It’s been a rather controversial past two weeks for the game to say the least.
First there was the Bulldogs’ Mad Monday antics being a focal point in the media, attracting the usual annual debate over end-of-season festivities by fans of all codes. Then came the Rabbitohs video chat scandal creating its fair share of headlines in the past two days.
In both of these stories, there is one man who has found himself in the middle – as both the chief editor who gave these articles the green light, and chronologically with a controversy of his own.
Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield, sports journalist for the Daily Telegraph, regular panel member on Fox League’s Controversy Corner, and spearhead of the media tyranny against certain Canterbury players’ actions at their end of season function, recently had a photograph of himself with a stripper on his lap at a children’s cancer charity function posted online.
There are questions to be asked of the appropriateness of the appearance of sexual entertainers at a function aiming to raise money to support children with cancer, but that’s not really an issue relevant to the sport. The main concern was the hypocrisy of Buzz spending an entire week bagging the Bulldogs for innapropriate behaviour at a private function, only for this photograph of himself in a similar situation to be posted.
I guarantee most of the viewers reading this article were probably not aware of this at all. There was no coverage of the story on any major news platforms and the reply from Buzz to fans’ claims of hypocrisy just after his week-long tirade was ultimately very dismissive.
So given the circumstances, why wasn’t this a big deal?
The very next day, media outlets began reporting on a video chat scandal involving several Rabbitohs players. This dated back to May and was kept quiet by the victim, until the club did not adequately respond to her claims and she took them to the media as of August 31st, according to her email logs.
The Rabbits’ success on the field has belied controversies behind the scenes. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
That’s an almost two-week period between her reporting the incident to the media and the story actually breaking – considering she had all the screenshots and chat logs to verify what had actually happened, surely it would hit the presses earlier on?
If you’ve read the title of the article it’s pretty obvious what has happened here. The media were also of the belief that while the story was verifiable – it was not worth their time, and the news coming out the day after the article on Rothfield dropped seems a little too coincidental.
In addition to this, using another piece bagging players over the events of their private lives to draw attention away from events in his own private life. Buzz’s previously very active Twitter account has also been MIA since the photograph “leaked”.
But it’s not the fact that Burgess and co were thrown under the bus just to divert attention from Buzz that should concern you. What should concern you is the control the media have over what gets published and when it gets published.
This South Sydney scandal is a story that by all means may not have been published should the diversion not been needed. What else is getting swept under the rug? How long are the media sitting on stories just to release them as they please when we should be getting this news right away?
This media control is an unfortunate aspect of our game and sport in general. But as the consumers who ultimately pay the journalists’ wages with clicks and buying papers, we can choose not to support the sensationalised stories and let the crisis merchants win and control what we hear.
Duecer
Guest
Shakespeare never wrote that. It was Thomas Gray, decades before Shakespeare was born. There's no doubt Rothfield is a hypocrite, but does that lessen indiscretions he has reported on?
Justin Kearney
Roar Rookie
As the bard once wrote ‘Ignorance is bliss. It is easy to be wise!’.
Peter
Guest
So are you saying if you are on a low income then it doesn’t get reported but if you are on a high income it does. That’s ludicrous.
Jeffrey Dun
Roar Rookie
Those commenting on here know more that me. I don't read the Telegraph and I cancelled my subscription to Fox last year, when their NRL programs became more and more like a television version of the Telegraph. The only reason I know that something is afoot is because of the little video on the Roar (which I have prevented from playing) that says "Sam Burgess fronts the media but refuses to answer questions on sexting scandal". I haven't got a clue what that means, and I'm not inclined to find out. Meanwhile, I float through the semis in blissful ignorance.
DerekMong
Roar Rookie
I stopped buying papers and canx Fox many moons ago. Gave up on the Footy show as well. I find it very telling that all the 'expert' panels on all the shows etc always have journo's now. Since when did they have the best interest of the game. They have to get clicks or sell papers and the sooner the NRL reminds Fox and Nine they should be supporting league rather than always having the blokes who's only interest is their own/overlords.
