What a match of tangled emotions! On a number of levels I felt myself riding along with the fascinating and frustrating conflict on the screen.
Judging by the messages rolling in from my footy mates during the playoff qualifier for the Rabbitohs and Dogs it sounds like that was pretty widespread.
I was fascinated to watch the Rabbitohs battle with themselves as much as their opponents, and particularly with Dogs’ captain Michael Ennis.
That they found a way to win such a difficult match with such a gritty and committed opposition could be just the tonic for Souths as a team.
But did they actually deal with what lay in front of them at half time or did they just keep grinding away in their usual fashion, praying that everything would work out ok?
I guess only they really know how much they gained out of this vital match as well as the important two competition points.
The other group who seemed to struggle with frustration in this match were the commentary team.
Like Souths they seemed to struggle from very early on with the fact that the red and greens were not dominating. They seemed fixated on any and all of the errors made by Souths in the opening 40.
But at half time the stats showed that not only had the Dogs made errors too but that the share of position and possession was not even a consideration, certainly not to the point the commentary team kept grinding into us.
Perhaps they wanted a win by some margin for the Rabbitohs to build up next Thursday night’s blockbuster – the Roosters hosting the Rabbitohs.
They also continued to ratchet up the frustration scale for me with a whole host of their usual forays into the merits of other programmes appearing on their network, other matches being televised this weekend, the mechanics of modern day football and how much they hate this footy compared to the great days of decades past.
All the while there was a tremendously competitive and tough as nails battle going on. The Bulldogs playoff chances demanded a victory.
The toughness and difficulty each team posed for the other appeared to be just what the Dogs wanted, their modus operandi for victory.
“Whatever it takes” could well have been plastered on the walls at Belmore; it appeared to be tattooed on the forehead of their captain!
Souths as a team were clearly put off their game by Michael Ennis’s antics.
Sam Burgess seemed to be suffering the same dramas with his English teammate James Graham apparently knowing just how to rearrange Sam’s apple cart. I thought that one on one was an epic and certainly something that everyone could have enjoyed with some more prompting from the frustrated and distracted commentators.
Big Sam won the match for Souths because he found a way. His combination plays on inside passes from the crafty Luke Keary kept them in the match – two really important tries but more importantly footy smarts utilised to craft them.
He also triumphed physically, coming back onto the field after appearing to be finished for the night at one stage. He is also a man on a mission yet with a different method of going about achieving it.
Adam Reynolds showed calmness under pressure to find the best of the try passes to take his team to the front on the scoreboard when it really mattered.
He did so without running behind his support runners and showing great awareness of that specific situation – he may not have done that in the past.
Maybe these moments show Souths are improving their poise, particularly the halves. Reynolds cool as a cucumber field goal emphasised that point.
But what of the Dogs result and future? A text from a mate, a Parra fan says plenty: “Ennis is annoying me! You should not be able to play like that and allowed to win. Somebody should do something about it.”
The commentary team seem to switch between admiration and frustration on this matter.
They sometimes makes me feel as if they enjoy the way Ennis does what was commonplace “back in the day”, a time when the style of footy was what they long for today: niggle, debate, push.
And yet they too eventfully want the referee to take action. In fact some of the comments suggest the referee needs to take much sterner action.
My mate said it like this. “Ennis is the worst influence on our sport. Refs even said they knew what was happening yet they did nothing to stop it.”
Thankfully the Rabbitohs did what they needed to do by managing those tendencies to play frustrated footy, enough to win the match.
Bigger but different challenges lie ahead.
I can’t wait for their next match.
Matthew Edwards
Guest
I don't like voss. Not at all. I hate warren's commentary and hate Hadley just as a human being though
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Oh yeah. He is too! I always forget I don't want him Pretty much after he told JT it was a retirement fund after a sledge
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Haha carnahan delivers again!
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
To be honest, the whole Gus + Rabs thing doesn't rub me the wrong way as much as it does others. I actually find it amusing, but accept I'm probably in the minority there. If they had more live games in HD, but still had this pair, I'd see it as the least worst result. Hadley is the real problem. I find it interesting that he said this week "Singo wants me to be on the radio a bit more". Which means of course, that Nine are realising what they suspected all along but were powerless to stop - that Hadley is just detested by thousands of League fans and that people were switching off. It gave him plausible deniability "oh, Singo wants me on his radio station more often" rather than "Gyngell hated the fact that Hadley was dissing channel nine , because Footy Show watchers are the same demographic as Hadley listeners, so having him call Channel 9 games nullifies this threat to Footy Show ratings". Obviously Gyngell would have had a fair idea that bringing Hadley over would produce the result it has for Channel 9, but he likely would have needed stats to show it. A simple google search, a quick check of Roar forums (partiuclarly ones where the dashingly handsome Jack Henry has left comments), and a review of written complaints to Nine would have given him this. And Hadley himself knows that money talks. So he would have had to wear it. But he also would have given himself a respectable out - hence the Singo reference. Interesting that we haven't seen Hadley since the advent of Thursday night footy, and asuming this is the state of play from now until season's end, I think the above is the reason why. Just my reading of the tea leaves though.
