Buzz’s highlights, lowlights: Sharks to blow Reynolds deal; referees in bizarre rotation
The glaring lack of football knowledge in Cronulla’s organisation is set to cost them one of the game’s best playmaker. BUZZ’S HIGHLIGHTS, LOWLIGHTS
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Phil Rothfield runs the rule over the weekend’s highlights and lowlight’s in sport’s best gossip column, Monday Buzz.
Sharks set to blow Reynolds deal
Cronulla Sharks are now in danger of missing out on the signature of South Sydney Rabbitohs playmaker Adam Reynolds.
And again it comes back to the lack of football knowledge inside the organisation.
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The Sharks’ offer to Reynolds is worth less money than they are already paying Josh Dugan and Andrew Fifita.
We’re told Cronulla chief executive Dino Mezzatesta will not go over $750,000 for the first season for Reynolds but even less for the following two years. Dugan and Fifita are on more than $800,000 a season.
Meanwhile, the Broncos are poised to offer Reynolds $3.2 million over four years.
Staggs to meet with Roberts after slur
Brisbane Broncos star Kotoni Staggs will meet with Ian Roberts to learn about inclusion as part of an education program he must complete after being fined for making a homophobic slur towards a fan.
Staggs received a $10,000 fine for making the slur after the fan asked for a photo at a pub in Dubbo at the end of last year. The sanction included completing an education program.
Part of that program will be to meet with Roberts, the first professional rugby league player to come out as gay.
Roberts assists the NRL with educating players about inclusion. NRL CEO Andrew Abdo has made education and rehabilitation a compulsory component of sanctions since he took the top job.
HIGHLIGHT
An amazing round of football for wingers — Josh Addo-Carr’s six tries for the Storm and the miraculous Kyle Feldt try in the opening minutes for the Cowboys against the Broncos. It was ridiculously skilful to touch down from an impossible position.
LOWLIGHT
Another horrible performance from the Cronulla Sharks, flogged 48-nil by Penrith. Lucky the Panthers were slightly below their best because it could have been 60. It’s hard to believe this is the same club that was once very proudly renowned for its resolve and tenacity in defence.
HADLEY’S TEARS
Matty Johns has done a highly emotional face-to-face interview with 2GB broadcaster Ray Hadley to be screened on Fox Sports on Wednesday night which will include the more colourful and controversial moments from his career. We’re also told Hadley gets teary as he discusses the more difficult issues he has encountered, including the tragic death of former colleague Peter Jackson after suffering from depression.
SHOOSH
Support is growing in the right areas for Panthers five-eighth Jarome Luai to join Nathan Cleary in the NSW Blues halves this year ahead of Canberra star and out-of-form Dally M Medallist Jack Wighton. Luai v Cameron Munster in Origin would be a ripper of a contest.
SHOOSH
Roosters coach Trent Robinson labelled match officials “incompetent” after Friday night’s foul-play fiasco at Bankwest Stadium. Even though he was right, the NRL’s reaction regarding a possible fine will be interesting because the likes of Ricky Stuart have been fined in the past for similar comments.
RESTING REFS
The NRL once had its top-rated referees handling the best games. Not anymore. New boss Jared ‘Horse’ Maxwell has introduced a rotation system. It meant the game’s number one whistleblower Gerard Sutton had the weekend off and was sitting at home while all the drama was unfolding in the Eels v Roosters blockbuster. This system needs to be scrapped now.
SPOTTED
Gus Gould has shut down his Twitter account yet again. You search for @philgould15 and it now says: ‘This account doesn’t exist’.
SPOTTED
A couple of old Manly Sea Eagles superstars Anthony Watmough and Brett Stewart at the Brookvale Hotel before Sunday’s game against the Warriors.
TACKLE SHY
If the Cowboys can fix their defence they are a huge chance of making the finals. Despite beating the Broncos they missed 41 tackles and have conceded an average of 28 points a game this year.
HOT TICKETS
Tickets are going gangbusters for Magic Round in Brisbane next weekend with crowds of more than 40,000 expected on all three days.
BAD BOY BOWMAN
The NRL is still investigating former Cowboys player Paul Bowman. The former centre is now a Cowboys trainer and is being investigated for allegedly swearing at touch judges during the club’s Round 7 clash with the Raiders. There are claims Bowman swore at the touch judges in both halves. Bowman is facing a heavy fine if found to have abused the match officials, for which the NRL has a zero-tolerance policy.
360 VIEW
Catch you Monday on NRL 360 on Fox League at 6.30pm with Ben Ikin, Paul Kent and James Hooper to chat about another huge weekend of rugby league action.
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