Monday Buzz: Phil Rothfield’s Magic Round highlights and lowlights, Phil Gould shot down

Phil Gould’s criticism of the Knights and coach Adam O’Brien for allowing players to take a mid-season overseas holiday has been quickly shot down by sharper and more modern minds.

Newcastle coach Adam O'Brien. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty

Midway through the 2019 NRL season Canberra Raiders coach Ricky Stuart could see his players were getting physically and mentally fatigued.

So he suggested they should have a break – and go to Bali.

It freshened them up for a charge all the way to the grand final.

Stuart said he would do the same today.

“We don’t put restrictions on our players getting away during an extended break,’ he said.

“I let the boys go to Bali in ’19 and it was good for them.

“During a bye, we tell them they need to look after themselves and that’s it.

“It comes back to trust. It’s not a boozy end of season trip and they get that.”

Phil Gould’s criticism of the Newcastle Knights and coach Adam O’Brien for allowing players to take a mid-season overseas holiday has been quickly shot down by sharper and more modern minds.

Bulldogs football boss Phil Gould. Picture: Damian Shaw

Gus last week said: “It wouldn’t have happened in my day. For me, it was two weeks to get ready for your next game, and you shouldn’t lose if you had the two weeks to get ready.”

However three-time premiership winning coach Trent Robinson agrees with Stuart. He says he actually encourages his players to buy an airline ticket and leave town.

“I tell them to get away,” Robinson said, “Days off in footy during the season aren’t really days off. They’re always switched on.

“So when you get an opportunity you tell them to get on a plane and go somewhere nice. It’s actually the worst thing you can do is stay at home.”

The Roosters get a 16-day break with a Round 13 bye.

“I want them to go away and get some sun or visit their families in New Zealand, Fiji or wherever,” he said, “It’s when you don’t give them time away you end up regretting it.”

What we all need to remember, Gus in particular, is that the physical and mental stress on footballers these days are far greater than they used to be.

That they are not machines. You can’t just flick a switch, turn them on and send them out to play each weekend.

They are the most phenomenal athletes.

Yet every year the body contact and collision impact increases. We get more injuries.

They are bigger, stronger, faster, more powerful and more explosive.

Much bigger, stronger, fitter than faster when Gus played or last carried a clipboard.

No-one knows more about increased demands on a footballer than Kieran Foran.

He’s 32, this is his 15th season and he’s played 270 games.

“When I first started you’d be done at training by lunchtime most days,” he said.

“Now you can get in there at 6.30am and leave at 4.30pm. I’m not complaining because a lot of people work hard for long hours. I’m just illustrating how it’s changed and increased the workload on players.”

Foran was surprised by the criticism of the Knights.

“I’d think all 17 clubs would be looking to do the same thing,” he said.

“The game has certainly become more physically exhausting in my time.

“NRL has done a good job to get rid of the late shots and shoulder charges but the collisions are definitely harder, the intensity is greater.

“I’m sure there’s more to gain from getting a break and a mental freshen up.”

Stuart can see other benefits. He says more downtime for players has improved the spectacle.

“I’m a big fan of three byes and the opportunity to refresh the squad,” he said.

“I think it’s one of the reasons we’re seeing such good footy.

“Players can get over the bumps and niggling injuries and as a result they play better and you see a better quality of football.”

Phil Rothfield reveals his weekend highlights and lowlights from Magic Round in Australia’s leading sport column, Monday Buzz.

HIGHLIGHT

Latrell Mitchell declared at the start of the season he wanted to win the Dally M Medal. His form and increased involvement over the last month, including Saturday night against Storm, would indicate this is a realistic goal.

LOWLIGHT

Catching Covid and missing Magic Round. And, just to make it worse, the Cronulla Sharks have an absolute shocker against the Dolphins.

RECRUITMENT KING

Old super coach Wayne Bennett is rightly getting most of the credit for the Dolphins’ remarkable opening 10 rounds. The other man who has done an outstanding job is head of recruitment Peter O’Sullivan. He pulled their roster together with a mixture of tough old campaigners, rejects and rookies. He found new cult hero Valynce Te Whare playing junior rugby union in New Zealand.

SHOOSH

We reported weeks ago that prop Matt Lodge was unlikely to get a new contract at the Roosters. The front-rower lives on the northern beaches. Manly desperately need more middle-field oomph. It makes sense, especially as Lodge is managed by Isaac Moses, who also manages Anthony Seibold.

Could we see Matthew Lodge in a Manly jersey? Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty

SPOTTED

Peter V’landys watching Wayne Bennett’s 900th game from his hotel room in Louisville on the NRL’s international app. He also bumped into Luke Ricketson and Kate Waterhouse at the Churchill Downs race meeting. Next stop Las Vegas to set up the double header.

SPOTTED

Fox Sports commentator and Penrith Panthers board member Greg Alexander enjoying lunch with Sydney Roosters directors and his great mate Mark Fennessey at Hellenika restaurant in Fortitude Valley. We don’t think they’ll be as friendly next week when the Panthers play the Roosters.

SPOTTED

Matty Johns having a beer in Fortitude Valley the night before Magic Round, his first drink after a 75-day health challenge. “I only had five beers but I woke up with the worst hangover ever,” Johns said.

STICKY: HUDSON MADE FOR ORIGIN

Ricky Stuart says his Canberra Raiders second-rower Hudson Young is built to play Origin.

“It’s in his DNA,” Stuart says, “I’d pick him for sure.”

Stuart played 14 Origins for NSW and coached the Blues on nine occasions.

He knows what it takes.

His comments come as Blues coach Freddy Fittler and his advisor Greg Alexander wrestle with issues over the NSW edge forwards.

Liam Martin has hardly played all year and Angus Crichton has also missed a lot of football.

The Canberra Raiders have won four straight and Hudson Young has been a standout.

Stuart is so passionate about Young’s credentials on league’s biggest stage.

“You’re born to play Origin,” he says, “You can’t practice it and you can’t coach it.

“An Origin player doesn’t necessarily have to be the best or most elite player.

“It’s about attitude. It’s about competing and never wanting to give up.

“Both he and Corey Horsburgh (Queensland) are the same. They’re made for it.”

Stuart thought Young could have been chosen for the Kangaroos last year.

“I was actually disappointed he missed out on the World Cup trip,” he said.

“In fairness it was tough on Mal (Meninga) because he had plenty of good ones to choose from.”

The other bonus with the Raiders forward is that there is not a better ball stripper in the NRL.

Other edge forwards in contention include Newcastle’s Tyson Frizell and Manly’s Haumole Olakau’atu, who both started the season powerfully but have dropped off slightly in recent weeks.