Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield’s Origin I highlights and lowlights

Origin in Townsville was a roaring success and a regional game should become the norm, according to Buzz Rothfield. He names where game one next year should be.

TOWNSVILLE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 09: A general view of the crowd is seen during game one of the 2021 State of Origin series between the New South Wales Blues and the Queensland Maroons at Queensland Country Bank Stadium on June 09, 2021 in Townsville, Australia. (Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Phil Rothfield runs the rule over Origin I in Buzz’s highlights and lowlights.

HIGHLIGHT

A massive night for rugby league in Townsville. Forget Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth … the first game every year should go to a major regional centre in either NSW or Queensland as long as the state governments are prepared to pay for it. Make it Newcastle next year.

Stream selected Fox League shows on Kayo Freebies completely free this June including NRL 360, Sunday Night with Matty Johns, Big League Wrap & more. No Credit Card. No Brainer. Register Free Now >

They didn’t win but Maroons fans still got into the spirit of things in Townsville.

LOWLIGHT

As predicted no Gus Gould or Fatty Vautin in the Channel 9 commentary box for the match call. It wasn’t the same without the two Origin legends and their madness alongside Rabs.

KING CRISIS

Wally Lewis’ future at Channel Nine is looking shaky. His contract is up at the end of the season and he has hardly been sighted on Nine’s NRL coverage this year. He has told many people recently that he is not confident about getting a new contract. The King is now 61 and had worked for Nine since he retired in 1992. Nine is holding back on long term deals for most of their commentators in case they lose the free-to-air TV rights next year.

SHOOSH

Which powerful sports media executive braved Sydney’s winter chill to swim laps of his local pool bright and early on Wednesday morning - with a snorkel – to loosen up for the big game.

SHOOSH

Which independent-always rugby league scribe rode a hire scooter from a nightclub to his hotel in Townsville in the early hours of Tuesday morning?

SPOTTED

Paul Gallen in Townsville for Channel 9, posing for a photo at the Johnathan Thurston statue.

Paul Gallen next to the Johnathan Thurston statue

SPOTTED

Nine chief executive Mike Sneesby and Queensland premier Anastasia Pałaszczuk in Peter V’landys’ suite at the stadium.

RAPER’S RESCUE

Aaron Raper, the son of league immortal Johnny Raper, was a more than handy NRL player. He played a World Cup game for Australia in the mid 90’s and famously got picked for the NSW Blues on the bench but never got onto the field. These days Raper is a tireless volunteer in Cronulla juniors, doing great things on and off the field. He is trainer and assistant coach for De La Salle Under 18’s. Last Sunday, a mum of one of the opposition players had an epileptic fit and collapsed. Raper rushed from the sideline to take care of the lady until an ambulance arrived. He did a great job.

360 VIEW

There is a huge special edition of NRL 360 on Fox League at 6.30pm Thursday night to discuss and dissect all the State Origin news and issues. Ben Ikin, Paul Kent, Lara Pitt, James Hooper, Gordie Tallis, Geoff Toovey, Greg Alexander and Paul Green.

Originally published as Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield’s Origin I highlights and lowlights