Round 1 (2005) Rhinos Vs Bluebags

[roosterboy60]

Orange County Rhinos v Newtown Bluebags

Game Thread
Please note - This is a game thread only, therefore only game posts can be made here (Teams, Articles).
Any other posts will result in loss of points and is at the discretion of the referee.
Only original essays, not used in previous games, will be marked by referees.

Home team captain will be allowed 3 reserves, visiting captain will be allowed 2 reserves
Rules: http://f7s.leagueunlimited.com/rules.asp

Full Time: Wednesday 16th March at 9pm (Syd time)

Venue: Chrismukah Stadium

Crowd: 15,000
REFEREE: antonius
**Referee Blows Game On!**

 

[MysteryGirl]

The Newtown Bluebags proudly take the field.....

#1: Willow (vc)
#6: Joe D
#11: Griffo346
#12: Hoggy
#14: MysteryGirl (c)

RESERVES:
#7: Dragon_psa
#8: Wal

 

[ParraMatt]

The Rhinos lead the field with Captain unavailable for the opener but Miccle to take his place as captain.

Miccle (c)
Ibeme (vc)
Bartman
Mzilikazi
Gobbso

Bench:

Parki
Hightown Tiger
Not so Silent Bob

 

[bartman]

Making his debut in the OC colours, Bartman takes to the field for the Rhinos...

The Bench That Roars…

With a new NRL Season about to leap from the starting blocks, all teams - their players, coaching staff and fans alike - will be hoping they have discovered something extra to get the edge on their opponents. Players' confidence may be boosted by that new star recruit or the emergence of that rising young rookie? Some fans might turn to statistics or even superstition to back up their belief that this year might finally be "the" year? However for me, the key difference between sides this season will be intelligent coaching in one aspect in particular - the way teams use their bench.

There has always been a certain stigma attached to "the bench". The ideas that a bench player is not as good as the rest of the side, not strong or skilled enough to start a match, or just there to cover potential injury have been an historical part of our game - replacements of any kind weren't even allowed between 1923 and 1962(1)! Since those early days the laws of the game have evolved, from having two one-off replacements at or before halftime, to having four replacements from a lower grade game, through to having two of the four as fresh reserves, to a brief experiment with unlimited interchange, and finally to now where we have four fresh reserves allowed to interchange on up to twelve occasions.

This current interchange law(2) dates back to the "unification season" of 1998, but it is only now eight years later that coaches seem to be moving away from the traditional idea of replacements, and fully realising the benefits that an intelligently used bench of skilled players can provide? Take for example the Leeds Rhinos and their coach Tony Smith. The 2004 Superleague and World Club Challenge champions boast one of the strongest benches around and their results speak for themselves. Against the Bulldogs their bench boasted four players that have represented at international level - Willie Poching (Samoa), Barrie McDermott (Great Britain & Ireland), Rob Burrow (England) and Ali Lauiti'iti (New Zealand)(3).

But it's not just having the playing strength to name international players on the bench; it's about how you use them in the game! Many would argue that three of these four Rhinos players (Poching aside) are as strong as or stronger than some of the 13 players that started the World Club Challenge match. By choosing to save their impact for his interchange bench - starting the game instead with solid (if not international level) players in their place - coach Smith is using the interchange as a tool to strengthen and enhance team performance and provide a positive boost. This is in contrast to the usual way of using the bench just to give starting players a rest, hoping the under strength side can make it through the ten minutes either side of halftime without leaking points!

With their success last year, you didn't see any of these regular Leeds bench players seek transfers or complain in the press about not being in the starting line-up! Maybe what Tony Smith has done within his squad is take the stigma out of the interchange bench, and make his players realise that all seventeen members of the team are equal? After all, the only true difference is that those running out in the starting thirteen are guaranteed to be there for the opening fifteen minute period of the game. Four interchange players should each see fifty-to-sixty minutes of game time each anyway - and occasionally more minutes than someone who starts, depending upon how a game unfolds on the day?

To me this new approach to using the interchange bench has definite merit, and this season I am predicting that a few NRL coaches may try to take a leaf out of Tony Smith's book. Not least among those will be his brother Brian Smith, who has named players like PJ Marsh, Aaron Cannings and Nathan Hindmarsh on the Parramatta bench for round one. The impact that these three skilled players can have on a game has led many people to question why they weren't included in the starting thirteen. But as an Eels fan I'd like to think that Brian has spent his summer searching for that tactical edge, and is committed to using the bench as a positive weapon this year, instead of just using it as a band-aid.

