MINOR PRELIMINARY SEMI-FINAL (2006) Rabbitohs v Knights

[The Piper]

MINOR PRELIMINARY SEMI-FINAL
South Sydney Rabbitohs v Newcastle Knights

Venue: The Front Row Forum

Crowd: 8,520 Referee: Mystique

• This is a game thread only, therefore only game-related posts can be made here. Any other posts may result in loss of points and is at the discretion of the referee.

• Both teams are allowed 2 reserves.

• Captains must post their entire team (including reserves) before posting and only those players listed may play this round.

Rules of play: http://f7s.leagueunlimited.com/rules.asp

Full Time: WEDNESDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER at 9:00PM (SYD TIME)

**Referee Blows Game On!**

 

[Misanthrope]

CWBush is a proud man as he leads the Newcastle Knights out onto the field for the finals, all seven members of the squad getting their first taste of finals football.

Newcastle Knights
1: CWBush (c)
2: MrCharisma
3: PrideKnight
4: The Joey Show
5: djmac

6: brandell
7: Red and Blue Knight

 

[Pistol]

The Cardinal and Myrtle take to the field for this crucial clash with the dangerous Newcastle Knights, led out by Pistol

Pistol (c)
Clevo
paulquinn49
vippo19
Crusher

rabs
lockyno1
Franko

 

[Crusher]

Crusher for the Bunnies

The Debutant

It feels like any other Sunday. You wake up at 9am, have a shower and shave, eat your 10 Weetbix and go for a morning jog in the park. It's a cold morning. The type you see during the middle rounds of league season. With each stride you smoke the cold air listening to Chisel on your Ipod. You think to yourself ‘isn’t life wonderful’.

As you head back to your apartment you notice a father with his two young boys kicking a footy around the park. Then suddenly you stop. This is no ordinary Sunday. Your palms are sweaty. Not from the jogging but from the adrenalin rushing through your body. You start to feel ill. ‘Was it something I ate’ you ask yourself. Deep down you know the answer, but you’re too afraid to admit it. All you want to do is roll over and die. You curse the day you ever decided to become an athlete and the mentor who discovered you.

Your mind becomes full of jumbled and crazy thoughts and before you know it you’re back at the apartment door. As you enter and sit down on your favourite couch you are suddenly confronted with the nausiating truth.

It's game day and this is your first grade debut.

By now it’s almost 11 o’clock. You’re not expected at the ground until 1pm but you don’t want to take any chances with the traffic even though there's none. By 11.30 you're at the ground. There's a hint of crowd slowly gathering at the gate but no-one knows who you are. Walking into the players area a security guard even asks you for identification. As you nervously fumble around your wallet the guard says ‘hey, you’re the new guy aren’t you’ and smiles as he courteously opens the change room door.

Entering the rooms for the first time you realise they're exactly the same as those you've been in before, but somehow everything feels different. You only realise the enormity of the situation after noticing locker number 15 with your name on it. All you can say at this life defining moment is 'holy sh*t'.

By noon a few of your team-mates start to meander into the change rooms. They mutter private jokes to each other. The kind of jokes you tell people you've known for years. You laugh along, but you still feel like a fish out of water laughing for laughter's sake. Then the guy from locker 14 sits next to you and introduces himself, welcoming you to the side. Your selection seems vindicated. The rest of the team slowly come over to you. They know you are nervous but do their best to put you at ease.

Not long after the coach enters the room. You've heard all the stories about his no nonsense and ruthless attitude but a quick wink in your direction somehow calms your nerves. The next hour or so is a blur as you pace the change rooms slowly preparing yourself for the game of your life. You decide to have a quick wander onto the ground and notice the crowd has grown considerably. As a player, this is the biggest crowd you have ever seen. As you fully take in the moment you hear the coaches dominant voice mustering the troops back into the sheds.

Your nerves are worsened when the coach introduces you as a player destined for big things. Your shoulders now seem to weigh a tonne as you uneasily acknowledge the teams welcoming applause. Then it's straight to business.

As the coach starts discussing tactics all you can think about are the heroes and mentors sitting in the same room as you. Locker 1, test fullback. Lockers 2,6 and 8, state of origin heroes you were watching on TV just last month. Locker 11, living legend. Just then the coach turns to you and says ‘is that clear locker 15’. You’ve heard nothing but you know what he expects so you answer nervously in the affirmative.

It’s now 2.58pm and you hear the gentle tap on the door. It’s the officials calling you out to the park but for a moment it feels like the grim reaper calling your number.

