2011 ROUND 8: Bluebags -V- Rabbitohs

[Jesbass]

Newtown Bluebags -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://f7s.leagueunlimited.com/rules.php
Official Word Counter: http://f7s.leagueunlimited.com/wordcount.php

Kick Off: Sunday 24th July 2011 (2100AEST)
Full Time: Wednesday 3rd August 2011 (2100AEST)
Referee: madunit
Venue: Henson Park

Previous Matchups This Season:
Rabbitohs 423 v Bluebags 437 (Round 3)

 

[Jesbass]

Hi captains. Please note the change of referee.

 

[Monk]

Souths Players watch eggs get thrown into their bus windows as they pull into Henson Park. It's fine... I don't care for eggs anyway.

Starting:
Monk (C)
Marshall_Magic
byrne_rovelli_fan82 (VC)
griffo346
Lambretta

Bench:
Bubbles
Bwuce

 

[Willow]

The Bluebags bus arrives with a new shipment of eggs.

BLUEBAGS F7s TEAM - ROUND 8, 2011


Red Bear
Willow (c)
Woodyk2 (on debut)
Cliffhanger
AlwaysGreen

Bench:
Rexxy
gorilla
Timmah

Good luck one and all. :thumn

 

[Lambretta]

Lambretta sneaks onto the park a day early hoping his kick off won't be fielded by anyone and Souths will win the game.

747 words including title starting NOW (well after the little asterixes anyway)

*********

Confusion reigns

I was sitting at home watching the footy and my eight year old daughter asked the following questions “why do they just run straight at the opposition Dad? Why don’t they just go round them?” Personally I thought they were good questions and I attempted honest answers regarding yardage gains and tackle counts but her eyes glazed over and the moment was lost. But I suddenly realised that whilst I know a thing or two about Rugby League, there are still some questions that to my mind at least, have no answer.


Why do defenders point at no one in particular?

How many times have I seen defenders at marker point in one direction or another? OK, so they have the good grace to point left, right or straight ahead, rather than at the sky or at some imagined tunnels under their feet, but seriously why do they bother? The vast majority of ruck play occurs centre field with two markers in the middle and a nice string of defenders covering the field. Yet markers feel the need to point at some imagined danger. I wouldn’t mind if they were pointing out defensive holes, but 99% of the time they haven’t even glanced back at their own defensive line to see if there’s a gap. They wouldn’t know if they were pointing out that 10 of their 11 defenders who aren’t at marker were standing on the side line chatting up the cheer girls. It’s not fooling anyone and it’s utterly pointless.


Why are unsuccessful kicks rewarded with more tackles?

This really infuriates me; a team attempts a clearing kick and the defender makes that extra effort, blocks the ball, only for the kicking team to regather and be rewarded with another six tackles. Why? Shouldn’t it remain at the same point in the tackle count and be play on? There is no other area in Rugby League where mediocrity gains rewards, so why do we accept it here? I grew up playing the round ball version of football where not beating the first man with a pass meant hanging your sorry head in shame. You should never, as an attacker, be blocked passing the ball by the first man. It’s the cardinal sin. Yet in Rugby League we say “oh hard luck, your failure is your reward, try again old chap”. It’s utter garbage. It merely ensures that defending teams don’t try blocking the kick in the first place. I’d rather see players sin binned for allowing someone who starts off more than ten metres away from him block his kick than reward them with six more tackles.


Why is local always the best?

On Friday Night Football last football there were two games that Channel 9 had picked some weeks before that they could choose from: the Bulldogs versus the Eels and the Broncos versus the Storm. One the one hand we have two Sydney teams who have struggled to put together a decent half between them for months. On the other we have two interstate teams who both sit in the top four and have been playing excellent, exciting football all year. So Channel 9 took the sensible, commercially safe option of broadcasting the dour drivel served up by the Sydney teams to the Sydney audience in the prime time slot. Why? These two teams were never going to create a game that could rise above incompetence let alone strive for the giddy heights of mediocrity. Yet Nine broadcasts it because the football viewing public prefers the local product. Why on earth should this be the case? This is like logging on to a porn site, getting a choice of supermodels from Sweden or fat, hairy, mingers from Maroubra and choosing the latter because Sweden seems a little far away.


