Redneck Redfaces

[H.H]

I enjoy the game regardless, but seeing the rabbits struggle does make it even better.

Who else is on the Pops pedestal? Someone like Minichiello surely?

 

[POPEYE]

Crikey, hundreds of players would qualify but pedestals by definition are diminuitive, besides it would take far too much exploration to host them all so the small group of players I revere may seem incongruous to other people.

Steve Edge and Steve Mortimer for instance would be found room for whereas Andrew Johns would never get near, just not enough room for Mini or the multitudes like him. The criteria I use is prolonged excellence, no matter what obstacles are presented and a player must have that extra something that is hard to define

 

[POPEYE]

Drinking in a public place just before New Year's eve and obstructing police, a dastardly crime if you're in the way of law enforcement with nothing better to do than feel sorry for themselves for having to work when they'd rather be doing something similar themselves. Shouldn't make light of anything that could very well have been genuinely dramatic but in comparison to what revellers got up to in the big cities I'll remain sceptical.

My experiences of the way country boys in blue handle indigenous people haven't emblazened me with confidence, when Maurice Blair is reported to have trangressed the normally acceptable it makes me wonder if darkness in all it's vagaries wasn't a factor.

Guess I'm pissed off at the chance Rugby League is to suffer a underhanded blow while it is embroiled in frontal attacks. Anyone not familiar with the exasperation that can be found amid the advantages of country living should take no notice of anything reported inolving being arrested for a disturbance, particularly where the Indigenous are involved . . . paltriness has a way of being converted to epic proportions

 

[POPEYE]

Interesting to read a scribe who sees Garreth Widdop as 'a risk the Dragons had to take', I wonder how many people will be watching games with their fingers crossed hoping the bloke doesn't f**k up or let the team down ala Soward. Jamie was a Lone Ranger just as Widdop would have been in the same place at the same time, so what has changed for '14.

Soward may have been another toast of Melbourne had he went to the Storm instead of the Dragons, he certainly wouldn't have been expected to carry his team. Imo Widdop is a mentally stronger player than Soward and he will dictate, anyone seeing him as a risk has a belief in the entrenched cult-less pervasion of the once mighty Dragons.

Widdop imo has talent far greater than was necessary in Melbourne, the bloke has the same mongrel another Stormer in Jeremy Smith brought for a start, his attitude alone makes him the prime candidate for captain at Kogarah. Garreth will be of the least concern for the Red V, Price has the job of convincing the old mob to follow the new boy.

I don't believe players make coaches but there is a case for established great players giving them the chance to shine, Robbo and Madge will testify to that

 

[H.H]

I guess the risk they were referring to was how he'd go outside of the Storm's structure.

To me Widdop is a footballer, and a good one so he should be fine.

A natural fullback though so I always wonder if he'll end up there...Dragons haven't solved that one yet have they?

 

[POPEYE]

He was partly responsible for that structure, the Poms should have began the WC with the bloke. The only question needing an answer is will he be wasted with the Dragons, I'd be happier to see him replace Anasta. Potter's clean sheet looks a better launching pad than Price's scruffy blanket

 

[POPEYE]

More on Maurice Blair, seems he's going to be arrested for not fronting court, probably the dumbest thing he did wrong in the whole saga. Matter of fact the actual wrong doing of drinking in a public place on New Year's Eve, one of hundreds of thousands doing the same thing, runs a poor last to raising the ire of hick cops who had to work and worst of all ignoring a court order.

When you think about it, every player should be IQ tested and if 2 players are seeking contracts with a club for the same spot IQ could be a determining factor. Forget that Blair probably chose the wrong place in front of the wrong people to do what he could have got away with elsewhere, he needs to be locked up as punishment for disregarding the shit League is in at the moment.

League is easy picking for arsewipes, thank f**k Gallop is struggling with riots and AFL is in turmoil. All players should be treated at this point in time like the rest of us with double demerit points, the highway patrol need their quota and the media is trying to justify it's existence

 

[POPEYE]

What's the bet if Menzies played well in the Nines he would become a 'dollar' man for the Seagles. Anyone not relishing the chance to see this bloke play NRL part time is irrational, if ever there was a player that could coast along and keep fit enough at the same time it's him.

Freddy is after the limelight and we know the first bad knock will make him put up his hand in pretence of it only being a joke but there are a few like Beaver still full of contribution. He could ruin the weekend for an opposition relying on Manly being without a key player he replaces.

I've always imagined that one day there will be room for 10 year one club players to stay on the books free of the cap if they are limited to playing an agreed amount of games. Naturally they could be employed elsewhere in the club's system to compliment their income but why waste something Rugby League is desperate for . . . role models that aren't lost to obscurity before their time.

