2011 ROUND 4: Panthers -V- Rabbitohs

[Jesbass]

Penrith Panthers -V- South Sydney Rabbitohs​

-V-

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 (+ 2 reserves for the visiting team, + 3 reserves for the home team)
* No 'TBA' or changing players named
* Captains must stick with original teams named

Rules: http://www.forumsevens.com.au/rules.php
Official Word Counter: http://forumsevens.com.au/wordcount.php

Kick Off: Sunday 24th April 2011 (2100AEST)
Full Time: Wednesday 4th May 2011 (2100AEST)
Referee: Titanic
Venue: CUA Stadium

 

[Big Mick]

Panthers team to take on Souths:

1. Big Mick
2. Madunit
3. Goleel
4. Azkatro
5. Didgi

RES:
6. RayRoxon
7. Leaguenut
8. Broncoman

 

[griffo346]

Souths team for this round

Griffo346 (c)
Non Terminator
Spanner In The Works
Monk
Marshall Magic

Bwuce
byrne_rovelli_fan82

 

[Spanner in the works]

Spanner throws rocks at the stadium lights because he has a minger of a headache. He mis-throws one and knocks over the little old lady walking by. For some reason it felt good...

699 words
*********************************************************************************************************************
We often hear about the exploits of footballers after a night on the town. Sure enough, someone with a mobile phone will have recorded the incident. And sure enough someone with a Twitter account, a Facebook account, YouTube account etc. etc. will have put it up for the world to see. The media will catch sight of it and within 6 hours of the initial incident you will have your backpage for the next paper and your face all over a news site. Just ask Joel Monaghan.

Someone will start a thread about the offender and sure enough there will be the usual characters talking about it. For one, you will have the holier-than-thou people who say that they should be hung, drawn and quartered. There are the other people who blame it on Jason Ryles. There are the ones who defend the guy to the end of the earth, because surely our best player can bring us a premiership? There are the ones who say “It’s a minor incident – haven’t you ever shit in the woods when you have been drunk?” Finally, there is the other group. The focus of my article. The ones who say “they are footballers – leave them alone”.

Okay. Fair enough. It’s a reasonable statement to make. We are all entitled to a night off and we can all get up to mischief now and then. As they say “boys will be boys”. But can boys be boys anymore? Can footballers still justify the reputation gifted to them in the past by the media, the public and the code? That has become the eternal question.

As you are no doubt aware, there is a lot of money in this sport now. Sponsorships, player salaries, TV deals, merchandise, grass roots football, memberships etc. – this is a multi-billion dollar sport. What comes with that is exposure. Exposure to scrutiny, exposure to the media and exposure to the unrelenting pressures of the public. Fair enough too. A multi-billion dollar industry deserves that kind of exposure given the risk that comes with that kind of investment.

This exposure has brought many unintentional things to the code. One of these is celebrity status. The footballer has become more than just "footballer" – they are celebrities. Open up the weekend “on the town” section in the paper and have a look for just one example. Or try the red carpet for movies, awards nights and the like and see how much exposure that gets. Hell, the dresses and suits are discussed to death the very next day. Then there is the status we place on celebrities. The public has more interest in celebrities than ever before. Go stand in a supermarket aisle and look at the magazines. Check out the entertainment section on a news site. Walk through Myer and look at the “Britney” fragrance, the “Beckham” sunglasses and the “MasterChef” cooking utensils. Celebrities are the new big thing. It’s a proven fact that people want to live the lifestyle of the celebrity, and as such will go out and purchase that lifestyle.

It would seem now that footballers are role models also. The academics, the public and the media have taken care of that one too. The celebrification of the footballer adds to this as does the amount of money in the game. Given the exposure they receive and the status placed on them by society as role models and celebrities, these boys will be recognised and they will be filmed doing anything remotely questionable. That’s a fact. It now leaves the “footballer” in a very precarious position. This politically correct world with that kind of exposure with those kinds of tools demands that footballers live up to an entirely different standard – the standard of role model and celebrity.

With the rise of social media, and with virtually every phone having a camera and internet, there is now much at stake for the code, the players and the people who put so much into this game – the sponsors and the fans. The players are the guardians of the code, and the code could well have great difficulty in justifying it's existence if the guardians fail their duties. Just a thought.

 

[Big Mick]

BIG MICK TAKES THE FIELD FOR THE PANTHERS

Leadership: Keys to Sustainable Success:​

The NRL is regarded by many as one of the most even competitions in the world. The salary cap has ensured an even spread of talent among all NRL teams, ensuring that the opportunity for sustained periods of success is even harder. In such an environment it is imperative to have strong leadership. More than ever the Jack Gibson mantra of “success starts at the front office” rings true.

In salary cap restricted leagues around the world, it is those organisations that have great management in place that have sustainable success. One only needs to look at the New England Patriots in the NFL as an example of a team who has built a strong reputation through great leadership which has led to multiple championships. While the Patriots have great players at the core of their organisation, it is their General Managers who provide the leadership to manage their staff, salary cap & personnel decisions.

