The majority of rugby league fans are left with a sour taste in their mouth after trying to reason with a particularly controversial figure of our game. The man is Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield and, according to him – and I quote – “rugby league is now a s*** game”.
It prompted chief executive of the NRL Todd Greenberg to call upon the true fans of the sport to #TalkTheGameUp, which saw a host of supporters and high-profile current and former players such as Cameron Smith and Corey Parker stand in support.
Recently, the rugby league community has descended into fierce debate over the refereeing crackdown. The majority have backed the decision and recognise it as pivotal to the future success of our sport. Rothfield, however, has been a critic of the move and has consistently focused on how this is ruining the game.
In fact, in a statement released last night, he revealed that the penalty blitz was the primary reason for his stunning labelling of rugby league as “shit”.
In the statement, Buzz expressed his regret in what he wrote. It was refreshing and I give him credit for having the courage to come out and admit that. Yet, one can only hope that he and the media in general can act upon this claim. Too often I visit the Tele and read headlines such as “Referees steal the show in Good Friday thriller.”
I understand – controversy sells. However, surely there are enough positive stories that supporters would actually like to read about?
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The frantic finish of the South Sydney versus Canterbury game in question was enough in itself to entice readers without unnecessarily centring on the match officials. What about the feel-good story of the year – the rise of the previously underperforming Wests Tigers and New Zealand Warriors? In particular, the rapid improvement of both Luke Brooks and Benji Marshall has been a joy to witness.
Even Buzz himself last night published an article headlined “Maloney shaping as buy of the year”. More of this from such influential journalists as Rothfield will repair the tiring stream of referee blaming and negativity.
In Friday night’s clash between the Dragons and Sharks, ten tries were scored, even though 23 penalties were blown. It is possible to entertain with the officiating restriction.
Criticism can be important in stimulating change. Yet it is important to know the difference between criticism that is beneficial and that which is counter-productive.
It is a lesson that Buzz learnt this weekend and he will be a better journalist for it.
Remo Shankar
Roar Pro
A lot of these guys are way past their use by date. Rothfield is a disgrace and his mate Paul Kent isn't much better. There's no substance to what they write or say. I'll give you an example. On the weekend Paul Kent was asked on Triple M if he thought James Roberts was a chance for the NSW State of Origin team. Kent answered that if Fittler was genuine about changing the character of the NSW team that he should leave players like Roberts, who have a reputation for poor behaviour related to booze, out of the team. Kent was then asked who he thought should play in the centres. He answered Dugan! These guys have got no idea about what's coming out of their mouths. The most frustrating thing was the moron on Triple M who asked the question, didn't even pick up on the stupidity and hypocrisy of Kent's answer. These are our Rugby League media experts. What a joke!
uglykiwi
Roar Pro
Im with you!! just look at Slater milking penalties and getting players sent to the bin; AN ABSOLUTE DISGRACE.. Why doesnt he stamp this out and give 10 in the bin to Slater instead............ Hes making a fool out of himself and is legacy will be tarnished. but as he plays for the Storm..... Greenberg will do nothing!
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Agree Big Daddy Gibson and Frilingos were a master class above the current lot of so called journalists.They had an inherent quality about their work. It confirms the so called standard of today's sport's journalism in NSW.D grade. Rothfield admitted negative stories on rugby league sell newspapers and he is out to promote sales as a gossip columnist. The trouble is he accentuates the negatives ,for example providing front page photos of a drunk NRL player wandering along the Cronulla Mall.And happens to bring up incidents like this years later. This same organisation had a journalist (no names) caught D,U.I on two occasions,didn't create a ripple in their paper. A situation where peoples lives were actually put at risk.I suggest a tad more concerning than a player who imbibed a wee too much. Of course the gent himself was hauled into News admin, regarding alleged "associations" with racing identities. I notice on NRL 360 both Rothfield and Kent noted, we are not here to promote rugby league ,and only provide good news stories',we are here to help the game to show the administration where they get it wrong.Funny that the bad news stories make the headlines, any good new stories are usually shuffled away mid paper. He spent the best part of last year bagging the NRL for poor crowds,Tv artings etc.This year the situation to date has been reversed.One could send out a search party and find little on such an improvement in his rag. The only time I have seen the Telegraph provide a front page good news story,was Hodgkinson escorting that terminally ill young lady to a school dance. Rothfield has been well and truly hammered for his recent comments, and for him to suggest 50% of rl fans agree with him, shows exactly how out of touch he is with the code's fans. The irony of it all, if they're out to help the game, why did their media organisation nearly kill the game off ,with their SL intrusion.Nothing to see here is the News approach. The crackdown on the 10m is in reality an enforcement of the rules in place, get used to it Buzz.
