Are the Sharks moving in on the Illawarra?

[The Penguin #6.]

I was right behind the Dragons that year. Mainly due to their coach Brian Smith. Still regard him as the best RL pundit we've ever had on UK TV. Admittedly that`s a desperately low bar in a milieu where an ability to speak basic English in anything other than platitudes marks you out as suspiciously intellectual. Nonetheless he was instrumental in helping me see the game in greater depth.

Brian was in England after a tough few years at the Steelers in the mid 80s. On the back of his coaching at Hull FC a number of their players made the G.B. team for the 1990 Kangaroos test series.

If the 1992 Winfield Cup finals series is indicative of the level of scoring in the regular season, it`s worth noting that this period was just before we moved to a 10m offside line.

Illawarra narrowly lost the final of the Panasonic Cup to the Broncos in 1989. Among the highlights at Parramatta Stadium were some heart-warming exchanges between Steelers fans and everyone's favourite Queenslander. I once had the pleasure of seeing this bloke at close quarters earlier that decade when he was over here playing on a short-term contract with Wakefield Trinity. Even joined in with the choruses of "Wally's a W####r". Happy days.

You would have loved him on ABC Radio Grandstand every weekend as well where he was guest expert, 10 hours Saturdays and 6 hours Sundays for several years, his replacement Warren Ryan was top notch as well. Many was the happy weekend spent listening to those two`s insights.
Joined in the " Wally`s a Wanker " chant myself once (in direct contradiction to all the values my parents had instilled in me) on the hill at the S.C.G. during a S.O.O.

This ties in with your eulogy to the Cronulla junior league model.

Societal attitudes towards the dangers of playing contact sports militate against a revival in areas where demographic trends are challenging. Rugby League's traditionally crass soi-disant claims to be the final word in blood-soaked collision brutality puts us at heightened risk of grass roots decline. Leagues can no longer afford to offer Tackle RL as the only option.

When Monarch Blues Tag launched in 2019, 89 of the initial 116 teams were in the Shire. My understanding is that the NSWRL chose to concentrate the bulk of the investment there due to the high participation rates in Touch and Oztag. Success breeds success.

Same lesson applies to international development. Non-contact forms could play a productive role in building a club and social network to underpin the game. But still, the world over, attempts to grow the game take the tired old route of persuading a few RU players to give Tackle RL a go. Hopeless ventures in various parts of North America are especially risible. These perennial fantasists seem to think a pro comp can magically spring up out of nothing.

Never know where you`re going to pop u.p.

 

[Ride the Lion to Zion]

Never know where you`re going to pop u.p.

In the endless quest for originality, none of us can know where we`ll pop up or pop off.

 

[Ride the Lion to Zion]

Wally

Saw an uplifting item a few years back of him watching his daughter Jamie-Lee playing for Souths Logan Magpies. Unfortunately, I think there`s been a family breakdown since then.

 

[Ride the Lion to Zion]

Joined in the " Wally`s a Wanker " chant myself once (in direct contradiction to all the values my parents had instilled in me)

English parents? Interesting.

When in Rome. All fair dinkum.

 

[The Penguin #6.]

English parents? Interesting.

When in Rome. All fair dinkum.

If you`re ever tempted to venture to the colonies let us know, plenty of room here to put a Pommy up for a few weeks. (you`re going to have to have a shower at some stage though ).

 

[Ride the Lion to Zion]

If you`re ever tempted to venture to the colonies let us know, plenty of room here to put a Pommy up for a few weeks. (you`re going to have to have a shower at some stage though ).

Won't be heading up your way, mate.

It's Roosters or Sea-Eagles territory for me.

 

[Pippen94]

How favourable are the demographics of the Sutherland Shire to Fumble expansion?

Other than RL-related insights, my only knowledge of the area comes from the Sylvania Waters TV show.

Plus the Cronulla riot which, on the face of it, looked like it could have been the spill over from a Sharks v Bulldogs game. Bit like Chelsea v Millwall with sand and sunshine.

Area predominantly white & affluent so that's right up AFL's alley. Except unlike north Sydney Sutherland has NRL team & has among highest level of interest in NRL.
Interestingly a stat which is often stated is that there's more soccer players in Sutherland than entire state of Victoria, so that sport is huge there at grassroots level.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

It’s not a legit skid row story until the DT tells us STGI are contemplating a Gosford relocation. Or that Flo and the Bears are ready to swoop on in and save the day.

