Cronulla Sharks salary cap scandal: Buzz Rothfield on the pain of investigating his beloved Cronulla

Most readers would be aware I am a Cronulla Sharks tragic, writes Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield. A season ticket holder, member number 111 and fanatical fan. But in this job, you have to treat every story on its merit. And this one couldn’t be ignored.

Buzz has seen the pain and joy from the stands. Now this. (Brett Costello)

THIS is one of the hardest stories I’ve had to write in 42 years as a sports writer.

Most readers of this newspaper would be aware I am a Cronulla Sharks tragic.

A season ticket holder, member and fanatical fan.

I have been since I covered the Sharks’ 1978 grand final replay against Manly on a Tuesday afternoon at the Sydney Cricket Ground and walked away thinking they were hard done by.

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Phil Rothfield is a long-time Sharks fan.

In this gig it can be difficult having such an emotional investment in a footy team.

You go there every week to cheer your lungs out, boo the referee over a pie and beer.

Shark Park is my second home.

In this business though you have to treat every story on its merit.

Buzz celebrating with Ben Barba, right, with Sharks fans at the 2016 grand final afterparty.

When our front-rower and 2016 grand final hero Andrew Fifita abused a junior referee two years ago I broke the story and exposed him.

When Josh Dugan got thrown out of Cronulla RSL earlier this year for swearing in front of women I wrote about it.

Then there was the peptides, a story we couldn’t ignore.

Or when our chairman Damian Keogh was busted for possessing cocaine.

Now this potential salary cap scandal.

We got a tip-off on Tuesday morning.

My immediate thoughts are the newspaper and our website.

You start gathering the details, hit the keyboard and type it out.

It’s when the guilt hits home and you start to question yourself.

Buzz has seen the pain and joy from the stands. Now this. (Brett Costello)

Should I have passed on the story to another colleague to write to stay sweet with the players, the coaches and the officials, many of whom are friends?

Yet at the end of the day it’s what we do.

Shane Flanagan chases two competition points every week as relentlessly as I chase stories.

I’m worried this one might have an effect on our finals campaign and what sort of disruptions it may cause.

Still, if I hadn’t have written it, someone else would have. And whether you like it or not, it’s my job.

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