Has your care factor waned?

[Magpies Forever]

Yes definitely on the way down. I used to watch almost every NRL game of a weekend and when WT played more often than not the weeknight replay as well. These days dont really watch anything even WT games, will occassionally listen to the radio if WT are being broadcast whilst doing something else or working.

My belief in:

NRL HQ- zero
NRL judiciary- zero
NRL referees, touchies, bunker- zero
NRL competition- zero, I see almost no way the bottom 10 can realistically get out of that placement. Meaningful reform is not possible with too may vested interests.
Players- almost zero- always in it for themselves, little team spirit, little accountability and way too much money
Players Assoc- zero- any big reform will get kyboshed with player vested interests
Player managers- grubs and parasites, dishonourable lot
WT players / team- almost zero, years of underperforming and still expecting the rewards and big salaries, the failure to rise to big occassions (Tommy's matches, the rare game were a final spot is on the line, the ones we should win in a canter) and play for it is just pathetic.
WT coach- Maguire has lost me, I used to be an ardent supporter but not now. His selections, use of interchange and bench selections and squad performance and fitness is just downright puzzling- either too tough or not tough enough- he just cant seem to get the right balance in things.
WT coaching staff- hopeless at this stage, they have done nothing to assist Maguire.
WT club- we are getting the backroom finances and recruitment through lower grades in line but the NRL squad remains unbalanced and pretty lame with no improvement in sight. The Chairman and board are doing their jobs but I would like to see some footballer there to provide some game day realism to the board. I would love to see another linkage to a strong football area such as Keebra did for us in the past.
WT juniors- dunno anymore, I dnt see much point in certain clubs fostering junior development then other clubs raiding them. I know we are doing ti at the moment but for years we were /are plundered. I would rather see junior development taken away from the clubs and this go to the NRL to manage and the NRL clubs just responsible for the 2 tiers


Positively- I loved Hartigan's recruitment and the return of Sheens to oversee development. Lot to do.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

Yes definitely on the way down. I used to watch almost every NRL game of a weekend and when WT played more often than not the weeknight replay as well. These days dont really watch anything even WT games, will occassionally listen to the radio if WT are being broadcast whilst doing something else or working.

My belief in:

NRL HQ- zero
NRL judiciary- zero
NRL referees, touchies, bunker- zero
NRL competition- zero, I see almost no way the bottom 10 can realistically get out of that placement. Meaningful reform is not possible with too may vested interests.
Players- almost zero- always in it for themselves, little team spirit, little accountability and way too much money
Players Assoc- zero- any big reform will get kyboshed with player vested interests
Player managers- grubs and parasites, dishonourable lot
WT players / team- almost zero, years of underperforming and still expecting the rewards and big salaries, the failure to rise to big occassions (Tommy's matches, the rare game were a final spot is on the line, the ones we should win in a caner) and play for it is just pathetic.
WT coach- Maguire has lost me, I used to be an ardent supporter but not now. His selections, use of interchange and bench selections and squad performance and fitness is just downright puzzling- either too tough or not tough enough- he just cant seem to get the right balance in things.
WT coaching staff- hopeless at this stage, they have done nothing to assist Maguire.
WT club- we are getting the backroom finances and recruitment through lower grades in line but the NRL squad remains unbalanced and pretty lame with no improvement in sight. The Chairman and board are doing their jobs but I would like to see some footballer there to provide some game day realism to the board. I would love to see another linkage to a strong football area such as Keebra did for us in the past.
WT juniors- dunno anymore, I dnt see much point in certain clubs fostering junior development then other clubs raiding them. I know we are doing ti at the moment but for years we were /are plundered. I would rather see junior development taken away from the clubs and this go to the NRL to manage and the NRL clubs just responsible for the 2 tiers


Positively- I loved Hartigan's recruitment and the return of Sheens to oversee development. Lot to do.

An important post.

