Monday Buzz: Phil Rothfield’s highlights, lowlights | Channel 9 caller’s NRLW late show
The integrity of the NRL’s scheduling was debatable all year, but now the level of unfairness has carried over to finals with the Sharks’ stadium snub. BUZZ ROTHFIELD reveals his highs and lows from the week in sport.
We bang on all year about the NRL premiership lacking integrity.
Some teams play top eight sides twice. Some teams play the bottom eight teams twice.
The draw/TV schedule means the best sides don’t always finish in the top eight.
Some teams get more five-day turnarounds than others.
Now we have to put up with the same level of unfairness in the finals.
Only some of the top four sides in the competition are guaranteed a home final if they lose in the first week of the finals.
The Roosters got belted by the Panthers and get to play at home at Allianz Stadium.
If Melbourne had lost on Saturday they would have played at home in week two.
The Cronulla Sharks get belted by Melbourne Storm but can’t play at home.
They don’t even get a choice of venue for week two against the Cowboys. It’s wrong.
As chairman Steve Mace said: “We’re paying the penalty for being in a safe Liberal seat where politicians don’t want to spend money.
“Penrith is getting a $300 million stadium because it’s a swing seat.
“We’ve earned our right to host a home final and we’re playing against an out-of-town club.
“Our supporters don’t deserve to be treated like this.”
CHANNEL 9 COMMENTATOR’S NRLW LATE SHOW
Footy caller Matt Thompson arrived late to call an NRLW game on Saturday from the network’s studios.
It was left to the talented host Emma Lawrence to call the first seven minutes of the Broncos-Sharks game before Thompson arrived, claiming he had been held up in traffic.
He had even phoned the studios, asking if the game could be delayed.
Thompson was overlooked for the men’s Saturday games on Nine with Brenton Speed covering the match out of Melbourne and Peter Psaltis out of Townsville.
He sent me this text message on Sunday afternoon.
“Hi Buzz. I was one of the thousands that were caught in the serious M4 accident yesterday (Saturday). You’d have seen on the news it closed most of the lanes. I sat in the same spot for close to an hour.
“Luckily our wonderfully talented ladies, Emma, Allana and Ruan covered the first five mins seamlessly! First time in my career I’ve been late for a game and unsurprisingly it’s due to Sydney traffic!”
I put it to Thompson that senior Nine figures were angry that he hadn’t allowed for the traffic chaos.
“They wouldn’t have been as cranky as I was! But sadly out of our control. Thanks for the text and enjoy the game today.”
SINKING SHARKS
Addin Fonua-Blake can’t arrive at the Cronulla Sharks quick enough.
You rarely see an NRL forward pack make as few metres as the Cronulla Sharks in Melbourne on Saturday.
Edge forward Teig Wilton topped the count with 64 metres.
Storm played almost perfectly (completing 44 of 46 sets) to starve the Sharks of possession.
But they still lacked middle field energy and oomph.
Their middle forwards had little impact - Toby Rudolf (55 metres) and Oregon Kaufusi (59 metres), Jack Williams (38 metres), Royce Hunt (51 metres) and Tom Hazelton (41 metres).
They will need to show more against the Cowboys next weekend – or it’s season over.
The Storm pack had three forwards make well over 100 metres, thanks to the benefit of more possession. They also won a lopsided penalty count 8-3.
That the Sharks were beaten 37-10 with the lack of possession they had wasn’t as bad as it looked.
HIGHLIGHT
Harry Grant’s performance for the Storm v the Sharks. We’ll never see another Cameron Smith but this guy is the next best thing. He wouldn’t be out of place as the Australian captain in the Kangaroos side to play in the Pacific championships.
LOWLIGHT
Newcastle’s loss to the Cowboys means we don’t get to watch any more of Kalyn Ponga in the finals. What a shame. He is such a freakish talent and surely will be chosen as the Kangaroos fullback for the Pacific Championships after the grand final.
SHOOSH
It can be a worry when footballers get too comfortable and lose their hunger after signing new contracts. Sydney Roosters forwards Terrell May and Spencer Leniu have both lost form since signing extensions earlier in the season.
SHOOSH
Lucky the bunker was on the money in the Cowboys v Knights match in Townsville. Three times referee Todd Smith made wrong calls against the Knights that had to be corrected on the captain’s challenges. How Smith got a start ahead of Adam Gee is bewildering.
SHOOSH
Roosters coach Trent Robinson will more than likely stick with wingers Dominic Young and Daniel Tupou next weekend. Surely Mark Nawaqanitawase would be a better option.
SHOOSH
I worry sometimes about the Newcastle Knights. This club has been trying to offload hooker Jayden Brailey for some time, ignoring the fact he came back this year from an ACL and naturally took time to recapture his best form. He has been outstanding in recent weeks and should be getting an extension, not being shown the door.
SPOTTED
Sharks chairman Steve Mace and billionaire board member Morry Waked in business class on a flight to Melbourne on Saturday while hard-working CEO Dino Mezzatesta sat with the punters in economy. Mace and Waked always pay for their own airfares.
360 VIEW
Catch you on NRL 360 on Fox League at 6.30pm with Braith Anasta, Gordie Tallis and Brent Read to discuss all the major issues out of week one of the finals series.
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