So bring out your best seventeen, and Bring It On!

- - - -
1. Brief History Of Rugby League: http://stats.leagueunlimited.com/history.asp
2. Laws Of The Game: http://www.nrl.com/about/rules.cfm?page=2
3. Leeds Rhinos Player Profiles: http://www.atommedia.net/leedsrugby/leedsrhinos/Squad/squad-list.asp

Word count = 748 including title, not including footnotes

 

[ParraMatt]

INTERCHANGE-

Not So Silent Bob (in)
Gobbso (out)

 

[Mzilikazi]

The Rhinos' new African import takes to the field for the first time:

A Mirror to our own failings?

Yet another round of pre-season trials passes and is blighted by another scandal involving young footballers running amok. Predictably this is followed by another outpouring of public outrage at the actions of these highly paid professionals crossing so-called moral boundaries.

It gives me reason to pause and consider the spotlight we place on these young footballers and the expectation we put upon them to be ‘role models”. Do we not all know of friends, relatives, children and nephews that indulge in similar behaviour without the full force of society’s outraged being pressed upon them? Yet we expect the best of men who have often been pulled directly out of high school, given a pay packet many times that of their peers and an abundance of time with little to occupy them?

We expect something from these men because they have been assigned the roles of “hero” in our society. These days there is a growing shortage of genuine heroes in many of the major institutions of our society. Who is there to inspire, honour and emulate in some of our major institutions?

In politics the debate seems to focus upon the lies told by our leaders, the broken promises and the influence of major companies and interest groups. Where are the Wilberforces that doggedly sought after legislative change in the abolishment of the slave trade?

The institution of the church has been diluted by frequent scandal involving sexual and financial abuse and a growing lack of clarity in its message. Where are the great inspirational leaders such as Jesus Christ, whose teachings have shaped the world for the past 2000 years? Where are the heroes like Luther that railed against the abuses of the church from within or the Wesleys that would inspire large crowds through the power of their oratory and the sacrificial example of their life? Are there any religious leaders of today that will inspire movies in the future?

Even our military heroes are besmirched by fighting wars of dubious distinction. So is it any wonder that we’ve grown to put on a pedestal those of excellence in the arena of athletic endeavour? The sporting field is one of the few places we can point out to our children to and show them the benefits of discipline, work ethic, team work and the rewards of excellence.

But here’s the catch. We want our heroes to be without flaw. Whilst most of us admire Shane Warne for his immense skill in leg spin bowling we generally loathe him as a person (even more so if he wasn’t “one of us”).

In League we applaud the on field exploits of Mason and Hopoate but we hold no real affection for them because their flaws as human beings have been put in the spotlight for all to see. Yet we probably all have acquaintances that frequent brothels, or go on drinking binges, or who give each other’s rumps the odd squeeze or, dare I say it, the odd finger poking. Quite a few of us would view their actions as unfortunate or damaging, but generally their actions are written off as “their choice” or part of the rites of passage of growing up as a male.

However, should a group of football players of the same age and demographic indulge in exactly the same form of behaviour they’re exposed to torrents of public hysteria, shock horror and outrage!

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to excuse the behaviour, particularly if any of the rumours emerging from Coffs Harbour a year ago were in any way true. However, spend time in any university during orientation week and you’ll hear the messages of hedonism, promiscuity and indulgence. Every weekend you’ll rub shoulders with patrons in nite clubs drunk or high and will quite likely defend their right to a “good night out”

So why exactly are we shocked when these messages manifest themselves in our young men in the NRL?

I contend that is we who have placed these men on a pedestal because of our need for heroes to emulate. Their sole qualification is the ability to play a high octane and brutal contact sport. Often they are placed there without adequate preparation and support.

The virulence of our reaction betrays the fact that their inevitable fall is reviled only because it holds up a mirror and reflects back to us much of our own society that is decaying and reprehensible.

747 words including title.

 

[ibeme]

Ibeme makes his hit-up for the season.

Simply the Worst

This week brings with it the start of the 2005 NRL Telstra Premiership. After enticing Rugby League supporters with the World Club Challenge, and stimulating our enthusiasm with the Charity Shield, the people of Perth were provided with the rare opportunity to see our game.

With each step towards the season opener, my excitement had been beautifully constructed. I was now drawn to the edge of my seat, waiting for the first scenes from the NRL season launch, and the new advertising campaign that would eclipse all that had come before it.