As you run on to the field the adrenalin pumps fiercely. It’s game day. You hear the refs whistle as if for the first time. 'My God!, this is it', you say to yourself. Locker 15 is the debutant and your time has arrived.




750 words

 

[Misanthrope]

CWBush lines up an early penalty kick in the hopes of giving his side a narrow lead

The Eight Horse Race

In years gone by it's been something of a forgone conclusion that the teams in 7th and 8th are all but fated to crash out of the finals race. In fact, in the history of the McIntyre top eight system, no side finishing in eighth has ever won through to the second round of competition.

This of course has a great deal to do with the quality of opposition they're coming up against. A look at some of the minor premiership winning sides of the past few seasons shows the world record shattering Parramatta Eels of 2001, this year's attacking force of the Melbourne Storm, and the unpredictable New Zealand Warriors of 2002. It's also worth noting that in most cases the side finishing eighth has often been one in poor late season form or one that managed to limp into the finals after an end of season resurgence.

2006 may just be the end of the days when 7th and 8th are just there to make up numbers. The top eight system has certainly drawn criticism in recent years due to one-sided results and poor win/loss ratios, but in 2006 we're in the interesting position of having Parramatta sitting in eighth. Prior to a shock two game losing sequence, the Eels had been unbeaten for nine rounds and had shot from written off also-rans to being mentioned in the same breath as the table topping Storm and Bulldogs. Could 2006 be the year that the eighth placed underdogs finally get one over the lofty minor premiers?

Whilst it goes without saying that Melbourne are the form team in the competition and boast arguably the finest attacking backline we're likely to see in this era, it's not the foregone conclusion it usually is. How can you write off an Eels side that contains the world's best back rower in Nathan Hindmarsh? A backline that includes such stars as Ben Smith, Jarred Hayne, and the ever-reliable Wade McKinnon? And let's not ignore the underrated halves pairing of Morris and Jeremy Smith.

Sure, Melbourne have the likes of King, Inglis, Slater, Crocker, Hill, and Geyer in their side - but they've proven in recent weeks that they're not unbeatable.

And we're ignoring the 7th placed Canberra Raiders as well. This year's Canberra outfit may not have any genuine superstars, but it's one full of underrated battlers and players finding a new lease on life. Adam Mogg's form this season has been astounding, and Alan Tongue may just be the unluckiest player to ever miss out on Blues' selection.

It stands to reason that as we climb the ladder we find more and more convincing contenders. Sixth sees the St George/Illawarra Dragons, a perennial favourite for the title despite not having done anything in the past few years to be deserving of such an accolade. The Manly Sea Eagles in fifth have recaptured the form (and player poaching mentality) that made them the team we loved to hate in the mid nineties. The fourth placed Knights not only enjoyed premiership favouritism at one point in the season, but also have a fired up Andrew Johns returning at the perfect time of the season.

Third sees the always dangerous Broncos finding a 'cure' for that slump whose name we dare not speak. And of course, second and first feature the two sides widely backed to contest the grand final.

But isn't it exciting to look at the top eight and see eight sides who are all a genuine chance of taking it out? Whilst Melbourne and Canterbury will go into this weekend's clashes as deserving favourites, these games aren't the foregone conclusions they have been in recent years. 2006 may well be the year that the top eight comes into its own. The year in which every final is the closely contested thriller it should be. I look at the top eight and I don't see any dead weight. I see eight contenders for the title, and eight teams at which I wouldn't be stunned to see raising the trophy in four weeks time.

This season's top eight sees eight teams who have won a premiership. Of these sides, the top five have won a premiership in the past decade, with Parramatta and St George/Illawarra both having competed in grand finals to boot. It's a thrilling prospect, and I know I won't be missing a single game.

Word Count: 737 including title

 

[Master Vippo]

Vippo takes a dash from dummy-half for Souths

Origin Goes International

“In the third and deciding game the South Island, led by their 5/8 and captain Benji Marshall managed to defeat the Sonny Bill Williams led North Island side by 2 points in a tight game. It was a dramatic series, which saw some amazing football. We saw the farewell of the great Leslie Vainikolo from Island of Origin and setting up for his international farewell when New Zealand attempt to win their third consecutive Four Nations tournament at the end of the year.

Captain Benji Marshall said it was one of the most proud moments in his career, his first series as captain. This series will raise many selection headaches for the New Zealand, with so many players in form.

Tonight’s game echoed the fierceness heard on the other side of the Tasman last night in the State of Origin clash, where NSW overcame Queensland in a typically torrid affair. The Rugby League community is looking forward to tomorrows clash between the Australia A side and Papua New Guinea (only non-State of Origin Aussies are eligible for the Australia A side). Normal NRL games return next week, with the Wellington Vipers taking on the Central Coast Roosters in Friday Night Football.”

