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Lawyer, sports advocate and proud owner and founder of the Ladies Who empire, including Ladies who League, Ladies who Legspin, Ladies who Lineout and Ladies who Leap. Send me love on twitter at @ladieswholeague! x
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At the start of the year, I declared that if Brad Arthur could not get the Parramatta Eels past Week 2 of the finals, then it might be time to say thank you to their head coach and look elsewhere.
Following a sixth-month break, today the Australian Women’s Cricket team are back in action, taking on India in a series which will include three ODIs, a Test Match and three T20 fixtures.
Earlier this week, the Australian Wallaroos announced their new head coach Jay Tregonning.
On Saturday afternoon, the Gold Coast Titans’ 2021 season came to an end at the hands of the Sydney Roosters, who managed to hold on to win by 25-24.
Just over a week since the NRL announced that the women’s premiership will be postponed until early next year due to COVID, I’m still extremely disappointed.
This year ‘player welfare’ has been the catch cry for the NRL.
Some people hold the view that sport and politics should not mix. In my view, the two cannot be separated.
I certainly wouldn’t want to be a sports administrator right now.
When I first started writing about rugby league eight years ago, my goal was to encourage more women to get involved in conversations about the game, but also to promote the women that were visible to me in the game.
On Thursday night, against an understrength Sydney Roosters team, the Parramatta Eels slumped to their third loss in four games.
Two years ago, I decided I would travel to the United Kingdom for the Rugby League World Cup in 2021. At the start of this year, I accepted that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, that that would no longer be a possibility.
Five years ago, after the Rio Olympic Games, Australian BMX athlete Lauren Reynolds was at her lowest.
Despite the Bulldogs’ lowly position on the ladder in 2021, the past week of activity suggests there is something to be excited for in 2022.
With the announcement that Emma Jeffcoat will be one of the six athletes set to represent Australia at the Tokyo Olympic Games in triathlon, she joins a rich history in triathlon of successful women named Emma.
Apparently lockdowns are particularly difficult for rugby league players.
Over the last five years, women’s sport has become increasingly prominent.
Yesterday it was confirmed by the Dragons that prop Paul Vaughan would be sacked following a party at his home on the weekend, which broke COVID-19 regulations.
Despite playing a variety of sports growing up, Tamika Saxby almost had no choice but to play squash.
This week is crunch time when it comes to the NRL Women’s premiership.
Earlier this month, Ellie Pashley was named as part of the Australian Olympic team to head to Tokyo for the Olympic Games.
I see where you are coming from Rob. My concern with To’o in particular was that Parramatta’s edge defence has, at times, really struggled this year.
Parra's players deserved more but Brad Arthur has done enough to remain as Eels coach
Dirk, I honestly cannot even remember. 😂 😂 The 2021 season seems so long ago… but from memory you are right in that the Eels have traditionally struggled away from home and agree that the coaching staff have a role in managing this one.
Parra's players deserved more but Brad Arthur has done enough to remain as Eels coach
Thanks Dirk.
It’s been a weird couple of years that’s for sure.
Re the mid season swan dive, I really am not trying to make excuses here, but I am really interested to hear how the re-location impacted different teams and players. It may not have impacted some players at all, for some it may have had a big impact. Perhaps the resilience of the squad is a factor here too.
I just know that I haven’t been at my best during this lockdown period and whilst I am not a footy player, I can understand how some of them may not have been at their best either.
It was also my preference this year that the team started strong given how hard the back end of the draw was… for me that was the only sensical thing to do to try and ease the pressure towards the back end of the year.
Parra's players deserved more but Brad Arthur has done enough to remain as Eels coach
I’ve got to disagree with that assessment Tom.
When Arthur started, Parramatta was in worse shape than the Tigers from a governance perspective.
As for us not looking any closer, again I disagree. You cannot compare the team that exited on Saturday night with the team from 2 years ago which went out in round 2 to the Storm and didn’t even look like they were in the game.
Parra's players deserved more but Brad Arthur has done enough to remain as Eels coach
I really wish I knew the answer!!
Parra's players deserved more but Brad Arthur has done enough to remain as Eels coach
Me either, truth be told.
Parra's players deserved more but Brad Arthur has done enough to remain as Eels coach
Terry I get your point and it’s really hard.
If Brad takes us to the finals for the next four years but continues to bow out at week two, how long do you keep him in the position for?
Do you risk it all for a new coach that could leave the team missing the eight? That happened with Brian Smith and look where we ended up with Michael Hagan.
Parra's players deserved more but Brad Arthur has done enough to remain as Eels coach
Sure, but my question is how much hungrier could they have been on Saturday night?
Parra's players deserved more but Brad Arthur has done enough to remain as Eels coach
I guess I also wonder what would have happened if To’o played.
Parra's players deserved more but Brad Arthur has done enough to remain as Eels coach
Couldn’t have said it better myself.