There I was, flicking through the channels with my remote, following the sports reports on all news channels like a crazed stalker, hoping for a glimpse of the advertising campaign that would complete the arrival of the season.

Finally, the first commercial appeared, and I was fully primed to bask in all it’s glory, when suddenly it was over, seemingly before it had began.

“Was that it?” I asked myself in disbelief. “It can’t be. There has to be more. That was empty.”

Eventually there was more. There were several different commercials, and whilst they were better than the whistled version I’d first seen, none were able to quench the desperate thirst that had built up in the off-season.

Now, I understand what the campaign is trying to show. I should know. I saw last season. This advertising campaign is like watching a movie after reading the book, only to find that the movie failed to live up to the book. The NRL already have my business though. Unfortunately, there are many out there who didn’t read the book last year, and will not be enticed to read it this year. Those are the people that need to be won.

Did the NRL’s marketers not learn from the success of the Tina Turner campaign in the 90’s? And more importantly, did they not learn from the failure of ‘Blow that whistle ref’?

I get more excitement out of seeing Sonny Bill Williams smashing a tackling bag on a Gatorade commercial than what I get from the NRL’s own commercials designed specifically to promote the game. Not only was the music plain, the vision was nothing more than a blurred flicker of shots in a style that made it almost impossible to digest.

That prompted me to ask the question - what made Simply the Best simply the best? And why can’t we reproduce that success? Then, as if reading my mind, The Back Page showed the Tina Turner commercials in full on Fox Sports, and my question was instantly answered.

Apart from the music, it showed the human side of the players as well as their on field talent. It showed Noel Cleal picking up his young child. It showed Bob Lindner offering a cheeky grin and a wink. It gave the game’s personality some charm as well as showing off it’s skill and excitement.

This year, the game had the opportunity to market it’s players like never before. Billy Slater, Sonny Bill Williams, Benji Marshall and Carmichael Hunt are just a few of the players that are built to market Rugby League. Their names alone are enough to capture the imagination and their looks are a marketer’s dream. Their game speaks for itself, but people want to see some personality too.

All it takes is a wink here, and a smile there. Vision of the players training hard. Vision of the players with their families. Mix this vision with the exciting showcase of the game, and we have a much more complete package. It covers all demographics within the family unit.

And with sponsors falling over themselves to get to these players, what better opportunity to bring them from Rugby League into the mainstream through cross-marketing? We’ve seen a glimpse of what is possible with the Sonny Bill Williams Gatorade commercial. It doesn’t have to end there. Telstra is one of the largest companies in Australia. There has to be opportunities to get players involved in their advertising, providing national exposure.

Rugby League fans don’t need to be targeted in marketing campaigns as much as non-Rugby League fans. They already have our business. We already love the game. We don’t need anymore convincing. Despite my discontent with the campaign, my eager face will still be seen at Telstra Stadium on Friday night awaiting my team to take the field. My only concern is whether there’ll be new faces their on Friday night.


748 words including title

 

[MysteryGirl]

Substitution:
Out: Griffo346
In: Wal

 

[The Piper]

Wal wakes up and gets himself up off the bench to play

Scone Thoroughbreds: That’s My Team

Over the past two seasons, the National Rugby League have been involved in the search for the sixteenth team to enter their competition in the next few years, with such impressive candidates that included the Central Coast Bears, to be based in Gosford; the Southern Orcas, to be based in Wellington; and the hot favourite, the Gold Coast Dolphins, to be based on the lovely Sunshine Coast. With those three heavyweights vying for the spot, I believe one of the better franchises for the next NRL team has been seriously overlooked. I am here to put forward their case.

The township of Scone - approximate population 4000, approximately one hour and forty five minutes north-west of Newcastle, is a location with potential to build a large supporter base, plenty of juniors coming through the ranks and most importantly, the very real possibility of a premiership victory at the top level of the game.

An area more known for its involvement in the "sport of kings", horse racing, the Scone Thoroughbreds are their rugby league team that are never gone, just forgotten it seems, by Mr Gallop and company. To the locals, though, it is very hard to just forget the two championship wins in their first four seasons in the Upper Hunter First Grade League competition.(For those of you interested, Scone defeated the Denman Demons 18-6 in the GF; just the second year the Thoroughbreds participated at first grade level. Then two years later in 2003, Scone were victorious over the Muswellbrook Magpies in the big one 15-12). Bowing out of the season in the qualifying final last year, Scone has shown no shortage of skilled players in their ranks since their establishment in the year 1969. The team nobody knows anything about has an impressive thirty-six year history behind them.

