Wanted: A TV attack dog with a big contact book and a nose for a good story, willing to front a weekly NRL show built on drama, tension, spite and piss-taking. Apply: Steve Crawley – Fox Sports executive director. The retirement of legendary journalist Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield from The Daily Telegraph after a 50-year career has not only left a huge hole at the newspaper, but also leaves a sizeable gap in Fox Sports’ popular NRL 360 program.
Rothfield, who has been a regular panellist for several years, was often called upon to “open the batting” and set the agenda for the entire show. It might have been a late-breaking story, a left-field opinion or a stoush with the equally combative Gorden Tallis – it all set the tone and became must-watch viewing for the audience.
NRL 360 host Braith Anasta (L) is among those to pay tribute to long-time panelist Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield (R) after his retirement. Pic: Getty/Fox League
The post-show “take-aways” also dominated voracious online platforms sweating on controversy, conflict and comedy to draw eyeballs. Buzz knew which levers to pull and rarely failed to produce a flamethrower, ensuring every edition of 360 was laced with enough spice and drama to lure viewers back week after week.
The journalists’ segment is consistently the highest rating portion of the show. Among the many tributes afforded Rothfield on news of his retirement from all forms of media, NRL 360 host Braith Anasta acknowledged his massive contribution to one of Fox Sports’ flagship programs.
Tributes flow for Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield after retirement
Anasta said: “Buzz is a polarising figure but once I got to know him and worked with him on 360, I realised how hard he works. His ability to get info and stories is second to none. He’s a funny bastard and we enjoy taking the piss out of each other.”
Crawley added: “I haven’t worked with or against a better competitor. Most days I will miss him (but) some nights I’ll sleep better without him around.”
Phil ‘Buzz’ Rothfield (R) is seen here in a heated discussion with league legend Gorden Tallis (L) on NRL 360. Pic: Fox League
Sleep may not come easily for Crawley over the next few weeks as he searches for a suitable replacement. With Rothfield gone and previous “attacks dogs” Paul Kent and James Hooper no longer part of the line-up, it’s understood the preference is to stick with a journalist to ensure the edgy bite remains.
Leading News Corp reporters Dean “Bulldog” Ritchie and Brent Read are already regular panellists and could step up to chief antagonist, with Courier-Mail league writer Peter Badel and Fox Sports commentators Andrew Voss, Warren Smith and Dan Ginnane also mentioned.
Outside of the News organisation, other names being bandied around are radio veteran Ray Hadley, former Canterbury forward and longtime broadcaster Graeme Hughes, multi-media man Peter “Zorba” Peters and the ABC’s Andrew Moore. NRL 360 returns for 2026 on March 2.