Have a good one Shaun vs Bulldogs Round 25 Game Day Thread.

[JJ]

Why would it need to be a "conspiracy"? It's as simple as Australians officiating an NZ team and implicit bias existing.

Although on top of that, if it makes me boring or stupid to hold the opinion that Australians are, as a cultural norm, bigoted cheats, then I'm proud to be boring and stupid.

lol, ok, implicit bias yeah, that would be a feature of every game - the poorer teams tend to get the raw end of the deal

As for bigoted, I won't go there - but 'cheats', yeah, most/all tope level sports people push the boundaries, and most people are parochial - most fans argue their teams were robbed whenever they lose a close one...

 

[Big Marn]

lol, ok, implicit bias yeah, that would be a feature of every game - the poorer teams tend to get the raw end of the deal

As for bigoted, I won't go there - but 'cheats', yeah, most/all tope level sports people push the boundaries, and most people are parochial - most fans argue their teams were robbed whenever they lose a close one...

this is mostly tongue in cheek, but what if Australians as a culture have a predisposition to cheating? At the moment its about NRL officials, but you dont have to look too far back to see cheating in their cricketing system and also their officiating as cricket umpires. The number of dodgy LBW decisions that cost us test wins in the past is a prime example. Greg Chappell, Greg Dyer, Steve Smith, David Warner - all cheats. Maybe its the pressure from the Australian public but maybe its also a desire to win at all costs.

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

but 'cheats', yeah, most/all tope level sports people push the boundaries, and most people are parochial - most fans argue their teams were robbed whenever they lose a close one...

Correct. And here I am, a parochial man, who genuinely believes that Australians specifically are massive cheats . I acknowledge my own bias.....and I still reckon they're cheats.

(I also acknowledge that what I'm saying here is bigoted on national/cultural grounds, but it's a hill I'll happily die on).

 

[Shaun Hewitt]

I did not have a good one Rich you can change the threat title

 

[JJ]

Correct. And here I am, a parochial man, who genuinely believes that Australians specifically are massive cheats . I acknowledge my own bias.....and I still reckon they're cheats.

(I also acknowledge that what I'm saying here is bigoted on national/cultural grounds, but it's a hill I'll happily die on).

And many Australians will be dying on the neighbouring hills

 

[JJ]

this is mostly tongue in cheek, but what if Australians as a culture have a predisposition to cheating? At the moment its about NRL officials, but you dont have to look too far back to see cheating in their cricketing system and also their officiating as cricket umpires. The number of dodgy LBW decisions that cost us test wins in the past is a prime example. Greg Chappell, Greg Dyer, Steve Smith, David Warner - all cheats. Maybe its the pressure from the Australian public but maybe its also a desire to win at all costs.

yeah, sure - but remember Fred Goodall, and of course the South Africans, Indians and Pakistanis... not to mention the ABs... wanting to win isn't unique to Australians - but I agree that in the sports really important in respective countries boundaries get pushed much further - union in NZ a prime example

 

[Blair]

this is mostly tongue in cheek, but what if Australians as a culture have a predisposition to cheating? At the moment its about NRL officials, but you dont have to look too far back to see cheating in their cricketing system and also their officiating as cricket umpires. The number of dodgy LBW decisions that cost us test wins in the past is a prime example. Greg Chappell, Greg Dyer, Steve Smith, David Warner - all cheats. Maybe its the pressure from the Australian public but maybe its also a desire to win at all costs.

Smith and Warner was pure cheating.

Chappell was within his right to stand his ground after the Snedden catch. He was morally and ethically wrong to order the underarm, but it was a legal delivery (the umpires, under all that stress, genuinely missed the 'no ball' which it was - what drama, we'll never see anything like it again).

Dyer was sure he didn't know that he'd grassed that catch, and he lost his career in the aftermath.

Dick French, I believe, was too cowardly and incompetent to give McDermott LBW with Morrison's second last ball in that unforgettable Boxing Day test finale. Hadlee, who couldn't get Whitney out in the next, and last, over, was adamant the other umpire, Tony Crafter, would've fired McDermott out.

Cheats? I was at the MCG that day in '87! Maybe I've lived in Australia too long?

 

[Big Marn]

Smith and Warner was pure cheating.

Chappell was within his right to stand his ground after the Snedden catch. He was morally and ethically wrong to order the underarm, but it was a legal delivery (the umpires, under all that stress, genuinely missed the 'no ball' which it was - what drama, we'll never see anything like it again).

Dyer was sure he didn't know that he'd grassed that catch, and he lost his career in the aftermath.

Dick French, I believe, was too cowardly and incompetent to give McDermott LBW with Morrison's second last ball in that unforgettable Boxing Day test finale. Hadlee, who couldn't get Whitney out in the next, and last, over, was adamant the other umpire, Tony Crafter, would've fired McDermott out.

Cheats? I was at the MCG that day in '87! Maybe I've lived in Australia too long?

haha, you probably have.
I forgot about the Brad Haddin "stumping" of Neil Broome when he had his gloves in front of the stumps. Like JJ said, pushing the boundaries...

 

[Beavers Headgear]

Yeah it was, it was a useful piece of marketing. There's a good feeling about the club that has extended through a bunch of shit performances. Wayne Scurrah 2.0, but instead of jerseys, Cameron George sells good feeling?

I agree with the second part. Maybe I wouldn't say 'dragged into the toilet' but this is a guy I've loved play, but I think it's gone really wrong this year. It's felt like a Shaun Johnson farewell tour, which is the last thing an NRL season is. I like my sportspeople to be humble at the right times, and the carry on this week lets me know why Shaun has struggled to be consistent in his career.

lol I thought of you last night watching the fan, Voss sat down with Shaun to run through his 4 best tries (2011 v Broncos, Golden Point v Penrith. At the death against Sharks, Kiwis World Cup Semi) and he had a huge smile on his face and said “man, I was really good eh”

 

[Blair]

lol I thought of you last night watching the fan, Voss sat down with Shaun to run through his 4 best tries (2011 v Broncos, Golden Point v Penrith. At the death against Sharks, Kiwis World Cup Semi) and he had a huge smile on his face and said “man, I was really good eh”

I wish a teacher had taught him this at school: 'Rugby league's a team game, Shaun'.

 

[Blair]

haha, you probably have.
I forgot about the Brad Haddin "stumping" of Neil Broome when he had his gloves in front of the stumps. Like JJ said, pushing the boundaries...

Haddin's behaviour during the 2015 WC Final was horrible. So, all these years later, with his nights quiet now, does he ever get sentimental and watch the highlights? If so, does he cringe? Of was that just part of winning?

 

[JJ]

Haddin's behaviour during the 2015 WC Final was horrible. So, all these years later, with his nights quiet now, does he ever get sentimental and watch the highlights? If so, does he cringe? Of was that just part of winning?

I doubt he regrets winning tbh, and it's not like the endless questionable tactics of various All Blacks over the years in the cause of winning have led to national regret. I love Kane Williamson's approach, but I think he's just authentically being him - as is Boult, etc. I suspect if he was Australian, he'd still me much the same, but who knows

McCullum of course was a chameleon - started very much in the Haddin mould, a relentless sledger (as was much of Flem's team) and of course his run out of Murali was hardly in the spirit - so his holier than thou approach grates, on me, but especially it seems now on Aussies

 

[Izz]

McCullum of course was a chameleon - started very much in the Haddin mould, a relentless sledger (as was much of Flem's team)

And Vettori's team. Remember the WC quarterfinal against SA in 2011, when pretty much the whole team surrounded Faf du Plessis and started ripping into him. Even Kyle Mills, 12th man, got in on it