"I have a great sense of humour but unfortunately didn't get the funny side of your comments about our very good Prime Minister," the self-proclaimed "quiet Australian" declares.

Very good Prime Minister? Ha ha. LOL. One of your best, Bev. With gags like that you surely have a future in stand-up comedy.

Meanwhile, all week the Tigers have insisted their clash with Parramatta - and former teammate Ryan Matterson - is no grudge match. Russell "Whacker" Packer apparently hasn't received the memo and proceeds to knock Matterson rotten and follows up with a few choice expletives. Matterson enjoys the last laugh after a 26-16 win ... if only he could remember it.

I LOVE it when the Old Fox takes the media to task.

Today he's berating the press hacks for all the headlines surrounding schoolboy Joseph Suaalii, who is reportedly at the centre of a bidding war between South Sydney and the Australian Rugby Union.

"It is just totally unfair the amount of scrutiny that is put on him," Benny fumes.

"There's a responsibility from journalists too, but you don't carry any responsibility with that, you put it all back on us. But the bottom line is, I don't know what the answer is.

"I know the publicity he's copped in the past couple of days is not what I would want for my 16-year-old ... he's got this huge burden of expectation placed upon him, it's not healthy for anybody that's in that situation."

It's a fair point. I mean the kid is 16 and weighing up a $3 million offer, but since when is that newsworthy?

Why don't we just mind our own business?

At Suncorp Stadium, the Broncos can finally walk off the field with their heads held high after a 46-8 loss to Melbourne.

To think most of the so-called "experts" thought they'd cop a flogging.

NEWS breaks that boom back-rower David Fifita is quitting the Broncos to join the Gold Coast Titans.

Some reports suggest Fifita has reached his decision because he doesn't rate embattled coach Anthony Seibold, but I've got a sneaking suspicion that money may have been a motivating factor.

Gold Cost fans - both of them - are hoping Fifita can follow in the illustrious footsteps of previous marquee signings like Wally Lewis and Jarryd Hayne. If nothing else, $3.5 million over three years should buy him a few rides at the theme parks.

I'VE got an uneasy feeling about today's game between the Knights and the Bulldogs.

True, Canterbury are running last and couldn't beat an egg in a bucket.

But it's not a good omen when I hear a newsreader refer to Knights coach "Adam Simpson" in a radio bulletin.

Then I arrive at the McDonald Jones Stadium press box and one of the hacks reveals: "I've tipped six out of six so far this weekend ... and I never tip the full round."

Sure enough, the Knights suffer an 18-12 loss on one of the most miserable days in rugby league history.

The only upside is I escape the car park before it gets flooded out. My colleague Barry Toohey is not so lucky and informs me he's had to hitch a ride home aboard the Pasha Bulker.

In other news, the Telegraph has published a "rich list" over the weekend, detailing the NRL's top 100 highest-paid players.

None of them come close to Knights legend Adam "Mad Dog" MacDougall, whose Man Shake company is reported to be worth a staggering $200 million. I guess it just goes to prove that every dog has his day.

THINGS are getting ugly up in the Banana Republic, after news surfaces of a social media feud between former Bronco Chris Walker and current player Payne Haas.

Walker has apparently fired a broadside at Brisbane halfback Brodie Croft, prompting big Payne to stick up for his teammate.

"Why you coming at him and making up a s**t post you look like a twelve year old you 9ball," Haas vents.

I haven't seen the term "9ball" in print since former Knight Mark Taufua used it to describe incoming coach Wayne Bennett back in 2011.

I'm not quite sure what a "9ball" is, but presumably such terminology has been borrowed from billiards or snooker.

On the subject of No.9, Connor Watson suggests the Knights should consider retiring that jersey, given its cursed run. Watson (Achilles) and Andrew McCullough (hamstring) are both nursing season-ending injuries after the loss to Canterbury, joining Jayden Brailey (knee reconstruction) on the sidelines.

Rory Kostjacyn (throat) and Slade Griffin (knee) are previous victims of the hoodoo.

It might be an idea for whoever gets the gig this week to upgrade his health insurance.

REFEREES' boss Graham Annesley reveals the NRL is considering the use of "skeletal tracking" technology to detect forward passes.

It sounds great in theory.

Now they just need to hire a couple of scapegoats to run the new system.

IT'S been a tough few days for Knights players and fans as they reflect on the loss to Canterbury, a spate of injuries ... and the daunting prospect of tackling Melbourne this week.

Still, things could always be worse.

Just ask the poor desperate who backed them last week to beat the Doggies with $20,000 at $1.15.

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