In my Steeden-esque world, the countdown to this season’s opening round was shaping up like any other.
With the off-season from hell long vaulted, it was business as usual, and for my good mate Anthony that meant reading a barrage of my hyperbolic pro-NRL texts.
Only this year there was a wicked twist.
Rather than basking in a bevy of comic-laden retorts, I was promptly axed and left wheezing for a medicab thanks to this parting shot: “Not me. I’m on the bus to November, see you then”.
Now just so you know, Anthony’s no token footy fan, so this was far deeper than a bad-hair-day sook.
Long before the likes of Danny Buderus, Boyd Cordner and Latrell Mitchell, Taree had my mate, Anthony. And while he never claims to have delivered on the park, he’s rusted on tighter than a grandfather’s FJ wheel nut.
A Super League survivor who still clung tight even after the NRL speared his beloved Bears, Anthony’s tougher to remove than a month-old beetroot stain. Not even bigwigs Ken Arthurson and John Quayle could shake him from a top-end bash back in the day, welcoming him with open arms after falling for his fake allegiance to the NSW Touch Association.
So when Todd Greenberg is chasing free advice, his team could do far worse than listen to this fed up and battle-scarred supporter who doubles-up Monday to Friday in Sydney’s corporate space.
Thankfully, in the interest of therapeutic recovery, Anthony agreed to pour his heart out and let the demons loose while the camera rolled.
In a wideranging chat, Anthony opened up some of the NRL’s most divisive topics.
After simmering to the beat of the NRL’s horror off-season, he took aim at the conflicted approach of the NRL and its clubs.
He pointed the finger at Cowboys chairman Laurence Lancini’s negative response to the NRL after their decision to stand down a guilty Scott Bolton and was surprised by Manly and St George Illawarra’s attempts to play Dylan Walker and Jack de Belin.
“While I see the point they are trying to make, I’m absolutely staggered at the naivety that they are displaying in the current social climate that it’s a good idea to push back,” he said.
On the Indigenous All Stars’ attempts to promote discussion on alternatives to Advance Australia Fair, Anthony felt the NRL failed to capitalise on a golden opportunity to embrace the team’s mature approach, saying, “Whenever this happens, I feel the game misses the opportunity to promote the discussion in a way that the conversation continues constructively and respectfully”.
And on grassroots development, he didn’t have to think too hard before explaining why AFL participation rates have increased faster than the NRLs.
“The AFL are knocking the NRL out of the park with what they are doing in the junior space. This is the third or fourth of these (Sherrin) balls we’ve got from the AFL, and here we are in the middle of Sharks and Dragons territory and rugby league hasn’t come near the schools in this area,” he said.
But at the end of the day, his biggest gripe is with the game’s leadership and its inability to define and navigate towards a desired outcome.
“There’s been so many mixed messages over the years surrounding what the game actually wants to do. If you look at other industries, they know what they want to do, and they know where to do it. The good industry players are the absolute best they can possibly be within those confines”.
Tough topics, strong words. Where do you stand, Roarers, is the Taree junior on the right bus?
1st&10
Guest
Go take the bus, you have NO idea on how to fix the game. Always start with the lower grades. No team should wear 15 different jerseys in one season. Bring back the import rule (now that would screw a few sides ;)
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Your grizzly Bear reminds me of all the people who were proudly declaring that they were abandoning Sydney because the Olympics were coming to town. It's also ironic that he is abandoning the game for a year ( yeah right) after the NRL does what he and the majority wants and stands players down who have yet to air their side of the story in court.
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
Take me through the Sydney Olympics scenario? Scratching my head there. I’ll always watch league but it’s far easier on the eye when my team’s in front.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I'd be more surprised if a player who considered themselves innocent of serious charges wouldn't fight to play in the 18 months leading up to the court case. I've heard plenty of people say they're not going to watch league and other sports for all sorts of reasons like Super League , the demise of teams and avoiding the Sydney Olympics because of some irrational herd inspired nonsense. I just follow sports based largely on how enjoyable it is to watch.
