Monday Buzz: Phil Rothfield reveals his weekend highlights and lowlights

Knights coach Adam O’Brien has defended his five-eighth Tyson Gamble following another brutal Willie Mason social media spray. Monday Buzz’s highlights and lowlights.

Knights coach Adam O’Brien has defended his five-eighth Tyson Gamble, who was on the receiving end of another brutal Willie Mason social media spray after Newcastle’s loss to the Warriors.

Mason declared after the game: “There could not be a bigger hole that Tyson Gamble wants to crawl into right now. Pick ya battles boy. You are below average.”

The outspoken former international was smashed by fans over his remarks.

Gamble, like many of his teammates, had a poor game in Auckland on Saturday.

He missed six tackles and was quiet in attack. Still, O’Brien and most fans thought Mason had gone too far.

“The hardest thing is that these young blokes look up to ex-players,” O’Brien said. “It’s disappointing.

Willie Mason launched a stunning spray on Tyson Gamble. Picture: Damian Shaw

“I know Tyson is a competitor. Willie would love to have played in a team with Tyson.

“He’s tough and he competes. His teammates enjoy playing with him. They love him.”

Mason started the exchange when he said on his podcast two weeks ago the Knights had “worst f---ing spine in the league” without Kalyn Ponga.

Gamble then responded.

“Me, Jacko (Hastings) and Phoenix (Crossland) all saw it,” Gamble said.

“Everybody’s got an opinion. It’s all right, he should probably worry about his own backyard (at Bulldogs) before he starts worrying about other people.

“He was a middle, not a half, so tell him to get f---ed.

There could not be a bigger hole that Tyson gamble wants to crawl into right now.
Pick ya battles boy. You are below average. @levelsnetwork

— Willie Mason WMM 💯🇦🇺🇹🇴 (@mase21) September 16, 2023

“We’re not a team of superstars, we’ve got Kalyn who is the biggest star in the game.

“We’re a team of blokes who do their job and that’s why we’re in the position we’re in.”

Mason declined to comment when we exchanged text messages on Sunday.

O’Brien admits: “I’m sure if Tyson had his time over again he wouldn’t have responded to the initial remark.”

However the Knights five-eighth, who has been one of the best buys of the year, is renowned for being a straight-shooter.

He criticised his Broncos coach Kevvie Walters on a podcast last year.

“I just don’t like seeing these barneys in the media,” O’Brien said. “It’s something Tyson doesn’t need. Like all the boys. he’s disappointed and flat after the loss.

“He’s been excellent for us. He’s not on a lot of money, in fact bugger all.

“He just goes out there and has a go. It wasn’t Tyson’s fault we were beaten. We were running on empty and the bubble sort of burst for us.”

HIGHLIGHT

The Warriors. This is a club could almost have folded during Covid. A club that finished near the bottom last year and no-one rated for 2023, not with such a rookie coach. I don’t care who wins the grand final … Andrew Webster has to be Dally M coach of the year.

LOWLIGHT

Willie Mason’s social media comments on Saturday evening: “There could not be a bigger hole that Tyson Gamble wants to crawl into right now. Pick ya battles boy. You are below average.” It was a savage spray at the Knights five-eighth who, overall, has had a tremendous season.

REF RAGE

Good on the NRL management for sticking up for referee Ashley Klein over some unacceptable social media abuse. However the unfortunate mistakes he made in the Storm v Roosters game on Friday night warrant the need for important appointment changes. Adam Gee is the game’s form referee. He deserves to be in charge of the grand final.

ROOSTERS REFUND

The referee mistakes were so significant that bookmaking agency Unibet offered refunds to punters after the game. They posted on social media: “After the referees’ howlers in the Chooks game, we’ve refunded all H2H singles on the Roosters bets in cash.”

Harry Grant juggling the ball on his own line in semi-final against Roosters at AAMI Park. Picture: Fox League

SPOTTED

Betting on the Voice referendum is unbelievably popular. BlueBet boss Michael Sullivan says his agency will hold more money on the referendum than the Melbourne Cup or Everest. The No vote is a hot favourite at $1.11 with Yes paying $5.65.

SPOTTED

Dale ‘Rowdy’ Shearer has always loved a gee-up. Over the weekend he re-enacted the Valentine Holmes act of stupidity with a beer and a packet of salt.

Maroons legend Dale Shearer poses up with a salt packet in his mouth.

Instagram image of Valentine Holmes.

SPOTTED

NSW Origin coach Brad Fittler, wearing a Collingwood shirt, at Magpies’ AFL training on Friday before leaving for AAMI Park to call the Sydney Roosters v Melbourne Storm game for Channel 9.

SPOTTED

NRL 360 host Braith Anasta shaking hands and chatting to his old sparring partner, Souths halfback legend Craig Coleman, at the Courtyard Café in Coogee last week.

360 VIEW

Catch you on NRL 360 at 6.30pm on Fox League with Braith Anasta, Gorden Tallis and Brent Read to discuss another dramatic round of finals football.