What’s the Buzz: Phil Rothfield reveals the high-profile feuds that dominated the sporting landscape in 2022

Dean ‘Bullfrog’ Ritchie was given a new moniker by an NRL star’s dad, Paul Kent dug his heels in, Buzz took on a former Test captain - these journos won’t be exchanging Christmas cards.

Many will wonder why old supercoach Wayne Bennett and his son-in-law Ben Ikin have not made the Christmas card list after several years without talking to each other.

We can reveal the pair are now on speaking terms. They kissed an made up on the quiet mid-year. A lovely story going into Christmas.

The pair do find themselves on opposite sides of a different battle in Brisbane this year. Ikin is the head of football of the Broncos, while Bennett makes his return to the NRL coaching ranks with the Dolphins following a year out of the game.

And fans don’t have long to wait. The first battle of Brisbane takes place at Suncorp Stadium in Round 4, Friday March 24 in what’s sure to be a sell-out clash.

While all is calm and bright for Ikin and Bennett, the same can’t be said for the following people, whose feuds will stretch into the holiday period and beyond, with some showing signs of never ending.

Those who won’t exchange Christmas cards

Paul Kent and Anthony Maroon

Maroon walked out on, and then ultimately quit, Triple M’s Sunday Sin Bin show after an on-air blow-up with co-hosts James Hooper, Gorden Tallis and The Daily Telegraph’s own Paul Kent. It came after some banter aimed at Maroon about him taking cash jobs to avoid paying tax. Kent then quit the show after refusing to apologise.

Ricky Stuart and Jaeman Salmon

The Canberra coach absolutely savaged Penrith’s fill-in five-eighth in an extraordinary post-game spray after Salmon appeared to kick out with his boot at Canberra hooker Tom Starling. It emerged Stuart’s anger stemmed from an incident dating back almost a decade, and resulted with Stuart being suspended for one game and fined $25,000 for calling Salmon a “weak-gutted dog”.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart copped a historic punishment for his comments. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty

Justin Langer and Pat Cummins

The former national coach and Test captain may have cleared the air over Langer’s explosive podcast comments in December following his sacking in February, but don’t expect things to be any more cordial between the pair.

Tim Sheens and Michael Maguire

No surprise here. Maguire’s fate largely rested in the hands of head of football Tim Sheens, who was charged with making a recommendation on the club’s coaching direction. Maguire was sacked in June and Sheens then took his job, as part of the Benji Marshall succession plan.

Safe to say these two won’t be exchanging Christmas cards this year. Picture: Toby Zerna

Peter V’landys and Blake Solly

The NRL’s previous CBA expired on October 31 and the governing body and clubs still haven’t agreed on a new one as negotiations drag on. Safe to say the relationship between V’landys and Solly will be worse off once all is said and done.

Robbie Slater and Mark Bosnich

The former close friends and colleagues have spectacularly fallen out, with their differing views on Socceroos coach Graham Arnold and their pursuit for qualification for this year’s World Cup, a large part of it. This one has been especially sad to watch.

Mark Bosnich (L) and Robbie Slater’s falling out is one of the saddest sport stories of the year. Picture: AAP/Tracey Nearmy

Payne Haas and Gavin and Chris Orr

The pair sued each other and traded claims and counter claims in court in what was a disruptive period for the star Broncos prop

Payne Haas and Albert Kelly

The Broncos were rocked by another off-field scandal in April with club bosses investigating an alleged drunken incident that threatened to explode when Brisbane five-eighth Albert Kelly stepped on the clean, white shoes of star prop Payne Haas. Yes, you read that correctly. Haas and Kelly were each suspended for a game and fined $10,000 and $5000 respectively.

Dennis ‘Bullfrog’ Ritchie and Andre Ponga

After 35 years of covering rugby league, the great Dean “Bulldog” Ritchie got a new nickname, courtesy of Kalyn Ponga’s father, Andre, who referred to him as “Dennis ‘Bullfrog’ Ritchie” at a Knights presser in April following the Dog’s coverage of Kalyn’s contract saga.

Brent Read and Hayden Knowles

The long-time NRL trainer wasn’t a fan of Read’s coverage of his on-field clash with then Newcastle prop David Klemmer back in August.

Ray Hadley and Tony Mestrov

Mestrov, the recently appointed Manly CEO, found himself in Hadley’s sights after he oversaw the departures of coach Des Hasler and head of pathways Kristie Fulton, the daughter of Hadley’s long-time close friend, the late Bob Fulton.

George Kambosos Jr and Ben Damon

The Aussie fighter and the public face of Main Event’s pay-per-view television boxing coverage had an ugly fallout that made things very awkward in 2022.