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
That's a fair point Paul, all I can say is, it's not in my top 10 favourite songs.
Paul
Roar Guru
hi Jason, I come back to one of my questions; which door(s) could the NRL open to continue this discussion when pollies would not want a bar of it? These are the only "neutrals" in the flag/anthem/republic type debates, so the NRL going anywhere else would be seen as favouring one view or another. I've said it previously in other Roar forums, the NRL has been badly run by a bunch of people who might be well intentioned but simply have no idea how to run a business. You throw in ex-politicians who are used to managing by thought bubble and it's a recipe for inertia, only reacting when an issue blows up. This is reflected in their appalling forward plan. As a business, the NRL is a joke and a bad one at that.
john
Guest
He makes good points with regards to the lack of direction the game has. The other points he has made are a bit of a hit or miss with me.
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
Paul, he was talking in praise of the Indig All Stars mature approach to the topic compared to confrontational alternatives, and reckons the NRL with their high profile couldve assisted in promoting further conversation. I don’t think the NRL need an opinion either way but they are well placed to open more doors for blokes like Preston Campbell to state their case. Business goals was a good chat. Primarily involving expansion. Does the game try and dominate the east coast or spread further, does it dilute suburbia...one way or another a clear approach is needed.
Paul
Roar Guru
hi Jason, Anthony made some excellent points about what is or isn't happening in the game, though I'm sure he missed the bus when he said "I feel the game misses the opportunity to promote the discussion in a way that the conversation continues constructively and respectfully". This was in relation to some players stance on the national anthem after the All Stars game. I have a few questions: is it the NRLs place to be promoting a discussion about this topic because if it did so, surely it would have to take a position either supporting or not supporting the current anthem? I'm also wondering with whom they would try and continue this conversation? Politicians would run a mile rather than get involved in an anthem discussion so who else could they talk to, without seeming to take one side of the anthem debate or the other? I really like his comment about business and the way the NRL is run. Really good businesses have clear goals, directions & buy in from it's people in how to attain targets. The NRL has virtually none of that.
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
Fair enough Super and i’ll always keep watching regardless of the distractions too. But the game has to be sustainable, so the grass roots case is a good example of where plenty of noise needs to be made. It’s a bleak future for league the less and less kids are involved as time ticks by.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
You can find a negative way to look at anything. Or you can find a positive way. My point is that if he or anyone else is "finished with rugby league " that's fine it's your choice close the door on the way out. If it bothers you that much that players aren't going to schools that you don't want to watch a RTS sidestep or a Kaylan Ponga cut out pass well all the best take the bus and find enjoyment elsewhere. The reality is that most people who are "lost to the game " are first to comment ring up talk back etc. And always seem to know what's going on.
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
To be fair to Anthony in the article though, do you reckon his negativity is justified?
Max power
Guest
Well said super, sick of hearing from negative complainers
terrance
Guest
Got to agree with you gents. What that saying about opinions? They are are a bit like ''a-holes'', every ones got one, but those who continually express their opinions on others are usually ''a-holes''. Poor old fella in the video, what you could say in 20 words took him 200. Just sit back and what the footy, three golden point games last week and a game that was just a conversion away from it. Toughest, most closely contested sport on the planet, sit back, shut up and watch!!!
Jason Hosken
Roar Guru
I'm hearing you loud and clear Super, the only bus I caught on the weekend went to Brookie.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
You take that bus to November mate. I'm going to enjoy a season of great sport and spectacle from some fantastic athletes. No doubt along the way there will be plenty of people writing comment and opinion on how they are "lost to the game". It is amazing how many people who don't watch rugby league any more seem to be up to date and always ready to offer an opinion. On the bus to November as you get towards the end take a look out the window and you may catch a glimpse of the great footy being played in September. See ya