Monday Buzz: Phil Rothfield reveals his highlights and lowlights from Round 6

A young Eels fan from Griffith and her father were left disappointed by Parramatta’s lack of communication after their seven-hour trip to attend last weekend’s match against the Cowboys.

Mal Meninga. Picture: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images

Phil Rothfield reveals his round 6 highlights and lowlights, unmasking the multi-millionaire Souths tragic who approached Mal Meninga to join the club as a caretaker coach.

HIGHLIGHT

The phenomenal depth of fullbacks in the NRL. Joey Manu, Kalyn Ponga, James Tedesco, Dylan Edwards, Ryan Papenhuyzen, Reece Walsh, Tom Trbojevic, Charnze Nicol-Klokstad, Clint Gutherson, Scott Drinkwater, Jahream Bula, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Latrell Mitchell. And then along come a couple of outstanding youngsters – Jye Gray at Souths and Chevy Stuart at the Raiders. In nearly 50 years covering the game I have never seen anything like it.

LOWLIGHT

The Parramatta Eels are under fire again for lack of fan interaction. A member, Matt Butcher from Griffith and his eight-year-old daughter Ella made the seven-hour trip on Saturday for the Cowboys game. Petrol, accommodation, tickets and meals set them back $800.

The member sent me an email last week which I passed onto the club. All they wanted was an opportunity for a couple of autographs and selfies.

I forwarded the email to Josh Drayton, the Eels’ boss of communications. He told me he would contact the family … but didn’t. On Sunday morning they travelled home understandably disappointed.

Matt and Ella Butcher, Eels fans from Griffith.

LOWLIGHT II

Golden point in New Zealand on Saturday afternoon. Hit-up, hit-up, hit-up, hit-up, hit-up and kick. Can we please introduce golden try to encourage some ball movement.

SHOOSH

We can now reveal the identity of the man who approached Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga to replace Jason Demetriou at the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

He is multi-millionaire Souths tragic Steve Nasteski – better known in footy circles as The Art Dealer — who has a history of financially supporting the club’s recruitment. He is the man who tried to get Semi Radradra to the club in 2019, and was part of a push to sign Dominic Young.

The Rabbitohs are insisting they had no knowledge of his approach.

Businessman Steve Nasteski.

Mal Meninga. Picture: NRL Imagery

SPOTTED

Roosters chairman Nick Politis at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday afternoon watching Harold Matthews junior reps.

360 VIEW

Catch you on NRL 360 on Fox League at 6.30pm Monday with Braith Anasta, Paul Kent and Gorden Tallis to discuss another big weekend of rugby league.

Originally published as Monday Buzz: Phil Rothfield reveals his highlights and lowlights from Round 6