Monday Buzz: Weekend highlights, lowlights
Juicy rumours about some big names switching clubs in the off-season, the young gun to build a club around 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 full house and beautiful suburban ground atmosphere at Shark Park as Cronulla farewelled its greatest player, Paul Gallen. It’s a big statement considering what Steve Rogers, Andrew Ettingshausen and Gavin Miller achieved but the fact Gal captained the 2016 premiership-winning team gives him the edge.
LOWLIGHT
Trainer Glen Rushton put Jeff Horn’s safety at risk by refusing to throw in the towel when the former world champion was getting absolutely pummelled by Michael Zerafa in the ninth round in Bendigo on Saturday night.
LOWLIGHT II
Why is it that the underachieving New Zealand Warriors are never mentioned in discussions about reducing the number of NRL clubs? They were again dreadful against the Rabbitohs.
LOWLIGHT III
Tom Trbojevic’s injury against Melbourne Storm. Even if your own team is playing against Manly in the finals, you want to watch the champion fullback.
SHOOSH
There are a couple of juicy rumours around possible player movements.
● Josh Morris back to St George Illawarra to make room in the Cronulla Sharks salary cap for Jesse Ramien.
● The Penrith Panthers chasing Jared Waerea-Hargreaves on a three-year deal to add some much-needed mongrel to their forward pack.
SHOOSH
Which former NRL legend and current ambassador is being checked out by the integrity unit over allegations of dodgy business activities.
SPOTTED
Josh or Brett Morris (not sure which one) enjoying a coffee in Cronulla with former teammate Trent Hodkinson on Friday morning.
SPOTTED II
At 46, former NRL player Rick McGrady is still playing bush footy and winning awards. Rick was named Toowoomba’s best and fairest reserve grade player last week.
SPOTTED III
Champion jockey Hugh Bowman in a Roosters jersey leaving the SCG with his wife Christine after the premiers’ comfortable win over Penrith.
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SPOTTED IV
Fox Sports commentator Michael Ennis coaching De La Salle under-9’s to victory over Engadine in their junior rugby league grand final on Saturday morning.
360 VIEW
Catch you Monday night on NRL 360 on Fox Sports with Ben Ikin, Paul Kent and Michael Ennis to discuss all things rugby league and afterwards on Controversy Corner with the three cranky old men — Steve Roach, Geoff Toovey and Graeme Hughes.
YOUNG BRONCO ONE TO BUILD AROUND
Question: If you were starting a new NRL club and had an open chequebook to sign three outstanding players, who would they be?
Answer: Your columnist would go for Roosters fullback James Tedesco, South Sydney Rabbitohs hooker Damien Cook and Brisbane Broncos forward David Fifita.
Most would probably have thrown in a halfback and Knights superstar Kalyn Ponga.
Most agree Tedesco is now the number one player in the game. Cook has also been in magnificent form for the Rabbitohs in recent weeks.
And Fifita is extra special. I have not seen a forward with as much ability as the Broncos teenager for many years.
On Friday night, he made eight tackle busts against Parramatta at Suncorp. The entire Eels pack made only six.
It’s early days but you could almost say there is a bit of Gorden Tallis and Bradley Clyde mixed in together in his game.
Obviously those champions excelled over a long period.
Fifita still has a long way to go but could be anything.
MANLY’S TAUFUA TOP OF HIT PARADE
There have been some phenomenal tackles in the NRL this season.
I thought Damien Cook’s match-saving tackle on Corey Oates two weeks ago was the best.
Then Manly winger Jorge Taufua shook the ribcage of Melbourne five-eighth Cameron Munster with the most ferocious impact you will see. I’m not sure what I admired most — the hit or the courage of Munster to bounce straight to his feet and play the ball.
LOTTOLAND IS SHAKING!!!#NRLManlyStorm#TelstraPremiership pic.twitter.com/3UMZeE8rg6
— NRL (@NRL) August 31, 2019