Monday Buzz: Weekend highlights, lowlights
THE NRL’s toughest team, the fittest outfit, battling Bulldogs and a future NSW Blues enforcer — check out the highlights, lowlights and talking points.
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CHECK out the highlights, lowlights and talking points from another memorable weekend in sport.
HIGHLIGHT
The Wests Tigers victory over Melbourne Storm. There is not a tougher or more tenacious side in the premiership. To play the Roosters and Storm and concede only 16 points in two games says it all about their resolve and determination.
MORE MONDAY BUZZ: High-risk play more teams must try
LOWLIGHT
Going into Sunday’s matches, there was an average of 17.4 penalties per game. That’s the most since 2004. It’s also five more penalties per game than last season. In some matches players are being penalised in the play-the-ball while it’s ignored at other venues.
LOWLIGHT II
The alleged racial abuse of Greg Inglis at Penrith on Saturday. Disgusting and totally unacceptable.
SPOTTED
Ed Sheeran staying on the mid north coast farm of South Sydney Rabbitohs part owner Russell Crowe before his concerts at ANZ Stadium. An amazing 243,513 fans turned up to his three Sydney concerts.
COOL CATS
Surely there is not a fitter side in the competition than the Penrith Panthers. To come back and win from 14-nil down in 30 degree-plus heat two weeks in a row is a credit to Tony Guilfoyle, their head of strength and conditioning.
IN DEFENCE OF DES
Under Des Hasler last year the Canterbury Bulldogs conceded an average of 18 points per game. This year it is 33 points a game under Dean Pay. And defence was his strong point as a player.
WHAT A PANGAI
The Broncos have surely unearthed the next NSW Blues State of Origin front-rower. Tevita Pangai Junior is a sensational prospect. He’s playing 10 lengths better than Aaron Woods, David Klemmer or Andrew Fifita.
TACKLING 101
Want to teach your kids how to tackle? Grab a video of the Warriors-Titans game on Saturday afternoon. Stop it in the 16th minute. Titans fullback Michael Gordon cuts down Warriors winger David Fusitu’a and bundles him into touch. An absolute copybook tackle.
360 VIEW
Catch you tonight on NRL 360 on Fox Sports at 6.30pm with Ben Ikin and Paul Kent to discuss the big issues out of round two. The guest coach is the Titans’ Garth Brennan, live from the Gold Coast.
ARTHUR’S TOUGH TASK TO TURN EELS AROUND
IT would be nice if you could change your top-eight selections after the first two rounds of the competition.
For starters, you’d be throwing out the pathetic Parramatta Eels.
They were dreadful against the Manly Sea Eagles on Sunday afternoon.
It’s easy to identify a poor completion rate, missed tackles and the heat for the terrible performance.
But Sunday was as much about a lack of commitment and enthusiasm. It’s only round two but coach Brad Arthur faces a massive task to turn it all around.
■ ■ ■
THE TAB has been forced to dramatically revise its most losses (wooden spoon) betting market.
It’s all because of the outstanding start to the season by the Wests Tigers and the New Zealand Warriors.
Wests Tigers were $3 favourites for the spoon two weeks ago but have drifted to $5.50. The New Zealand Warriors have gone from $8 to $13.
Now the Gold Coast Titans are favourites at $3.25. The Bulldogs have firmed from $8 to $6 after conceding 66 points in two losses.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs have been the biggest firmers ($26 to $8) after losses to Penrith and the Warriors.
■ ■ ■
YOUR columnist is hardly in a position to be criticising other tipsters but we were stunned that Manly Sea Eagles legend Geoff Toovey tipped the Parramatta Eels by 10 against his old team on Channel 9’s Sunday Footy Show before the big game at Brookvale.
One would suspect Toovey is still bitter about his sacking as first grade coach in 2016.