What’s this dribble I’m reading, you ask? Well personally I hope it is a news report stolen by Doc Brown and Marty McFly in their last trip into the future. There are a lot of teams that maybe you don’t recognise, but maybe in the future, you will.

Since I have been watching international league, we have seen a lot of rescheduling of matches, mainly to do with test sides not wanting to take Australia on right after State of Origin, due to the toughness and form we Aussies have built up during this period. Maybe other nations need something similar to build up their own form and create some fight for positions.

I believe that to match us on a regular basis, New Zealand need their own version of State of Origin. Possibly Island of Origin, possibly ESL versus NRL based players, whichever idea is most practical and relevant for some passion to develop. I will admit I don’t know New Zealand players backgrounds intimately, so I don’t know who would play for which side, and possibly some tweaking may be required to get an even balance when getting the idea off the ground, but it could work.

Such a match would make damn fine viewing to any Rugby League fan. I would have no problem if the regular NRL rounds were put on hold while these games were played, possibly with SOO on Friday, the Kiwi equivalent on Saturday, and another game, possibly between up and coming nations, or between Australia A and another nation, on Sunday as in the news report. What a weekend we would see!

Some may have seen Four Nations tournament and thought “typo”, but no, I knew what I was doing. France and England play a similar three match series, and then both compete in the Four Nations tournament with Australia and New Zealand.

The big point I believe to look at is the New Zealand equivalent of State of Origin. New Zealand showed us last year they are improving, a lot having to do with the addition of the Warriors into the competition, but when faced with our full strength side, they wilted. Having their own Origin style series, they would see players improve, toughen up, and hopefully more Kiwis take up the game, with the added media coverage of this new and exciting rivalry. We can hope and dream that NRL and Super League clubs would release their players for such a concept.

The final point put forward, was one of NRL expansion. We saw a Roosters outfit that had relocated to the Central Coast playing a second team from New Zealand-another ploy that would increase New Zealand’s player ranks, and help improve international league. As to how many new clubs, where they are and in what time frame they will arrive, the possibilities are endless, your imagination is the only limit. It is commonly agreed the NRL needs to go more national. So maybe we could see teams in Perth, Adelaide, Wellington, the Central Coast and who knows where else.

I have put some strange ideas forward, but for years I have yearned for an international community to rival Union or Cricket at least. Maybe these are some steps we could take to achieve that.



749 words

 

[paulquinn49]

PQ for Souths

Worth their weight in bananas

When my grandparents came to Australia from Greece in 1958, they knew 2 things…Greek and work. The latter led them to bananas, which in turn provided an income for a struggling family. The farm was in Crabbs Creek, about 30km from the QLD border.

The neighbours would grow different fruits or livestock to make their respective livings. When business was going through rough times, they rallied behind each other and the three thousand-year-old tradition of barter was introduced. It ensured survival for many and allowed my family to break their 624-day record of bananas in every meal.

Five years later, the banana farm was left behind and the family moved 1000km south to the Wollongong suburb of Thirroul, and there, the bartering ended.

Sadly, in 2006, there is a lack of the lost art. Sure, kids may still swap footy cards, but it is hardly as important as it once was. Hell, we even buy bananas from Indonesia now. In a game played and supported by perceived “battlers,” there is a need for a more common and widely accepted rostering.

For a start, I feel players have too much of an influence on the club; the club should own the players, not the players owning the club. Too much freedom from clubs sees players misbehaving, walking out on contracts and too often packing up and leaving a club that nurtured them from a young age.

In the English Premier League, the players are effectively pieces of meat and can be bought, sold or traded as soon as they arrive. It may sound harsh, but that’s professional sport to me.

Who could forget that American guy, I’ve forgotten his name, but he made the news for bartering. He started with a red paperclip, over time trading items, gaining better items each time until he gained his dream home. It was beautiful, Encino man would be proud.

My idea would see players now only allowed to have contracts 1 year in length. This would see more importance placed on a player’s performance, further pressuring team selections. This would give the understudy or promising junior more chance of cracking into first grade, rather than knowing that a player will occupy their position for a further 3 years.

Crippling injury tolls will still exist for some unfortunate teams. However, another option is now available. For example, in 2006, the run of Parramatta has come to a halt, with the club lacking depth in the front row department. In the “Barter System,” Parramatta would be able to negotiate with a contracted front rower, provided that the front rower’s club is happy to negotiate.

