What’s the Buzz: Saint, Sinner, Shoosh with Phil Rothfield
GREG Alexander recalls a special moment with Jack De Belin after the Blues’ Origin triumph, Phil Gould on collision course with Nick Politis and the Eels set to extend Jarryd Hayne’s deal - it’s all in Saint, Sinner, Shoosh.
Blues
Don't miss out on the headlines from Blues. Followed categories will be added to My News.
THERE is not a tighter pair in the NRL than Roosters supremo Nick Politis and Penrith Panthers general manager Phil Gould.
It’s why the upcoming negotiations with boom Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary are going to be so interesting. Gould and Politis have a private agreement not to pinch each other’s players.
Yet Cooper Cronk will retire at the end of the 2019 season and Politis won’t be settling for any old halfback as his replacement.
It’s no secret he has a huge opinion of the Blues halfback who will be a million-dollar-a-year player in his next contract.
Also, the rumour won’t go away that Cleary’s dad, Wests Tigers coach Ivan, is also in the sights of the Roosters for a package deal.
This would be surprising considering Politis’ respect for Trent Robinson.
SMITH, CRONK FEUD GOES PUBLIC
THE bitter falling out between long-time Storm, Maroons and Kangaroos teammates Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk spilt into the public arena in the middle of Adelaide Oval on Friday night after the Roosters v Storm game.
At full-time Cronk stopped and hugged most of his former teammates but hardly even acknowledged Smith. It became the subject of much discussion on social media.
After the game Cronk and Roosters assistant coach Matt King joined the Melbourne players and coaching staff at Adelaide’s Pullman Hotel for a few beers at Storm’s after match function.
WHAT’S THE BUZZ: Mundine splits with Nasser, Horn on the cards
EMOTIONAL: Tigers want fairytale finish for Marshall, Farah
You can’t tell me that Smith & Cronk haven’t had a massive falling out. Take a look at how Cronk hugs every Storm player & how he and Smith brush each other !
— The Oracle (@BigOtrivia) June 29, 2018
So obvious there’s a problem dating back to December. pic.twitter.com/m8SJFD4HIM
Cronk gave as close to a brush of Smith after the game as I’ve ever seen.#NRLRoostersStorm
— Former Legend (@Former_legend) June 29, 2018
@BuzzRothfield I never really believed your comments about Cronk and Smith falling out until tonight. Cronk hugged every player except for Smith, could barely even look at him when they shook hands. I won’t doubt you again Buzz. #NRLRoostersStorm pic.twitter.com/2MGGUEomON
— Damian Currie (@dcuzza13) June 29, 2018
Again there was no communication between Cronk and Smith.
Their feud erupted when Cronk quit the Storm at the end of last season to join the Roosters.
A few weeks later Smith didn’t attend Cronk’s wedding.
At the time Smith said: “I was as upset as anyone at the club when he came over my house and told me he was leaving, I was quite shocked and taken aback.
“I would’ve loved for Cooper to finish his career at the Storm. It wasn’t to be so my mentality now as captain and one of the leaders in our team is to do the very best we can with the squad we have at the moment and that’s by not thinking about wishing Cooper was here.”
Cronk did not reply to a text message we sent to him on Saturday.
STICKING: Crichton not planning to backflip on Roosters
ANSWERS: Buzz takes on NRL refs boss
SAINT
No one was really sure about Freddie Fittler when he was first appointed to coach the NSW Blues. The job he has done to win the State of Origin series and the way in which he conducted himself throughout the series has been nothing short of outstanding.
SINNER
Ange Postecoglou’s attack on Australian soccer after our unsuccessful World Cup campaign. If he really cared, why would he have quit and walked away after qualifying for the tournament?
SHOOSH
Which former Kangaroos and Origin star has been approached by Bulldogs director Chris Anderson to join the Canterbury coaching staff next season to try to lift under-performing players.
SHOOSH
Which Manly Sea Eagles star will walk out on the club at the end of the season in protest to the treatment of discarded half-back Jackson Hastings.
SHOOSH
Which former high-profile player and successful businessman has been approached to take up a position on the independent commission. He’d be a fantastic choice.
SPOTTED
Champion trainer Chris Waller and racing boss Peter V’Landys addressing an Illawarra rugby league lunch in Wollongong on Friday.
SPOTTED
Retired Parramatta Eels forward Beau Scott having lunch and talking post-football opportunities with his manager Steve Gillis and Club Marconi on Friday.
SPOTTED
Is there anything the Trbojevic boys can’t do? We checked out The Manly Daily’s tipping competition to find Tom leading the field and Jake running second. Not bad considering the poor buggers have to tip the Sea Eagles every week.
SPOTTED
Big Marn Daryl Brohman enjoying lunch with his daughters Lizzy and Ruby at Zimzala restaurant on Cronulla Beach on Friday.
SPOTTED
St George’s SG Ball player-of-the-year is centre James Coyne, the son of Mark Coyne, the Maroons legend who scored the greatest State of Origin try ever. This is an award previously won by another handy centre, Mark Gasnier.
