Monday Buzz: Weekend sporting highlights and lowlights
MONDAY BUZZ: The highlights, lowlights and talking points from another memorable weekend in sport.
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THE highlights, lowlights and talking points from another memorable weekend in sport.
HIGHLIGHT
Paul Gallen signing a new one-year extension at the Cronulla Sharks after a phenomenal 242m performance against the Rabbitohs on Friday night.
LOWLIGHT
Ricky Stuart ’s outburst at the referees. You’d listen if the Raiders hadn’t illegally knocked two players out of games in two weeks yet kept them on the field. He should be thanking the NRL, not bagging it.
MORE MONDAY BUZZ: Why Soliola’s hit on Slater hurt us all
NOT-SO-GREAT DANE
If only Dane Gagai could repeat his Maroons State of Origin form with Newcastle. He missed five tackles against the Roosters on Friday night but stopped anything that moved throughout the Origin series.
DAN’S THE MAN
Channel 7 has signed Triple M commentator Dan Ginnane to call games at the rugby league World Cup in October and November. The network will announce its full commentary team next week.
SPOTTED
Most NRL coaches would be straight out of town after a Thursday night loss to the Broncos but under siege Des Hasler stayed around in Brisbane and spoke at a Men of League fundraising lunch on Friday afternoon.
SPOTTED II
Wallabies coach Michael Cheika witnessing some running rugby when he stood on the hill during Saturday’s Shute Shield derby between Warringah and Manly.
APOLOGY
The bloke they wheeled out to replace me in my absence last week, Nick Walshaw, is now receiving counselling for mentioning UFC. If he does it again he has been threatened by the chief of staff with covering Waratahs games.
TACKLING BIG TOPICS
Catch you tonight on NRL 360 on Fox Sports with Ben Ikin and Paul Kent to discuss all the big rugby league issues in the countdown to the finals.
AGE NO BLUES BARRIER FOR CLEARY
HOW young is too young to be playing in State of Origin?
Nathan Cleary will be 20 years and seven months by Origin time next year.
There is talk in rugby league circles that he’s not ready. History, however, will tell you otherwise.
If the NSW Blues take a punt on the Panthers halfback next year he will be two years older than the great Brad Fittler or Queensland Maroons star Ben Ikin when they made their Origin debuts.
Older than Mitchell Pearce, Israel Folau, Jarryd Hayne and Bradley Clyde, who all started at 19.
There will be obvious arguments that it’s different with Cleary because he would be playing in such a key playmaker role.
Yet there is a long-held view that if you’re good enough, you’re old enough.
YOUNGEST ORIGIN ROOKIES
Ben Ikin: 18 years and 83 days, 1995
Brad Fittler: 18 years and 114 days, 1990
Brett Dallas: 18 years and 225 days, 1993
William Hopoate: 19 years and 37 days, 2011
Israel Folau: 19 years and 47 days, 2008
Mitchell Pearce: 19 years and 86 days, 2008
Jarryd Hayne: 19 years and 97 days, 2007
Lindsay Johnston: 19 years and 107 days, 1983
Bradley Clyde: 19 years and 116 days, 1989
BETTER OFF WITHOUT STERLO
ISN’T Peter Sterling rock solid.
After just one series, the former halfback is not sure he’ll retain his advisory role at the NSW Blues next season.
Apparently, it’s more comfortable in the Channel 9 commentary box without added pressure.
“I don’t know,” Sterlo said on Triple M on Saturday. “I thought so, but I’m not so sure now. It has a way of beating a little bit of passion out of you.”
This isn’t the commitment NSW need from their support staff. Darren Lockyer is a Queensland selector, works on TV and has a newspaper column. Can you imagine him walking out on Kevvie Walters.
I say good riddance.
DCE STILL IN ROO RECKONING
HE may have been brushed by Kevvie Walters and the Maroons selectors but Manly Sea Eagles skipper Daly Cherry-Evans remains in contention for the Kangaroos’ World Cup campaign.
We phoned Australian coach Mal Meninga over the weekend to find out Cherry-Evans’ hopes of wearing the green and gold jersey despite his Origin snub.
“I’ll say this,” Mal said. “I think he’s playing the best football of his career. I know Kevvie went for Ben Hunt but I might have gone with Daly.
“Manly are playing well and look like being there for the finals. Playing footy deep into the finals is going to be important. We’ll be keeping an eye on him.”
Originally published as Monday Buzz: Weekend sporting highlights and lowlights
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