The Monday Buzz: Highlights, lowlights and talking points from this weekend’s sporting action

PAUL Gallen produces one of his greatest performances, John Grant refuses to quit and the government needs to rethink its stadium policy.

Paul Gallen of the Sharks celebrates their win with Jayden Brailey after the Sharks v Bulldogs NRL round 12 game at Shark Park. pic Mark Evans

PAUL Gallen produced one of the greatest performances of his Sharks career, a packed Shark Park and a desperate NRL administrator hangs on.

It’s all here in Phil Rothfield’s wrap of the weekend’s sporting action.

HIGHLIGHT

Your columnist has seen Paul Gallen produce many great games for the Sharks over the years but few better or more inspiring than Saturday night’s magnificent performance against the Bulldogs.

HIGHLIGHT II

The beautiful atmosphere of 20,000 fans jammed into a suburban footy ground. It took a little bit longer to buy a beer and pie but it was worth it at Shark Park on Saturday night.

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LOWLIGHT

Still no sign of John Grant quitting as chairman of the independent commission as the NRL prepares for yet another bitter dispute, this time with the players.

LOWLIGHT II

The nonsense press release from the Bulldogs on CEO Raelene Castle’s departure. Raelene did not quit … she was tapped.

Brett Kimmorley and daughter Mia.

SPOTTED

Brett Kimmorley with his daughter Mia, who turned 14 on Sunday, enjoying lunch at The Star yesterday with 10 of her best mates.

AFL TAKING OVER?

Sydney is supposed to be a rugby league city. On Friday night 14,000 turned up to ANZ Stadium to watch the Rabbitohs play the Eels.

Less than 20 kilometres away at the SCG more than 36,000 watched an AFL game — the Swans v the Hawks. Unbelievable.

SPEED A FINE ADDITION

No wonder Fox Sports are using so much of Brenton Speed in the head commentary position this year. He’s accurate and entertaining and never overplays his role.

ORIGIN CHAT

See you Monday night on NRL 360 with Ben Ikin and Paul Kent to discuss State of Origin I and the biggest issues from the weekend round of football.

LISTEN! David Riccio, Dean Ritchie and Fatima Kdouh have the inside word on what is happening at Camp Blues and give their reasons why NSW will win against a Maroons team in turmoil.

ARSENAL BRINGING THE CUP

ARSENAL’S upcoming visit to Sydney will be even bigger following confirmation that the Gunners will bring the FA Cup with them and allow fans to be photographed alongside it at ANZ Stadium in July.

After Arsenal stunned Chelsea with a 2-1 win at Wembley early yesterday, delivering embattled manager Arsene Wenger a record seventh FA Cup title, senior management confirmed their luggage would be a little heavier for the Sydney trip and that the players would raise the Cup in front of fans at both the Sydney FC game on July 13 and against the Wanderers on July 15.

The Cup will also be on display in the Stadium precinct before both games, which are both destined to be 80,000-plus sell-outs.

SUBURBAN GROUNDS FOREVER

The NRL and the State Government need to do something about Sydney’s suburban grounds and admit it was a mistake to spend all the stadium funds on Parramatta, Allianz and ANZ.

Money should also have been set aside to turn Brookvale and Cronulla into boutique stadiums.

That would give Sydney great venues in the north, south, east and west.

The crowd of over 20,000 at Shark Park on Saturday night showed fans will go to club football in the suburbs but not at the major stadiums which should be used only for blockbusters, finals and Origin.