Monday Buzz: Weekend highlights, lowlights

MONDAY BUZZ: Phil Rothfield’s highlights, lowlights and talking points from another memorable weekend in sport.

THE highlights, lowlights and talking points from another memorable weekend in sport.

HIGHLIGHT I

The Cronulla Sharks’ thumping win over the Canberra Raiders on Saturday night and another super performance from rookie hooker Jayden Brailey.

HIGHLIGHT II

The NRL’s groundbreaking admission that the Broncos scored a try from this blatant forward pass against the Cowboys on Friday night. Finally refs boss Tony Archer has learnt that admitting to a mistake is not a bad thing.

MORE MONDAY BUZZ: Should Tigers have know about Simona?

The Broncos scored a try from a forward pass against the Cowboys.

HIGHLIGHT III

The jubilation among the Newcastle Knights players after their first win in 335 days. This team will NOT win the wooden spoon this year.

Knights players celebrate a try during their win over the Titans.

LOWLIGHT

The Jarryd Hayne leg injury against the Knights and the fact he’ll miss the game against his old club Parramatta next weekend.

Jarryd Hayne is facing over a month out after injuring himself against the Knights

MAN OH MANLY

Serious pressure is building on Manly Sea Eagles coach Trent Barrett just a fortnight into the competition. To make it worse he’s off to Townsville next to play the Cowboys. He desperately needs halves Daly Cherry-Evans and Blake Green to lift their games.

FLY-IN FAN

Surely this guy is the most fanatical fan in rugby league. Jason Ryan lives in Perth and is a member of the Manly Sea Eagles who flies across the country for most home games at Brookie. It must have been a long trip home for the poor bugger on Saturday evening.

Manly fan Jason Ryan.

SPOTTED

Russell Crowe, fresh from South Sydney’s win over Manly, and the Mayor of Gunnamatta Marty Downs at the Adele concert on Saturday night.

FLANO FIESTA

It was a huge weekend for Sharks coach Shane Flanagan and his son Kyle, who scored 30 points from two tries and 11 goals in Cronulla’s 74-12 Holden Cup win over the Canberra Raiders.

SIZE PROBLEM FOR GREEN MACHINE

THEY used to say big forwards win big matches.

If that was the case the Canberra Raiders would have beaten the Cronulla Sharks on Saturday night.

There are some good judges wondering if this Raiders side is too big.

A few of their forwards lacked mobility and got tired while Wade Graham and Luke Lewis got them on the edges.

Wade Graham had a day out against the Raiders.

The Sharks also aimed a lot of their left-side attack at big Joey Leilua because he’s not overly quick on his feet.

They just ran their bigger opponents off their feet. It was only round two in a long season but there were some worrying signs for the Green Machine.