It wouldn't be hard to come up with a list of players that instead of fading away in the SL could prop up injury ridden and therefore performance deprived NRL clubs. How many great players like Cliffy Lyons or Bowen have been put to pasture prematurely. Some clubs afflicted with troublemakers could do with these players.

 

[POPEYE]

Amid heaps of innuendo doubting Melbourne's chances this year, due to misgivings about the credibility of Bellamy's magic wand, how bad would it really be if the Storm and Manly took a back seat for a couple of seasons. Wouldn't it be far more interesting to imagine new blood on the podium for a change. A top four of Titans, Cowboys, Sharks, Warriors for instance would just about discourage any apathy.

Being primarily a Melbourne supporter I wouldn't mind seeing them for once start the season with a whimper and finish with a bigger bang, especially since Origin is allowed to be carcinogenic, but I would eagerly support only virgin clubs vying for a place in the record books this year.

The anticipated doldrum the two main antagonists this century must soon find themselves in won't last, if only because the despised always seem to hang around. Doomsayers by definition never enjoy their world so I'd encourage everyone to watch all the games they can and appreciate the effort of teams trying to rise up the ladder.

That soapbox spiel was just my contribution to the war against f**kwits like Rothfield who think justification of their existence relies on upheaval. I don't think very many people would mind a magical season for the majority of League clubs. Fmd, being serious does leave you with a sense of vulnerability . . . not going to happen often

 

[bellyache]

Cows are firming as contenders, Sammy T from the donkeys will make a nice addition..

 

[POPEYE]

So you think Sam will spit his dummy, unlikely imo. Not sure which target all the hoopla about changing captains is aimed at, could be Griffin trying to save his job by intimating he's not really responsible for the Bronco lapse. More than likely he's not convinced Sam is level headed enough to convey instructions in the heat of battle.

If Hook didn't do something to create a platform for Brisbane's version of Bugs Bunny's Chicken Hawk, Benny Barba, the team would be a schemozzle. Barba needs a stable launching pad and I reckon Parker will enforce the coach's instructions to the letter. Hodges is just a figurehead, hard to be an enforcer from centre especially when he frequently misses the bus.

I'm rapt in Parker getting the recognition he deserves, too long coming imo. For instance, I'd like to see him at Melbourne whereas I'd never consider Sam and I'm sure many teams could do with having him, Sam is more of an icon of Queensland than a symbol of stability.

 

[bellyache]

So you think Sam will spit his dummy, unlikely imo. Not sure which target all the hoopla about changing captains is aimed at, could be Griffin trying to save his job by intimating he's not really responsible for the Bronco lapse. More than likely he's not convinced Sam is level headed enough to convey instructions in the heat of battle.

If Hook didn't do something to create a platform for Brisbane's version of Bugs Bunny's Chicken Hawk, Benny Barba, the team would be a schemozzle. Barba needs a stable launching pad and I reckon Parker will enforce the coach's instructions to the letter. Hodges is just a figurehead, hard to be an enforcer from centre especially when he frequently misses the bus.

I'm rapt in Parker getting the recognition he deserves, too long coming imo. For instance, I'd like to see him at Melbourne whereas I'd never consider Sam and I'm sure many teams could do with having him, Sam is more of an icon of Queensland than a symbol of stability.

NO! I think he is already heading to Townsville..

 

[bellyache]

Macca's first Aussie interview;
http://www.roosters.com.au/news-display/Maccas-first-Aussie-interview/89219

He is an exciting prospect, could be the NRL's best buy of 2014?

 

[H.H]

Still kicking Pops?

Thought you were done for yesterday.

 

[POPEYE]

Have faith, the best Rugby League forum on the planet is more flexible than you give it credit for

 

[POPEYE]

Just to expand on what you were referring to I may have to contain my flippancy when using the English language as a tool, not merely the instrument of communication it is today . . . funny that I would think of this when getting up for a leak.

The words 'you' and 'your' can be one dimensional today whereas I use them occasionally as terms of reference to no-one in particular. For instance, if I said 'you would be f**king stupid to jump out of a perfectly good aeroplane' and you were preparing to do just that I wouldn't expect you to take it literally that I called you stupid.

That is a simple explanation of using 'you' in the third person, and to be offended by it shows only a perfunctory grip on the English language. Sorry folks, nothing to do with League but there's sfa happening at the moment.

Oh, and I do apologise to anyone taking umbrage at my flippancy

 

[POPEYE]

Seems getting pumbled for 80 minutes by bigger men is resulting in only extra special little blokes staying in the game. Albert Kelly's plight highlights the desperation the Titans may find themselves in, good halves are like rocking horse shit and little men in League are a dying breed.

No longer is there a chance for halves to bide their time until the bigger men wear themselves out, Little Generals are a novelty when once they were the norm. Perhaps there is a need for teams to have playmakers on an extended bench, if the big blokes are allowed to stay fresh why not run alternating halves with four brains instead of two at them.