Great leadership encompasses confidence, assertiveness and mutual respect. Great sports administrator’s take calculated risks and are innovative and confident in their decisions to do so. They realize that being timid will not get them where they want to go. This confidence and assertiveness will usually trickle down to the team members & set the organisational tone.

When reviewing the organisations in the NRL which have such structure one would think of the Canterbury Bulldogs & more recently the Gold Coast Titans. Both organisations have taken fresh approaches to the CEO position in recent years with Todd Greenberg taking over at the Dogs while Michael Searle being the mastermind of the introduction of the Titans in the NRL.

While these two organisations have recently suffered lean years, it is the strength and conviction of their management and the trust they have in their structure which turn perceived weakness into strength. What makes these teams a benchmark is not just the win-loss record – it is their continuous involvement in providing innovative solutions to improve the game, their significant contribution to their community, investing in their player’s development and their ability to monitor the salary cap.

What also makes these teams successful is that they are not afraid to make big decisions, particularly with regards to player personnel. Only recently both teams have gained and lost star players in Jamaal Idris & Anthony Laffranchi. Instead of sitting on their hands, the strong management identified areas where their team can improve. Through active recruitment and talent identification these teams have steadily built their roster for success into the future.

In stark contrast over the years we’ve seen a number of teams which have instability and lack of structure which ultimately leads to an organisation which is weak, fragile and unsuccessful. While these teams may have sporadic periods of success it is their organisational strength which has dictated their past and ultimately without change, their future.

Teams such as the Penrith Panthers & Cronulla Sharks are two which come to mind. While each club has had some form of success in the past, neither club has had sustainable periods due to inconsistency at the management position. The Panthers won a premiership in 2003 on the back of the commitment and trust within that structure, but that faded away as quickly as it emerged due to management overhauls, player revolts and coaching changes. Since 2003 the Panthers have been to the finals twice, the least of any team in the competition over that period.

With the age of salary cap constrictions a team cannot guarantee success with the quick fix of signing a quality player, despite popular belief. The examples provided above and around the world highlight the need for strong leaders who have ability to control an organisation and put in place a set of values and ideals throughout the team. Strong leadership would result in bringing the right coaches and staff into the organisation to breed a culture for success. This strong structure would then open the doors to greater amounts of talent at a cheaper price than weaker teams because these talents realise by signing, they have a greater chance to win a premiership.

Ultimately to be successful within a salary cap structure you have to have great management. Without excellent leadership a team is rudderless and essentially only accepting mediocrity with sporadic periods of success. Great leadership brings a vision, a motivation and a blueprint for what is required to be truly successful both on and off the field.

742 words


References:

- Sports management: budding profession needs theoretical foundation, Amar, A.D, Mid-Atlantic Journal of Business, June 2003.
- "Defining Leadership" - Barrow, 1997
- Keys to success in sport and life, John Wooden, 2002
- Leadership in Sport - Athletic Insight Journal, 2008

 

[madunit]

madunit for the Panthers

Numerologically Revealing League

Numerology is an ancient Egyptian and Babylonian study of number symbolism, used to determine an individual’s personality, strengths, desires, obstacles and future, among many other things.

This practice has proven to be of great benefit to many people in the past and given the cyclic nature of poor behaviour in the NRL, I thought it best to study numerology so that I could look into this repetitive culture and find out if there is some light on the horizon for the NRL.

Inner-self
Because of your desire to experience everything in life to its fullest before you let it go, you may tend to overdo sensual and physical experiences such as sex, alcohol, drugs, food, public defecation, drink driving, gambling, beastiality and lying.
Instead of formal education, much of your wisdom comes from your tremendous range and ability of activities (listed above) and your contact with people of many classes and races.
You can enhance your life experience even more by increasing your sense of loyalty, although some would say it’s probably far too late now.

Personality
You appear dignified and poised, intellectual, but mostly aloof. When first meeting someone, you appear hard to know and confrontational, but become friendly and a good talker when better acquainted.
While discussing familiar topics, you are convincing and appear at ease. However, in unfamiliar areas, such as speaking with the media, you often make many statements you later regret.
Your personality improves when you are well-dressed and groomed; good style with straight lines and touches of colour. Unfortunately though, you feel more comfortable strolling around in jeans, a flanellette shirt, bomber jacket with a baseball cap on backwards. So many contradictions makes it hard for you to know who you really are.

Destiny
Your destiny lies in areas of creativity and its use to help people find inspiration and joy in living. As you express your artistic talents, your beauty, and an optimum mix of sincerity and joy, you come closer and closer to fulfilling your destiny - which also includes popularity, personal happiness and money. Lots of money. Seriously, huge massive piles of the stuff. Actually money overshadows everything else, well except for making headlines.
You had integrity and are kind, patient, cheerful, creative, and a constant source of pleasure. But at the same time, can also tend to be cruel, reckless, unimaginative and have a very black sense of humour. Consistency is non-existant.

