Roar Rookie
Joined March 2010
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The 2010 season may end with a couple of lessons for the coaching staff - "who dares wins" and "he who hesitates will not."…
What's going on with these NRL team runners? They look more like drunks crossing a busy freeway and they're taking over the joint. Until…
NRL handy home hints: Is your lawn growing unsightly? Don't waste time watering, just buy the house next door! Forget off field transgressions, forget…
On the surface the Salary Cap is a fair and equitable means with which to maintain a healthy, well balanced, and competitive competition. A…
Common sense dictates that the beneficiaries of Melbourne Storm's cap rorting must have known. I hope I'm wrong, but I fear I'm not. It…
On the surface, it would seem that the NRL and News Ltd have an uncompromising approach to the Melbourne Storm's rorting of the system.…
As an ardent St George supporter, I'm afraid.... very afraid. I have watched both their games this year and on both occasions had an…
Well written article, i too would like to nominate Danny Mac for the Independent Commission. The article was broad and sensible. The strength of the Broncos brand is the true yardstick of public sentiment within familiar territory, and the Broncos popularity is not an anomaly, it is reflective of a superior product and a superior spectacle. The NRL need to play off the front foot for a change, they always seem to be responding or reacting when they should be attacking the unwarranted public perception in unchartered territory. They should actively and aggressively debunk the myths and highlight the many unique requirements and qualities required to play our game and the superior spectacle it offers to supporters. The toughness of RL makes it a soft target for those prepared to covertly prey on the unjustified fears of parents and schools. The NRL need to counter perceptions before sowing seeds as a meaningless and symbolic tit for tat
If expansion is done smartly, NRL will flourish
Well i played for 35 years up until last year and i have always know them as runners not trainers, but i haven’t been in Grade football for 25 years so maybe it’s new at that level to be known as trainers. But still, training is for mid week. And i agree about Alfie, its as if he might be fantasizing about by gone days. He is still ducking tackles. Anyway I’m glad its not just me getting old and grumpy.
NRL Runners should be seen and not heard
It would seem more appropriate to embrace the theory that a good start is no guarantee of being there nor a poor start a guarantee of not being there. In fact its the middle rounds that can go a long way toward making or breaking a teams chances of survival, not just competition survival but survival of the mind.
Teams that play with less pressure to win tend to play with gay abandon and often gather momentum at the pointy end. On the flip side the guys at the top feel the weight of expectation and often collapse under it.
The thing that differentiates the early season performances from mid to late season is the fact that teams can rise to defensive challenges late in the season with a natural shift in commitment and enthusiasm. Attack is another story it must be practiced and honed in game play throughout the season, so defensive advantages can be negated through sheer attitude, attack cannot.
So the outsiders attack freely and defend stoutly, some favored teams stick to the “percentages” routine and get trapped behind without a bag of tricks to resort to, game over. Mystery solved. Please cc to Mr. Bennett
Win early, win often: a simple formula for NRL finals
I did an article here earlier this year titled “Groundhog Season At St George Illawarra” because of their early season minimum risk game tactics, yardage, ball security and generally playing the percentages on the back of solid defence. It bothered me that last year taught no lessons, It centered on a theory that great defense will get you to the semis but thats about all she wrote. My reasoning is simple, defense is ,commitment and enthusiasm, it can be found, sides can rise to late season challenges it’s do or die. Attack on the other hand is practice, practice, practice and skills and coordination need to be honed throughout the season and not on the training paddock alone. In recent weeks saints have demonstrated that unless in control from the get go they are bewildered and have no new “bag of tricks” to pull them out of the fire. So here we are again and here we go again, as a Saints supporter i would hate to say i told you so, so i wont until i can, not just yet though.
The problem with St George is a familiar one
I don’t imagine for one moment that Melbourne winning the wooden spoon by proxy takes any pressure off the pre rort contenders.
Surely, Melbourne’s participation will be considered token and unrealistic, as it should be, they are contending in a false environment.
As much as the winners won’t ponder “what might have been” for too long and accept the trophy as an undisputed reward, the second bottom team should accept the wooden spoon as undisputed. If not the coach and fans should make them one.
Who's left now the Storm are gone?
I agree again, in part, but perception plays a big role in public opinion, its not only about ratings in Melbourne. If the game is losing its prize cattle to other the codes the perception could be that the game is weak, and that could have a detrimental effect in fragile market. I envy your optimism, but even if your right growing support in one market won’t save the game.
