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2012 Elimination Semi Final :: Ninjas v Panthers

joshie

Live Update Team
Messages
3,115
jersey_ninjas_1.gif
-VS-
jersey_panthers_1.gif



PREVIEW: MATCH OF THE ROUND
The Ninjas and Panthers have been building a rivalry as of late and the next chapter in their history will be written. Fresh off the win over the Ninjas in the last round of the competition, Big Mick and his merry men will try and defeat the premiers on their quest to a championship. But Edabomb's superstars know they have what it takes, they did it last year, and will be working their magic to make it happen. Will the champions begin a quest to go back to back or will the Panthers show some of their 2010 form to cruise through to grand final qualifier?

Game Thread:
* This is a game thread only. Only game posts can be made here - team lists, substitutions, and articles.
* Any other posts may result in loss of points and is at the discretion of the referee.
* Only original articles, not used in previous games, will be marked by referees.

Naming Teams:
* 5 -V- 5 (+ 3 reserves for home sides; + 2 for away)
* No 'TBA' or changing players named
* Captains must stick with original teams named

Rules: http://f7s.leagueunlimited.com/rules.php
Official Word Counter: http://f7s.leagueunlimited.com/wordcount.php

FULL TIME: Sunday 9th September 2012 (You have until midnight)
Referee: Non Terminator
Venue: The Front Row Stadium
 
Last edited by a moderator:

edabomb

First Grade
Messages
7,088
Ninjas
edabomb (c)
CobyDelaney
gUt
jamesgould
joshie

Bench
Hallatia
Raider_69

Good luck all.
 

Big Mick

Referee
Messages
26,239
Panthers take the field for this vital Semi Final:

1. Madunit
2. Leaguenut
3. Big Mick
4. Broncoman
5. Panfas

RES:
6. Abpanther
7. Didgi
 

TooheysNew

Coach
Messages
1,047
The Back-play

Some people watch Rugby League for the big hits. Others watch for the vast array of skills on display. Some don’t even care about the game, but really enjoy the short shorts and tight jerseys. To each their own, I say. Who am I to judge when I watch Rugby League without even following where the ball goes?

I watch the back-play.

It’s not something that a television camera can catch on screen, nor a radio commentator describe to their listeners. It’s definitely not something you can get any grasp of from your lounge room at home. You even struggle to get the full picture from the second tier of the stadium, live at the game. You can only really get a feel for it from the front few rows of seating, where you’re close enough to get hit with sweat, or catch a stray pass, or grab a cheerleader on the arse.

I guess I should explain what back-play is. It is anything that happens in a game of Rugby League “off the ball”. Anything that the television cameras don’t usually see. Anything.

It could be something simple, like a fight back downfield, instigated by a prop with a short fuse being massaged in the face by a cunning halfback. But that’s boring. It happens a hundred times a game – so often, in fact, that the commentators rarely even mention it in commentary. It usually fizzles out pretty quickly, with both players realising they’ve left their teams short and heading back down field. Boring.

Perhaps my perception of excitement is distorted, because I’ve played football for so many years – but what really intrigues me while watching a game of football is the subtle tactics that underpin the entire game, and more specifically, how alterations in these tactics can happen in a split second.

Of course we’re all aware that a team has a game plan when they run out on the field. That’s what coaches are for. They spend all week preparing their team for battle, drilling into them a series of carefully planned routines, aimed to best exploit weaknesses in the opposition defence. But often, these plans are simply not effective. That’s where the beauty of back-play is evident.

The first place you look in back-play is obviously the halfback. He’s usually the player who has the quickest football brain, and is best equipped to identify weaknesses in the opposition – a player who is hurting, or a defence structure that is not working as smoothly as it should be. He’s also best equipped to change the attacking structure to take advantage of this. Through changing the lines he runs, or his utilisation of decoy runners and out-the-back balls, the halfback can isolate defenders, target strong runners on weak defenders, or kick to wrong foot a winger who is out of position.

Of course, with this changing attacking structure, the opposition does not simply sit on their hands. For them, it starts with the fullback. Often the most vocal player in defence, the fullback is responsible for setting, and indeed changing, the defensive structure in employ. Sure, the game-plan may start off being inside shoulder, and attempting to force the wingers to run out of room out wide, but If that doesn’t work, a single call from the fullback changes the entire defensive line to up and in – pushing up on the attackers, and then squeezing them in – cutting down the halfback’s thinking time.