George Kambosos picked a fight with one of Australian boxing’s most prominant voices. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty

Ray Hadley and Brad Arthur

The veteran broadcaster never holds back, and has been vocal in his criticism of the Eels coach, who defied the critics to take Parramatta to the 2022 grand final. Who knows where the feud began. Hadley would only offer a “no comment” when approached, while Arthur fired back without naming the shock jock, declaring “someone’s got an agenda but they’re not going to break this group. Even a chance grand final week encounter wasn’t enough to ease the tensions.

Des Hasler and Scott Penn

The Manly owner brought Hasler back to save the club, only to sack him earlier this year. Hasler is going for the jugular, with his lawyer firing off a legal letter to Manly demanding the embattled club compensate his client $1 million in damages. This could get ugly.

Wayne Bennett and Cameron Munster

The supercoach launched a stinging attack on Munster after the Queensland Origin star rejected an NRL record $1.4 million-a-season offer from the Dolphins to remain at the Storm. Bennett described not getting a call from Munster “pretty ordinary stuff” and urged him to “be a man”. Mark down May 20 in your diaries for the first Dolphins v Storm clash.

Queensland’s ultimate bromance turned sour in 2022. Picture: NRL Images

Brad Fittler and Josh Addo-Carr

Freddy axed the Fox from this year’s Origin series, which the Blues again lost as favourites, saying “I’ve been in contact with Fox, we are both aware of the situation and we are cool … well, I think we are.” Addo-Carr responded by being the Kangaroos’ best player at the Rugby League World Cup. When asked recently should he have picked him, Fittler said, “Origin was 5 months ago and Origin 2023 is seven months away.”

Nick Politis and Scott Barlow

The bitter dispute between two of Sydney’s wealthiest and most powerful sporting officials erupted over a $150 Bunnings tarpaulin covering up the “home of the Sydney Roosters” sign at the new Allianz Stadium. The Roosters paid $12.5 million to build their own centre of excellence and football offices at the venue, and have their sign adorn the side of the stadium. Recent attempts to quell the feud have failed.

The contentious sign at Allianz Stadium.

Paul Gallen and Sonny Bill Williams

Bad blood between the pair has become personal and the ongoing animosity is likely to require intervention from Channel 9 executives, after Gallen retired from boxing following victory over Justin Hodges in his final bout. They will now meet in the commentary box, rather than the boxing ring.

Richard and Michael Freedman

They were training partners before an ugly split earlier this year. Now the brothers from one of Australia’s most famous racing families are no longer on speaking terms.

Andrew Abdo and Clint Newton

It’s the pay war that threatens to tear apart the game. The NRL says it’s the biggest wage deal in history, the players disagree. Both say they have the game’s interests at heart. And these two men are at the forefront.

Craig Bellamy and Wayne Bennett

It’s a rugby league rivalry 36 years in the making and it resumes when Bennett rejoins the NRL coaching ranks with the Dolphins next season. 2023 could be Bellamy’s final year as a head coach, so we should enjoy this show while it last.

Wayne Bennett and Craig Bellamy have a long history.

Greg Alexander and Cameron Smith

This one came out of nowhere when an explosive radio war between the league legends broke out following Brandy’s accusations Melbourne Storm pioneered all of the NRL’s controversial tackles.

Peter Moody and Blaike McDougall

Champion trainer Moody apologised for derogatory comments made about McDougall in a leaked audio message to the owners of the horse Amalgamation. The jockey said he was keen to move on from the saga, but there will certainly be no love lost.

Greg Norman and Rory McIlroy

McIlroy said Norman would have to go if there is any chance of the PGA Tour and LIV Golf coming to the table and ending their acrimonious battle. Norman said LIV critics like McIlroy and Tiger Woods “should be thanking LIV” for being the catalysts of prizemoney increases. Pass the popcorn.

The LIV Golf CEO divided the sport this year. Picture: Eric Espada/Getty

Nick Kyrgios and Stefanos Tsitsipas

Tsitsipas accused Aussie Nick of being a bully and possessing an “evil side” after they clashed on the court during Kyrgios’s victory at Wimbledon. Interestingly, the pair’s rollercoaster relationship took another turn, teaming up for a double event in December.

James Graham and Peter FitzSimons

The NRL great was left “astonished” by newspaper columnist FitzSimons’s decision to use an event to support athletes and families suffering the aftershocks of concussion to instead repeatedly challenge the ex-St George player over his evolving views.

Your columnist and Michael Clarke

The former Test captain and I have repeatedly butted heads on our regular segment together on Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast Show on Monday mornings. The latest instalment came when Pup revealed he wouldn’t have attended the prestigious Allan Border Medal night if he was given the option.