Monday Buzz: Weekend highlights, lowlights

MONDAY BUZZ: WAYNE Bennett’s decision backfires for the Broncos, plus all the talking points from another memorable weekend in sport.

CHECK out the highlights, lowlights and talking points from another memorable weekend in sport.

HIGHLIGHT

Close, exciting and edge-of-your-seat NRL finals football, unlike a few of the blowouts in the AFL.

LOWLIGHT

The crowds at Allianz Stadium. Members got in for free and thousands of tickets were given away. The NRL would have made far more money at Brookvale and Shark Park, where everyone pays.

MORE MONDAY BUZZ: One way NRL Bunker must improve

MORE MONDAY BUZZ: How Broncos get away with 18 men

There were plenty of empty seats at Allianz Stadium over the weekend.

SPOTTED

■ Security is so tight at the footy these days that even the match referees have their bags checked. We spotted the great Gavin Badger emptying his boots and whistle from his bag as he entered Allianz Stadium on Sunday.

■ Cowboys coach Paul Green walking across Anzac Bridge towards town on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in Sydney.

■ Roosters co-captain Boyd Cordner recovering from Friday night’s win over the Broncos with breakfast at Coogee Courtyard Coffee.

■ Irish singer and loveable larrikin Niall Horan watching the Swans play Essendon at the SCG on Saturday.

Cowboys coach Paul Green was spotted out and about in Sydney. File photo

MULE IN THE CROWN

The son of former rugby league cult hero David “Mule” Hosking is one of the best young prospects in the game. Zack Hosking is lock and captain of the Newcastle Knights’ Holden Cup team. He won their NYC player-of-the-year award last week.

NRL WEB PLIGHT

The NRL is pouring millions and millions of dollars into its website, which last week named its team of the year. There were five Manly players and only two from Melbourne. Which shows it has no credibility and why clubs are blowing up about the waste of money.

SHOOSH

Which Penrith Panthers star is on the verge of quitting to join the New Zealand Warriors?

360 VIEW

Catch you tonight on NRL 360 with Ben Ikin and Paul Kent to discuss the controversy from a thrilling first round of the finals.

BENNETT’S DECISIONS DON’T FLY

THE great Jack Gibson used to have a golden rule going into the finals.

Don’t change anything that got you there.

Train on the same days at the same time. No media bans. No team camps. Just be ­normal.

It got me thinking about Wayne Bennett and the Brisbane Broncos.

The Courier-Mail splashed “Wayne Plane” over its back page before the round-26 game against the Cowboys two weeks ago.

The club hired a charter jet to get the players home to ­Brisbane and into their own beds straight after the game. A genius idea.

Talk about pampering the players. No wonder they played soft for much of the first half against the Roosters on Friday night.

Wayne Bennett’s plan backfired on the Broncos.

Your columnist is not being smart after the event. I spoke about it on NRL 360 before the game.

At this time of year it should be all about routine.

In 2001, the Newcastle Knights won the unwinnable grand final against Parramatta.

Coach Brian Smith broke away from his winning formula to take the team into camp in Wollongong.

All week we got footage of NRL stars throwing frisbees on south coast beaches.

It was just ridiculous. Frisbees instead of ball work.

The Broncos fell flat against the Roosters.

North of the border fans are understandably asking questions about some of Bennett’s recent decisions.

Such as playing Benji Marshall at halfback against the Sydney Roosters instead of Ben Hunt.

Surely your best halfback starts in the finals.

Like playing David Mead at fullback for 20 minutes ­instead of starting with Kodi Nikorima.

It’s just crazy.

Originally published as Monday Buzz: Weekend highlights, lowlights