Redneck Redfaces

[POPEYE]

Unfortunately it seems rednecks have lost interest in me, even leaving an 'e' off eradication wasn't
enough. I could take the piss out of the Green Machine as I do the Eels to draw out the head whack
but that would go against the grain. I'm of firm belief that Canberra just need a leader to catapult
them to greatness, McCrone unfortunately is the rudder on the Bismarck.

I'm always left bemused in this age of technology why referees 'can't reverse the decision'. Thank f**k
they're not the Police Ombudsman or the ice cream parlour attendant. Even if a penalty is given and
the bloke is lining up for a kick why can't somebody who counts say 'stop', and go on with play where
it was interrupted. Wouldn't it be great if referees put their hands up in apology once in a while.

Almost afraid to declare Thurston has finally been relieved of bulls eye and is now just another
dangerous number. Morgan may be the man to put the Cowboys where they belong as a serious
threat but too many times have we seen the Lone Ranger left without a Tonto . . . my fingers have
RSI after years being crossed for NQ.

Like the Raiders the Panthers are in desperate need of direction but they still don't have the vibes
Canberra do. It's fairly obvious that Ivan is about to 'Cleary' the decks for next year and if players
think making amends every second week is good enough they're in for a rude awakening . . . more
than avoiding the spoon they should be says Yoda

 

[POPEYE]

Appreciating coaching over all else is the reason I watch League so I had no choice but to vote Hasler
as coach of the year, even though I dislike the shit of a joint he works for. He's not the best coach for
the best reason, which is generating new talent, but he certainly deserves it for the way he gets the
performance from the hot rods bought for him.

 

[POPEYE]

I thought the Knights deserved favouritism for tonight's game because they're playing as well as
anyone except the Dogs and if they get a float in the mardis gras anything could happen. Pity they
were appearing in a black comedy at the start of the season when the rest were playing footy but
they may get the last laugh. The Sharks are inflicted with a malady usually reserved for the Cowboys
at this stage of the season.

 

[POPEYE]

What a great day for NSW, Muzz to coach Origin and successful assylum seekers not allowed to
sponsor 'refugees'. Make no mistake, if he's there in any capacity, Murray's the the bloke the players
will listen to. Stuart, Fittler and Daley can be kept in the cupboard until chest puffing time comes
around . . . pigeons look great but they're full of shit.

For some reason Rothfield is trying to make mountains out of mole hills surrounding the ARLC.
My guess is that the Frilingos wannabe has been denied the same liaison that the great man
once had. Why would anyone want to tell the prick anything sensitive or in need of intelligent handling.

 

[POPEYE]

Anyone give a shit what I think? . . . here it is anyway. Increase the competition to 18 or 20 teams and they
all play each other once only. If the Eels play Melbourne at AAMI one year it must be in Parramatta the next
and likewise the rest. Each team must play one game a year in the bush. The winner overall receives the 'Shield',
after which appropriate ceremonies and presentations occupy the next weekend.

After the week off the top 4 teams play each other once for the 'Cup', all games at full size stadiums with alternate
'home' advantage. For and against decides if need be. Another week off for the bling.

Three weeks of Origin then climaxes the season. Any survivors can play Internationals after that if necessary.
The League season deserves more recognition than just the bounce of the ball or the whim of an official on one Sunday of the year.

 

[PaddyBoy]

Appreciating coaching over all else is the reason I watch League so I had no choice but to vote Hasler
as coach of the year, even though I dislike the shit of a joint he works for. He's not the best coach for
the best reason, which is generating new talent, but he certainly deserves it for the way he gets the
performance from the hot rods bought for him.

Bit of a weird comment, the Manly team going round now mostly came up through him and the Dogs have the same squad as last season, but with James Graham (who has been very good) and the later additions of Perret and Inu. They were going well before they came though.

Or are you fishing? I can never tell.

 

[POPEYE]

Never pays to let anyone work you out completely, especially a woman, so there will always be room
for guesswork in anything I write. I will answer by pretending you're a redneck so don't take offence
as we both know you're not.

