The Weekend Hangover is back with all the drama and controversy from round 13 of the 2019 NRL season.
This week, there's news on Josh McGuire's eye-gouge incident, Kalyn Ponga's future and a former Knight hitting out at an ex-employee.
Set your watch for 2pm Tuesday: Grubby act to be explained
Graham Annesley has had a fairly comfortable ride since his weekly media sessions began at the start of the year.
But that could all change on Tuesday when Annesley is asked about the decision to fine and not suspend Josh McGuire for an eye gouge on Manly’s Dylan Walker.
It’s the second time McGuire has been pinged for the same grubby act this season, but both times he has escaped with a fine.
Canberra forward Hudson Young was not so fortunate. He was outed for five games for the same offence and must be wondering what the hell is going on.
Given his prior offences, McGuire was looking at a long stretch on the sideline that would have rubbed him out of the Origin series.
NSW supporters certainly would not have missed a player they considered a grub and, if you believe the whispers, some Queensland players are not exactly big McGuire fans.
While they admire his toughness and commitment, they don’t really cop him as a bloke.
His verbal unload on Cody Walker after the Blues five-eighth was hooked said a lot about the bloke.
Annesley’s explanation as to why the match review committee decided not to suspend McGuire will be intriguing.
It’s a huge risk but could this ploy help Knights keep Ponga?
Newcastle have been advised to sit on their hands and not be bullied or panicked into extending or upgrading Kalyn Ponga’s contract.
NSW coach Brad Fittler, whose job it is to stop Ponga at Origin level, applauded the Knights for stealing the brilliant fullback away from North Queensland and signing him to a four-year deal.
Freddy says the club should not be rushed into outlaying more money just because their investment is starting to pay off.
“The Knights took the punt. They made a great decision,” Fittler said.
“They put a lot of confidence in a young bloke and saw things we all thought might have been there and had a closer look.
“But when you’re a club and you make a good business decision, you end up losing because the manager’s knocking on your door saying ‘raise him or I’m taking him somewhere else’.”
Fittler doesn’t believe it is Ponga doing the pushing.
“His manager (Wade Rushton) might be knocking on the door but I don’t think he (Ponga) is,” Fittler said.
“He looks too cool to be worried about money.
“He’s going to make oodles of money. He is the most promotable person in our game.
“It will work itself out.”
Of course, if the brilliant fullback Ponga wants to sit down and chat about staying beyond 2021, then the Knights will be all ears.
Why fans are blowing up about these guys commentating their team’s game
The Fox commentary team covering the Cowboys-Sea Eagles clash copped it from Manly fans for allegedly favouring the home side during a tight contest in Townsville on Saturday night.
Kev Walters, Justin Hodges and Brent Tate gave the commentary a particular Queensland bent in the eyes of Manly followers.
But what really infuriated Manly fans was Justin Hodges referring to their team as the Seagulls instead of Sea Eagles.
That’s a massive no-no.
Homebush traffic almost forces a change in commentary
Shoppers looking to pick up a cheap suit (is there any other kind?) from Tarocash or a Sleepmaker chiropractic mattress (with free delivery) almost caused a massive problem for Fox Sports’ rugby league team on Monday.
Heavy public holiday traffic into a Direct Factory Outlet near ANZ Stadium held up chief caller Warren Smith.
Smith made it to the ground on time to call the action in the Dogs-Dragons clash but cut it a lot finer than he would have liked.
“A 15-minute trip took me one hour. It was the old Homebush bottleneck,” Smith said.