 

[Front-Rower]

I would rather see junior development taken away from the clubs and this go to the NRL to manage and the NRL clubs just responsible for the 2 tiers

This x 100.

The competition is now a national premiership, not a competition that is based on boundaries like the it was a long time ago.

Junior competition should be run by organisations in no way affiliated to an NRL franchise or the NRL. It should come under the strict supervision of the ARLC and state bodies.

 

[Magpies Forever]

Apologies for being so negative on so much / many that are involved in the game I love / loved, but it has become a business now for so many involved at all levels, the tribalism and passion I had in me, that seems somewhat out of place these days. I remain a passionate Wests Magpies and Wests Tigers bloke and believe in our histories and story but geez the greater comp and the entire system including our operations in it are on shaky ground for me. The total disrespect our players, staff and management did for Tommy's memorial matches (twice!!!!!!!!!!!!!) just broke a large part of me. Im not sure I'll get it back- Wests Magpies would have fought, the early Wests Tigers would have fought, this lot I just dont think they get it.

Edit- the blow out scores and lack of effort and accountability for this lack of effort whilst still getting very good pay packets just does me in. Packer bludging for years, Mbye not busting a gut, etc, etc. I know Im now getting into the category of 'old fart' but for christs sake the days when league paid a pittance, they played for passion, the club and the guernsey whilst holding down a regular weekday job seem like good days to me.

 

[simmo05]

Apologies for being so negative on so much / many that are involved in the game I love / loved, but it has become a business now for so many involved at all levels, the tribalism and passion I had in me, that seems somewhat out of place these days. I remain a passionate Wests Magpies and Wests Tigers bloke and believe in our histories and story but geez the greater comp and the entire system including our operations in it are on shaky ground for me. The total disrespect our players, staff and management did for Tommy's memorial matches (twice!!!!!!!!!!!!!) just broke a large part of me. Im not sure I'll get it back- Wests Magpies would have fought, the early Wests Tigers would have fought, this lot I just dont think they get it.

Edit- the blow out scores and lack of effort and accountability for this lack of effort whilst still getting very good pay packets just does me in. Packer bludging for years, Mbye not busting a gut, etc, etc. I know Im now getting into the category of 'old fart' but for christs sake the days when league paid a pittance, they played for passion, the club and the guernsey whilst holding down a regular weekday job seem like good days to me.

It's pathetic now. The players are garbage across the league. How many million plus players phone it in every game? How many broke covid rules last week? Simple rules to guarantee everyone keeps earning. It seems none of them give a f**k unless they are with a top club. Selfish merkins, but that come with the territory when you want the best athletes, not the best footy players with footy in the blood

 

[BrotherJim05]

Agree with that point re: Junior development. Let the NRL or whatever governing body completely handle all of it, then when the kids are ready to crack the NRL they go into a draft. Draft order is based on ladder position previous season, and the contracts are drawn up in a manner that player agents can't snake them away from shitter teams at the first opportunity.

Not only would it MASSIVELY help out struggling teams but it would create a televised event that would get more viewership than a grand final

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

It's pathetic now. The players are garbage across the league. How many million plus players phone it in every game? How many broke covid rules last week? Simple rules to guarantee everyone keeps earning. It seems none of them give a f**k unless they are with a top club. Selfish merkins, but that come with the territory when you want the best athletes, not the best footy players with footy in the blood

“phone it in” so true.

Moses smiled tonight after he missed the winning goal, says it all about billion dollar players.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

League looks f**king miserable without a crowd

The age of the geek is upon us and footy is dying.

A young lad gets more praise for demeaning himself, being woke, grovelling, apologising for being himself and wearing his sisters make up instead of playing footy or trying to be a man.

My 12 year old, big enough kid, but wants to stick his head into his tech and be smart all day.

Likes the soccer ffs. I’ve failed him for sure.

 

[cerberus]

“phone it in” so true.