Why keep the voluntary tackle rule?

Have you ever have seen a player dive to ground to avoid being pushed into touch and just lie there for an eternity? Now have you even seen them penalised for this offence? Players do it all the time and it is just ignored. Is it a timing issue? Does it state in the rule book that you only truly offend if you get out your pillow, don your pyjama’s and set your alarm clock? Is merely lying prostrate on the ground shivering under the weight of your own cowardice not enough? Who knows? Maybe I should just let sleeping attackers lie!

 

[byrne_rovelli_fan82]

byrne_rovelli_fan82 for the Rabbitohs is al hyped up on vanilla coke!

~~
Warriors Newest Superboot?

A previous forum 7 article I wrote a couple of years ago, was titled: ‘Superboot’ and it was about then, Warriors five-eight Michael Witt, one of the most prolific goal kickers in the NRL. He ranked highly especially with the likes of the Bulldogs own Hazem El Masri.

Then at the end of 2008 Witt was moved on from the Warriors and soon had a trial playing in the other code in New Zealand before heading back to league and to the ESL.

Since his departure the Warriors have used a few others players in the goal-kicking positions.

For the 2009 season they opted to go with short-termed buy in Denan Kemp with some moderate success, though when he was no longer required in first grade duties were then handed to youngster Kevin Locke. He performed a little better, but certainly not to the same standard set the previous two seasons.

In 2010 two more new additions to the team were halves: Brett Seymour (Sharks) and James Maloney (Storm). Both players were not known to have done much goal kicking in their time from their previous clubs, however there must have been a decision from within over who wanted the job. Come round 1 against the Titans it was Seymour who stepped up to the plate and though he had a few shots his perfect record stood out. Unfortunately injury then sidelined him and duties were then handed to the much younger half in Maloney.

Straight from the get-go Maloney impressed with his goal kicking and though his record wasn’t anywhere close to Witt’s from 2007 and 2008, Maloney was making his own mark as the season progressed. It was stalled for a little while when he got injured against the Rabbitohs and Seymour did the kicking for the remainder of the game.

After returning from his back injury Maloney once again returned to his goal kicking duties and he has continued to perform well in this area. Over all his percentage ranges between 75%-85% success rate, though he has had a few games where his percentages has dropped.

At one point a debate raged in among fans of the Warriors, about the qualities of goal kickers, some felt there was no need, as goal kicking was only just one part of the job. Their primary concern was, they wanted the halves to do what they are expected to do i.e. guide their forwards and the backline, set up plays and be the ‘main man’. In today’s more modern game a goal kicker for the team is just as vital as having a specialist fullback, half back and five-eight. A great example unfolded this season between the Warriors and Tigers at Mt Smart; where the Warriors had amassed a massive lead over the Tigers; but having only converted 1/5 tries and lead them to miss out on an extra 8points. In hindsight if Maloney had picked up those extra points it may have helped them keep their noses in front as the Tigers ran them down. While the result went in favour of the Tigers and it is easy to look back and think of what could have been; there is without a doubt still a role to play for a goal kicker, and though the job might appear insignificant, looking back on this game it clearly showed the importance of goal kicking.

Still, it is hard to argue against Maloney’s goal kicking in general when compared to that of Witt, who only took over the job in 2007 halfway through the year and he was able to maintain a remarkable 95% success rate. For Maloney despite having games where his kicking has been off the radar he rarely lets it become a trend in other games, as all goal kicker he has had an off day or two but it never appears to dent his confidence going into the next match.

Maloney doesn’t have the unusual stance Witt did, or the stance of Dragons five-eight Jamie Soward; but he is just as equally if not better than both players when converting tries from out wide.

While Maloney continues on this path of being a highly rated goal kicker with the less than infamous stance of others; he can certainly climb up the rankings and earn his right as one of the best, and before too long there won’t be any reason not to credit him as the Warriors newest Super Boot.
~~

749 words between '~' according to official word counter.

 

[Cliffhanger]

Cliffhanger on for the Bluebags

734 Words

Fat Footballer​

NRL players do some freakish things to amaze and excite their fans every season, it is what makes NRL so watchable. Like a skillful halfback with a ridiculously accurate kicking game, a young five-eighth with a powerful step, a winger with brilliant speed, a fullback with incredibly safe hands under pressure, or a back rower with ultra-high endurance. Players like Billy Slater leave fans wide jawed in amazement every round.