Life’s Path
You are a humanitarian and idealist, with a path of serving mankind (with fat wallets), doing worthwhile things for yourself and those close to you, ignoring the masses of the public who made you what you are today.
Your path is one of rendering service to those in need, mainly alcoholics and people who do toilet in public. Your strong sense of family is extended to the community, the state, and even the world.
You have a strong idealism and are at your best when you directly benefit the lives of others, but only if it benefits yourself as well, otherwise, you just cast them aside, to France .

This Year
More so than usual, you feel desire to move forward, to improve situations, to assert your individuality, and to get on with life. Reach for opportunities and they will come to you.
This is an active year with many indecisions to make. Your affairs are making a new start. The next nine years' experience will depend a great deal on what you do and don't do this year. It calls for strength of purpose, clear thinking, and listening to your inner voice, before asking reliable people for their educated opinion, which you don’t really have.

Next Year
Harmonious associations are very important for you this year. The year's success and good results will be obtained through diplomacy, cooperation, tactfulness and good relationships. It is a year for receiving and sharing rather than aggressively pursuing your own way.
Your intuition and emotions are enhanced this year.
It is a busy year, with endless demands on your time. It is easier to work with others rather than doing things by yourself.
Your plans and developments may experience periods of delay. No need to worry about that. Things seem to move slower this year, like Wade McKinnon, but they are still almost just as effective.

So it appears we have more of the same for at least the next nine years.

Well at least we’re used to it now.

742 words, including title

 

[griffo346]

sub for rabbitohs

griffo346 off
bwuce on

 

[Didgi]

Aware of the potential overlap caused by the Rabbitohs' substitution, Didgi calls the ball wide. Amidst calls of "forward sir!" He steps off the left, dummies for the winger and...


'A little respect, if you please.' 749 words
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Riiiinnnggg…*
Gavin rolls out of bed. He knows that today is a big day - he needs to be in tip top shape for this one. He greets his partner, Eve, with a quick peck on the cheek, before striding into the kitchen. He readies the various appliances with turns of the dial and a few quick words.
Eve: “I don’t know why you talk to them every time, Gav. It’s not like they listen to you anyway.”
Gavin: “I have to; it’s just part of what I do. I know it doesn’t really work, but it makes me feel a bit better.”
Eve: “What are you making this morning honey? You remember it’s a big day for you today, and you always get so upset when you start cooking.”
Gavin: “Yes babe, I know, it’s my ritual though. I’m cooking a cake this morning. When it turns out well I’m really relaxed.”
Eve: “There’s too much pressure on you. You should give it up.”
Gavin: “I can’t. It’s just what I love doing.”
Gavin gets the 26 ingredients he’ll need for the cake out of the pantry and the fridge, arranging them on the counter as he goes. There’s the main ingredients, then the bits that bind it all together, and then, finally, the decorations for the edges. He mutters to all of these as well, although it’ll make no difference.
Gavin: “I want you to stay in the bowl, eggs. Stay clean! Don’t go too high, raising flour. Stay out of it, icing sugar. Don’t get involved.”
He knows that all lumped in together, the 26 ingredients will create something disgusting. They need his guidance to create something delicious.
*Whoooooooooooooooop *
The oven timer sounds. The cooking arena is ready for preparing the cake; it’s just awaiting the ingredients. Gavin adds the two most important ingredients, the milk and the flour, into a bowl. Next he adds the eggs, which form a great combination with the milk down the middle of the bowl. Chef Gavin continues adding the ingredients, 5 at a time. He remembers the recipe almost perfectly, but he can’t check it in the middle of cooking. He’ll occasionally make a wrong decision, but is often saved by Eve poking her head into the kitchen to make sure everything is fine. Together, they ensure everything goes right, most of the time.
*Whoooooooooooooooop *
The second alert from the timer tells him it’s time for the second half of the cooking process, the baking. He pours the mixture into the cake tin, setting the oven for the 40 minutes he knows the menu suggests for the baking time. Peering into the oven, he sees nothing untoward. This is the worst part, however. His vision is obscured partly by the cake tin. He knows that, later, his critics will find something to complain about. The yoke was separated from the egg, they’ll say. The cake spilled out of the side of the pan, will be the grumble. Ignoring these depressing thoughts, he continues to watch, not seeing anything wrong.
*Whoooooooooooooooop *
The third ring of the timer signals the end of the cooking. Gavin pulls the cake out of the oven, relief apparent that it hasn’t exploded in his face.
Gavin: “Kiiiiiiiiiiiiddsss! Kids! It’s ready!”
SK and his friend Dave, and Neil and his mate Johnathan, rush into the dining room, each taking a piece of cake.
Gavin: “Skeepy, what did you think of the cake?”
SK: “It was f**king sh*t. You’re the worst cook ever. I hate you, and I want to set you on fire. Johnathan got a piece of cake that he shouldn’t have. Why do you always make cakes that I don’t like.”
Gavin: “Oh well, nobody cares what you think anyway, SK.”
“Neil and JT, how did you like the cake?”
Neil: “The cake overall was good, but I think the second half of the cake was terrible for us.”
---------------
*Beeeeeeeeeep*
Taking on the Saturday evening traffic, Gavin Badger arrives at Dairy Farmers Stadium – Cowboys against Raiders. He finds his partner, Steve Lyons. They shake hands and stride out onto the pitch. He readies the captains with a toss of a coin and a few quick words.
Steve: “I don’t know why you talk to them every time, Gav. It’s not like they listen to you anyway.”
Gavin: “We have to; it’s part of the job. I know it never works; you’d think grown men would be able to understand…”
Steve: “So much pressure…”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Marshall_magic]