BRANDY RECALLS SPECIAL MOMENT
Greg Alexander rated the emotion around our State of Origin series victory at ANZ Stadium last Sunday night as up there with winning the premiership at the Penrith Panthers.
Especially so when he embraced St George Illawarra forward Jack De Belin on the field after full-time. “Jack put his head on my shoulder and just cried,” Alexander said. “It was a very special moment.”
INTERVIEW REAFFIRMS GI SKIPPER CREDENTIALS
Greg Inglis’ fabulous interview on Fox Sports’ League Life program during the week about his recovery from mental health issues was brilliant television and another reason why coach Mal Meninga will choose him as Australia’s next Kangaroos captain, even though Boyd Cordner has skippered NSW to win the State of Origin.
The change in Inglis’ demeanour in 12 months has been amazing.
The Maroons superstar is now a role model for all those who suffer from depression or anxiety and he richly deserves the highest honour in rugby league.
TUNE IN AFTER THE GAME
Your columnist will be appearing on Controversy Corner in a new timeslot on Fox Sports at 7pm tonight straight after the Matty Johns show. Graham Hughes, Blocker Roach, Billy Harrigan and myself will discuss all the major issues from round 16 of the premiership.
HASTINGS’ HARSH TREATMENT
The Manly Sea Eagles’ treatment of halfback discard Jackson Hastings has been appalling. The club put out a press statement to announce his departure from Brookvale on Monday even before Hastings and his manager Sam Ayoub had signed the release agreement.
POMS JOIN RACE FOR AUSTIN
The Parramatta Eels will have to compete with the rich English Super League club Leeds for the signature of Canberra Raiders five-eighth Blake Austin. Leeds boss Gary Hetherington is a huge Austin admirer and is desperately keen to convince him to play in the UK.
BOLTER COULD BOLT IN DALLY M
When was the last time a $51 chance won the Dally M Medal? At the start of the season that was Kalyn Ponga’s price to win rugby league highest honour. Heading into round 17, the Knights and Queensland Maroons star is now a firm $3 favourite to take out the award on the TAB. At the same time Johnathan Thurston has drifted from $11 to $151 to win the award.
TIGERS RALLY AROUND FARAH
Robbie Farah’s return to Leichhardt Oval on Sunday afternoon for the match against the Gold Coast Titans will provide a financial windfall for the Wests Tigers.
The last grandstand and corporate seats were sold within an hour of the announcement the former skipper would be starting at number nine. A match that would normally draw an average crowd to a game against an out-of-form, out-of-town team will now almost fill Leichhardt Oval.
HAYNE SET TO EARN CONTRACT EXTENSION
Parramatta Eels coach Brad Arthur is leaning towards extending the contract of his former superstar Jarryd Hayne, who played his best game of the season against the Dragons on Thursday night.
“We’ve got eight weeks to go and I can’t see him going to another NRL club,” Arthur said.
“Importantly, Jarryd needs a good off-season,” Arthur said.
“He needs to be there in November and do the six or seven weeks before Xmas and then the five weeks after Christmas.
“We’ll just wait and see what happens over the next eight weeks.”
CASTLE, HASLER QUIET ON DOGS DRAMA
We rang ARU boss Raelene Castle and former Bulldogs coach Des Hasler during the week to get their versions of the Canterbury salary cap debacle they left behind at Belmore and that has since forced the departures of Moses Mbye and Aaron Woods. Both politely declined to comment.
Hasler is on holidays in the US but returns home next week. There is no doubt the Canterbury crisis has caused untold damage to his reputation and he might struggle to get another NRL head coach role in the immediate future.
BIRD REUNITES WITH SHIRE MATES
JACK Bird was spotted back at Cronulla with his old Sharks teammates last week and looking the happiest he has been for months.
We were sent these photos of the Broncos centre enjoying a catch-up and a coffee with Val Holmes, Wade Graham, James Segeyaro and Beau Ryan in the Cronulla mall.
Nothing like the lonely and forlorn figure we’ve so often seen in the Brisbane media this season.
After a wretched year battling injuries at the Broncos, it immediately led to speculation of a possible return to the Shire where he won the premiership in 2016.
Not so according to coach Shane Flanagan and the player himself.
“I was in Sydney for a wedding so I caught up with Val (Holmes) after Origin,” Bird said. “Then Wade, Chicko and Beau Ryan turned up and we had a coffee. It’s always good to be with old mates.
“People say I’m not happy in Brisbane but who would be after the injuries I’ve had this year.
“Cronulla is close to home and I do miss Sydney. It was great to catch up with the boys.”
Although rumours would suggest otherwise, Bird insists he will stick with the Broncos next year.
He quit the Sharks at the end of last season to sign an $800,000-a-year deal at Brisbane.
“I’m going through a rough patch but I’ll get through,” he said.
“I’ve got a contract up here and they’re a good bunch of boys.
“I’ve just got to jump the next hurdle and get back to playing some football towards the end of this year or next year.”
Watch every game of every round of the 2018 NRL Telstra Premiership on FOX SPORTS. SIGN UP NOW >