Mitchell Pearce spotting meeting with a rival coach as Benji Marshall rumour mill goes nuts

Veteran Newcastle Knights halfback Mitchell Pearce has been spotted with a rival coach and the rumourmill has gone into overdrive. Buzz has the latest.

Benji Marshall with his son after losing the 2021 NRL grand final. Picture: Adam Head

Sports Editor-at-Large Phil Rothfield runs the rule over the NRL grand final and delivers all the best gossip from the sporting world in his Monday Buzz column.

HIGHLIGHT

Sensational atmosphere at Suncorp Stadium, even with a crowd 12,000 below capacity, and an awesome game of rugby league.

LOWLIGHT

No Kangaroos team chosen this year like after most grand finals because of the World Cup postponement. So many players from these two wonderful football sides deserve green and gold jerseys.

Penrith Panthers celebrate winning the NRL grand final. Picture: NRL Photos

SPOTTED

Boxing champ Tim Tszyu enjoying Sydney’s beautiful Sunday morning weather with a body surf at Elouera Beach in the Shire.

SPOTTED

Footy legend Ken Arthurson with his lovely wife Barbara celebrated the great man’s 92nd birthday with a seafood dinner at Omeros Bros at Marina Mirage on the Gold Coast on Friday evening.

SPOTTED

Veteran Newcastle Knights halfback Mitchell Pearce caught up with Titans assistant coach Jim Dymock on the Gold Coast last week. Immediately the rumour mill went into overdrive … that Pearce was getting an offer to join the Titans. The 32-year-old insists it was just a friendly catch-up and that he will be staying in Newcastle for at least another year.

SHOOSH

There was also talk over the weekend of Benji Marshall having one final year on the Gold Coast, from where he emerged from Keebra Park High School. The Titans will start next year with rookie Toby Sexton in the halves and old Benji would be the perfect mentor.

Benji Marshall with his son after losing the 2021 NRL grand final. Picture: Adam Head

SHOOSH

Which old knockabout businessman put $100,000 on the Panthers to win at $1.60 just an hour before kickoff?

TALLIS TV DEAL

Queenslander Gorden Tallis has signed a new three-year contract with Fox Sports. His appearances on the Matty Johns show have been limited because of the border closure but he’s done a terrific job on the sidelines for the network during the games.

360 VIEW

Catch you tonight for the final edition of NRL 360 on Fox League at 6.30pm with Yvonne Sampson, Paul Kent and James Hooper to break down all the big issues and stories from the decider.

POWERFUL ALLY FOR PVL

Premier-in-waiting Dominic Perrottet is a mad Wests Tigers fan. He is also very close to ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys, in fact much closer than Gladys was.

The treasurer is often a guest of V’landys at Randwick on big race days. He also loves his rugby league, despite the painful experience of following Wests Tigers.

This means V’landys is now more likely to get his funding to build boutique stadiums at suburban grounds over the next few years.

Leichhardt Oval’s future looks safe. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

We can’t imagine beautiful old Leichhardt Oval being bulldozed but Brookvale Oval, Liverpool and possibly Penrith are the frontrunners.

The suburban ground issue, and the tribalism that comes with it, is an absolute priority for V’landys and the TV broadcasters.

There is nothing worse than covering NRL matches with a backdrop of empty seats.

DALLY M AWARDS A JOKE

The NRL needs to conduct a full review of the Dally M Awards. There is no question that the right player won in Tom Trbojevic and that Nathan Cleary and Cody Walker deserved to be in the top three after outstanding seasons.

However, some of the individual awards were a complete joke. Sydney Roosters centre Joey Manu finished the season with 15 Dally M points.

Joseph Manu missed out on a spot in the Dally M team of the year. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Yet Matt Burton (14) and Justin Olam (who got fewer than six points) were named as the centres in team of the year ahead of Manu.

Some of the judging was appalling. In round 16, Walker was near enough to best on the park in Souths’ 38-22 win over Wests Tigers yet he didn’t get a point.

The coach of the year needs to be looked at, too. Craig Bellamy had another great season but Storm went backwards from winning the title to missing the grand final. It should have been Wayne Bennett or Trent Robinson.