If rugby league ever decides to stop giving – on and off the field – we’re all going to be left with a massive hole in our lives.
Round 9 of the NRL has already given us plenty – and there’s still one game to go. It’s an important one, too, even though the two teams involved – Parramatta and Cronulla – are outside of the top eight.
The closer we get to team selection time for State of Origin I, the more performances mean in the positions that appear to still be undecided.
I’m a fan of St George Illawarra’s Josh Dugan, but Parramatta’s Jarryd Hayne should be the NSW fullback for Origin I.
This season, Hayne is the most complete he has ever been as a fullback. He is a player who has been moved around the backline at club and representative levels, but fullback is clearly his best position now.
He played centre for Australia in the World Cup final against New Zealand last November, but that was in a team that had Billy Slater as fullback. with Greg Inglis as the next choice.
It’s true, if you picked Dugan as Blues fullback you could put Hayne somewhere else – centre or wing – but if Hayne is the best option at fullback he deserves to be picked there.
If that means Dugan missing out on the squad altogether, then that’s the way it goes.
NSW wouldn’t be any better off with Dugan at fullback and Hayne somewhere else. I’m happy with Josh Morris and Michael Jennings in the centres, Brett Morris on one wing and probably Daniel Tupou on the other, unless the need for a goal-kicker points to Pat Richards.
So pick between Hayne and Dugan and leave it at that.
Newcastle’s Joey Leilua has, for a while, been described as a potential Origin player, but his stocks dropped with an extraordinarily bad game for the Knights in their loss to Penrith on Sunday.
Leilua effectively had three try assists, but two of them were for Penrith because of ill-advised passes from him that the Panthers turned into four-pointers.
And those were just the worst elements of an all-round bad game from Leilua.
Another centre, Konrad Hurrell, proved that a satisfied man is a dangerous man – at least on the football field.
Hurrell, in his first game since being fined $5000 by his club the Warriors for his involvement in a sex video that was leaked to the internet, carved it up in their big win over Canberra on Saturday.
But if you want to see a really intense tape, of the football variety, check out Canberra coach Ricky Stuart’s post-match media conference.
Things get awkward while a testy Stuart answers questions about the Raiders having conceded 54 points for the second game in a row.
The Raiders thought that appointing Stuart would be the answer to their woes, despite his poor coaching record in recent years. Now they have a win-loss record of 3-6.
The thing that was the greatest strength of Stuart-coached teams when he was having success, which seems a long time ago now, was defence, but Canberra have easily the worst defensive record in the NRL.
If defence is about attitude, then the Raiders have a bad one. The players are under the pump – but Stuart is justifiably under the pump as well.
League is, of course, no stranger to nightclub incidents, and initial reports suggest there is at least the potential for serious repercussions after Sydney Roosters and NSW halfback Mitchell Pearce was arrested outside a Kings Cross nightclub early on Sunday morning.
We’ll have to wait and see how that one plays out.
On a purely footballing note, it will also be interesting to see how the NRL’s match review committee views the dangerous throw charge against Gold Coast and NSW forward Greg Bird.
There is only one more round before the Origin teams are picked, meaning a charge that resulted in at least a two-game suspension would force Bird out of Origin I.
Finally, it was very sad to hear of the death last night of one of the original Immortals, the great Reg Gasnier, one day short of his 75th birthday.
As a part of the media I always regarded it as something special to be able to ring Gasnier and get his opinion for a story.
He’s a legend. Rest in peace.
Barfly
Guest
As always Greg a great read. RIP to the great Gasnier and Hayne def to fullback a fantastic running back and can take a game by its throat and inspire all around him. Dugan will only show moments of brilliance if his forwards and backs around him are doing most of the work but as far rolling up his own sleeves and doing the work bye himself sry there's not a great deal there. Wingers for NSW Tupou and Mansour with Morris and Jennings in the centres I hope. Stuart well I'm a parra fan and can only thank the fantastic board at Canberra for poaching him as the saying goes ain't karma a bitch........
Clark
Guest
You must not watch many Warrior's games mate. Konrad has always been a devastating ball runner no matter who he plays, his one weakness is his defense positioning on occasions and hands (which is a common occurrence when they get rolled)
Greg Prichard
Guest
Influential types at the Raiders wanted Stuart from the start, once David Furner's cards were marked. There wasn't nearly enough consideration of other contenders. They saw the return of the star player to coach as the answer, regardless of his recent coaching record, but at this stage it is blowing up in their faces.
