Monday Buzz: Cameron Ciraldo’s Bulldogs meeting with Kyle Flanagan, Channel 9 Grand Final ratings disaster

How was the mood when incoming coach Cameron Ciraldo caught up with halfback Kyle Flanagan amid reports linking Canterbury with Jayden Sullivan? Buzz Rothfield’s highlights and lowlights.

The Panthers celebrate. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty

The period after the grand final is always a busy news cycle in rugby league.

Last week we had the debate around the Penrith Panthers celebrations, the naming of the Kangaroos squad, Dessie Hasler fighting to save his job at Manly, Cameron Munster staying loyal to Storm and the miserable Ryan Matterson preferring to miss three games rather than pay a $4000 foul-play fine.

It all overshadowed the story of Channel 9’s abysmal grand final television ratings.

The final figure on all platforms was 2.7 million compared to 3.6 million last year – 900,000 less than the Panthers v Rabbitohs decider.

In fairness, we were all at home 12 months ago in Covid lockdown which helped the ratings.

However, last Sunday night’s figure was still a shocker and no amount of spin can convince us otherwise.

It was actually 1.2 million fewer viewers than the Rabbitohs v Bulldogs 2014 grand final (3.9 million), the biggest audience of the past decade.

Any business that loses that many customers needs to be investigating why.

Only 2.7 million viewers watched Penrith win the grand final. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

It obviously didn’t help that Penrith had the game won after 20 minutes and many switched off.

There are other possible explanations.

Nine’s commentary has had many changes in recent years with the retirement of old favourites Kenny Sutcliffe, Ray Warren and Peter Sterling.

You don’t replace them overnight and it would be terribly unfair to lay all the blame on Matt Thompson, James Bracey or Cameron Smith.

This grand final could not have had more appeal.

Two western Sydney giants, massive supporter bases, the Panthers chasing back-to-back titles and the Eels desperately trying to bust a 36-year premiership drought.

Surely the NRL at least needs to revisit the issue of the kick-off time.

Interestingly the NRL last played a twilight grand final (5pm kick-off) in 2012 with Storm v Bulldogs and got a 3.6 million national audience, 900,000 more than last Sunday night.

Polls have shown 85 per cent of fans want an afternoon grand final.

This is the sport that went from two referees to one on the back of a fan survey.

A sport that made rule changes on the back of a fan survey.

And a sport that postponed a two-week suspension for Taylan May, found guilty of a “cowardly” assault, until next year so that Penrith fans wouldn’t be penalised for the 21-year-old’s actions.

So why not listen to the punters this time?

Over summer the NRL will review the bunker, referees, rules, concussion, injury trends, Origin eligibility and who knows what else.

Surely the TV numbers need to get as much attention as anything else.

As Peter V’landys told me two weeks ago: “At the end of the day, you’ve got to get the most eyeballs watching the grand final.”

Channel 9’s commentary team has lost both Peter Sterling and Ray Warren from its coverage.

HIGHLIGHT

Who would have thought an A-League soccer game in the most horrible weather conditions would attract a bigger crowd than two Australia v West Indies T20 matches combined. On Saturday night 21,840 turned up to watch Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory at Allianz Stadium.

Last week the Windies played Australia in T20s on the Gold Coast and the Gabba. No AFL, no NRL, no sporting competition anywhere yet crowds of just 3975 and 8164.

LOWLIGHT

Withdrawal symptoms from a weekend without rugby league. Nothing on TV on Saturday night unless you could afford $60 to watch a boxing card without any superstars or managed to find where the A-League is being broadcast these days. Bring on the World Cup.

Former NRL coach Brian Smith.

SPOTTED

Former NRL coach Brian Smith selling prawns at Carriageworks farmers market in Eveleigh on Saturday. Previously Smith was an Uber driver in Brisbane.

SPOTTED

Incoming Canterbury Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo having coffee with halfback Kyle Flanagan in Caringbah. We’re told it was a positive meeting about planning for next season, despite reports the Bulldogs were chasing Jayden Sullivan from the Dragons.

SPOTTED

Colleague Paul Kent was a late scratching from the Fox Sports boxing coverage on Saturday night in Newcastle. His plane from Brisbane to Newcastle couldn’t land because of storms in the area and had to return to Brisbane.

Mitchell Moses with his baby daughter Aspyn.

SPOTTED

With the footy season done and dusted, Parramatta Eels halfback Mitchell Moses has thrown himself straight into dad duties with his new daughter Aspyn Elle.

SPOTTED

On their first weekend off since February, Fox Sports stars Yvonne Sampson, Braith Anasta and Cooper Cronk headed to Randwick races on Saturday for a punt and to enjoy the hospitality of Inglis. Knights legend and former Fox Sports commentator Danny Buderus was there too.

BIG BREKKY

Catch you on the Big Sports Breakfast on Sky Sports Radio at 8.10am with Laurie Daley, Michael Clarke and Gerard Middleton to discuss all the latest issues in rugby league.

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