Monday Buzz: Weekend highlights, lowlights
A WORLD Cup certainty, embarrassment for the AFL, a rugby league stadium statement and more in another memorable weekend of sport.
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CHECK out the highlights, lowlights and talking points from another memorable weekend in sport.
HIGHLIGHT
Michael Morgan. What a footballer. A great player who has grown without future Immortal Johnathan Thurston because he gets more touches of the football.
MORE MONDAY BUZZ: Robbed of a grand occasion
LOWLIGHT
The GWS Giants’ crowd of 14,685 against West Coast Eagles — the lowest AFL finals attendance for almost 100 years. What an embarrassment.
LOWLIGHT II
No Sunday rugby league. Nothing to watch on TV. Jobs around the house. Bring on the Big Bash.
SPOTTED
Old footy player Willie Mason at Royal Randwick on Saturday to watch the mighty mare Winx win her 20th straight race.
RCG-FORCE
The Penrith Panthers may have bowed out of finals contention but front-rower Reagan Campbell-Gillard will play for Australia at the World Cup. He was almost man of the match against the Broncos in a losing footy team. And to think he’s on only half the salary of Trent Merrin.
SPEED THRILLS
It was an interesting selection by Fox Sports Head of Television Steve Crawley on Friday night to give rising commentating star Brenton Speed the nod over the more experienced Andrew Voss for the Broncos-Panthers game. Voss did not take the news well. Speed called the game brilliantly.
STADIUM STATEMENT
Memo: Gladys Berejiklian. The NRL got a wonderful crowd of 41,287 at Olympic Park on Saturday night because it’s a venue in Sydney’s west and rugby league heartland. It’s proof the majority of stadium renovation money needs to be spent at ANZ Stadium.
360 VIEW
Catch you tonight on NRL 360 with Ben Ikin and my debating opponent Paul Kent to dissect all pertinent rugby league issues.
Brave NRLW coaching call the Bulldogs must make
The Bulldogs have a groundbreaking NRLW opportunity. There are two obvious candidates for the vacant coaching job if they’re brave enough to make a big decision for the future, writes PAMELA WHALEY.
Broncos star set to reject Sydney raids in $2m signing coup
Brisbane’s 2024 Allan Langer Medallist is set to reject rival Sydney suitors to ink a multimillion-dollar contract extension - but the move could force his backline partner out of Red Hill.