With both local, state and federal governments seeming to be backing rugby league teams with both financial and verbal promotional support, Mr Carr can put his hand in his pocket to assist the rrefurbishments to the already 25 thousand capacity Sheedy Park Stadium. The Thoroughbreds home ground would then be more than suitable to host games at the national level. Like Olympic Park and Suncorp Stadium, the Scone footy field could also become one of the most daunting grounds for away teams to travel to.

The Gold Coast's bid was definitely boosted by the announcement that former Panthers forward, then assistant Roosters coach John Cartwright was eager to take up the role as head first grade coach. An experienced player and team official in the front seat gives cause for a positive start to the team's first season in the NRL. But Scone, too, have just signed the guidance of another former Penrith big man, in Colin Van Der Voort, who has agreed to a four year contract as Thoroughbred first grade coach.

"The kids up in the area shown real signs that they can handle the pace of first grade, and their not the only people buzzing with excitement around here," Van Der Voort says. The man who began his footy career in 1986 says he hasn't seen an atmosphere around a small community like this since the 1990-91 at the foot of the Blue Mountains.

"The Scone community are doing what the can to push the bid for an national rugby league team based in their town. It would be great for the businesses around here. Good for the tourism in the area. It'd be great for everyone," says the former Lock.

Since the appointment of coach Van Der Voort, sponsors have been lining up to get their business’ name on the front or sleeve of the brown, white and midnight blue jersey. Established companies from Victorian Bitter to Panasonic want a peice of the Scone pie. They realise that this venture is one that they wish to jump on board with. The club sat down with Mr Hank Scorpio today, chairman of Globex Corporation, and Scone officials believe that a deal with the industry will be sealed within the week.

“Globex is a fine corporation that we wish to be in partnership with for many years to come.”

So please, David Gallop, next time you fly your helicopter over Carrara Stadium, take a trip down to the farming lands of New South Wales and see for yourself the potential that lies in the Thoroughbreds, and in Scone. I can see it. The town can see it. I hope you can, too.

750 words inc. title

 

[Willow]

Willow runs on for the Bluebags
************************************************************

Footballer first, then a soldier – the Gordon Hart story

During World War Two, it was difficult to know until the last minute if the players were available. This was especially the case with St George centre Gordon Hart who had to travel back from camp to play in the 1941 Rugby League Final. But Gordon made the trip and in later years, had a tale to tell his grandchildren. On August 30, when the final whistle blew at 4:30 pm at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the Dragons had defeated Eastern Suburbs 31-14, winning their first ever premiership.

Unfortunately for Gordon, he couldn't hang around to celebrate. Truth be known, he was lucky to be there in the first place.

Gordon Hart was a Lieutenant - he was mentioned in dispatches. He later became a Captain and served in Timor, New Guinea and Tararan. He was a good soldier and good footballer who answered the call on both fronts.

In a recent interview, Gordon Hart told of the tough times in making the long journey from the southern tip of Victoria to Sydney, just so he could play a game of football.

"“I was in the middle of a three months commando training camp,"” Hart explained.

"“It was a secret and ‘no leave’ camp. But one of the vice presidents of the New South Wales Rugby League was an officer in the militia. He was a World War One digger and he negotiated with the army. He sent a telegram to army headquarters in Melbourne stating that leave had been granted for me to go to Sydney.

"“I left Wilsons Promontory by the milk truck at about 4:00 am on the Friday morning.

"“I spent all of the rest of the day going back and forth from army headquarters in Melbourne to Point Cook aerodrome trying to get a plane to Sydney.”"

As is turned out, there were no scheduled flights and his efforts to hitch a ride with the RAAF were unsuccessful. When it got dark, Gordon's options were running out, so he decided to head to the train station with the intention of travelling all night to Sydney. Unfortunately, he didn’t have a rail pass but he decided to risk it anyway.

"“I just made it for the last train out and fortunately it was a troop train. When I walked up to the barrier I saw all the RTOs [Rail Transport Officers], and I did not have a pass. So, every time I got to one, I flung a salute and he had to return the salute and so, I passed him.

“I waited until the train pulled out for about 20-30 yards and then I ran and jumped on the back of the train. There was not a vacant seat and I had to walk up and down the train. Every time I saw an RTO I would duck into the toilet and lock the door and wait for a while until someone would come along and go 'bang, bang, bang' on the door. I spend nearly five hours on this train from Melbourne to Albury either walking up and down or sitting on the toilet."”

