Monday Buzz: Phil Rothfield’s highlights, lowlights; NRL’s please explain over giant profanity

It was an offensive profanity painted in giant letters onto the turf of an NRL field hours before kick-off, so what’s the explanation? Buzz has that and more in his weekend highlights and lowlights.

It is the social media image that set off alarm bells at the NRL...

The governing body called for an explanation from their contracted signwriter over a picture taken inside Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville on Saturday.

While the surface was being marked ahead of Sunday’s Cowboys-Titans game, someone in the grandstand took a photo of the work in progress, which featured a giant profanity that cannot be repeated here in a family newspaper.

The image quickly did the rounds on social media, but the NRL was satisfied with the response from the signwriter, that it was an innocent mistake.

The giant profanity written into the turf at Townsville.

CRONK’S CALL RUFFLES ROOSTERS’ FEATHERS

Sometimes it’s hard being a TV commentator while being on the payroll of an NRL club.

Years ago it cost Andrew Johns his job at the Sydney Roosters when the players and staff got sick of his criticism on Channel 9 – then 24 hours later he’d turn up to coach the halves.

Joey kept bagging them for not getting enough quality football to Latrell Mitchell in the centres.

“They’ve got a Ferrari in the garage and they never drive it, you never see him with the ball.”

Then all of a sudden the eighth Immortal was no longer to be found around Moore Park. On ya bike, see ya later, Joey.

It was actually a credit to Joey that he put the fans, TV viewers and his own credibility first and spoke so openly and honestly without fear of backlash from his second employer.

There is a stack of TV commentators who manage to juggle two jobs and the potential for a conflict of interest.

Michael Ennis works for the Manly Sea Eagles on Anthony Seibold’s staff. Before that he was at the Canberra Raiders and Parramatta Eels while working for Fox Sports.

Dominic Young is sent off. Picture: Grant Trouville

Blake Taaffe face-plants into the turf. Picture: Grant Trouville

Greg Alexander is a director at Penrith, Jimmy Graham is on Canterbury’s books and Cooper Cronk is paid as a coaching consultant at the Roosters and Melbourne Storm.

Over at Nine, Phil Gould is the general manager of the Bulldogs, Paul Gallen works for the Cronulla Sharks and Darren Lockyer is a board member at the Brisbane Broncos.

I’m raising it in this column because of the commentary from the Roosters v Bulldogs game on Friday night around the Dominic Young send off for the high shot on Blake Taaffe.

At almost the same time as Roosters coach Trent Robinson was somehow defending Young at his press conference and suggesting the send-off was “over the top and not a swinging arm”, Cronk was asked for his thoughts on the Fox League panel.

He could have held back but didn’t: “I think the officials got this one right. That’s forceful contact, it’s on the chin. I agree with the send-off.”

The comment didn’t go down well with some at the Roosters over the weekend, although I’m not too sure what they were expecting him to say.

The match review committee got it right by hitting Young with a grade-three careless high tackle charge.

He’s now suspended for two weeks – and so he should be.

HIGHLIGHT

The Warriors. Such a great team to watch, each and every week, beautifully coached by Andrew Webster, no niggle or wrestle. What a disgrace that Channel 9 will televise only four of their games.

LOWLIGHT

We have seen some absolute shockers from the bunker in recent years but none as bad as Grant Atkins allowing the match-turning Toluta’u Koula try at Brookvale from the most blatant knock on you will ever see on a rugby league field. Sometimes these calls can be 50-50 but this one was 100 per cent wrong.

SPOTTED

Rugby Australia’s decision to pay Sydney Roosters centre Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s $1.6 million a season is looking worse every week. His true value as an NRL outside back is $500,000 a year.

SHOOSH

Which NRL club chief executive is a fully paid-up member of a rival club – and has been for years?

SHOOSH

Zac Lomax, the $800,000-a-year winger who wants to quit St George Illawarra, is expected to be named at fullback for the Dragons against the Wests Tigers next weekend.

Zac Lomax is set to start at fullback against Wests Tigers. Picture: Scott Gardiner/Getty Images

SHOOSH

We’re hearing Penrith and Melbourne Storm are certainties to play in Las Vegas next year. The New Zealand Warriors and North Queensland Cowboys are also given a huge chance.

360 VIEW

Catch you Monday on NRL 360 on Fox League at 6.30pm with Braith Anasta, Paul Kent and Gorden Tallis to discuss another big weekend of rugby league.

Originally published as Monday Buzz: Phil Rothfield’s highlights, lowlights; NRL’s please explain over giant profanity