Monday Buzz: Weekend highlights, lowlights

A genuine claim to the mantle of rugby league’s No.1 player, obvious answer to NSW State of Origin dilemma and more — check out the talking points from another big weekend in sport.

• Monday Buzz: Brisbane’s No.1 problem won’t go away

• Exclusive: Simona on verge of rugby league return

Check out the highlights, lowlights and talking points from another memorable weekend in sport.

HIGHLIGHT

Earlier this year when I was asked to name the top 50 players in the NRL, I put Latrell Mitchell at number seven. There is now a genuine case to move the barnstorming centre to number one on what we witnessed at the SCG on Saturday night. It was the best individual performance I’ve seen for years.

Latrell Mitchell was super in the Roosters’ big win over Wests Tigers. Picture: Phil Hillyard

LOWLIGHT

The Bulldogs’ sacking of club legend Andrew Farrar as football manager. This from a board that was supposed to be all about respect and loyalty for their great old players.

MITCH PICKINGS

Just a thought. If Josh Dugan and Darius Boyd are on $800,000 a year at the Sharks and Broncos, what is Latrell Mitchell really worth?

SPOTTED

Balmain Tigers legend Paul Sironen, wearing a Manly Sea Eagles cap, on the hill on Brookvale Oval on Saturday to watch his son Curtis against the Bulldogs.

Curtis Sironen of the Sea Eagles. Picture: AAP

SPOTTED II

Former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh cheering for Cronulla against Melbourne Storm in the Monty Porter stand on Friday night at Shark Park.

SPOTTED III

Bulldogs five-eighth Lachlan Lewis asking a security guard at Brookvale Oval to walk him over the road to McDonalds after full-time on Saturday night.

Lachlan Lewis of the Bulldogs. Picture: Getty Images

CLASS ACT

The morning after South Sydney flogged his side, Anthony Seibold turned up at his daughter’s school on the northern beaches to talk about his role as the Brisbane Broncos coach.

KILLER SHARK

There is not a more consistent player in the competition than Cronulla Sharks halfback Chad Townsend who turns up every week, surrounded by rookies, and performs at the highest level.

A RUSH OF SPUD

They must love their hot chips north of the border. Suncorp Stadium food staff have ordered 20,000kg of potatoes for next weekend’s magic round over four days.

360 VIEW

Catch you tonight on NRL 360 on Fox Sports with Benny Ikin and Paul Kent to discuss the biggest issues from Round 8 of the premiership.

ROOSTERS FORCING FITTLER’S HAND

The is one very obvious solution for Blues coach Brad Fittler as he looks to settle on his NSW State of Origin side.

Surely he has to go with the Roosters’ left-side combination of Luke Keary at five-eighth or halfback, Boyd Cordner on the edge, Latrell Mitchell in the centres and fullback James Tedesco.

They combined to win the premiership last year and have even grown in 2019.

Luke Keary looks set to claim his maiden State of Origin jumper. Picture: Phil Hillyard

This would leave either Adam Reynolds to play halfback or Cody Walker to play five-eighth alongside Keary.

As much as Fittler always wanted to be loyal to last year’s halves Nathan Cleary and James Maloney, he cannot ignore the claims of players in far better form.

Especially when there is a ready-made combination as lethal as the Roosters boys

EXPENSIVE BUSINESS TO PIN BLAME ON COACHES

Sacking an NRL coach isn’t always the best option.

Look what Dessie Hasler has done for the Manly Sea Eagles and what Wayne Bennett has done at the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Both were marched out of their previous clubs.

Check out Penrith’s form since Gus Gould and the Panthers board inexplicably sacked Anthony Griffin last season on the eve of the finals.

Des Hasler has done a great job turning Manly’s form around. Picture: AAP

This time last year under Griffin, the Panthers had won six of their first eight games. This season under Ivan Cleary they have lost six of their first eight.

Origin halves James Maloney and Nathan Cleary have lost their form. The entire team is struggling.

They are running equal last for goodness sake.

And to think it cost Penrith $2 million to change coaches. And that the Bulldogs had to pay out $1 million to Hasler. It’s ridiculous.