Having a lack of front rowers is a problem; however, even with key injuries to Eric Grothe and Timana Tahu, the Eels still have an abundance of talent in the backline with NRL experience sitting in PL. Reddy, Williams, Petersen and even McKinnon are all still fighting for starting spots.

Any of those players could now be pieces of bait; if Parramatta were desperate enough, they could offer one of their first grade regulars for a rival club’s front rower.

The overwhelming point being that one side needs some hardmen, someone upfront to do the grunt work. What if another team is lacking some punch in the backline? Why shouldn’t they be able to barter in times of need? It would make for a more even competition.

Each team at one point has been on the wrong end of a bad injury toll, and each team seems to have 1, 2 or maybe more players who are in Premier League that deserve a spot in the NRL side. So, if the opportunity arose to play for another team, an opportunity to showcase his talents, for other teams (or perhaps his former club) it doesn’t make sense that he rots in a competition that doesn’t deserve his talents.

The NRL is cutthroat; it needs rules in place that reward consistency and the talents on show. If the club can’t get the best out of a player, they shouldn’t be stuck in the lower grades just because they have an existing contract. It isn’t fair to the player, the club or the junior who no longer has a spot because, contractually, they have to fulfil a promise of a place in the organisation.

Through barter, a team may find a diamond in the rough or, perhaps, a player worth their weight in bananas.


744 words

 

[Clevo]

Chaaaaarge! Clevo calls the set play for Souths....

________________________________________________________

Where’s Wally?

As the 2006 Final series begins we bid farewell to the regular season of games. My commitment to watching live games waned significantly this year as I grappled with an intense desire to watch my team (Souths) be competitive, to the cost of making the trips to the stadiums. Although the pocket won, all it’s going to take to win me back is for the potential for Souths to be mentioned in amongst the annals of THAT GREAT GAME in modern times. Like the Roosters versus Dragons 2004 Anzac day game.

As club fans we are biased towards wanting our team to perform greatly. As Rugby League fans we are biased towards wanting our competition to perform greatly against other codes of sport. Fair enough too for I feel the NRL is under threat from the AFL and if Soccer takes hold, and it just might, it will put Rugby League into a smaller niche.

No doubt in my mind that there are people like me who are itching to get a chance to watch a GREAT game, preferably several of them involving the team we support. At least we will have got our money’s worth which is what it all comes down to. But, if the NRL are going to tinker with the rules to even out the clubs there is a greater chance of generating not just a great final series but also great CLUB games. It’s here where attendance figures will be boosted and its great club games that will make even greater Finals.

Like I have, the NRL must be asking: What makes a regular season club game GREAT?

We expect Finals games to be great and we will see a few of those but in the regular season the dynamics of what makes a GREAT game are complicated. To bring the elements of a great game together is not something that can be manufactured but it can be assisted to a point but pushing it can literally upset the factors to get the opposite.

Defining what makes a club game great is not as easy when you need consensus from every supporter watching the game. In an era where a drawn game is impossible some of the fans will be going home the loser but if the NRL can give them an some satisfaction there no doubt those fans will be coming back for more and perhaps bring some friends with them the following week.

So what makes an all satisfying regular club game?

Two teams battling out a war of attrition is a considerable factor. When this happens fitness and psychological tactics come into play and it draws the coaches in. The coach, drawn in from the stands draws with it a heightened sense of expectation which in turn involves the crowd. The noise and excitement levels escalate lifting the team to squeeze out every drop of courage, comradary and pride. Everyone watching is on the end of their seats or standing. The score could go either way. The ref is neither seen nor heard and seemingly has no bearing on the result. He too knows what’s happening and allows it to be, ignoring any pre game instructions or memos.

A war is raging on the field and your team is in it and you are there. Your mind is with the players, totally focused. Rain begins to pour down, the crowd and the players ignore it. Suddenly a touch of individual magic occurs and a break is made. Just as quickly, an equally magical moment of reflex and instinct shuts down an opportunity. The crowd screams with excitement the match hinges on a single moment. A split second of a moment of NOWness and that’s it. Game over.

Sure, I would curse losing a tight game but is having watched a great game following the losers side a consolation prize? In a way, yes it is but it sets up beautifully the potential for a great game the following week. Especially if it’s a local derby or there’s “history” between the two clubs and a bit of biff would add to the dramatics.

Would the best season EVER be the season where the salary cap has its highest effect? Is this what Rugby League fans really want?

Would too many teams vying for Final spots rue those games earlier in the season where the game was affected by an incorrect referee decision, an ill prepared turf or inconsistent judiciary decisions?