The Dogs before Hasler had everything necessary to perform well, except for a weakness in the
halves, which he made do with. To believe he's some sort of mesiah you would have to believe that
none of the other master coaches couldn't have achieved similar results. You'd also have to believe he
could have done better with Melbourne, Brisbane, Souths or Newcastle.

I'm willing to concede Des will get coach of the year because someone has to and he's got the runs on
the board. Whether or not he did it with a combination of opportune recruitment, fresh players and
little interruption is beside the point. I'm stirring the redneck pot because no way can he be declared
better than the other contenders who have done or are doing equally brilliant things this year with what
they have available.

As an example I'm sure Hasler, Bellamy, Maguire, Bennett or Griffin would have the Raiders knocking
on the door but all would struggle with the Eels roster. It just pisses me off that a poll on which one is
best is taken seriously when equal opportunity can't be gauged.

 

[POPEYE]

Just to clarify my remarks about Canberra I'm sure if Furner had both Reynold's in the halves he would
be good enough to take full advantage. He is also behind the eightball in the same way Brown was at
the Dragons by being too 'close'. Anyone who judges Furner a bad coach is making an uneducated
guess as he is still a victim of circumstances.

 

[POPEYE]

The least believable and therefore importance impotent facet of League are the journos and they would
have us believe there is some sort of rebellion against the ARLC. Simple fact is just as the game has
transcended the dark ages so too have the clubs by uniting in one voice. Unity all round is the key to
progress, something the journos lack as they slip around in their own excrement.

Great to see Brett Stewart is staying where he belongs. I remember when the brothers came to Manly
they said they would always stay together and it's hard to see another club coming up with the readies
to buy them both.

 

[PaddyBoy]

Never pays to let anyone work you out completely, especially a woman, so there will always be room
for guesswork in anything I write. I will answer by pretending you're a redneck so don't take offence
as we both know you're not.

The Dogs before Hasler had everything necessary to perform well, except for a weakness in the
halves, which he made do with. To believe he's some sort of mesiah you would have to believe that
none of the other master coaches couldn't have achieved similar results. You'd also have to believe he
could have done better with Melbourne, Brisbane, Souths or Newcastle.

I'm willing to concede Des will get coach of the year because someone has to and he's got the runs on
the board. Whether or not he did it with a combination of opportune recruitment, fresh players and
little interruption is beside the point. I'm stirring the redneck pot because no way can he be declared
better than the other contenders who have done or are doing equally brilliant things this year with what
they have available.

As an example I'm sure Hasler, Bellamy, Maguire, Bennett or Griffin would have the Raiders knocking
on the door but all would struggle with the Eels roster. It just pisses me off that a poll on which one is
best is taken seriously when equal opportunity can't be gauged.

Fair enough, that Manly roster is still really good though, and him and Cleal built them.

 

[POPEYE]

Fair enough, that Manly roster is still really good though, and him and Cleal built them.

Can't argue with that and we're about to find out if Toovey was only just a messenger for Hasler. If I have
a slight reservation with Des it's that the footy gods have always been on his side and he's yet to take on
players that no-one else can do anything with.

 

[POPEYE]

I wonder if Barba believes what he reads. Hasler will be hoping he doesn't and although Slater doesn't
really care it wouldn't hurt for him to play mind games with the opposition. We all know it's Slater,
Inglis, daylight and the rest when it comes to fullbacks but Mal will be scratching his head over Barba
just as NSW do when trying to find a place for Hayne.

Just another reason to disregard the Dally M's. Unlike Slater and Inglis, Barba relies on opportunism
and rarely instigates. He is great at opening up the wound but without the Dogs biting up front he
wouldn't get off the chain.

 

[POPEYE]

If it's true McClennan is on the outer with the Warriors who better to replace him than the current Kiwi coach

 

[POPEYE]

Gotta laugh at the media's attempt to justify their existence. Dally M's, immortals, chicken wings, grapple tackles etc
have been replaced today by 'tanking', or playing to lose to gain adavantage in the 'finals'. Easy to pick the wankers
who have too much time on their hands, far more than do the players.

When I participated in the survey this morning I was disappointed to find no questionaire on who is the best League
journo . . . would have given 'other' the gold medal.

