Monday Buzz: Phil Rothfield’s highlights, lowlights; Sydney dominates Melbourne, who’s running things at Wests Tigers?

Tigers coach Benji Marshall is in Fiji and CEO Shane Richardson is in the UK, so who’s running things at Concord? See O’Farrell’s response to Phil Rothfield as he raises the question, as well as Buzz’s highlights and lowlights from the week.

Sydney dominate Melbourne across multiple codes this weekend.

Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall in the departure lounge at Sydney airport about to board a flight for Fiji for a family holiday.

At the same time chief executive Shane Richardson is in the north of England with his son Brent.

This at a time when the bookies have installed the club as $1.90 favourites to win their third straight wooden spoon.

This at a time when the club has no home ground strategy, they’ve lost their two biggest sponsors, they’ve lost Isaiah Papali’i to Penrith and their boom forward Stefano Utoikamanu is about to become a free agent after missing Origin selection.

Seriously this club is going even further backwards. And no-one is at Concord to steer the sinking ship.

This masthead has reached out to interim chairman Barry O’Farrell for comment. His response came via a minder.

Shane Richardson (middle) and son Brent (left) in the UK with Willie Peters (right), coach of Hull KR.

MELBOURNE MELTDOWN

Victoria is supposed to be the sporting capital of the world.

Or so they have been telling us for decades.

However, results over the weekend would suggest this is complete nonsense.

In four codes – NRL, soccer, rugby union and AFL – we knocked them off.

The Mariners beat Melbourne Victory 3-1 in the A-League grand final in Gosford.

A country town disposing of the best team in Victoria, a four-time championship side.

The Manly Sea Eagles knocked off Melbourne Storm 26-20 at Brookvale in a thriller.

Jake Trbojevic and Luke Brooks celebrate beating Melbourne at 4 Pines Park. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Danny Vukovic of the Central Coast Mariners celebrates grand final glory. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

The table-topping Swans beat the Western Bulldogs 102-88.

And GWS 78 beat Geelong 74.

Sydney now has our two sides in the top four on the AFL ladder.

There is one Melbourne team, Essendon.

And finally, the Brumbies 53 (ACT, but we’ll claim it) beat the Melbourne Rebels 17.

The poor old Herald Sun sporting scribes will be in mourning.

Five games, five losses. You’ve gotta love that.

Isaac Heeney of the Swans celebrates a goal as his side defeats the Western Bulldogs. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The ACT Brumbies got up over the Melbourne Rebels as well. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

HIGHLIGHT

Watching Dylan Edwards live at Shark Park. He looks even better than on TV. You get to see his expertise in positional play on top of 20 runs, 225 metres and nine tackle busts. A magnificent player.

Dylan Edwards was on fire at Shark Park. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

LOWLIGHT

Another farcical call from the bunker in awarding Roosters five-eighth Luke Keary a penalty try against the Raiders in the national capital. Yes, Keary was slightly impeded chasing down a Sam Walker kick but in now way was it responsible for him spilling the football. Was it a game changing decision? No, it wasn’t. But it gave the Roosters all the early momentum to set up the win.

LOWLIGHT II

The Cronulla Sharks. A terrible, terrible performance against the Panthers. No energy and no idea how to break open the Panthers defence. To be demolished 42-0 is such a let-down for fans thinking this side was a genuine premiership threat after wins over Storm and the Roosters.

SPOTTED

Channel 9 had a bad night for national free-to-air ratings on Friday. Their average audience for the NRL was 27 per cent lower than Channel 7 got for the AFL. And that was despite a Sea Eagles v Storm thriller. They were also knocked off in the 6pm News – Seven got 1.15 million compared to Nine’s 1.02 million.

LOST OPPORTUNITY

Memo all soccer fans: The A-League is going broke. One memorable grand final night in Gosford won’t save the clubs. A struggling code can’t afford to lock out 20,000 fans and lose the potential $2 million in ticket and corporate sales. Full stop. End of story.

SHOOSH

A lot of questions are being asked about why long-time soccer commentator Simon Hill was brushed for the A League grand final call on Channel 10, replaced by Robbie Thomson. Hill had been the voice of soccer in this country for 20 years.

BIG BREKKY

Catch you on the Big Sports Breakfast at 7.10am this morning with Laurie Daley, Michael Clarke and Gerard Middleton to discuss all the latest State of Origin and club news.

Originally published as Monday Buzz: Phil Rothfield’s highlights, lowlights; Sydney dominates Melbourne, who’s running things at Wests Tigers?