Nathan
Guest
Rothfield is nothing but a gossip columnist. He is a disgrace to the name of NRL and is lower than the paparazzi chasing a photo at a celebrity crash scene.
Donna
Guest
Agree
Donna
Guest
He is a total grub , He actually touched the stripper , Sam never touched the woman on the phone , and it was consensual . She only had to hit block and delete ( it’s not hard really ) He chooses what and when we see it in the media , the grub . Bring out your dirty pic you slimy thing . They should be reporting on football There are plenty of us fans who actually want to hear about the game ffs Not some trumped up money grabbing bullshit Most chicks have been sent a dp at some point in time , easy fix Block / Delete Really disappointed Bunny supporter
Max kurth
Guest
The Telegraph is the most corrupt media outlet, news lmtd has destroyed the lives and careers of many nrl players , they love the bad news, Kent, Hooper, Rothfield, are the worst thing in the game like honestly their opinions are what brings the game down.. Here’s a thought - report on positives like charity work and stuff like that, the bulldogs mad Monday, this Souths scandal is storm in a tea cup and on the eve of finals once again the media vendetta is out to ruin it all. Nrl is so corrupt also, what happened to the sharks salary cap? What happened to the broncos salary cap regarding Andrew gee? Sorry they are owned by news lmtd literally The crowd numbers are the least of their worries they need consistency.
Cathar Treize
Roar Guru
Looks like Newsltd lackeys Kent & Rothfield backtracking on the Burgess nude photos, a lawsuit coming up? Not so much the woman involved was deeply hurt by the players behaviour but more so it was consensual & the media haven't done their due diligence & her releasing the photos to the media is actually criminal, classified as revenge porn possibly!?
C.A
Guest
The solution is simple Abandon Foxtel and all News Ltd publications Make them pay for their corruption !
Dave
Guest
Let’s not also forget buzz taking money from Eddie Hayson! That’s conveniently been forgotten as well.
john
Guest
Young men exposing themselves to ladies over the internet? My gawd, whatever will these young lads playing NRL invent next?
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Who is on more money - Asipeli Fine or Buzz Rothfield? Who's name is more recognizable? Asipeli Fine or Phil Rothfield? Who is more high profile in their chosen career? Fine or Rothfield? How many people know Fine dislocated his hip last week playing for the Bulldogs? Oh right nobody... wonder why...?
Adam
Roar Guru
I guess the thing to remember is that no kids are really running around pretending to be Buzz Rothfield nor do they see him in the street and ask for his autograph.And that's the point, sure the spotlight on players can shine a little bright. But it's such a position of privilege that they enjoy they have some responsibility to behave themselves. The players, coaches, administrators and media advisers know that this kind of content will be printed so why put yourselves in that position?
Larry1950
Guest
Why Rupert Murdoch as always, silly question.
Con Scortis
Roar Guru
Hi Justin, I agree with you. I don't like Rothfield or the Terrorgraph and think they are both hypocrites, but that doesn't absolve all players of responsibility when they behave badly. If you're a player and want to stay out of the papers, then don't expose your willy to a complete stranger. I'd prefer that this stuff not be published (especially when my club is involved), but ultimately the newspapers WILL publish it, but if you stay out of trouble then they'll have nothing bad to publish in teh first place. Also, I would have thought that if you're on a contract of $500,000 plus, then you would be doing everything you can to stay out of trouble, as that's a lot of income to jeopardise.
Remo Shankar
Roar Pro
'Burgess has long standing dirt on Buzz' Any clue to what this is ?
ferret
Guest
Just don't click on their articles. As a punter that's all we can do. If you don't like the gossip which passes as sports journalism these days then simply don't click. With the wonders of the interwebz media companies now know precisely which articles are being read. If you don't like Buzz (or Kent or Hooper etc etc) then don't click. Concerning the behaviour of journos - I think they're fair game. They've now become "media personalities" with high profile shows. They love to hear themselves talk about a game that most have little to no experience of (at least at NRL level). While they're reporting on the game then fine but when it degenerates into gossip then they're hypocrisy is a legitimate target.
RandyM
Guest
then his filthy antics and drinking problems should be put out on display for all to see.