Monday Buzz 2023 NRL awards: Feuds, fights and the game’s best kept secret

Phil Rothfield looks back at the highs and lows, feuds and fade-outs, blunders and blow-ups after 27 rounds of the high drama that is rugby league. Check out the Monday Buzz season awards.

Monday Buzz reveals his end-of-season NRL awards.

Buzz Rothfield looks back at the highs and lows, feuds and fallouts, blunders and blow-ups after 27 rounds of the high drama that is rugby league.

BEST SIGNINGS

It’s a hot field. Superstar fullback Reece Walsh was a $460,000 steal for the Brisbane Broncos. He’ll eventually finish up on triple that money. Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow was a great acquisition on big dollars at the Dolphins and worth every penny.

The likes of Zac Hosking at Penrith, Tyson Gamble and Jackson Hastings at Newcastle, and Storm pair Eliasa Katoa and Will Warbrick have been sensational value.

Reece Walsh has been a revelation in 2023. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty

WORST RECRUITMENT

A couple of weeks ago $800,000 Sydney Roosters hooker Brandon Smith was a serious contender but he’s been outstanding in the last fortnight. There’s also been a few at the Bulldogs who haven’t aimed up.

However, the worst was Manly’s recent decision to put Josh Schuster on an $800,000-a-season four-year contract. He’s not worth half of that amount and it’s created huge salary cap pressure at Brookvale that could force outstanding edge forward Haumole Olakau’atu to be squeezed out. He’s on $300,000 less than Schuster.

Josh Schuster penned a massive extension before being dropped to reserve grade. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty

BEST VALUE

Billy Smith at the Roosters. The young centre is on less than $250,000. Never complains because he’s played only 26 games in four years because of injuries and wants to repay the Roosters for their loyalty. This guy is good enough to play State of Origin next year.

Also, an honourable mention for Billy Walters at the Broncos. He’s on a cut-price contract but has got the job done, week in, week out.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Almost a three-way dead heat. Hard to split Kevvie Walters, Andrew Webster and Ivan Cleary. Webster started as a rookie-first year coach with a team that ran 15th last year and were renowned underachievers. He gets our vote. Just.

ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

The one highlight of 2023 for the wooden-spoon winning Wests Tigers … Jahream Bula. Some exceptional form at fullback in a team that rarely had attacking momentum. At another struggling club, the Bulldogs, Jacob Preston has been outstanding in a well beaten pack. At Penrith, Sunia Turuva emerged as a real excitement machine.

MOST REGRETTABLE CALL

The Roosters sacking Sam Walker for the Anzac Day game. It would not have been such a dramatic scramble to make the top eight if he’d been there all along. His off-the-cuff footy is what the Roosters missed more than anything else.

FLOPS OF THE YEAR

Wests Tigers, Canterbury and St George-Illawarra are the obvious ones but we’ve become accustomed to their underwhelming performances in recent years. The blowtorch needs to be on the Paramatta Eels, South Sydney and the Cowboys.

SMARTEST MOVE

Luke Brooks quitting the Wests Tigers, collecting his barbeque and heading off to the northern beaches to reinvigorate his career. He’ll thrive playing outside Daly Cherry-Evans.

Luke Brooks inspects his parting ‘gift’ from the Wests Tigers.

UGLIEST FEUDS

There have been a few of them. RLPA chief executive Clint Newton and NRL boss Andrew Abdo. Sydney Roosters supremo Nick Politis and player agent Isaac Moses, who took Joseph Suaalii to rugby union. Justin Pascoe and Tim Sheens. Scott Fulton and Tim Sheens. Braith Anasta and Craig Coleman. Jarome Luai and Michael Carayannis, who was labelled a gronk by the Penrith five-eighth. Sam Burgess and Jason Demetriou. Sam Burgess and Latrell Mitchell.

BEST KEPT SECRET

Des Hasler signing at the Gold Coast Titans and the dismissal of Justin Holbrook. No-one had a clue the old two-time premier coach was in talks with the club or that Holbrook was about to be punted until a press release was emailed to the media at 11.39am on June 22.

Des the Titans. Art: Boo Bailey

BEST FIGHT

It was supposed to be a celebration for Jack Wighton’s 30th birthday but as the night wore on Latrell Mitchell and the birthday boy decided to have a stink outside a Canberra nightclub. They were both arrested, charged and locked up for the night.

Latrell Mitchell and Jack Wighton head into ACT Magistrates Court. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

BEST COMEBACK

Kalyn Ponga suffered a career threatening knockout blow against the Wests Tigers in round two at Leichhardt. Then went overseas to seek the world’s best medical opinions. Returned home. Made his comeback and showed the rugby league world why he’s a $1.5 million player.

2ND BEST COMEBACK

Adam O’Brien was heading to Centrelink nine weeks ago. The club had interviewed Des Hasler, Michael Maguire, Justin Holbrook, Paul McGregor and any other unemployed clipboard carrier. Somehow he turned it all around and steered the Knights into the finals.

LONG SERVICE

Old supercoach Wayne Bennett coached his 900th game at Magic Round with a Dolphins victory over the Cronulla Sharks at Magic Round.

Supercoach Wayne Bennett secures his place in history. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty

SADDEST MOMENT

The tragic passing of the South Sydney Rabbitohs’ 2014 premiership winning forward Kyle Turner after a long battle with mental health.

UP YOURS

Melbourne Storm paraded the 2007 and 2009 premiership trophies - that were stripped from them for salary cap rorting – as part of their 25th year anniversary celebrations. This was so inappropriate.

TIRED & EMOTIONAL

Anthony Seibold falling asleep late at night at Maccas like we’ve all done after a long session. It has been the subject of much banter around the Sea Eagles playing group and inadvertently played a part in the recovery from the Pride jersey fiasco.

Originally published as Monday Buzz 2023 NRL awards: Feuds, fights and the game’s best kept secret