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Parramatta the true NRL soap
Andrew Webster
The Daily Telegraph
August 16, 2010
RUGBY league is often described as a soap opera,
and the clear Logie winner of the past two seasons
is the Bold And The Beautiful-esque Parramatta Eels.
Holiday ... Phil Rothfield. Source: The Daily Telegraph
Once again, they are the talk of the game and for all the wrong reasons as it emerged that Eels boss Paul Osborne held secret talks with Storm assistant coach Stephen Kearney last week.
A ticket led by chairman Roy Spagnolo disposed of the regime of Denis Fitzgerald last season, but it has hardly brought stability to the joint. The club leaks more than the Federal cabinet.
An obvious question: Is Daniel Anderson that bad as a coach?
He achieved the near impossible last season when the Eels made the grand final and were defeated by a team rorting the salary cap. The players respect him, and some approached Osborne privately when the talk started two months ago about him being punted.
Up until that loss to the Roosters, they were flying. An emotional win against the Broncos on Friday night, amid the news of Osborne's approach to Kearney, has kept them in the hunt.
Yet the finger remains firmly on the trigger concerning his future. Osborne says he was working independently of the board in speaking to Kearney, who has been heavily courted by other clubs for three seasons now.
It can be explained as due diligence should Anderson be punted, but it is hardly a vote of confidence in the coach as he attempts another desperate run at the premiership.
Anderson's future has been a source of speculation in his own club since about round six last year and he deserves to operate with some semblance of confidence from those above him that he can do the job.
Who knows if Anderson will have a job next season, but this is the safest bet going around: if he gets the flick, he and the players will be the last to know about it.
***
TIGERS captain Robbie Farah yesterday accused the media of "stabbing" his team in the back whenever they lose and talking them up when they win.
Let's hope he takes this criticism better, because despite their win over the Panthers, the Wests Tigers were far from purring along in the Battle of the Big Cats at Campbelltown Sportsground.
On that form, they cannot win the premiership. That's not a knifing but a reality.
There is no better side to watch when the Tigers are humming along, yet they struggle to put a game away - just like last weekend against the Bunnies and even yesterday arvo.
Frank Pritchard scores that try with 16 to go, and it was game on in a match the Panthers had no business winning.
They cannot find controlled footy when it's needed and it was never more evident than their first set of six after the break when Farah threw a terrible ball on the last and then five-eighth Benji Marshall produced a grubber kick behind the line for his winger - 35m out from his own line.
While that brand of football is beautiful to watch, it must be giving coach Tim Sheens more than an ice-cream headache. It also won't cut it like it did for the 2005 Tigers.
The highlight
The late-season form of the Canberra Raiders - the little engine of the NRL that can and sometimes does has been beautiful to watch.
They flattened the Bulldogs on Saturday night after a slow start and are doing their best John Laws impression in keeping their finals dream alive.
Campese (right), Dugan, Shillington, Leahroyd-Lahrs these are players the Raiders can build a future around.
The lowlight
The chestnut debate about what happens on the field stays on the field will rage again today after Clinton Toopis claim he was bitten by Cowboys forward Scott Bolton.
Toopi went off like a firecracker but did not make an onfield complaint.
The courage
The Sports Editor-at-large who usually fills this page is lying back on a sunbed in Phuket as we speak, and Phillip Ronald Rothfield will no doubt be smiling after his beloved Sharkies beat the Roosters on Friday night.
The effort of coach Shane Flanagan and the players to hang in there deserves much respect.
Poor form
They just dont understand the game of rugby league, really, said Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore of the refereeing of the ruck during his sides loss to the Raiders.
He is not the Lone Ranger. I dont understand the difference between a flat cut-out pass and a forward one any longer.
I dont understand why a clear knock-on over the line needs to be looked at six times by the video ref.
I dont know how a defender puts pressure on a kicker, without touching them in fear of penalty.
