Buzz Rothfield and James Graham clash in heated spray over Bulldogs drama

An NRL great and a veteran journalist have traded barbs live on air as the Canterbury Bulldogs drama continues to dominate the league.

Buzz Rothfield vs James Graham

The never-ending Bulldogs drama has taken another turn, with a heated clash breaking out on live TV between James Graham and veteran journalist Buzz Rothfield.

The two men were lined up to go toe-to-toe after Graham took aim and roasted former Bulldogs forward Andrew Davey.

Watch every game of The 2023 NRL Telstra Finals Series before the Grand Final Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo Sports. Join now and start streaming instantly >

Graham’s take-down came after the 44-game backrower weighed in on Cameron Ciraldo’s coaching methods in the wake of the club’s training scandal.

Claims emerged a player walked out of the club with over a year to go on his contract after a brutal training punishment which saw him wrestle every squad member.

Davey spoke with Rothfield and voiced his displeasure and revealed he wasn’t a fan of Ciraldo’s coaching.

On Monday night they squared off and didn’t hold back as they argued over the scandal and their thoughts on the matter.

Rothfield kicked off proceedings by detailing Davey’s mental health battle, but Graham wasn’t buying that as a ticket out.

“Can I interject there on the mental health issue, as a sufferer from depression and anxiety. I’ve been medicated for it for two years,” Graham said on NRL 360.

“I don’t expect any special treatment, I don’t expect a free pass and I’m not immune from criticism either and I don’t expect a pass for not living up to standards because I have those issues.”

Buzz Rothfield vs James Graham

Rothfield hit back and said when issues like this come about it’s all about finding players who are willing to step into the spotlight and address matters.

“What worried me about you Jimmy was, when we’re trying to find out the process of what forced a player to leave … we need to talk to people,” Rothfield said.

“And this guy spoke honestly and openly. What you did Jimmy, with respect, you belted him on radio yesterday. It was just a good old spray.

“Now what worries me about that is, we should be encouraging people to speak up in moments like this.

“The next kid who might have an issue at a club is going to think ‘s**t I’m not going to talk’.”

Graham hit back by shining a spotlight on the reasons behind Davey coming forward and airing his displeasure at the Bulldogs and their coach.

“Why do people look to criticise? The fact of the matter is Andrew Davey came to that football club … everything I said I stand behind it, because it is the truth.”

Rothfield interjected: “Sure … piss on Andrew Davey.”

“He’s got his perception of what happened and he’s entitled to express, before yesterday if anybody had asked me about him and why he left I would have replied with I don’t know,” Graham said.

Andrew Davey spoke out on the Bulldogs.

“But because he’s put his name to this and he’s put his name in the paper and said it, he’s then opening himself up for criticism.

“He left because he came to the club assuming he was going to be a walk-up starter.”

Rothfield jumped back in cutting Graham off: “How do you know that? How do you know he didn’t go there to try and earn his position?”

Graham hit back: “Because I worked there and I speak to people at the club.

“I know he came to the club thinking, assuming he was going to be a walk-up starter.

“Yes he’d have to do some work but he thought him and (fellow recruit Viliame) Kikau would be partnerships in the back row.”

Rothfield tried to interject on Graham once more but the former Bulldogs player wasn’t having it.

“Let me finish, let me finish,” he said.

“What happens with this is you’ve got Jayden Okunbor, an old winger, who plays a bit of backrow and then you’ve got this young kid who comes on the scene in the name of Jacob Preston.

“The reason (Davey) left is because he wasn’t getting picked. If he wasn’t getting picked it’s because a 21-year-old outworked him and then embarrassed him.

“He didn’t like it because he wasn’t getting picked. He didn’t like it because he thought he was going to get picked, that’s why he left.”

“He didn’t say that to me, he said he didn’t like the coaching,” Rothfield responded.

Graham responded: “Because that's the truth. He’s not going to tell you the truth and blame himself.”

Gorden Tallis weighed in by backing up Graham’s stance that Davey was never going to oust himself.

“He’s not going to say ‘I didn’t work hard enough’. There’s no way I’m going to say I'm not good enough, I didn’t work hard enough as a 21-year-old.”

Braith Anasta also stepped into the heated debate and pointed out the culture the Bulldogs were setting clearly wasn’t for everyone.

“It comes down to a winning culture, yeah they may have made some recruitment poor decisions and got it wrong, they’ve picked the wrong players for the club and then working on that and that’s why they’re flushing them out,” Anasta said.

“If these players are not up to the standards that are set at training and cannot handle it, then it’s in the best interest of everyone that they move on.”

Originally published as Buzz Rothfield and James Graham clash in heated spray over Bulldogs drama