Our Journalists

Phil RothfieldSports Editor-at-Large

Phil Buzz Rothfield is a 43-year veteran of sports journalism. He covered his first rugby league grand final in 1978 – the Manly Sea Eagles – Cronulla Sharks replay. Buzz has been involved in the coverage of every State of Origin game since its inception in 1980 and has covered sport in major countries including England, Russia, the United States and Brazil.

@BuzzRothfield

Phil Rothfield

Latest

NRL

Bizarre Fifita axing receives support of Titans players

It was the innocuous positional request from David Fifita which led to the $1m forward being axed by Titans coach Des Hasler, a decision which was backed by the Gold Coast playing group.

NRL

Nawaqanitawase v Suaalii: Buzz reveals Roosters’ win over rugby

The stats don’t lie. Rugby union convert Mark Nawaqanitawase is a far better player than the man he replaced at the same stage of his career – Wallabies’ $5m man Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii. PHIL ROTHFIELD reveals the Roosters’ win.

NRL

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - MAY 03: Fletcher Sharpe of the Knights celebrates with team mates after scoring his third try during the round nine NRL match between the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Newcastle Knights at Suncorp Stadium on May 03, 2025, in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

Buzz’s highs, lows: Fox Sports star’s $7,500 Nostradamus punt

Magic Round has proved very profitable for Bryan Fletcher after the Fox Sports funny man turned $50 into $7,500 thanks to a savvy punt on a Newcastle try-scorer. Buzz’s highlights and lowlights.

NRL

Saint, Sinner: No alarm bells for Hasler despite code war crisis

Despite a woeful win rate, falling crowds and a code war slump to the surging Gold Coast Suns, the Titans insist veteran coach Des Hasler is safe. That and more in Saint, Sinner, Shoosh.

VIDEONRL

Crowds at Caxton Hotel for NRL Magic Round, Caxton St, Spring Hill - Buzz Rothfield (middle), Ross Farquhar (right, owner of the Caxton Hotel) Brisbane - on Friday 2nd May 2025 - Photo Steve Pohlner

What’s the Buzz: 500 kegs, 59,000 schooners and 3000 fans

Watch the video as Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield dives deep into the Caxton Hotel scrum to experience the Magic Round vibe for himself.

UpdatedNRL

‘Deeply sorry’: Teal MP apologises to family of dead footballer

Dr Sophie Scamps has apologised to the family of former Manly player Keith Titmuss after she referenced his tragic death when talking about “lethal humidity” at a climate change forum.

InteractiveNRL

The ‘Not 50’: See which stars Buzz cut from elite list

Generational change is happening at the NRL, with a wave of fresh new faces sweeping some of rugby league’s highest-paid stars out of Phil Rothfield’s list of the 50 best players in the game.

NRL

NRL 2025 RD08 Canberra Raiders v Dolphins - Jamal Fogarty. Picture: NRL Photos

Fogarty quits club for big-money Manly deal

Raiders halfback Jamal Fogarty has officially quit the club ahead of an impending move away from the nation’s capital, with the star set to sign a big-money deal at the Sea Eagles.

UpdatedSuperCoach

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 07: Lyhkan King-Togia of the Dragons celebrates his try during the round 27 NRL match between St George Illawarra Dragons and Canberra Raiders at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, on September 07, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

Early Mail: Dragons promote teen star, Broncos beef up backrow

The St George Illawarra Dragons have confirmed the dropping of halfback Lachlan Ilias for Magic Round, while the form of an emerging Broncos enforcer has forced a reshuffle. FULL MAGIC ROUND EARLY MAIL.

NRL

NRL’s deadly sins: Transfer circus, chaos agents, SOO eligibility

As rugby league fans brace for a repeat of 2021 Magic Round, Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield has called on the NRL to fix six major issues damaging Australian sport’s greatest product.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/journalists/phil-rothfield/page/8