Buzz: First look at NRL’s bumper TV campaign
The saturation coverage of the NRL Las Vegas season opener has pushed the other 13 clubs into the background – until now, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
Phil Rothfield
Buzz: Vegas refs revealed as new goalposts create a stir
In a special Las Vegas edition of highlights and lowlights, BUZZ ROTHFIELD lifts the lid on referees for the season openers and the goalposts set to create a surprise for NRL fans.
Saint, sinner, shoosh: Phone call tipped NRL, Cowboys to Leilua DUI
The NRL has strict rules around players and club reporting any police charges to the integrity unit. Phil Rothfield reveals the NRL is now investigating Luciano Leilua about his drink-driving offence.
Buzz: Raiders, Roosters in spat with NRL over bans
The Canberra Raiders and Sydney Roosters will demand answers from the NRL hoping to get “proper justification and not some feeble response.”
Buzz: NRL whistleblower hotline to expose acts of concern
The terrible old-school mentality in rugby league where it is seen as a weakness to speak up about important issues could soon be a thing of the past, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
Buzz: Shaggy turned away from SCG members
Despite donning a $200,000 gold necklace, Jamaican music icon Shaggy was denied entry to the SCG members. Phil Rothfield reveals why in his weekend highlights and lowlights.
Buzz: Dragons deny Jackson Hastings rumour
St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan says talk the club is chasing Newcastle’s Jackson Hastings is off the mark. BUZZ ROTHFIELD’S highlights and lowlights
US jersey concept would deliver NRL, teams rivers of gold
Fresh from an eight-day, four-state American football odyssey, DEAN RITCHIE pitches 13 ideas the NRL should borrow from the NFL to enhance the rugby league product.
Grand final Buzz: Cleary’s 20-minute Immortal statement
The superstar Penrith halfback with three straight grand final victories is as good if not better than any of rugby league’s best No.7s, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
Buzz: Freddy fought desperately, but Blues must move on
Brad Fittler resisted the calls to stand down 11 weeks ago but in the end he had no choice. And neither do the NSW Blues when choosing a replacement, PHIL ROTHFIELD writes.
Meet the Panthers fan who helped save Dragons icon’s life
“You go to the threat, you don’t run the other way.” This is the former policeman-turned cafe owner who helped save the life of rugby league legend Steve Morris.
Buzz: 28 secret fines have raging Roosters calling for overhaul
They are the hidden fines that have the Sydney Roosters seething following their finals exit with the club calling for urgent changes, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
Buzz: Unnoticed play epitomises why Keary is a champion
Much of the plaudits for the Roosters’ thrilling victory centred on Sam Walker’s field goal. But the true hero barely rated a mention, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
Buzz: Another Souths staffer quits after 17 years
The disunity continues at the South Sydney Rabbitohs with another key staffer leaving the club – and indications are it wasn’t an amicable exit.
Buzz: Refs didn’t sink Manly, salary cap failure did
Manly won’t be playing finals football this year and it has nothing to do with referees despite Anthony Seibold’s massive blow-up, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
Buzz: Walsh v Teddy, history shows captain’s time almost up
A Kangaroos jersey is like a baggy green cap with loyalty and long service respected. But you also can’t ignore the young guns coming through, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
Buzz: Embarrassing moment NRL logo protest came unstuck
The player pay war protest came unstuck, literally, over the weekend and the RLPA’s general president Daly Cherry-Evans was at the centre of it, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
Buzz: The big question mark hanging over Hynes
When you win a Dally M Medal by a record margin and then sign a $1 million-a-year contract you’re expected to play like a superstar, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
Buzz: The tragedy driving resurgent Knights coach
“I’ve had much harder stuff to deal with this year outside of coaching”. PHIL ROTHFIELD reveals the tragedy that lit a fire in the Knights’ unlikely surge to the finals.