Like any other season the 2011 NRL Premiership has seen the rise of numerous young players with unbelievable gifts. However, the player who has most fascinated me in 2011 is not a rookie, he’s not a speedy winger, a magician of a halfback or a workhorse of a second rower, it is none other than Greg Inglis. No it is not because he singlehandedly gave the game to NSW in Game 2 of State of Origin - breaking Queensland’s match winning streak, it is also not because he regressed so far in regards to his ability to influence a match. In 2011 I take my hat off to Greg Inglis because of his ability to gain so much fat in the off season and keep it on for over 20 rounds.

Okay, so gaining fat is not exactly an art, most of us have done it at some point or another even the fitness enthusiasts such as myself may have had a rare slip up and found themselves with a few unwanted kilograms following. You obtain a niggling injury, fall ill or start a job with higher work hours and suddenly you are forced to reduce your exercise load but for some reason your appetite does not fully adapt and you end up with a calorie surplus. You finally shake off the injury or illness or manage to adapt your routine only to find getting back into the habit is not as easy as you expected and those few extra kilos do not help.

This scenario occurring is not out of the question for many of your everyday fitness enthusiasts and a good percentage would have experienced it at some point. However, Greg Inglis is not your typical run of the mill individual who values their health and fitness. He is a professional Rugby League centre; work cannot get in the way of him keeping fit, in fact his job ensures he stays fit or is supposed to. Inglis gets paid to compete in a physically demanding sport and to train for hours a day. The daily tasks for his job include him working out for several hours. Work cannot get in the way of him keeping fit - his job includes him keeping fit, as for illness and injury there are specialists at his disposal to aid in his recovery and rehabilitation.

So how then does Greg Inglis or any other NRL player manage to become so soft around the edges? Perhaps a little too much relaxing in the off season, less training, more bad foods and players start to look more suited to a spot in the crowd than one on the field. Inglis is not the first professional NRL player to gain a lot of fat during the off season, hell he is not even the first NRL centre to find himself in this predicament. Most sides end up with a handful of players who have gained weight during the offseason but most clubs tend to nip these problems in the bud before the season commences by forcing overweight players to do a few extra training sessions and follow more stringent meal plans. If South Sydney tried to do this with Inglis then they have failed immensely.

Why should it matter if Inglis is a little soft around the edges? Let’s be fair, NRL players come in all different shapes and sizes, it is a testament to how unique the sport is. So why is it such a big deal? Put quite simply, because he gets paid to be right up there with the best players in the league and there is no doubt his new body size is hampering him on the field. He is a shadow of his former self and no longer has the speed or fitness required from a world class Rugby League centre. What’s more is that it reveals a lack of discipline on his part and a lack of commitment to produce his best football.

 

[Willow]

Willow | Bluebags
Words | 750



The Sounds of Silence

I can't quite recall which year it was, or even which game it was. But I do recall watching league on TV one Sunday afternoon when the commentary simply went dead.

I only heard the on-ground microphones picking up the crowd noise, the players and the referee. It was only for a minute.

Now a minute might not seem like much. If you're a minute late for work or dinner, most don't notice. If you lose a minute of a movie, sleep or fun time, life goes on without care. But this minute seemed to drag on for an eternity... a minute of blissful ignorance as I was gleefully denied the thoughts of the TV commentary. For one minute all I could only hear the sounds of the crowd reacting to bodies crunching against each other. I could hear the players shouting while the referee was yelling his directives. I felt like I was there. I could hear the game, without being distracted by the rantings and ravings of the so-called 'experts'.

Then the minute ended...

"Apologies to viewers, we just had a minor technical issue."

Apologies? I wanted to thank them. Never before in my experience as a TV lounge chair expert was I able to truly hear a rugby league match as it was meant to be. The purity, the poetry, the perfection of the greatest game of all.

The experience of that Sunday afternoon got me thinking. Then, I had an epiphany... let's kill the commentators!

So how do we get rid of these clueless talking heads? It seems we have a few choices.

Hit the Mute Button

Hitting the mute button will instantly free yourself from the monotonous gibberish. Unfortunately you lose everything else, the sounds of the crowd, the bone crushing tackles etc. For mine, that's simply not good enough.