Moses smiled tonight after he missed the winning goal, says it all about billion dollar players.

its always good to see parra lose

 

[cerberus]

League looks f**king miserable without a crowd

The age of the geek is upon us and footy is dying.

A young lad gets more praise for demeaning himself, being woke, grovelling, apologising for being himself and wearing his sisters make up instead of playing footy or trying to be a man.

My 12 year old, big enough kid, but wants to stick his head into his tech and be smart all day.

Likes the soccer ffs. I’ve failed him for sure.

frankly your post belongs in 4C or face book
if you think you failed him because he wants to play soccer . then the problem is yours mate .
my boy changed code at 10 after being one of the best of his year in league .
and like tate russell i believe it was a good call.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

frankly your post belongs in 4C or face book
if you think you failed him because he wants to play soccer . then the problem is yours mate .
my boy changed code at 10 after being one of the best of his year in league .
and like tate russell i believe it was a good call.

Relax, it was tongue in cheek.

But it’s to illustrate how the game has lost its lustre.

At 12 we were down the oval playing tackle after school and I was being cut down by young mate in his roosters jersey.

He could tackle too.

 

[Tigerm]

I don't know, I reckon the Storm fans think it is still the best game of all?

Winning changes everything. Our time will come, just don't know when

 

[Old Time Tiger]

Great thread, I don’t recall what game thread it was but some weeks back, I wrote how I’m over them and someone replied, You can check out anytime you want, but you can never leave.

I think it’s true, every February / March I can’t wait for the new season because I’m sick of cricket but sick of ending the season in late August, it really does hurt.

As a kid, I remember walking to Leichhardt in the 60’s, it was what we did, walked to Pratten Park as well to watch the Tigers play Magpies, it was what you did.

Many great posts, many points I agree with, I live in hope but support has certainly waned, more so the NRL as a whole but certainly post # 21 by Magpies Forever sums it up very well.

On a positive note, I was over SOO but the hiccup of last year is quickly forgotten by the team and win this year, things do turn around, I live in hope.

Tomorrow there will be no one to abuse the referee who loves refereeing the Tigers, when he does spoil the game, there will be no accountability and that is a sad reflection on the day to day running of the game.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

The game itself is merkinese with cowardly dives, horrific injuries, blow out scores and only a few teams with any realistic chance at the title.

Not saying all the changes are bad, but look at the actual outcomes and the differences in tabled points and for and against.

Instead of fine tuning, they’ve taken an axe to the f**king thing and hacked away until it bears no resemblance to anything enticing.

I don’t even watch soo anymore, the “showpiece” is meaningless without Islander bros.

Soo is basically about a selfish overweight brain-dead loafer running headlong into frightened and malnourished maroon goblins.

Its time to balance the books.

The NRL is having a lend if it thinks this game will survive another 100 years or whatever.

And the Police Commissioner on the board, no fault stand down survived after the JDB fiasco?

Bellamys bad sportsmanship ( according to kenty)…

Vlandys has f**ked our game more than Greenberg could ever have dreamed

2 teams chasing the title, some vanilla slices and 8 sides hoping and praying we don’t end up with the spoon.

The only thing good about the game seems to be us fans, most of us anyways.

 

[Vic Mackey]

Interesting and very sad thread. Seems a lot of Tigers fans are feeling the same as me. The club should be very, very concerned about this. I would say that people who go to the effort to post on a league forum are all fairly hardcore fans, so to see so many of us feeling disengaged from the club is a massive worry. If the hardcore fans are feeling this way imagine what casual fans are feeling.

The worst part is we don’t even demand much, we just want a team that puts in and shows signs of improvement.

I doubt this will get seen, and if it is they would even care, but someone at Camp Concord needs to know that the fans are finally fed up.

 

[gordsy]

For alll the crap we gave Taylor and Potter to me we suck more now than we did then. At least we had a go back then in some games. Now it seems as if we just don't care at all some weeks and I can't be ok with that. It's like losing and being shit is ok with our club and staff. Well like most fans it's not ok with me.

