Monday Buzz: Weekend highlights, lowlights
The NRL transfer market keeps ticking over, tough Dally M call, Mal Meninga’s big Kangaroos hint and more — check out the talking points from another big weekend in sport.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
NRL finals locked in: Complete schedule for week one
Saint, Sinner, Shoosh: Cleary to make Cleary skipper
Check out the highlights, lowlights and talking points from another big weekend in sport.
HIGHLIGHT
Maika Sivo’s three tries for Parramatta against Manly. This guy is an excitement machine. You can throw him in alongside Josh Addo-Carr, Blake Ferguson and Corey Oates as the game’s great wingers.
More Monday Buzz: Gould’s not the man to fix Dragons mess
Stream every match of the 2019 NRL Telstra Premiership Finals Series before the Grand Final Live & On-Demand on KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14 day free trial and start streaming instantly >
LOWLIGHT
It could only happen in the NRL refereeing ranks. The feel-good story of the year was Belinda Sharpe’s first-grade appointment and the fact she had done such a good job. However, when the big games came along on the eve of the finals, she was relegated to the touchline. And guess who replaced her as an assistant referee? Ref boss Bernard Sutton’s little brother Chris.
EEL DEAL FOR RCG
Penrith Panthers front-rower Reagan Campbell-Gillard is a done deal at Parramatta for next season. The Eels will announce the signing after they are finished in the finals.
MURRAY’S PRICELESS
Mal Meninga has paid a huge compliment to South Sydney lock Cam Murray and indicated that he will make the Kangaroos squad. “It’s early days but he even reminds me a bit of the great Ray Price,” Meninga said.
WEATHER-BEATEN FANS
The crowd of more than 25,000 at Bankwest Stadium for the 6pm game on Friday night between the Eels and the Sea Eagles was on target to be a sellout on the morning of the game before the severe weather warning put a stop to ticket sales.
PAPALII A PROP STAR
There have been a stack of great front-rowers in the NRL throughout the season but few better than the Canberra Raiders’ Josh Papalii. He wouldn’t be out of place as Dally M prop of the year.
SPOTTED
Eels great Ray Price visiting his old teammate Peter Wynn at his Parramatta sports store.
SPOTTED II
High-flyers love suburban-ground footy as much as the punters. Billionaire builder Harry Triguboff and Jaycar owner Gary Johnston both lapped up the atmosphere at Leichhardt Oval.
360 VIEW
Catch you for a huge night on Fox Sports on NRL 360 to launch finals week. I’ll be joining Ben Ikin, Paul Kent, James Hooper, Anthony Griffin and Nathan Brown to discuss all the big issues. Later, Andrew Voss will make his debut as Controversy Corner host with Blocker Roach and Benny Elias.
COACH CONTEST GOES DOWN TO THE WIRE
Voting on the Dally M coach of the year has to be the closest ever.
It is a four-horse race between Des Hasler, Brad Arthur, Craig Bellamy and Ricky Stuart.
(And a special mention to Dean Pay, who has had a fantastic second half of the year at the Doggies.)
Arthur’s Parramatta have gone from 16th to fifth. Dessie’s Manly have gone from 15th to sixth. Stuart’s Raiders have emerged as genuine contenders and Bellamy has won yet another JJ Giltinan Shield without the superstar-category players he had in previous years.
• • •
Your columnist is not a fan of regularly playing rugby league matches at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The old girl should be kept for special occasions like Anzac Day: Sydney Roosters versus St George Illawarra Dragons.
Plus semi-final blockbusters between arch enemies like the Roosters and Rabbitohs.
This will be the biggest occasion of the year. Bigger than Origin, bigger than the grand final.
A nostalgic flashback to the old days. Wonderful atmosphere. Get in early to purchase your tickets.
Originally published as Monday Buzz: Weekend highlights, lowlights