It seems like only yesterday that I was delivering spittle-filled testimonials to the speed, skill and intensity of the average game in the NRL.
Two rounds of pulsating, dramatic rugby league had me settled into the couch by Thursday morning, delivery menus surrounding my inert mass, ready to consume the thrills of round three
As with everything in life, an upward trajectory cannot continue forever. Eventually bodies feel the effects of gravity and crash to earth. The recent weekend’s round of matches were, to put it kindly, underwhelming.
The feel of round three was akin to bad heavyweight boxing bouts (pretty much any contest after 1980), where Bums of the Month are made to look invincible thanks to the ineptitude of their opponents.
In some cases, those beaten opponents were superior competitors expected to win, adding to our false impression of the victor as a contender (who can forget James ‘Buster’ Douglas beating an uninterested Mike Tyson before quickly sinking back into mediocrity).
It all started on Friday night when a professional St George outfit put to the sword a Tigers team that clearly had not come to play.
On certain occasions Tim Sheens’ men simply aren’t interested in working hard enough against a disciplined opposition to remain competitive, the reason why I was always deeply skeptical of their ‘premiership favourite’ tag. Are the Saints that good? No. They were on the rebound after a bad loss and played up to their eventual fifth or sixth ranking.
On Saturday the Storm continued to show class against inferior opposition. No meaningful questions have been asked yet of this team, although they are a clearly an elite team and will cruise to a top-four finish.
The Titans were pathetic, and maybe John Cartwright can no longer motivate this club as he once did. The main attraction of sport is the lure of the uncertain ending. Clearly the people of the Gold Coast didn’t feel much uncertainty about this one. Yawn.
North Queensland then proceeded to take apart a team without a coach. No one is listening to Steve Kearney, and the Cowboys looked like the 1982 Invincibles as a result. Some of the Parramatta players’ attempts at defence were unspeakable.
This game didn’t prove a thing, except that the Cowboys can score points against feeble or complacent opposition.
I’m glad I’m not a Warriors fan. While this game was one of the few entertaining games of the round, I’m thinking it might be time for Warriors players to be tasered at halftime for every unforced error committed.
This team cannot possibly contend at its current error rate. It is an open question as to whether or not they can find the necessary discipline to beat the top teams.
Canterbury clearly have talent, but once again they have been made to look a little better than they may be.
Roosters-Raiders? Channel Nine should have televised the Toyota Cup in prime time instead, where the standard of play and determination on show would have undoubtedly been superior. Despite now winning two of three, very few Roosters fans are interested, judging by their disgraceful, shameful crowds.
They have some talented players but again, are one of many teams who cannot consistently deliver.
Then we had the best of the Sunday games, Panthers-Rabbits, with Souths joining North Queensland in the we-looked-great-against-reserve-grade-opposition club. Penrith are not yet a complete first grade NRL team.
Despite the referees allowing play-the-balls to proceed at a glacial pace, Penrith offered little resistance, once again appearing uninterested. It appears that the team able to muster a respectable level of desire for more than one week in a row will finish in the top half of the competition – a low bar, indeed.
And now, with the coup de grace, we had the Perth – sorry, Cronulla – Sharks v Manly game. I was stunned to wake up to articles by seasoned reporters gushing over the ‘arrival’ of Cronulla in the wake of their victory on Monday night. Really? Manly could not have cared less about this one.
The players, while never explicitly stating the fact, know that they will win enough games to finish in a position to once again contend for the title. A rain-soaked affair against a mediocre opponent clearly didn’t tickle their fancies.
Cronulla have some interesting pieces (this chap Bukuya looks the goods) but I will be dumbfounded if they qualify for the eight. They win the Buster Douglas Overhyped Victory Award for this week.
May round four bring a renewed sense of interest and vigour on the part of the gladiators currently roaming the NRL.
MG Burbank
Roar Guru
And loving it.
Jeff McGinn
Guest
It's called "Cyber Bullying"...
MG Burbank
Roar Guru
Jaceman, you must be a proud Eels supporter. I feel for you. Regarding their draw, Parramatta have lost to North Qld, Brisbane and New Zealand. They have yet to play Manly, St George, Wests Tigers, Canterbury and Melbourne. Yes, they won't lose many to Origin but that's never helped mediocre teams in the past- the best teams stay in the hunt until Origin is over and then march to the finals. No draw is good fo this team. They should be aiming to win 12 games (50%) and collect two byes- might get them in.