Interesting to hear the Tigers must toughen up tonight from Matty Johns . . . maybe he's not as dumb as he looks
and the rest of us are. Wonder if he's just worked out that Des doesn't need brilliant halves as long as his forward
pack is streets ahead of the rest with one of them the playmaker.

 

[POPEYE]

Ricky Stuart wasn't hired as a remedial school teacher but to arouse the interest of player managers.
What happens between now and next season at Parra is going to be far more interesting than
the 'grand' final. In the interim Sandow will need ear transplants, painted-on ones will not suffice,
and someone found for him to pass the ball to when the ref calls 'last'.

Hindy's replacement will have to be an enforcer, a la Jeremy Smith, who can run through the line, not
just cork it up. There needs to be 3 more forwards, besides the toughest garden gnome in the world,
to make the crowd grunt. Hayne should go to the centres where he can operate off a short runway
and find a #1 who brings his head with his body to every game.

Wouldn't hurt to have wingers who can see over the hump in the field and need more than a slap in the
face to stop. Most of all the Eels need Muzz, an old Parra boy, to be ghost script writer for what could
be the most intriguing play of 2013.

 

[POPEYE]

If I had to watch League on tele with the sound on I'm afraid my attention span would wane. With
technology, going to the game has become redundant except for two things, atmosphere and absence
of commentators. Jabba and Rabs will reach my ears no more nor will Wazza be allowed to ruin the
game with his 80 minute impersonation of Judge Judy.

Hadley even spoiled the Olympic swimming by sitting where he couldn't tell who was leading and his
guesswork with League is suited only to radio. If the game you're watching is exciting try listening to
AC/DC with headphones. If it's a one sided game the late, great, Gary Moore is ideal to raise the
pulse and who better than the Wiggles when the spooners go round.

 

[POPEYE]

Last night certainly added more stink to the peripheral shit we have to endure to keep those who need
devine help from above to stay interested. What would we do without Dally, Immortals or a pot of gold
worth just one point.

Who said Melbourne had become one dimensional. The boring jab before halftime and king hit after
has been replaced with a punch to the nuts from a kneeling position. A lot less convincing but pain
doesn't care what vehicle it arrives in.

The time is almost up for excuses with clubs blaming Origin for player fatigue and injuries but loss of
momentum can't be compensated for. I would never dream of missing a V8 race in the old days
before the introduction of a pace car but now watching my Kikuyu is more important

 

[POPEYE]

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was a fabulous movie but when Nicholson's character had a lobotomy
I was so disappointed I swore to never watch it again. For some reason I keep watching Raider's games though.
Furner should throw Reece Robinson, or anyone, the #6 jumper and maybe we wouldn't have to undergo such torture.

The game should have been won 3 times by Canberra before Brian Smith grabbed his tenth banana and the
comedy of errors was added to by abyssmal refereeing. A player being penalised for a mid air tackle when
the danger it was designed to prevent was not in question. A so-called try going to the video when the ref
had already raised his hands before the ball went anywhere near the ground. They were the easy ones.

Referees should be told to carry the whistle in their sock so by the time they get it to the mouth common sense might prevail.

 

[POPEYE]

I'm sure Rothfield will be able to produce an official imaginary name for what Souths did tonight,
imo 'too many chiefs and not enough indians' will do as a description, but the Sharks were overdue a
visit from the footy gods. Inglis tried too hard with his timing at disarray and Asotasi looks like a 'roo
feeding beside a highway, the sooner he makes room in the books the better.

Good to see Carney and Robson doing a Steve Mortimer on Inglis . . . maybe someone listens to me
after all.

 

[POPEYE]

Here is an opportunity for any budding young satirist: "The Roosters' season has been thrown into
chaos after a shocking send-off tackle by fullback Anthony . . . . . ". If you can't do something with
that line don't try and fathom what I write.

I had a blue and gold versus red white and blue deja vu last night. DOCS should investigate the
neglect of young players not being educated in how to play the game properly and it was interesting to
hear BS said he would take full responsibility for a shit season.

C'mon Brian, do you honestly think that infering someone else has been in the ear of your players will
wash. Imagining reverse psychology would work on us when it doesn't on your team is typical.