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Foran fiasco, cocaine rumours and Origin: never a dull moment

29th June, 2015
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Kieran Foran is doing his best to settle into life at Parramatta. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)
Expert
29th June, 2015
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I have one short little hiatus from The Roar, thinking that surely nothing too major can happen in just two weeks, and instead rugby league once again explodes with massive headlines while I’m away.

I shouldn’t really be too surprised. Rugby league thrives on controversy, negative storylines and sensationalistic reporting. Why would me being overseas change any of that?

Forget the actual football on the park for a second – that’s a mere distraction from the real talking points in rugby league at present.

The Foran fiasco
Irrespective of what happens next, surely Kieran Foran would be crazy to sign with the Eels now? Even if his contract is eventually revised to a state that he is happy with, the whole saga has provided an insight into how the Parramatta club is run.

In short, badly.

Over the past week or so, much has been written about the Eels. Not just in reference to the fiasco involving Foran, but also the long history of blunders that Parramatta has made over the years. It’s all led to some impassioned Eels fans penning pieces about their growing dissatisfaction, to the point of them being completely fed up.

All in all, it surely must send alarm bells ringing in Foran’s head, and make him extremely wary of committing to a mess of a football club.

So if not Parra, then where to for the Kiwi five-eighth?

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I can’t believe I’m saying this, but providing they can come up with the money to satisfy him, Foran should stay with Manly.

Foran is a classy individual, and gives every indication of being a loyal, fair and honourable man. He deserves to be happy and comfortable, and at this stage of his career the Sea Eagles provide the best situation for him.

He likes the club, has a good relationship with fellow star Daly Cherry-Evans – despite their different personalities and approach to contract negotiations – and he’ll be treated with the respect he deserves.

Stay put, Kieran.

Cocaine rumours
Over the weekend, further stories surfaced about Karmichael Hunt’s drug use.

In a report obtained by the media, Hunt’s admission to police around his drug taking included the names of players with whom he has consumed cocaine with, along with the name of the person that provided Hunt with a drug dealer’s details.

Though the name was withheld, said individual was alleged to be an Australian Kangaroo and State of Origin representative. In other words, a high-profile rugby league player.

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The only other detail on this mystery man was that he does not play for the Gold Coast Titans, however that’s all we know.

Yet it’s clear that the media know who this player is, so it’s only a matter of time until the name is leaked and becomes public knowledge.

In other words, get ready for another massive rugby league scandal. Which, let’s be honest, is well overdue. It’s been weeks.

State of Origin scheduling
Des Hasler and Wayne Bennett may very well be two of rugby league’s grumpiest men, but I’d also suggest they happen to posses two of the more astute minds in the game.

So when they proclaim that there is something seriously wrong with rugby league’s calendar, I think they should be listened to.

To be fair, they’re hardly stranded alone on an island together when it comes to their opinion on State of Origin scheduling. Almost everyone in rugby league agrees that the current set-up is sub-optimal, with players missing from club footy, the attention focused away from the NRL, and serious injuries starting to impact a number of teams.

Yet solving the alleged issue is the issue, for while everyone is keen to put the boot into the current scheduling there has yet to be a viable and feasible alternative – that keeps everyone happy – put forward.

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I’m told that the NRL are currently reviewing the representative period, and they’re well aware that many people are far from happy with the existing schedule and its impact on the competition and the players.

I put it to Roarers to suggest their own ideas for the optimal way to integrate the State of Origin series into the rugby league calendar, remembering that no solution will be perfect.

To get the ball rolling, here’s my suggestion…

Three consecutive weeks of Origin football on Wednesday nights.

However, on the three weekends in between Origin games, there will be an assortment of football to keep the public interested in rugby league. It could look something like this:

Weekend one
The 9s tournament across three days.

Weekend two
City versus Country
Fiji versus Samoa
NSW versus Queensland Under 23s

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Weekend three
New Zealand versus ‘The Best of the Rest’ of the NRL (made up of players that weren’t selected for State of Origin, or are not eligible).

I’m sure this idea has more holes than Swiss cheese, but agree, disagree or fire away with your own suggestions, Roarers.

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