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Joined April 2018
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"Perfect practice makes perfect" - Graham Lowe
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Wane is a wildcard. In that he’s the only bloke touted who has consistently won comps as a first grade coach. He’s also one of the best in the game when it comes to developing talent and pathways for youngsters. The only reason he’s never seriously considered is that he’s a Pom and is coming from Super League. And they can’t coach, right? Just ask Malc Reilly or Trent Robinson
Who could replace Paul McGregor as Dragons coach?
The Doggies and the NRL are getting a bloke who plays the game the way we all love to see it. No nonsense with his foot on the gas for the full 80. Think Mozza or Webke in their pomp. Aggressive, skilful and influential week in week out.
Bulldogs sign star Super League prop
Never listened, Mary. Thanks for the nudge, I’ll give it a go! 👍
Has international rugby league finally turned a corner?
Great to read a positive outlook on the international game. It’s all subjective and we’ve gotta be realistic about how long this kind of change takes, but my sense is that the game is turning a corner in terms of where it’s been at internationally. It’s a long road but anyone that can’t see the progress being made is – in my opinion – most likely ignorant of the value a healthy international scene gives the game in its traditional strongholds. I hope attitudes can shift. All of that said, I recognise there’s a job to do in terms of the funding and governance of international rugby league. Mary – what’s your view on how we shift opinion (particularly amongst isolationist league folk) and establish a fit for purpose international body?
Has international rugby league finally turned a corner?
Non-NRL games can be marketed better, for sure. The real question is whether – regardless of marketing – anyone in Australia will be interested in the numbers you’d need to make it commercially viable?
I’ve been watching the game 30 odd years and it’s always felt like Australians – on the whole – hold rugby league from anywhere but Australia in contempt. Shame – they’re missing out.
Can non-NRL rugby league be sold more effectively to Australians?
Yes, he’s the Chair of the NRL, but his is just one opinion. And that’s what it is – an opinion. It’s easier to find reasons not to do stuff and look at everything subjectively. When the game’s administrators around the world can work together on a robust strategy for expansion that looks at opportunities objectively rugby league will thrive. That we haven’t got there (yet) is as predictable as it is disappointing. However we do it, we need to campaign for a shift change in who runs the game and how they run it, not waste our energy getting upset with the status quo.
The National Rugby League chairman thinks five hours on a plane is too much
He’s a talent and as such has a market value. His ‘advisors’ stand to make a heap more money if they push that value up. Unpalatable, yes – but a simple fact of life.
Code swap? Latrell Mitchell reaches out to Rugby Australia
You do yourself no favours referring to anyone or anything as a ‘minnow’, Tim. Look it up. Gives the impression you see Tonga – and by default other nations of a similar standing – as insignificant. Pretty sure that’s not what you meant.
Blake Austin playing for England is a disgrace
As an Englishman I can’t say I’m thrilled that Austin is in the side ahead of some fine homegrown talent. The rules are a mess. But for an Australian to take issue with it is beyond funny when the Kangaroos – going back years – have, despite having an immense player pool of their own, been happy to select players who at least could have represented other nations before Australia. Curious too that you draw the line with Austin when Coote and Hastings are both in the Lions squad. It may not be the exact same but Josh Papalii, born in Auckland, is a current Kangaroo. Question the rules by all means but don’t dig out one bloke just because you think he’s not doing it for the right reasons, whatever they are.
Blake Austin playing for England is a disgrace
Wighton’s had an incredible season and deserves so much credit not just for his performances but for turning his life around. I think the reception he got from some ‘fans’ after the GF was cheap and he’d do well to use that as motivation. My question, as a Wigan fan in England, is how does George Williams get a game next year? Good luck George!
Grateful Jack Wighton repays faith
You make a really good case Dutski. Can’t not agree. It’s a controversial one and would mean making some tough decisions, but the real controversy would be to go the same old route to expansion knowing full well it mostly doesn’t work.
Go ahead, move my team
New comp(s) for new teams is an interesting proposal, Steve – and certainly better than the haphazard structure we’re sleepwalking into right now. That said, Union’s World League concept appears to be struggling to get traction with players and fans; and as far as I know, IPL doesn’t drive investment in cricket outside of India. Though I don’t know enough about it. Foresight – as you point out – is the key here. If the powerbrokers running the game on either side of the globe, and the too often shortsighted club owners in the NRL and Super League, could put aside the self-serving attitudes, keep our best people and best minds in the game, and put in place a long term strategy for growth, then Rugby League can equip itself to capitalise on new opportunities that would be to the benefit of all. Too simplistic? Pie in the sky? …or just maybe the most blindingly obvious first step towards a solution?
Rugby league is ill-equipped to capitalise on new opportunities
Wherever you are in this debate – and it’s a complex one – it’s got to be a good thing it’s now being debated at some level.