___________________________________________

Word Count: 749

 

[djmac]

While the NRL jumps ship can the Mariners prove an apt replacement crew?

The NRL backed the Gold Coast Titans (or Dolphins) over the Central Coast Bears for a new NRL license in 2007. Both the teams had the financial backing, the stadium and the supporter base. What the Central Coast also had was the disgruntled ire of the nearby Sydney clubs and nearby Newcastle who were afraid of getting a smaller portion of the pie. The NRL claims that there is not enough money for the Central Coast Bears, but will fork out 8 million to any team wishing to relocate there. The NRL are happy to maintain that the Central Coast is a rugby league stronghold and that it can be considered later once the Bears are no longer legally bound to Central Coast ventures.

Along comes the inaugural season of the Australian A-League. Teams are selected based on financial security and the Central Coast Mariners find themselves playing out of Central Coast Stadium. What’s important here is the Central Coast is given a team of their own that’s rubbing shoulders with huge cities such as Sydney, Adelaide, and Melbourne; even an entire country in the form of New Zealand has a team. Despite this the crowds are mediocre for the Mariners and the NRL is content. That is, content until the underdog team of the competition completes a 12 match winning streak to find themselves against glamour club Sydney FC in the Grand Final. The media and the Australian public love an underdog and soon support for the Mariners is strengthening.

Now create in your mind the picture of Kaiserslautern, Germany on the 12 of June, 2006. The Socceroos are about to begin playing against Japan and the Australian football is going to take a turn for the spherical. Over the next three weeks football fever is going to grip the Australian public and all three forms of Australian Football: Rugby League, Rugby Union and Aussie Rules are going to fade into the background. The Rugby League will lose ‘their’ Daily Telegraph back page to the strange sport and discomfort will settle in.

The 2006 A-League pre season begins resting warm on the laurels of the World Cup. Crowd figures at Central Coast Stadium average at around 8000 (http://www.ccmariners.com.au, 2006). The Round 22 clash between the Knights and Roosters brings in a crowd of 18,000 (http://www.newcastleknights.com.au/, 2006). Though this is a massive difference in crowds it is easily balanced by taking into account a few factors. The NRL game is an effective Newcastle home game where both teams are in the middle of competing for places in the top 8 and the A-League game is only a pre season match. Is the Central Coast the stalwart Rugby League stronghold that the NRL claims it to be? Maybe the NRL are content to have a smaller portion of the aforementioned Central Coast pie. The 2nd round of the A-League enjoyed an average of 15,000 spectators per match and with the Central Coast Mariners first home game looming the NRL will be watching the turnout with interest.

Rugby enthusiasts will claim that the children of Australia prefer games where the best team wins. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHHs_N4kcQA) On the surface this is true. Deeper in, one can see that football is a game of emotional highs and emotional lows. The fact that the game can turn on a ten-cent piece and the lesser team can win makes the game such a great spectator sport.
The Central Coast is clearly still of interest to the NRL. The Herald Sun (July 22, 2006) recently reported that one of the NRL’s money pit clubs the Melbourne Storm are securing a grip on the Central Coast’s 4000 odd juniors and it seems every other week that Souths or the Sharks are ‘about’ to make the move north.

The world game has gained a strong foothold on Australia and it would seem likely that unless the NRL acts quickly it may have simply missed the boat on giving the Central Coast the team they needed to stay Rugby League true.

WORD COUNT: 683

 

[The_Joey_Show]

The Joey Show storms into the fray, looking to make an impact in his first finals match...

Thankyou Rugby League

I have always been a big believer in showing gratitude to those who deserve it. I guess it is just the way I was bought up. Even now, I remember my parents telling me that the word ‘thankyou’ didn’t cost a cent to say, so I should feel free to say it as often as I liked. However, as the end-of-season nostalgia begins to set in, I realize that there is one old friend that I have never thanked for all the times that they’ve been there for me. Well, today that changes. Today, I thank Rugby League.

Thankyou, Rugby League, for some of the best memories of my life. If I live to be an old man of 100, I will still remember the many wonderful moments that you have added to my life. I will remember the joy that my entire town felt when Darren Albert crossed the line to snatch the 1997 Optus Cup from the grasp of the silvertail Sea Eagles. I’ll remember the way the town partied into the early hours of the next working week after our boys bought the silverware home again in 2001. But more importantly, I’ll remember walking into the Newcastle International Sports Centre at six years old, holding my Dad’s hand so I wouldn’t get lost in the swirling mass of people, and shaking with excitement at the prospect of attending my first ever (which, as I learnt later, was also THE first ever) Newcastle Knights home game. I was far too young to understand it at the time, but on that day you provided me with one of the defining moments of my life.