 

[SBD82]

Mighty Steelers gone I’m afraid. Always liked them.

Saying that the Sharks are taking over the Illawarra is like saying the QRL took over NSWRL in 1988.

I’m afraid you’ve fallen for the oldest play in the book mate - the ol’ bait and switch. We let you have the dying St George comp, and then strengthen our comp by letting your only decent players in.

But the Steelers side of the JV are a gracious bunch. We’ll let you play in the expanded Illawarra comp when you’re relegated from the NRL. Might even let you play out of Shark Park for a few games.

You’re welcome.

 

[Ozzi_78]

Sure HOOKED us in there.

 

[Get Rid of The Donkeys]

This ties in with your eulogy to the Cronulla junior league model.

Societal attitudes towards the dangers of playing contact sports militate against a revival in areas where demographic trends are challenging. Rugby League's traditionally crass soi-disant claims to be the final word in blood-soaked collision brutality puts us at heightened risk of grass roots decline. Leagues can no longer afford to offer Tackle RL as the only option.

When Monarch Blues Tag launched in 2019, 89 of the initial 116 teams were in the Shire. My understanding is that the NSWRL chose to concentrate the bulk of the investment there due to the high participation rates in Touch and Oztag. Success breeds success.

Same lesson applies to international development. Non-contact forms could play a productive role in building a club and social network to underpin the game. But still, the world over, attempts to grow the game take the tired old route of persuading a few RU players to give Tackle RL a go. Hopeless ventures in various parts of North America are especially risible. These perennial fantasists seem to think a pro comp can magically spring up out of nothing.

I'd love to see IRL promote OzTag in members of the Commonwealth of Nations, such as Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India and Hong Kong.

 

[Pneuma]

I'd love to see IRL promote OzTag in members of the Commonwealth of Nations, such as Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India and Hong Kong.

What about Mars and Jupiter?

 

[MugaB]

What about Mars and Jupiter?

He forgot logan

Of course that fkwit enters the conversation, as if it has anything remotely to do with him, didn't take long for his potato post to derail the thread

 

[Pneuma]

I

He forgot logan
View attachment 69879
Of course that fkwit enters the conversation, as if it has anything remotely to do with him

I like the reference to the ‘Commonwealth of Nations’. Bring back the British Empire I say!

 

[Victoire]

 

[Ozzi_78]

He forgot logan
View attachment 69879
Of course that fkwit enters the conversation, as if it has anything remotely to do with him, didn't take long for his potato post to derail the thread

To be fair he actually forgot which account he had logged in with.

 

[Ride the Lion to Zion]

Bring back the British Empire I say!

We`ve got enough on our plate.

 

[Ride the Lion to Zion]

I'd love to see IRL promote OzTag in members of the Commonwealth of Nations, such as Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India and Hong Kong.

There's more chance of Olympic or Commonwealth games committees permanently accepting Oztag than RL 9s

They already have Rugby 7s, so why would they want Rugby 9s as well? Same game, but with the extra cost of 2 more players per team. We League fans might know better, but most of the world doesn't.

Teams representing China and Vietnam have competed in international Tag tournaments. Most (possibly all) of the participants are from Western Sydney. Whatever links these players have with their heritage nations is the conduit via which a form of RL could be established. Same dynamic applies to some of the countries you've listed.

 

[Pneuma]

Dragons board begins search for new coach amid ongoing specualtion over Griffin's future

“He’s been doing it for 10 years and he’s ripe for the job."

www.sen.com.au

Maybe we should take over St George completely. What a basket case.

 

[Dragon Slayer]

Saying that the Sharks are taking over the Illawarra is like saying the QRL took over NSWRL in 1988.

I’m afraid you’ve fallen for the oldest play in the book mate - the ol’ bait and switch. We let you have the dying St George comp, and then strengthen our comp by letting your only decent players in.

But the Steelers side of the JV are a gracious bunch. We’ll let you play in the expanded Illawarra comp when you’re relegated from the NRL. Might even let you play out of Shark Park for a few games.

You’re welcome.

Ahh yes the Stains are so clever and well organised……..