Fan fave ... Wendell Sailor. Source: The Daily Telegraph

Impressed at the 35-year-old's condition as he prepares for next month's All Stars clash, Charity Shield organisers asked Sailor whether he'd be interested in having another final fling against the Rabbitohs on February 27. The offer was made in December, just before St George Illawarra's two-week Christmas break.

Although he's become a St George Illawarra ambassador since retiring last year, Sailor is still training up to five days a week with his old teammates in Wollongong.

The father-of-two looked in better fettle than ever when Sport Confidential caught up with him at yesterday's Charity Shield launch at ANZ Stadium. But the normally exuberant soul almost blushed when asked about the offer to don the Red V one last time. "I sort of tossed it up over Christmas, but then thought it wasn't really fair to take a spot from one of the younger guys who've been slogging it out all summer," he said.

"And I reckon the fans would probably get a bit sick of me having all these farewell matches."

Respectfully Wendell, we'd like to disagree. When it comes to true characters, we wish they'd never retire.

THE annual NRL silly season will kick into gear next Wednesday, when ex-Knights prop Danny Wicks makes his next court appearance on a string of drugs charges.

According to police sources, NRL officials will be dancing a nervous shuffle when the prosecution presents its case.

Should phone taps of Wicks' conversations with various people be played in court, there's a good chance another player will be implicated. We've been told he was only referred to by nickname in the conversations, but repeatedly so.

Those who've heard the tapes reckon it's a no-brainer to identify the person being referred to.