THE BUZZ: Trouble M as 2GB Bolts in

DESPITE an all-star commentary team Triple M has copped an absolute shellacking in the station's first radio survey on weekend NRL ratings.

DESPITE an all-star commentary team that includes many of the biggest names in rugby league, Triple M has copped an absolute shellacking in the station's first radio survey on weekend NRL ratings.

Ray Hadley and his 2GB Continuous Call team almost tripled the audience of their FM rivals, who have been abandoned by their regular music listeners, slumping from a rating of 5.1 before the football season to their current 3.4 on Sundays between midday and 6pm.

Triple M's team includes the likes of league Immortal Andrew Johns, Peter Sterling, Ryan Girdler, Gorden Tallis, Wendell Sailor, Nathan Hindmarsh and caller Dan Ginnane.

The old firm of Hadley, Bob Fulton, Steve Roach and Darryl Brohman, combined with Andrew Moore and Joel Caine's outstanding match calls, saw 2GB finish as clear winners.

The football season took up six weeks of the eight-week survey.

Not helping Triple M's cause is the fact they often snub NRL games and call Sydney Swans matches under a pre-existing contract with the AFL.

"These figures give an early indication that the Continuous Call team will do what it's done to various challengers over the past 27 years, see them off," a pumped-up Hadley said.

"There were some strange references on station pointers from our opposition about old men. It would appear, based on the figures, experience at providing entertainment to your audience counts for something."

Triple M's Ginnane says the station's established shows continue to rate well.

"Radio history dictates new programs always take a bit of time getting ratings," he said. "Our ratings for our established sports products, Monday Night Football, Dead Set Legends and The Rush Hour, were terrific, which proves what we're doing is on the money."

Their ratings are disappointing for the NRL who were hoping to attract a broader audience on FM.

If you thought Triple M was going bad, spare a thought for poor old 2UE, where Fatty Vautin and John Gibbs on Sunday afternoons rate not much better than an old television test pattern.

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Blanchard and Freestone

MEET the sporting world's hottest new couple. Jack Freestone is Australian surfing's next superstar and Hawaii's Alana Blanchard is the undisputed glamour of the women's circuit. Freestone, from Currumbin Beach on the Gold Coast, hooked up with Blanchard at the start of the season here in Australia and the pair are keeping their 600,000 combined followers up to date with their romance on Instagram. Freestone, 21, and world champion Joel Parkinson are the only Aussies to have won the world junior crown.

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Trent Merrin

WE can now reveal where Dragons forward Trent Merrin got his awesome sidestep from - he used to do ballet. The story goes that when he was about five, his mum organised the dance classes.

"I really can't remember much about it, but mum doesn't lie so I must have done it,'' Merrin laughed. "I was around five at the time and she got both me and my brother to do it. I didn't last long, so maybe my big feet got in the way.

"But it is something she brings up when she wants to stitch me up and I don't have a comeback line - you do some funny things when you are a kid.'' Sadly, Merrin would not allow us access to the qlfamily photo album for pictures in one of his old qloutfits, so we've settled for a cartoon by our genius sketcher Boo Bailey.

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BAD boy Josh Dugan has won over the greatest Dragons fullback of all time, Graeme Langlands, after just one game in the Big Red V. Langlands was so impressed with Dugan's debut against Parramatta last Saturday week he has called for the long-striding fullback to be named in the NSW State of Origin side tonight.

"He has been out of the game for a while, but he looks fresh and keen and injury-free after his break,'' Langlands said. "`The guy knows he is on his last chance and was sensational against the Eels. He knows he has to pull his head in or it's all over and I think he will be a great buy for the Dragons. I would throw him straight into Origin and move Jarryd Hayne to the wing.''

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IT'S good to see clubs looking after their commercial partners, but one security officer went too far at Shark Park last weekend, banning a family from bringing bottles of Coke into the ground because of a rival soft drink sponsor. The fan, Gavin Ryan, has received an apology from the Sharks' commercial and marketing boss Pat Woods. "While we encourage the use of businesses that support the Sharks, we certainly do not ban non-sponsor product,'' Woods said. "This must have been an overzealous security guard.''

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NO doubt this would have been music to the ears of all Wests Tigers fans and members last week. Fronting the media, Benji Marshall revealed his motivation to reclaim his form is not for the kids with No.th6 on the back of their $160 jerseys, his teammates, the coach or the club. No, Benji would rather: "Try and shut all you guys (media) up.'' Given his priorities, it's no surprise Benji has been in the worst form of his career.

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SAINT - HE might not be as vibrant and dynamic as his predecessor Ricky Stuart, but new Blues coach Laurie Daley has been an absolute class act in the build-up to tonight's announcement of the NSW State of Origin team. The Blues are in great hands.

SINNER - ANOTHER black eye for rugby league in the Ben Te'o case. Te'o is denying any wrong-doing, but we hope the poor woman Katie Lewis has the determination and bravery to go all the way with her allegations.

CHARITY CASE - ONLY late intervention from NRL boss Dave Smith has saved Manly star Brett Stewart's attempts to raise money for his favourite charity. Stewart wanted to sell shirts designed by teammate David 'Wolfman' Williams for diabetes awareness at Brookvale Oval last night but the volunteers were told the merchandise could only be sold outside the ground. 2GB's Ray Hadley put it to Smith on radio yesterday and the NRL boss reversed the decision.

SPOTTED - TIGERS legend Steve Roach, Darryl Brohman and Sharks coach Shane Flanagan with their wives at the King Wan last Sunday night. You'd hate to be picking up the bill with Blocker and Big Marn at the same table.

FRIDAY FLOPS - IF you thought the standard of Friday night NRL football had been poor this year, wait until round 19 with the wooden spoon battle between the Tigers and the Warriors.

LOST RAIDER - DAVID Gallop still hasn't been to a rugby league match since he was dumped as NRL chief executive. At least he's finally admitted to me he's a Canberra Raiders fan from the days when he grew up in the national capital.

BIG ROAST - PETER Ryan is a former NRL prop and an all-round good bloke. The former Newtown, North Sydney, Cronulla and Illawarra player is struggling with acute Parkinson's disease and requires surgery. His mates are rallying and a luncheon billed as the Peter Ryan Roast will be held at the Kirra Beach Hotel on Friday June 21, at midday. Tickets can be purchased via Greg Hodge 0407 275 718.

BORN A SHARK - WHAT'S the Buzz has found what we believe is the youngest member of an NRL club EVER - and she "follows" the mighty Sharks. Gorgeous little Zara Taylor came into this world on Monday, May 13. Within an hour of being born, proud dad and Sharks tragic Ashley tried to sign her up as a member. The online membership was rejected as the system wouldn't allow "today" as an eligible birth date. Needless to say that Zara became a member on the 14th.