Thankyou, Rugby League, for some of the greatest friends I will ever know. For the vast majority of my life, I went to see you surrounded my safety net; my family. Going to see you was one of the great traditions of my family, one of the things that we loved doing together. Sometimes, I still miss those days. But in their place, I now come to see you with a group of people that I am proud to call my friends, a collection of souls that are so diverse, and yet so similar. A group that have opened my eyes and expanded my mind more than any group of friends that I have ever known. A group that come from all places and comprise all sorts of people. A group that, by all logic, should never have had reason to meet, let alone become friends. Through the common link that you provided us, these people have become my confidantes, my advisors, and my brothers and sisters in arms.

Thankyou, Rugby League, for giving me a window into the minds of almost all the people in my world. From the students that I work with on a daily basis, to the elderly neighbours that I see occasionally on the street, you are the thread with which I can form a relationship with any person. Even when speaking to people with whom I have so little in common that we can barely find a topic of conversation, we can always return to the one commonality that we share; we are both friends of yours.

But most importantly, thankyou Rugby League for making me the person that I am today. Without your influence, and the influence of those that you have delivered into my life, I would not be the person that you see each week. You, and the friends that I have made through you, have permeated every aspect of my life. The amount that I have learnt from you, and them, is incalculable. I would like to think that you have made me a better man. I know in my heart that I am a more rounded and complete individual for having shared my life with you.

Thankyou, Rugby League. I don’t know how I can ever repay you.

657 words, including title.

 

[MrCharisma]

MrCharisma takes possibly his last run for the Newcastle Knights this season…
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Footy Jail

The piece below has been taken from an anonymous diary from the Bloop website (http://www.bloopdiary.com/main.php). He or she’s name will remain anonymous in fear that people will think that I am football obsessed… I mean that anonymous person, not I.

I think my life has been taken over by football. No joke. I’m not talking about my weekend be based around my Rugby League teams game, I literally mean that Rugby League has taken over my life. You don’t believe me, do you? Ok well read this;

Friday I went to work for a few hours and did a cover shift for my manager. I work for Foxtel so I have the pleasure of watching whatever I want within reason. Other then a replay of Miami Ink and King of the Hill, I also watched the Challenge Cup Final where St Helens destroyed Huddersfield. Whoot! Whoot! Jon Wilkin came out of it all looking like a smashed crab with a broken nose plus somehow Sean Long won a medal… a medal for what, the most over rated halfback in England? Sheesh just retire already and let Scott Moore or James Roby be halfback.

Later in that afternoon, I travelled down to Sydney to meet my internet girlfriend who I met through a Rugby League forum where we watched the Friday night football between Parramatta Eels and North Queensland Cowboy. Personally it was a battle of who cares less and with the Cowboys and the Tigers both missing the finals this year, I’ll sleep a lot more comfortably tonight.

Saturday consisted of checking out the Nike Factory where they were selling 2005 Bulldogs jerseys for $35 a pop. What a wicked deal. I grabbed a few for my little brother who has been annoying the crap out of me for one. Hard to go wrong with an official jersey for that price. I think those crappy Best and Less jerseys are more then $35. Later in that night we went out to a place not far from Sutherland called Pizza League. It’s a pizza parlour which is based around Rugby League.

The place is decked out with all sorts of memorabilia and it is no surprise that the owner follows St George Dragons. I’m not talking about this mixed bag of fruit who has Illawarra junior Trent Barrett and co. playing for them. I am talking about the old school Dragons which was being guided around the park by Anthony ‘the man’ Mundiene. The walls are cover with a painting of St George playing football with ‘Pizza League’ as the main sponsor. You will find a big television screen with the current NRL match being played (mine was the Melbourne game) as well as signed posters, jerseys, and team merchandise which dates back as far as the 1960’s. So much so that I notice something from the Newtown Jets, Auckland Warriors and North Sydney Bears.

The best was yet to come and that was the food. Not only were the pizzas huge but they were football based. Every pizza was named after a team., from a Broncos (which has banana) to a Tigers (meat eaters). We chose a Roosters one which had chicken, bacon, onion and pineapple. While you don’t want to know this, I also had to go to the toilet while at the Pizza League. If you are a man, you know that it is always great to have reading material while on the can but this too is covered! News paper articles starting from the early 90’s coat the place as if it was wallpaper.

