Monday Buzz: Weekend highlights, lowlights

MONDAY BUZZ: Which player wants out of the Melbourne Storm? Plus weekend highlights and lowlights.

Jack Bird will debut off the bench for the Blues. Picture: Gregg Porteous

WHICH player wants out of the Melbourne Storm? Plus weekend highlights and lowlights.

It’s Monday Buzz.

HIGHLIGHT

The selection of Jack Bird on the NSW State of Origin bench. This youngster has the ability to turn a tight game into a Blues victory.

LOWLIGHT

The bashing of 16-year-old referee Kurt Portsmouth in an under-12s game at Engadine. The low bludger allegedly responsible should be locked up and banned from rugby league for life.

LOWLIGHT II

Doubts about the future of Parramatta Eels excitement machine Semi Radradra, a wonderful personality player the game cannot afford to lose.

MORE MONDAY BUZZ: Proof State of Origin is killing NRL season

SHOOSH I

Which player from the Melbourne Storm wants a release to join a rival club? And it’s not Cooper Cronk.

BEEFCAKE BLUES

Blues players convinced wingers Blake Ferguson and Josh Mansour to have a flex off in the team gym at Coffs Harbour. They knew their picture was being taken but had no idea it was to be put on Paul Gallen’s Instagram account.

SLAMMING SAM

Sam Burgess left the NRL after winning the 2014 grand final as the best rugby league front-rower in the World. It’s why he got $1 million a year to return to the Rabbitohs, yet on current form he’d be flat out being included in the top 10 props in the NRL.

SHAME ON YOU, MR WAUGH

THE Cronulla junior rugby league needs to get its priorities in order.

Yesterday its general manager Nathan Waugh outrageously threatened to cite any individual found to make comments in the media over the bashing of a 16-year-old referee.

The media has an important role to expose thugs and ratbag sideline parents in junior football.

To try to silence witnesses is nothing short of disgraceful. Cronulla’s junior rugby league and Mr Waugh should be ashamed of themselves.

FIFITA TO INFLICT MORE ANGUISH

THE Maroons won’t like the news from NSW coach Laurie Daley that barnstorming front-rower Andrew Fifita will get more game time for the Blues on Wednesday night.

Last Monday night at Shark Park, the Cowboys were forced to change their regular kick-off direction because they were sick of having to stop the 122kg tearaway in full flight.

Coach Paul Green sent out a message to kick to the left side so that the Blues forward wouldn’t get the ball for the return carry.

Fifita still made 181m despite their attempts to starve him of the football.

Andrew Fifita will get more game time for the Blues. Picture: Gregg Porteous

SOMEBODY SORT THIS MESS OUT

WOULDN’T it be handy if the Parramatta Eels had a chief executive right now. Or even a chairman.

This salary-cap drama has dragged on for too long. Their poor coach Brad Arthur and a makeshift management team have now got Semi Radradra’s future to worry about on top of everything else.

The sooner NRL hands down its final judgment the better. This club needs to get its boardroom and senior management sorted ASAP.

If Radradra has gone for good, the board members who refused to stand down should be held accountable.

Semi Radradra’s future is another concern for Parramatta. Picture: Mark Evans

Originally published as Monday Buzz: Weekend highlights, lowlights