However this also speeds up the game, which takes its toll on the bigger men in the team. So they change their tactics slightly as well. Instead of being ready for the very first hitup of a new set, they take their time jogging back. Most teams then change to use their wingers for the first couple of hitups – taking the pressure of their forwards, and leaving a little bit of petrol in the tank.

As you can imagine, this changes the way the wingers play for the rest of the game, making it harder for them to be in the correct position to field kicks. So the fullback changes his game plan as well, to help accommodate that.

And all of these decisions are made off the ball, on the fly, by players, in the heat of battle. If you watch the ball, you miss out on all these subtle changes. You miss out on the true beauty of Rugby League.

The back-play.
 

LeagueNut

First Grade
Messages
6,972
LeagueNut - Panthers


SimpleLogicMan

The world moves forward at such an incredible pace these days, and in times of increasing confusion the need for logic is greater than ever. Sometimes the absence of logic will create a logic “black hole” where mind-numbing decisions can be thrown about with reckless abandon – resulting in masses of furrowed brows and confused administrators.

The need for a new super hero was never greater – and SimpleLogicMan was born.

SimpleLogicMan isn’t a “flashy” superhero or a by-product of trashy American celebrity culture – he’s a man for the people who just happens to fly and have a chiselled six-pack. The logic “black holes” set off tiny alarms in his Logic Cave, sending him off to apply his unique logic rescue skills before idiots can continue to multiply and take over the world.

His first stop happens to be Mt Smart Stadium. After crashing through the windows of the Chief Executive’s office and quickly explaining his frighteningly unexpected presence (“Halt – I’m here to give you logic!”), he was able to get down to business.

“We need an experienced NRL coach and we’ll spend whatever it takes. We can’t afford to try any more untested rookies. Tim Sheens and Brian Smith are two of the most experienced coaches in the business, we’d be mad to ignore their skills and experience.”

SimpleLogicMan sighed – he was sadly quite accustomed to this level of ignorance, but also knew it was best to start slowly instead of jumping in and destroying the arguments presented to him straight away. The absence of logic can start a vicious circle of flawed arguments, each one leading to more and more flawed decisions.

He began by pointing out the recent records of both Sheens and Smith, including their appalling finals records and relative lack of Premiership success. He then moved on to the comparison of performance with NRL “rookie” coaches Anderson and Cleary during their times with the Warriors – coincidentally the only coaches ever to take the Warriors into the NRL finals and onto Grand Final Day, despite neither of them holding down any previous first-grade coaching positions. The explicit confessions from Brian “Bluey” McClennan where he freely admitted ditching the intensive NRL standard pre-season training in favour of a “more relaxed” Super League style was another valid point.

SimpleLogicMan didn’t have to spend long on this one – and before long he had Wayne Scurrah standing at a chalkboard, writing out “we just need someone who knows how the NRL works” 500 times. It wasn’t a pretty way of getting his point across but it was certainly effective.

His next stop was NRL headquarters. SimpleLogicMan often met with the NRL head honchos, although for some reason he couldn’t quite seem to get them thinking for themselves. The topic at hand today was the video referee.

SimpleLogicMan’s superior brain power began constructing and delivering powerful arguments – mainly around reducing the amount of time spent on using the video referee and limiting the checks to only things that the referees haven’t already ruled on in the run of play. He delivered his thoughts with such masterful precision it was impossible to find any argument against him.

But still they tried – “no, we’ve got to use the video referee more!”

“But why?”

“Well, we’ve got to give ourselves every possible chance of awarding the try, or at the very least find a technicality that allows another attacking set of six.”

“I am a man of simple logic, and your logic escapes me Sir. Do you mind explaining your reasoning for this approach?”

“Well, the more tries we can award, the more advertising we can sneak in to the coverage!”

SimpleLogicMan was stunned. It was suddenly clear the room had been infiltrated by his arch enemy – Captain Conflicting Interests – and this was a battle he’d be very unlikely to win.

“But surely the appeal of Rugby League on television is a fast moving game – slowing it down with unnecessary video referee replays would be a disaster!”

“Yeah, nah, we need the advertising time.”

“But surely you concede using technology to tinker with the very fabric of a sport that’s been played for over one hundred years is a fatal intrusion into it’s very soul?”

“Yeah, nah, we need the advertising time.”

SimpleLogicMan began to feel defeated. His eyebrows were so furrowed they seemed to weigh him down, and the extra gravitational force pushed him to his knees with one arm thrusting skyward in an expression of defiance.