[FONT=&quot]Marshall on for the Bunnies. After an embarrassing face plant getting off the team bus he charges onto the ball for his first hit up
[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]---------------------
[/FONT]​

[FONT=&quot]Survivor: NSW Halfback, Finale[/FONT]​

[FONT=&quot]The challenge[/FONT][FONT=&quot]: The Blues have tried everything except a reality TV show to find out who should be their halfback, so let’s take a look at this selection process.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Finalists[/FONT] [FONT=&quot]: Mitchell Pearce and Jarrod Mullen[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]Jeff Probst: Welcome to your final tribal council, we will skip your opening statements as neither of you can complete a coherent sentence, and we’ll go straight to the Jury Q&A, 7 players who fell before you will address one or both of you. They may ask a question or just make a statement. After all 7 are done, we’ll vote for our new halfback. Too easy, alright Mortimer, get us started[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Daniel Mortimer: Mitchell, we all know about your father, so my question will be for Jarrod, can you tell me about your family and the background of Rugby League it holds?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Jarrod Mullen: Mate, my dad played for Canterbury and Wests in the 80s, he works in the mines in Newie now, but he’s a good bloke.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]JP: Carney[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Todd Carney: I think to be a good footy player, you need to be able to smash a beer or two, what’s your record for most beers in a night, and if you spewed or passed out then it doesn’t count?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]JM: 18[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Mitchell Pearce: 25[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]TC: Quality efforts, although you’re both short of my best.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]JP: Walsh, you’re up[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Luke Walsh: In my opinion, being a halfback is all about setting up tries from kicks, out of the 7 of us on the jury, who do you think sets up the most tries from kicks?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]MP: You[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]JM: You[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]LW: Thanks, I still can’t work out why I am not even considered either.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]
JP: Hodgkinson keep us going[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Trent Hodgkinson: Hey guys, simple question, why should I vote for the person sitting next to you, rather than you.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]JM: Well Mitch did a great job last season and took the Roosters to the grand final. He has had some good performances this season too, and is the incumbent which is important I think.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]MP: Jarrod has started the year strong, and is NSW’s form halfback.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]JP: Gidley, you’re up[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Kurt Gidley: I will no doubt captain the team this year, even if I am not in the 17 this year, I want to know what’s the most unusual position you’ve captained a side from.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]MP: One time in juniors I was playing prop for some reason, and I captained, it was pretty rough.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]JM: I’ve only ever captained a side from the halves, but I can probably captain from any position on the field if the coach wants to move me somewhere.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]KG: Cheers fellas[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]JP: Wallace[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Peter Wallace: I know you have both worn the blues 7 in the past, and one thing I can’t help but notice is that neither of you have won a single origin in your career. Okay, now I have, so what makes you more deserving of the jersey than me?[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]JM: Well Pete, when I was told I’d have to bust my balls for the team that they didn’t mean it literally. How can someone that stupid play origin? Also I did alright in my only game for the Blues; you had one good game and were absolute garbage in your other 3. Honestly, my sister would’ve done better than you.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]MP: I got my side to a grand final last year, you missed the top 8 altogether. I made my origin debut as a teenager, one of the youngest ever blues. I’ve played pretty good in most of my matches, you played like shit in most of yours.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]PW: okay...well I just wish I could vote for neither of you.[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]JP: Orford, close it out[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Matt Orford: Well this is garbage. I have won a premiership, and a Dally M medal. No one else here has done both, I deserve the spot over both of you, it shouldn’t even be a contest, but hey, let’s have a game, pick a number between 1 and 20[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]JM: 7[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]MP: 10[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]JP: It is time to vote[/FONT]

[FONT=&quot]VOTING[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Mortimer: Pearce While family ties are important, I’ll stay relevant.[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Carney: Pearce 18 Beers is a terrible PB[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Walsh: Mullen Novocastrians stick together[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Hodgkinson: Mullen Your form warrants it[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Gidley: Mullen NEWCASTLE![/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Wallace: Pearce You didn’t make fun of my busted nut[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot] Orford: Mullen Number was 1, how many premierships more than both of you combined I’ve won[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]Winner: Mullen 4-3[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]-----------------------[/FONT]
[FONT=&quot]748 between the lines
[/FONT]

 

[Azkatro]

Azkatro posting for the Panthers.

