Azkatro posting for the Panthers.
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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 dont think I believe it.
But can you imagine it? I presume there wasnt 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 thats the case, Im 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. Im sure youd have raptors in the backline, but they only had short arms I think. So Im not sure how their ball skills would go. Obviously youd 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."
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747 words. Liftoff!