Redneck Redfaces

[POPEYE]

Hard to fill in time before the new season because all we've really got to go on is what the arsewipes print and that means logical
insight is not available to us. We can all dabble in a bit of amateur psychology to while away the hours and try to put our own spin
on what the coaches are thinking. For instance, Stuart is obviously going to try to reverse the Eeyore philosophy at Parramatta.

Not sure I agree with his method of shouting from a hilltop, didn't really help him in Origin, but just hoping for the best has long
been an anchor with the Eels and anything is worth a try. Could be dangerous putting Izzy on a pedestal with introverted personalities
like Hayne and Sandow, the rest of the team will welcome the enthusiasm though.

We know Ricky's not much of a coach but coaching in a doldrum is a waste of time and once he gets the wind up and everyone's
sailing along in the same direction his ghost coaches will be good enough to carry him. What Stuart brings to Parramatta is something
they've not had since Gibson, and it's nothing to do with on field tactics.

 

[POPEYE]

Oddly enough Hasler is one of the coaches under pressure but it's coming from within. Not sure what he wanted the most, to win
consecutive pissant cups with different teams or beat a full strength Storm team, especially with Cam Smith playing. His ego
caused him to drive the dreaded Canterbury road to prove a point but he's learnt that there is a difference between Dally M and
the real thing.

No-one in his right mind would want to hang around SW Sydney unless there's big money in it and big money likes quick fixes.
Des is not going to sit on his hands wondering what might be so expect a lot of movement at the station. Can't see him interested
in fostering local talent like it should be done. Hopefully the salary cap rise is enough to keep players where they belong and Hasler
has to do it the hard way.

 

[POPEYE]

Whoa! Hayne the perfect captain . . . that'll do me. Along with Rothfield's 50 ways to fix the game, which I won't bother reading
either, are two headlines that would make anyone regurgitate their cereal. The bloke who thought up Hayne as captain must
have had a difficult time choosing between him and Sandow. Seems Crow is against it . . . wonder why, a bipolar captain has
never been tried before so who knows

 

[POPEYE]

We're about to find out if the Warriors are the tribe of good blokes they profess to be, the man about to coach them is possibly
the #1 good bloke in the game. Elliott may rely too much on common sense but he is not good at handling petulance. Jennings
and whoever else are carrying blood stained knives would not get away with their shit against the supercoaches.

If the billionaire backer of the Warriors wants Elliott to succeed he's going to have to make sure management ride shotgun against
any prima donnas, something the gutless Penrith outfit didn't do. Matty will never be a supercoach because he can't make the
players fear losing but the team will win if they follow his instructions without question.

The NZ side has much better armoury than Penrith did, let's hope they don't shoot themselves in the foot and put the coach in front
of a firing squad.

 

[POPEYE]

Flanagan is another that interests me and I have no qualms about how he's going to attempt season 2013. He has a few dopes,
smartarses and underachievers that others are glad to see the back of and a couple of champions in the mix. Like Bellamy,
Hasler, Griffin, Bennett and Maguire he won't be dictated to so some of the new blokes will have to be prepared.

With Ryan he now has an instrument to keep the players in a good mood, some more muscle to allow Gallen bench time and
probably the best goal kicker in the comp. Easy said but all he has to do is keep them on the paddock at the same time. If he
can establish that he's from the Bellamy mould by turning rejects into a team more players of the same ilk will be attracted.

The Sharks could be the one percenters of the NRL, they mighn't ride in on Harleys but no other team is going to look forward
to playing them. Flanagan has the vibes on his side.

 

[POPEYE]

A lesson for you old folk, go to bed around 10 and expect to be reading the papers at 4. Thought I was dreaming when
Rothfield and Ritchie actually wrote something creditable. Even though the buzzard highlights legal action the article on
referee Lyons is worth discussing.

If true I'm not sure if I agree on face value of marching a bloke so unceremoniously. Could be that during the year there
were different factions in the refreeing ranks that were for and against Harrigan's leadership and we are about to see a
brown bladed fan. Still, imo there should be a system of promotion and relegation that sends a less demonstrative message
than leaving a man without an income overnight.

