Monday Buzz: Phil Rothfield reveals his weekend highlights and lowlights

South Sydney captain Cameron Murray celebrated a big off-field milestone, while a rugby league recluse made a rare NRL appearance. Buzz’s highlights and lowlights.

Sir Bob Geldof at the Storm v Manly game on Saturday night. Fox League

Phil Rothfield reveals his highlights and lowlights from an action-packed weekend of sport in his weekly column, Monday Buzz.

HIGHLIGHT

Most thought Parramatta’s attack would struggle big time without five-eighth Dylan Brown. Not so. In the three matches since he was stood down, the Eels have racked up 116 points at an average of 38 per game. Great coaching Brad Arthur.

LOWLIGHT

The Dolphins’ bubble has well and truly burst. Injuries and lack of depth were always going to be the issue from the midway point of the season. They were abysmal in the first half against Parra.

SHOOSH

The Roosters have earmarked Queensland Maroons front-rower Lindsay Collins as a future captain once James Tedesco retires. He is a natural leader and speaks impressively.

SHOOSH

Rather than face the issues around another disastrous State of Origin campaign, NSWRL directors have not stopped whingeing about having a poor view from a corporate suite on the dead ball line at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night.

It turns out they were originally invited with their wives and partners, plus the QRL board, to the NRL hirer’s suite alongside all the politicians, major sponsors, celebrities and movers and shakers.

Blues officials were bumped from the NRL hirer’s suite at Suncorp Stadium. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty

A week before the game the NRL’s executive general manager Jaymes Boland-Rudder phoned the two state leagues to withdraw the invitations.

They were told they’d have to sort out their own arrangements.

Hopefully chairman Paul Conlon, CEO Dave Trodden and the directors can get over it.

There are far more pressing matters than their dissatisfaction over a suite.

SPOTTED

Rabbitohs skipper Cameron Murray announcing his engagement to long-time partner Miranda Cross on Saturday.

Cameron Murray engaged to Miranda Cross on Saturday.

SPOTTED

The 1991 Rothmans Medal winner Ewan McGrady on the Sunshine Coast to watch his nephew Brayden McGrady debut for the Dolphins. He scored a try with his first touch of the football.

Ewan McGrady with nephew Brayden who scored his with his first touch on debut for the Dolphins.

SPOTTED

The great Sir Bob Geldof at AAMI Park for the Storm v Manly game on Saturday and later in the Storm dressing sheds with Craig Bellamy, owner Matt Tripp and the players. He’s in Australia to launch a new radio station.

Sir Bob Geldof at the Storm v Manly game on Saturday night. Picture: Fox League

360 VIEW

Catch you Monday on NRL 360 on Fox League at 6.30pm with Braith Anasta, Gorden Tallis, Brent Read, Matty Johns and Cooper Cronk to discuss all the major issues and unpack Round 17 of the competition.

10 REASONS WHY DRAGONS SHOULD RELEASE HUNT

1. It’s actually a bonus that Hunt has revealed his intentions so early, rather than at the end of the season. It gives new coach Shane Flanagan enough time to spend the money wisely.

2. They need to do what Craig Fitzgibbon did at Cronulla. Sign great leaders like Dale Finucane, Cameron McInnes and Nicho Hynes to change the culture.

3. An opportunity to get transfer money/compensation from both the Broncos and the Titans to put them in a stronger salary cap position for next year. Also they are in a powerful bargaining position to do a player swap with the two clubs. I’d be asking the Titans for Sam Verrills or Jayden Campbell. Or for one of the Broncos’ many rising stars.

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4. The opportunity for a full reboot and to sign and settle on a playmaker for the next 10 years.

5. The Dragons need a long term/big picture rebuild. No point keeping Hunt until the end of next year and having to start again in 2025. They need to aim for long-term, sustainable success, not just top eight in 2024.

6. Why keep a disgruntled player who so obviously doesn’t want to wear the once cherished Red V jersey?

7. He’s cooked. You could see from the forlorn look on his face at Friday’s night’s press conference. He looked so strained and so mentally beaten up.

8. He has been completely worn down by the most inept administration in the game, and officials who inexplicably snubbed his 300-game celebration dinner.

9. Hunt has given the club great service and should be rewarded for that.

10. Friday night’s abysmal performance against the Warriors was as bad as it gets. Finals football is way out of reach. They are done for the season, with or without Hunt.

Originally published as Monday Buzz: Phil Rothfield reveals his weekend highlights and lowlights