Monday Buzz: Phil Rothfield reveals his weekend highlights and lowlights

The big announcement of NRLW star Emma Tonegato joining the Cronulla Sharks didn’t go as planned for Nine’s Sunday Footy Show. Buzz’s weekend highlights and lowlights.

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH SPECIAL. New Wests Tigers trainer Ronnie Palmer. Picture supplied

Phil Rothfield reveals his highlights and lowlights from an action-packed weekend in Australia’s best sporting column, Monday Buzz.

NRL VOWS LATEST CRACKDOWN IS HERE TO STAY

The NRL is making no apologies for the biggest sin bin blitz in the game’s history.

After seven rounds of the competition we have witnessed 44 players removed from the field.

You go back to 2019 and there were only three in the first seven rounds.

The NRL don’t like us using the word crackdown but that’s exactly what it is.

James Tedesco talks to referee Grant Atkins as he sends Brandon Smith (not shown) to the bin. Picture: Getty Images

Any late shots on playmakers or anything that looks remotely like a hip drop tackle have become an immediate dismissal.

Independent commission boss Peter V’landys insists there will be no relaxation of the ‘crackdown’ as has happened with previous ‘crackdowns.’

“Player welfare is our priority,” V’landys told me over the weekend.

“We’ve got to protect all players, not just the smaller guys.

“We will maintain a zero tolerance and I think the refs are doing a great job in policing it.”

Some are claiming it is a complete over-reaction and that it’s ruining the spectacle.

TV ratings and crowd figures would indicate this is not the case.

I wrote over the weekend that Fox Sports and Kayo ratings are up by 22.7 per cent.

Even Channel 9’s free-to-air numbers have increased, albeit to a far lesser extent.

Crowd figures are up by 30 per cent and sell outs are becoming regular.

So it’s now up to the coaches and the players to make their adjustments.

This isn’t like a one-off Magic Round crackdown from a couple of years ago.

Teams like the Roosters, who have had more sin-bins than any other club over the last decade, have simply got to change their ways.

They have the talent to be there on grand final day but whether they have the discipline remains to be seen.

HIGHLIGHT

Massive NRL television ratings and sellout crowds. There’s one reason for it … the gap has closed so significantly between the top eight and bottom eight from last year. Who would have thought at the beginning of the year that the Newcastle Knights would take Penrith to golden point? Or that the Warriors would be third?

HIGHLIGHT II

Nathan Cleary. As cool, calm and composed as any player I’ve ever seen.

HIGHLIGHT III

Andrew Webster at the Warriors, a very early coach-of-the-year candidate.

LOWLIGHT

The penalty on Tyson Frizell for pulling Jarome Luai’s hair. Seriously, he was trying to stop his opponent, who happens to have long hair, from behind.

The Wests Tigers have relegated trainer Ronnie Palmer. Picture supplied

PALMED OFF

We can now reveal another key reason why the Wests Tigers are struggling … Some bright spark has made the decision to relegate legendary high performance guru Ronny Palmer from NRL duties to pathways. Ronny has been a leader in his field for 45 years. He’s been involved in Origin, premiership-winning sides and the Kangaroos. And the players love him. Seriously this relegation confirms there are people at the Wests Tigers making decisions that shouldn’t be. Palmer declined to comment when we contacted him on Sunday.

SPOTTED

Fire engines arriving at Channel 9 during the Sunday Footy Show on Sunday after a smoke machine set off fire alarms while the show was live on air. The machine was in the studio as part of an announcement of NRLW star Emma Tonegato joining the Cronulla Sharks.

The former Channel Nine headquarters in Willoughby. Picture: AAP/Julian Andrews

SHOOSH

Tens of thousands of dollars have been wasted on the legal battle between NRL and the NSWRL over the last 12 months. Finally the parties are coming together for mediation talks. Peter V’landys and Andrew Abdo will meet this week with new NSWRL chairman, Judge Paul Conlon, and CEO Dave Trodden.

SHOOSH

Which NRL star has been approached to write a tell-all book about his life? The hugely popular player would ensure the book would be a bestseller.

SHOOSH

Which club recruitment manager is desperately trying to kick start his career after recently parting ways with his club? He has reached out to several clubs in the past few weeks, including the Sydney Roosters.

360 VIEW

Catch you on Monday night on NRL 360 on Fox League with Braith Anasta (back from his American junket), Paul Kent, Brent Read (also back from his junket), Cooper Cronk and Cameron Ciraldo to discuss another big weekend of rugby league.