Monday Buzz: Highlights, lowlights talking points

Anthony Seibold’s truth-revealing Wayne Bennett spray, old habits die hard for NRL bad boy, Mitch Pearce is really, really loved in Newcastle - these are Buzz’s weekend highlights and lowlights.

• SMASHED: Seibold rips into Bennett

• MORE BUZZ: Why Wayne had to go

Anthony Seibold’s truth-revealing Wayne Bennett spray, old habits die hard for NRL bad boy, Mitch Pearce is really, really loved in Newcastle - these are Buzz’s weekend highlights and lowlights.

HIGHLIGHT

Souths coach Anthony Seibold’s extraordinary outburst at Wayne Bennett. Good on him. It is about time someone stood up to Mr Untouchable and revealed the truth of what’s been happening behind the scenes.

LOWLIGHT

Having to cop heavy verbal abuse from a drunken NRL player at the Horn-Mundine fight at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night for something I had said this year on NRL 360.

Ordinary bloke, ordinary player.

Jeff Horn’s fight drew a who’s who of Australian sport. Picture by Annette Dew.

LOWLIGHT II

The decision not to play the national anthem before the fight because the program was running so late. The outstanding singer Mark Vincent had come all the way from Sydney, only

to be told by promoter Dean Lonergan that his services would not be required.

SPOTTED

NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg and his dad John in fantastic ringside seats at Horn, Mundine. Todd shouted his dad the trip to Brisbane as a Father’s Day present.

Todd Greenberg and his father John at the Anthony Mundine - Jeff Horn fight in Brisbane

SHOOSH

Which NRL star, who has a long history of off-field drama, is back on the cocaine? If he gets caught in an drugs test, it is a potential career ender.

BEEPING THE HORN

When we were in Brisbane for Jeff Horn’s fight against Manny Pacquiao he drove a Toyota Camry. On Friday he drove to Suncorp Stadium in this flashy Lexus LC 500 worth $120,000.

SECURITY DISGRACE

Surely David Gallop has to do something about security at A-League games when a bloke on crutches wearing a moon boot can get onto the field of play in Gosford like on Saturday night.

How did this man make it on the field.

PEARCE AND LOVE

Knights supporters have certainly fallen in love with halfback Mitchell Pearce. A young couple named their newly-arrived baby “Pearcey” last week. “I’m very humbled and it shows the amazing supporters we have in Newcastle,” Pearce said.

BIG BOXING NUMBERS FOR MACQUARIE

Macquarie Sports Radio’s coverage of the Horn v Mundine fight, called by Ray Hadley & Billy Dib, set online traffic records for the station’s network which includes 2GB, 4BC and 3AW in its stable.

This is why it’s so surprising that the station’s own hosts Mark Levy and Piggy Riddell have been paying out on the fight so heavily.

They love Mitch Pearce in the Hunter. Picture: AAP

It’s understood the fight figures exceeded those recorded for State of Origin and NRL Grand Finals.

That’s almost expected because the boxing was only on pay-per-view.

Still, the numbers are extraordinary given the peak was 11.35pm on a Friday night.

It was a defining moment for the new sports station ahead of their cricket coverage this summer featuring a commentary team including Darren Lehmann, Ian Chappell and Mike Hussey.

The Horn-Mundine fight was a ratings winner. AAP Image/Dave Hunt

SIMPLE SOLUTION TO STADIUM DRAMAS

The only reason the State Government is spending $730 million to rebuild Allianz Stadium is to accommodate Sydney’s elite — the SCG Trust members — in a 45,000 seat venue.

Otherwise the Government could replicate the $340 million Parramatta Stadium which will hold 30,000 fans which is more than the Roosters, Waratahs or Sydney FC need.

New Labor leader Michael has threatened to abandon the project if he is elected in March.

The fairest solution is for the government to split costs with the Trust, who in turn could charge their members a building levy. That way the taxpayer is not having to fund a facility for the elite.

The NRL is playing hard ball by threatening to take their grand final to Brisbane or Melbourne. This is just a scare tactic because grand finals will always be played at ANZ, not Allianz.

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