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
Very good!
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
Mate, I'm going to disagree with you in the strongest possible terms there on Wally Lewis. For someone that many well-respected judges say is the best to have ever played the game, he adds surprisingly little to any commentary. I take your point about Hunt - agreed, it was interesting - but that's it. He's a non-entity in my view. Johns on the other hand is the complete opposite, talking about how Nightingale angled his hips differently to score over Vidot last night is just one of like a million examples. I don't hear that sort of thing from anyone else except Gould. And I'm certainly not pro-Johns, my view on him being given the Immortal thing are on record. Then there are the aspersions that will be continuallly cast over his playing career for taking what were effectively performance enhancing drugs - despite ostensibly not being "performance enhancing".
Pomoz
Roar Rookie
Well said. The game is plenty tough enough and doesn't need punches to make it better. Some of the former player harping on about the good old days when men were men and you could smash somebody's face in is a an embarrassment. MMA , UFC or boxing is the place for that. It is ludicrous to suggest a grown man needs to be able to punch somebody to vent their frustrations. If players can't keep their frustrations in check then maybe they should play a different game.
Pomoz
Roar Rookie
Yeah right, the 205m, 2 tackle breaks, 2 line breaks and 2 tries made it really close. I don't know what Sam would have to do to impress you. Get a second airport built in Sydney?
Mr Sportsbet
Roar Rookie
Commentators Andrew Johns & Wally Lewis really read the play beyond brilliantly and by geez they get it spot on 99% of the time - eg Wally when he was talking about Ben Hunt tonight ( I had sports ears at the game).
Muzz
Guest
Part of the problem is that they encourage the commentators to be themselves where as they should give them some parameters like Fox.Who cares who Ray Warrens man crush is this week and listening to them debate over a rule, that as commentators, they should be clear on. Channel 9 will only appreciate the game once they lose it and the revenue it generates to a rival network.
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
Sometimes I think they actually just really hate the fans. It's one of the only plausible explanations.
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
Someone should have asked him about Jamie Goddard. He was roughly around the same size, not 30kg heavier.
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
Each to their own I suppose. I think you might be in the minority there though.
miccy
Guest
I found the game frustrating because of the Ennis niggling. He was warned two or three times by the ref, but the ref did nothing..He should have been sent to the bin for 5 minutes, not allowed to continue berating and yelling at the ref. I am also annoyed that Ennis gets away scott free in a situation where Luke was put on report. Ennis had Luke in a dangerous position..almost a reverse crusher tackle, again he was yelled at a couple of time by the ref to let go the legs, when he didnt and Luke lashed out..Luke gets put on report and may miss a c crucial game. This is an absolute joke.... I hope Cronulla are looking forward to having this grub at their club next year..I wouldnt want him..he is a dirty player, one of the worse I have seen and I have followed RL for over 50 years
SPIDER RABBIT
Guest
Its less to do with Warren and Gould however the both of them are past it, and more to do with the producers of the the programme. Channel nine are ruining this game by getting involved with the draw and the scheduling of games in exchange for money. Its a disgrace and unfair. Broncos every Friday night, Thurs night football crowdless games, Promoting shows that have absolutely nothing to do with league. Manipulating the replays for influencing decisions. Its time the NRL stood up and laid down the rules and stood by them and stop the media from having undue influence over the game. it is close to cheating if it is not already. Time the media was put in their place and realise they they do not control the game, and to a larger extent the wider media, to stop trying to force their own opinions and biases on everyone else. The media seem to think they can control everything including sport and politics and even how we think.
SPIDER RABBIT
Guest
To bad your theory is now dead in the water as the NRL has now told the refs the talking back is finished for the finals series and they have been told to sin bin for defensive captains / players who talk to refs other than at major stopages. Ennis has just shat in his own shoes. That will make life a little more difficult for the games 2 biggest whingers , Ennis and Lyons these 2 guys are the biggest cry babies in the game.
SPIDER RABBIT
Guest
Totally agree Rabbits Warren and Gus Gould argueing and talking about things other than whats in front of them is very annoying. However the thought of Hadley commentating makes me sick. Sterlo is brilliant, Voss the only other viable aternative. Almost anyone would be better than Hadley. geez Rolf Harris on speed and helium would be better than Hadley.
P.Marlowe
Guest
Is Sterlo one of the the best guys in league? I live in Queensland and don't know anyone who has a bad word to say about him - he's just such a articulate, amiable and impartial guy - a real credit to the game.
Storm Boy
Guest
Compare the pair of Thursday nights. If you thought Dogs Tigers was better than last night you should go follow netball.
Muzz
Guest
You know when something is beyond ridiculous.It's that bad that it beggars belief. Well that's Channel 9 and the lack of respect they have for the game.