Jeff McGinn
Guest
LOL
JVGO
Guest
MG, your argument doesn't make sense and isn't really very educated. The fact that Manly came back wasn't due to a change in attitude but to the fact that Pomeroy went off injured and was replaced in the centres by Wade Graham and Manly suddenly exploited his defensive inexperience on the left side. Your idea that manly suddenly got motivated in the final ten minutes, when it was already too late seems a little naive to me. The fact is Cronulla had them well covered till Poms injury. Why would manly suddenly get motivated when it was already too late to realistically win the game. I'd suggest you look at the tactical reality not some mysterious explanatiion in your own head. It owuld make far more sense that Manly were equally motivated the whole time but were simply given no opportunities until Pom's injury. The only time they actually had a chance to win the game was in the final minute (when apparently they were motivated) and they knocked on twice, despite Gal's gifting them the second opportunity.
MG Burbank
Roar Guru
The players should hold themselves to a certain standard and I believe they went below that last weekend. Out of 26 rounds I'd expect 21 to be of a high standard. These guys are professionals. Maybe 5 or 6 below-par rounds is tolerable but that's it. This is where the players' psychological weaknesses come out. They are physical specimens but you really see how underdeveloped most of them are in the mental aspect. Players like Sterling, Daley, Johns, Webcke, Steve Walters, Lockyer etc... freakish talents but also ready to perform at a high level every single game.
MG Burbank
Roar Guru
Yes, clearly you are a biased fan of Cronulla and, therefore, unable to offer an educated opinion. You mustn't have read my article. Nowhere did I make excuses for them- I was actually CRITICAL of the fact that they showed up disinterested in the game and dismissive of their opponents, until it was too late. Yes, the Sharks DID win the physical/mental battle. That doesn't mean that Manly played anywhere near their potential- anyone who isn't biased like you and knows something about the game would admit that. Your contention that Manly didn't play up to their talent level in years gone by might be true but the fact is that those teams WEREN'T NEARLY AS GOOD, so the issue is irrelevant. I'm glad you take the 'kids' seriously- I don't know what that has to do with this article. And you're about 20 years out of date- look at the Eagles' lineup- how many established stars were bought? Lastly, I'm not a Manly fan but, unlike you, I'm able to watch the game and enjoy it without needing to put blinkers on and dumb myself down for my favorite club. Stop sacrificing intelligence for 'loyalty', JVGO. And make sure to follow the Sharks when they move to Perth.
MG Burbank
Roar Guru
I will go for it, Jeff. And I don't need your permission. I'm not sure who said my assessment was 'reasonably wayward'. But I can tell you that part of what makes the comments section fun is the argument and banter. I'm thinking you must be having a laugh when you said my intent was to 'crucify his personality', whoever this fellow roarer may be. Can I really do that, by leaving a couple of harshly worded comments? Wow. I didn't realize I had that power. Thank you for making me aware of it- I can now abuse it to an even greater degree in the future.
JVGO
Guest
Can you actually read MG? Does anything I said disagree with what you just said? The fact is that you were making excuses for Manly who apparently found it difficult to focus against the Sharks because they knew they were just so fantastic and superior to Sharks in every department. Well the Sharks had their own psychological difficulties to work through MG. They came off a 9 game losing streak, 5 games of which they should have won except for freak bounces, crazy reffing decisions and mental errors. But of course let's have all have symparthy for Manly and their mental difficulties. It must be so hard for them. The fact is that the Sharks won both the phusical and mental battle. I think yo should remember that for about 15 years before Hasler arrived manly didn;t perform to their talent level. Toovey faces some challenges. As far as the kids go I take it very seriously because the Sharks have to make their players, they can't just go out and buy them. There are 4 or 5 strong Australian Schoolboys in that side who are the future of the club, including ex junior K's captain Chad Townsend who has had 6 months of first grade and is still six months younger than Cherry Evans was when he made his first grade debut.
jamesb
Guest
the only thing I can say it is a long season. Some rounds will be ordinary, other rounds there will be classics. Its the nature of a 7 month long season As the season goes, players and teams will emerge. Its early days. ITs only round 3
Jeff McGinn
Guest
I cannot believe that someone intelligent enough to write a terrible account of the weekends game , as this one was, , would stoop so low as the character assassination of a fellow 'roarer' with the sole intent to crucify his personality, merely because he disagreed with your 'reasonably wayward assessment' of the weekend. Your response was that of an overeducated spoilt moron! ooops I guess that I may be next.. go for it!.