Parra's players deserved more but Brad Arthur has done enough to remain as Eels coach
Thanks both for your comments and it is a damn hard question.
I feel sorry for Stone.
The reality is that he really help us set the defence, not just this week but in the last month or so. He is our fourth choice hooker behind Reed Mahoney, Nathaniel Roache and Joey Lussick.
Usually what happens is Brad makes the switch with 20 minutes to go to Will Smith at hooker. I am unsure as to why that didn’t happen on Saturday. I wonder whether the injury to Waqa Blake changed the approach?
Parra's players deserved more but Brad Arthur has done enough to remain as Eels coach
Forty Twenty it’s a good comment and I am hopeful that because Dylan is so young that his best football is ahead of him.
I can make excuses – he is young, he has been away from his family in NZ etc but the next couple of years will be formative. I must say I have been super impressed with his defence this year.
Parra's players deserved more but Brad Arthur has done enough to remain as Eels coach
Tom I’m really curious to understand your comment around ‘underachieving’? Why do you think Parramatta have underachieved?
Parra's players deserved more but Brad Arthur has done enough to remain as Eels coach
Could not agree with you more KD! Parramatta has a good team across the park but we are missing that one player – the Roosters have Teddy, Manly have Tommy Turbo, Melbourne have a couple. We do not.
Parra's players deserved more but Brad Arthur has done enough to remain as Eels coach
Walter, thanks for the comment! I think it is a little more nuanced than ‘something went wrong so sack the coach’, it’s more a question around ‘how do you know when a coach has reached their ceiling?’
Arthur has done a wonderful job with our club, particularly the state we were in when he arrived. But if Parramatta makes week two for the next four years and bows out (As an example) does this suggest that we need someone that can take us all the way?
It’s not about a quick fix for me and I think Brad has shown enough to stay.
Parra's players deserved more but Brad Arthur has done enough to remain as Eels coach
Thanks also for your sound financial numbers.
There is no way it would cost $15 million to make the NRLW happen but no where in my article did I suggest that it should go ahead in the current climate.
Postponing the NRLW was the right thing to do, but where was the players' voice?
Yeah nah, because to make change in the world it requires input from men and women.
Just like male voices are extremely important when it comes to issues of gender inequality, domestic violence and countless other issues.
And I’m really sorry if men feel uncomfortable. Perhaps it’s time to lean into that discomfort.
Postponing the NRLW was the right thing to do, but where was the players' voice?
It’s funny you raise that….
I’ve found this whole issue interesting through the year. In my view the CEO of an org should be front and centre, with the board taking a back seat.
It seems to be happening in the opposite way with this administration.
Yet in this circumstance, it seems to be Andrew Abdo taking the lead. Where is PVL?
Postponing the NRLW was the right thing to do, but where was the players' voice?
I completely agree on your final point. In my view it was obvious that the competition was going to be postponed and that regardless of whether that exemption was sought or not wasn’t going to change that.
I think the point I am trying to make (perhaps poorly 😂 ) is that a lot of the emotional/disappointed/upset views we are hearing from players right now I think could have been avoided if more appropriate communication was in place.
Postponing the NRLW was the right thing to do, but where was the players' voice?
I think we disagree on the slow and steady approach, Big Daddy. I really liked that we started small and focused on sustainability and quality of the competition. Even the introduction of two new teams – I probably would have done it next year and instead increased the number of rounds this year.
Postponing the NRLW was the right thing to do, but where was the players' voice?
Dave, thanks! I am glad I could pleasantly surprise you.
I absolutely see where you are coming from. The transition is hard.
What I would say in relation to your last point is that it is the RLPA and I hope they have a loud and powerful voice going forward so that they can represent these players.
Postponing the NRLW was the right thing to do, but where was the players' voice?
Paul, I hear your second point.
But it is hard to reconcile for the players that the NRLW is not taking place, when they see NRLM players being flown up to QLD. There were even rumours that the cars of the players were being driven up as late as 2 weeks ago.
Postponing the NRLW was the right thing to do, but where was the players' voice?
Big Daddy, I think this points to some of the challenges in women’s sport now.
As I said, even if the NRL had the money to relocate all the players, how do you ask players to relocate on the wages they are currently being paid? It seems like way too big of an ask to me.
Postponing the NRLW was the right thing to do, but where was the players' voice?
Thanks, Nat.
I don’s know the ins and outs of the broadcast agreement but it is a good point.
I think there’s a difference between asking for what is appropriate and asking for what the men are getting. I don’t think the NRLW players want what the NRL players are getting – I think they just want a fair go!
Postponing the NRLW was the right thing to do, but where was the players' voice?
Could not agree more WB! I was glad to hear that the Wests Tigers made the decision to keep Madge.
Parra's players deserved more but Brad Arthur has done enough to remain as Eels coach