“Nooooooooooooooooooooo………………”


744 words in the official counter
 

gUt

Coach
Messages
16,876
Diving is Penalising Rugby League

We code warriors delight and revel in the negative headlines that beset The Enemy Code from time to time. Lately the AFL has had to endure some bad press around the issue of tanking.

It was their bad luck that at the same time as the ashes of their own alleged tanking problems were being raked over in the media, several tanking scandals were concurrently erupting at various Olympic Games events.

This was one example where coverage of a major event like the Olympics did not serve to bury sensitive and unwanted sporting headlines.

The time is fast approaching when the Central Committee of the Glorious Peoples’ Republic of rugby league is going to have to deal with a far more regular and embarrassing development that sucks the life out of most supporters and out of the contest itself.

No, it’s not the baffling survival of the shambolic and utterly pointless scrum.
If you watch NRL games it can’t have escaped your notice that a new phenomenon has crept into the game over the last few seasons: the dive.

Staying down long enough for everyone to stand around doing absolutely nothing and allowing the video ref to wearily review the shot and recommend a penalty is a new unwritten rule.

Rugby league is a code that prides itself on its toughness, fast-paced action and the ferocity of its combat. Its players need to explode onto the ball and cannon into each other with bone-rattling confrontations.

They need to avoid giving any kind of psychological advantage to their opponents.
Historically, showing pain to the bloke who’s just cracked three of your ribs was tantamount to admitting you’d much rather be embroidering your initials onto a lace hanky, provided the needle wasn’t too sharp.

In days past, players would use minor annoyances as a broken arm, a dislocated jaw or an exploding aorta as motivation to get square and get the win.

Now, any kind of light brushing slap above the shoulders is responded to with a drastic collapse, an agonising thrashing and twitching on the ground and valiant but ultimately futile attempt to rise.

You even see the trainers pushing the players back down.

Following the inevitable awarding of the penalty, the player who was comatose seconds beforehand is often seen taking the very next hit-up. Pathetic!

Is it gamesmanship? I suppose it’s the epitome of it – certainly soccer apologists would see it that way.

In the era of ruthless professionalism every advantage must be wrung from the contest like so much fake blood from a fake stone.

The problem is that it’s just so counter to the supposed tough-guy ethos and image of rugby league.

The sport that’s meant to be an honest contest of man on man, bone on bone, wear them down, iron them out, take no prisoners – oh and score some points, too.
It’s also a poor development for the code that wants to push ahead and expand its appeal and its reach.

Firstly, every time the game is pulled up for one of these non-penalties, I’m immediately reminded of what rugby union is becoming – a game where nothing happens unless, and until, the referee intervenes.

Secondly, Johnny Suburbia’s mum isn’t going to like seeing all these blokes writhing on the ground in agony every thirty seconds, seemingly at death’s door.

Thirdly, remember the shock and fury of the Socceroos exit from the 2006 FIFA World Cup?
Australia was arguably the better side against Italy but the single winning goal was taken by the Italians after Fabio Grosso dived like a hungry duck and conned the ref into awarding the penalty.

Fans of all codes came together in this one moment of Australian sporting horror and cursed the Italian soccer team with everything we had.

As we turned back to our domestic sporting interests we muttered darkly ‘at least that doesn’t happen in MY code!’

Do we really want an NRL grand final decided by such an action? It will happen.
So please, for the sake of an honest contest can we find a way to curb this insidious, creeping, ugly trend in the Greatest Game and get back to the good old days of never showing your opposition the slightest grimace?
 

Big Mick

Referee
Messages
26,239
Big Mick takes the field for the Panthers.


Alexander the Great

873125-penrith-patrick-riviere-getty-images-.jpg

When people hear the name Alexander the Great, they think about the Macedonian King and General who conquered most of the world in his time. To me, however, Alexander the Great was Penrith champion Greg Alexander. Alexander conquered the Rugby League world of his era, both here in Australia and internationally. Alexander is man who epitomised Penrith - working class, courageous and a fearless leader.

When Penrith entered the competition in 1967, they weren’t that successful. It wasn’t until the beginning of the 1984 season when Penrith saw the emergence of a brilliant schoolboy footballer, Greg Alexander, who was rushed into first grade at the age of 16.

