Monday Buzz: Weekend highlights, lowlights

HOW the NRL blew it again — and check out the highlights, lowlights and talking points from another memorable weekend in sport.

Valentine Holmes was on fire for Australia against Samoa.

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

HIGHLIGHT

Val Holmes’ five spectacular tries for the Kangaroos against Samoa. The opposition was substandard but you can only play what’s in front of you.

MORE MONDAY BUZZ: Mick Potter’s sweet revenge against Brian Smith

Valentine Holmes was on fire for Australia against Samoa.

LOWLIGHT

Wallabies coach Michael Cheika storming out of an interview at Twickenham after our 30-6 loss to England, his frustrations boiling over after copping another lesson from Eddie Jones.

KEVIN’S ABOVE

The Wests Tigers need a new fullback and skipper following the departures of James Tedesco and Aaron Woods. If a decision was being made on World Cup form, you’d give both jobs to Kevin Naiqama. He has made a wonderful contribution on and off the field for the Fijians.

Kevin Naiqama celebrates Fiji’s win over New Zealand.

SHOOSH

The rumour will not go away that a high-profile rugby union player is heading to the NRL next year.

BLOWN THEIR COVER

For the second consecutive year, the Cronulla Sharks have produced a calendar with the wrong players on the front cover. Last year the calendar went to print with Ben Barba on the front before he quit after being suspended for cocaine use. The newly released version has James Maloney on the front with Paul Gallen, Valentine Holmes and Wade Graham. Maloney is off to the Panthers.

READY, FREDDIE, GO

Brad Fittler was always a long odds-on favourite to replace Laurie Daley as the NSW Blues’ State of Origin coach. Now we can suspend betting. Freddie’s performance with Lebanon in the World Cup was outstanding.

Brad Fittler has done a superb job as Lebanon coach. Picture: Phil Hillyard

KIWI CROSSES LINE

There is not a grubbier act in rugby league than attacking a defenceless opponent on the ground. Canberra Raiders and Kiwi forward Joseph Tapine tried to smash Fiji fullback Kevin Naiqama after the full-time siren in Wellington on Saturday. He needs to pull his head in.

A 360 VIEW

Catch you tonight at 7.30pm on Fox Sports’ summer edition of NRL 360 with Ben Ikin and Paul Kent to discuss the World Cup semi-finals and other big issues in rugby league.

NRL BLOWS IT WITH PREMATURE CALL ON TWO REFS

THE NRL announced at the beginning of the World Cup that the tournament would be used as an experiment to ­determine if the one-referee system was the way to go in next year’s premiership.

The governing body would do its homework over the entire tournament then make a decision. Since then the game’s best player, Kangaroos skipper Cameron Smith, has said one referee is better than two.

The game’s most successful coach, Wayne Bennett, agreed.

They both favour scrapping the two-referee system, which has been a disaster in the NRL.

Your columnist agrees. One instead of two could halve the number of blunders. More importantly, it would create more consistency.

Typical of the NRL, head of football Brian Canavan has jumped the gun.

One referee is better than two, according to some rugby league stars.

Last week he announced two referees were here to stay. This decision, inexplicably, was made before the quarter-finals of the World Cup.

“The two-referee system, with the speed of our game, is the one our stats say is best to be retained,’’ Canavan said.

So Smith and Bennett wouldn’t know what they are talking about. Their opinions are ignored. Instead, Canavan bases his decision on the thoughts of Tony Archer.

On games involving hopeless teams such as USA, Wales, France and Scotland without even waiting for the pressure games in the finals.

Never mind the fact Archer is being moved on as the boss of the referees.

Cameron Smith has said one referee is better than two.

This is just another example of slapdash NRL management. The World Cup was never an experiment. Otherwise the NRL would have waited until after the final.

It is treating us all like mugs.

We all know the standard of refereeing in the NRL last ­season was at an all-time low.

Different decisions and different interpretations in every game in every round.

At least we’ve seen faster and more free-flowing football in recent weeks. Less nitpicking and fewer errors.

Fans, coaches and players at least deserved a proper trial in the World Cup.

Originally published as Monday Buzz: Weekend highlights, lowlights