Part of the problem is that the people running the game (and a lot of us I’d wager) haven’t wanted to properly acknowledge these issues, let alone seriously debate them. It’s easier to see each instance as black and white – fans and media conducting their own trials, the NRL lurching into punitive action, or taking little or no action (with a good deal of inconsistency) – rather than trying to systematically treat the some of the root causes. Because maybe that’d be too complicated and we kinda just want the whole thing to go away.
That said, we need to be real here and recognise that you can’t purge the world of terrible people. The game (albeit in a slightly skewed way) reflects society, warts n all.
Does a sex tape make you king of the dressing room?
You couldn’t make this stuff up. In the UK we just switched from a top 8 play-off – having previously been a top 5 – to a top 6 (from a total of 12 teams) because the people now running the top tier comp (the Super League clubs themselves) want to mirror the NRL. Or at least, the ‘best’ bits of it. The argument for a top 8 in the first place – “every minute will count” – aka it’s more attractive to fans and broadcasters.
The reality – after several years of the Top 8 structure we’re switching back to a top six play off because fans neither turned up nor tuned in for all the meaningless games played out at the tail end of the regular season, because you pretty much already know the top 6 or 7.
We can only hope that common sense one day prevails and that the people that run the game (on both sides of the world) realise that to build a fan base outside of the traditional towns, cities and demographics, and get more people playing, coaching and parting with their hard earned dollars, you need some continuity. End the tinkering. Please!
The new suggested finals format is ridiculous
Great account of the game, James. Wigan’s right edge got royally undone 3 times in 30 minuts and no, it wasn’t a classic.
But why so many can’t get behind this concept and want to bag it at every opportunity, I’ve no idea. Hats off to the Roosters club who clearly think otherwise.
Roosters reign supreme in World Club Challenge
I’m not sure the majority of SL clubs would take the narrow view so often taken by the RFL. Then again, they’ll have to wear the losses of any team admitted to SL.
You raise an important question, Steve. If one decides who gets access to the cup and pro/semi pro ranks – and the other to the premier comp – how long before the thread ties us in knots? Isn’t it feasible there’ll be SL teams that can’t play in the cup and/or Championship clubs locked out of SL? If I’m an investor in a club it’s not an attractive proposition.
How many rugby league clubs can fill a stadium with just their own fans?
The decision to effectively snub a seemingly viable new club in Manchester, and demand certain other clubs pay a £500k bond to play in the Challenge Cup, sits with the RFL not Super League clubs.
In fact, those same clubs just broke away from the RFL in large part because of exactly this sort of ‘strategic thinking’.
How many rugby league clubs can fill a stadium with just their own fans?
“Walking over the top of Wigan”, eh Joe. We’ll see about that. I agree, the Indigenous v Māori game will be electric, and I’ll watch it because I love and have respect for the game wherever it’s played. There’s a game and passionate fans outside of Australia, and surely both Wigan and the Roosters, and their fans, will be proudly representing their culture. Zero respect mate.
Latrell Mitchell makes the easy decision by choosing the All Stars
I’m in England so don’t know how long Mad Monday’s been a thing. Sounds totally like something invented and proliferated by the tabloid press to make an event of it. Look, these particular blokes should know better. Above all, they’re role models. But they’re normal people and footy, like everything else, reflects society.
So no, we shouldn’t castigate players for blowing the doors off after a season putting their bodies on the line week in, week out for our entertainment. The DT (and others) need to have a long think about what is, and isn’t, in the public interest. And if we all stop buying it and taking the click bait maybe they’ll start doing proper journalism.
It's time to end Mad Monday
Steve – you’re THE champion of taking our great game to new and forgotten places, and there are too few like you (particularly in Australia – sorry guys!) I do think a second and even third tier with promotion and relegation is a no brainer for the game in Australia. Make it happen. BUT – I read a lot of your stuff and it’s not all about millionaire owners and clubs everywhere and anywhere. We need a sound strategy for expansion, and an international governing body with some commercial nouse and clout. Anything else is one step forward, two steps back, no?
If new NRL franchises are coming through the second tier, how should it look?
Stretching the rules is all good. Taking a dive to gain an advantage is out n out cheating. As a Pom I rank Australian sports men and women, and the culture in Australian sport, top of tree when it comes to competing hard and playing FAIR. Whoever it is doing the cheating, it should be called out for what it is. It has no place in our game.
You think Billy Slater’s a grub - get over it
Rugby League players don’t dive. End of story. Slater is a legend, no doubt; but the next generation of players and fans idolise the bloke. He does himself – but more importantly the game – a disservice with his ‘gamesmanship’. So stop giving the guy excuses – it’s bottom of the barrel cheating, and he needs to rub it out.
You think Billy Slater’s a grub - get over it
I said the same on a separate thread but Wane is a wildcard. In that he’s the only bloke touted who has consistently won comps as a first grade coach. He’s also one of the best in the game when it comes to developing talent and pathways for youngsters. The only reason he’s never seriously considered is that he’s a Pom and is coming from Super League. And they can’t coach, right? Just ask Malc Reilly or Trent Robinson
A Dragons fan's week in review