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
Add to that refs calling last as if players can't count themselves. I don't see it as an issue though and I mean if anything it means there will be less penalties in the game given that most players drop off and if they don't, they have no way to argue against it.
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
I'm pretty sure Buzz said/tweeted that he was frustrated after the Sharks game, hence his outburst.
Big Daddy
Guest
It's times like this when you miss guys like Mike Gibson and Peter Frilingos.
damo
Guest
While we're on a roll let's deal with another issue in the game- referees & the term "game management". Maybe I haven't been listening properly but when I heard it recently I couldn't believe that it was about the refs & not a teams' half-back. I'm not prone to 'pet hates' but it definitely grinds my gears: refs calling players by their names, refs calling players to stay on-side at kick-offs, drop-outs etc, to stay out of "it" (it being hands in the ruck etc) basically doing the job of the team captain & senior players in controlling the discipline or lack thereof within their team. Watch the play, blow the whistle when there's a penalty, by all means talk to the captain & be communicative but 'game management' ?!? Leave that to the coach & his play-makers please.
Nat
Roar Guru
And this is game, he was running a State. Rivers of gold coming from the mining industry and he left it broke.
Dexter The Hamster
Guest
Please. You are going to stop supporting the NRL over that?? Its a pretty simple (and kinda funny) slip up. If anything it shows a lack of knowledge of European football more than anything else, which is hardly a selection criteria for the NRL board.
Dexter The Hamster
Guest
Feel your post was written by a 7 year old...... Don't let the door hit you in the backside on the way out of RL mate. You wont be missed.
Dexter The Hamster
Guest
Bearfax, can you give me a list of his double standards, and how that has taken the game backwards?? One thing that I will gamble my house on is this: Whoever takes over as CEO of the NRL will be copping this same criticism within 2 years of taking over. No matter how good they are, no matter what they do, regardless of the facts at hand. No other sport eats itself the way rugby league does.....
Dexter The Hamster
Guest
To be fair, if you watch NRL 360 he has pretty much beat this drum all season. To suggest he is just lashing out in an unprofessional manner because the sharks lost is a bit rich. I disagree with most of what he says (esp on this current crackdown) but lets not muddy the waters with accusations of bias.
John
Guest
Negativity of any kind is usually better click-bait than positive stuff, you don't need to be paid by the competition to spread negativity when your industry pays for it already.
Big Daddy
Guest
I don't mind having people with good business skills and public relations acumen but this bloke is surely stretching the elastic.
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
It is hilariously concerning Big Daddy.
Roberto
Guest
Good luck mate
Big Daddy
Guest
I am not sure about Greenberg but how can you support the NRL or believe anything Beattie says after looking at that latest clip (above).
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
I hope you understood that my article served to highlight the need for the game to focus on good stories such as these?
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
There are definitely other news sources Marco, as I said I rate Big League very highly for their quality of stories and research. However, journos like Buzz are given a higher platform and more exposure to air their views, hence my worries.
Penrith Punter
Roar Guru
Thanks Nat, agree with everything you have said in reply. Just saw Peter Beattie's gaffe at the Comm Games and boy is that embarrassing. RandyM - I agree it was a bizarre choice. Can't defend it in any real shape or form.