Monday Buzz: Phil Rothfield reveals his top 10 NRL props
Broncos skipper Kurt Capewell opened a can of worms after rating Payne Haas a better prop than James Fisher-Harris. Buzz reveals his top 10 NRL props and why Capewell is off the mark.
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Phil Rothfield delivers his highlights and lowlights from the opening round of the NRL in Australia’s best sport gossip column, Monday Buzz.
BUZZ’S TOP PROPS
Who is the best front-rower in the NRL? It’s a debate that was raised by Courier Mail journo Peter Badel when he asked Broncos skipper Kurt Capewell if Payne Haas was the best prop in the game after their victory over the Rabbitohs.
Capewell won a premiership last year alongside Panthers powerhouse James Fisher-Harris but he said Haas was the better front-rower. It’s a big statement.
Haas used his huge motor to run 168 metres and was the most dominant forward on the park.
Yet the Broncos in recent years have struggled to dominate the middle.
This isn’t Haas’ fault because he’s often lacking support.
He is obviously an outstanding middle forward and he’s still only 22.
But let’s see if he can lift the Broncos into the top eight this year.
Fisher-Harris, Josh Papalii and Junior Paulo are my top three.
They’ve been around a lot longer and while they mightn’t play as many minutes as Haas, they intimidate and bully their rivals week in, week out.
HIGHLIGHT I
The NSWRL has pledged $520,000 to help 5000 participants in flood affected northern NSW to get a game of footy this year. They will pick up the bills for all insurance and pay for jerseys, shorts, socks, footballs and tackle pads.
HIGHLIGHT II
The Broncos’ Albert Kelly donated the cash from his man-of-the-match award against the Rabbitohs on Friday night to flood victims in northern NSW where he has family members.
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LOWLIGHT
No wonder no-one is watching soccer’s A-League. They were charging $30 for a children’s ticket (even a four-year-old) for Macarthur against the Wanderers on Saturday night at Campbelltown.
LOWLIGHT II
The SCG Trust has appointed up-market restaurateur Justin Hemmes as their new caterer. We have been inundated with complaints from fans forced to wait in long queues for hot food on Saturday. One punter on Twitter wrote: “Most bars and food outlets are closed. Seating restricted to limited areas. Long queues for food and beer, hundreds of people long. It’s an absolute mess. #scg sort your shit out. Absolutely awful game day experience @sydneyroosters Embarrassing”.
SPOTTED
Roosters star Adam Keighran leaving the SCG before full-time. And who could blame him.
SPOTTED
Opposition leader and South Sydney tragic Anthony Albanese was a guest of the Broncos on Friday night at Suncorp. He spoke at the chairman’s function of his disappointment that Adam Reynolds was no longer at the Rabbitohs. Albanese told the audience the NRL should have salary cap discounts for 200-game players who debuted at the club.
SPOTTED
Veteran sports medico Dr Nathan Gibbs had a busy Saturday. He did the Roosters NRLW side at the SCG then drove to Parramatta as a late replacement for Wests Tigers doctor Peter Lorentzos, who has Covid.
SPOTTED
Mitchell Pearce on fire in the UK Super League, scoring two tries for the Catalans Dragons in a thumping 28-nil victory over Wigan.
KEVVIE’S BOY
It’s never easy to coach your own son in NRL unless he’s a Nathan Cleary or Martin Lang, sons of Ivan Cleary and Johnny Lang. Kevvie Walters’ boy Billy has always been a borderline first grader. The Broncos win over Souths showed there can never be claims of nepotism. Billy was almost the best player on the park.
360 VIEW
Catch you Monday on NRL 360 with Braith Anasta, Paul Kent and Mick Ennis to discuss all the biggest issues from the opening round of the competition. Penrith Panthers coach Ivan Cleary will be a special guest.
COOKED CHOOKS
Take nothing away from the Newcastle Knights but it’s not hard to work out why the Roosters were so poor and so underdone at the SCG on Saturday. Trent Robinson started eight players without playing them in the trials – James Tedesco, Luke Keary, Billy Smith, Angus Crichton, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Sio Siua Taukeiaho, Nat Butcher and Connor Watson.
WARNIE’S SCG HONOUR
We’ve had much to say about the SCG Trust and the naming of grandstands at the new footy stadium. The other important issue is recognising the late and great Shane Warne.
A memorial service at the ground in a simulcast with Warnie’s funeral at the MCG is a must.
Warnie might be a Victorian but he played his first and last Test on the SCG.
Sporting fans in Sydney deserve the opportunity to say goodbye from where he worked his magic on the hallowed turf of the country’s most treasured sporting venue.
Originally published as Monday Buzz: Phil Rothfield reveals his top 10 NRL props
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