Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield’s highlights and lowlights: Rabbitoh’s tunnel drama; Broncos spin doctor’s charm offensive

South Sydney firebrand Jai Arrow refused to shake hands with Storm players after the club’s heartbreaking loss - but what he did next really raised eyebrows.

Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield reveals his highlights and lowlights from the week in sport, revealing how Brisbane’s new crisis manager’s fingerprints are starting to appear at the club.

HIGHLIGHT

Alex Johnston’s four tries for the South Sydney Rabbitohs against Storm, leaving the veteran winger just seven tries away from breaking Ken Irvine’s all-time record of 212 tries.

LOWLIGHT

Souths forward Jai Arrow stormed off the field at full-time at Accor Stadium on Saturday night without shaking hands with his Storm opponents. He also kicked over a bench seat before heading up the tunnel. I’m not sure what to make of this.

It’s not good sportsmanship to not shake hands but, then again, we bag players from losing sides when they are seen on TV smiling and laughing.

“It was a bit of a hissy fit, obviously fairly disappointed with the result and I stormed off the field unfortunately. I walked straight into the sheds, grabbed a beer and went home... it’s all you can do after a loss,” Arrow said Sunday night with Matty Johns.

SPOTTED

We broke the story two weeks ago how the Broncos had hired renowned spin doctor Grant ‘Grunter’ Williams. Then Ezra Man suddenly appears in Sunday interviews with all the usual lines: “I have extreme regrets.” “I’ve worked hard to be a better person.” “I’ve accepted my punishment.” However, no amount of spin will take away from the fact he drove unlicensed with drugs in his system and caused an accident that seriously injured a little four-year-old girl. And that he should have copped a 12-month suspension, not nine weeks.

Ezra Mam. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

CAP CLEANOUT

The Canterbury Bulldogs continue to offload players to free up salary cap space. Last week it was Kurtis Morrin, who left to join the Gold Coast Titans. This week it’s former Warriors young gun Zyon Maiu’u, who is being offered to rival clubs – just four months after arriving at Belmore. It was only in February that the Dogs announced his arrival in a press release: “The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are excited to announce the signing of boom youngster Zyon Maiu’u on a two-year deal, effective immediately.”

SPOTTED

Laurie Daley has promised us that each and every NSW State of Origin team would be picked on form. That means South Sydney’s Keaon Koloamatangi has to be rushed into the Blues team for the decider to replace either Max King or Stefano Utoikamanu. Koloamatangi ran the football for 210 metres against Storm on Saturday night. He is the form front-rower in the NRL.

Laurie Daley (R) can’t ignore the form of Keaon Koloamatangi. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

SPOTTED

The Canberra Raiders not only have two byes up their sleeve but also the softest draw of any club in the competition. Over the next six weeks they play St George Illawarra and Newcastle twice, Parramatta once and have a bye.

SPOTTED

Parramatta coach Jason Ryles has raised $30,000 via an auction at an Eels old boys fundraiser by offering an opportunity for two lucky fans to watch a game from his coaching box.

360 VIEW

Catch you on NRL 360 at 6.30pm on Fox League with Braith Anasta, Gorden Tallis and Brent Read to discuss all the major rugby league issues. Special guest on heavy hitters is veteran player agent Steve ‘Chimes’ Gillis.

AXE HANGS OVER HYNES

The Cronulla Sharks are facing a major decision around million-dollar playmaker Nicho Hynes.

A loss to the Broncos at Suncorp Stadium should be enough to convince coach Craig Fitzgibbon that changes have to be made in the halves.

Cronulla has played its best football in the last couple of years with Braydon Trindall and Daniel Atkinson in the halves.

The Sharks have the Storm, Dolphins and Roosters over the next three weeks, three games that will determine their premiership hopes.

In the last month they had three losses – 42-16 to the Roosters (without five Origin players), 40-10 to the Warriors and 34-28 to the Broncos, blowing a 16-point lead.

It is unfair to pick out individuals because the entire team has struggled.

However, Nicho is the million-dollar man.

Nicho Hynes had a terrible second half against Brisbane. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

He’s on the big dollars as a game manager.

With the pay packet comes a responsibility to perform in the big games.

Cronulla had a chance to peg the Broncos back in the dying stages but Hynes put in a poor final-tackle kick that was easily retrieved by the Broncos for a seven-tackle restart.

A couple of minutes later he knocked on under little pressure.

So what does Fitzgibbon do?

It’s no secret that fullback Will Kennedy has also been struggling for the Sharks.

Hynes has played fullback before at Melbourne Storm.

Playing him in the number one jersey next week might be a gamble worth taking.

Originally published as Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield’s highlights and lowlights: Rabbitoh’s tunnel drama; Broncos spin doctor’s charm offensive