And if he gets it hopefully he’s realised forwards win big matches, especially big punishing hard-hitting hard-running forwards (RL might’ve depowered their scrum [as there was so much gratuitous violence being conducted therein unseen to the outside world, according to some] but at least the game hasn’t as yet degenerated into exhibition-style touch footy suburban park RL just yet). As Gus said in his post match review highlighting Sticky’s major blunder (and considering Steve Price was unavailable due to injury):

“We could also talk about the decision to go into a Test match of this importance with only two recognised front-row forwards. At a crucial time in the second half, a very tired-looking Petero Civoniceva was out there toiling away on his own while a frustrated Brent Kite was left sitting on the sidelines and an even more frustrated Josh Perry was watching from the grandstands. That allowed the Kiwi big men to run without fear and they totally dominated proceedings when the game was in the balance.”

As well there were several bad omens at the start of the game, if you’re the superstitious type as me; first when several of our Roo players ran onto the hallowed turf wearing those ghastly dreaded white boots which for some of us will always bring back memories of that fateful 1976 Grand Final day when the Dragons suffered that still humiliating defeat to Gibson’s all-conquering Eastern Suburbs and at the conclusion a singular pair of white boots mysteriously ended up slung over the crossbar of the posts at the ‘infamous’ Hill end of the SCG, and two, when that particular day’s St George and Kangaroo great Changa Langlands was shown just moments prior to the Centenary Test Final’s kickoff on Nine’s telecast in an obviously distressed state lying on the asphalt with concerned officials around him indicating he’d toppled from the back of the parade vehicles’ rear open tray, and try as he might Ray Rabbits Warren’s best efforts to allay fears to family, friends and viewers of any serious injury to our league legend, it was plainly an inescapable forewarning of the gloom that lay in wait for all Kangaroo supporters.

On another note Reni Matua just got punted by the Dogs, he’d make a nice acquisition for Wayne at the Saints. From memory he would’ve coached Reni in the Australian team in 03/04/05?

Bennett certainly didn’t need the opportunity or the money, he wanted a challenge. What better way to prove your talent as a coach than to go up against the best, coaching an inferior outfit and come out on top?

I constantly remind myself that sport is not war. Contrary to what some people might want us to believe. It’s not even remotely close. In any case, much better to belt the crap out of each other on the sporting field, than on the battle field.

The ensuing logic therefore, is that a coach offering his professional services to another country isn’t even remotely comparable to a person commiting treason & treachery in war. Not even worth giving a second thought to.

Ian Chappell is my favourite all-time cricket captain from any country, let alone Australia. I respect his views. But on the other hand, what a wonderful lift Wayne Bennett gave to international rugby league through his help with the Kiwis.

In this respect I find Wayne Bennett’s role with New Zealand interesting. I can fully understand someone like Robbie Deans coaching the Wallabies – he is a fully professional coach aspiring for the opportunity that his talents deserve, and he only took on the Wallaby job after the path to his first preference, coaching his home country, was unfairly blocked. But none of this applies to Bennett – he did not need the opportunity, and nor did he need the money (not that there can have been any in it for him – the NZRL has been financially mismanaged and is currently broke).

So one cannot immediately dismiss Stuart’s “shot at Bennett, with the implication that the pride and passion in the Australian jumper had somehow been lost during the coaching tenure of Rugby League’s most successful coach in the modern era.” Thinking of Ian Chappell’s comment, it is hard to understand that Bennett could take on the NZ position if he really did have complete pride and passion in the Kangaroo jersey.

Aside from all the above, why is there so much interest in the Gould-Stuart feud? It is roughly equivalent to being deeply interested in someone else’s marriage breakup.

Sooner RL has a Commission that does away with the multiple layers the better.

Gus can have tickets on himself alot of the time, but he’s right in this instance.

Sticky’s coaching isn’t good enough anyway, despite the blow up.

The ARL should appoint Des Hasler, a proud man with integrity and a bloody good coach.