John Hartigan, chairman and chief executive of News Limited (left) with Chief Executive Officer of the National Rugby League David Gallop (centre) and Melbourne Storm Chariman Rob Moodie. AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy
2009 saw the game’s administrators telling players that their behaviour was the key to the game’s survival, that fans wouldn’t tolerate poor behaviour off the field and that they had to think of the future game when they considered their actions.
Well 2010 has shown us that it’s actually the behaviour of the those lecturing administrators that can land a hammer blow on the game. But the result is the same, it’s the players who will be asked to pick up the pieces while Brian Waldron and the rest of the mugs slink off into the sunset for an early but well funded retirement.
Walking around the streets of Melbourne CBD this weekend it was impossible not to notice all the advertising for the ANZAC Test. I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
My first thoughts were, “How friggin’ typical”, we finally spend some serious bucks marketing the game the advertisements are like a bunch of expensive wedding photos after a divorce.
But after attending the Storm game I remain convinced that the NRL must preserver with rugby league in Melbourne.
23,906 rolled up. Right, so this is what we need to get people to show up to rugby league in Victoria.
Full credit to the fans, many of whom seemed far more knowledgable than their reputation gives them credit for. It’s the fans and the players that I feel most sorry for.
However, whether how many will continue to show up as the depressing reality of their current punishment plays out.
Their have plenty of plenty who have worked hard for the game in Melbourne and they must feel angry firstly with the actions of Waldron and secondly if the NRL who looks to have sent the current squad into competitive limbo.
No points for 2010? The only winners are the sports psychologists, they must be rubbing their hands together.
In this instance I agree with Phil Gould and the solution he proposed on Friday night (although thanks to the decision makers at Channel Nine I watched it very early on Saturday morning).
The Storm lose all the points they have accrued so far in 2010.
They then work with the NRL to come up with a list of players from their current squad of 25 to play out the season under the salary cap.
Those discarded are paid in full and are free to play for another club here or abroad, fancy Cronulla boys?
The competition then moves on rather than having a weekly reminder of this farce.
One set of bean counters have let the Storm players down, but another have come down too hard on them.
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