Monday Buzz: Weekend highlights, lowlights
St George Illawarra prepare for a fan backlash, plus Cronulla’s coach conundrum, Manly’s $10 million bargain and more — check out the talking points from another big weekend in sport.
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Check out the highlights, lowlights and talking points from another big weekend in sport.
HIGHLIGHT
A gripping, edge-of-your-seat sporting contest at the MCG on Saturday afternoon when the GWS Giants held off a Collingwood fightback to advance to the AFL grand final.
LOWLIGHT
Mitchell Moses and Reed Mahoney had more missed tackles (11) between them than the entire Melbourne team.
BEHAVING BUNNIES
Who says the South Sydney Rabbitohs have a discipline problem? Wayne Bennett’s team has won more penalty counts this year than any other side, including a lopsided 9-3 against Manly. Souths have won the penalties in 16 games this year. In comparison, the Roosters have won only four penalty counts.
MORE MONDAY BUZZ:
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SPOTTED
Cronulla Sharks general manager Phil Moss having coffee with the great Gus Gould at Popati Café in Woolooware.
SPOTTED II
Sydney Roosters lock and handy carpenter Victor Radley at Bunnings in Randwick on Saturday morning.
SPOTTED III
Veteran sporting and celebrity agent John Fordham celebrating his 75th birthday at the Four In Hand Hotel in Paddington on Friday with his nearest and dearest.
SPOTTED IV
Embattled Brisbane Broncos coach Anthony Seibold back at home with his family on Sydney’s northern beaches.
SPOTTED V
The entire South Sydney team, including Wayne Bennett and Shane Richardson, at Kogarah Oval on Saturday watching the Rabbitohs’ Canterbury Cup and Jersey Flegg preliminary finals.
SPOTTED VI
New independent commission chairman Peter V’landys watching the South Sydney-Manly semi-final from the sideline at ANZ Stadium on Friday night to get a feel of the atmosphere at ground level.
360 VIEW
Catch you tonight on NRL 360 on Fox Sports at 7.30pm with Ben Ikin and Paul Kent, and later on Controversy Corner with Graeme Hughes, Steve Roach and Geoff Toovey.
BIG BUCKS WELL SPENT ON DCE
When league Immortal Bob Fulton signed Daly Cherry-Evans to a $10 million contract at Manly in 2015, every critic said it was over the top.
Fast forward four years and it has become a great deal for all parties.
On his form this year, DCE is worth every penny of the $1.2 million a year he is being paid by the Sea Eagles.
He would be my choice as Dally M Halfback of the Year ahead of Mitchell Moses and Cooper Cronk after leading Manly so stylishly throughout the season.
Compare DCE’s salary to Ben Hunt ($1.2 million), Ash Taylor ($1 million), Anthony Milford ($1 million) and Michael Morgan ($1 million) and Manly have got a bargain.
MARY’S HEAD OFF CHOPPING BLOCK
The St George Illawarra review is complete and Paul McGregor will retain his position as coach.
Differences of opinion on the club’s board have been resolved and the announcement McGregor is safe will be made within a few days.
The board is expecting a fan backlash but there was nowhere else to go once Shane Flanagan was ruled out of a head coaching position until 2022.
The Dragons’ membership numbers will be interesting. McGregor needs a solid start next year to retain support.
There is talk he wants to bring home Bronco Jack Bird. Others at the Dragons believe he is too big an injury risk.
BROWN’S SHIRE SNAG
There is one thing stopping Cronulla from signing Nathan Brown to replace Jim Dymock as assistant coach to John Morris at the Cronulla Sharks next year.
It obviously wouldn’t go down well with new signing Jesse Ramien, who was punted by Brown at Newcastle in August.
The Sharks have ruled out making a play for highly regarded Penrith assistant Cameron Ciraldo, who recently agreed to a three-year extension at the Panthers and won’t break his contract.