Redneck Redfaces

[POPEYE]

I'm almost happy the Rugby League public in general suffer from tunnel vision, this year anyway. It would be appropriate if Melbourne or Manly won the only thing worth winning in a year relegated the number 13. Only supporters of one team celebrate a season, why the f**k that has to be is beyond me, so who better in a year no-one will want to remember than one of the Ho Hum Twins.

Be a shame if any of the virgin clubs lost their cherry or Souths evade laughing hyenas in a season easily wanted to be the most forgetful of the century so far. The salary cap saga in Mexico was considered the epitomy of bad taste by the majority, although in my opinion the betting fart was worse because it's a preliminary to a whole lot of inevitable shit . . . matching fixing the only thing that could eclipse ElephantJuice.

Usually most League tragics become comatose after the last ball is put away and the dreaded off season doldrum takes over, but it can't come soon enough, fingers crossed nothing more untoward happens before the start of '14. Spare a thought for Dave Smith, only the wankingest of wankers could denigrate the bloke on his inaugral efforts in running such a f**king demoralising gauntlet.

It's not only Eels supporters looking for a hole, the game itself wants to hide behind better times. From the oppressive salary cap resulting in the loss of players, the way the game is poorly adjudicated, the ineffectual contracting of players and worst of all disenchantment of clubs nurturing talent. How much worse would it be if the AFL wasn't holding League's hand in the ElephantJuice sewer

Would be better if the Roosters, Souths and the rest put it down to experience and let '13 be a year to forget, just another 'Seagle/Storm who gives a f**k' season

 

[POPEYE]

The arsewipes are about as good for the game as having a pitbull anywhere near children, Sandor is the garden hose that may keep the wankers occupied while Potter attempts to get his plan ratified by the Wests board. Hopefully articles by dopes like Glen Jackson for the SMH claiming the Tigers are going from bad to worse will be drowned in ElephantJuice.

I have no idea what the full Potter Plan is but I imagine it starts with Bellamy/Maguire/Hasler/Robinson/Bennett type autonomy, audacity the only recourse Mick has left to save his job . . . no option but fight fire with fire. Luke Brooks may be the catalyst in a brazen plan to have the Tigers coach answerable to no-one until his contract expires.

The billionaire backer that loves the Tigers says he will never desert them although he's not happy with the infighting which is ironic. The Tigers are the first team that should be relocated, without really having to go anywhere, just take advantage of their boundary extremities.

They should piss off the inner city Ashfield/Leichhardt/Balmain shitheads who are demanding control, go with the new coach, try his new ideas and take advantage of the great Narellan development sprawl, after all the billionaire is a building developer and it's no skin off his nose. The other Sydney clubs are still making their presence felt but so did the dinosaurs.

Wests really have nfi how good Potter will be, hopefully another Madge/Robbo, but the vibes are good imo and they've got nothing to lose. I remember when Gibson went to Parra much to the disgust of F**kwit Fitzgerald he demanded autonomy and knew which players he needed. Not saying Potter will create legends but the right coaches do make players and good players sustain cultures, the deep south west is in need of a pioneer.

 

[POPEYE]

I've long held the opinion that great coaches purposely play two 40 minute games and the rest spend far too many hours dissecting videos of the opposition. In theory most of the week's training should be spent on practising what a team does best so that the opposition game plan struggles to overcome what comes naturally.

Madge's half time tirade was not about Souths letting the Tigers run roughshod, it was about the team not committing to the established first 40 process. Robbo faced the same dilemma last week. Gibson never said all that much at the break because he knew his backs would follow a plan that revolved around players getting tired . . . different era.

Bellamy pioneered taking it to the extreme, his mob practice all week to hold off the opposition game plan and leak as few points as possible, his ability to analyse is second to none and its only the last 40 he has to concentrate on. Haven't watched the game yet but I imagine the Knights won because a supercoach did what he does best at the break.

There are a lot of mitigating circumstances in a loss by a great coach, but it's only when two are matched do you see seesaw fightbacks in the second half of a game. I though that Potter's instructions were holding water well, it was not capitulation but being outgunned that did them in. If Fifita was still a Tiger and Brooks replaced Anasta they may have frustrated Souths out of the game.

Oh, there is one factor than no-one can allow for and unfortunately could be the determining factor in the precious final series, what will the referees do other than they are expected to

 

[Big Tim]

The NRL is moving the goalposts again Pops.

Cronk escapes the sin-bin against the Knights, people complain. Snowden gets marched, some complain, others think it is the best call of the season.

2 weeks from the finals we see 2 sin-bins on a Friday night.

Consistency is what the super coaches desire. How do we get a super coach for the refs?

 

[POPEYE]

I still think Klein is one of the best referees but many will howl me down, he is at least consistent, he is unforgiving when play is on the tryline and defenders should know by now not to hinder play the balls or to not put a back foot on the line. That's where Klein gives most penalties and it doesn't matter how good or bad he is if he is consistent.

