And what a glimmer it is for this isn’t just your ordinary, run of the mill type rugby league. This is frontier rugby league; Melbourne rugby league.
What more lengths did the American pioneers go to to subdue the wild west? How less deviant were the crafts of our own forefathers in their hoarding of convict slave labour?
This, they will say in years to come, was how the South was won. By forging both hook and crook did rugby league stake its claim in those so distant lands where the locals resisted with iron insularity and even amongst the heartland was often found cold relations and jealousy.
And here too was our great hero Waldron who, with the conviction that invigorates none like the newly converted, did plant the seed. And, oh, what a seed.
Twice did he raise Melbourne’s cup to the lips of the mungo gods, and yet they hung and quartered him, shed him of his premierships even when he had left the fold.
And what had he done?
Had he fouled a mate’s shoe like happy Julian? Did he put around his digit another’s ring, like fighting Hopoate? Did he include his teammates in his most personal relationships or strike the face of a women with a hand, glass or forehead?
Hell, did he tear an entire code in half with Ribot’s delusions of Asia or take clubs long held and passed within the hearts of the generations who had built them and hawk them off like discount rugs at a bank holiday sale?
Sweet and merciful, did he give the game away to a petulant newspaper man who turned a blind eye as depravity, celebrity and vacuity engulfed the game’s culture till it spewed out nothing but obscenity after proud obscenity on the back pages of his own best selling tabloid taking with it the few meagre rags that still clung to the game’s sweaty dignity and honest self-interest?
No, he did what he thought had to be done.
He gave rugby league its best chance at breaking Melbourne and he gave Melbourne its best chance to love rugby league.
In times of war and colonisation, such men make heroes. It’s a hard truth, but then, all the good truths are.
Realist
Roar Pro
Gregor Paul lives in a fantasy world.
Dart thrower
Guest
You could throw a dart in the wilderness and hit better writing. Well said. As for the union, AFL and soccer hacks, rarely has a truer word been spoken.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Brett Fair point. i may be wrong ,but think his point is,the overall site is weighted heavily by those supporting the 3 codes. I disagree vehemently with his point as to hacks, as I find most writers do a good job .I however find attempts to offer valid criticism on rugby league are used on some occasions, as an opportunity to slip the boot ,for a little pointscoring eg the Julian and digit comments.Ancient history has nothing to do with the current mess the Storm finds itself in,else nasties from the past can be invoked in any codes' discussion.
Brett McKay
Guest
JVGO, as one of the aforementioned "hacks on this site", I'd welcome the opportunity to read your superior writings and thoughts. Feel free to submit an article of you're own and show us how it's done....
JVGO
Guest
What do you think you are Peter Roebuck or something? Pathetic writing. There are only AFL, RU and Soccer hacks on this site anyway and no one who can actually write (or think) either. I guess RL writers couldn't stand to be in such a sanctimonious lunch room or have real jobs or something.
Dirk
Roar Rookie
Can you give a list of the 2 NRL's in play. Which one is ST.george Illawarra in?
John Melbourne
Guest
At this time in the comp I see two NRL in play, one is the LOCAL sydney club system weekend footy (small) and the other is the NATIONAL world champs system (large), one needs to be KILLED and give way to the real direction. Time to make the game GREAT with the very BEST players and take the hack footy out of the formula. NRL = National Rats League
Emperor Penguin
Guest
Meh, Rugby League thrives on controvercies. Ironically we will all watch as the storm sponsorships, attendences and memberships go up next year I think. It has already begun. 500 new members since thursday.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
I read articles from ru writers in similar vein allthough at least this is a strange attempt at somehow supporting what the Storm and therefore Waldron did.I cite the likes of S. Jones in the UK ,and the following by a gent from NZ by the name of Gregor Paul with the holier than thou approach. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/news/print.cfm?objectid=10640643&pnum=1 I say no more except say, the mindset remains the same,and people wonder why ,some get rugby league supporters offside enough to drive a bigger wedge in the divide.As stated cheating is cheating ,regardless of code. I would like to say more with examples,but big brother moderation prevents me from so doing.
bazza
Guest
Cheating is ok if you are in Melbourne - too bad for the supporters of the other 15 teams
oikee
Guest
Listen, rugby league really had no issues this year, a few refs problems, we were making strides into Melbourne and this goose put us back 10 years. The last thing rugby league needs is a cheat in the ranks, hey, they all might cheat, but this goose got caught, and the last thing you want to do in league is get caught. Fans dont like that. :)
Karlos
Guest
Being a Rugby writer one would expect this type of attitude after all the cheating and string pulling that game has done over the years, but usually that has been done to destroy Rugby League. It is also written in a sickening Rugby "high and mighty/above reproach"style far removed from Rugby League attitudes. This time you are supporting Rugby League, so you are partly forgiven.
Tom
Guest
This is probably the stupidest thing I have ever read on this website. So cheating at sport is okay if the end justifies the means? By this logic, anyone could justify cheating under circumstances. Floyd Landis could say he used steroids to increase the popularity of cycling in the US. Anderlecht could say they were simply trying to bolster Belgian football when they bribed the referee in the 84 UEFA cup semi-final. And on and on and on... Cheating is cheating, no matter what game you're playing in what city.
Paul J
Guest
Garth. The Roar lists you as a Rugby writer? Seems like you just couldn't resist.