Sunday I got to ignore my father on Fathers Day and travel out to Penrith to see the less then enthusiastic Bulldogs take down the lacklustre Penrith Panthers who will once again not take a place in the NRL finals race, which is great cause I love seeing Randell’s team fail. It comes second only too the Doggies actually winning.

To top this all off, today at work I signed up Dean Widders family member to Foxtel today which was rather amusing because she was sporting a Canberra Raiders jacket, so obviously I some what ripped into her about this weekends clash. Hopefully for my sake, they don’t win because she will ring me and say something!

While some people are addicted to cigarettes I like to think I am addicted to Rugby League. After all I am currently in Newtown posting this article instead of playing pub trivia.
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Word Count: 749 using the Official F7's Word Counter

 

[Pistol]

Pistol makes a run at the line after a huge barge from Clevo

(The Spotlight On) Kris Radlinski

Few men have graced the mortal coil with honour and integrity. Even fewer who could combine that grace, skill and heart. One such man was born into the world on the 9th of April 1976 in the town of Wigan in England. That man is Kris Radlinski.

The year was 1993. In the Australian competition the Brisbane Broncos were embarking on their journey to obtain their second title in consecutive years, a feat not easily obtained in that day and age. In the English competition, the Wigan Warriors were going for their own set of consecutive titles.

Wigan has a proud history in the English game. They have won many titles throughout the history of Rugby league in the “Old Dart”, 17 to be exact. They unearthed in 1993 a future legend in fullback, Kris Radlinski.

Radlinski was a 17 year old Wigan junior, born and bred. The “cherry and whites” saw the boundless talent he had and quickly put him into the First Grade team where he found his feet. He took to the game of league like mustard takes to a hot dog. His ability to diffuse a bomb was second to none. He had pace, skill, swerve and a will to succeed.

But with any good tradesman, even if the right tools are on hand, he still needed to work to improve what he had and to evolve his own skills. He knew that he needed to grow as a player, but more than that, he wanted to.

Radlinski was instrumental in helping to keep the Wigan legacy alive by helping them in their quest to win the treble. In Rugby League in England that consists of the Challenge Cup, the Premiership and the coveted World Championship. Wigan won that honour in the 1994 season, most notably taking the World Title off the Brisbane Broncos in front of a huge crowd at ANZ Stadium.

On field honours aside, it is Kris’ personality and his integrity off the paddock which makes him a true legend and it exemplifies the reason I have looked up to him since he came onto the scene in the early 90’s.

After years of loyal service to the game of Rugby League, Radlinski was approached in 2001 to join the ranks of Rugby Union. In an era when Rugby Yawnion was approaching the big names of league to jump ship, it wasn’t a surprise to many that Rads was propositioned. With Wendell Sailor and Mat Rogers having agreed to join the other code after the powerbrokers had opened up their cheque books, it would have been hard to turn down such a lucrative offer. To quote Colonel Samuel Trautmann from Rambo: First Blood, “…that’s like bringing the pigeons to the cat.” But Rads stayed true to his hometown club and wanted to continue to repay the loyalty the Warriors had shown him.

Radlinski went on to play a pivotal role in the 2002 Challenge Cup final, helping Wigan to beat their razor sharp rivals St Helens, winning the Lance Todd Trophy for player of the match. His performance is made that much more remarkable by having fluid drained from his foot hours before the game.

With his inspirational presence on the field for Wigan, Rugby were again not far off kicking down his door and getting on their knees to beg for him to make the jump. In 2005 they made another offer for the great custodian. Once again, Radlinski said no.

2005 marked a bittersweet symphony for the great man. He was awarded the captaincy of his beloved Wigan side. However, injuries cruelled his season and he made a handful of appearances for the top side. In 2006 he announced his retirement from the game due to the injury of his knee. It was a sad day for the Wigan faithful.

His legacy grew stronger mid season. Wigan was under the pump, battling feverishly to avoid the dreaded drop to first division. Brian Noble came on board to help steer them out of the battle. Radlinski then made the decision to come out of retirement and lend a hand to the Warriors. Wigan couldn’t afford to pay him. But Radlinski didn’t want any money. He played for free.

After helping Wigan win their way to safety, Rads hung his boots up again for the final time. He was a selfless toiler who showed what loyalty really is and what Rugby League and Wigan meant to him.

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(Apologies to the Newcastle skipper and the referee for naming three reserves instead of two. I only realised that after I submitted the team. Sorry for the confusion)

 

[PrideKnight]

PK runs on swearing at everyone in sight, someone should have told him quitting smoking was hard...

