Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield’s Magic Round highlights and lowlights: Cash windfalls, crackdown back down

Magic Round has proved very profitable for Bryan Fletcher after the Fox Sports funny man turned $50 into $7,500 thanks to a savvy punt on a Newcastle try-scorer. Buzz’s highlights and lowlights.

NRL clubs are often caught up in their own self interests.

They worry only about themselves, rather than take a whole-of-game position on any decisions that are made around the future of the sport.

“What’s in it for us,” is the most common phrase whenever expansion is spoken about.

It’s one area where the AFL plays rugby league off the park.

I’m going to use the Gold Coast Suns as an example.

The AFL has invested hundreds of millions of dollars into the club since its inception in 2011.

Finally it’s paying off. They now have a competitive footy team and their crowds are up 24.6 per cent.

SCROLL DOWN FOR BUZZ’S MAGIC ROUND HIGHLIGHTS AND LOWLIGHTS

Last year they were given a $34 million grant from the AFL.

The more powerful clubs like Hawthorn, the West Coast Eagles and Richmond received between $16 million and $18 million. And no-one complained.

The clubs are happy for the Suns and GWS to get almost double their money because it’s a long-term big-picture investment in key growth areas that will make the game bigger and better in the long run.

Now compare that to the Titans. They get $17 million from the NRL annually, the same as all the clubs.

Gold Coast is in dire need of NRL support to combat AFL’s growing footprint in the area. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

They have to put up with their richer rivals setting up junior academies and school development programs in their own backyard. Just catch and kill your own. The Warriors, Roosters, Rabbitohs and Melbourne all have a footprint on the Gold Coast.

The same is happening to the Storm in Victoria.

It’s taken them more than 25 years to build solid junior development foundations in an AFL city - with little or no outside help from the NRL.

Finally they have local players coming through … so the Rabbitohs decide to set up their own academy south of the border to pinch them.

This Titans club is now fighting hard to fend off an AFL surge on the glitter strip.

The question is … would it be better if the NRL handed out the annual cash grant on a user-needs basis like the AFL does.

Suns CEO Mark Evans is starting to see the fruits of the AFL’s expansion push into the region. Picture: Matt Roberts/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

I asked the question to one club CEO over the weekend at Magic Round.

“What would they do with the extra money?” he asked.

Well, where do you start …

How about more marketing and promotion activity in a difficult market.

How about more to invest in junior rugby league participation and pathways.

AFL is doing very well in south east Qld. The Lions are the defending premiers and are running second this year with the Suns third.

The battle between the two codes has never been more intense.

It’s something the NRL needs to keep an eye on.

Magic Round might have been a wonderful weekend celebration and festival of rugby league but there’s still such a long way to go to get all clubs working together for the betterment of the game.

HIGHLIGHT

The high-tackle crackdown back down. Finally, we got to see some good footy again without the overreaction from officials in the bunker.

LOWLIGHT

Poor old Jaydn Su’A somehow bombed an absolute certain try for St George Illawarra that led to a 12-point turnaround as Wests Tigers fullback Jahream Bula swooped on a loose ball to run the length of the field right on halftime at Suncorp on Saturday night.

FLETCH CASHES IN

It was a profitable Magic Round for Fox Sports star Bryan Fletcher who won $7500 on the Newcastle Knights on their 30-4 victory over the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Saturday night. During the week on SEN radio his great mate Matty Johns tipped Fletcher Sharpe would score three tries. So Fletch backed the Knights five-eighth to grab a treble combined with Newcastle to win. He had $50 on the result at $150.

SPOTTED

Kiwi legend Shaun Johnson is such a refreshing addition to the Fox League commentary team on Super Saturday. He doesn’t lecture you, he doesn’t sound like a know-all and comes across as just a natural good bloke with a fun personality and someone who doesn’t take himself too seriously.

Shaun Johnson has been terrific in Fox League commentary. Picture: NRL Photos

SPOTTED

Today Show host Karl Stefanovic checking into Magic Round at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday for the Knights v Rabbitohs on a lime scooter before heading off to work on the election coverage on Channel 9 from inside Peter Dutton’s camp in Brisbane.

Today Show host Karl Stefanovic getting around Brisbane on a Lime scooter.

SPOTTED

Blues Origin and Roosters legend Boyd Cordner has had a great start to his coaching career, leading the Roosters to a dramatic extra time win over the Parramatta Eels in the S.G Ball final at Leichhardt Oval on Saturday.

Boyd Cordner before the winning try. Picture: Warren Gannon Photography

SPOTTED

How bad is rugby union going when the ACT Brumbies have to put the federal election TV coverage on the screen at GIO Stadium to entertain the fans during the game against the Waratahs.

SHOOSH

Rugby league recruitment is such a tough business. The Cronulla Sharks had New Zealand Warriors heroes Luke Metcalf and Sam Healey in their junior ranks but couldn’t find a spot for them in the top 30. Metcalf is the form half in the NRL and Healey, the son of Sharks legend Mitch Healey, was outstanding on Saturday in the win over the Cowboys.

360 VIEW

Catch you on NRL 360 on Fox League at 6.30pm with Braith Anasta, Gorden Tallis and Brent Read to discuss all the big issues out of the Magic Round weekend in Brisbane. Special guest on the heavy hitters segment is QLD premier David Crisafulli, a Cowboys tragic who was there at Magic Round.