Monday Buzz: Weekend highlights, lowlights

BEST finals clash in years, key Knights staffer departs, Paul McGregor seals his future and more — check out the talking points from another memorable weekend in sport.

• Monday Buzz: Real stars stand up in finals
• Analysis: Broncos v Dragons player ratings

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

HIGHLIGHT

The magnificent and free-flowing Storm-Rabbitohs game, as good as any playoff I’ve seen in 10 years. Extraordinary skill, speed and toughness with few penalties. A wonderful advertisement for rugby league.

Storm star Cameron Munster celebrates his matchwinning field goal against the Rabbitohs. Picture: Getty Images

LOWLIGHT

Bulldogs trainer Tony Grimaldi has started a GoFundMe page to help pay the fines for the Canterbury players who got nude, vomited and passed out in the street on their Mad Monday. I’m sorry, but there are much worthier causes to support.

LOWLIGHT II

The terrible behaviour of Serena Williams in the US Open women’s final. Her Bernard Tomic-like tantrums robbed the winner Naomi Osaka of the credit she so richly deserves.

KNIGHT MOVES

The Newcastle Knights have cut ties with their general manager of football Darren Mooney as part of an administration shake-up under the new ownership of the Wests Group.

SPOTTED

Prime Minister and Cronulla tragic Scott Morrison watching Saturday night’s qualifying final in the chairman’s suite of Nick Politis at Allianz Stadium, not the NRL’s corporate box.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison watches the Roosters-Sharks clash at Allianz Stadium.

SPOTTED II

Parramatta Eels coach Brad Arthur getting a guided tour of the new Western Sydney Stadium on Thursday. The stadium is 70 per cent complete and on track to open by April next year. The Eels are tipped to host a rival Western Sydney team in the opening event.

SPOTTED III

Besieged NRL chief executives Andrew Hill (Canterbury) and Barry Russell (Cronulla) walking into the NRL’s Moore Park headquarters for meetings with the integrity unit last Thursday.

360 VIEW

Catch you on NRL 360 Monday night on Fox Sports with Ben Ikin and Paul Kent to discuss the big issues from the weekend.

KNIGHT BROWN TO SEE BLACKS MAGIC

NEWCASTLE coach Nathan Brown left for New Zealand on Sunday for the most valuable coaching experience of his career. He’s spending a week with the mighty All Blacks.

This is a huge opportunity to learn from arguably the best sporting franchise on the planet.

Coach Steve Hansen has built a culture that is the envy of footy clubs from all codes.

Brown recently signed a new contract but needs a strong 2019 to secure his future.

Newcastle have the most loyal supporter base in the competition but want results after three tough years since Wayne Bennett left the place in a mess.

KAUFUSI’S SUPER RAMBO IMPERSONATION

Felise Kaufusi’s defence was brutal for the Storm against the Rabbitohs. Picture: AAP

FOR our younger readers who didn’t see Rambo Ronnie Gibbs play in the mid-80s for Eastern Suburbs, Manly and Gold Coast, he was the most feared player in the competition.

Rivals hated playing against him because of his kamikaze tackling style. With no thought of self-preservation, he would launch himself at opponents like a missile.

In Friday night’s Storm-Rabbitohs clash at AAMI Park, Storm forward Felise Kaufusi reminded me of Gibbs. His tackle on Sam Burgess that jolted the ball loose from a kick restart was the best of the year. (Until Issac Luke smashed James Maloney 24 hours later).

He saved a try earlier in the game with a hit on the Englishman close to the line that again forced him to lose possession.

Plus the tackle that almost knocked Adam Reynolds out of the game in the 36th minute. Unbelievable stuff.

SOUTHS SYDNEY’S SURPLUS PLAYERS

RUGBY league is a 17-man game these days yet the Rabbitohs used only 15 players against the Storm at AAMI Park on Friday night.

In such a high-speed, high-impact contest a lot of punters were asking why Dean Britt and Hymel Hunt sat on the bench all game.

Coach Anthony Seibold always carries an extra back (Hunt) as a precaution against possible HIAs.

As for Britt, he lost his opportunity to get onto the field when George Burgess was sent to the sin bin for the 10-minute spell he was about to get.