Nick Inatey
Guest
Time to rehabilitate Jason Taylor. He actually has a brain. He'd be a good coach.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
Canberra Raiders go broke? You must be pulling my leg. One of the richest clubs in the NRL. I will give it that they don't like to spend money, but I suppose you don't get rich by spending money willy nilly. As for the idea of sounding out Ian Millward? Canberra a club that has had many alcohol problems in the past, paired up with a coach who has had many alcohol problems in the past. Yeah I can see that ending well.
Trenno
Guest
How Sticky got a 3 year contract confounds me. Parra were in the same position last year and the Sharks weren't doing much better when he left. Credit where credit is due, he took an Origin/International laden Roosters team (which Muzz had put together and Gus oversaw from his Overlord position) to 3 GF's in a row (winning 1). He also oversaw the last NSW Orign team to taste a series victory (had nothing to do with the Joey Johns comeback) and got Australia to the World Cup Final in 2008 (which we lost). Canberra are now in that awful position, somewhere between a rock and a hard place; they cannot afford to sack him as it will go close to sending them broke yet if he stays, any star they have left (Milf, Papalii, Fensom) will leave and they will end up fielding a hybrid U20's/crocks/reserve grade team as the firsts.The place is hard enough to attract or retain quality players let alone having a coach no-one wants to play for. If it were me in charge I would be sounding out Ian Milward or Andrew McFadden.Northern Pride coach Jason Demetriou is another up and coming star in the coaching ranks. Heck even Nathan Brown would do a better job. I hope for the Radiers sake Sticky proves me wrong but somehow I think this will end in tears.
Muzz
Guest
only ahead with the $
tigerdave
Guest
I'd like to check out Konrads form against a team that can tackle. He has promised sso much and delivered so little, I think because he read the newspaperc clips in the early part opf his career and hasn't thrown them away yet. A for Sticky, quit while you are ahead. Whilre you are ahead? I'm confused. His teams let over 50 points in during the last 2 games.
Sideline Comm.
Guest
+1000
Fazed
Guest
Watching yesterdays game between the dogs & dragons, Dugan will have to have a blinder next Saturday & Hayne have a shocker for Dugan to go fullback for NSW. If Pearce is out, NSW could do worse than have either one of the dogs halves at #7 both are fair kickers & would allow the wing position to be better placed. While Richards has a lot going for him with his kicking, not sure that it has merit for the future owing to his age. I saw Puff play a few times, & certainly a joy to see, will be remembered for all the right reasons rather than many of those on & off the field these days.
Clark
Guest
The Warriors were completely unstoppable on Saturday. It is just disappointing that this performance is overshadowed the the already obvious coaching incompetence of Ricky Stuart.
Greg Prichard
Guest
John Fordham certainly can find work for his people.
Mike from Tari
Guest
Farewell Puff the Magic Dragon, you gave pleasure to many watching you create your Magic, RIP.
Benedict Arnold
Guest
Canberra's board appointing Stuart shows everyone just how inept they are down in the capital. It was as if everybody in Australia except them thought it would a be a bad idea. Stuart's manager is clearly the best in the business.
BA Sports
Guest
Agree Sneaky. Forget he is th ebest attacking option at fullback, his ability to hold up big bodies over the line in Origin could be the difference in tight, low scoring matches
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Firstly I echo the comments by xavialonso . RIP Reg Gasnier "Prince of Centres". Hayne is a full back,and can create from that postion,as a winger he is left to fend(sic) for himself with zilch room to move. Sticky!!! What can I say.Sub par team performances became par for his course.His CV Sharks ,Eels and Raiders,bring true meaning to the description rear enders. Konrad. It always good to see a car driver with a smile on his face.Must be listening to "Happy"by P Williams.Sure put him in the right frame of mind for a tackle busting A grade performance against the Raiders .
Sir Jamie Lyon
Guest
Konrad is a legend. Sticky should quit while he's ahead. Move to barbados
xavialonso
Guest
Rest in Peace Reg Gasnier. Much respect to the original magic dragon of St. George. An absolute legend!
Sneaky
Guest
Let's hope Daley agrees and puts the best NSW fullback, Hayne, at fullback. His try saving defense is freakish. -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.