Monday Buzz: Weekend highlights and lowlights from round 16

Even without all their State of Origin stars, Newcastle showed against the Warriors why they are a finals chance, more bunker blunders and who’s next on the Titans’ list?

Newcastle showed they have strength in depth. Image: Ashley Feder/Getty Images

• Monday Buzz: Is this the future of rugby league?
• Blues fighting their own awful history

HIGHLIGHT

Newcastle’s gutsy performance against the Warriors without Kalyn Ponga, Mitchell Pearce, Dave Klemmer, Daniel Saifiti and Tim Glasby. They could so easily have won. They are a definite top four candidate.

LOWLIGHT

The standard of refereeing and adjudication in the bunker. Same story every weekend. Same old people making the same old mistakes. And there is absolutely no accountability for those making the blunders.

Brad Fittler has called on all his old mates to help the Blues. Image: Brett Costello

SPOTTED

Is there anyone not helping out Brad Fittler with the NSW State of Origin team for the decider? Greg Alexander, Danny Buderus, Andrew Johns, Phil Gould, Mark Gasnier, Steve Roach, Craig Fitzgibbon, Paul Sironen, Ian Thorpe and even the great Warren ‘Wok’ Ryan have all been part of the preparation.

SPOTTED II

Jim Dymock’s manager talking to Titans officials about the head coach job on the glitter strip last week although Kevvie Walters is likely to get Garth Brennan’s spot. Dymock will have to wait in the queue with Trent Barrett, Anthony Griffin and Shane Flanagan.

Gareth Widdop made sure the Thirroul Butchers Under 9s are fully booted

SPOTTED III

St George-Illawarra Dragons star Gareth Widdop putting pack into South Coast junior rugby league by supplying free Puma footy boots to his son’s team, the mighty Thirroul Butchers Under 9s.

SPOTTED IV

Warriors recruitment boss Peter O’Sullivan at Shark Park on Sunday to watch his son Sean and son-in-law Matt Lodge, who he is trying to sign for next year.

SHOOSH

Which two Cronulla Sharks players have been quietly approached by the Canterbury Bulldogs for next season. One of them has also been approached by the Wests Tigers.

BOMBS AWAY BENJI

No one in rugby league has a better fifth-tackle kicking game than old Benji Marshall at the Wests Tigers. His torpedo bombs this year have been almost impossible for rival fullbacks to take cleanly.

There’s no better kicker in the game. Image: Alix Sweeney

IT’S A NINE FIELD

We can’t wait for Mal Meninga to pick the Australian Nines team later this year. Imagine having James Tedesco, Kalyn Ponga, Josh Addo-Carr and Cody Walker in the same team with so much space.

CONTROVERSY FOLLOWS

Catch you on Monday night for a rugby league double-header on Fox Sports. I’ll be joining Ben Ikin and Paul Kent at 7.30pm for NRL360 and afterwards on Controversy Corner.

Originally published as Monday Buzz: Weekend highlights and lowlights from round 16