What’s the Buzz: The Matildas rule on and off the field, Sterlo’s next move and Erin’s packed schedule

WHAT’S THE BUZZ I: The mighty Matildas rule on and off the field, Sterlo’s next move and Erin Molan’s crazy schedule.

The Matildas quickly become hot property. (AAP Image/Darren Pateman)

WHAT’S THE BUZZ I: The mighty Matildas rule on and off the field, Sterlo’s next move and Erin Molan’s crazy schedule.

SAINT

THE absolute best sporting team in this country is without doubt the mighty Matildas. A full house at Penrith’s Pepper Stadium, 17,000 fans on a week night in Newcastle and unbelievably strong ratings on Fox Sports. Sam Kerr is a freak and the rest of the girls are world-class.

SINNER

THE NRL brain injury rules that allowed Corey Oates to play against the Storm on Friday night after being knocked out the previous week. If it was boxing he would be stood down for a month. If it was the “sport” I don’t mention in this column, it would be THREE months.

MORE WHAT’S THE BUZZ: Broncos’ overexposure finally at an end

Corey Oates welfare was called into question ahead of the game. (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

SHOOSH

PETER Sterling was always one step ahead of the play on the footy field ... and still is. Knowing Fox Sports were going to axe his low rating Sterlo on the Couch program, he beat them to the punch and signed a deal to work exclusively for Channel Nine.

SHOOSH II

TODD Carney is struggling to find an NRL club for 2018. His agent has even called the New Zealand Warriors to pitch for Kieran Foran’s old No. 6 jersey. They said: “Thanks, but no thanks.”

SHOOSH III

WHICH NRL coach is delaying a decision on his future despite an offer to extend his contract? He doesn’t get on with a senior official.

SHOOSH IV

WHICH crucial Newcastle Knights signing for next season is having second thoughts about leaving his current club, even if it will cost him $200,000 a season?

SHOOSH V

WHICH NRL club board member recently quit because he missed out on the chief executive’s job he’d had his eyes on for years?

SHOOSH VI

TURNS out the NRL threat to ban player managers over the Eels’ salary cap scandal was a furphy. It’s actually the job of Paul Massey, operations manager of the agents’ accreditation scheme.

SHOOSH VII

THE mail is getting stronger by the day that Panthers skipper Matt Moylan wants a release to play under Trent Barrett at the Sea Eagles.

SPOTTED

STORM halfback Cooper Cronk and fiancee Tara Rushton at Pepper Stadium last weekend to watch the Matildas beat Brazil.

SPOTTED II

SYDNEY Swans stars Dane Rampe, Kurt Tippett, Josh Kennedy, Callum Sinclair, Jarrad McVeigh and Callum Mills tucking in at China Diner Bondi on Sunday after returning home from their AFL finals exit against Geelong at the MCG.

Erin Molan with fiance Sean Ogilvy. Picture: Toby Zerna

ERIN CAN’T SLOW DOWN

CHANNEL Nine star Erin Molan is off to Indonesia the day after the grand final with hubby-to-be Sean Ogilvy to get away and plan their wedding. It won’t be a long break because Molan is back on hosting duties later in the month for the Fast5 netball world series.

This lady is a workaholic. She is also in talks for a contract extension at 2GB where she works weekends on the ratings-winning Continuous Call team.

As for the wedding, we’re hearing the couple will go down the aisle before the end of the year. Almost certainly before Christmas.

The wedding will no doubt spark a bidding war with the glossy magazines and photo agencies chasing exclusive rights.

STRIKE FORCE

HE might still have gigs on Channel 7, Sky Racing and Triple M radio but Richard Freedman is far more focused on his horse training these days. And it’s no wonder why.

The season is only two months old but Freedman has the best strike rate of any NSW trainer with 10 or more starters. He’s won six races for a 42.9 per cent win rate.

Sam Kerr has quickly become hot property. (Ashley Feder/Getty Images)

SAM’S TOP 20 HIT

THIS is a sporting merchandise snippet that gives you an idea of the incredible popularity of the Matildas girls’ soccer team. Last week at Penrith’s Pepper Stadium, Football Federation Australia sold the most merchandise since the men’s team played at the World Cup in Brazil three years ago. And you guessed it … most of the fans wanted Sam Kerr’s No. 20 jersey.

SHOCK: Kerr snubbed for FIFA award

CARING FOR KIDS

IT’s great to see Infinity Group still supporting elite junior athletes. This is the company that withdrew its sponsorship from the Cronulla Sharks and Roosters over the Damian Keogh and Shaun Kenny-Dowall cocaine charges. Next weekend, one of the shire’s outstanding young hockey players, Alex Singleton, is off to the national championships in Perth. Infinity Group is proudly sponsoring her.