Turn down the TV and tune into radio

If you're lucky enough to have the same game on radio, you can exercise some choice over which commentators you want to hear. But the same problem exists, you still have to hear someone talking over the preferred sounds of the game.

Pretend to call the game yourself

It might sound silly, but you could always talk over the top of the commentators and convince yourself that you're doing a better job. The more people in the room with you, the more entertaining it can be. This method works equally well by just barracking and cursing loudly. The downside is that you may ultimately get told to put a sock in it.

Have an out of body experience

Torture victims sometimes speak of removing themselves from the scene while coping with the trauma of torture. Apparently it's highly recommended as a way to stop government secrets falling into enemy hands. Meditation or mentally blocking out the commentators sounds great in theory, but maybe it's a tad unrealistic.

Go to the game

Well of course. If you really want to get the full experience and totally avoid the media mumbo-jumbo, then get on your bike and go to the game. But sadly, the tyranny of distance doesn't always allow for this. Our scenario here is specifically for those who are forced indoors for the day.

Agitate for new technology - power to the people

By far the best solution is to put the power of audio into the hands of the viewer. There must exist technology where we can actually choose what we hear.

Any audio that goes to air must also go through a sound engineer's desk. Microphones have their own channels. The sound engineer controls the volume and tone of each channel. If he/she wishes, the engineer can mute or turn down a channel. They can effectively silence any part of the audio feed. In a perfect world, we should be able to control this in our homes.

I believe the technology is already there, so why isn't it freely available?

Well for a start, it would take away the commentators spruiking some product or network TV show. After all, nowadays that seems to be their prime objective. Sadly, it may take a revolution before it's 'power to the people'. Of course, I don't speak for all. Believe it or not, some folks actually prefer to hear the commentators over the crowd noise. Alas, I can't help everyone. Suffice to say, they'll be first against the wall when the revolution comes.

Until then, I can but dream of a world without commentators.

 

[Marshall_magic]

After letting a leage early lead go, Marshall Magic attempts to swing things back in LOL@SOUFFS favour.

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

[FONT=&quot]INterCEPTION[/FONT]​

Your subconscious mind operates much faster than your conscious mind. 15 seconds of madness to your conscious mind is 15 minutes of calm to your subconscious. I need my subconscious to kick in right now. It’s grand final day, 5 left on the clock, scoreboard reads 16 all. I am sitting out in the centres in defence, right on our try line. The inside men have stuffed up and we’re in big trouble. I think it’s a 5 on 3 overlap, maybe more, I don’t have time to count it, either way we’re toast. I need my subconscious mind to help me here, because I can’t think of any way to get us out of this mess.

I have no idea, it’s looking like another try, and I can’t do anything about this. Then, right before I concede my legs start moving, what are they doing? How will flying out of the line help our cause, it’s going to leave my winger outnumbered 3 on 1. This is madness. The ball is flying out here, just in front of me. Now my arms are lunging for the ball. People are looking at me, the other team, the fans, the cameras. Something just doesn’t seem right here, I need my conscious mind to hurry up and figure out what’s going on.

Wait, it’s in my hands, I have the ball and am pulling away with it, already over the 40, nearing the halfway line. We’re not going to concede here, but we may score. What a game changing play, this is how matches are won. Everyone has figured it out now. They’re trying to stop me, the winger from the other side is flying across field I don’t know if I can make it, at least not just on the intercept alone, I may need to pull out something else, or maybe not.

I keep running, over the halfway line, that winger is edging closer and closer to me, I cross the 40m line. Can I make it? Run faster legs, come on, I know the physical and emotional fatigue is really kicking in, as I cross the 30. Not going to make it. It is time to abort the straight intercept play and break out the “kick.”

The kick is one of those plays I can remember from my training. In the clear when you look like going over the sideline, put the ball on the toe down field and get there first. Well, here goes nothing. I drop the ball on the toe and punch it down into the in goal, maybe a little too hard, hopefully not. This winger is going to have to change his line, which might be enough to take him out of the play, as I power on clear of him. I can hear him falling further behind me, but he’s not giving up. He’s out of play, time to finish it off.