MG Burbank
Roar Guru
Interesting. I just checked the lineups and yeah, McClellan switched things up with the bench and the starting side, but the Warriors lost Round 1 so no problems there in making a change. He did it again after the Eels victory but the spine of the side was identical- fullback, 6,7 and 9. They should be able to win even with changes in other positions. But a good question and well picked, Oikee. Worth a look at the lineup this weekend.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
TBH The standard in the main ,maybe due to the full time approach of the players and their fitness,is of a higher standard when there were in fact fewer teams prior SL. I disagree ,there are now more players with which to choose.The source from NZ for starters was barely there in numbers.Having the Warriors and the u20 comp ,has given more players opportunities.More people play the game. Bakuya came from the u20s at Cronulla and there are more around waiting for the opportunity.Reduce the number of teams,you reduce the number of players at grassroots as they see limited opportunities.There are some terrifc youngsters coming through the shark's u20. Go through every NRL teams' lists and see the youngsters that have come through.Look no further than Jason Taumalolo of th Cowboys (the kid is about 18) and from what I have seen so far,makes SBW at the same age look average. If you reduce the number of teams,there is no guarantee the standard will increase,yes it may well do so.When St george won 11 on the trot,they were so far ahead of the others,it was a lay down when they played.There were less teams then. If other codes were not competing for the same youngsters ,lesser teams may be a possibility.When other codes are expanding at a great rate of knots,as the saying goes"don't give the bs an even break". if you have 6 Sydney teams,it won' t be long that the AFL has 4.Look at the Tigers premiership favourites with a host of top line players,where are they positioned ATM?Look at Newcastle?.Look at the Titans?Hardly filled with Z graders. Sorry you can be filled with talent,its how the team gels,the coach's tactics,the atmosphere within the club.The Sharks with minimal funding ,a raw coach,served it up to the premiers and the Tigers and broke the Knight's line on 7 occasions.
MG Burbank
Roar Guru
Yep. Until the GF, when I cry bitter years that next week actually means next year. Warriors-Doggies was okay, two skillful teams playing okay footy. Mateo is a talent- still has a mistake or two in his game which is why coach is not trusting him for the duration. Good for you for hanging in on the other games- a better man than I.
MG Burbank
Roar Guru
That's true as well, although there is definitely a trend going way back of teams playing a higher standard of football in front of packed houses.
MG Burbank
Roar Guru
True. With no juniors and small crowds, the Roosters are walking a thin line- they must remain extemely healthy financially to avoid the threat of merger or relocation. Being a foundation club with such a long and at times successful history affords them quite a bit of insulation, however.
MG Burbank
Roar Guru
Thanks for the support Steve. Parramatta have multiple problems. Jarryd Hayne has never consistently been the player he was in 2009. He's one of those footballers who plays at 70%. Compare him with the true champions of the game- Slater, Marshall, Cameron Smith, and now Cherry-Evans, among others- they play full out, all the time, constantly asking questions of the opposition. Hayne must inject himself more aggressively to be at that level and lead the Eels. Their halves are a huge question mark. I was never convinced of Roberts; good athlete with some skill but just doesn't seem to be able to compete consistently. Sandow is right now way too reliant on his kicking game and isn't attacking the line enough, allowing wingers to get back for his kicks. He looks hugely overpaid right now. Parramatta's pack is willing but doesn't have nearly enough athleticism or variety in it. Compare it to Manly, Brisbane or even Souths- those packs have big men, offloaders, hole-hitters and guys able to use footwork. Parramatta have a bunch of triers who go one-out and die with the ball. Bottom line- no one is listening to Kearney. But knowing the NRL, Parra will probably lift and beat the Panthers this weekend, but that won't solve these chronic problems.
oikee
Guest
I wish they would find a coach who allows the winning team to play again the next week-end. ? How many times have you seen the Warriors win a game, only for the next week-end the coach has changed the whole team around. It happens every year. I dont even know the last time i have read or seen that after winning a game, they have announced no changes for next week-end. It is like the coaches dont want to build a winning team. I thought it might have been different with a new coach, but this pillack is doing the same Cleary did, changing every week.
steve b
Guest
yeah teach cant wait for origin, but you have got to admit that most matches were played in crap conditions dosent make for great footbal l.I will keep reading your comments their always worth the read and you always get em going. As for parra what do reckon their problem is interested to read your opinion.
Matt F
Roar Guru
The low crowd may have played a part, though to be honest I've seen some great games played in front of small crowds and some awful games played in front of big crowds. I'd say it had less to do with crap crowds and more to do with crap teams!