Seems we are to understand that personalities, not the direction they were given, are to blame for shit refereeing. Personally,
I think that all of them should be sat down to watch a video of a good refereeing exhibition, such as the pommy in the NZ/Aust
games, and told 'that's how it is done'. Not sure shooting the messenger is better than sending the right message.

 

[POPEYE]

Spoken of this before but for the life of me I can't understand why ex-players, most of whom are around their early thirties,
wouldn't be interested in picking up $100k + a year. At the same time given the opportunity to set up a reasonable early
retirement after a working career in Rugby League.

Not all have the nouse to do a John Grant but we have Steve Menzies wandering around looking for something to do when
he could become a referee, and a highly respected one at that. Blokes that are fitness feaks like him could referee into their
fifties, travel the world doing it and if they're real good demand more money.

Surely a university degree is not needed and because of the obvious rapport qualified ex-players have with the game fast
tracking into the Toyota Cup would be a no brainer.

 

[POPEYE]

Far be it for me to show empathy towards referees, if they had a mind of their own they wouldn't have found themselves in
the shit they're in. Back to psychoanalysing coaches. Another who I'm keen to see get cracking again is Maguire. There will
be the obvious doomsayers wishing that 2nd year syndrome bullshit on him, mostly lol@Souths wankers, but I think he's a
happy camper at the moment.

His only problem is the halves and it would be a safe bet that he will be looking at someone like Luke Keary to put his brand on.
Maguire's pedigree should see him concentrate on juniors to find champions of his own making, there's enough foreigners in
the joint already. Imo Sutton was never a 5/8 and there is a need to have one that can replace Reynolds in an emergency.

The mighty Bismarck was f**ked without a rudder and it was deja vu watching the Dogs maul a Souths side that could have
won the day. Not sure what to do with Sutton, maybe train him to relieve Luke, especially when it's the wrong time of the month.

 

[POPEYE]

Cartwright, Cleary, Griffin and Bennett all have problems in the halves as do most teams and their season is going to be a scramble.
He who solves the problem earliest will end up at the pointy end but Price is going to need a miracle to avoid the spoon . . . stranger
things have happened.

A lot depends on two unknown quantities, Potter and Robinson, which means if they perform well they will be good for the game and
that will leave only one team I don't give a shit about.

 

[POPEYE]

Got to look for good news and try to avoid stepping in bullshit. The SA schoolboys iniative of gathering youngsters who may be interested
in League and creating a pathway to trial for NRL clubs is a breath of fresh air to those of us who weren't aware. If a strapper in Q can
become the best fullback of all time there could be kids determined to prove the 'N' is not a joke.

We are not like the yanks who search every nook and cranny looking for sporting fairytales, available money does not permit it, but there
must be kids who want to play League and don't have an avenue to do it. There's a big difference between the millions needed to establish
an NRL team and the thousands wanted to promote scholarships away from the east coast bandaid.

It's one thing to have things in motion, and I've no doubt there are groups of people dedicated to the task, but it's up to the ARLC to bring it
to the mind's eye at every opportunity. A young Victorian playing in the top echelon is great but the message sent by having an award
named after him is far greater. Western Reds not being in the immediate plans for instance means that there should be even more emphasis
on trialling their locals in the east. Heroes contribute more than promises.

 

[POPEYE]

Nothing like a good scenario or two. From the land of the unwashed Lockyer is saying that it's a good thing that the best poms
are looking for a career in Australia. Suppose one day we have 50 of their best covering all positions, enough to fill a team plus
reserves playing 80 minutes of NRL. Rings a bell doesn't it, that's the reason the Kiwis are competitive.

So, we have England doing what Australia would never do, let players based overseas play in the national team. Theoretically that
would mean that the poms would be better than the Kiwis and therefore challenge for #1. The scenario is that with 50 of the best
poms and 50 of the best Kiwis holding down 100 top spots in the NRL who suffers.

 

[POPEYE]

Not sure what Preston had in mind when he presented his idea of an Indigenous team being allowed to show how good they are
but it's certainly nothing like I hoped it would be. I'm caucasian with an English mum and Australian dad but I certainly would
be waving the Indigenous flag in a game that meant something.