In 1985, Alexander was inspirational in leading Penrith to the semi-finals for the first time. In 1985 Alexander, in only his second year of professional rugby league, won the coveted Dally M medal, making him the first Penrith player to ever do so.

In 1987 Alexander was part of a filthy altercation with St.George’s Steve Linnane, where he was gouged in the eye and was out injured for several matches as a result, Linnane received a major suspension as a result of these events.

When Ron Willey took over as coach of Penrith, Alexander’s career flourished under his tutelage. e produced his best football and made his test debut in 1989. Despite Penrith’s success in 1989, Ron Willey was sacked, bringing former Penrith player Phil Gould into the club. This turned into a brilliant move for Penrith and Alexander, reaching their first ever Grand Final in 1990. However, the suburb was so buzzing that the players enjoyed it too much and the immaturity and inexperience of the team showed, going down 18-14 in the Grand Final.

On the Kangaroo tour of 1990, Alexander was sensational, showing his world class at the international scene with some great performances, particularly the 26 points he scored against France.

In 1991, Phil Gould bestowed the greatest honour on Alexander, handing him the captaincy. Naturally this inspired Alexander, leading his team to the Grand Final again. With emotions running high, due to the 1991 season being Royce Simmons last year in Penrith colours, Alexander and Simmons won the Grand Final for Penrith, 19-12, denying Canberra a third successive premiership. The emotions flowed with Mark Geyer, Greg Alexander and brother Ben Alexander embracing each other. Finally they had done what no other Penrith team in history had done, won a premiership. This stamped Alexander as one of our greatest-ever products.

Alexander’s success was short lived with the death of his brother in 1992. Ben was killed in a tragic car accident and Greg’s football suffered because of the pain he endured. However, this accident not only crushed Greg, but Penrith in general.

In 1994, Greg Alexander left Penrith for Auckland. This shattered not only Penrith, but their fans. As a fan I was devastated when Greg left the club. I saw our best ever player, my idol, my hero, crumble after his brother’s death, a shadow of his former self, leaving to escape from the pain that playing for Penrith at the time brought him.

In 1997 however, Greg Alexander returned to Penrith, and my faith was restored. Alexander was back to his best, back in black, and leading us back into the finals once again. Penrith however failed in this finals campaign and the next two years saw Alexander plagued by injury and eventually retiring a champion in 1999.

Greg Alexander is still involved with the great Penrith club. He is a director of the club and is a part time member of the coaching staff. His influence was pivotal in our 2003 success. He is a successful media personality within Rugby League circles and has the respect of all his peers.

Greg Alexander was a great of the Penrith club. He played a total of 227 games for Penrith stretching between 1984 and 1999. In his illustrious career Alexander scored 101 tries, 343 goals and 14 drop goals for a total of 1,104 points, making him and Terry lamb the only people to ever break the 100 tries and 1,000 points double.

Greg Alexander has been through a mix of emotions from jubilation with winning a Grand Final and the distress associated with losing a brother. Greg Alexander is a hero to me and to the people of Penrith. Undoubtedly, Greg Alexander was one of the finest footballers of his time.

740 words owc

Sources:

http://www.hackneys.com/alex_web/
http://panthers.rleague.com/history.php
http://panthers.rleague.com/best.php
http://nrl.rleague.com/news/index.php?id=679
 

Big Mick

Referee
Messages
26,239
Big Mick posting by Proxy on behalf of Madunit

Woodwork Class

In today’s woodwork class, you’ll be building a pencil case. I have given you all instructions to follow. Up the front here are the wood and tools, so when you’re ready, let’s get started!

*All the kids rush up the front and frantically gather all the tools and supplies they need, before heading back to their bench*

It looks like you’ve made a good start here Steven.

Price: Thanks. I made one of these a few years ago, it was really easy. Wayne showed me how it was done.

Speaking of Wayne, how are you doing there?

Bennett: I forgot.

Forgot what?

Bennett: How to build this thing. I know there’s wood involved and some other stuff. It was all so clear to me before class started, but now … I just don’t know …

Where are the instructions I gave you?

Bennett: I just don’t know.
Smith: Why don’t you get your fatty friend to buy you some new instructions?

Brian, that’s not very nice. Now let’s have a look at your progress.

Smith: I’ve finished! See, it flies really well too!

Brian, you are supposed to make a pencil case, not a paper aeroplane!

Smith: Ohhhhh! I was wondering why everyone else was doing it wrong.

Focus Brian. Now, what’s all this fuss over here?

