Monday Buzz: Weekend highlights and lowlights

Cody Walker’s disgraceful dumping from the Blues, Brisbane’s brain fade and the NSW hitman - it’s all in Buzz Rothfield’s weekend highlights and lowlights.

Cody Walker has been dumped by the Blues. Picture: Cameron Spencer

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Check out the highlights, lowlights and talking points from another memorable weekend in sport.

HIGHLIGHT

Aaron Finch’s magnificent 153 for Australia at the World Cup against Sri Lanka. He is proving to be a fantastic captain and leader.

Cody Walker has been dumped by the Blues. Picture: Cameron Spencer

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LOWLIGHT

The sacking of Cody Walker from the NSW Blues State of Origin side, yet Nathan Cleary keeps being chosen. This is seriously wrong.

LOWLIGHT II

The Broncos having a shot for penalty goal right on halftime when trailing the Eels 26-0 at Bankwest Stadium on Saturday night. And poor Jamayne Isaako missed it. Without question the dumbest play of the season.

SHOOSH

Which player manager has made a comeback to rugby league in park football as captain-coach of his local A-grade side.

SPOTTED

Big Sammy Burgess at NRL headquarters in Moore Park last week for a one-on-one meeting with chief executive Todd Greenberg.

Former Blues Origin enforcer Mark 'Spudd' Carroll on his jet ski.

SPOTTED II

Old NRL enforcer Mark Carroll on his jet ski on Pittwater before the rain set in over the weekend. Spudd rode to Woy Woy, had two beers and returned home.

BOOKIE MADNESS

What is it about bookmakers and their love affair with the NSW Blues? Before Sunday’s selection chaos Freddie Fittler’s boys were $1.85 favourites for Perth, despite losing Game 1. NSW and Queensland are now both $1.92.

WARNIE’S FIRST CLASS

Shane Warne does things in style. He arrived back in Sydney from London last weekend and made it to Fox Sports Studios in Artarmon for his World Cup commitments less than an hour after stepping out of his first-class cabin via an express customs pass and a luxury hire car.

360 VIEW

Catch you on Monday night on NRL 360 with Ben Ikin and Paul Kent. We will cross live to Origin coaches Brad Fittler and Kevvie Walters, and have Cowboys coach Paul Green in the studio.

Daniel Saifiti will be out to stop Cameron Munster in Origin. Picture: Hamish Blair

OLD SCHOOL SAIFITI TO BULLY MUNSTER

We predicted on this page last week that Newcastle Knights forward Daniel Saifiti was a bolter for the NSW State of Origin side.

His job when the Blues get to Perth will be to make a beeline for the Maroons’ champion five-eighth Cameron Munster, like he did to Luke Keary when the Knights recently ambushed the Roosters.

Saifiti is an old-school, no-nonsense enforcer.

He took on the three Burgess brothers and finished on top of them at ANZ Stadium.

He overpowered the Roosters pack the week before.

This is a bold but brilliant selection move. There were other options but Freddy Fittler needs someone to intimidate the Maroons. And this 121kg giant will do it.

Five teams can win the NRL this season. Picture: Rohan Thomson

PREMIERSHIP RACE HEATS UP

Five teams are genuine premiership hopes as we take a break next weekend for Origin. Melbourne Storm, the Rabbitohs, the Roosters, the Raiders and the Sharks are all capable of winning the competition this year.

It could come down to which team gets to the finals with the least injury problems.

Souths might have lost three in a row but they were beaten by only a point against the Panthers without halfback Adam Reynolds, Tom, Sam and George Burgess plus Braidon Burns at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.

BRONCOS FINALS HOPES HIT HARD

The Broncos can still mathematically make the finals but their terrible performance against the Parramatta Eels on Saturday night would suggest they will miss out.

Only a major cleanout will solve the problems. Toughs decision need to be made on the likes of Darius Boyd, Andrew McCullough and even Anthony Milford.

Afterwards, coach Anthony Seibold accused his players of having their minds on Origin instead of a game they desperately needed to win.

“It comes down to individual preparation and challenging themselves mentally to get their job done,” he said.

“It’s not good enough … some of the tries they scored tonight were embarrassing.”

Originally published as Monday Buzz: Weekend highlights and lowlights