This All Stars rubbish smacks of immortals, pissant cup, M's and all the other shit forced down our throats. I want to see players
with Aboriginal ancestry against caucasian Australians, people with citizenship. The game should be played like Origin with the
same intensity and rivalry and anyone who cries racism should pull their bottom lip over their head and swallow.

I wouldn't care if the caucasians won every game, at least give the Indigenous a chance to play the best 17 against the best 17.
Having them beaten by the concoction thrown at them now is bullshit and if the truth be known the whites are frightened the
blacks may win in a real contest. Seems the Indigenous are always going to be subjects and no amount of idealism is going to
change that.

 

[POPEYE]

Everyone know that there should only be one referee controlling the game but it's contentious whether there is a need for
a pocket referee. I think it wouldn't do any harm to keep the second referee, especially as an interim step for new blokes.
The pocket ref could also be used as a demotion process for a form slip.

Imo the PR should be there to advise in case something is missed but can't stop play, it's up to the man in charge to be
quick witted enough to take that advice on board and decide either way. When there is a game ruined by poor refereeing
the chatter between the two should have been recorded and blame apportioned.

When there are two referees in control the less experienced one will always be looking for a reason to stop play, just human
nature to want to be treated as an equal. If the whistle is taken away from him he knows it's a waste of time being pedantic.
The worst aspect of two refs is that we know the most experienced a lot of the time disagrees by body language but we hark
back to the old bullshit of 'can't change a decision'. . . why f**king not. That's what the video ref should be there for, to make
sure bad decisions don't ruin games.

 

[POPEYE]

Interesting the West Coast Pirates were impressed by John Grant so much they are willing to investigate entering a team in
Super League if expansion can't be realised in the short term. Seems that if anyone should be pissed off with the ARLC the
westerners should be but at least they're prepared to give the time needed to settle the 'new game'.

When you think of it, if costs for such a venture can be met realistically, why not have promising franchises based in England.
Even if the club was allowed into the NRL they could still continue as a feeder club as well as a place for Aussie ex-pats who
wanted to continue to play in their twilight years.

The lower echelon pommie clubs are not very competitive and if some of those were to be invested in by Clubs in Australia
trying to build a basis for addition to the NRL it could be very advantageous for both England and Australia.

 

[BKT]

Have you not run out of words yet?

 

[POPEYE]

Have you not run out of words yet?

C'mon, give me a break. Not easy for an old prick like me to come up with something in the off-season.

 

[BKT]

C'mon, give me a break. Not easy for an old prick like me to come up with something in the off-season.

All's cool Popeye, glad to see that you have not lost any of your feistiness.

Keep up the good work, I've enjoyed my little read this morning.

 

[POPEYE]

Qld could have 4 fullbacks in their Origin side if Hodges gets his way. Broncos playing him at #1 is too big a risk, 2006 is a Sunday
too far away to use as an example of his capability. He is just about holding hands with Prince, Campese, Cooper, Lewis, Gidley, etc
in a line of players you cross fingers for. Not sure Griffin would want another casual employee in the spine.

Be interesting watching Sica Manu and Lewis Brown go round with Penrith. They are amongst others Cleary is going to use to set a cat
amongst the pigeons. There won't be any more safe spots and guessing who'll be the first in the squad sent to the Wolves would be
worth framing a market on.

Anasta, Marshall and Farah rings a similar bell to Anasta, Carney and Friend. Braith will again be on a deck where the canons are loosely
secured. We'll see if a decent coach will make a difference, providing Potter is all we want him to be.

 

[Stormsally]

What about Finch coming into the Storm squad? Do you thing Gareth would be worried? He's a handly little kicker to add to the Storm's kicking options!

 

[POPEYE]

What about Finch coming into the Storm squad? Do you thing Gareth would be worried? He's a handly little kicker to add to the Storm's kicking options!

I don't think any other club would want Finch and he's probably not interested in running the media gauntlet associated
with playing anywhere else, Widdop should know that. Brett wants to finish in cruise mode in a place that appreciates
him and no doubt he will give 100% when needed, and Bellamy knows that. He's the most affordable way of circumventing
a problem that cost Melbourne the Shield and imo deserves the credibility.