Monday Buzz: Highlights and lowlights from the weekend’s sport action

What Peter V’landys wants he usually gets but there’s been an unenthusiastic response to his latest grand plan. Buzz’s highlights, lowlights.

Peter V’landys had a rare loss. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Phil Rothfield has all the NRL gossip before the start of the season. Here’s Buzz’s weekend highlights and lowlights.

THE HIGHLIGHT

Three sleeps to go. The shortest rugby league off-season in history has felt like the longest for footy fans. Storm v Souths on Thursday night will be an absolute blockbuster in Melbourne.

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THE LOWLIGHT

India flogging England in the Test cricket, stopping Australia from playing in the Test cricket championship final at Lords in June against the Kiwis.

WALKER TO FULLBACK

We’re hearing there could be a shock positional switch at the Manly Sea Eagles to cover for injured fullback Tom Trbojevic in round one. The mail is strong that experienced centre/five-eighth Dylan Walker will play fullback, although he will be named in the centres to play the Roosters at the SCG. The switch will be announced an hour before kick-off.

‘MANLY COULD RUN LAST’

Shockwaves on the Weekend Big Sports Breakfast on Sunday when Manly life member and premiership winner Peter ‘Zorba’ Peters included his old club among four wooden-spoon contenders, alongside the Bulldogs, Broncos and Dragons. His reason; Zorba says the club didn’t buy a back-up fullback for Tom Trbojevic or a specialist hooker … and will pay the price. His comments are surprising considering how close he is to Dessie Hasler.

Peter Peters (left) with Des Hasler (right). Picture: Simon Chillingworth

RARE LOSS FOR V’LANDYS

What Peter V’landys wants Peter V’landys normally gets. However, his plan to play three games — NRL, reserve grade and Jersey Flegg — on the one day is unlikely to happen. The stadium operators don’t want a bar of it. Protecting the surface is their concern.

In the old days, rugby league was played on mud heaps in the wet or grounds that resembled cow paddocks in the dry. The injury risk these days is too great.

Peter V’landys had a rare loss. Picture: Jonathan Ng

TIGERS’ GOAL-KICKING DILEMMA

The Wests Tigers are still unsure about their goalkicker. They’ve lost Benji Marshall and Paul Momirovski, who shared the kicking duties last season with Moses Mbye. During the off-season, Luke Brooks and Adam Doueihi have had coaching from the great Daryl Halligan.

SOUTH TRAGIC TURNS 90

Footy fans don’t come more tragic than Tass Economos, who celebrated his 90th birthday over the weekend with proud family members, decked out in his South Sydney outfit. Many, many years ago it was Tas and his brother John who wrote the lyrics to Glory, Glory to South Sydney.

South Sydney fan Tass Economos celebrating his 90th birthday.

THURSTON ON MAROONS STAFF

Former Cowboys coach Paul Green has finalised his Maroons coaching staff. He’s signed up Johnathan Thurston and Neil Henry, who has worked on the Maroons staff on and off for years. The Thurston appointment is a coup. He is hugely respected by the players and won a premiership with Green at the Cowboys.

WE’RE BACK TONIGHT

NRL 360 returns on Fox Sports on Monday at 6.30pm. Your columnist will join Ben Ikin, Paul Kent and James Hooper to discuss all the big issues. Kevvie Walters, the new Broncos coach with so much riding on round one, will be interviewed live.

Originally published as Monday Buzz: Highlights and lowlights from the weekend’s sport action