We are only at the halfway mark of May 2020 and this hasn’t been a great start to the year or the decade.
We’ve had continuous bushfires from last year, floods, the coronavirus and the NRL season being postponed. Don’t forget all the lives lost in those disasters.
We all know the saying: the only way is up. So let’s begin our rising.
That being said, in two weeks’ time, the game we love is back.
(AAP Image/Darren Pateman)
The game has evolved and in a way has been as good as it’s over been.
Sure, a lot may miss the fights, shoulder charges, two-point field goals and old ways. But those days are done. It sounds very much like all the old-school WWE fans who want the Attitude Era back: that isn’t going to happen.
Moving on, I see some massive improvements from the first two rounds. The captain’s challenge has been an effective move. Going back to one ref, which itself is an old-school trick, would be a very good one. Some old-school tricks can work in the modern era.
In a way, some people (myself included) can be a bit harsh to the refs. I know I have been. They’re human, just like us, and humans make mistakes. We learn from our errors.
Being a ref is a very tough job. You have to memorise all the rules and how to enforce them while dealing with all the critics screaming their abuse over the fence.
Don’t deny it, all rugby league fans have used a Stevie Wonder reference at least once in their life about the refs.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
All that aside, I’ve said it before and will say it again: let’s enjoy the season we now have awaiting us.
We’ve got four and a half months of footy we have been just been dying to see. The game we love is back and the teams we support aren’t doing it for their pay checks, they’re doing it for their fans.
Every team isn’t a team, it’s a family. Every supporter of that team, every player, the staff (whether they are coaches or executives) are a family.
The rugby league world is a big family and I for one love being a part of it.
rjb
Guest
I just hope no one contracts a new virus from Larks Tongues in Aspic :stoked:
The King of the World
Roar Guru
Very clever. But I recently became a King Crimson fan and it doesn’t matter whether the game takes place In The Court of the Crimson King or the Land of Confusion, Newcastle will prevail as Bulldogs be In Too Deep of that loss.
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
"Let's just enjoy the footy once it's back" ......I'm with you Adrian and here's hoping that the first match will be a Bulldogs vs Newcastle blockbuster. The Dogs will play like King Crimson and the Knights like Genesis - there's an obvious winner my prog rock friend - the Dogs by plenty! The Knights will be 'Down and Out', 'In A Land Of Confusion', and have 'No Reply At All' as they scream out to 'Mama' for mercy! ;) #GoBulldogs
E-Meter
Roar Rookie
Even if everything was perfect and the refs never made a mistake ever again, people and certain journalists would still complain. "The game's too robotic, it needs more character".
Paul
Roar Guru
sorry, I was referring to the Alan Jones, Phil Gould types, rather than the average folks on the street. You;re right, there'll always be those types blasting away, but I'd suggest few would go looking to see what they'd post or give their opinions a second thought. It's different with the media naysayers simply because they're way more obvious and far harder to ignore.
The King of the World
Roar Guru
I for one sadly won’t agree with you. It’s like the WWE opinion I used. Let’s say the Attitude Era did return then you have the parents blasting them on social media because it’s too violent for their kids.
Paul
Roar Guru
they'll disappear eventually and hopefully won't be replaced Adrian. I just wish they'd go quietly now, rather than staying on and IMO harming the game.
The King of the World
Roar Guru
Nothing will impact the naysayers and that’s just an unfortunate thing.
Paul
Roar Guru
Sadly your well-chosen words aren't going to impact on the naysayers who IMO, are a blot on the game. I completely agree we should be simply grateful top class footy is back, but if the games are ordinary, the refereeing's not up to snuff, etc you can bet the Goulds, Kent's, Rothfields etc will be out spraying everyone with their negative thoughts. I'm lucky, I don't live in New South or Qld so miss out on their rubbish.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
We humans are hard to please. We thought a 2nd ref would help & the bunker would eliminate the bloopers. Now we are back to one ref & something is missed no doubt we'll be complaining again.
Nat
Roar Guru
Gday Jimmmy, you'd love to think that this shut down period would allow for a greater appreciation just to have the game back but I can't see it lasting too long. I read Ikin's opinion piece yesterday, essentially justfiying their treatment of the game and players by the fact 2 media companies pay the money, therefore, open slather. Whatever gets the clicks, can't handle it - play park footy. It'll be business as usual for them by 1st June.
E-Meter
Roar Rookie
Don't care about one ref, new rules, flu shots, the draw, Channel 9, blokes having fun in isolation....sorry if I've missed anything. But place the ball on the tee, the refs whistle and the defence rumbling down the field. Rugby league.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Im with ya Adrian. I feel like an 8 year old with Christmas two weeks away. If the game starts on 28 May I won't complain about anything for the whole season. ( Except for that silly Captains challenge thing, oh and the bunker and Gus Gould and Refs that don't know what a forward pass is and of course the Melbourne Storm ) . But that's it. Promise .