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Dragons tragic.
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I doubt it. I assume StGI paid him out. Griffin only had 6 months to run on his contract and had no guarantee of anything after that. And he could hardly claim unfair dismissal based on the results he was getting.
Legal Eagles: Yet another twist to Manly pride jersey saga with Hasler seeking retribution for sacking
There are a lot of articles and a lot of ideas out on the table now. I’m enjoying reading them all, and this one is no exception. At the same time I don’t see any straightforward way to advance. Right now I’m not sure if the proposed outcome is a strong Wallaby’s side, a strong National competition, a TV relevant competition, more players at grassroots level, more power to head office, more income, or (possibly) all of the above. And assuming these outcomes are interlinked somehow, which of these should be focused on as first priority?
I feel like the tourist asking directions in Ireland, and being told “If I wanted to go there I wouldn’t start from here”.
It's the perfect time for Rugby Australia to try something different to solve their Wallabies malaise
Thanks, just reading the article now. Looks like my little bit of anecdotal evidence is a microcosm of a much bigger problem. And I agree, League runs the same risks if it forsakes the country competitions.
Don’t worry, Wallabies: the NRL is here to save you from yourselves
No doubt that was a part of what started the rot. But then I also read this, from another article on The Roar:
“In 2001, 13.76% of Rugby Australia’s expenditure was related to community rugby. In 2019, it was 3.59%. Well below the AFL and NRL.”
If you’re not prepared to invest in your own product, there is only one outcome possible.
Don’t worry, Wallabies: the NRL is here to save you from yourselves
You raise some interesting points but it goes a lot deeper than money because League always had more money than Union in Australia. I don’t know what has gone wrong with Union, but to throw in some anecdotal evidence, the two NSW country towns where I played seniors rugby, neither has a rugby union club any more. It’s like everyone lost interest at some point and there was no longer the support. Maybe everyone moved on to soccer or AFL or hockey or league or something else.
With regard to the spectacle, despite having played Union I can’t watch it anymore. The game rules have changed to the point where I don’t understand it, and it only superficially resembles the game I used to play. I prefer watching League.
Don’t worry, Wallabies: the NRL is here to save you from yourselves
Is fear factor the important thing, or a hard-working pack that continuously puts pressure on the opposition? The Storm didn’t have either last Friday. Their spine too was ordinary with Hughes, Grant and Munster all playing well below what they are capable of. What does that mean for Friday’s game? Probably nothing. I’ve seen too many teams play like rubbish one week only to put on a clinic the next. I wouldn’t write the Storm off just yet.
Storm lack impact in their pack - and mounting injury toll spells trouble for any hope of challenging for title
I disagree with the comparison to Gasnier, in that I don’t recall Gasnier ever indulging in foul or petulant play on the field. That aside, Latrell has pretty much achieved everything there is to achieve in the game. And being the prodigiously talented player he is, he hasn’t had to work too hard to achieve his success. Whether he’s peaked or not I’m glad he has interests outside rugby league, and if he prefers tending the cows to playing rugby league, well good luck to him I say.
Latrell's career may have already peaked unless he can eradicate momentary lapses of discipline
An excellent article. I hope the end of the series brings with it the usual hunt for the guilty, persecution of the innocent, and praise and glory to the non-participants.
England's Ashes have been historic, if you ignore the actual truth
That’s a very good point. I’m just south of the Queensland border. The good news is plenty of kids at my daughter’s school barrack for the Titans. The bad news is the Titans have only been going for 16 years, and it may need another 16 years to truly blossom.
The graveyard on the Gold Coast: Sacked coaches, sunburned dreams, and crap jerseys
It’s only poor transport if you can’t get the train. Plenty of fans travelling from Helensvale, Ormeau, even Brisbane find it convenient. But yes, if you’re travelling from Burleigh or Southport it’s rubbish. Put the home ground anywhere else though and the transport will still be crap, just for different people.
The graveyard on the Gold Coast: Sacked coaches, sunburned dreams, and crap jerseys
Can’t be just the surf. Manly, Roosters & Cronulla have pretty good beaches and go all right. Newcastle and St George-Illawarra also have good beaches and have won competitions, just not recently. No, it has to be something else. Maybe they need a Leagues club full of pokie machines like Souths or Penrith.
The graveyard on the Gold Coast: Sacked coaches, sunburned dreams, and crap jerseys
Yes but our whingeing is fair, reasonable, and didn’t go much further than the captain and the local papers. Their whinging is self-righteous indignation, embraced ridiculous carry-on on the field of play, includes the coach and many of the players, involved abuse from the Lord’s members and for the cherry on top they drafted their PM to join the whinge. We may be whingers, but we’re way way below the standard that has just been set.
Australians like to whinge too: The 1985 Ashes
Come on Mike. Dragons played well for 20 minutes, whereas Tigers played well for 5 minutes and the Dogs for two. Dragons to third last otherwise these rankings are meaningless.
