State of Origin 2020: Buzz Rothfield’s hits and misses from game one
There was a notable absentee from Channel 9’s coverage of the opening State of Origin game — and the snub had Buzz Rothfield puzzled.
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Phil Rothfield reveals his highlights, lowlights and talking points from State of Origin Game 1.
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HIGHLIGHT
The huge relief for all league fans when NSW Blues skipper Boyd Cordner reappeared from the dressing sheds after an HIA scare in the first half in a tackle that went wrong on Felise Kaufusi.
LOWLIGHT
Channel 9’s snubbing of network star Erin Molan for one of the two hosting roles on last night’s broadcast.
Erin has done a superb job anchoring Friday night footy all year but lost out to Karl Stefanovic.
MORE ORIGIN NEWS
JOEY HOTEL BOUND
Rugby league Immortal Joey Johns had to spend the day in Adelaide in hotel quarantine before the game. The Channel Nine commentator had a COVID test on Monday in Sydney before he was allowed into Adelaide. South Australian Health nominated the Sydney suburbs considered danger zones and Joey — as a resident of Waverley council — had to pass the COVID test. He was also ordered to spend Wednesday in his hotel room and was only allowed out for the game. The great man could not even sample the Adelaide nightlife after Origin I, which is probably a good thing.
SNUBBED STAR’S CRYPTIC TWEET
David Nofoaluma posted a cryptic Tweet right on full-time. The Wests Tiger won Winger of the Year at the Dally M Awards but was overlooked for NSW’s Origin squad.
😶
— David Nofoaluma (@DNofoaluma) November 4, 2020
SPOTTED
Bryan Fletcher riding a kids BMX bike in board shorts and T-shirt in Bondi on Melbourne Cup day. Put a helmet on next time please, big fella.
SPOTTED II
Cricket legend Ian Chappell in the NRL corporate suit alongside SA premier Steven Marshall, Ampol CEO Matt Halliday, NRL CEO Andrew Abdo, former AFL star Gavin Wanganeen, and league commissioners Peter Beattie, Wayne Pearce and Gary Weiss. Peter V’landys took a well-earned night off to watch the game with his family.
BUNKER BACK-UP
The NRL leaves nothing to chance when it comes to its biggest games of the year.
Although the video referee bunker is located and operates centrally from Redfern for all premiership games, when it comes to the grand final and State of Origin a mobile back-up bunker is sent to the venue just in case communication with the main bunker is lost at any stage.
Ben Cummins was in Adelaide watching the game from the mobile bunker van, ready to spring into action if the link back to Redfern failed.
SHOOSH
Which senior Channel 9 reporter couldn’t get into Adelaide for the game because he resides in an area of Sydney that is still regarded as a COVID hot spot?
PLAYER RATINGS
Originally published as State of Origin 2020: Buzz Rothfield’s hits and misses from game one