Hasler: Nothing
McLennan: BULL! You stole my stuff!
Hasler: No I didn’t.
McLennan: Well someone did, and you’re the only one who’s finished already!

I must say Des, that is a magnificent pencil case you’ve made there, easily the best I’ve ever seen.

Hasler: No it isn’t. Craig’s is better
Bellamy: No way!
Bennett: Dessies is easily the best. Teachers pet!

Okay boys that’ll do, now how is ……
*interrupted by a loud outburst*

Kearney: I can’t do this, it’s too hard! I’m going home! *storms out crying*

Oh dear, what dramatics! Now what’s going on here, why haven’t you boys started building yet? Geoff?

Toovey: My mum says I’m not allowed to use the saw, but my dad says if I don’t I’ll be a sissy.

I’ll have a word with your parents. Now Neil, what are you doing? Why aren’t you building?

Henry: I’m just cleaning up these bits of wood so that they match the other pieces. This one gave me a splinter, this other one had a crack in it, and this one was just old and needed cleaning.

Okay, but don’t waste too much time doing that. Now Ivan, why are you eating?

Cleary: I swapped my wood with Shane in exchange for his sandwich.

How are you going to make a pencil case with a half-eaten sandwich?

Cleary: Oh … err … um … I didn’t think about that.

And John, where are all your supplies and tools?

Cartwright: I couldn’t get any.

Why not? There’s plenty there.

Cartwright: Daddy said he can’t afford it.

Oh I see. And Anthony, you haven’t made a start yet either, what are you doing?

Griffin: *speaking to himself while looking under the bench* … it was here last class …

Anthony!

Griffin: Sorry! I’ve lost my hammer. I had it here last lesson. I can’t nail it all together without it.

Furner: Oh Fiddlesticks!

What’s the matter David?

Furner: I’ve accidentally glued my nose to the hammer and I’ve nailed my hand to the saw handle.

WHAT?! How did you even get glue on your hammer?

Furner: I think Tim did it. He said he was trying something different. An honest mistake I’m sure.

Tim, what is the meaning of this?

Sheens: Ah yes, I was trying to use the hammer to close the glue bottle. Had a bit of an oops.

I’d say! Now what is this that you’ve built?

Sheens: It’s a pencil case. Obviously, there’s been some issues. Shane took some of my pieces …
Flanagan: No I didn’t! I asked if you wanted them and you said ‘no’.
Price: He said the thing to me too, and then snatched the piece back after he said I could have it.

Ok boys, settle. Tim, what are you doing?

Sheens: Well I’m trying to staple this bit of glue onto this sticky tape here and I reckon that’ll hold it all together.

What’s wrong with following the instructions?

Sheens: I don’t need instructions.

Okay. Shane, I see you’ve finished. It’s a bit motley, but still looks very good.

Flanagan: Thanks
Monaghan: Mines better than everyone’s.
Toovey: It’s not better than Dessies
Hasler: Yes it is!

749 words (owc)
 

Panfas

Juniors
Messages
1,178
Panfas takes the field for the Panthers

----------------
Is Laurie Daley the right man for the NSW job?

The answer is quite simple - yes he is the right man for the job. While some people may be questioning the decision by the NSWRL to appoint a man with no major coaching experience, there is no questioning about his passion for this wonderful sport and NSW. Laurie Daley, just like Ricky Stuart before him is exactly what NSW needs. Daley has been with the NSW team for several years in an assistant basis going back to when the great Gus Gould was coach. He has also been the coach of the Country RL rep team for the last 5 years, leading the team to 2 victories and a draw.

Ricky Stuart has instilled a culture of toughness, passion and urgency over his 2 year tenure in charge. Yes he may not have won any series while in charge but the changes in the team are glaringly obvious. One just has to have a look at the performance of Robbie Farah. Before this years series there were not many people who would have selected him to play, let alone be one of NSW's best players. This culture brought in by Stuart shows just how important passion is to State of Origin, something QLD have been using for years.

All Daley needs to do is continue what Stuart has achieved and add his own mix to the game. Coaching State of Origin is not like coaching in the NRL. He will be coaching the best of the best from the state. There is no need to teach the players how to tackle or read the play, but there is a need to teach the players to play that extra 10% for their team mates, their families and their entire state. This is exactly what Ricky Stuart has done in the last 2 years. The hardest job that Daley has to do is to make sure he picks the right team. Not only does he need to pick a team that will fit into this new NSW culture, but he needs to pick players that have the ability to take the game directly to QLD. A team that hits hard and does not take a step back. A team that can tackle all day long yet back up in attack to split the QLD line apart.

