This is right Evander, I have mentioned this also below. I get the feeling though that Scott is not very good at admitting when he’s wrong. Therefore he will just re-write history.

Maybe IMO means In My source john ribots Opinion 🙂

Contrary to what you might think Scott I can read and do not require a picture. Are you only looking for positive responses to your pieces? Seems to me you really struggle with criticism.

In your original piece on this you were quite defensive in response to some roarers, you didn’t mention in those responses that they were someone elses words?

“Deal is done” and “u r not listening mate. Cam is GONE!” Being just two of these respomses. I think youmeven told one roarer that you expect an apology in a couple of months time when proven right. Will you be offering your apology to the roarer as now they were proven right?

So you were adamant this deal would happen, shot down all who disagreed on the back of 1 man’s word who no longer resides in the inner sanctum of the club. Did you not think to corroborate this story with other, maybe more reliable sources before presenting it as fact?

I think you made an assumption based on hearsay. Until a player, his manager or club confirm a signing it is all speculation. Maybe Cam Smith’s “close friend” isn’t as close as he thinks he is?

No Scott this is your opinion. It may be based on observations you’ve made but it is still an opinion as it is not FACT!!

Is John Ribot still on the inside at the Melbourne Storm?
Does he hold an official position which would make him aware of player signings/offers? Perhaps John was reading the papers as much as the rest of us and thought it was a ‘done’ deal? Or perhaps he got the information from someone who got their information from someone and then he passed this onto you?

That Cam Smith had been made an offer and was considering a move back to Brisbane had been common knowledge for sometime, that it was a done deal was speculation using the odds that big money + family reasons = Brisbane.

Did you speak with Cam Smith or his Manager or perhaps the Broncos themselves to confirm the move? If not then I can’t see how statements such as …..”The deal is done”. Stated as FACT without any tangible proof.

I have no problem with speculation, part of the fun of football. Discussing the odds a player will stay or go and investigating the reasons either way makes for great discussion. I have no issue with statements such as “to the best of my knowledge” or “the word I am getting”. But claming FACT without all the FACTS is not good jounalism or analyising.

If you ever get tired of analysing football you would probably make a great politician….FACT 🙂

I don’t know you personally Scott, but you come across as awfully arrogant!
Surely you have realised that this is an opinion site and therefore the contributors are voicing their opinion? I know from reading your posts that you don’t consider any of your contributions as “opinion” rather you class them as “fact”. Like the story by you not too long ago that C.Smith and the Broncos was a done deal, FACT you said (yes I’ve read your excuses for backtracking)….wouldn’t you say now that this was more your opinion rather than actual FACT?

I eagerly await your smart arse, arrogant response 🙂

1. Andrew Johns
2. Darren Lockyer
3. Wayne Pearce
4. Brett Kenny
5. Arthur Beetson

I can’t even understand why he’s in the side, surely this was a great opportunity to play an up and comer?

Series decided, dead rubber…..why aren’t we getting some of our young batsmen into the side?
Surely this would’ve been an opportunity to say “ok guys here’s your taste of international cricket, you’ve got the next 2 games at no risk”.

The NRL/ARL would be better served focusing on the Pacific and SE Asian regions. Areas in close geographical proximity, large growth potential and in the case of the Pacific region (islands) an understanding of the game. Stronger lower tier competitions, pathways to professional league (NRL) and annual scheduled internationals.

The ESL and RFL are big boys and need to sort out their own backyard, if they feel looking further a field into Europe will help their cause then good luck to them. As for the USA, well perhaps better pathways could be set up for their talented players to progress to the professional leagues? Better still talented players could make their way to Australia, NZ etc and play their way to a contract. The US could have a very competitive semi-pro competition if they can set aside their current issues.

Lets grow and then consolidate RL in our own region first.

I don’t think selecting would be an easy gig, but it just seems to me that they are making it harder then it has to be. The guys are there ready to be picked, so why the left field selections? If they’re selecting on hope or assumptions then why not go with the guys who have the runs on the board? Surely the odds of them making a success of it are much better?

Also it’s a 3 test series, why not pick solely with this series in mind i.e. older guys with proven techniques, who are in form and know their game inside out.

On S.Marsh…if after 13 years of FC cricket you haven’t improved, then there is little chance (not none) that you will do it at the next level up. Whatever way you look at it his selection is mystifying!!!

Cheers Suneer 🙂

Not sure that I have ever seen it before, or if it is even a factor but….could these cracks open up so much as to render the pitch “unplayable”? Hopefully not a stupid question 🙂

Perhaps the NRL needs a “trade” or even “loan” type situation?
If Milford wants out, he and his manager need to work with the rival club for a trade offer. Canberra could then accept or decline the trade and offer their own choice for a trade and so on and so on until a deal is worked.

