NRL 25: Watch Buzz and Bulldog’s fiery debate as the pair name their Teams of the Century so far

Dean ‘Bulldog’ Ritchie has poked fun at Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield over his controversial decision to leave Immortal Andrew Johns from his Team of the Century so far. WATCH THE VIDEO AND PICK YOUR TEAM.

They are the two controversial omissions that ignited one of rugby league’s great pub debates.

Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield, who named his greatest NRL side of the past 25 years, and his old sparring partner, Dean ‘Bulldog’ Ritchie, butted heads over their best 17s of the 21st century.

The pair had different selections in 10 positions, with the most controversial picks coming in the halves and on the wing.

In the state vs state stakes, Buzz managed to find room for six Maroons in his 17, while Bulldog loaded his side with 10 Blues.

Watch Buzz and Bulldog go head-to-head over the NRL’s Team of the Century so far in the player below.

BUZZ V BULLDOG: THE GREAT ‘NRL 25’ DEBATE

Buzz: OK, what do you think of the side? I know you’re going to get stuck into me over picking Nathan Cleary as halfback ahead of Joey and JT but I base it on the four straight premierships. Plus his final 20 minutes of the 2023 grand final was the best I’ve seen in a decider.

Bulldog: I have not seen a better halfback than Andrew Johns. He was a dead-set freak. Joey could do anything and everything on a football field. He was wonderfully gifted. As good as Nathan is, I still cannot place him ahead of Andrew Johns. Sorry, Buzz.

Buzz: Over Joey’s entire career I’d agree, but my team is the last 25 years. Anyway, at least I found a spot for Johnathan Thurston on the bench. He did win four Dally M Medals, a premiership and all those consecutive Origins under Mal.

Bulldog: If I picked JT I’d have to omit either Joey or Cleary. You haven’t got Joey in your 17. Please retire.

Buzz: You don’t understand the concept. It’s from 2000 onwards. I argued at a meeting of Immortals judges for Joey to become the eighth. There were some who disagreed because of his off-field crap. I thought he was a better player before 2000.



Bulldog: So he’s good enough to be an Immortal but not in the team.

Buzz: Can we move on. Lockyer vs. Fittler. You could pick either.

Bulldog: Fittler had such power, my goodness he could tear a team to shreds. Throw in that magic sidestep and I have Freddy ahead of Lockyer. Fittler’s physicality set him apart from Lockyer.

Buzz: Lockyer will be an Immortal, Freddy, as much as he was a colossal player, won’t be. Anyway, what’s your team?

Bulldog: Well we’re different in 10 positions. What a surprise. I’ve got Brian To’o and Daniel Tupou on the wings, my halves are Freddy and Joey, Isaah Yeo at lock, I’m starting with Paul Gallen and I can’t go past James Fisher-Harris at prop. I’ve put Cleary on the bench, alongside Josh Papali’i and Craig Fitzgibbon.

Buzz: I’ve always said you’re a bad judge.

Bulldog: I’m a bad judge … please! My team would beat yours by 10-12 points. There’s something else I want to raise … how could you possibly pick Sonny Bill Williams given the way he walked out on our game mid-contract for union.

Buzz: We’re not judging this on table manners. It was disgraceful what he did but SBW was a freak player. A powerhouse, skilful, the offloads, the big hits, tough. And in his second stint in league he brought a great culture to the Roosters.

Bulldog: What makes your selection even more galling is that you’ve relegated your so-called mate and Sharks legend to the bench. Are you aware Gallen played 348 NRL games?

Buzz: If I pick Gal I’m biased towards the Sharks. I can’t win.

Bulldog: For goodness sake Buzz, we’re picking the best players.

Buzz: We’ll move on.

Bulldog: I’ve also got an issue with Jason Taumalolo.

Buzz: Sorry for picking the first $10 million, 10-year player.

Bulldog: It’s not about contracts or pay packets. I can’t recall the last time he strung together a series of strong performances.

Buzz: This isn’t about last season or the year before. At his best he was an unstoppable force and at one stage the best player in the NRL. You know he was.

Do either of these stars make your greatest 17?

Buzz: Gosh the wingers were hard. I went Brett Morris and Alex Johnston, strictly on his extraordinary try-scoring strike rate. He’s getting so close to Ken Irvine’s all-time record.

Bulldog: Disagree again. I’ve gone Brian To’o and Daniel Tupou. To’o averages 200 run metres per game and Tupou has arguably been the game’s most consistent winger for over a decade.

Buzz: There’s only two selections that were easy – Storm’s Billy Slater at fullback and Cameron Smith at hooker. I reckon you could ask a million punters to pick their teams and they’d all go the same way.

Bulldog: No argument here. Slater pips Graham Eadie as the greatest fullback I have ever seen. Billy the Kid was something special. Smith was pure genius.

Buzz: Thank you, Dennis, it’s taken half an hour for you to come to your senses.

Originally published as NRL 25: Watch Buzz and Bulldog’s fiery debate as the pair name their Teams of the Century so far