Lowdown
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A promoter's dream?
I suspect the former. He's an emotive guy, and seems to have attempted to unify his team, with an 'Us versus Them' and/or 'Pride for Australia above all else' mantra.
But why the hell would he, after a fairly comfortable win, come out and further incense the Kiwi team by labelling Kidwell's hit as a 'cheap shot', and accuse him of running at Jonathon Thurston, inferring therefore that he shys away from running at bigger players (in short - calling hiim a coward).
Surely this is the most insulting label you can give a player, and the way the Kiwis play for their country, this will only make them angrier to such a point that this Saturday, the men in black may actually have crossed the line into psychopathic rage.
Why would a coach run the risk? Why not show a little 'class' byt talking UP the opposition after the game; respecting their efforts; admiring their 'passion'. Whatever you privately tell your players is one thing, but to be so forthright in your apparent frustrations, and publicly supporting Willie Mason (and Civonoceiva - both of whom last time I checked should be able to look after themselves) whilst so publicly denouncing Kidwell is such a risky move.
Unless...he is a great promoter for the second test in Melbourne?
You can bet your sweet, sweet asses, that the media will have one story and one story only for this weeks buildup - War; Primitive, tribal, unashamedly hostile, simple war.
If there was a chance that ticket sales for the Telstra Dome game may be dissapointing, that chance seems minute now. Once the media bandwagon hits full swing, not one Kiwi in Melbourne will want to be anywhere else but front and centre come kick off, and I bet a lot of interested Melbournians will be lured back to the Dome for a bit of League action, in the same curious (but so obviously blood lusting) form which draws them to Origin.
What ever the turn-out, we are set for a crackerjack game. I do however suspect that Ricky Stuart might not be that smart. That he forgets that he no longer plays for Australia - he coaches them. That you fire up your own men, not the oppositions, and you concentrate on what you can control, not take that control away from you.
One thing is for certain: If the Kiwis win on Saturday night...there is one person to thank, and it wont be Kidwell, nor Mason. It will be Ricky Stuart.
I suspect the former. He's an emotive guy, and seems to have attempted to unify his team, with an 'Us versus Them' and/or 'Pride for Australia above all else' mantra.
But why the hell would he, after a fairly comfortable win, come out and further incense the Kiwi team by labelling Kidwell's hit as a 'cheap shot', and accuse him of running at Jonathon Thurston, inferring therefore that he shys away from running at bigger players (in short - calling hiim a coward).
Surely this is the most insulting label you can give a player, and the way the Kiwis play for their country, this will only make them angrier to such a point that this Saturday, the men in black may actually have crossed the line into psychopathic rage.
Why would a coach run the risk? Why not show a little 'class' byt talking UP the opposition after the game; respecting their efforts; admiring their 'passion'. Whatever you privately tell your players is one thing, but to be so forthright in your apparent frustrations, and publicly supporting Willie Mason (and Civonoceiva - both of whom last time I checked should be able to look after themselves) whilst so publicly denouncing Kidwell is such a risky move.
Unless...he is a great promoter for the second test in Melbourne?
You can bet your sweet, sweet asses, that the media will have one story and one story only for this weeks buildup - War; Primitive, tribal, unashamedly hostile, simple war.
If there was a chance that ticket sales for the Telstra Dome game may be dissapointing, that chance seems minute now. Once the media bandwagon hits full swing, not one Kiwi in Melbourne will want to be anywhere else but front and centre come kick off, and I bet a lot of interested Melbournians will be lured back to the Dome for a bit of League action, in the same curious (but so obviously blood lusting) form which draws them to Origin.
What ever the turn-out, we are set for a crackerjack game. I do however suspect that Ricky Stuart might not be that smart. That he forgets that he no longer plays for Australia - he coaches them. That you fire up your own men, not the oppositions, and you concentrate on what you can control, not take that control away from you.
One thing is for certain: If the Kiwis win on Saturday night...there is one person to thank, and it wont be Kidwell, nor Mason. It will be Ricky Stuart.