---------------------------------------------------------------

The sporting secret of dinosaurs

An archaeological dig has uncovered fossilised remains in northern England that has revealed incredible new insights into the lives of dinosaurs - and left experts stunned.

Using technology which combines x-ray, sonar and 3D digital scanners, scientists have uncovered remarkable symbols on a number of plates which have been carbon dated to around 65 million years old - a time when dinosaurs ruled Earth. It's the inscriptions on the plates that has got boffins scratching their heads in disbelief. They reveal a number of similar shapes, separated by a line. Initially, scientists were baffled.

Archaeological imaging specialist Prof. Jeffery Nixon, who pioneered the method used in revealing the markings, tells the story of how events unfolded.

"I was presenting my findings to a room full of thoroughly interested peers. After the results of our painstaking work were displayed to the room, murmurs among the audience grew louder and louder. It got to the point where I had no choice but to pause and ask them what the distraction was. My old friend, Dr. Russell Tickle, bluntly stated: 'Professor - it's rugby league'.

"Well, after he said that, and I looked back at the markings, it all made sense - there was 13 symbols on either side of the line, facing one another. And they were grouped into forwards, halves, a backline and a fullback. You could have knocked me over with a feather."

The revelation has sparked incessant debate and disagreement across many fields, both in the scientific community and in sporting circles.

One thing that does seem beyond debate, however, is that there is more to the game of rugby league that meets the eye. Given that dinosaurs survived for millions of years, it is possible that they developed the leisurely pastime over an incomprehensible period.

“It has certainly got me more interested in rugby league as an activity,” remarked Nixon.

“As a casual observer in the past I always found it surprising how often the sport fell into disrepute, yet just days later everything seemed to go back to normal.

“It has led me to believe that there may be some underlying reason for this. The number of players used, the nature of the rules, the skills required, the size and shape of the field – there are a multitude of factors that make up the overall package, and as this discovery may show, it seems that it strikes an optimal combination of variables which make it irresistible to both watch and participate for many people.

Former NSW State of Origin coaching great Phil Gould, also had plenty to say on the discovery.

“It just blows me away. Dinosaurs played rugby league? I still don’t think I believe it.

“But can you imagine it? I presume there wasn’t a lot of kicking going on. There must have been some pretty full on restrictions around what species could play.

“Maybe there were different divisions for different types of dinosaurs? If that’s the case, I’m willing to bet that the most keen interest would have been the Tyrannosaurus Rex league!

“It does pose some interesting selection dilemmas from a coaching perspective. I’m sure you’d have raptors in the backline, but they only had short arms I think. So I’m not sure how their ball skills would go. Obviously you’d have your T-Rex in the back row and maybe a couple of those stegosauruses packing down the front of the scrum.

“And there's another topic for discussion, the scrum! I wonder what the dinosaur equivalent of a scrum would have been?”

There are also those who have panned the findings as a complete hoax. One commentator leading the calls is 2GB talkback host Ray Hadley.

"This is complete and utter rubbish. I don't know who this Jeffery Nixon bloke is, but based on what he's come out with, as far as I'm concerned he is nothing more than a dribbler. Dinosaurs playing rugby league? It's ridiculous! How would they pass the ball? Next thing you'll be telling me that dodo birds were proficient at dramatic literature!"

The general feeling is clear, however. Most agree that it is incontrovertible proof that there is something about the game of rugby league that makes it unique - and extremely durable. It's a sentiment that Phil Gould agrees wholeheartedly with.

"[Rugby league] survived the Union split, it survived Super League - heck, if the game managed to survive the extinction of dinosaurs, I wouldn't be surprised if it outlasts the human race as well."

---------------------------------------------------------------

747 words. Liftoff!

 

[Goleel]

Gol for the Panthers.

---

The Crystal Ball

Recently the SMH put together a 'brains trust' of prominent figures in the dominant Australian sports, plus soccer, to indulge in some crystal ball gazing to figure out where their sport will be in ten years time. Most were aiming for the stars, AFL wanted to become an international sensation and rugby union predicted a global competition. Speaking for rugby league, Shane Webcke was a touch more realistic, if vague, claiming the independent commission would help rugby league explode. While vague is safe, it is hardly fun, so I decided to take a more bold look into rugby league in ten years time.

