NZ, you are disgraceful mourners

[Warrior]

I've had to put up with it for 2 days now. NZers are the biggest whingers and most self-criticising people you'll ever know.

Sometimes, I thank god that League is not the nation's game. I would hate to see League be so analyised orso judged upon. I tell ya, the amount of callers on talkback whinging about the game, you wouldn't want to be the guy with the headphones on at the mic. They must dread it.

We had big photos on the nations Sunday papers and littered through the Sports sections, WE LOST FOR CHRIST SAKE.

Yet we have a team who had just punished a top 4 side and have a real chance of going on to make finals history.

Don't you think NZ would have appreciated seeing the Warriors celebratingon the front page rather than the All Blacks with their heads down and Oliver's pug dog face.

 

[imported_bronco]

"I tell ya, the amount of callers on talkback whinging about the game, you wouldn't want to be the guy with the headphones on at the mic. They must dread it."
Murray Deaker is worse than the callers himself, he'll be loving it. Don't go near his show tonight because its going to be another hour of "why are the Australians better than us?". Hmm, I wonder Deaker, i guess the fact that they are prepared to play rugby rather than squander their chances through kicking and handling mistakes.

Lets face it, league will never get on an even keel and get the coverage they deserve. If the All Blacks win they are praised for weeks, if they lose we have to hear in depth analasis about the loss for weeks. After 6 years of critisingthe Warriors, you'd think the media would give them a bit of credit when they turn things around.

Still theres been a positive response to the Warriors from the public. Lets hope they can make those semis and keep being successful in the face of a pittiful All Blacks squad.

Cheers
bronco

 

[Kipper]

If I couldget myself out ofthis country after every All Black loss, I would. It'sone ofthe ugliest sides of NZ you can come across. By world standards we'reapretty decent bunch of people most of the time, but allof our perspective and affable, easy-goingnature goes out the window when the All Blacks lose.As much as I like to pretendall of this "the jewel of the national psyche" crap is all media hype,it's only reflecting the attitudeofa lot ofKiwis I'm afraid. The ratings, the talkback showsand just the vibe onthestreetare enough to confirm this.

Bronco's right in saying league will never get on an even keel with rugby, but I think all of these thingswill becyclical. League was huge here about a decade ago, and because of this Idon't oftenstrike a guy my age (under 20)whohas what I'd deem a strong, Andrew Savell-likeleague prejudice. Unfortunately they haven't exactly swarmed in behind the Warriors, but stillseem to have a latentliking for the game fromgrowing upduring that greatlate 80's - early 90'speriod. Of course we're not really a big sports-watchinggeneration yet -the stats say thatis dominated bymales over 30.

I went to a predominantly white and middle-classsuburban primary school, butthefooty code of choice - whether it waswearing the jerseys, collecting the cards, playing gamesin the lunch interval - wasdefinitely league. When Geoff Toovey retiresin a few weeks it will be a sad day for me,because him and the likes ofCliffy Lyons are largely responsible for making me love the game as much asI do. I stillremember the day down in my Pop's workshop whenthe ruleron top of my head hita heighttaller than my hero - I was 9!

I also think thehighly talented new breed of players that are coming throughat the Warriors with 198's in their birthdatesright nowcould have a direct link with that boom period league enjoyed. Unfortunatelywe're still waiting for the delayed, "lightning....thunder" effectthe creation of professional rugbywill have onour elite talent pools of the future. Hopefully theupcoming seasonsfor the Warriors are bloody successful ones,andthe NZRL can work in partnership withguys like Mick Watson and Daniel Anderson toimprove the health of NZleague at junior level.Then all we'll need isthedestruction of rugby union as any kind ofspectacle to continue, andleague will beriding ontop of anotherwave.