That time of Year again,

It is with mixed emotions that I head to Newcastle this Friday to watch my Knights take on the Manly Sea Eagles, for while I love the finals series, and the excitement, tears (of joy and sorrow), thrills chills and the occasional Sunday spills it brings, it also signifies an end of what I like to think of as the Guarantee period.

For 26 weeks of the year, starting this year and more than likely for ever more, I know exactly where I am going to be each and every weekend or at least for part of it. Of course I mean at the game, cheering the boys on with the greatest people I know.

Now, it’s a week to week proposition, for while I’m confident Newcastle will beat Manly on Friday, pending results, I may have a weekend off, or be doing another mad scramble like I have been to organize tickets for myself and 50 odd other people.

After October 1, I will have nothing, no clue what to start doing with myself. Sure, I guess I could start re-connecting with my family, I haven’t really seen most of them in 6 months, not sure some of my younger siblings, cousins, nephews and nieces will recognize me, except those who watch Knights games, I get on TV lots.

I have had an unreal year, and the people I got close to last year I now consider to be among the closest friends I have ever and will ever have. That being the case, I imagine we will see plenty of each other during the off season, will the mateship still be there without a football team to watch? I would imagine so.

I have written on the magic power of football to bring together a disparate group of individuals before, but it really can’t be said enough how much of an incredible
mate-maker it is.

So what happens to the president of a football supporters group when there is no football on? You might think I would have a nice 6 month holiday, you would be wrong though, I’m giving myself a month or so off after the Grand Final, and then it’s straight back into it.

With a lot of new members this year, and with the anticipation of even more over the off season, we will have lots of mail outs, season ticket orders, Jersey orders, functions, drinking binges, and lots lots more.

I feel completely tragic that this thing has grown to consume my life, but seeing as it means I spend half the year with my closest mates, then it can’t really be considered a burden now can it?

I can’t wait until Friday, but even more so I can’t wait until October 1st, even though im confident we will be there facing off against someone, even if we aren’t, you can be sure, I will be sitting somewhere pulling back a beer with the same group of individuals ive been pulling them back with all year.
With them, I have seen more of Australia in 6 months than I had in the previous 26 years, I have been to New Zealand, drank with players, enjoyed countless big nights out and quiet nights in, lost my voice every week for 24 weeks (thank god for byes). Been places, done and seen things I’d never thought of before, and now I am going to be deprived of it for a full 6 months.

God I wish footy was a 12 month a year prospect…

594 words including titles using F7's word counter

 

[antonius]

Ref Blows Fulltime.

 

[Pistol]

5v5

well done to all. thanks to the timekeeper and to the opposition

 

[Misanthrope]

Jesus, that was epic. Thanks to everyone who pulled on the red and blue this round, I know what a tough ask it was. PK's in the middle of quitting smoking, djmac made his debut, and the remainder of us had very full weeks at the end of very full seasons. Regardless of the outcome, I'm proud of the effort, and I think next season we'd best recruit heavily to make sure we're not down to five in the finals this time next year.

 

[Mystique]

Rabbitohs

Crusher - The Debutante
Good stuff, imaginative and dramatic.
Score 88

vippo19 - Origin goes International
A peep into a possible future. A little confusing.
Score: 85

paulquinn49 - Worth their weight in bananas
Interesting idea.
Score: 86

clevo - Where's Wally?
What can make a regular club game magic?
Score: 87

Pistol - (The Spotlight on) Kris Radlinski
Excellent profile piece.
Score: 92

TOTAL: 438

Knights

CWBush - The Eight Horse Race
Intelligent and well written article. Very readable.
Score: 89

PK - That Time of Year Again
Nicely written. Nice sentiments. Good effort.
Score: 84

Mr Charisma - Footy Jail
An anonymous football addict makes a confession; humorous and witty.
Score: 86

The Joey show - Thankyou Rugby League
The simplicity of the format makes this piece very readable. The writer's anecdotal recollections give it that personal touch while never wavering from the point he is making.
Score: 90

djmac - While the NRL jumps ship can the Mariners prove an apt replacement crew?
Makes a good point and is very competently written. As a report, it's great, but it doesn't have the readability I'm looking for in a Forum 7's article.
Score: 88

TOTAL: 437

Souths 438 def Knights 437
Poster of the match: Pistol for Souths

 

[Pistol]

holy moly wat a nail biter

well done to all and sundry.

thanks newie for a great game and well done on a great season

to the bunnies, we got a date next round with Penrith, so lets get geared up for it

Thanks Mystique for the marks

Glory Glory To South Sydney

 

[Master Vippo]

Wow, that was close. Amazing game all-round.

 

[Jesbass]

Quality articles from both teams, and a fittingly close result.