Sharks coach Shane Flanagan is dirty – and I don’t blame him one little bit. His team got beaten by the Bulldogs at Gosford on Sunday in a game where both sides badly needed to win.
The Sharks-Dogs tussle was originally slated for Shark Park, but his club’s (previous) management exported it to Bluetongue Stadium for the sake of guaranteed gate money irrespective of the crowd attracted or any other factors.
I guess it is easy to say in hindsight that Cronulla would have been better off at home, but did anyone really think this was a good move to switch that game away from the Shire?
Home games in the NRL are ‘gold’ and I think club officials should give extra special thought before off-loading even one game as they pursue the precious dollar.
Last year, when I was with the Canterbury club, our management agreed to play a very important ‘home’ game against Melbourne in Mackay, Queensland.
It was very carefully contrived, from a football as well as business viewpoint.
Mackay is Benny Barba’s home base – the Bulldogs knew the game would be a sell-out – and as things turned out, we jagged a very important win against the Storm with Ben the absolute star of the show.
We had the crowd at our back. Mackay became very much a home away from home. And thankfully, we got the job done.
I see that Souths are taking one of their premiership games to Cairns on Sunday, June 16, this year. They’ll be playing the Gold Coast and to me, the switch seems logical.
There will be a State of Origin feel to this game and it won’t hurt one little bit that Mr Greg Inglis is likely to turn out for the red and green team along with some other Queenslanders including Michael Crocker, Ben Te’o, Chris McQueen, Ben Lowe, Dave Tyrrell and Justin Hunt.
I hear this fixture will be on the calendar for three years and I suspect that this Round 14 clash will be an 18,000 sell-out. Good business from where I sit, and a really good promotion of the game.
Anyway, I think NRL clubs should think long – and think very hard – before offering up home games to alternate venues.
Having said that, the Bullies came home with their second win of the season and even though it wasn’t pretty, boy was it important!
I am prepared to say that my club ‘won ugly’, but those two competition points looked picture-perfect as we made our way back home to Canterbury-Bankstown.
Josh Reynolds was our main man, and showed that he is every inch a serious contender for Origin.
He was very upset at missing his chance to play in the City-Country game but turned on a terrific man of the match display with plenty of good judges watching.
Josh leads from the front and has boundless enthusiasm. He is a player with his own style – not afraid to put a big hit on, he always puts his body on the line, and there is an air of unpredictability with his rushes at the defensive line – will he pass, kick or go himself?
I was thrilled to see him sign a four-year contract with the Bulldogs. Josh is a player I feel we will be talking about for many seasons to come.
Last Sunday’s win will serve as a huge tonic for all in the Bulldogs camp, and with key forwards James Graham and Sam Kasiano soon to appear for the first time in 2013, the future is looking brighter by the day.
The Doggies have pretty much had a horror draw in the early part of the season. We’ve played the Roosters, Storm, Rabbitohs and Sea Eagles in the first couple of months.
It’s time our boys got on a bit of a roll. And I reckon we’re a big chance of making it back-to-back against the Tigers at ANZ on Friday night.
KiwiBear
Guest
St Kilda have an arrangement to play two games a season for the following four years in Wellington, long term strategy!
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Just call me Bob of Balmain.
Bearfax
Guest
Yes I always thought you were part of the conspiracy and your debunking of conspiracy theories proves it. What are you trying to hide Nathan of Perth or is that just a nom de plume.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
The nail is a very canny creature, but sometimes I find it instead of my thumb!