For the most part Stuart's decisions were spot on for what was needed to be done, but there were some selection and interchange decisions that raised some questions, which I will not go into as previous articles have them well covered. If Daley can improve this and continue Stuarts work then his NSW team could get the job done.

QLD coach Mal Meninga played along side both Stuart and Daley at the Canberra Raiders. They all shared some wonderful moments during their football career together (alongside other greats like Bradley Clyde) including winning the premiership and representing their country together. Over the last 2 years Stuart has done a great job getting under the skin on Meninga. Taunts in the media and a fire of words between the two have helped make the 2012 SOO series one of, if not the biggest series ever. Daley has this same history with Meninga and also has a great rapport with the media with his current job with FOX SPORTS. The big question is will Daley take it to Meninga through the media? Only time will tell.

Daley will learn a lot over the next few months just what it will be like to be the NSW coach. He will host per season camps with potential origin players, discuss strategies with Stuart (assuming he stays on in some capacity with NSW) and look for that edge factor to take to the Queenslanders. He will also learn if he has what it takes to be the man to provide the passion back to this state, along with a shiny trophy that has been missing for seven long years.

All in all, the appointment of Daley to the NSW coaching position is one filled with passion. He will do his team, family and state proud, providing he continues the work on the platform Stuart has provided him.
----------------

706 words (OWC)
 

joshie

Live Update Team
Messages
3,115
Joshie for the Ninjas

Pride and Phar Cup

Yesterday I played one of the most physical games of my life. The game was KGBC College versus Mount Gravatt College; the first round of the three team Tri Nation type rugby league series, as part of the inter college cup. The game and concept itself is called Phar Cup. It is a strong tradition at Griffith University. It is an event that stretches back twenty years - this is my first year.


In our game yesterday the brute force of the first hit would be enough to make anyone stand up. Mount Gravatt had the ball first and their prop forward charged up deep within his own half. He was smashed in a shoulder charge even Sonny Bill Williams would be proud of. It was a hit so strong that he never returned to the field. The whole first set, from us Lions, the KGBC squad, was massive. Shot after shot. Hit after hit. The game was intense and with a solid crowd building on the sidelines, the atmosphere was amazing.


A high ball from one of the Mount Gravatt boys saw our winger spill the beans, only to be recovered by our fullback, who then also dropped the ball, gifting the first try to the Mount Gravatt Goats. It was heart breaking for us as we conceded first points in a game we were so confident about. They converted and it was 6-0.


The game went back into its bashful ways before out of nowhere the mount Gravatt side opened us up. They charged up field before their talented winger threw in a few steps to crash over the line and have us crumble to a 12-0 deficit, we did not see that coming.


The half was winding down and finally we were getting it right. We had some field position and our forwards began to take the ball into their line with force. Our halfback then took the ball to the line before our centre backed him up, opening up the Mount Gravatt line, as he scored under the sticks. The halftime score was an interesting 12-6.


The second half started as the first did, I wanted the first run off kick off, but the ball went away from me. We rolled up the field and got into a good position. We put the ball deep into their half and began to defend our own half; pinning them down. The Mount Gravatt five eight, a guy not many people like, got a big cheeky and began to get pumped in defence. He ran at me before I wrapped him up and slammed him to the ground, pressing my whole 6 foot 5, 110kg frame on him as I rose back to my feet, making sure it hurt. A few other boys hit him with everything they had and we heard the groans every time.


We finally got back on the board as our centre took it from dummy half to cross out wide. There was jubilation everywhere but we could not convert as we trailed by two with 20 minutes to go.


The game was intense but our roll on was too great. Down on their line, me and our hooker had a brief moment where we discussed tactics and I lined up a hole to hit, but as they caught on to our plan, he scooted from dummy half to crash over and score the try to put us in front. The kick went wrong but we were still up 14-12.


As the five eight on the other team ran the ball, I lined him up and without thinking nailed him. As I turned around, after hearing the groans from the crowd and mount Gravatt team, I saw I had copped him high and he was unconscious on the ground. He eventually got up and they had the penalty. I was still lucky to be on the field.