They explain the Cronk thing by saying Slater was always going to have control of the ball, if he dropped it a sin bin was mandatory. But sin binning is the least of the problems, what has to stop is referees competing for attention with pedantic penalties. Imo only one referee should have a whistle and the other bloke is just there in an advisory role.

In the Broncos/Knights game one dwarf was penalising things the other one wasn't. It's one thing for players to understand the idiosyncracies of referees another to remember who is standing where. Anderson should tell the referees to penalise the obvious, play on after the meaningless and above all do not search for a reason to penalise. We want the game to be fair, not a circus

Snowden should have been marched by the referee, and that was probably all the penalty needed, the judiciary needs its head pulling in as much as the on-ground officials

 

[Big Tim]

I still think Klein is one of the best referees but many will howl me down, he is at least consistent, he is unforgiving when play is on the tryline and defenders should know by now not to hinder play the balls or to not put a back foot on the line. That's where Klein gives most penalties and it doesn't matter how good or bad he is if he is consistent.

They explain the Cronk thing by saying Slater was always going to have control of the ball, if he dropped it a sin bin was mandatory. But sin binning is the least of the problems, what has to stop is referees competing for attention with pedantic penalties. Imo only one referee should have a whistle and the other bloke is just there in an advisory role.

In the Broncos/Knights game one dwarf was penalising things the other one wasn't. It's one thing for players to understand the idiosyncracies of referees another to remember who is standing where. Anderson should tell the referees to penalise the obvious, play on after the meaningless and above all do not search for a reason to penalise. We want the game to be fair, not a circus

Snowden should have been marched by the referee, and that was probably all the penalty needed, the judiciary needs its head pulling in as much as the on-ground officials

I dont want to get started on this, because I wont stop. But Snowdens tackle was no worse than Pritchards if you remove the resulting injury. Unfortunately we are in a reactive league.

I agree on the refs. Why do they change position?

Why doesnt one control the 10, and all the other penalties, and the pocket ref control the ruck? Wouldnt this give us some consistency? Both teams would be playing to the same rules.

 

[POPEYE]

The injury was enough reason if the judiciary didn't compound things. You could say the send off was fair if the Cowboys losing a key player to an illegality was unfair. Snowden going off was even steven in the old days, added suspension will never stop spur of the moment incidents

 

[Big Tim]

I am with you there. The tackle, and result deserved the Knights being short a player for the remainder of the game.

Does it deserve 7 (or 4 without loading) on the sidelines in comparison to Pritchards 2 on weight of the tackle alone?

Am happy for him to do extended time due to injury caused, if it is made clear that the MRC is taking player injuries into account. Right now, they jump from one side to the other.

 

[POPEYE]

I reckon if I was a betting man I could make a few quid from vibes, depressing when the f**kers are rarely wrong when you want them to be. Knew Manly were going to win because for weeks I've been saying the Storm haven't been starting well enough to beat a real contender, the magnitude ominous however. Best a Melbourne follower can hope for is 'beware the wounded bull'.

The Dogs winning was far worse yesterday for a bloke who doesn't mind anyone else winning but them. Again most of the year I've been soapboxing CB's chances in the mardis gras, huge win for them yesterday and if the roll gains momentum look out the pretenders

 

[POPEYE]

Thursday night perfect for footy that is meaningless on Nine, maybe the bookies can make something of it, the Dogs hardest chore will be staying interested.

By the far the most interest in Roosters/Rabbitohs for me is who will be the best team of the year, for the majority the only concern should be getting both teams through to the mardis gras intact and fit. Sydney in particular has a few meatheads capable of ending the season in chains, Madge's only worry is Sam in a game that is capable of generating carelessness.

Warriors were the biggest 'if only' team of the year, right to the end it'll all be about if only the Titans and Cowboys falter . . . funnier things have happened, the Eels won last week

Titans can beat Melbourne when you consider slumps are more than one game, but it is in Mexico and we all know the Storm don't always follow the rules. There are only two teams in the NRL that don't have to win grand finals, Manly deserve their dreadnought status but Melbourne are showing their age. Titans just need to take that one step of consistency

Imo Potter doesn't need to prove anything more this year but the icing on the cake would be to sabotage the Cowboys, Warrior supporters would be better advised to go to this game and cheer on the visitors

Who other than Brett Stewart will Manly pull off is the only intriguing thing about the game at Brookie

The Knights can't miss out surely . . . can they . . . no way. Benny doesn't deserve even the thought of it

Raiders might win but no-one will really care, least of all Sharks' supporters

 

[Big Tim]

The Knights can't miss out surely . . . can they . . . no way. Benny doesn't deserve even the thought of it

Eels > Dragons > Knights

This is the worst type of game for the Knights. A should-win, must-win. I can see this ending poorly.

