Another wonderful weekend of NRL has rolled by, and another major milestone was celebrated.
Congratulations to Jarrod Croker on playing his 300th NRL match. It’s a special milestone that only a few (46) have reached, and Canberra did a great job of generating a sense of occasion for this important match.
It was even more significant because he is only the 13th player of the modern era to perform the feat with a single club. I started to wonder what sort of stellar team could be formed in the imagination by that elite group.
There would be plenty of selection dilemmas. Would you put Darren Lockyer or Billy Slater at fullback? Andrew Ettingshausen would be one of the centres, but which Croker, Jason or Jarrod, gets to fill the other spot? Would you appoint Cameron Smith or Sam Backo as captain?
The toughest decision would be who to put in the second row. There’s a lot of plodding second rowers on the list, and who would you choose if the only options were Luke Ricketson, Simon Mannering, Mitch Aubusson, Nathan Hindmarsh, Corey Parker or Paul Gallen?
This must be how NSW selectors are feeling as they scramble to get a squad together for Origin 2.
Sadly for most of these players when they reflect on their long careers, the milestone games are not always their happiest memories. We are all quite used to reading headlines such as “No magic in match 300 for Parramatta Mr Nice Guy”, or “Broncos spoil Paul Gallen’s 300th Sharks match”.
Too much pressure is placed on these players in the twilight of their career to somehow inspire their teammates to achieve milestone victories.The current system simply isn’t working. It’s not fair and something should be done about it.
Especially when we have the farcical situation of a player sitting out a match so they play their milestone match at home. What genius thought of that?
My proposal is to have a Milestone Round. This would be a special round where the achievements of all players celebrating milestones during that season could be properly celebrated.
The games would all be held at one venue, and every player celebrating major milestone during the season, for example, first match, last match, birth of a child, 300th game, they could all be placed on the back of a ute and driven slowly around the ground while being interviewed by Phil Gould with ‘Simply the Best’ playing loudly in the background.
Between both teams in any particular match you could probably find 15 or 20 players with some sort of worthwhile milestone, and this sharing of the spotlight would help reduce the pressure on any one player.
I have stolen the idea for holding all the games at one venue from Magic Round, which I attended for the first time this year. There was a large crowd and people seemed to enjoy it, so why not do it more often?
Brisbane seems keen to hold on to Magic Round, and so perhaps Milestone Round could be rotated through some of the less glamorous corners of the NRL universe, such as Canberra or Penrith or Las Vegas, locations which have traditionally struggled to attract tourists.
Couldn’t we at least try?
E-Meter
Roar Rookie
I'd like a 'millstone' round.
WA Sharks Fan
Roar Rookie
David. You can never “manage” this, ever. There will always be something that throws this out of whack and then you get the ridiculous scenario that Sticky created. He made the decision to “rest” Crocker the week before. Crocker should have been able to celebrate the milestone when it was due (the week prior) which would have resulted with a win (in this case) instead of trying to manufacture the “perfect” scenario which backfired badly. Most if not all players would prefer to play if fit and not miss a game due to trying to manage milestones. I feel sorry for Crocker to but Sticky’s decision ridiculous.
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
What about if a player is reaching game 123? Is there a venue in Gary, Indiana worthy of such a milestone? And what city would be prepared to be a permanent venue for anyone reaching the 69 game milestone?
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
What if an unexpected milestone comes up in milestone round, such as first ever try assist from a Zac Lomax flick pass? Do we have to wait until the following year to celebrate it, or can we just suspend the competition until all milestones are acknowledged, potentially with alternative fixtures such as egg and spoon races (for full competition points) to reduce injuries that may delay milestone recognition? Personally, the second option seems the most logical.
mushi
Roar Guru
Just need a movie or TV series called milestone so we can theme the jerseys and get some cross promotion $
mushi
Roar Guru
Rugby league Ramadan
Cadfael
Roar Guru
Why not. As well why not have a Milestone Jersey?
David Roderick
Roar Rookie
I think this is a reasonable suggestion ... provided players aren't past their prime.
Robbo
Roar Rookie
Huh?
josh
Roar Rookie
Agree, and player's prime number matches played in neutral venue's to avoid any other unintended consequences.
josh
Roar Rookie
I'll only support a rugby league round, if those involved only focus on rugby league and nothing else. And I mean nothing else. NO OUTSIDE INFLUENCES AT ALL! Food slows you down; water, waste of time; sleep overrated; getting paid, the root of all evil. As the great Michael Clarke said, while your sleeping I'm training, while your training I'm playing, while your playing I'm training, and so on. This is the mantra all professed exponents of the game must adhere too. Actually jam that. Just play 168 hours straight. Only then would I be happy with a so called "rugby league round"
David Roderick
Roar Rookie
I genuinely felt sorry for Jarrod Croker who was the victim of this mess. It could have been easily avoided if the NRL had a proper home and away draw, where teams alternated home and away games. Then all clubs would have to do is make sure players debut during away games, so provided they stay injury free (and the club doesn't play any finals football) simple mathematics guarantees that the player will always play their milestone matches at home. Is that too much to ask?
Mattpoet
Roar Rookie
Now I actually want Bluey round
Knocka
Roar Rookie
Should NRL have a “rugby league round” where they just focus on the game and nothing else?
matth
Roar Guru
Well we had a Marvel Round once … I can’t wait for Bluey Round
matth
Roar Guru
I’m all in, except I believe that all 24 rounds are now spoken for. The last couple that have been green lit by the NRL marketing department were: – bring your kid to work round. The sight of 13 preschoolers hanging off the back of Payne Haas will be replayed for years. – puppy round, cat people within the playing group have already announced a boycott.
matth
Roar Guru
I’m pretty sure this one is satire :laughing:
Tony Dargon
Roar Guru
I think we're gonna need a bigger ute
Tony Dargon
Roar Guru
:laughing:
WithTheDawn
Roar Rookie
I think people are missing some parody here.