NRL Power Rankings: Can we have multiple teams in last place as Tigers, Dogs and Dragons circle the drain
The nipple cripple? Pfft. Bring Will Skelton or Taniela Tupou into the side and give all the Englishmen crusher grip handshakes before play starts.
The spirit of cricket was murdered in cold blood by sunburnt thugs - and the game might never recover
If I’m the Dragons I’m in no hurry to release Ben Hunt. This season’s gone anyway, I’ll wait for the right deal to come along thanks. If it’s not of significant benefit to the club, well sorry Ben, you have to stay put.
Round 17 Talking Points: NRL needs to take a stance - Hunt drama shows 'very soft' contract system has to be fixed
Great article. Encapsulates exactly how I feel – betrayed by the club captain no less. The thing that gets me is this is not some greenhorn junior who signed his first contract without understanding all the issues, it’s a senior player on his 4th or 5th big contract. He knew exactly what was being asked of him and what his obligations are. Ben Hunt should honour his contract and turn up for the side, in whatever position they want him to play. If that means being back up to Sullivan, Liddle or Mbye, so be it.
Dear Ben Hunt: Avoid cowardly act, lest your Dragons legacy be completely ruined
Interesting. Titans did recruit a marquee player in Scott Prince to kick off their first season, something that the Dolphins weren’t able to do. But you would have to say Wayne Bennett is worth somewhat more than a John Cartwright.
NRL Power Rankings: The Roosters slide, Parra on the rise - and are the Dolphins done?
Bennett also recommended Steve Price as the right choice which turned out to be an abject failure. No, Price and McGregor never suggested they were held back by the club, despite McGregor having a team selection committee put in place above him, and having to paint the gym himself in the off season. I would suggest the current media pile-on is justified due to 10 years of marginal performance, the inability to attract their preferred coach, and this year’s recruitment which consisted mainly of cast-offs from last years wooden spooners.
Flanno’s fashion doesn’t suit - Dragons need fresh coaching style to oversee overwhelming overhaul
I get what you are saying, but then who is the right coach for a club with a split board and mediocre football department, stacked with old boys and vested interests? Who can effectively coach in those circumstances? Certainly not rookie coaches – the tenures of Steve Price and Paul McGregor proved that. The only coach to achieve significant success at the Dragons was Wayne Bennett, who not only had the necessary experience, but he also had sufficient standing in the game to be able to tell the board and management to butt out. Of the names put forward as coaches, Flanagan strikes me as the only one who could do the same.
Flanno’s fashion doesn’t suit - Dragons need fresh coaching style to oversee overwhelming overhaul
Your assuming that all the coach has to do at the Dragons is coach the side. I don’t think that is the case. The Dragons coach has to battle against the forces of evil, that includes a split board and a football department that are both full of old boys and vested interests. A coach of Bennett’s standing was able to tell them to butt out and let him get on with it. A Hornby, a Young, or any other young coach won’t be able to do that. Unless and until the Board and Football Department change, a young coach isn’t going to cut it. Of the coaches mentioned, only Flanagan appears to have the requisite ability.
NRL News: Seibold backs Flanagan for Dragons job but Bennett less sure, Papenhuyzen shoots down swift return chat
Dragons have previously tried younger coaches in Steve Price and Mary McGregor. It hasn’t worked. What they need is a smart, experienced operator, someone with the requisite authority to deal with a dysfunctional Board and football department. That excludes Young and Hornby. Flanagan may be the best hope.
NRL News: Seibold backs Flanagan for Dragons job but Bennett less sure, Papenhuyzen shoots down swift return chat
There is probably an interesting discussion to be had as to where we get our moral compass from, how much is innate, how much comes from our family and upbringing, and how much comes from watching a boofhead footballer. I’m not qualified to have that discussion, but I suspect for the latter it’s not very much. I could be wrong.
Making de Belin captain of Dragons a sad indictment on a club that doesn't know what true leadership looks like
Well, you either have faith in the legal system or you don’t, and the legal system dropped the charges so that should be the end of it. That means St George can select him as captain if they wish. And let’s face it, no-one is going to equate the captain of a footy team with a position of high moral standing in the community, no-one is going to look to deBelin for moral advice, and anyway it’s a temporary position in Ben Hunt’s absence.
Making de Belin captain of Dragons a sad indictment on a club that doesn't know what true leadership looks like
I dunno. I don’t mind seeing some of the reserve graders get a run in first grade. It does make it tricky in the tipping competition though.
NRL Round 13 preview talking points: Your team’s season now relies on the reserves
An interesting take on things. Should that League ball in play % be 81 instead of 18? In any case, I’m not sure how much of this affects people’s decisions. Much as I tried to steer my kids towards the activities I used to like, they invariably went their own way (which generally involved whatever their mates were doing). Costs were certainly an issue back then, and probably still are, but frankly these fees don’t look too bad compared with (say) piano lessons.
Rugby union vs rugby league: A footy dad's 'little experiment'