Look at our signings the past few years Jimmy the Jet, Joe O, Ken Potato, BJ the grub, Jimmy no minutes Tamou. It's like we are signing players so we can stay shit. We signing people other clubs don't want or are no better than the player before them.

The joint needs to be set fire to and built up from scratch. Everyone thought Madge would be the best thing since sliced bread for us but he has been diabolical. Every time we get a new coach we all say give it two years and wait patiently only to get shit on again. Start with Pascoe and every board member, sycophant and old boy in the place and piss them all off, same with the players, piss off as many as we can and start again.

Get a trainer who is hard as nails, f**k all this gps, loading etc bullshit off and make training about skills and game based simulation. Signing a 10 - 12 non flash, just up the guts and tackle all day players, think Luke Stuart for Souths type players. Fill the rest of the spots with kids and let them play. None of this you are on the left all day and you can only be on the right rubbish. Earn the right to go wide then do so often.
Any young kid who is a lair and wants to carry on , like Suli gets told to f**k off. Who cares if they go to other clubs and succeed. We need to play for 5 years time not 5 minutes like we do now.

It will take time but you will slowly get the fans to come back. Not because we win 3 comps in four years but because the jersey means something and fans can be proud again. All i want and I'm sure most people would agree is a team that will put in week in week out. No more teams circling the games when they see us and saying we can bank on getting those 2 points.

We need to invest in the South West as well. Build pathways with all the footy teams out that way and it will pay off for years to come.

I could go on but we all know it won't happen and that makes me sad. It feels like the part of me that loved footy and the loved the tigers is very quickly coming to an end, the worst part is no one running the joint seems to give it a shit and nor do the players.

 

[Das Hassler]

I'm not so much over WT but real close to being over what first grade RL has been turned into....today we had a total score across 3 games of 148 -6 ....this is just a joke....the headlong push to change everything. .speed the game up for tv and an apparently ADD stricken audience has turned it into something more like Ninja Collision Challenge....the only place left to go is maybe you have to pass after 3 steps and some inflatable obstacles scattered around the field to make it even more entertaining for the more easily bored.....some bears on barrels and maybe the touchies on unicycles would be a nice touch as well.

 

[The Silverdale Phantom]

I'm not so much over WT but real close to being over what first grade RL has been turned into....today we had a total score across 3 games of 148 -6 ....this is just a joke....the headlong push to change everything. .speed the game up for tv and an apparently ADD stricken audience has turned it into something more like Ninja Collision Challenge....the only place left to go is maybe you have to pass after 3 steps and some inflatable obstacles scattered around the field to make it even more entertaining for the more easily bored.....some bears on barrels and maybe the touchies on unicycles would be a nice touch as well.

148-6 is pretty much show over substance.

Radio commentators are really struggling to make it interesting. They gave up on the Sydney abc radio tonight and just asked viewers to send in jokes and they proceeded to read them out.

They barely called the game at times and I found myself being grateful for this small mercy.

 

[stryker]

148-6 is pretty much show over substance.

Radio commentators are really struggling to make it interesting. They gave up on the Sydney abc radio tonight and just asked viewers to send in jokes and they proceeded to read them out.

They barely called the game at times and I found myself being grateful for this small mercy.

…When added to the rest this round, we have 226 to 36, and don’t forget, we still have the Broncos and Tigers flogging to come through tomorrow yet…

 

[Das Hassler]

148-6 is pretty much show over substance.

Radio commentators are really struggling to make it interesting. They gave up on the Sydney abc radio tonight and just asked viewers to send in jokes and they proceeded to read them out.

They barely called the game at times and I found myself being grateful for this small mercy.

I listen to the ABC as well but even they have been forced into trying to whip up FM "style" excitement into their coverage....can you imagine Warren Ryan still commentating on what we have now...it'd be like Jackie Stewart trying to expand on the nuances of a demolition derby.