It was a last ditch effort as the referee called it was the last play with Mount Gravatt holding the ball; they tapped it and charged toward our line. They put a grubber kick through and scored the winning try. I felt like crying as I saw them score the try, with the pride and passion going through the game, before I noticed the referee had awarded a penalty to us! The game was won and we now face BK in two weeks to try and confirm our spot in the Phar Cup finals.
 
Last edited:

edabomb

First Grade
Messages
7,088
edabomb for the Ninjas
------------------------------------------

The Coach


It had all come down to this. One game and a win was required to make the Top 8 – a large win and there was a chance to move up to seventh. The pressure was immense. The team was coming off a two match losing streak – stumbling at the wrong end of the season. The opportunity for change was declining as the season drew closer to its conclusion – the options that had seemed plentiful twenty weeks ago were now narrowed down to one or two positions. As the Coach settled into his office on Monday afternoon he ran over his options.

The side had been struggling in a few key positions. Things had been running well through the first few rounds – the side had moved into a handy record after ten matches, having won seven. From there things had started to fall apart – their leading prop had gone down in State of Origin, and several other players were in and out with injury and representative commitments over this period. It was tough to manage – and to plug the gaps created by their absence. They’d managed to stay afloat though, and had been steady at fifth on the ladder a month ago.

Then injuries hit – things were so desperate that Liam Fulton was moving between five-eighth and hooker. The dimension he added to the team had been lost – his defensive numbers took a dive and the threat he offered out wide ceased to exist. The side struggled to account for his loss in the second row. It seemed to be a general rule with the elite players of the game – move a man out of position and lose his productivity, while also downgrading the performance in his original spot. The side hadn’t had much luck though, mid-season addition Curtis Sironen had gone down with a season ending injury and Fulton was the best option left standing.

As he sat at his desk with his Excel spreadsheet open he continued to study the numbers. Where could gains be made and losses minimised – how could he get more than he was out of this current squad. His biggest decision would be the bench. With Fulton moving into the halves it had impacted his three man backrow rotation coming off the bench. They were the key to the early success – but with injuries having their impact they were no longer an option. There were a few possibilities for those final two bench spots – a half, an outside back and a prop. The half was a consistent player – solid but unlikely to offer any X-Factor. The outside back was like most around the league – heavily reliant on his inside man to put in a big performance. Thankfully the side he played on was up against the weakest fringe defence in the competition this weekend - he could have a big one if given the chance. Finally – the prop was a wildcard. He was one of those fringe guys every squad needs – inexperienced at the top level but gaining a few chances as the season went on. He was a workaholic – and could cover some of the load that Fulton had left with his positional move.

As the week grew on the stress continued to build. He was snapping at his colleagues – they wanted his assistance in areas he didn’t see as a priority. If he could just decode this lineup mystery he was confident of getting the result – surely at this time of the year that deserved to be his sole aim of the week!

As he drove home on Friday he finally made his decision – it was to be the winger and the prop he’d go with to round out the 17. Best to be all in on the river with a potential straight than a potential pair. As he got to his home office he sat down – one final contemplation of his decision. The clock ticked over – 7.25pm. He logged into the site and selected his 17 – with a deep breath he made the changes and clicked submit. He’d be in this room for the majority of the next 72 hours now - closely monitoring each match as the statistics and numbers were updated. He’d then wait impatiently for the scores to be finalised – nothing annoyed him more than a team being boosted by 50 points as a result of conservative live updates. He sat there alone in his room on another Friday night – waiting for those numbers to start ticking over.

-----------------------------------
750 words in the OWC
 

jamesgould

Juniors
Messages
1,466
jamesgould for the Ninjas

History

Paul looked up, having recovered the grubber kick, and saw a wall of chasers breathing down upon him.

There was Uncle John, Dad, his cousin Steve and his next door neighbour Jonno.

He took the ball back as fast as his seven year old legs could carry him, until he reached the defence. There, he stepped once off his right foot, leaving Steve in his wake. He dropped the ball onto his left foot, propelling it over the head of his Dad, and recovered it one-handed, still at full pace, en route to the try-line.

“Paul goes over, nobody can lay a finger on him today!” he shouted, jubilation overflowing from the skilful try he had just scored.

“Geez, little Paul sure can play, can’t he?” remarked Uncle John.

“Yeah he can ... he could make a real name for himself, that boy.” Paul’s proud father replied.

***

Paul threw yet another pass into the target he’d painted on the garage wall. There was a loud THUD! as it landed smack-bang in the middle of the red dot once again.

