Monday Buzz: Weekend highlights and lowlights from the final NRL round

Matty Johns has been sounded out by a breakfast radio heavyweight that is struggling in the ratings war. Buzz’s weekend highlights and lowlights.

Matty Johns with his former Grill team hosts Mark Geyer (L) and Gus Worland (R). Picture: Cameron Richardson

Sports Editor-at-Large Phil Rothfield runs the rule over the final NRL round in Monday Buzz’s weekend highlights and lowlights.

HIGHLIGHT

The spectacular 110-metre Manly try-of-the-year. It was magnificently set up by Reuben Garrick in the final moment of their win over the Cowboys. Plus, Tommy Turbo’s miraculous try in which he beat eight defenders.

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Tom Trbojevic was unstoppable in North Queensland. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty

LOWLIGHT

St George Illawarra’s decision to offer NSW Blues Origin forward Tariq Sims an early release from his contract. This guy is not just a good footballer but a great family man who should be encouraged to stay, not told to leave.

SHOOSH

Which usually reputable media outlet is running fluffy stories about Latrell Mitchell to try to score the first interview with the South Sydney fullback about that tackle on Joey Manu?

Joey Manu confronts Latrell Mitchell.

SHOOSH

In further proof that all is not well in the relationship between Trent Barrett and Dave Furner at Canterbury, we can reveal the club approached Steve Price to join their coaching staff before he agreed to join Craig Fitzgibbon at the Cronulla Sharks.

SHOOSH

Which big name NRL star is soon to announce a bombshell switch to rugby union next year? He is keeping it quiet while his team is still in the finals.

SPOTTED

A fitting farewell and tribute from the players after Matt Cecchin refereed his final NRL game in the Dragons v Rabbitohs on Saturday night.

Referee Matt Cecchin is clapped off.

360 VIEW

Catch you Monday on NRL 360 on Fox League at 6.30pm with Yvonne Sampson, Paul Kent and James Hooper to discuss all the biggest issues in the countdown to the first week of the finals.

Matty Johns’s radio SOS

Fox Sports star Matty Johns has been sounded out by Triple M to make a comeback to FM radio.

In 2018 Johns quit as host of the station’s breakfast Grill Team but made a part-time comeback last year on new sports station SEN on Friday mornings.

Johns told The Daily Telegraph three years ago that the challenge of juggling late-night commitments with Fox Sports with the early hours of breakfast radio was too difficult.

Matty Johns with his former Grill team hosts Mark Geyer (L) and Gus Worland (R). Picture: Cameron Richardson

“After eight years, that can take a toll and for that reason I’ve decided to take a break from radio,” he said. “It’s not an easy decision, but the right one.”

The Triple M breakfast show has fallen in the ratings since his departure.

In last week’s survey, the show rated a 4.7, well behind Kiss, Nova and Smooth on the FM dial.

The Fox Sports star is understood to have been approached late last week.

He declined to comment when contacted by The Daily Telegraph.

Johns has always said he would not return to full-time radio without the blessing of Fox Sports executive director Steve Crawley.