The ball is bouncing down in the in goal area, slowly edging towards the dead ball line. It’s not going to pull up; I have to get there before it goes dead. I run down over the 10m line, the ball is 3 meters away from the dead ball line. I might just make it. If I can get there it could well be not only the game, but the whole damn premiership. I can no longer hear the winger behind me; he’s given up and is wishing the ball dead. I have to get there. I didn’t go through this to send them back out to the 20. I have to get there; it almost feels like it’s my destiny. Every boy’s dream is to score the match winner in an NRL grand final, and here’s my chance.

The ball is edging towards that dreaded dead ball line. I almost there, I have to make it, I will make it, I leap through the air to make that last ditch effort. The ball is right there, I can smell this try it’s so close. I got it, the ball is right there in my fingertips, I’m going to score this, I’m going to win the grand final for my boys, I’m going to be a hero. The ball is in my fingertips if I can just get it down inside the line it’s over. I slowly bring it down towards the ground. It’s coming down, the line is right there, but I might...just...get.............

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

746 words going by the official counter.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

AlwaysGreen for the blueguys.


745 OWC

###############################################

Little Big Man

There is a lot of debate about who is the best player in the world, for some it's Benji Marshall, the Tiger with sublime skills and daring. Others select Cameron Smith, the Storm’s efficient and ever present captain and hooker. Billy Slater, he of the rocket feet and precision anticipation, has also been slated in the ‘best player’ category.

For others it’s Jonathan Thurston with his hyper-competitiveness and control. Jarryd Hayne and Paul Gallen also get deserved mentions. Jarryd for his mesmerising brilliance and Paul for his never say die attitude and ‘motor’. All have their followers and their detractors, and all are great players that make rugby league a magnificent spectacle.

When Matthew Bowen retires he probably won’t be judged as a great, just like now he is not viewed in the same class as Benji, Smith, Thurston et al. When Bowen retires he’ll be remembered as a guy who had the ability to pull off the incredible, a player who could destroy teams with a step and a flash of pace. He’ll be remembered as a player who got butchered by injury, who, if he was only a few inches taller, would have made every representative side hands down. To pardon the pun, Matty will be sold short.

Bowen is a champion. At 175cm he is above average height but on the football field amongst the giants he’s ‘little Matty Bowen’. Bowen is the heart of the Cowboys, the ‘little’ bloke from Hopevale who put the Cowboys on the map. His lightning speed draws thunderous applause anytime he takes the line on and splits it. Has there been a player in the modern era that has scored more length of the field tries then the man they call Mango?

In 2001 Bowen started his career inconspicuously in an inconspicuous team who had nearly won more spoons than games, a team from the far reaches of the Australian rugby league world. At the beginning he was tentative but tough, quick as a flash but without confidence. As time passed he lost his shyness, on field at least, and dazzled with his electric speed and dynamite step. And his bravery, an oft forgotten trait that Bowen has possessed throughout his career, shone through.

When Thurston joined the Cowboys in 2005 Bowen’s brilliance could be ignited with the next big king of halfbacks. Matty didn’t disappoint, his form that year was magnificent as he and JT guided North Queensland all the way to the Grand Final. His tremendous form continued in the next few years and Queensland and Australian jumpers were richly earned. The little man was big.

Then injury hit. A total knee reconstruction in 2008 was followed by another in 2009. For two years the Cowboys' talisman sat on the sideline and for two years their chances nosedived. Grave predictions were made for his career – he wouldn’t be back some said. Others said even if he didn’t return he wouldn’t be the same. His return in 2010 did not give much confidence – in a woeful side he was average, slow and unBowenlike. The spark had gone, injury had cruelled another career.

But, thankfully, this year Bowen is back. As brave and quicksilver as before. It is no coincidence that Matty’s return once again sees the Cowboys star again on the rise. Thurston may be the brains and Matt Scott and Co. the grunt but Bowen is the heart of the Cowboys. The light fantastic from the back of the field that gets the fans off their seats. A crowd favourite, whether it’s Dairy Farmers or Brookvale, Homebush or Kogarah.

On field deeds are one thing, Bowen the man is equally hailed and respected. Off field he’s a champion too, a quiet and shy man who takes great pride in his Aboriginal origins and great initiative in bringing everyone regardless of culture together. A cleanskin in a world of temptation, the lad from tiny Hopevale giving hope to all that encounter him.