The independent commission has done the game well, but it wasn't a smooth start. Another suspiciously poor television deal, particularly when compared to the AFL, put expansion plans on hold and inspired a 'realignment' of the NRL. Cronulla were the first to go, their perilous financial situation forcing a merger with the Central Coast Bears bid which ensured the Bears took their spot in the national competition in 2013. Despite generous financial incentives for further mergers with bid consortiums, no other Sydney clubs took up the offer. Determined to cut another Sydney club, the NRL put it to Parramatta, Manly, South Sydney and Canterbury to show cause as to why they should remain in the competition.

The television rights to the proposals were sold, and the nation watched as each club presented their case. The lack of government support to redevelop Brookvale Oval and a small junior football base saw Manly as the bookies favourites to be cut, but in a shock move it was Parramatta that were told they weren't wanted for the 2015 season based on poor on field performances and live attendances. They immediately opened desperate merger negotiations with the Bulldogs and Penrith, but with such a weak bargaining position the offers were poor. The consortiums were more eager for a fair deal since a merger would guarantee a place in the national competition, thus the Central Queensland Eels were born.

Despite the turmoil television rating continued to improve and live gates increased, particularly in Sydney where live attendance was pushed as an important part of the 'elimination criteria'. By 2017 the average NRL crowd had eclipsed the 20,000 mark. Immense pressure was placed on the commission to finally earn a just television deal, as NRL total viewers had eclipsed the AFL every year since the last deal. With all three commercial networks tending bids, rugby league finally moved from its home on nine in 2018, and the $1.75 billion multi channel deal saw an immediate announcement of more expansion. In 2020 Perth and Wellington claimed NRL franchises, beating out bids from Papua New Guinea, who were still deemed too risky, Adelaide and Brisbane.

On the field, the game continued to improve, and in a shocking twist managed to stay scandal free for most of the decade. Sure, a few players got in some trouble here and there but rugby league cleaned up its image on the back of NRL enforced penalties for off field misconduct. Clubs who sacked players for off field behaviour were compensated by both the NRL and any club who wished to claim that player afterwards, which encouraged most clubs to take a far less lenient stance on off field incidents. Rules wise scrums were finally eliminated in 2015, replaced by handovers, and the video referee was given power to intervene in general play in 2018, which started a little rough, but was necessary to keep up with the increased speed of the game. Interchange dropped to eight and then six through the decade, with State of Origin adopting the old 'replacement' rule with no player allowed to come back to the field after being interchanged.

So as a sport rugby league continued to grow, but the important questions remain. Who won the premierships? Well, Wayne Bennett couldn't get Newcastle a premiership, and he retired in 2016. Melbourne and Brisbane dominated the early decade, while New Zealand, North Queensland and Canberra also claimed titles. The Central Coast and Central Queensland made the big game, but couldn't win it, both teams falling to Wests. Perth only won two games their first year, but Wellington made the finals.

Rugby league looks pretty good in 2020, but what of State of Origin? Well, it is a beautiful sight to behold.

Queensland haven't won an Origin game since 2011.

Hey, I can dream, can't I?

---

746 by my count.

 

[Non Terminator]

Non Terminator - 722 OWC

RUGBY LEAGUE JOURNALISM...for dummies

Hello viewers. My name is Ph...umm...call me Buzz. I am here to let you in on those golden secrets that Rugby League journalism provides. A few simple steps will give you the key to open the door to becoming the best Rugby League journalist in the business (well...the best besides me of course)!
So, have a seat, and listen to the secrets!

Secret One – Everybody Is A Superstar
Come on, let’s be honest. Who really wants to hear about some Johnny No-Name? How is it news? For example, saying “Raiders player Joel Monaghan was photographed in a sexually compromising position with a dog”, well, how is that interesting? I mean, come on. Nobody has heard of him, hell, who even knew that he was a Raiders player? You’d have to be some kind of genius to know this. However, if you write “Raiders superstar Joel Monaghan was photographed in a sexually compromising position with a dog”, there you go. Now you have a read-able headline.

Secret Two – Exclusive! Exclusive!
Don’t be late to the party! We post a daily publication, which means that everything that occured in the previous twenty four hours is fresh news! Up to date, that’s the game we all play. I mean, I’ve been able to obtain so many exclusives during my long, illustrious career. I have been able to be the first name people think of when regarding the latest Rugby League news. Nobody hears about the previous day’s events until they get the paper at nine o’clock in the morning to sit on the train to their pathetic low-paying job.

Secret Three – Rumours Are Fact!
What is the rumour mill used for? Of course, it’s about things that are about to happen! Why else would they be there if they weren’t the truth! I recently read about Chris Sandow joining Parramatta on a massive contract, and look what happened! Yes, the victory is with me, I wrote this first. Nobody can match me. Here is another one, Darius Boyd to sign with the Newcastle Knights. Don’t believe me? When it happens, you owe me an apology.

Secret Four – Opinions Are Fact!
When you’ve been around as long as I have, you discover that many people respect your well thought out opinions. Let people know your opinions, let people know just what you really think. Be a brave journalist, don’t be a square. Write a blog, let people comment about how amazing your thoughts are. I recently wrote a list describing my choices for the New South Wales team this year. You should’ve seen it, people were respecting my thoughts about the subject. Of course, there was many abusive comments, however I suspect it was from those jealous children from the Sydney Morning Herald. Jealous bastards.

