Another eventful year for Pistol Pete, lets recap some of the 2022 highlights:
First off it wouldnt be RL without a civil war. And Vlandys took it to another level when he tried to stop the NSWRL $20mill grant payment as he didnt like the way they conducted their election business. Citing no grounds for NRL interference NSWRL and the NRL found themselves wasting the games valuable funds in court where the judge sided with NSWRL leaving Pistol Pete plenty of egg on his face. Not content with this loss, he then decided he would waste even more money by appealing. sigh
Then things got really serious as the NSW Govt backed out of an agreement it had over suburban stadium funding. Pistol Pete did what he does best and dragged it through the papers with some very harsh words aimed at one of the games key stakeholders. Talk of superbowls and selling GF's followed alongside some pretty pointed comments about the states premier. The NSW govt retaliated swaying public favour to their side with talk of floods, fire and pestilence. News that the deal had been on a handshake was mocked as Pete's business acumen was called in to question. A handshake deal with a politician, really Pete? As predicted the GF stayed in Sydney, the stadiums didnt get funded and the relationship with NSW govt is now at an all time low. Not one of his better days
A little minor mishap next as Pistol Pete decided to turn a hundred years of how players get penalized into something of a farce as he decided that what fans really wanted was to see players not be banned for the finals series. Strangely though this only applied to one player. Fans can be very selective it seems! Along side that it turned out that the penalty for high shots had been reduced. Yes last year high tackles were going to kill the game according to Pete, this year? well go for it lads and cop a bit of a fine.
It'd been a tough year for our ill fitting suited leader but then the sht really hit the fan when the AFL announced its mega Tv deal. After signing a $400mill deal in the midst of a covid crisis, allegedly against the advice of his CEO and CFO, the folly of this decision was laid bare for all to see when AFL announced a deal worth a staggering $643million a year as three suitors fought over themselves for the AFL's hand inmarriage. The massive gap was plain to see but pistol pete did his best to dodge and weave with talk of contra, tricks up sleeve, renegotiations and true values. But no one was buying any of it and soon anger turned to mirth as Pete talked of coughs, colds and doing the right thing by Tv companies. The final straw was once again Pete thinking he had a verbal agreement with Fox for more money if AFL got more, god bless you pete.
So there you have it, a tough old 2022 for our illustrious leader, dont worry Pete there's always 2023.