So who is Sheek?

 

Roar Guru

By Garth Hamilton, 19 Sep 2007 The Crowd is a Roar Guru

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Garth Hamilton writes: Arguably The Roar’s most influential if not prolific comments writer is the man known as Sheek. As a writer for the site you know you have done well when Sheek hasn’t torn through your argument with his sound logic and encyclopaedic knowledge of sport, particularly rugby. The Roar decided to get to know Sheek a bit better in the first of a series of questions and answers with our readers.

The Roar: Bruce, I am very interested in what got you into rugby. Why rugby?

Sheek: I was born & raised in PNG. My exposure to most sports occurred on our biannual holidays to Australia, usually during summer. So I was more familiar with horse racing (Melbourne Cup), cricket (summer tests), tennis (Davis Cup), sailing (Sydney to Hobart) before either of the rugby codes.

With respect to rugby union, I knew next to nothing about it until I attended boarding school at Waverley College in 1969. Like most kids at a private school, I played rugby union, but avidly followed rugby league. For all the 70s & early 80s, I liked both codes equally. It was the likes of the Ella brothers, O’Connor & Campese & their emphasis on running rugby, who convinced me that union was a superior game, with greater tactical opportunities from each phase. Also at the time, league had become over defensive through coaches Ryan at Canterbury, Monie at Parramatta & Masters at St.George, etc.

My first clear memory of the Wallabies was attending the 3rd test at the SCG against the Springboks in 1971. I remember the game, the noise of the crowd, protesters, the barbed wire, police, smoke & flour bombs. What keeps me in rugby? Sometimes I’m just hanging in there. Like a love sick puppy dog, I’m waiting for my next burst of affection with the game, the next big thrill. Great rugby matches tend to be like coral island atolls in the vast Pacific ocean, few & far between.

The Roar: You are obviously a passionate rugby man. How involved in rugby have you been in the past – ie player, coach, manager etc.

Sheek: I played 6 years at Waverley College, culminating in 2 years 1st XV. Then several years at Easts Colts U/20. From 1977-84, I divided my time in Subbies with Old Waverlians & Bondi-Bronte. At the time I spent several years surf rowing with Bronte SLSC. In the late 80s I assisted a female teacher friend with her 11As over two seasons. That’s the practical end of my rugby career.

I regret not trying out for district 1st grade. About a dozen or so of my school/team-mates went onto play 1st grade with either Easts, Randwick, Sydney Uni, Uni NSW, Wests, St.George, Norths. Having almost always played A grade or 1sts, perhaps I was satisfied too early with my achievements? I started as a winger in 13As, & finished as a lock, or second-rower as we were called in those days.

The Roar: You had been critical of the ARU administration over the last couple of years. At what point did you lose confidence? Was there a single point when you thought ‘the ARU is no longer acting in the best interests of Australian rugby’?

Sheek: When did I lose confidence in the ARU? I guess around 2005 it became clear that things were not as they seemed.

The Wallabies were abysmal. There appeared too little new, good talent coming through; basic skills were falling, leading me to question the whole structure from juniors to Wallabies. I began to wonder what was happening with recruitment, development, identification & nurturing of talent. I was suspicious people in the ARU & NSWRU for example, were more interested in the social & networking advantages of their employment, rather than expanding the game.

The ARU can run, but it can’t hide. Today, it appears quite clear the ARU has been asleep on the job from 2004-2007. Co-incidentally, the same time John O’Neill was away from the top job at the ARU. I have to say, I think league is “belting the pants off” union on the field, development, etc, at this present time.

The Roar: How good was John Hipwell? I’ve noticed you mention him quite a few times on the site.

Sheek: IMHO, John Hipwell is the best scrumhalf Australia has produced since 1970. As some Roman historian wit apparently said, “we are hostage to our sources”.

I will have to accept the wisdom of those who went before, that Hippy’s predecessor Ken Catchpole was our best ever scrumhalf. Hippy would have to be next. He had the strength, toughness & durability of Farr-Jones & Gregan. Although he suffered from recurring leg injuries later in his career. Of course, Gregan possessed the superior strength to weight ratio.

His pass was as strong & fast as Farr-Jones, but went further, & he certainly was quicker than Gregan. He was as dangerous as Farr-Jones down the blindside, with a similarly good kicking game. I think he mixed his game better than either Farr-Jones or Gregan.

But the clincher is this – he didn’t play behind many good packs, & to this day, I have never seen a scrumhalf use bad ball better than Hippy. Farr-Jones would get tetchy with bad ball, & Gregan flummoxed, but Hippy thrived on bad ball.

