Top footy reporter rips into 'ignorant' NRL legend Cooper Cronk in stunning war of words - despite the fact they're work colleagues Phil Rothfield reignites feud with footy legend Cooper Cronk Veteran scribe labels Cronk ignorant in recent column By JAMES COONEY FOR DAILY MAIL AUSTRALIA Published: 23:43, 16 March 2025 | Updated: 23:43, 16 March 2025 e-mail View comments Veteran rugby league journalist Phil 'Buzz' Rothfield has taken aim at NRL legend and colleague Cooper Cronk for calling some of his recent reporting 'factually incorrect', reigniting tensions between the pair. The latest chapter in their rivalry began when Cronk, a respected Fox Sports presenter and four-time premiership winner, took issue with Rothfield's reporting on the possibility of Kalyn Ponga playing for New Zealand. Rothfield, never one to shy away from a stoush, responded quickly via his column in The Daily Telegraph , calling the Hall of Famer 'ignorant'.
'As an old journo you become accustomed to the occasional critique and criticism of your work,' Rothfield began. 'Most of it is fair play and everyone is entitled to an opinion. However, there is nothing worse than an ignorant TV commentator describing one of your column items over the weekend as 'factually incorrect' when he hadn't even read it and had no idea of my sources.
'The truth is, Kiwi coach Stacey Jones is investigating the possibility of Kalyn Ponga playing for New Zealand this year. That is a fact. Footy journalist Phil Rothfield has t.
