Buzz Rothfield’s highlights and lowlights from 2017 grand final

CHANNEL Nine’s infuriating late kick-off, Andrew Johns nailing it as a commentator and the latest on James Maloney’s Kangaroos jersey. Buzz Rothfield’s highlights and lowlights.

Billy Slater in action for the Storm.

CHANNEL Nine’s infuriating late kick-off, Andrew Johns nailing it as a commentator and the latest on James Maloney and his Kangaroos jersey.

HIGHLIGHT

Beautiful spring weather, almost 80,000 at ANZ Stadium and a wonderful atmosphere despite two out-of-town teams.

HIGHLIGHT II

Only 52 sleeps to the first Ashes Test at the Gabba and, even better, only 78 sleeps to the first Big Bash match, Thunder v Sixers, at Spotless.

ANALYSIS: Why Storm are simply the best

CRONK: I have some thinking to do

MATCH REPORT: Storm reign supreme

LOWLIGHT

Macklemore. Not my cup of tea. To think what his $500,000 appearance fee could have done for grassroots footy.

LOWLIGHT II

The kick-off 15 minutes later than the advertised starting time. Bring back the afternoon grand final.

Molly Meldrum got special permission to take his dog into ANZ Stadium.

SPOTTED

Dogs are not normally allowed into ANZ Stadium but Molly Meldrum got special permission to take his pooch Ziggy to the big game.

SPOTTED

A Holden State of Origin logo mistakenly printed on to some of the grand final tickets.

NRL grand final ticket with State of Origin logo.

STRAIGHT TALKER

Andrew Johns is the best ever advertisement for giving up the grog. As a result his commentary on Channel Nine this season has improved out of sight. He’s now the best in the business.

FORWARD FARCE

Another reason why the bunker should be able to rule on forward passes … Manly’s matchwinning Holden Cup grand-final try against the Parramatta Eels came from a pass that would have been ruled forward in more than a dozen games this year.

Cowboys will be favourites for the title next year.

2018 PREDICTION

Cowboys to win the comp. Throw Jordan McLean, Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott into last night’s grand final team and they should, at the very least, be hot premiership favourites.

SHOOSH

The late mail from the Kangaroos camp is that Sharks five-eighth James Maloney will hold onto his green and gold jersey as a back-up for Cooper Cronk and Michael Morgan. Plus he’s another goalkicking option which is important without Johnathan Thurston.

James Maloney is expected to hold on to his Kangaroos jersey.

Q IN THE RACK

It doesn’t say a lot for the overall standard of football north of the border when Queensland Cup champions PNG get flogged 42-18 by NSW Cup premiers the Penrith Panthers at ANZ yesterday.

SPECIAL 360

Catch you Monday tonight in a special edition of NRL 360 with Ben Ikin and Paul Kent to discuss the big issues from the grand final.

NINE’S LATE START AN INSULT TO FANS

NOTHING infuriates fans more than a delayed kick-off.

The 7.15pm advertised start time for last night’s game was late by 15 minutes thanks to broadcaster Channel 9.

NRL spokesman Glenn Jackson said big games were often delayed to ensure the 80,000 fans got into the ground on time. Not so.

Nine delayed the kick-off to run its most lucrative commercials of the season while four million viewers were glued to their sets waiting for the game to start.

Under the NRL television contract, the broadcaster decides the kick-off time.

Nine sports boss Tom Malone hit back, claiming the NRL knew six weeks ago the game would be starting at 7.30pm.

“That was the agreement we had,” Malone said. “Nothing has changed from the meeting we had six weeks ago.

“They chose to advertise the kick-off as 7.15. We’re just sticking with the original schedule.”

Thankfully, this is the last year the network can determine starting times.

Under the new TV agreement which starts next season, the NRL has full control of the playing schedule and kick-off time to major events.

MONEY MATTERS

There is one area the AFL has absolutely flogged the NRL this season — in finals gate takings.

The AFL’s ticket sales on grand final weekend alone would have at least trebled the rugby league decider.

The incredible popularity of Richmond ensured all tickets at the MCG were sold at premium rates.

Not so for the North Queensland Cowboys and Melbourne Storm. If you couldn’t get a free ticket you weren’t trying.

Jack Riewoldt celebrates with fans after winning the 2017 AFL Grand Final at the MCG.

All week rugby league fans who bought early were offloading their tickets at heavily discounted prices.

All registered junior players and volunteers were offered free tickets. About 20,000 of them.

In Melbourne, scalpers were getting as much as $4000 for tickets.

The poor ticket sales couldn’t have come at a worse time for the cash-strapped NRL who are still trying to get a $30 million bank loan to ensure club grants are paid on time later this month.