Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield and Robert ‘Crash’ Craddock talk NRL grand final: Phil Gould’s Penrith legacy, Jahrome Hughes, Nathan Cleary and more

Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield and Robert ‘Crash’ Craddock are two of rugby league’s great minds and ahead of the NRL grand final have sat down to discuss everything from Phil Gould’s Panthers legacy, Melbourne’s formula for success, grand final tips and much more.

Crash: Buzz, I’m so glad we’re doing this because it’s struck me that if Penrith win four in a row it’s time to start a push for a statue.

Buzz: For who Crash … the Cleary’s, Brandy Alexander or Roycey Simmons?

Crash: No, Gus Gould. Right outside Penrith Stadium. The big fella. Let’s be fair. I know he’s with the Bulldogs now but he’s the man who planted the seeds at Penrith, who watered the saplings and grew the dynasty, who changed the course of a club treading water. It’s the very least he deserves.

Buzz: That’ll do me Crash. You’re talking about the man who sacked Ivan Cleary in 2015 because he thought he was tired. Gus signed Anthony Griffin, extended his contract, then sacked him. The old chairman Dave O’Neill had to go behind his back and bring back Cleary from the Wests Tigers. That ‘tired’ coach is coaching his fifth straight grand final.

Crash: C’mon Buzz, he deserves some credit. I actually had this idea where you know how the Olympic medals in Paris had some metal from the Eiffel Tower? A bronze statue of Gus could have some of your old one and two cent pieces from your top drawer melted down!

Buzz: The best thing Gus did was organise a $10 million loan from James Packer. It was about 2012. Penrith was broke. Absolutely up s. t creek. Gus got the money that kept the club afloat. They could have gone broke. And yes he did a good job setting up the pathways. But they didn’t achieve success – as in premierships – until he left. Having said that, he’s done a sensational job at the Doggies.

What kind of praise does Phil Gould deserve for the current dominance of the Panthers? Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Crash: After all these years it is still hard for Brisbane fans to watch Cameron Munster play for the Storm because he grew up a mad Broncos and Darren Lockyer fan in Rockhampton.

Buzz: Well why didn’t they sign him?

Crash: They looked at him but didn’t like the way he walked like a duck. It was rugby league’s version of that music company manager who knocked back The Beatles because they had “too many rowdy guitars.’’

Buzz: Mate, there’s been a stack of recruitment stuff ups over the years. Where do you want me to start? You know the Roosters once had Norm Provan but offloaded him to St George where he became an Immortal. Johnathan Thurston was rejected by a number of clubs including Storm. They all thought he was too small and skinny.

Crash: Buzz I have enjoyed all the stories on the Storm’s Jahrome Hughes this week but there is one really intriguing issue with him no-one has solved?

Buzz: What’s that?

Crash: He played just one first grade game for the Titans and one for the Cowboys. One game each. Then gone for good. Amazing. A Dally M winner. He slipped through their fingers? Was he a late bloomer?

An image of Jahrome Hughes that no doubt haunts Titans fans. Picture: Adam Head

Not to be forgotten, Jahrome Hughes in Cowboys colours as well. Picture: Mark Evans

Buzz: Definitely a late bloomer, Crash. You know who is most responsible for his game development … Cooper Cronk. Jahrome acknowledged that the other night in his acceptance speech. I had a stink with Cooper a few years back when he was coaching both the Roosters and Storm halves at the same time. He’s now just doing pathways at the Chooks. The thing with Jahrome is his confidence now. Craig Bellamy says it’s taken him a long time just to realise how good he is.

Crash: Buzz, these two teams have made a fool of me. When the two Cleary’s came together I said father-son combinations don’t work unless you are Johnny and Martin Lang and every year I pick the Storm as the team likely to slide down the ladder. They are amazing.

Buzz rates Nathan Cleary among the best the game has ever seen. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Buzz: The Clearys are unbelievable mate. I rate Nathan up there with Joey and JT. FIVE straight grand finals. He’s a freak. And his old man … to win four straight … it’s extraordinary in the salary cap era.

I’m a bit like you with Storm. They’ve lost 11 players from their 2020 grand final squad. I thought when Jesse and Kenny Bromwich left with Felise Kaufusi to the Dolphins – three tough experienced forwards – they might struggle for a couple of years. But they haven’t.

Crash: I take my hat off to a team that can make five grand finals in a row but something needs to happen to make the competition more even.

Buzz: Like what?

Crash: Like a draft. The AFL have had five different premiers in a row because they have a draft. Teams get pulled down and pushed up by the draft. League’s pecking order is too stagnant. The last nine competitions will have been won by just three clubs – it’s unhealthy.

Buzz: You reckon. I think the Roosters are facing a few lean years. And I think other clubs need to be better managed to rise to Storm and Penrith’s levels. We tried to introduce a draft but it was kicked in the courts.

Crash: I have given up trying to work out why the Storm are so good. Would you have one hidden reason?

Buzz: I can give you a few reasons but I don’t know if any of them are ‘hidden’. It’s truly the most wonderful rugby league organisation from the ball boys to the bosses. There’s one thing they do that I absolutely love.

Look into their sheds after a win. They form a huge circle. It’s not just the players. The CEO, the chairman, the physios, medical staff, high performance, assistant coaches, team managers, even commercial staff. Everyone at the club is invited into the inner circle for the team song.

It’s special and it says a lot about the organisation. That it’s not just about 17 footballers. It’s about their culture. It’s about being a club.

Craig Bellamy runs a unique and effective operation at Melbourne. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Crash: That’s interesting.

Buzz: Your mob at the Broncos could learn from them old mate. Actually, a lot of clubs could. By the way, how’s it going up there? The Lions are the AFL premiers. Are they any threat to rugby league or the Broncos and the Dolphins. I’d hate to see Bomber Badel have to start covering aerial ping pong.

Crash: Ha! Pete would find a yarn anywhere. The Lions are a threat of sorts. They are surging and have good years ahead but the Broncos only need to win to placate the masses. Sport’s brutal. I was driving home the other night and I saw a giant billboard advertisement saying “Welcome Madge Maguire’’ and it wasn’t even a week since Kevin Walters lost his job.

Crash: So who are you tipping?

Buzz: I’ll go with Storm mate. One-on-one the two teams on paper almost cancel each other out. Storm however have an edge with Harry Grant v Mitch Kenny. Harry’s a great player. Might be worth a few bucks for the Churchill Medal. They’ve been the best team all year. What about you Crash? Who do you fancy?

Crash: I like the Storm as well because I just sense Munster has one big dice roll left this season. With you and I finally agreeing on something I’d be quite worried if I was the Storm.

Buzz: Agree, we’re long overdue to get one right.

Originally published as Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield and Robert ‘Crash’ Craddock talk NRL grand final: Phil Gould’s Penrith legacy, Jahrome Hughes, Nathan Cleary and more