As a Newcastle fan I walked out of Allianz last Saturday not looking forward to the decider and as Grand Final week has elapsed it seems this feeling has been embraced by Rabbitohs fans, a large proportion of the rugby league fan-base and of course by AFL fans.
We all have our reasons, but I figured this disinterested mob, of which I openly acknowledge to be a part of, might have some reasons to watch and even enjoy the game, so here goes.
1. Biased Commentary
Rabbits Warren and his trusty sidekick Gus Gould will once again be there to offer their independent thoughts on the game.
With David Gyngell’s influence looming over, objectivity will be in the air especially when Freddy Fittler gets air time on the sideline. For the neutral it should make for good mocking.
2. Referees
According to referees boss Daniel Anderson, the performance of referees last week was “excellent”, so he musn’t have been watching SBW last Saturday.
Well the man jointly responsible for that farce last week, performed so ‘excellently’ that he got himself a position in the decider.
Honestly having Shayne Hayne out there is just asking for a comedy of errors, his sidekick from last week Ashley Klein is in the video ref’s box and this is at the end of a season that has been dominated by ref blunders.
Come on Shane, give us comic relief.
3. The Teams
Oh doesn’t everyone love Manly and the Roosters. Of course not and while it will be painful to watch one of them lift the trophy there is consolation in the fact that one of them will lose.
Besides, we get to spend the whole game thinking of ways to mock their loveable characters and what could be better than that.
4. Geoff Toovey
Something tells me that Channel Nine will be doing a number of close ups on this colourful character and his mood swings should make for good entertainment.
Stick around for the post game press conference and there will either be the call for Manly to be regarded the best team of recent times or for a full investigation.
5. The NRL
From the pre game entertainment to the game itself there will be plenty of opportunities to bag the NRL. There might be an empty crowd due to a full ebay as well.
Then again the Rabbits and Gus might be objective, the refs might have a blinder, Geoff might have taken up meditation, the NRL might produce a professional spectacle and the game might be an absolute beauty.
Either way this game is sure worth watching.
Von Neumann
Roar Guru
most complete comment of the two I put down, mods. A summary of all my correspondence to the NRL in case someone actually reads it. I will be trotting out these principals on the various sites around the place in the coming months. Not supporting rugby league so you can bag it, reduce its adoration for yourself and others, which reduces prosperity. This is the skepticism I have recently cottoned onto and put into a theory complete with solutions to reduce it. I am noticing plague-like proportions. Its a destabilizing effect. Such skepticism is promoted across the media and even by the commentators. Making video ref concurrently ref game with on field ref, better stadia that brings fans to it sooner, and in close to the action and also covers the stadia in rugby league tradition, visually, auditory, and mentally (such as Citi Field in New York - it borrowed from local tradition and history and put it into a modern "monument", and the stadium is now known as a favorite in the USA), akin to a war memorial and/or coliseum. When one introduces art to the imagination (art being the extension of our senses and intellect), I fail to see how people won’t be swayed to ‘buy into’ the grandeur and excitement of rugby league, especially when the ref-calls are improved, the crowds are bigger more often, and the emotion is running high. How one will bag the nrl after all that will be interesting to see. At the least it will cause detractors to lament, rather than deride, a ruined spectacle. This of course, is still a massive leap forward. Because it removes skepticism and promotes adoration. Such a move, to stadia rationalize and dress such stadia up in a rugby league theme, will also make fans feel the game has a home. In this sense, defending a physical entity (and mental ideal) will be easier for fans. This in turn will strengthen the game across all levels and measurements. Its ticking every box we could possibly lift. As such, I think rationalization and at least one such stadium given the league-treatment needs to be brought forward. People need to be reminded of rugby league tradition - that its not dead or past - and often. What better way than to marry a quality stadium to this notion. Monuments and rituals, and the water-tight presentation and congruency of the ideals and values and traditions they uphold (to defend against human - nature's default skeptisism of it which is always wearing away at it) have been apart of our species for 200,000 years or more. Its still with us, though in more complex ways, the machination of it remains the same - only the environment and the ethics under which it takes place has changed somewhat. Developed in conjunction with the game theory I have applied to the various sporting codes in this country. - Von Neumann.
Von Neumann
Roar Guru
Not supporting rugby league so you can bag it. This is the skepticism I have recently cottoned onto and put into a theory complete with solutions to reduce it. Such skepticism is promoted across the media and even by the commentators. Making video ref concurrently ref game with on field ref, better stadia that brings fans to it sooner, and in close to the action and also covers the stadia in rugby league tradition, visually, auditory, and mentally, akin to a war memorial and/or coliseum. When one introduces art to the imagination (art being the extension of our senses and intellect), I fail to see how people won't be swayed to 'buy into' the grandeur and excitement of rugby league, especially when the ref-calls are improved, the crowds are bigger more often, and the emotion is running high. How one will bag the nrl after all that will be interesting to see. At the least it will cause detractors to lament, rather than deride, a ruined spectacle. This of course, is still a massive leap forward. Because it removes skepticism and promotes adoration.
john badseed
Guest
deep breaths Fran. even Ricky was put on to keep ch 9 (easts) happy, he looks like Freddy. I'll wake up OK, how 'bout Gus?
Phelpsy
Guest
I can't believe they are going adds in the commentary on nine... Flicked over and saw an awesome try though ... By the roosters ... But talking about Holden while there is play going on !!!! Really !!!
Brett
Guest
I think ppl spend too much time bagging rugby league than supporting it. How about we watch it because rugby league is an awesome sport and this is the grand final. I need no other reason!
Fran_Gipani
Guest
1 reason: Manly YET again winning :) Ricky Martin....is it 1998? Its cringeworthy.