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Nathan you hit the nail on the head. In fact at times,you get the alternative view the club has understated attendances such as at Manly and Cronulla at times.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
What's wrong with Dave Smith?? Seems to have had a sterling start, particularly given the set of challenges he has been confronted with.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Year-on-year average after 7 rounds: 2012: 17,190 2013: 18,442 A 6.5% jump. Of course, we can make up massive conspiracy theories about fudged stadium figure but, frankly, almost all conspiracy theories are bunk.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Prove otherwise Marco.it is easy to sit back and say so and so is BS,without evidence. Jusitfy their existence LOL ,historical tenure a start is part of the justification.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
But you haven't responded to the fact Gallop was running the so called worst run sport for 10 years. Under his regime there was no strategic plan out,no rationalisation of the various Leagues,neglect of country and regional football,and a pathetically contracted Tv deal,clubs at times dictated the agenda. In fact it is fair to argue based on commentary,letter writingblogs etc,most fans feel the code neededa new direction. So Mike you are forming an opinion on the ARLC which has been in operation just on 12 months,and the CEO Smith in situ for 3 months. I think you should have looked at the short history of the A league and some of its monumental blunders ,plus the corruption in the world game in some areas,as well as the governing body,before casting stones from a glass house.
marco
Guest
Garbage is what you get if you believe in the hype from clubs who are trying to justify their existence in the competition.
Renegade
Guest
"NRL crowds up by 6.5%? Mmmmmmmmm." Yes they are, i suggest doing a bit of research before posting garbage....
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Yes, and I paid dearly for the bad karma that and the Carlton loss to the Suns with the Port Adelaide fiasco. Whether that karma affected the number of NRL games being brought to Perth, however, remains to be seen. Still don't know why we're not seeing a couple more. The crowds were good.
marco
Guest
NRL crowds up by 6.5%? Mmmmmmmmm. Ever heard of the word " gullable"? Sporting competitions all over the world hype themselves up but the NRL has been caught out fibbing too many times I'm afraid. Brisbane needs a second team then there should be a real increase.
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
Axing Gallop and allowing him to defect to Football Federation Australia was another monumental blunder on the part of the ARLC, in my opinion. No offence to Dave Smith but to my mind rugby league fans have every right to feel like the administration of the sport is going backwards at a rate of knots. I'd be interested to know Steve's opinion on that, to be honest. I wasn't exaggerating when I said the NRL is the worst-run sports organisation I've come across. Though the Asian Football Confederation probably runs it a close second.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
I actually agree the code should be doing better Mike,that is why they have installed a new admin and have a commission running the shebang.Judging by stats to date ,and financials they on the uptake. My response was basically aimed at your comment" ünequivocally the worst run sporing organisation you have encountered in the world". Who was the CEO for the last 10 or so years of this dreadfully run comp,none other than the newly appointed CEO of the A League. Frank Lowy saw fit to secure the services of the former CEO of the worst run sporting organisation. Be aware there may well be another Red and black team in Sydney and surrounds in the next few years. The traditional Red and blacks for Sydney one could argue. I say good luck to the new team.,but remember the Eels are currently at a low ebb.Make hay while the sun shines,clouds tend to appear on occasions.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Comeback i have Oikee,is for the GC to get 15,000 plus average tpo their games,and for the Broncos to get memberships at least in line with the Redsnot ie 30,000. I am all for a 2nd brisbane team,as i have alluded to many times.But the rider being not at teh expesne of current NRL Sydney clubs,unless they are financially unviable. Not sticking up for the NRL,the decision to play the game at gosford was organised by the previous Shark's admin.How can one blame the H/O who offered the admin a chance to go back to teh home ground and they dug their heels in. Cronulla are hanging by a $300m thread.They can hang me with the same thread,I won't object.
Australian Rules
Guest
That's right. By all means sell your home game (if you need the cash) but make sure you romp it in and return with the points. The 2nd loss to the Suns in Cairns cruelled the Tiges' finals hopes.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
"Teams on their day can either beat or go close to beat the top rungers." 'cept the Eels.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
True, but on the other hand, from what corner of England, Scotland or Wales would a person not be able to attend a game of the top-flight league within a hour or two travel overland? There are places in Aus that are not within an hour or two's travel BY AIR to a game of one of the major leagues.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
I envy you, Steve; space must be such a fascinating place to be. ;)