Phil Rothfield’s highlights, lowlights: Phil Gould’s shock appearance at ARLC meeting
SPOTTED. Former Penrith Panthers supremo-turned Warriors development boss Phil Gould at an Australian Rugby League Independent Commission meeting.
Phil Rothfield
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It’s hard to believe Cody Walker hasn’t always been a priority player at South Sydney.
Not in the eyes of the club’s former general manager of football Shane Richardson.
Less than a year ago Richardson threatened to withdraw a contract offer to the superstar five-eighth and even earmarked Adam Doueihi as the club’s long-term No. 6.
“We have made a more than fair and reasonable offer to Cody,” Richardson said at the time. “If he has decided that is not good enough that is his decision.
“I respect that but we will just have to take the money and spend it elsewhere.”
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This was all happening while Wayne Bennett was out of town with the English rugby league team.
Fortunately Bennett got back to Redfern in time to sort it out.
Walker signed his contract extension and Doueihi left for the Wests Tigers when Latrell Mitchell came on board.
Bennett and Richardson had a falling out over the issue and were barely speaking when the veteran official left the club with a $500,000 golden handshake in March.
Walker’s form this year has been simply stunning.
He produced a perfect 10 performance opposite Luke Keary on Friday night for the Rabbitohs and will go into the finals as the most feared player in the competition.
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HIGHLIGHT
The Roosters may have had an off night but South Sydney’s attacking performance on Friday night was simply breathtaking. It is so nice to watch gifted footballers play rugby league on natural instinct rather than having to stick to boring structures.
HIGHLIGHT II
The humbleness and class of Benji Marshall in his final appearance in a Wests Tigers jersey, insisting the game was more about Chris Lawrence’s farewell than his own.
HIGHLIGHT III
Clint Gutherson’s magnificent match-saving cover tackle on Luke Garner in the dying moments of Saturday night’s thriller at Bankwest Stadium. What a player.
LOWLIGHT
Racial abuse claims and gouging allegations. Both disgraceful acts on a rugby league field.
LOWLIGHT II
The omission of Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma from the train-on squad for the NSW Blues. This is seriously a joke. He has been the best winger in the competition all year.
SHOOSH
Jack Bird will be released by the Broncos from the final year of his contract if another club is prepared to pay $500,000 of his $975,000 deal in Brisbane. St George Illawarra, Manly and Cronulla are all in the market for centres.
SPOTTED
The great Phillip Gould at the independent commission meeting presenting on rugby league in the Pacific Islands and his thoughts on other pertinent issues.
SPOTTED II
Injured South Sydney centre James Roberts at Kogarah on Saturday evening to watch Canberra beat Cronulla.
CHOOKS CAUGHT SHORT
Those criticising the Roosters’ right-side defence where Alex Johnston scored five-tries on Friday night are completely ignoring the fact Joey Manu and Brett Morris were watching from the stands.
360 VIEW
Catch you tonight on NRL 360 on Fox Sports at 6.30pm with Ben Ikin, James Hooper and Paul Kent (who might still be hungover from his 50th birthday lunch) to discuss the final weekend of the premiership and the countdown to the finals.
Originally published as Phil Rothfield’s highlights, lowlights: Phil Gould’s shock appearance at ARLC meeting