If a trade cannot be reached the Raiders could offer Milford to the rival club on “Loan” for the remainder of his contract thus being compensated for the loss. In this situation the rival club would then have a significantly higher salary to pay (wage plus loan) and may not be quite so interested in poaching.

Whatever the case something needs to be done, clubs lose years of development and future performance when these players up and leave. Compensation may ease the loss a little.

Maybe RL needs more stoppages introduced to allow for advertising but still have live games? IMO the clock should be stopped for stoppages anyway, scrums, restarts etc. If the ball is not in play stop the clock. The ridiculous situation of one team “forming” a scrum is a really bad look, I’d rather go to an ad break then watch that shambles. They stop the clock all the time in the last 5-10 minutes so why not just make it the norm?

Also think RL could extend the game time and have quarters. More game time for fans and ad time for tv. I don’t think it would effect the game play so long as reduced interchanges/substitutes were introduced to allow fatigue to still play a part.

GI plays FB, I’d certainly consider that a “spine” position in todays game ie 1, 6, 7 & 9??

“It was a different era and a different game”

Indeed it was which means you can’t compare players in each position from era to era. What you can do though is judge them on their contemporaries from the time. Langlands and Churchill were head and shoulders the BEST is their positions for their time, in fact as with the other Immortals the best all round of their time.
The Immortals is not a concept to be picked by who was best in each position. Slater has had a good run as the best FULLBACK of his time, but he is by no means the best player of his time. If I were selecting the AUS or QLD sides at this very moment it would be Inglis at Fullback, IMO are far better footballer in all the positions he has played.

Billy is good, very good but lets not mistaken that with greatness or eventually Immortality.

I totally agree with what you are saying here mushi. The immortals concept seems to be getting a wee bit tarnished lately. I for one hope the ARL can secure the rights to the concept and protect it (i.e. not used to sell more magazines).

Why should any of the current crop i.e Smith, Thurston, Slater etc be inducted as Immortals? Do we now need an Immortal inductee form every 5-6 year period? Immortals are once, maybe twice in a generation players. Those two spots for the modern game (NRL onwards) have so far been filled – Johns and next in line should be Locky. Those two guys were the best, bar none (and they had some stiff competition during their prime.

The simple fact that the consensus of support cant separate Thurston, Smith, Inglis or Slater kinda tells me that none of them have really been head and shoulders above the rest.

IMO these guys aren’t in the same class (I mean that with all due respect to their amazing football abilities) as Locky and Johns…or the other Immortals. Have a look at the names on that list and they are synonymous with Rugby League.

Now just tio muddy the waters, if I ‘HAD’ to choose one it would be Inglis 🙂

I don’t think confrences are the way to go, or if even needed really. As for relegation…as a few other posters have npted it will never happen here as there simply is not the population or interest in a second tier competition.

As hard as it may be to do I think Sydney needs to be rationalised. The game doesn’t need extra teams it needs better located teams. It may be tough in the beginning for sydneysiders to see their team move but it’s better than folding. Would fans of a team really stop following them just because they moved and you couldn’t attend games? How many games do they attend now? I moved 4000km away and still support my team, haven’t been to a game in over 10 years when I was last in town.

Perth, central QLD, CC and possibly Brisbane 2 should be relocated Sydney Teams. I’m not going to suggest who they should be, would be up to the commission to set the criteria.

Relocation, not Expansion.

You’ve lived in Perth for work, that’s nice…I have lived here now for almost 20 years after growing up and living in western Sydney. I came here in 1995 as part of the squad for the original Western Reds side. I was aligned with my local club and whilst there were quite a few eastern state expats, there were also plenty of WA born and bred. As another poster stated RL has been running a competition here for nearly 70 years. So whilst originally a lot of clubs need that expat influence to get of the ground its the locals that make it work.

Original expat parents kids have been born in WA to RL parents and are now having children themselves. This trend will continue with the mining jobs etc, people will come and stay and their children will be West Australians and be exposed to RL, even more so with their own team. Hey presto FANS.

I would like to stress to that the original Reds were screwed by the ARL, SL and NRL. Fielding all grades (inc 19’s and 17’s during SL), paying for their travel accomodation as well as other teams and very lttle support from any administration. If not for the SL war we may still have a WA side, a great unknown I suppose.

