I don’t mind negativity if the delivery driver… in this case Buzz, offered an alternative solution, or was constructive about it. But Buzz is neither, and he seems to relish the fact that he’s neither, often saying “that’s not my job”. He makes a good living out of a game he seems to enjoy kicking the hey zeus out of and burying any chance of a solution. Carnage sells papers, Stuart Diver in an avalanche spikes interest. Buzz is all about himself and his own interests. Buzz is about manufacturing carnage around the NRL, especially undermining goodwill around NRL administration, because that’s how he manufactures his avalanche to suit his end.

The fan boys that follow his rubbish and believe in his narrative of “keeping them honest” are suckers.

One word Mary… Perfect.
#Abracadabra

The Origin Period for each club is really on just the one game in 2018. No club has any players missing for Origin for more than just the one game. Unless there are injuries from Origin I really don’t think the period will be as much of a burden this year.

I don’t know who is in the right here, but it seems like a battle for control. The clear damage both parties are doing to the game, and the potential ongoing damage that could be done if this ridiculous dispute continues will forever be unforgivable.

All i can mention is my experience.
I’ve been a Fox subscriber since World Cup 1998 in France. I’m a fan of many sports such as NRL, the NFL, cricket, tennis and of course football, mainly the EPL. At the time I was stunned when Fox Sports lost the rights. I just didn’t understand how it would work, I always thought Fox would get the opportunity to simulcast certain games or something as Fox for so long was the main EPL market space, basically a generation of broadcasting the EPL, but it didn’t happen. It’s like the EPL cut off their torso in Australia.

For me as a Fox customer this new EPL deal, despite its new impressive Optus reach, hasn’t worked. I get a big bundle deal with Fox through Telstra that covers everything that i need including Net, Fox, Phone, mobile, etc. Optus contacted me, talked me through the possibilities of the EPL and their deal and how to use the platform. For me it just sounded dumb, confusing and extra cash to watch something i got before as part of my Fox package. Its not like i was ever going to cancel Fox, and the all access to my other sports on Fox just to get access to EPL on Optus.

Needless to say for the first time since 1998 Ive seen zero EPL matches this year. Early on I was disappointed, especially when the NRL shut down. But the NFL really filled the void bigger than ever this year and soon I’d stopped thinking about the EPL.

Yeah, i still know who finished 1st to 6th in order. I know Swansea and Leicester avoided relegation, and that Middlesbrough got bounced, but that’s it. I read the odd article, watched EPL news grabs but reality, I’ve become out of touch with the players, in a European competition that can see squads change quickly.

Basically I’ve probably now become lost to the EPL, lost because of the broadcast decisions of this year. Good luck to them, that’s why they’re on the big bucks. However in my circle of friends, 80% this year watched less than 5 EPL matches, and what they watched were broadcast in inner city bars. But Yep, 20% of my mates took up Optus…. and maybe that’s where the big deal people see the big winning picture right there!

Laurie Daley owned Origin. How he isn’t in this side or in the top 3 NSW players ever is the most bizarre non selection I’ve ever seen.

Also Brad Clyde was streets ahead of Paul Gallen.

Buderus was a super no 9 for NSW as well. One of our greats.

Double the 2nd tier cap…. problem solved.
Thank you.

Tim scored the golden ticket.

A visit to the Wayside Chapel, the Children’s Hospital, Bear Cottage…

Tim got gifted an opportunity that those people and children never receive.

And he used his golden ticket in this manner. Systematically… in this manner. Actually, a number of manners… and all bad.

I don’t think it’s about second chances when you’ve already used 43 chances over the past two seasons and only just got caught. These incidents weren’t one off incidents… or two offs.

The people who have the opportunity and privilege to play this game at the highest level have a responsibility to set a standard and to influence others within the wider community positively.

Be better people than they were yesterday.

The game as a whole as a great responsibility to the community. It has a great responsibility to women and children and how the players treat people and interact within the community. So much of this stuff coming out concerns me. There’s a stinking underbelly to many of these major winter sports that revolves around illicit drugs and disrespect. There is also an agenda for clubs to turn a blind eye toward it, pretend it doesn’t happen or run interference, so to ensure their stars make it to the field protected from their poor, sometimes dishonorable choices.

The NRL has an opportunity to draw a line in the sand. The be at the forefront of real change… and I’m not talking about symbolic pink jerseys, lip service and special rounds. I’m talking about real deep change. Out the rubbish, set and demand a standard that’s higher than that of society. Be the beacon.

Everyday… Be a better code than we were yesterday!

Personally for balance I’d like to see a top 6 line up in this order. No idea why… but i think this is our best 6 at the moment with Curtis Patterson next cab off the rank.

Khawaja
Renshaw
Warner
Smith
S Marsh
Handscombe

Stop over thinking it. Possibly the best standard of cricket in the toughest era. It should have been included in the official record many many years ago.

