Monday Buzz: Weekend highlights, lowlights

MONDAY BUZZ: A magnificent derby, Newcastle’s night to remember and Ben Hunt’s trial of error all feature in Phil Rothfield’s weekend highlights.

THE highlights, lowlights and talking points from another memorable weekend in sport.

HIGHLIGHT

A magnificent A-League Sydney on Saturday night. Normally you have to be at the game to experience the atmosphere but the commentary and colour of Simon Hill and Andy Harper was as brilliant as the game.

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Brendon Santalab thanks Wanderers fans after the derby win over Sydney FC at ANZ Stadium. Picture: Mark Evans

LOWLIGHT

Another year of bitterness and backstabbing following the split between NRL clubs and the game’s head office over proposed changes to the independent commission.

BUCKED BRONCO

Is Ben Hunt a $1.2 million-a-year footballer?

Certainly not judging by a very average performance against the Warrington Wolves.

And Anthony Milford wasn’t much better.

Ben Hunt struggled for the Broncos in England. File photo

BRIGHT KNIGHT

Trial form means nothing but the Newcastle Knights desperately needed some confidence after last year’s debacle and Saturday night’s 44-0 win over the Canberra Raiders will give them plenty.

COOL YOUR JET

We’ve known of James Roberts’ poor off-field behaviour for a long time. Now it appears to be a problem on the field. The Jet twice ran in from well off the ball to join scuffles in the World Club Challenge game and could easily have found himself in the sin bin.

REFRESHING

Your columnist rarely agrees with Phil Gould but his tweet during the Warrington-Broncos game was spot on: “The game of rugby league looks and sounds so much better with one referee … The two referee system is a huge distraction in our game.”

The game of rugby league looks and sounds so much better with one referee .. The two referee system is a huge distraction in our game

— Phil Gould (@Gus10Gould) February 18, 2017

TO THE WOLVES

“They need an attitude readjustment.” Well said Andrew Johns after the Broncos’ loss to Warrington.