Phil Rothfield: Suspended Roosters rookie Daniel Suluka-Fifita faces fresh sanction for Channel Nine incident
He has already copped a ban for a “foolish” punch, but that’s not the end of the drama, writes PHIL ROTHFIELD.
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Sydney Roosters rookie Daniel Suluka-Fifita is facing further disciplinary action for spraying water at a Channel 9 cameraman after being sin-binned against the Rabbitohs.
Suluka-Fifita was removed from the field for foolishly punching Rabbitohs forward Jai Arrow.
This was so unusual at a club where discipline is always a priority.
He was later hit with a grade 1 striking charge and will miss one game.
The NRL is now chasing eagle-cam footage of the incident as he left the field of play.
A fine of around the $1500 mark is expected.
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BUZZ ISSUES MAROONS APOLOGY
Last year your columnist declared NSW would win the State of Origin series 3-nil. Colleague Dean Ritchie famously labelled the Maroons team as their worst in 40 years.
This year they are $2.35 outsiders with the TAB but should be series favourites, with or without Jason Taumalolo, when you check out their line-up. The forward pack is so strong you’d have Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, Jai Arrow and Christian Welch on the bench.
There will be no room for error when Brad Fittler, Greg Alexander and Danny Buderus sit down to name their NSW Blues outfit. They are really up against it.
Possible Queensland team:
1 Kalyn Ponga 2 Val Holmes 3 Dane Gagai 4 Kurt Capewell 5 Xavier Coates 6 Cameron Munster 7 Daly Cherry Evans 8 Josh Papalii 9 Harry Grant 10 Lindsay Collins 11 Jaydn Su’a 12 David Fifita 13 Jason Taumalolo. Bench: 14 Ben Hunt 15 Tino Fa’asuamaleaui16 Jai Arrow 17 Christian Welch 18th man A.J Brimson
BIG FUNDRAISER FOR MOSE
The rugby league fraternity will dig deep this week to support one of the game’s real nice guys.
Mose Masoe, who broke his neck in a trial match while playing in the English Super League over a year ago, is taking small steps towards recovery but his life will never be the same.
A huge player promotion to support the cause will be launched at NRL headquarters at 11.30am Monday with Trent Robinson and Alex McKinnon leading the charge. Details of how to donate can be found on the Men of League website.
My family and I are absolutely humbled by the support. We are very thankful for the people behind the scenes. The vision of the Foundation is not just to help my family I but others in near future. Thank you again for the ongoing support.
— Mose Masoe (@MoseMasoe) March 17, 2021
Alofa atu.
Mose #BehindTheSmilehttps://t.co/rDWBW7BCv7
HIGHLIGHT
There is nothing better in rugby league than the theatre of a Ricky Stuart press conference when his blood is boiling, his emotion is spilling over and he climbs out of his seat to walk out on the media. He got his message across about the poor standard of refereeing in the national capital without even having to mention it. And it sure beats a Wayne Bennett presser with a dozen questions and one-word answers.
LOWLIGHT
Canterbury and Manly. Seriously, how can these two outfits be spending a combined $18 million on their salary caps with the rubbish they are producing. Both clubs are paying the penalty for appalling list management in recent years.
SHOOSH
Which of the three Queensland teams are in talks with Warrington coach Steve Price for an assistant role? Price will quit the UK Super League at the end of the season to return home.
MORE BUZZ:
Secret NRL report reveals damning injury stats
Deadline for Cronulla’s Morris call
SHOOSH
Which NRL coach and chief executive have had a falling out over the recruitment of a big-name forward who wants a four-year contract? The coach wants to sign the player for the four years. The CEO won’t allow a deal any longer than three years.
SHOOSH
Don’t blame Storm centre Justin Olam for the loss to the Panthers. Even if he had grounded the ball in the thrilling final seconds, the try would have been disallowed. Our sources inside the bunker have revealed it would have been called back for the obstruction play that left Viliame Kikau on the deck.
SHOOSH
Channel 9’s relationship with the NRL hasn’t been all that flash lately, but no one could blow up about Sydney viewers getting the AFL Footy Show instead of the NRL version after a cyber attack caused a company-wide system shutdown.
EAGLE EYE FOR TALENT
Penrith has the biggest junior league nursery in the world. Manly has one of the smallest yet on Saturday they beat the Panthers 44-16 in Harold Matthews and 60-nil in S.G Ball. This a huge credit to Scott and Brett Fulton, who run the junior representative pathways at the club.
Scott has the most extraordinary eye for young talent and Brett oversees the coaching of SG Ball. Scott Fulton was the one who found Josh Schuster as a 14-year-old. He signed another rookie, Tolu Koula, 18, who is supposed to be another Brett Stewart.
SPOTTED
Rugby league immortal Bob Fulton embracing his great mate and old 2GB Continuous Call team mate Ray Hadley at his wedding on Saturday at Mount White.
SUTTON SLIDE
Gerard Sutton has been regarded as the NRL’s No.1 referee for years, especially while his brother Bernard was the boss at Moore Park headquarters. He has done 293 first grade games and six grand finals. Sutton’s ranking appears to have slipped under new referees boss Jarryd ‘Horse’ Maxwell. This weekend he was overlooked for the blockbuster games – Storm v Panthers and Roosters v Rabbitohs. Instead he did the Knights v Wests Tigers.
360 VIEW
Catch you tonight on NRL 360 on Fox League at 6.30pm with Ben Ikin, Paul Kent and James Hooper to discuss all the biggest issues from round three of the competition.
Originally published as Phil Rothfield: Suspended Roosters rookie Daniel Suluka-Fifita faces fresh sanction for Channel Nine incident
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