 

[POPEYE]

Eels > Dragons > Knights

This is the worst type of game for the Knights. A should-win, must-win. I can see this ending poorly.

Get half pissed before the game and you can annoy the neighbours either way . . . Benny WILL prevail

 

[Big Tim]

Get half pissed before the game and you can annoy the neighbours either way . . . Benny WILL prevail

My neighbours must think I am crazy anyway. I watch all my games on what I refer to as 'live delay'. I am screaming at the box at the weirdest hours of the day.

I record them live (where applicable) and watch at a time more convenient to me..... It affords me the ability to fast forward the pre-game and half time BS. Not too hard to go on a media blackout to ensure the game happens live for me.

I am glad you are confident. I am not.

 

[BuffaloRules]

The First Law of Popeye ;

Great players do not make great coaches.

Unless your name is Churchill, Fulton, Or Hasler.

Or Big Mal at Origin level.

Plus, give Toovey a couple of years.

The law has been proven correct with Brad Fittler though.

Unless it involves drinking beer, Brad struggles to pass on his skills.

 

[POPEYE]

The First Law of Popeye ;

Great players do not make great coaches.

Unless your name is Churchill, Fulton, Or Hasler.

Or Big Mal at Origin level.

Plus, give Toovey a couple of years.

The law has been proven correct with Brad Fittler though.

Unless it involves drinking beer, Brad struggles to pass on his skills.

I think anyone who bothers reading my opinions knows ad naseum how I view the substance of your post.

Once again just for you because I have nothing better to write about and once again remembering opinions are personal and once again my opinions are not negotiable here goes.

Churchill is from a bygone era that doesn't even come close to comparison with the modern game and you are only guessing as to the circumstances under which he had success

Fulton never coached a team that wasn't choc-a-block with players made champions by other coaches, and if one came along that was better than one he had Godfather Arko would poach him by making an offer he couldn't refuse

Hasler is so far the closest you'll get to a great player making a great coach, in my memory since I became preoccupied with League anyway, he never could quite make the cut because of better being available . . . I'm almost prepared to concede on Des

Mal says he is not a great coach why can't you. Origin players don't need coaching just as Fulton's players didn't need coaching. If Stewart had the Qld players and Meninga had the NSW players we'd all be buffaloed . . . how come the Eels would be spooners when NSW won 8 straight.

Toovey, like Hasler imo was never my version of great, an opinion remember so keep your balls in their bag, so whether or not Manly are running on Hasler fumes or new Toovey octane is neither here nor there. Toovey will soon have to nurture so let's wait and see how he goes. By the way, Tooves may make a supercoach, which will mean he is a better coach than he was a player.

 

[BuffaloRules]

So Toovey was not a good player?

Thats your opinion as you say, but 16 Origins and 13 Tests is something I can point to, that at least justifies my position.

More than Des Hasler on both counts ( although I think he was a great player as well)...

But Toovey has done nothing of real note yet in the coaching ranks... all I know is that a lot of people were expecting Manly to fall over when Des left, and the opposite has been the case.

Coaching at elite levels is not exclusively about developing talent, its also about motivating good players to give their best on a regular basis..

Jack Gibson had some pretty handy players in his Roosters and Eels champion teams... a lot of whom I think were born rather than made...( by any coach..)

No, I never saw Churchill's teams play, just had a look at the results of the teams he coached... he also won the 1959 Brisbane comp with Norths in his one season up there apart from his well known success at Souths...

As you say, they are opinions though... the record books are the only thing we can point to at the end of the day as some kind of impartial arbitrator...

 

[POPEYE]

Opinions are great aren't they, can be given and received without animosity or vitriol and there is no need to get upset if you can't convert, listening far more important. My version of a great player is one that is iconic, Des played a lot for Australia off the bench as did Lamb, but they couldn't depose the great players. All a matter of how you discern great.

I see Gibson as the coach that made the young Parramatta players great in '81, whether he could have done it without Artie, Edge or Stumpy is another thing . . . some will tell you Massey was more than a right hand man. Sterlo will tell you Jack made him what he became on and off the field.

Anyway, civility goes a long way and anytime you want to chew the fat I'm not hard to find

By the way, I place little value on record books, especially those on gf's including Manly

 

[bellyache]

Robbo>>>>>>>.Maguire.. just that!

 

[POPEYE]

Talking to the converted but you already know that so it must be for the audience. Matters not which new coaches succeed but how many. Potter seems to be coming on well and hopefully the Eels take notice how it's done and let's hope the Raiders don't shit in their own nest and give a newcomer coach a go.

Congratulations to the Roosters as the best team of 2013 . . . hopefully they get another chance in the lottery

 

[Big Tim]

Eels > Dragons > Knights

This is the worst type of game for the Knights. A should-win, must-win. I can see this ending poorly.

Good news Pops.

Benny got the boys to the pissant cup!

Doesnt matter if we fall over against the Eels now..... we can start preparing to roll over in week 1.