There are plenty of small blokes playing League, keeping them interested all the way to the top of their game is the problem. The idea of small men was to outmaneouvre but there aren't many battleships any more, teams are full of destroyers these days. If we want a surplus of scheming little men to marvel at we need to give them the edge that will attract youngsters . . . stop running a fresh wall at them

 

[POPEYE]

It's great to hear the forecast that 2014 could finally be Souths year, must be terrible falling a couple of games short of the 'big one' 2 years in a row. Nothing worse than a team raising the expectations of supporters season upon season and only reaching the penultimate . . . or is there

Greenberg's going to revolutionise the game by iniating a new approach to refereeing, Tony Archer, who imo one of the best referees we've had is an excellent choice for spearhead. A new job description is as good as a holiday, can't remember exactly what Anderson's job promo was but this new one sounds impressive. Imagine, the greatest game of all having totally co-ordinated officiating . . . the rest of the world will be in awe

The Bronco's are back with a return of the old aura if you believe Alex Glenn, not sure he's had enough experience of it to recognise what it looks like though. He'd have a better idea after a few rounds have been played, we all will. Maybe he's right, Friday nights could be ruined by hateful jealousy instead of apathy

On a serious note, the Festival of Indigenous Rugby League that culminates in a Newcastle trial will be well worth attending. It will be a week long exhibition of eye opening spontaneous talent to be marvelled at, the structured stuff at the end is just a by-product

 

[bellyache]

WORLD heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko yesterday agreed to the terms to fight Brisbane's Alex Leapai for one of the greatest prizes in world sport on April 26 in Germany.

Leapai's fight will be the most important bout ever involving an Australian.

He becomes the first Queenslander to fight for the most prestigious title in boxing - a crown once held by Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano and Jack Dempsey.

The last Australian to fight for the unified world heavyweight title was Narrabri's Bill Squires way back in 1908, long before the days of global TV.

Although the purses will not be announced until later in the week, the offer seen by the Sunday Mail is one of the biggest ever for an Australian boxer and includes TV rights to Australia and New Zealand.

The shy and humble Leapai will be a huge underdog, but the 111kg Logan delivery driver says his massive fists will make a huge noise.

"I promise all of Australia and Samoa that I am going to be the world heavyweight champ,'' Leapai said.

"I believe this is my time. Klitschko has been world champion off and on for 14 years but I will end his run. He has been stopped before and I believe I'm a heavier puncher than anyone he's ever faced.''

The 34-year-old father of six, a battler all his life, became an instant millionaire yesterday but said money was not his motivation.

"All I care about is winning this fight,'' Leapai said.

"I'm not even thinking about the money. I'm just thinking about the announcer saying 'and the new heavyweight champion of the world - from Australia …

"In 100 years, 200 years I hope people will still be talking about the Samoan bloke from Brisbane who knocked out the great Wladimir Klitschko.''

The giant Klitschko, an Olympic gold medallist who is 198cm compared to Leapai's 183cm, first won a version of the world heavyweight title in 2000 and has been unbeaten since 2004.

Klitschko's company K2 Promotions will stage the fight. He agreed to terms yesterday so as to avoid a January 19 purse bid in which promoters from around the world could tender for the rights.

Klitschko was understandably worried about interest from Russian promoter Vladimir Hruynov and David Traktovenko, the reclusive owner of Sydney FC.


A world middleweight title fight between Australia's Daniel Geale and Kazakhstan's New York based Gennady Golovkin - who is managed by Klitschko - could be part of the Leapai-Klitschko undercard.

Leapai became the No.1 contender for the title with a bruising 10-round decision over Russian Denis Boytsov in Germany on November 23, dropping Boytsov twice along the way.

While Australia's Kali Meehan fought for the WBO version of the world title in Las Vegas in 2004, the last Australian to fight a man universally regarded as world heavyweight champ was Bill Squires way back in 1908.

Canada's Tommy Burns stopped him in 13 rounds at Sydney Stadium.

Next week Leapai is planning a visit to his native Samoa, the country he left aged four, to receive the blessing of the King and Prime Minister.

"They're already talking about a national holiday in Samoa when I beat Klitschko,'' Leapai said.


http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/...-1226800606295

 

[POPEYE]

Yes, I've been keeping up with Alex's endeavours, not sure I'd get away with discussing it in this forum . . . vibes are telling me to toe the line.

Seems your man Fittler is pulling out all stops to play in the Nines, matter of fact the competition really is gaining momentum. Reminds me of Origin when it began, wonder if 9's will overtake the Cup in popularity as well.

Be interesting if the backers of the 9's in the future decide the new competition has outlived the boundaries of the NRL and extend it every which way . . . those damned Kiwis are not backward in coming forward