What’s the Buzz: Saint, sinner shoosh

BRISBANE finally stand up to Wayne Bennett, why the NSWRL must ban John Hopoate for life and Jarryd Hayne’s new work ethic.

John Hopoate threatens an opponent (L) after coward-punching him in a confrontation

BRISBANE finally stand up to Wayne Bennett, why the NSWRL must ban John Hopoate for life and Jarryd Hayne’s new work ethic.

SAINT

The Brisbane Broncos board for finally standing up to Wayne Bennett, refusing to even discuss his coaching future until the end of the season. Putting Wayne in his place is long overdue.

SINNER

Surely it’s time for the NSWRL judiciary to rub 44-year-old madman John Hopoate out of the game for life after his latest foul-mouthed tirade and the threats of violence.

Hopoate’s rugby league career was marked by on-field thuggery.

SINNER II

The news that a disillusioned Matt ‘Chicken Legs’ Cecchin will quit the NRL refereeing ranks at the end of the season, fed up with a toxic environment within the ranks. Next week is Cecchin’s 300th NRL game, a magnificent career milestone for a wonderful referee.

SHOOSH I

Which NRL club has introduced $50 fines for anyone using a mobile phone in the team dressing room. Even the club’s chairman got caught out last weekend when his phone rang after a game and he had to cough up $50.

UNREAL: Penrith pull off incredible comeback

POINT: Is this Ben Hunt’s one weakness?

SHOOSH II

Which star NRL playmaker has told his coach he wants a release from his contract at the end of the season if a certain teammate stays at the club.

SPOTTED

Kyle Sandilands dropping into Jeff Fenech’s house in Five Dock for a coffee on Thursday and showing off his $600,000 Bentley four wheel drive.

Kyle Sandilands was spotted at Jeff Fenech’s house.

SPOTTED II

Eels legends Peter Wynn, Mick Cronin, Bob O’Reilly Brett Kenny, Eric Grothe, and Peter Sterling at El Phonetician restaurant in Parramatta on Friday with auction winners who paid $5000 at a fundraiser for lunch with the old Parramatta heroes.

SPOTTED III

Former Sea Eagles player and Fox Sports commentator Matt Nable enjoying the beverages, but not the scoreline, at Manly Old Boys day at Brookie last Sunday.

SPOTTED IV

Todd Greenberg in the business lounge at Sydney’s international airport about to board a flight to Singapore for an International rugby league federation meeting.

SPOTTED V

Former South Sydney Rabbitohs hardman Dean Rampling celebrating his 60th birthday at a party in Maroubra last weekend with his brother Tony and heaps of old footy teammates.

SPOTTED VI

FORMER Parramatta Eels supremo Denis Fitzgerald getting a guided tour of the new Western Sydney Stadium last week from NSW Sports Minister Stuart Ayres.

Hayne has impressed with his work ethic recently.

HAYNE DOING HIS PART

Jarryd Hayne continues to impress Parramatta Eels coach Brad Arthur with his much improved work ethic. Arthur says Hayne often stays back after training to do extras and it is paying dividends.

Hayne has decreased his skinfolds since the start of the season by 14 per cent and has had an increase of 10 per cent in high intensity stats during games. He has also stripped four kilograms.

The Eels Head of High Performance Lachlan Wilmot says: “It reflected in his recent games. His work rate and involvement has gone right up. He’s one of the boys who are doing extras after training.

“He’s also taken steps to improve his diet. There’s a number of things that have contributed to it and more high intensity running during games.”

The Eels will make a decision at the end of the season whether to extend the 30-year-old’s contract.

Nick Campton and Tim Williams carry on about referees, try to make sense of the top eight madness and preview all the action for Round 20.

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LEVY SWITCHES STABLES

Highly regarded 2GB broadcaster Mark Levy has switched to stablemate Macquarie Sports Radio to run the breakfast show from Monday. Levy and fellow Continuous Call commentator Mark ‘Piggy’ Riddell will replace John Stanley and Beau Ryan in the key timeslot from 5.30am to 9am.

The station’s ratings have been horrendous since switching to the all sport format.

Levy is best known for filling in for Ray Hadley on both his 2GB morning show and the Continuous Call team. “Mark’s a very hard worker and deserves this opportunity,” Hadley said, “Eventually, in the foreseeable future, he’ll run the Continuous Call team.”

It is a big opportunity too for Riddell, who in recent years, has become a huge favourite with listeners on 2GB’s rugby league coverage.

LAWRENCE IS TOP CLASS

Emma Lawrence used to always be best known as the sister of Wests Tigers star Chris Lawrence.

She has done so well as a television reporter that Chris is now often referred to as Emma’s brother.

Lawrence is soon to be leaving Fox Sports to join the Channel 10 network as a senior rugby league reporter.

“Emma’s a class act in the world of sports journalism,” said Ten’s Director of News Ross Dagan.

“She’ll be integral in taking our coverage to the next level, particularly in terms of NRL reporting as we head towards the finals and beyond.”

Emma Lawrence will leave Fox Sports for Channel 10.

FITTLER TAKES THE TIME

NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler has been holidaying in Bali but also took time out to visit Matthew Norman in Kerobokan prison. Norman, who was convicted of drug trafficking as an 18 year old, became a drug mule for “easy cash, fast cash” and is now serving a lifetime sentence.

“Just went to local jail and met Matthew part of the Bali 9. Doing remarkably well and intention giving back to other inmates. Quite the experience,” Fittler wrote on Instagram. Norman is now 31.

FORAN HEADS TO COURT

It’s never a good sign when footy players are spotted at the Downing Centre District court. On Wednesday injured Canterbury Bulldogs star Kieran Foran was there with his partner and a long-time lawyer friend. Thankfully he was not in trouble.

“It was part of the university course that I’m doing,” Foran told us, “It was like a day’s work experience as part of the Bachelor of Arts degree that I’m doing.

“I knew someone would ring up and say I was there and think I was in strife.”

Foran took on the degree at the University of New England at the beginning of the year.

“It’s important I use my time productively these days,” he said, “I used to go the pub and have a bet when I had nothing to do. This is about doing something about my life after football.”

Foran is undergoing a Bachelor of Arts.

NEW IMMORTALS JUDGES

THERE have been some significant changes to the judging panel that will vote for rugby league’s next Immortals to be revealed on Wednesday night.

Your columnist, veteran 2GB commentator Ray Hadley and Rugby League Week’s founding editor Geoff Prenter have been axed.

In a major snub, Prenter has not even been invited to the official dinner at the SCG on Wednesday night.

As part of the changes, Todd Greenberg has appointed himself as a judge.

Phil Gould has been invited on, which is a good move, considering his experience and achievements in the game.

So too has Fox Sports boss Steve Crawley, who is best remembered as the journalist who broke the arguably the biggest story in rugby league history on the front page of The Australian in the mid 90s — the impending Super League war.

TELL THEM THEY’RE DREAMING

IT can be an expensive business to win an NRL premiership. And even more expensive after you’ve won one. A club that recently won the title contacted the NRL bosses at Moore Park to try to get a replica trophy of “Norm and Arthur” that is handed out on grand final day.

Not a problem, except that the NRL wanted to charge them $20,000.

DRAGONS CHARITY FOR DOLPHINS

St George Illawarra players James Graham, Jason Nightingale and Jeremy Latimore at the Coogee Dolphins’ charity sports lunch on Friday. The Dolphins raised $11,000, including $7500 for Ronald McDonald House. Anthony Maroon was the MC, while Gold Coast Titans owner Darryl Kelly also attended.

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