wife Adele has organised a chance to play a round at Royal Canberra with Jones, Brumbies and Wallabies great George Gregan and former New Zealand scrumhalf Justin Marshall. The current bid is more than $1000 and the round is for five people on February 6. The auction will raise money to support Canberra Grammar School’s Northside Early Childhood campus.

ACT Sport Minister Andrew Barr has called on some legends to try to keep his winning reputation intact at the AIS Arena on Sunday. Barr will team up with NBL Hall of Famer Cal Bruton and Canberra Capitals legends Lucille Bailie and Linda Muir for a half-time match against the media. Barr even rested himself from his mid-week netball match to ensure his bung ankle had recovered in time. Cal “the Black Pearl” Bruton will be launching three-point bombs with ActewAGL donating cash to Lifeline - $50 dollars for every basket and $100 for every three-pointer. Former Raiders skipper Alan Tongue will also join Barr in the half-time entertainment of the Capitals v Bendigo WNBL clash.

Ex-Brumbies coach Jake White finally ended his Australian silence to explain his decision to quit to ACT rugby fans. White told The Canberra Times he didn’t feel guilty about chasing an international dream. But it seems not all has been forgiven and forgotten at Brumbies HQ. White’s assistant, Stephen Larkham, said on Saturday that White’s decision to defect to the Durban Sharks left a “bitter taste” in his mouth. White still owns a house in Canberra, but is planning to sell it before the end of the year. The Brumbies are trying not to dwell on White’s surprise exit. Larkham and Laurie Fisher are the two candidates to take over and will likely be interviewed this week. There are strong rumours Larkham will be the man to take over, but there has also been speculation linking Fisher to a job as Wallabies forwards coach if he misses out on the Brumbies’ top job. Larkham said he “needed” Fisher by his side if he was Brumbies coach and was adamant he would stay if Fisher took the reins. A decision is expected soon.

The Brumbies landed a $900,000 deal with the Northern Territory government four years ago to play pre-season games in Darwin but the Super Rugby finalists are now looking to take matches to Wagga Wagga. The Wagga City Council will meet on Monday to decide whether to give the all clear for trial matches to be played there in 2015 and 2016. The budget to bring the games to Robertson Oval over two years is expected to be $75,000 to $80,000, with business sponsorship to be sourced by Southern Inland Rugby Union to help cover the costs. It’s not as lucrative, but at least the players can avoid losing five kilograms from 80 minutes of action in Darwin’s humid conditions.

The ACT Brumbies and rugby community is mourning the loss of Pat Finegan, father of former Brumbies skipper Owen, after he died last week. Pat and wife Josie were regulars in Canberra during the club’s glory years, travelling to the capital to watch Owen and the Brumbies play. They always had a room “booked” to stay with Geoff and Maureen Larkham and both families travelled the world to support their sons, the Brumbies and the Wallabies. “It was always a party weekend when Pat and Josie came down,” Geoff Larkham said. “We all went to the World Cup in 2003 and I sat with him at the World Cup semi-final in 1999. We had fabulous times in Ireland, England, France, Italy, Canberra ... everywhere.” The Brumbies built their traditions on family support. The Larkhams, Finegans and Gregans were household rugby names, but their families formed a strong bond in Australian rugby’s golden era. Pat was also a well-respected figure in the Irish rugby community. Pat had a long battle with cancer. “Pat was such a generous man, with his love and the way he helped people,” Geoff Larkham said. “When people came out from Ireland, Pat and Josie would take them in, give them accommodation and help them find jobs. Through rugby we formed family friendships.” Larkham and Brumbies chief executive Andrew Fagan will travel to Sydney for Pat’s funeral on Monday. Locker Room sends best wishes to the Finegans.

He was booed for winning the Clive Churchill Medal on a losing team, but Manly’s Daly Cherry-Evans got a vote of confidence from national assistant coach David Furner when the Australian Kangaroos assembled. Furner, who won the Clive Churchill in Canberra’s last premiership in 1994, was quick to extend a handshake to Cherry-Evans. “I said to him I thought he deserved [the medal] ... it’s his and no one can take it away from him,” Furner said. “I think it’s distasteful [the boos]. The kid’s gone out, earned the respect of playing in that grand final and done everything possible, it was just a couple of touches of brilliance by the Roosters that got them the win. I thought Cherry-Evans was pretty dominant for Manly.” David Furner also proved valuable to the Raiders last week. Brother and Raiders chief executive Don Furner sent David a text to find out what was going on after Canberra star Josh Papalii was robbed in England.