Bowen will hit thirty next year. His days gracing the field are numbered but his form this year and the two years on the sidelines may extend his career. Hopefully in that time his beloved Cowboys get back to the big stage and a shot at redemption. Only the most hardcore opposition fans would begrudge the little bloke a shot at glory. Hopefully Mango’s career ends sweetly, and a few more of those outlandish tries flow.

Hail Matt Bowen, champion.

 

[Willow]

Bluebags are activating the bench with multiple interchanges:

Out: Woodyk2 and Red Bear
In: Rexxy and Timmah

 

[Monk]

Monk makes a strong run, then crashes into the wall of his loungeroom... Why did I think I was on a footy oval?

734 Words According to the OWC

UP UP THE BUNNIES!

Note: The Words in italics are extracted from a previously unposted article titled "The Mole Dragon", just so you can differentiate them from the other words in the article.

+++++++++++++++++++++++


One Eye

As the clock turns to 6:30pm on another Wednesday Night, I, like many others before me, am struggling to come up with a decent article. It’s happened so much before but I’ve never had to leave the house in 2 hours, so I looked back at all of my half finished articles to draw whatever half arsed inspiration I could from their unfinished and unpunctuated scripts. So many of them just don’t make sense, but one particular article’s magical turn of phrase made me find myself laughing. This Article was titled “The Mole Dragon”.

The particular article was wittingly written leading into the 2010 NRL season, where I was in high spirits seeing as my club had signed Todd Carney, and I was sure that the Dragons would Choke again like they always had before. The Article likened the “Mole Dragon” to the “Bandwagon Dragon Fans” who only show up when their team is winning. They also only connect themselves with the club when their team is winning. Constantly throughout the Article I am comparing the Mole Dragon (Bandwagon Fan), to the far superior Dragon (Awesome non-Gaba fan) in every way I know how.

“The Dragon can always be recognised by the white body and the red ‘V’ across its chest, The Mole Dragon fools others into thinking it is a real Dragon by wearing White and Red Garments when going into battle.”

While it seems so long ago, I can’t help but wonder if it was just a case of jealousy. Having just come off a “Wooden Spoon” season I may have had some Sour Grapes in my mouth wishing my club could have a change of fortune for once, even if we could just make the finals... If only.

“Lured by the promise of a new season and the arrival of new players, The Mole Dragon gets a rush of the ‘cocky’ hormone which runs through their veins (some Mole Dragons have a more severe case then others). Though recently, the arrival of the Mythical creature known only as Saint Benny has knocked the Mole Dragons into a trance. The Mole Dragons (for the past 8 months or so) have been cockier, angrier and more fearsome than ever.”

Though the more I thought about it, and the more I re-read the Article (so much I could probably recite it on the spot if asked); I can’t help but wonder, what defines a One Eyed Supporter? Obviously there is that ONE side of the scale which I’d rather not define. That low life, blind fan who see’s sunshine come out of every player from her or his clubs posterior. Every loss has the referee’s to blame, and every win results in 5 to 8 days of non-stop hammering (until the next game, where the cycle is a simple rinse and repeat process).

But I know plenty of fans who aren’t like that; they are logical people who can find faults in their own players, as well as players from other teams without managing to sound like an incompetent Queenslander in the process (Yes... I went there). Though when asked the simple question of “Do you support your team, or the NRL?” they always respond with “I’m red, white and blue, through and through”. Okay so that’s my answer, but do I consider myself one eyed? Not really. When given the choice between the Roosters winning the Premiership and The Blues getting a series Whitewash, I’ll choose the Roosters every single day of the week, and twice on Sundays.

“The Dragon is much more dangerous than the Mole Dragon, in that when faced with a difficult situation they band together to increase the chances of a good outcome, often shouting out war cries when faced with adversity. The Mole Dragon, however, only comes out of its hole when the much superior Dragon army is out in full force and it chooses to mimic the actions of the Dragon to conceal itself.”

Looking back over my 12 or so years of being obsessed with Rugby League, I’ve probably attended more Dragons games then I have Roosters games, but is that a bad thing? I guess in the end I’m just trying to avoid connecting myself with ‘that’ kind of supporter; and what’s wrong with that? I’m sure this article has made you too, think about whether you are a One Eyed Supporter.

