Buzz’s highlights and lowlights: St George Illawarra not chasing Jackson Hastings

St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan says talk the club is chasing Newcastle’s Jackson Hastings is off the mark. BUZZ ROTHFIELD’S highlights and lowlights

Shane Richardson went on a long lunch with Buzz Rothfield in 1994. Picture: David Swift

Phil Rothfield reveals his highlights and lowlights for the week – shedding light Channel Nine’s constant whining, rumours surrounding Jackson Hastings and a famous long lunch with Shane Richardson in 1994.

HIGHLIGHT

The NRL’s decision to ban junior rugby league grand finals in the pre-teen age groups. I have witnessed the detrimental effect of over-competitive junior officials poaching players as young as nine from rival clubs to try to win trophies. It’s a disgrace. The weaker clubs get flogged every week and the kids go looking for another sport to play.

LOWLIGHT

Channel 9’s constant whining about not covering both games at the Las Vegas doubleheader. It’s very simple – Fox Sports own the TV rights. It would be like Nine allowing Channel 7 to simulcast a Married at First Sight episode. Or Nine giving Fox Sports an Origin game. The independent-sometimes media company would never allow it to happen.

The official launch of the NRL's push into Las Vegas. Credit: NRL Images

LOWLIGHT II

The poor old Socceroos being bumped out of the Asian Cup on Saturday morning in the quarter finals. One thing about the Socceroos … coach Graham Arnold and his supporters need to drop the siege mentality about their lack of recognition compared to the Matildas.

SHOOSH

Which player agent has lost one of the game’s best young footballers to a rival manager. It will be costly because the player is about to sign a big-money long term contract and he loses tens of thousands in commission.

SHOOSH

There is a rumour doing the rounds that St George Illawarra are interested in signing Jackson Hastings. Coach Shane Flanagan says it’s not right and Hastings’ manager Liam Ayoub insists he is staying at the Newcastle Knights.

LUNCH WITH RICHO

I first met Shane Richardson over a Chinese meal in Haymarket when he arrived in Sydney in 1994. It was a long lunch, so long that one of our companions fell down the stairs of the restaurant and onto the footpath.

Since that day Richo has proven himself a very good rugby league administrator with a couple premierships.

However, this latest gig at the Wests Tigers is a joke and a conflict of interest because of his part ownership in a company that manages players. He needs to make a choice – it’s either Rich Digital or the Wests Tigers.

SHORT MEMORY

Of all people, you’d think new Wests Tigers chairman, former NSW premier Barry O’Farrell, would be wary of conflicts of interest. #redwine #grangehermitage.

BIG BREKKY

Catch you Monday morning on the Big Sports Breakfast with Laurie Daley, Gerard Middleton and my old mate Michael Clarke to chat all things rugby league.