Secret Five – ‘No Comment’ Is A Comment
Seriously, do people really think we go to all that effort to obtain interviews as soon as news breaks? We are there first, yet we still can’t get a comment. I mean, if I can’t get a comment, surely nobody else can. Quotes like “The Daily Telegraph attempted to speak personally to Jamal Idris, but he was unavailable for comment.” See what I wrote? “Personally”? I mean, it means I know Jamal as a friend.

Secret Six – Use Meaningless Facts
Come on, have you seen that white space? We try filling it all with advertisements, but we can have only so much advertisement space for sports betting and phone sex. Fill your article with facts that nobody cares about, meaning nothing, adding nothing to the story. Such as, “Paul Aiton was sent off against Canberra. Aiton, who has played 285 games for the Cronulla Sharks, Penrith Panthers and Newtown Jets made his first grade debut in 1967. It gives that extra nice touch for the reader.

Secret Seven – Headline
You need to grab an attractive headline. Something like “Knightmare”, for when the Newcastle Knights are surrounded by drama. See, pretty clever hey? I came up with that one myself. Some other pearls include “Titanic Struggle”, “Storm Blown Away” and “Sharks slay Dragons...AGAIN”.
Finally...

Secret Eight – Don’t Bother Getting Into The Game
Unless you’re Buzz from the Daily Telegraph, nothing you write will ever matter. Why is this you ask? It is because you’re wrong, and I’m right. Every. Single. Time.

 

[Non Terminator]

Monk (Rabbitohs) - 748 OWC


Does good enough really mean old enough?

“What! Since when were the Jets the Roosters NSW Cup team?”.

“It’s been that way for a few years now”

It took a bright blue message on the screen at the Sydney Football Stadium for one of my best mates (who has been a passionate Dragons fan in the 6 years that I have known him) to realise that the Jets were the Roosters team in the NSW Cup. It’s become a sad truth, the NSW Cup has become the Rugby League playing ground for those “who will never be good enough” to play First Grade Football, and for those who were given a shot, but never delivered. Just check out a list of these unfortunately familiar names who now have to live out their days playing park football. Ben Roberts, Michael Hodgson, Keith Lulia, Steve Southern, Nathan Stapleton, Isaac Gordon, Yileen Gordon, Paul Whatuira, Chris Hicks and George Ndaira. Sure, they might get another game or two due to injury or Origin, but their dream of being a household name is likely over.

Now, I’d rather have these guys playing park footy and doing what they love, then not having them play, but the trouble is, playing in the NSW Cup isn’t going to make you a better player, you’re playing a in sub-standard comp which has been buried into the ground with the arrival of the Toyota Cup, which is basically a game of touch football. I don’t really see the appeal of 48-42 score-line’s in every second game of a competition that I watch, so why would the public?

Then following that, we have to watch “the next big thing” come into the league and get injured or have a bad game, all because he is a young 19 year old and he can’t handle the physicality of the big game, and why should he? He hasn’t even finished growing yet. The idea of an Under 21’s comp is great, and it makes for some exciting footy, but after they are 21, dropping a player and forcing them to play in such a low standard of game that is the NSW Cup, certainly can’t be good for them.

I know a lot of coaches say “If they are good enough, they are old enough” and I’m sure you’re wondering why I’d bring all this up, and the truth is, I, like so many other NRL fans are just waiting for a proper second grade comp where kids can REALLY make a name for themselves and come into the league when they are ready, and not when they are forced to because of age.

Players like Ben Jones, who were studs in the Toyota Cup are being stuck because they are too old for the NSW Cup, but at the same time, they aren’t in the right situation for them, and maybe they can’t handle what the league has to offer, yet. Is it really the best thing to use these young men as battering rams when their bodies haven’t even finished growing yet?

What I think would be best for the youngsters of the game, is to have the second grade footy, as having no Max age (for example, the Toyota Cup is an “under 21’s” league), which gives the players plenty of time to get experience, and doesn’t force them to play in a poor standard competition when they reach a certain age and aren’t ready for First Grade football, which is essentially what happens with the NYC and NSW Cup right now.

Still not convinced? Let’s take a look at the number of exciting young players who are currently out injured and unavailable to play the game they love: Josh Hoffman, Matt Gillett (Broncos), Nathan Gardener, Albert Kelly (Sharks), Kevin Gordan (Titans), Siutonga Likiliki, Beau Henry (Knights), Glen Fisiiahi (Warriors), Ryan Morgan (Eels), Dane Laurie, Lachlan Coote (Panthers).