His mother, looking tired and weary, trudged outside in her dressing gown.

“Paul! That’s enough for tonight!” she yelled. “It’s past 9pm and some of us have got work tomorrow!”

“Ten more minutes, Mum.” Paul replied. He bent down to pick up the ball and began grubbering it along the ground, towards the makeshift in-goal he had constructed.

“If I’m going to make first grade, then I need all the practise I can get!”

His mother sighed, resigned to the fact that if there was one thing she could never get Paul to do, it was stop him thinking about rugby league.

“Alright, ten more minutes. But any more after that and we’re going to start getting complaints from the neighbours again.”

“Thanks Mum! It’ll be worth it when I’m famous, I promise.” Paul grinned, thudding another long pass into the battered garage.

***

There were a couple of minutes left on the clock in the big final, and the scores were level. Paul sensed that his moment was about to arrive.

He looked to the sideline and saw Mr Johnson gesturing wildly on the sidelines. Paul knew what he had to do.

As his school worked its way downfield, Paul positioned himself behind the ruck. “A couple more towards the posts!” he yelled at his forwards.

Almost before he had time to finish his sentence, it was the fifth tackle. There wasn’t a clock anywhere to be seen, but Paul knew time was almost up.

As if in slow motion, the ball came towards him. He briefly touched it, directing it towards his foot. As it kissed the ground, he let go with an almighty hoof, and watched ecstatically as the ball sailed through the posts, straight as a die.

The ref whistled to indicate the point, checked his watch, then whistled fulltime.

Paul raised his arms in triumph, as his teammates rushed towards him in joy.

It was the best moment of Paul’s life, but he knew there was more recognition to come.

***

Pre-season training was the toughest thing Paul had ever endured, but it was worth it. He’d finally made his dream of first grade football.

“Come on, boys! Put some effort into it this time!” yelled his cranky coach.

Paul tried even harder this time, leading the side in their 40 metre sprint, before completing ten push ups. As the beads of sweat dripped off his face, he tried to hold in a smile. He knew that before long, he’d be a household name.

***

Scores were tied with only a few seconds left on the clock. Paul had a feeling the ball was headed his way, with the opposition desperate to win in regulation time.

As the ball skewered off their kicker’s boot towards him, Paul assessed the situation. There was space in front of him, but from his own half, it was a risky play.

He could almost see it coming off inside his head though. A player of his skill would have no problems executing it as he intended.

He grabbed the ball and chipped ahead.

He looked up in horror. The ball had gone way too far – straight down the opposition’s throat! He felt a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach.

Craig Polla-Mounter attempted the field goal from nigh-on halfway. It almost appeared to intersect the black dot.

Paul Carige’s head dropped.

His name would go down in history.


746 words.
 
Last edited:

edabomb

First Grade
Messages
7,088
Bad luck Penrith - always sad to see a 5 vs 4 when coming up against a top team such as yourselves. As we've seen in the past 4 can occasionally beat 5 - so good luck one and all.
 
Messages
17,427
NINJAS

CobyDelaney - 84
An interesting read, detailing your explanation pretty well. Flowed well, it's not just a game with two lines is it?

gUt - 86
I remember Luke Ricketson hitting a Rabbitoh a few years back that was diving, how times have changed. Made the point well, good article.

Joshie - 80
A match report written with personal feeling, but watch out and get someone to double check, a few errors here.

edabomb - 83
A good read, going into a fair bit of detail within the Word Limit, always tricky!

jamesgould - 88
Enjoyed this one, what a twist in the end. Always very difficult to write these "point of view" ones.

PANTHERS

LeagueNut - 85
An interesting read, with decent points clouded by the comedic character which, to me, didn't fully work. Not marking on comedy, well written though.

Big Mick - 83
A well written short history of Greg Alexander. Grammatical inconsistencies are noted however.

Madunit - 83
This sort of thing has been done a fair few times, and some of the jokes seem a bit too random, in amongst some great ones.

Panfas - 84
Well written, having some interesting points and backing up.

Ninjas 421
Panthers 335
 

edabomb

First Grade
Messages
7,088
Cheers for the marks and the quick turnaround NT.

Bad luck Panthers - a fifth article and it was well and truly game on. All the best for the future guys - hope to see you around in 2013.

Great work Ninjas - excellent work from JG with the MOTM. We have a huge task next up against the Dragons - so we need to do some plotting in the locker room....
 

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