Link: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/parramatta-the-true-nrl-soap/story-e6frfgh6-1225905582779
Andrew Webster
The Daily Telegraph
August 16, 2010
RUGBY league is often described as a soap opera,
and the clear Logie winner of the past two seasons
is the Bold And The Beautiful-esque Parramatta Eels.
Holiday ... Phil Rothfield. Source: The Daily Telegraph
Once again, they are the talk of the game and for all the wrong reasons as it emerged that Eels boss Paul Osborne held secret talks with Storm assistant coach Stephen Kearney last week.
A ticket led by chairman Roy Spagnolo disposed of the regime of Denis Fitzgerald last season, but it has hardly brought stability to the joint. The club leaks more than the Federal cabinet.
An obvious question: Is Daniel Anderson that bad as a coach?
He achieved the near impossible last season when the Eels made the grand final and were defeated by a team rorting the salary cap. The players respect him, and some approached Osborne privately when the talk started two months ago about him being punted.
Up until that loss to the Roosters, they were flying. An emotional win against the Broncos on Friday night, amid the news of Osborne's approach to Kearney, has kept them in the hunt.
Yet the finger remains firmly on the trigger concerning his future. Osborne says he was working independently of the board in speaking to Kearney, who has been heavily courted by other clubs for three seasons now.
It can be explained as due diligence should Anderson be punted, but it is hardly a vote of confidence in the coach as he attempts another desperate run at the premiership.
Anderson's future has been a source of speculation in his own club since about round six last year and he deserves to operate with some semblance of confidence from those above him that he can do the job.
Who knows if Anderson will have a job next season, but this is the safest bet going around: if he gets the flick, he and the players will be the last to know about it.
***
TIGERS captain Robbie Farah yesterday accused the media of "stabbing" his team in the back whenever they lose and talking them up when they win.
Let's hope he takes this criticism better, because despite their win over the Panthers, the Wests Tigers were far from purring along in the Battle of the Big Cats at Campbelltown Sportsground.
On that form, they cannot win the premiership. That's not a knifing but a reality.
There is no better side to watch when the Tigers are humming along, yet they struggle to put a game away - just like last weekend against the Bunnies and even yesterday arvo.
Frank Pritchard scores that try with 16 to go, and it was game on in a match the Panthers had no business winning.
They cannot find controlled footy when it's needed and it was never more evident than their first set of six after the break when Farah threw a terrible ball on the last and then five-eighth Benji Marshall produced a grubber kick behind the line for his winger - 35m out from his own line.
While that brand of football is beautiful to watch, it must be giving coach Tim Sheens more than an ice-cream headache. It also won't cut it like it did for the 2005 Tigers.
The highlight
The late-season form of the Canberra Raiders - the little engine of the NRL that can and sometimes does has been beautiful to watch.
They flattened the Bulldogs on Saturday night after a slow start and are doing their best John Laws impression in keeping their finals dream alive.
Campese (right), Dugan, Shillington, Leahroyd-Lahrs these are players the Raiders can build a future around.
The lowlight
The chestnut debate about what happens on the field stays on the field will rage again today after Clinton Toopis claim he was bitten by Cowboys forward Scott Bolton.
Toopi went off like a firecracker but did not make an onfield complaint.
The courage
The Sports Editor-at-large who usually fills this page is lying back on a sunbed in Phuket as we speak, and Phillip Ronald Rothfield will no doubt be smiling after his beloved Sharkies beat the Roosters on Friday night.
The effort of coach Shane Flanagan and the players to hang in there deserves much respect.
Poor form
They just dont understand the game of rugby league, really, said Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore of the refereeing of the ruck during his sides loss to the Raiders.
He is not the Lone Ranger. I dont understand the difference between a flat cut-out pass and a forward one any longer.
I dont understand why a clear knock-on over the line needs to be looked at six times by the video ref.
I dont know how a defender puts pressure on a kicker, without touching them in fear of penalty.
Link: http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/parramatta-the-true-nrl-soap/story-e6frfgh6-1225905582779
