Monday Buzz: The weekend’s highlights and lowlights
Joseph Suaalii may have a code switch clause in his contract but it doesn’t sound as though Rugby Australia are in any hurry to implement it. Buzz’s highlights, lowlights.
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Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield runs the rule over another weekend of sport and NRL news.
HIGHLIGHT
The Wallaby players singing the first half of the national anthem in Indigenous language on Saturday night at Bankwest Stadium. Rugby doesn’t get too much right but this was magnificent.
LOWLIGHT
Cricket has become an elitist sport. How else do you explain the fact only SCG members are allowed in for the three-day Australia A v India pink-ball match starting on Friday. Cricket Australia is too stingy to pay for the necessary security to open other parts of the SCG.
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LOWLIGHT II
The Wallabies’ dreadful performance against Argentina. What a shocking game of football.
SHOOSH
Which former Parramatta Eels superstar has not once contacted old teammate Ray Price since it was revealed he was fighting cancer. Not a phone call. Not a text message.
SPOTTED
A huge Saturday lunch at Kingsleys on Woolloomooloo wharf on Saturday afternoon – Steve Blythe, Phil Sigsworth, John Singleton, Peter Wynn, Col Murphy, Terry Regan and Mick Cronin.
SPOTTED
Mitchell Pearce hosted his bucks party at the Bald Rock Hotel in Rozelle on Friday night, a who’s who of rugby league stars.
SPOTTED
Sonny Bill Williams and Dustin Martin outside Grappa restaurant in Leichhardt after dining together at on Saturday night
SPOTTED
Big Gordy Tallis at the Justis Huni fight in Brisbane. And Aussie cricket legend Kepler Wessels working as a cut man on the night for Brisbane boxer Ben Kite, still looking super fit at age 63.
SPOTTED
Phil Gould addressing a police superintendent conference in Sydney last week on leadership. Gus’ father Bruce Gould spent his career in the police force.
SPOTTED
Panthers legends and brother-in-laws Mark Geyer and Greg Alexander having lunch at the Lapstone Hotel on Saturday afternoon.
SPOTTED
Jake Trbojevic, James Tedesco and Cooper Cronk playing a round of golf at Bonville Golf Resort on the NSW mid-north coast.
ALRIGHT PRICE
Parramatta Eels legend Ray Price has never been one to cry poor.
He says he is embarrassed by reports that he is broke and needing financial help to fight cancer.
The old warhorse has worked hard all his life to have a comfortable retirement.
“I’m so grateful for all the kind support,” Price said.
“But we’re going okay and living a comfortable lifestyle. I don’t want people feeling sorry for us.
“Cancer is a bastard of a thing but I’m determined to beat it.”
SUAALII SNUB
Rugby Australia has no interest in Joseph Suaalii playing in next year’s Olympics.
The teenager has a clause in his contract at the Roosters that he can switch codes at any time.
Rugby chairman Hamish McLaughlin and CEO Rob Clarke insist they will be sticking by their current players, not airlifting in an NRL player.
“We put our best foot forward with Joseph but at the end of the day we had nowhere near the money league was prepared to offer him,” Clarke said.
“He’s made his choice and we wish him all the best with it.”
THIS RULES
The NRL’s innovations committee meets Monday to look at another round of potential rule changes.
Ricky Stuart, Craig Bellamy, Luke Keary and Damien Cook will join Wayne Pearce and other administrators to discuss some of the biggest issues.
We hope new rules aren’t introduced just for the sake of it.
The product last season was as good as we’ve seen for more than a decade.
The biggest problem the game faces is the increasing number of concussions and serious injuries.
Anything that can be done to protect the players should be the number one priority at the meeting.
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