Phil Rothfield’s highlights, lowlights and talking points from bumper weekend of sport

FROM the rising Rabbits and Ben Hunt to the failing Drgaons and Knights — it’s all in Phil Rothfield’s wrap of weekend sport.

Greg Inglis of Souths celebrates a try with Dylan Walker and Chris McQueen during the South Sydney Rabbitohs v Newcastle Knights NRL game at ANZ Stadium. pic Mark Evans

FROM the rising Rabbits and Ben Hunt to the failing Drgaons and Knights — it’s all in Phil Rothfield’s wrap of weekend sport.

HIGHLIGHT

The re-emergence of the South Sydney Rabbitohs as a major premiership threat to the Broncos, Cowboys and Roosters with a thumping 52-6 victory over the Knights. Bring on the finals because there is nothing separating these four great clubs.

LOWLIGHT

The disgraceful behaviour of the Fifita brothers on Saturday afternoon in Penrith juniors.

WAITING ROOM

Surely the pressure has to be building on struggling coaches Jason Taylor and Rick Stone to retain their jobs next year when people of the calibre of Nathan Brown and Anthony Griffin are waiting for opportunities. It is a credit to Griffin that he left the Broncos in such great shape for Wayne Bennett.

SNORES: Early draw delivers duds

SIN BIN: Taupau attacked deserves action

Josh Dugan feels the toll as the Dragons’ season peters out.

OFF-PEAK SAINTS

In Round 12 I was at Kogarah Oval when St George-Illawarra smashed the Sharks 42-6. That day they looked top-four certainties. The team hasn’t won a game since. Their confidence is shot to bits. This is a classic case of a team that peaked too early.

BIG-GAME HUNT

Without doubt the most improved footballer in the NRL this year is Broncos halfback Ben Hunt. He has gone from a 7/10 player to an 8.5 under the guidance of Wayne Bennett and Kevvy Walters.

SPEED BUMP

At the other end of the halfback scale, it’s no wonder the Newcastle Knights are desperately trying to get rid of No. 7 Tyrone Roberts. He missed SEVEN tackles against the Rabbitohs. All up the Knights missed 42 tackles.

TOMMY SNUB

One of the reasons Geoff Toovey will be sacked by the Manly Sea Eagles is his shabby treatment of boom winger Tom Trbojevic, who was inexplicably dropped from the NRL team a fortnight ago. The local junior scored four tries against the Warriors in Holden Cup on Saturday.

ARL Commission Chariman John Grant has his sights set on a Moore Park stadium.

MOORE IS LESS FOR WEST FANS

ARL Commission chairman John Grant has once again shown his true colours.

To hell with the footy fans in Sydney’s west, the NRL supremo wants to build a new 65,000-seat stadium in Moore Park. And what would this achieve?

For starters 20,000 fans would be locked out of State of Origin every year because of the smaller venue. Ticket prices would have to be increased to maintain the bottom line.

Sydney’s two biggest crowd and membership clubs, the Rabbitohs and the Bulldogs, would be forced to abandon their fans and their home ground.

Grant’s support for Allianz shows he couldn’t give a stuff about heartland supporters.

There is an obvious solution to Sydney’s big stadium dilemma, remembering we have $600 million to spend.

ANZ should get $200 million to upgrade and turn the venue into a rectangle to get fans closer to the action. Allianz and Pirtek Stadium should get $200 million each as well for desperately needed facility improvements.

Originally published as Phil Rothfield’s highlights, lowlights and talking points from bumper weekend of sport