+++++++++++++++++

 

[Timmah]

Timmah takes his eggs over easy and trots out onto Henson.


*****
When's the footy on?

So, I’m a bit of a sports nerd.

Every season’s end, I’m champing at the bit to see what the next season’s NRL draw brings. Every new season draw, I’m disappointed. Every October when that fateful double spread appears in the papers, it’s just a list of 8 games for each week (with the obvious exceptions), with no indication of when they’re played – and in some cases even the venues aren’t confirmed!

While we all understand the role of the networks in our game, how can we live in a country where the cricket, A-League (soccer), Super Rugby and AFL all schedule the majority of, or full season schedule the whole year ahead… yet the most popular sport in the country’s most populated states is sitting idly by, sticking to a rolling schedule where, at season’s end, only four weeks ahead of match times are known?

It’s worth looking at the schedule and how it’s done for a moment. Earlier this season, via their website, the NRL clarified how the schedule is selected. It led to an interesting admission from David Gallop in that article which stated that his preference was for the full season to be scheduled ahead. The article went on to clarify the way FOX Sports and the Nine Network choose each game and the preference and order in which these are chosen.

As a long-time supporter of the game, the most alarming thing about reading the article is just how much control the two exclusive networks have over the scheduling. What’s got to be put first is the needs of members and supporters of the clubs. The game can generate as much revenue as it likes, but it is these people in time who will be funding the clubs. The NRL and its clubs currently cannot maximise their potential when it comes to membership and crowds when those looking to purchase membership or plan attendance at certain matches simply cannot do that more than a few weeks ahead of time. The fact that so many fans hang on the release of each new round as it becomes available throughout each season right here on LeagueUnlimited.com is evidence of that.

The question to ask is, if the NRL or the new Independent Commission can’t stand up and wield full control over such a schedule, is there a compromise? A suggestion I’ve heard in passing over the course of the year is for the NRL and its clubs to work with the networks to identify key match-ups throughout the season and have them booked and set in stone. Some key matches already receive this treatment – the Roosters v Dragons and Storm v Warriors ANZAC Day clashes are examples of this – however more of these big crowd-pulling games need to be given the once-over and added to a clear schedule which allows the clubs and NRL to successfully market them to achieve the maximum result. How embarrassing then is it, today, to see that some clubs are forced to market marquee matches with a “date range” for rounds ahead of time rather than a day and time to tell fans.

That brings us back to me - the sports nerd. As someone who avidly follows the local A-League team the Central Coast Mariners, I find myself checking the side’s draw at the start of the season and I can automatically choose, with accuracy, which games I can and cannot attend. It simply makes it easier for me, and ultimately that’s better for the club’s bottom line, as it means I am more likely to purchase a membership which I will use to it’s maximum potential. Again, when the fixtures for the Cricket season are released often in July ahead of the summer season – I can quickly identify which matches I can get to. And it’s not only memberships – some people choose to walk-up to games and buy at the gate, but even they would be more likely to plan ahead.

All these sports, including AFL and Rugby Union, have multi-million dollar television deals with their respective networks and are able to drive home their dollar and choose when the games are on. It’s time for the NRL to look at how these other codes manage their schedules and lock them in.

As a fan, even I understand this. Why doesn’t the NRL see past the television dollars and consider its lifeblood? Us!

 

[Rexxy]

Rexxy for the Ballbags

Life's Grand

In St George and Wollongong on grand final week, it was the best of times and it was the best of times. But then the worst of times for a bit. Then the best again. Which sort of tarnished the good times, but not enough to turn it into a 'best of times and worst of times scenario'. It turned out all good. Hell, even in the Sutherland Shire, things were pretty good. Now that's cleared up I'd like to tell you about a week in the life of a community.

It’s impossible to describe the community feeling when your local team is in the Grand Final. If you haven’t experienced it, it’s hard to imagine justice could even hope to be done.

On the high street of Kogarah each inhabitant is awoken this morning by a singing, shiny bird, that tapped quietly on the window sill and preceded to peck a tiny kiss on the sleeper’s cheek.

Every shop is decked out in red-and-white streamers and posters. The Vietnamese Butcher, the Portuguese Baker. The Maltese Candlestick-maker moved in 1902, but he would have been into it.