WA needs a team, the support is there and will grow over the years from locals and the expats from NSW, QLD, NZL, GB, PNG wherever

The big problem here is the swinging arm, that leans toward pre-meditation. He has gone into the tackle with the intention to hurt, not in the normal heavy contact way but with a swinging arm to the head. S.Burgess is a fantastic footballer but seems to lose his cool when the chips are down. He should be leading by the front in these moments but instead slips into grubby tactics.

I also think the sin bin needs to come into use more often, i know it was intended for “:professional fouls” but minor foul play must be punished more harshly on the spot. The easy option is for the ref to go for On Report, I think this option should be taken away from the ref and placed solely with the MRC. The referee must be encouraged to make decisions out on the field…it’s either a penalty, yellow card or a red card (i’d like to see the card system brought into the NRL) 🙂

I like to see the minor nations represented at the WC and think it is important for the growth of the game however, I would like to see the qty of “heritage” players capped to say 3. The remainder must be made up from residents or citizens of the represented nation. This will give local players far more experience and hopefully allow them to return to their local leagues and pass on this experience.

I would also like to see the players who use the “heritage” rule to represent a country stick with that country. If you think you are good enough to make the AUS, ENG, NZ side than don’t elect to play for a minor nation. If however you are happy you won’t make your national side than why not choose your nation and help develop the game there. Also if you have represented any of the big 3 you need to have not played for them for a period of 3 years before choosing to play for your “heritage” team.

Perhaps a player who is at the end of their career could move to their elected “heritage” nation and play in their comp and help to develop the game in that country. Perhaps a devlopment role after retirement. This of course would need to be supported by the RLIF, ARL and RFL in order to provide an equivalent income to what the player would of earned in say the SL for an Aussie player??

Just my thoughts 🙂

Damien

True plenty of fighters limit the number of fights they have per year but generally this is after they have made their name fighting numerous amateur and early pro bouts. As you point out SBW at this point has very limited boxing skills yet he wants top dollars to fight? He has treated boxing poorly IMO, if he wanted to be a fighter he would of done what Mundine done, give away footy and concentrate all energies on the sport. If he was truly serious about becoming a world class boxer this is what he would of done.

SBW may not endorse many other “brands” but make no doubt about it he is a “brand” and as such he must protect his image and marketability. Continuing to fight has beens and bricklayers wasn’t doing his image much good, especially the Botha fiasco. The next step would have to of been a serious fighter in his prime, that was never going to happen.

SBW is a fantastic athlete and potentially a great of Rugby League or Union. But with this switching back and forward he will leave without a lasting legacy in either game.

The NRL is in a tricky spot, on one hand they need to rationalise Sydney on the other by doing so you may alienate fans. My thoughts are that teams in the NRL must represent large, clear geographical locations. The quantity of teams can then be reduced resulting in far greater quality. Each major city/region must be represented. NSW and QLD would obviously still dominate theses numbers but WA and SA would be represented. The exact regions/teams would be decided by population, sponsors, potential growth etc.

The competition once settled needs not expand in aus again (unless NT and TAS become viable). The game can grow into international markets such as PNG and the Pacific Islands, perhaps potentially SE Asia. By the same token the ESL needs to be doing the same in Europe.

Of course where does this leave the traditional sides? Well a properly run and marketed 2nd division made up of 2 conferences (Nth and Sth). Basically a NSW and QLD cup which come together at playoff time. The traditional teams are still there, televised and playing against other traditional sides. However the NRL is the big show, the regional teams will in effect be representative sides, the best of the best.

I would also suggest SOO remains in the 2nd division with the traditional sides and remaining as NSW v QLD. The pinnacle of the top flight players must be internationals. More internationals between smaller nations and regular international schedule for the bigger nations. With less teams I forsee less games per regular season and therefore more room for internationals.

Anyway, just my thoughts 🙂

Great post, well said.

Perhaps he should not claim to be a boxer then?
A fight once in a blue moon is not a professional, yet he wants to be paid as one. Parker may not have fought to many big names thus far, but he will. As for SBW my feeling is he will never box again. It was all about the $’s, which is fine as long as you are fighting has beens and never were’s, but after being shown up in the Botha bout and now being called out by real professionals it is now no longer a viable pursuit for team SBW.

Being beaten from pillar to post is not great for your “BRAND”

I understand he is a professional, I also understand that loyalty from players or clubs disappeared many years a go now but it’s the sports that he and his manager treat with content, it’s the fans and with his wc backflip even a fellow player.
He and KN now believe that he is bigger than the games he plays, well he’s not. SBW could walk away from professional sport today and life would go on as normal. A new kid will come a long in both RL and Rugby and Boxing would never remember he was even there.