Monday Buzz: Dragons player leaks damaging stories, Nick Politis v Phil Gould battle

The biggest problem at the Dragons is not coach Anthony Griffin or the culture, it’s the player who leaks damaging stories, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.

A Dragons player is leaking damaging stories to the media. Picture: NRL Images

Phil Rothfield runs his rule over the weekend sporting action.

From a high-powered battle between Phil Gould and Nick Politis, to the leaky Dragons, to the Bulldogs’ outrageous overcharging.

Check out Buzz’s highlights and lowlights.

HIGHLIGHT

The courage of South Sydney Rabbitohs forward Liam Knight to tell his incredible story in raw detail of his battle to beat alcohol and drug issues in the hope of convincing others to get help.

LOWLIGHT

No wonder the state government is struggling to be re-elected. They have handed out hundreds of millions of dollars to NRL clubs for high performance centres. Every club except the Cronulla Sharks. Even the GWS Giants, who have no juniors and virtually no fan base, have received $110 million. Penrith has been given $350 million by Stuart Ayres and Matt Kean because his own seat is on a knife edge. It is a disgrace.

Roosters chairman Nick Politis. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Canterbury Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould. Picture: Kevin Farmer

SHOOSH

Nick Politis v Phil Gould. It’s the battle between two of the most powerful men in rugby league for the signature of Penrith Panthers forward Spencer Leniu.

Roosters chairman Politis rarely gets knocked off in a contract tug-of-war. Gus has one thing in his favour at the Bulldogs – his man Cameron Ciraldo, who coached Leniu at Penrith.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson met with Leniu recently. Like Politis, he rarely misses out on the players he really wants.

SHOOSH

The biggest problem at St George-Illawarra is not coach Anthony Griffin or the team’s culture as James Graham explained on Triple M. It’s the player, who we have spoken about before, who has media connections and has previously leaked damaging stories. The situation will not improve while this player remains at the club.

SHOOSH

We wrote recently about the Bulldogs and concerns over their football department losing $5 million a year while most other clubs are making profit. Maybe they are taking it out on their members, who are being charged an outrageous $35 to have their membership packs sent to their homes.

Zach Fittler was one of many sons of guns on show in Harold Mathews over the weekend. Picture: Jeremy Ng/Newscorp.

SPOTTED

The sons of old Roosters team mates Brad Fittler and Craig Fitzgibbon playing on opposite sides in the Roosters v Illawarra Steelers Harold Mathews junior rep game on Saturday. The Steelers won 24-18 with Aaymon Fitzgibbon kicking two goals. Freddy’s son Zach scored two tries. Brett Rodwell’s son Toby also played in the Roosters team.

SPOTTED

NRL media director Glenn Jackson scoring a screaming goal on his debut for Manly Allambie over 45’s soccer team on the northern peninsula on Saturday. He celebrated afterwards with a cold one.

360 VIEW

Catch you for the return of NRL 360 on Fox Sports on Monday night at 6.30pm with Braith Anasta, Paul Kent and Brent Read to discuss all the biggest issues in the countdown to the kick-off. Storm supercoach Craig Bellamy is a special guest.