Buzz’s highs and lows: Phil Gould, Nick Politis rift; why Dolphins can’t sign stars

There was one notable absentee from the Roosters 2002 Grand Final 20 year reunion, with talk of a growing rift between Phil Gould and Nick Politis, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.

Wayne Bennett is struggling to sign stars to the Dolphins. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Sports Editor-at-large Phil Rothfield runs his rule over the weekend sporting action.

HIGHLIGHT

The Titans have the most wonderful role model in young skipper Tino Fa’asuamaleaui. He stayed on the park at Brookie on Saturday night to help staff remove the advertising signage despite the disappointment of losing the game.

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LOWLIGHT

The sin-binning of Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards and Broncos prop Keenan Palasia for face-slapping. Seriously. Was this the bunker or the referee?

The modern day one on one 🤔

Palasia and Edwards are off to the sin bin after this...

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SHOOSH

The Roosters held their 2002 reunion on Saturday but there was no sign of Phil Gould, their director of coaching that year. Coach Ricky Stuart was there along with CEO Brian Canavan, team manager Steve Gigg and legendary trainer Ronnie Palmer. There’s talk Gus is no longer as close to Roosters chairman Nick Politis as he once was.

SHOOSH

Why the big fuss about Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe taking a family holiday over Easter? At least he’s stayed in the country, unlike Newcastle Knights CEO Phil Gardner who has gone overseas to Hawaii for a break with his family at the height of negotiations with Kalyn Ponga.

SPOTTED

The surprisingly good odds of $7 for a Melbourne Storm, Penrith Panthers premiership quinella on the TAB. They are clearly the best two sides in the competition.

Wayne Bennett is struggling to sign stars to the Dolphins. Picture: Steve Pohlner

SHOOSH

One of the reasons Wayne Bennett is struggling to sign high-profile players is that he doesn’t have the third party backing he had at the Brisbane Broncos or the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

360 VIEW

Catch you Monday night on NRL 360 on Fox League after the Parramatta Eels v Wests Tigers game with Braith Anasta, Paul Kent, James Hooper and Cooper Cronk to discuss all the biggest stories from the Easter weekend.

NRL ALMOST UNWATCHABLE

Some of the rugby league over the last two weeks has been almost unwatchable.

Not all games, but some.

It has coincided with the NRL’s pedantic crackdown on slowing down the play the ball.

Look at these figures on six-agains.

- Round 1, 30 restarts

- Round 2, 29 restarts

- Round 3, 30 restarts

- Round 4, 32 restarts

More referees should following the lead of Grant Atkins (right) (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Everyone loved it. Everyone was raving about the quality of footy.

Then the NRL steps in. Another crackdown.

Don’t worry about crusher tackles, let’s get a quicker play the ball.

Tommy Turbo, Teddy and Kalyn Ponga are out of form.

We’ve got a lock forward leading the Dally Ms.

It’s the play-the-ball’s fault.

So with the 35th crackdown in the last two years underway, we get 54 set restarts in round five.

In round six, by half-time at Brookvale Oval on Saturday in just three and a half games of football we had 35 six-agains.

I gave up counting after that.

I know good, long time fans who are turning the games off.

You get to Storm against Sharks on Saturday night. We witness the most glorious opening 40 minutes of football.

Grant Atkins is not as narky as Gerard Sutton or Ashley Klein. Picture: NRL Imagery

The play the ball speed is no different to other games.

The only difference is that referee Grant Atkins is not as narky as Gerard Sutton or Ashley Klein.

There was only one six-again restart.

The football on display was so magnificent.

Rugby league will always have good games and bad games.

But there is no doubt the football was more enjoyable in the first month of the competition than it has been in the last fortnight.