Buzz: Fuming NRL star bans veteran Nine journalist
Angry Newcastle Knights halfback Jackson Hastings has barred a veteran Nine journalist after taking exception to his reporting, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
Buzz: Clubs threaten NRL as Origin war gets ugly
The fight over State of Origin scheduling has escalated – and clubs are in a powerful position to negotiate the outcome they want, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
Buzz: Teddy takes holiday with Roosters’ season on line
As his teammates unsuccessfully fought to save their season, Roosters captain James Tedesco had the weekend away in Byron Bay with his wife, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
Buzz: Suaalii snap to create major angst for dudded Wallabies
They say a picture speaks a thousand words – and this is the holiday snap of Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii that is set to cause major angst for Wallabies stars, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
Shoosh: Gould lures boom Dragon to play halfback
He still has more than two seasons to go on his contract, but expect the Dragons to lose one of their young guns to the Bulldogs next year, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
What’s the Buzz: Unlikely Tigers’ saviour emerges
The Wests Tigers needs new people on the board with fresh ideas, and former NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet could be the perfect fit, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
Monday Buzz: Only way forward for Tigers is to sack Sheens
Tim Sheens has been back at the Wests Tigers for two years and in that time the already struggling club has gone hopelessly backwards, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
Origin Buzz: Blues never had hope amid blatant ref blunders
NSW was always going to need an even share of the 50/50 calls to have any hope but copped a number of highly-questionable decisions, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
Buzz: Knights players fume over Ponga’s special treatment
Knights players are asking serious questions after Greg Marzhew was axed for missing a team bus while Kalyn Ponga went unpunished last year, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
Buzz: Radio boss steps in to end Johns feud
The rift between NRL brothers Matty and Andrew Johns is worse than many think and their boss will step in to solve it, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
Buzz: Mystery as Gould backflips on Flanagan
Phil Gould appears to have done an Olympic class backflip on Shane Flanagan and the reasons for his about-face are hard to understand, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
Buzz: Pearce on cusp of shock NRL return
Mitchell Pearce is edging closer to an NRL return, but it won’t be with the Wests Tigers — check out all the latest sport and NRL news in WHAT’S THE BUZZ.
Vote: Should Bennett be named an Immortal?
He has just about won it all as a coach, but should Wayne Bennett get the biggest honour in rugby league? Have your say inside.
Origin Buzz: Ratings revealed for Game 1
Rugby league’s record-breaking run continues with a huge national audience tuning in to watch the Maroons win the opening Origin game of 2023.
Buzz: Why Blues’ $1.7m advantage won’t help them
If State of Origin games were decided by player salaries, the NSW Blues would dominate the Maroons. But pay packets don’t win Origin games, writes Phil Rothfield.
Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: Disgraced NRL stars share jail cell
Disgraced NRL stars Jarryd Hayne and Manase Fainu are sharing the same prison cell — read all the details and more NRL news in What’s the Buzz.
What’s the Buzz: Channel 9’s missing one million Origin fans
It’s the big State of Origin mystery ahead of the 2023 series kick-off — where have one million fans disappeared to? All the details in What’s the Buzz.
Buzz: Real reason behind stunning Roosters collapse
The Roosters are officially the NRL’s worst attacking team, but the real reason their premiership hopes have imploded is the club’s stunning lack of leadership, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
Buzz: Gould poaches Bronco in Magic Round mission
Most people thought Phil Gould was in Brisbane two weeks ago to watch the Bulldogs in Magic Round. Not entirely true, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
Buzz: Can NRL’s most pampered team turn season around?
Nick Politis ensures the Sydney Roosters never go without anything, and now they’re playing like a team without desire. But its not too late to turn it around in 2023, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
Buzz: What’s behind Dragons’ staggering Hunt snub?
Rival clubs will be sniffing around Ben Hunt, after Dragons officials snubbed his 300-game celebration dinner and refused to explain why, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD. See all the Round 11 highs and lows.
Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: Johns brothers in fiery on-air spat
Andrew and Matty Johns have been involved in a heated exchange live on air. Check out all the details plus the latest NRL news and gossip in What’s the Buzz.
Buzz: Albo’s sneaky NRL-inspired coronation fashion statement
SAINT, SINNER, SHOOSH: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has brought a touch of the NRL to the coronation of King Charles – check out all the hottest NRL news and gossip.
What’s the Buzz: Channel 9 benches legends for Magic Round
Channel 9’s biggest names were nowhere to be seen on the opening two nights of the NRL’s Magic Round coverage.
What’s the Buzz: NRL warned as rugby raids on stars continue
Rugby Union has already snared Joseph Suaalii on a $5 million contract and are now aiming at the likes Payne Haas, Tolutau Koula and Will Penisini. How can League respond?
‘They don’t like me’: Who started big V’Landys rumour?
Peter V’landys has responded to speculation he is contemplating a massive change in his workload and pointed the finger at where the rumour started. Read Saint, Sinner, Shoosh.
Buzz: Rugby boss’s ignorant Suaalii Origin take
Rugby union boss Hamish McLennan is running a campaign with his mates at Nine Entertainment to justify his $5 million spend on Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
Buzz: The NRL’s most ill-disciplined players unmasked
Victor Radley is amassing an unwanted discipline record – but he’s not No.1 when it comes to sin-binnings in the NRL era. PHIL ROTHFIELD exposes the worst of the worst.
Monday Buzz: Roosters’ huge contract call on JWH
The Sydney Roosters’ recruitment and retention team face an awkward problem with in-form prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
Buzz: Tigers boss hits back after embarrassing gaffes
Wests Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe is refusing to stand down despite calls for his sacking over two embarrassing blunders that were caught on camera.
What’s the Buzz: NRL legend wounded on SAS TV show
Sydney Roosters great Boyd Cordner has returned home to Australia for surgery on an injury he suffered while filming a brutal reality TV show.
Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/opinion/phil-rothfield