Monday Buzz: Weekend highlights, lowlights

JARRYD Hayne’s two-try comeback, the player Kevin Walters can’t ignore for Queensland, Manly’s $10m problem and more — check out the talking points from another big weekend in sport.

Jarryd Hayne celebrates scoring a try for the Eels. Picture: Getty Images

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

HIGHLIGHT

Sometimes on the world’s biggest sporting stage, heart and courage can take you only so far. Jeff Horn did the nation proud but couldn’t match the extraordinary boxing skill of Terence Crawford.

HIGHLIGHT II

Another Socceroos victory on the eve of the World Cup. Not their finest performance against Hungary but still a confidence-building 2-1 win before Saturday night’s World Cup opener against France.

MORE MONDAY BUZZ: How NRL ignored plea to end refs madness

Jarryd Hayne celebrates scoring a try for the Eels. Picture: Getty Images

HIGHLIGHT III

Jarryd Hayne’s fantastic two-try comeback for the Parramatta Eels against the Cowboys. It’s too late for the finals but at least they can finish the season with some credibility.

LOWLIGHT

Canberra Raiders forward Charlie Gubb should add an “r” to the second letter of his surname. His late attack on the legs of an airborne Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary in Canberra on Friday night could have broken a limb.

SLADE SHOT

Knights hooker Slade Griffin’s try-saving shot on Roosters lock Isaac Liu was the best tackle I’ve seen all season. Unbelievable power and impact.

FALLING EAGLES

Surely it’s time for struggling Manly Sea Eagles coach Trent Barrett to ignore his underperforming players and pick his best side on form, not personalities. That would mean starting Jackson Hastings against St George Illawarra in Wollongong next weekend.

SPOTTED

Suspended cricketer Dave Warner and Steve Menzies at Randwick races on Saturday with fitness gurus Chris Feather and Nathan Picklum with their wives and partners.

Steve Menzies and David Warner at the races.

360 VIEW

Catch you Monday night on NRL 360 on Fox Sports with Ben Ikin and James Hooper to discuss another dramatic round of the NRL and at 7.30pm on Yvonne Sampson’s League Wrap with all the madness of Controversy Corner.

WALTERS NEEDS PONGA MAGIC

MAROONS coach Kevin Walters needs to pick boom Newcastle Knights young gun Kalyn Ponga for Origin II at ANZ Stadium on Sunday week.

And the only way to do that is by switching St George-Illawarra halfback Ben Hunt to hooker.

That way Michael Morgan can play at halfback with Billy Slater returning to the side at fullback.

That leaves a spot on the bench for Ponga.

It would be tough on game-one hooker Andrew McCullough, but there is no other way to get Ponga into the 17-man squad.

Queensland can only square the series by going into attack mode. Imagine the Blues having to cope with Ponga in the final 20 minutes of a tight game.

Kalyn Ponga scores a try for the Knights. Picture: Getty Images

DCE’S $10 MILLION EXPECTATION

AN NRL player who signs a $10 million contract is always going to be under intense scrutiny.

Manly Sea Eagles skipper Daly Cherry-Evans finds himself in a position where fans are rightfully questioning his $1 million-a-year salary. Especially when he misses seven tackles like he did against the Warriors on Saturday.

It’s not that Cherry-Evans is playing terribly. It’s just that so much more is expected from a club captain on such a huge wage. Manly have 10 games left plus a bye. They would probably have to win nine of those matches to make the finals. And that is a mission impossible.

Daly Cherry-Evans is feeling the heat at the Sea Eagles. Picture: AAP

GREAT CALL ON JEFF HORN FIGHT

WE are often critical of refereeing in sports journalism.

No such case in Las Vegas on Sunday when American referee Robert Byrd stopped the Terrence Crawford-Jeff Horn world title fight in the ninth round. The stoppage was perfectly timed and ensured our man was not seriously hurt.

This is why I have always loved boxing but not the UFC.

Horn showed all his renowned heart but was outclassed on the day. If the fight had gone longer he risked serious injury. He is young enough and good enough to recover and learn from the first professional loss of his career and one day make it back to America.

Originally published as Monday Buzz: Weekend highlights, lowlights