Phil Rothfield’s highlights and lowlights: Michael Maguire’s ‘unique’ methods have Broncos purring

Army camps, players vomiting into buckets, the Sydney Harbour cruise and the Fort Denison ‘cultural experience’ - Michael Maguire’s unique methods are silencing the critics, including Buzz Rothfield.

Phil Rothfield reveals his highlights and lowlights from the week in sport, with Broncos coach Michael Maguire’s training methods starting to bear fruit.

HIGHLIGHT

Forget the army camp, players vomiting into buckets, the Sydney Harbour cruise and the Fort Denison ‘cultural experience’ … the Broncos are baaaaack, baby! Their task in making the top four has become easier by the Warriors losing Mitch Barnett and Luke Metcalf for the season with ACLs. Still the Broncos have a way to go. In the run home they have Storm (twice) the Bulldogs and the Dolphins.

Will Michael Maguire get the last over his critics?

LOWLIGHT

The South Sydney Rabbitohs’ 50-28 loss to the Dolphins with almost a full-strength side apart from Cameron Murray. This will be the third year in a row the Rabbitohs have missed out on playing finals. Some tough decisions need to be made, starting out with English halfback Lewis Dodd. There is also concern about extending Cody Walker’s contract. The 35-year-old has played only eight games this year and broken down in two of them.

SHOOSH

The Wests Tigers have two games against the Gold Coast Titans in the run home that will more than likely determine if they are to win a fourth straight wooden spoon. They’ve now lost six on the trot. They’ve also lost Lachlan Galvin and are about to lose Tallyn Da Silva. That’s their two best young players. This club still has such a long way to go.

SPOTTED

Ivan and Nathan Cleary sitting on the hill at Brookvale on Saturday to watch Jett Cleary play NSW Cup for the Warriors against the Manly Sea Eagles. It was a home game for Ivan, who lives on the northern beaches. The Warriors won 26-4. The 20-year-old is still a way off playing NRL but is making great progress.

Warriors playmaker Jett Cleary. Picture: NRL

SPOTTED

History suggests there are now seven teams that can’t win the competition. Over the weekend the South Sydney Rabbitohs joined the Cowboys, Dragons, Roosters, Eels, Wests Tigers and Titans as the clubs that have conceded 50 points in games this year.

SPOTTED

Canterbury Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo in the Penrith sheds on Thursday night at CommBank Stadium to catch up with his old Panthers mates after the game-of-the-year.

360 VIEW

Catch you on NRL 360 at 6.30pm Monday on Fox League with Braith Anasta, Gorden Tallis and Brent Read. We’ll interview Origin coaches Laurie Daley and Billy Slater and have old larrikin and rugby league tragic John Singleton on as a heavy hitter.

PONGA INJURY BAD NEWS FOR BLUES

The withdrawal of Newcastle Knights superstar Kalyn Ponga from the Queensland State of Origin side is a bigger blow for the NSW Blues than the Maroons.

It means Billy Slater had the choice between Reece Walsh and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow to play fullback, two players in far better form than Ponga.

Walsh has been sensational in two games back from injury to lift the Broncos from a precarious position into a top-four chance.

And the Hammer not only scored four tries against the Rabbitohs on Saturday night but has been consistently outstanding for the Dolphins.

Ponga’s form over the last two months has been way down on his best.

He is obviously carrying an injury and is way down on confidence.

KISS OF DEATH

Champion Kangaroos and NSW Blues lock Bradley Clyde played in the last Canberra Raiders premiership-winning team 31 years ago.

He was never one for making big, rash statements – and is still the same.

We phoned Clyde on Sunday to get his thoughts on the later version of the top-of-the-ladder Green Machine.

“I don’t want to put the kiss of death on them and say they’re going to win it,” he said.

“But they are on top of the ladder for a reason. If we can keep them all on the park, it looks like we’ll be in the top four. “If you land in the top four you’re a good chance of winning it.”

Canberra Raiders players Laurie Daley (L) & Bradley Clyde (R) hoist captain Mal Meninga after the 1994 grand final.

Clyde works in Sydney these days but travels back to the national capital for home games.

“I’m starting to get really excited,” Clyde said, “They’re genuine contenders.

“They’ve got that consistent commitment across the side week, in week out.

“There is experience and a number of young guys who can score a try from anywhere on the field.

“That’s what you need in the big games at the end of the season.”

Originally published as Phil Rothfield’s highlights and lowlights: Michael Maguire’s ‘unique’ methods have Broncos purring