At the cake shop, a wide selection of traditional Australian fare is offered, including the ubiquitous Neinish Tart, which has somehow been coloured red-and-white. Sitting next to them, some delicious cup cakes.

In a word, it’s all about PRIDE. In this day of corporately owned, greed is good, consumer gouging opportunists, there is something nurturing and old-fashioned about a sporting team that represents its community.

But if the week is about pride, then it's also about Pide. That delicious Turkish contribution to the world of cuisine.

If after football you enjoy a pizza, then next time - try pide. It's sort of a soft bread that's used as a base like a pizza. From there you can add mince meat, lemon, onions and tomato.

It's called Pide, because "pide help the man who orders too much". It can be very filling.

The largest owner of the St George Illawarra Dragons is the St George Leagues Club and its 40,000 or so members. The next shareholders are the Steelers Club and their members and WIN TV, who don't actually own a percentage, but get to supply two directors to the board. So they are stakeholders, not to be confused with stall holders or even steak-holders, which were a 1950s invention for eating steak with your fingers.

No, this isn't a discourse on corporate structures. But it is a valuable opportunity to examine the importance of community ownership. The public love their team winning even more, because it is their team.

It doesn't belong to some Hollywood star who can one day trade them for a baseball team if he gets sick of them. Nor is it a tentacle of an evil media empire that got its stories by paying off police, tapping the phone of the grieving, or promoting chimps like Andrew Bolt or Rebekah Wilson as people worth listening to.

My team isn't owned by a fossil fuel fool, who squashed the working class by sitting on them.

My team isn't on the stock market and open to the whims and vagaries of the Dax or Dong. The Broncos can be horse traded.

My team still holds votes for directors, and has meetings where you can put motions. Sure, there's dodgy stuff - but at the end of the day, it's like American democracy. Slightly better than Russia, not as bad as Cuba.

Unlike Havana, Burelli Street Wollongong is a long straight road that cuts a swathe through the industrial town, like a sushi makers knife cuts through a salmon fillet; leaving the pink flesh exposed. An adult bookshop here, a notorious pickup haunt of a pub, there. Pink flesh everywhere.

That's what she said.

A grand final to watch, something to eat after, some pink flesh to look at, and a home grown and owned team.

So why the best/worst thingy at the start? The day was marred when I ran over a person's foot. And someone died at the Club during the celebrations.

Would I give the Cup and Premiership up if we could get someone's life back? yes. Do I give a stuff about the foot I ran over? No. That's what "foot" ball is all about. Lucky I didn't run over his "balls" too.

 

[Jesbass]

And that's the bell!

(Actually, it's a clock...)

 

[byrne_rovelli_fan82]

*frowns* Oh well....*sighs* sometimes I just wish people would stay in contact more. I know you can't blame them for having better things to do (and no it is never their fault believe me) but I guess what annoys me, is if some of us are willing to give up our time I hate the load I have to read for uni...I guess I find it hard to understand why can't others do the same. LOL. Although I admit I've been guilty of it once!

Have a good night everyone

 

[Marshall_magic]

*frowns* Oh well....*sighs* sometimes I just wish people would stay in contact more. I know you can't blame them for having better things to do (and no it is never their fault believe me) but I guess what annoys me, is if some of us are willing to give up our time I hate the load I have to read for uni...I guess I find it hard to understand why can't others do the same. LOL. Although I admit I've been guilty of it once!

Have a good night everyone

It's frustrating, but I've been guilty of not getting an article in before so I won't beat up others for doing the same. Been the story of our last few seasons at the rabbitohs though.

Some great reads here though, good luck to everyone with their scores.

 

[Willow]

Thank you time keeper and well done to all the players.

Some wonderful reads. :thumn

Over to you ref. Good luck one and all.

 

[Lambretta]

It's frustrating, but I've been guilty of not getting an article in before so I won't beat up others for doing the same. Been the story of our last few seasons at the rabbitohs though.

Some great reads here though, good luck to everyone with their scores.

Hopefully I can get myself together sufficiently to keep coming up with articles and help Souths win some match ups.

 

[Monk]

Aw dangit... Guess i should go recruit some more people. How we cant get 5 articles in with 11 people on our roster baffles me...