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This is tricky. My team is not in the grand-final this year (again) and, like most people, I normally adopt a team for the game to make it a bit more interesting. I usually choose the team I hate the least.
However, this year I have a problem: I hate both teams.
I’ve hated the Roosters and Manly for almost as long as I’ve followed rugby league.
My list of hated teams changes from year to year based on certain factors, for example this year Brisbane rose up the list due to their continued circumventing of the player negotiations rules and Melbourne has been a team on the rise due to their preferential treatment by the referees.
But Manly and the Roosters are always on the list, permanently etched in the top two spots.
All this is not to say the grand-final won’t be a great game. It will be and I can’t wait to watch it. But I need a team to follow so I can feel that sense of investment and engagement.
My struggle has been so difficult that I have drawn up a pros and cons list. The pros were extremely difficult to think of and the cons were so easy I had to separate them into sub-categories.
Here it is so far:
Pros
The Roosters are a great defensive team, which has to be admired. They also have a progressive and seemingly intelligent coach. They have been very consistent this year and deserve to be in the big game. Also, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is an exciting player and I really like his name.
The Sea Eagles play with determination and passion, which was no more evident than in last Friday’s game. They have earned their spot in the GF. You also have to love George Rose for being able to play professional sport despite being undeniably fat.
Cons – supporters
The Roosters’ supporters are a wishy-washy, soulless mob who have turned up this year due to the signing of Sonny Bill Williams and will be nowhere to be seen next year when that mercenary returns to rugby.
The Sea Eagles’ supporters are an arrogant and dislikable group of bitter whingers who won’t travel to watch their team – thank goodness.
Cons – the club
The Roosters bought their 2013 team. How they could afford to purchase Sonny Bill, James Maloney, Michael Jennings and Luke O’Donnell in the one off-season astounds me. It’s almost like they are not subject to the same salary cap as everyone else.
The Sea Eagles have long been the dirtiest team in the NRL. They fight and scratch and bend the rules with amazing consistency – and are proud of it.
Cons – the players
The Roosters’ Mitchell Pearce is without doubt the least talented player ever to play Origin. The fact that he has played so many Origins is a complete mystery to every league fan.
He is soft and skill-less and, worst of all, everyone knows it. I blame him for at least 20% of NSW’s losses over the term of his Blues career.
The Sea Eagles’ Brett Stewart is talented but is there a more dislikable player in the league? Yes: Glen Stewart.
Glen Stewart is so dislikable that for a brief period he made me cheer for Adam Blair. Adam Blair!
Cons – other factors
The Roosters personify what is wrong with the NRL. This is largely because they build their team from the hard work of clubs that develop juniors and suck the loyalty out of the game.
They are also responsible for Freddy Fittler, whose moronic commentary stands out even at Channel Nine, where they invented moronic commentary.
Even though he now claims to be a Panther, Phil Gould will always be a Rooster at heart. Nuff said.
The Sea Eagles’ Geoff Toovey is remarkable for the amount of whinging he’s crammed into his short coaching career. He makes Ricky Stuart sound like Gandhi. Add the Manly Board and the whole place becomes a sook factory.
Let’s not go into the club’s history of producing players like John Hopoate, Cliff Lyons and Ian Roberts.
Conclusion
My conclusion is that I still don’t know who to go for. Is it possible to watch a game and not lean slightly towards one team? I don’t think so.
I need some help here. Suggestions?
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