1 Warner
2 Renshaw
3 Khawaja
4 Smith (C)
5 Patterson
6 Maxwell
7 Wade
8 OKeefe
9 Starc
10 Hazlewood
11 Sayers

Thoroughbred racing…. It’s not for everyone and I can understand the reasoning why it’s not for everyone. I also understand that wild brumbies often die while roaming the mountains so letting everything roam free doesn’t appear to be the answer either. I’m also pretty clear that there hasn’t been a Tasmanian Tiger death in the past 70 years so maybe we’re on the right track there.

The Central Coast is a fabulous market for the NRL. Stacked with juniors and opportunity, however, the big cash comes from TV dollars and they’re only interested in capital city markets. Hence the only only way for the greater Central Coast area to get an NRL club is for a current club to relocate. I always thought the Sharks would be the fit but now with their investment into development projected to reap dividends that ship looks to have sailed.

The NRL will expand by two clubs within the next 5 years and of those two clubs, one quite clearly from the TV push will be a second Brisbane team. The other club will likely come from another Australian capital city and the NRL and TV stakeholders are keen on Perth.

Personally I’d like to see a 20 team competition akin to what was envisaged by then visionary Rugby League leaders back in 1995. 20 years later and the code is generating more money than ever, yet we’ve become conservative instead of bold.

I’d aim for a 20 club four conference system, where each club plays a 19 match round robin format before playing in 3 further intra rivalry rounds within each 4 club conference. This would create a 22 round competition, which was commonly regarded as the perfect number of rounds between the Winfield Cup years of 1988 and 1994.

Yes it’s not fair that all teams don’t play each other equally, but nothing is fair in life. With this model you keep and generate your rivalries, and you free up time and space for stand alone representation periods.

Considering this Iceland clap thing has been only catching on for the past 5 games, I’m surprised everyone is so upset so quick. Ennis was taking the p1ss. He got a reaction. He wins again.

Bizarre article.

Regarding Andrew Fifita, I’ve said it endlessly and I’ll say it again. The NRL need to hold themselves at a higher standard to the rest of society. Fifita is a lower standard.

End Transmission.

Optus may assist A League bottom line but viewership will crash. I don’t have Optus and I won’t be getting it.

At the moment if you like to watch both the NRL and EPL you need both Telstra/Fox and Optus.

For me, if you’re not on FoxSports then your sport doesn’t exist.

1995 ARL season actually proves it’s not impossible, albeit rare. The then 8 team finals used the same structured semi final format as we have now. In that year the Canterbury Bulldogs won from 6th position defeating the minor premiers Manly.

How about no.

Newcastle are going rubbish because they butchered their salary cap, average players in non crucial positions on overs. With a new coach who is performing open heart surgery on the roster, well they simply are not competing this year. The planets have aligned for a breathtakingly woeful season for this club but a knee jerk fanciful rookie draft isn’t warranted just because we pluck a convenient example.

The Sharks finished last two years ago and are now leading the comp. That happened without a draft and I dare say if we did have a draft or even a rookie draft, the Sharks wouldn’t have been able to fix their issues as quickly as they have. Good luck to them.

The draft idea is the most over rated idea in professional sports. It suits US sports because clubs don’t develop anything and most franchises share a similar ownership structure. NRL in Australia is so different. Free market is what suits the NRL.

Legally you can’t ban third party payments. It’s really that simple. You can’t restrict earning potential. It’s business. As a sport the governing body tries to level the field for the sake of fans and unpredictable results, but we live in a western free market where in any business anyone is entitled to earn whatever they can get. Too many people still look at modern pro sport like some antiquated gentlemanly pastime where loyalty to a jersey is paramount. Welcome to the real world.

Third party payments are not insidious… they’re just the here and now.

If Parra breached the parameters of how these deals are allowed to be put together or how they’re guaranteed. Then that club will face consequences. Simple stuff.

Solutions not more conundrums.

Me too. He lost me by publicly bagging Waugh. They were Test team mates. It’s Warnies way or he hates you and he’ll tell everybody. He’s gone weird.

Rugby Union. .. the great Aussie laugh.

I’m no fan of Eddie… Personally I think he’s a centre of the universe type, however I’m also sure as sugar that many out there in fan land won’t ever be satisfied until he “punishes himself” or gets the sack. Whether I like or dislike the bloke, I don’t think that’s an equitable result.

If he doesn’t want to apologise well that’s it for me. It’s between Adam and Eddie… and of course anyone else that is standing in line to be offended. Their friendship is over, the chasm has been created.

Like the medal idea or not, I don’t think it fixes the Adam v Eddie relationship.

If I were building a greatest cricket team of the 80s… Martin Crowe would be in it. Easy.