Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield’s highlights and lowlights: whispers growing Lachlan Ilias is set for Dragons axe
Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield reveals his highlights and lowlights from the week in rugby league, revealing a high-profile recruit is set for a stint on the pine.
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Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield reveals his highlights and lowlights from the week in rugby league, revealing a high-profile recruit is set for a stint on the pine.
HIGHLIGHT
The wonderful respect shown by all NRL players and fans across the game over the Anzac Day weekend to salute and honour the courageous service and sacrifices of our past and present heroes.
LOWLIGHT
Four-time champions the Penrith Panthers on the bottom of the NRL ladder. An almost impossible scenario after their first-round win in Las Vegas. Any side that has Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin and Dylan Edwards should be doing better.
LOWLIGHT II
Wayne Bennett’s dental misfortune - a missing front tooth – that prevented him from fronting up to his press conference in Melbourne.
FACING THE AXE
St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan is surely running out of patience with his struggling halfback Lachlan Ilias. Even Ilias’ manager Braith Anasta recently conceded on NRL 360 that the halfback needed to lift to save his spot in the team. Expect a change for the Wests Tigers game next weekend. Flanagan’s replacement options are Lyhkan King-Togia or Jonah Glover, two highly regarded NSW Cup halves.
SHOOSH
Bulldogs’ hooker Reed Mahoney got only 44 minutes of action against the Broncos on Thursday night before he was replaced by Bailey Hayward. The previous week he got 55 minutes against the Rabbitohs. It’s interesting in that Mahoney normally plays the full 80 minutes. Being the most penalised player in the competition is not helping. On average he gives away more than three penalties a game.
Bulldogs hooker Reed Mahoney is a 'liability' who is jeopardising his team, writes @BuzzRothfield.
— Telegraph Sport (@telegraph_sport) March 30, 2025
FULL STORY 👉 https://t.co/Qv7bQqg6uXpic.twitter.com/x0bXqa7ZIT
SPOTTED
Gus Gould having an each-way bet on the Roosters v Dragons on Anzac Day. He tipped St George Illawarra to win on 100% Footy but after the game took to social media to write: “Liked the Roosters to win today.”
SPOTTED
Former Cronulla Sharks grand final hero Andrew Fifita being sent to the sin bin playing for De La Salle A grade against the Gymea Gorillas on Saturday for taking matters into his own hands after a teammate had been decked.
SPOTTED
Former Storm, Bulldogs and Cronulla Sharks forward Aiden Tolman surfing at Hat Head on the mid-north coast over the weekend and still looking fit enough to take 20 hit-ups in an NRL game.
360 VIEW
Catch you on NRL 360 at 6.30pm on Fox League with Braith Anasta, Gorden Tallis and Brent Read plus North Sydney Bears legends Billy Moore and Greg Florimo to chat about the resurrection of their famous old club.
Originally published as Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield’s highlights and lowlights: whispers growing Lachlan Ilias is set for Dragons axe
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