The Roar: Who should be the next wallaby coach?

Sheek: I have no problems with the next Wallaby coach being non-Australian. Either Robbie Deans or John Mitchell would be fantastic.

Of the Aussies who are now available, it must be David Nucifora. His efforts with the Brumbies & Blues are very praiseworthy. Having worked
with a non-Aussie side (Blues) gives him an insight into the differing cultures of other countries.

As dream assistant coaches, I would love to see Topo Rodriguez (forwards) & Mark Ella (backs). John Muggleton deserves to remain as defence coach.

I don’t think either Ewen McKenzie or Laurie Fisher have the tactical acumen to be national coach.

The Roar: In the notoriously crowded Australian sporting landscape what should be the goal of rugby’s administrators?

Sheek: Rugby needs to settle on a structure, both nationally & internationally, very quickly. There’s a bit too much chopping & changing. Since professionalism came in 1996, there’s been too much emphasis on chasing money, too little thought in getting the structure right.

The ARC is a great concept, but is it the right structure? Should it be the APC? The ARC/APC needs to dovetail seamlessly into the S14. Either our national comp is provincial (APC) or national club (ARC). S14 then would follow suit. Generally, the season would start with pre-season matches. Then a truncated S14/16, run over about 8 weekends instead of 14. Those APC/ARC teams not involved in S14 would combine with ARS teams for a knock-out comp. Premier Rugby in all capital cities would also begin.

S14 would then be followed after a short break by APC/ARC. 16 to 20 weekends depending on number of teams. There would be incoming tours, & an end of season outgoing tour. 3N, 4N with Argentina, would be finalised before the finals of APC/ARC was commenced. Obviously, this structure would need to be expanded in illustration elsewhere.

Tests need to be capped at 10 per year outside WC years. Even WC years should be not more than 12 ( those who make the semis). The laws need to be sorted out for at least 10 years. Let’s have some stability.

Ideally, a leading Wallaby test player who goes through the season uninjured, might play 10 tests, about 12-14 APC/ARC & 5-6 S14/16.

There might be 2-3 pre-season matches, & if he’s lucky, 2-3 premier rugby club matches. It would also be great to see them play some non-test tour matches.

The trick would be trying to have a ceiling of 35 matches for the year per player.

The Roar: Favourite moment of French rugby?

Sheek: Favourite moment of French rugby? The try from the “end of the earth” – 2nd test against ABs immediately springs to mind (France won 23-20). Tryline to tryline, the ball passing through about a dozen hands.

Thank God for the French. Rugby would be so much drearier without them. League has similarly suffered following the demise of French rugby league.

The Roar: You’ve been a keen contributor to this and other rugby blogs for a couple of years now. Why do it? What do you get out of it?

Sheek: Initially, it was to get my frustration out. Not many of my mates were passionate rugby fans, & those who were didn’t always want to talk about it. They were high flyers too busy making money! It was therapeutic.

Then I found it a good way to share knowledge. I learnt many things about rugby & life, communicating with other people. Finally, perhaps other people made the mistake of making me think I had something interesting to say!!!!!

The Roar: What attracts you to The Roar?

Sheek: What attracts to The Roar? Most of the points made in Q.8 above. More so, it’s very well run, with genuine rugby lovers contributing. Contrast this with others that appear to be full of immature juveniles. There’s less baiting other contributors, & more genuine attempts at interactive debate.

The Roar: Tell us about a great rugby player from the past who no one talks about.

Sheek: Tom Lawton snr. Had there been mass media in his day, we might be talking about him as Australia’s greatest ever #10.

His career span was almost as long as Gregan’s – 13 seasons – 1920 to 1932. But he only played 14 tests over 13 seasons, compared with Gregan’s 134 tests unfinished over 14 seasons, & Larkham’s 101 tests unfinished over 12 seasons. University study & business commitments saw huge gaps appear in Lawton’s career. But when available, he was the first choice flyhalf for the Wallabies.

We ought to be saying Steve Larkham is like Lawton, rather than the other way around. Like Larkham, Lawton was tall & solid, able to absorb punishment. He was a wonderful runner, distributor & defender like Larkham. But unlike Larkham, Lawton was a wonderful tactical, field position & goal kicker. Basically, Lawton possesses all the best skills of Larkham, Lynagh, Ella, McLean & Hawthorne.

I’m not yet willing to say Lawton was better than Ella. But as I read & re-read his exploits, & learn more about him, I might eventually declare him the best #10 we’ve ever had.

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