It’s not like these guys are NEVER going to get injured when they play football, but who’s to say that a year or two more playing in a lower grade won’t benefit them more in the long run? These Kids are being forced to play first grade just because they have outgrown the Toyota Cup, and I know some of them just aren’t physically ready for our league, and I believe the NSW Cup (and similar competitions) are not going to benefit them and make them a better player, worthy of playing in the greatest competition of them all.

 

[Bwuce]

aah, hullo, my name is Bwuce of the South Sydney Wabbitohs and I'm just a tad fwightened. Just this liddle ole wabbit amongst all those big scawey black pussies, oh deawy me. (Offically 750 words between the fluff)

*****
The Lament of South Sydney

"What's in a name? That which we love in myrtle and rose
By any other name would be on the nose"

With apologies to Shakespeare, this is the rhyming couplet that every Rabbitoh fan awakens to each day and is undeniable proof that the Gods have conspired against us.

An elusive bedfellow is History. She tantalises us with tales of legendary heroics while salaciously using her wanton sister Time to keep us from realizing the dreams that those recollections invoke. I could well call her a cutie but even they are useful – in fact, the one that the AFL Suns have would look pretty good behind our miss-firing team – so I won’t.

The very name Rabbitoh hardly provides a springboard for optimism. A name steeped in history but representative of another time. Up pop those two slatternly “sisters”, History and Time, again colluding to; on one hand offering warm and fuzzy links to those greater days of yore while neutering such sentiments with an ever-widening chasm of delusion as the fruitless years roll on.

Rabbitoh! Rabbitoh! This plaintive cry, once proudly issued from men down on their luck but not willing to succumb to their ill-fortune, echoed around the Sydney backstreets early last century. Is this our rallying anthem in 2011? Where is the link between those hard, honorable blokes and the Armani-clad players of today? Arm in arm, History and Time, have collaborated to mislead us. As one era morphed into another, players and their deeds have been raised onto pedestals whilst our unfulfilled expectations have been left floundering in the mire of reminiscence.

“To be, or not to be, that is the question”

After siding with the righteous, the men in red and green stood firmly against the Murdoch Empire behemoth. They ignored the tides of change and were wooed by the ARL’s archaic perception of History steeped in tradition. Promises were made and reneged upon. The club for the little Aussie battlers, once the darlings of Time, found themselves again bereft and penniless, left to fend for themselves, after the battle had been lost and won.

Eighty thousand turned up for their final struggle and marched to be heard. Great orators pronounced their dismay and the hordes stood shoulder to shoulder in the vain hope of justice. The once proud club was reduced to little more than a despondent shadow of itself and with this tragedy came the realization that the character that had provided inspiration for generations was dead.

“I go and ‘tis done. The bell invites me.”

And yet after the “great demise” and coupled with nearly forty years of frustration a savior appeared. Not a working class man but an iconic displaced New Zealander visionary. The aspirations of thousands of long-suffering Redfernites, or is it Redfernians, were rekindled on the back of Hollywood glitz. Had the discord of History and Time finally transcended the despair of the citizens of South-Central Sydney?

Amid scenes, oft-linked to the gladiatorial epics of ancient Rome, the fated couple, History and Time, were forced to confront each other publicly. Russell Crowe and Albert Clift heralded a new dawn sounding the original timekeeper’s bell as South Sydney returned to league’s premier competition. This was the bell that had called “time on” for the first ever game of rugby league in Australia. However, even after the phoenix-like rise from the ashes, no matter the amount of resources available to the Club, ten seasons later the fans appetite for redemption remains unquenched.

“Now is the winter of our discontent” [FONT=&quot]

Where does this road lead us? Urban drift has robbed the Club of its soul with our traditional territory being eroded and our population base dispersed to the four winds. The team cannot seem to rise above mediocrity although its ranks are afire with pedigrees. Our coach is but a shell of the man he was. Others well-versed in the skills of healing have turned their backs for less terminal options.

We are bleeding credibility. On paper we are wearing the right armour. On paper we have bought the right weapons. On paper we have fanatical support but on-field we are the 2011 Titanic.

A top eight berth, this year, will seem like an under-achievement given the teams circumstances. Has the time arrived to sever those links with history? The club must recognize that history is not necessarily cyclic and the good times can never reinvent themselves by just waiting.

Is it time, like Chris Sandow, to relocate?

*****
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[Jesbass]

And the clock tolls 9! (Or 11, depending on your locale!)

 

[Titanic]

or 7 for some too, thanks JB ... some fine reads there both teams.

 

[Marshall_magic]

Nice job everyone 5v5, best of luck Panthers.

Souths, another good scramble 2 weeks in a row with 5 articles after the debarcle that was round 2. Some quality efforts there as well, so hopefully we score well.

Over to you now ref.

 

[Big Mick]

Well Done everyone.

Great to see 5 v 5.

 

[byrne_rovelli_fan82]

Awesome job fellow Bunnies, we're on an improving path this year, good to see. Let's keep it up!

 

[Willow]

Great work. :thumn

5v5.