Monday Buzz: Craig Fitzgibbon signs first Roosters player to Sharks

New Cronulla head coach Craig Fitzgibbon has landed the first blow on his former club by signing a five-try Roosters hero. Buzz’s highlights, lowlights.

South Sydney and the Roosters will resume their rivalry at the new Allianz Stadium.

The most bitter rivals in Australian sport, the Sydney Roosters and the South Sydney Rabbitohs, will be granted the honour of opening Sydney’s magnificent new $800 million Allianz stadium in Moore Park next season.

This match has already been pencilled in the NRL draw for round 25 in August, a few weeks after builders are expected to be finished on the 43,000 seat venue which will feature the most state of the art facilities at any sporting venue in the southern hemisphere.

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Rugby league has beaten rival football codes for the official opening although there might be a test event the weekend before to ensure the stadium is ready for a blockbuster full house when the Roosters host their arch-rivals.

The Daily Telegraph can reveal the NRL has earmarked the game for a Friday night kick-off.

No doubt all tickets will be snapped up within hours of going on sale.

South Sydney and the Roosters will resume their rivalry at the new Allianz Stadium.

The big talking point in the build-up to the opening of the venue will be around the naming of the four grandstands by Venues NSW chairman Tony Shepherd and his directors.

Wallaby icon Sir Nicholas Shehadie’s name will remain on one of the stands.

Soccer is most likely to be recognised with a stand named after old legend Johnny Warren.

We’re hearing there will be two old rugby league players honoured.

It won’t be Clive Churchill because his grandstand is already next door at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

No doubt rugby league immortal, indigenous legend and Sydney Roosters great Arthur Beetson will be in the mix along with old-time legends Dally Messenger or Dave Brown.

The Rabbitohs are in the process of finalising their home ground plan for 2023 onwards.

It is expected they will leave Stadium Australia in Homebush to share Allianz with the Roosters.

The Roosters however will have exclusive use of the venue and its surroundings for their high-performance centre and football offices.

HIGHLIGHT

The courage of old Queensland Maroons enforcer Carl Webb to tell the story of his shocking but brave battle against Motor Neurone Disease to help raise awareness for this horrible illness.

Rugby league legend Carl Webb talks about his ongoing battle with Motor Neurone Disease. Picture: Zak Simmonds

LOWLIGHT

Australia’s capitulation against the Poms at the T20 World Cup. The reaction to this loss among the team will be most interesting. Coach Justin Langer is still trying to win back support from the players after losing the dressing room. He’s not in a position to fire up and make some tough calls.

CUP IS DYING

Is the Melbourne Cup dying a slow death? It used to be one of the highlight days of the year. You’d buy a sweepstake ticket, knock off work and party hard into the evening. Interest appears to be diminishing every year. The build-up is nothing like it used to be. Sydney this spring is all about the Everest and the Golden Eagle, not the race that once stopped a nation.

I'm Thunderstruck (white blinkers) during the Golden Eagle. Picture: Mark Evans/Getty

SYDNEY’S BIG WIN

The proof that Sydney racing is stealing Melbourne’s is in Saturday’s television ratings. The Rosehill Golden Eagle’s coverage on Channel 7 averaged 210,000 nationally while Derby Day in Melbourne on Channel 10 only got 125,000 nationally, the lowest figures ever for Derby Day.

FITZY SWOOPS

Craig Fitzgibbon has taken his first player from the Sydney Roosters to the Cronulla Sharks. Powerhouse winger Matt Ikuvalu has joined the Sharks on a two-year contract, effective immediately. He will begin training with the Sharks in two weeks.

Former Roosters assistant Craig Fitzgibbon has poached his first Chook. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

SHOOSH

Which Sydney-based NRL club is already making discreet enquiries about the availability of Melbourne Storm’s anti-vaxxer Nelson Asofa-Solomona should he be stood down for refusing to be vaccinated.

SPOTTED

A nag called Rippa Buzz winning at Mortlake on Sunday at the juicy odds of $15.

Originally published as Monday Buzz: Craig Fitzgibbon signs first Roosters player to Sharks