But in saying that, i see your point about a stirred up Melbourne becoming infectious and being good for the game. You know what, stranger things have happened, especially in Melbourne.
How to bust a cap in your assets
The thing that drives me mad is the condescending manner with which they slip these little cash for comments in.
It is as if their banter is purpose designed for idiots, an unacceptable, unsolicited, annoying and irrelevant interjection disguised as incidental chat amongst mates. Each time i feel my intelligence has been insulted and they are having a laugh at us behind our backs.
How about, “hey Rabbs is Underbelly on tonight”? Fair dinkum, its worse than watching the tennis because when they do it i get to see the cougars from Desperate Housewives, a payoff that negates my annoyance.
I DO NOT want the same type of pay off from the boys at Centrebet.
Here is my suggestion for a less offensive dialogue;
“Hey Rabbs guess what, theres good news for all the suckers that might have forgotten to get a wager on tonights game, they can still get on, and why wouldn’t they, good odds for the dragons at half time, they lead by 6 and they can get $1.02. And Rabbs you know what bet responsibly means, it means bet big, because the more you bet the more you win and and at $1.02 you’ll need to bet a motzer, why not gangster do. Hey Rabbs that reminds me, so i should remind the suckers that they love underbelly they just don’t know it yet”.
Actually i hope its not incidental banter or they’ll start talking about the greenhouse effect.
Geniuses aren’t they!
Suggestions for the Channel Nine commentary team
I see your point Mushi, after-all misery loves company. Melbourne might form a victims of slander or martyrdom supporters group. They could be known the Storm “clouds” and rain tears out of pity for themselves. I agree with your theory, this ugly episode may become an “us against them” war and may be the catalyst to a super parochial following. In this case, selective ignorance of their own culpability may lead to a blissful outcome.
Crisis may rally locals around their team
just in response to Mushi, we need to be careful not confuse close game or exciting play with standards, or we might become complacent. I mean, you can get thrilling games at all levels if the two teams equally skilled. I feel the intensity may drop off if we lose the better players, it may not be obvious on the score board or the reaction of the crowd, but a keen eye can see the difference between a Mark Gasnier and a Matt Prior in the centres. But your correct to a degree, the games standards have been pretty good despite the inadequacies of officials and administration and lose of a few players, but it cant go on forever like that. Somethings got to give.
How to bust a cap in your assets
I’ll wake when you lighten up. If thats the most ridiculous comment you’ve heard you need to get out more. Points wins games, defense sets a platform. If you are solely reliant on defense you cannot play catch up when the time comes. Saints spent the majority of the second half in their own territory, a better attacking side would have made them pay. They wont always get off to a flyer. In semi finals football sides lift their defense but you cannot lift your attack just by way of enthusiasm. At the moment St George ILLAWARRA can grind a team into veritable submission and bung on points late, but come the semi’s that wont be the case, a balance of attack and defense is required. The game changes, looking at a coaches record during a period spent with the cream is no indication, something to respect, yes. I love the Dragons i wish them the best and my comments are genuine if not accurate. Rob, no need too feel slighted, and given your defensive reaction to a genuine opinion made partly tongue in cheek i can understand your support for Bennett’s tactics. Have a good day.
Groundhog season at St George Illawarra
I tend to agree with the crux of your theory, but Souths seem to have a problem with immature half backs.
I always worry when I see a show-pony half no matter how brilliant, as it tends to upset a teams rhythm.
Sandow plays it up to the crowd and camera a bit which indicates a self promotional mindset, his mind is not where it should be, in the team.
I have seen other potentially great half backs create instability in a team and as a result cut their own careers short and/or reduce their teams potential. Leaders need to have a calm authority about them, a composed demeanor, in order to control his team effective Sandow needs to grow up quickly – or Lang needs to find a more mature general.
Same old story for South Sydney
yes they were great in defense again. The full squad helped,but, but i wish as i was convinced as you. They had them on the ropes for ages and couldn’t put them away and if not for a brave effort from an injured Morris the Chooks may have scored the final try and won. Given their dominance and opportunities the Dragons should have sealed the deal much earlier, and with a more cohesive attack would have. But the signs are there for an improved attack coming. Lets hope. I appreciate your point re defense being more important, and i agree overall, even with moderate attack but with none, no. But great game of footy, eh.
More of the same for Dragons supporters?