Monday Buzz: Phil Rothfield reveals his weekend highlights and lowlights
Utility Kyle Flanagan has played his last game for Canterbury but his NRL career is set to kick on with a familiar face.
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Phil Rothfield reveals his highlights and lowlights from the final regular season NRL round of the year in his weekly column, Monday Buzz.
HIGHLIGHT
Knights winger Dom Young’s spectacular acrobatic skill to touch down twice in the second-half of the match against St George Illawarra to break Newcastle’s all-time record for most tries in a season. Who will he replace at the Roosters next year … Daniel Tupou or Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii?
LOWLIGHT
James Graham, on the payroll at the Bulldogs, smashing Andrew Davey on radio for having the temerity to speak openly and honestly about his forgettable experiences at Belmore. Last week it was Willie Mason, who’s next?
LOWLIGHT II
South Sydney missing the finals for the first time since 2017. Say what you want about Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker, but they always bring high drama and something special to big finals games.
SHOOSH
Kyle Flanagan finished up with the Bulldogs after the Titans game. We’re tipping he’ll be off to St George Illawarra next year as No.14 or back-up hooker, halfback or five-eighth.
With Jake Averillo (Dolphins) and Tevita Pangai Jr (retired) also leaving, Canterbury’s roster will undergo some changes in the off-season under coach Cameron Ciraldo.
SHOOSH
Why do bookies drive BMWs? Because they make squillions out of teams like South Sydney. The Rabbitohs were the second best backed team to win the NRL title with 14 per cent of the money on the TAB. They were backed into $4.25 favouritism by Round 11.
SHOOSH
Which player manager has swooped on Cowboys star Reuben Cotter to pinch the Maroons and Kangaroos forward from veteran agent Sam Ayoub. Not that the new manager will be getting his 6 per cent sling anytime soon because Cotter is under contract until the end of the 2025 season in Townsville.
HELPING HAND
Fox Sports host Lara Pitt and Dragons coach Shane Flanagan will host a fundraiser for Sydney’s homeless on Friday at the Red Lion Hotel in Rozelle. You can get your tickets at the Eventbrite website.
360 VIEW
Catch you on NRL 360 on Fox League at 6.30pm with Braith Anasta, Gorden Tallis and Brent Read in the countdown to the first weekend of finals footy.
Broncos hail rising star as long-term Reynolds replacement
Broncos young gun Coby Black has been hailed the long-term halfback successor to Adam Reynolds, as the rising rookie prepares for his first hitout under new coach Michael Maguire.
Pre-season watch: Dragons, Manly stars to face off in private simulation
The new look St George Illawarra spine will get their first proper hitout together, when the Dragons take on Manly in a private game simulation to shake-off the pre-season cobwebs.