Hart continued dodging RTOs for the rest of the night, finally arriving in Sydney on the Saturday. From Central Station, he walked across Moore Park to the Sydney Cricket Ground and was met by team mates and officials.

"“I played football and then raced off the football field as I knew I had to get back to camp. I was the first one under the shower and the first one out the door, all of the others were celebrating but I had no time to celebrate.

“I managed to get a troop train back to Melbourne. But I still had to get back to the camp. I knew that the Colonel was at church so I went there, flung him a salute and asked him if I could get a lift back to camp with him after church. I eventually got back to Wilsons Promontory about 11:30 that night.”"

A try scorer in the 1941 Final, Gordon Hart began his journey at 4:00 am on the Friday morning, on a milk truck. He got back to camp just before midnight on the Sunday night. The longest time he had spent in any one place was for 80 magical minutes at the Sydney Cricket Ground, playing football.

************************************************************
735 words
Ref:
Many thanks to Helen Elward, Gordon Hart and Glynn Price (interview not published).

 

[Not so silent Bob]

Not so silent bob, on debut for the Rhinos, takes a hit-up after being coat-hangered.

The Day It Changed.

August 11th 2001, 9pm, the exact moment I became a serious Wests Tigers and Rugby League supporter. Until that time I had only supported the Western Suburbs Magpies and then the Wests Tigers without much enthusiasm (I wasn’t too fond of the merger). I had only been to two Wests Tigers matches (one I can’t even remember, the other being a Bulldogs walloping of the Tigers). I couldn’t even name five players back then, let alone our entire team.

2001 was the year that I had convinced myself to really start supporting the Tigers. But after a slow start to the season (Wests had 3 wins in the first eight rounds), the now infamous Kevin McGuinness/Craig Field drug scandal, and having our arse handed to us by the Melbourne Storm (64-0), I just gave up on them.

Everything changed on August 11th, 2001. The match: Wests Tigers vs Newcastle Knights at Campbelltown Stadium. The place: My lounge-room. The time: 7:30pm.

That morning, I geared myself up for a really boring day. The footy was on later that afternoon and I honestly couldn’t be bothered watching it. It was lucky the rest of my family was out doing other things (Footy, friend’s house, threatening world destruction); otherwise I would’ve had to. My favourite show (WWF Smackdown!) was on Foxtel at the same time as the Wests match, and was my preferred option. About twenty minutes from the start of Smackdown the phone rang, it was my uncle. He said the words I knew were coming, but dreaded like the plague: “Mate, can you keep an eye on the footy on Foxtel for me?” My less than enthusiastic response was “Yeah mate, okay.” My uncle said “thanks”, then hung up.

After I hung up, I immediately said every swear-word I could and invented a few that didn’t even exist. Admittedly, I was only going to sit on my arse and watch the wrestling, but I was still annoyed. In the end, however, I decided to watch the footy, numbing myself for the boredom that would ensue.

The game, as it did so often did with Tigers games, started off with the Knights scoring the first try. Quick as a flash, I changed it to the wrestling, thinking to myself, “Stupid Tigers are going to get smacked around like bitches again.”

I resolved to change to the footy every five minutes or so. Each time I did, the Knights seemed to increase their lead by a try. I remember Ben Kennedy scoring about seven minutes from half-time. After that, the Tigers scored two tries in about four minutes, seemingly providing a glimmer of hope.

Mercifully, half-time came with the score-line Newcastle 28, Tigers 12. “Bugger”, I thought to myself. I got out of that train-wreck of a match by watching Smackdown. Relief, if only for a little while, as I watched two tag teams “punch” each other into oblivion.

The second half started with Newcastle’s Ben Kennedy scoring yet another try. That’s it, I thought, 32-12, five more minutes and then I’m changing it over. But in those five minutes the most amazing, mind-blowing thing happened. Something so unbelievable I actually forgot to change the channel.

The Tigers scored, and then scored again. Two converted tries in as many minutes!

Some weird feeling came over me, and spread to my entire body. That feeling was enjoyment. I was enjoying watching the footy again. I found myself cheering for Wests, saying everything I could think of to encourage them to beat Newcastle (forgetting they couldn’t hear me).

Wests scored again. I was on my feet, urging them on, hoping, praying they would win out against the opposition. My prayers were answered in the diminutive form of Kevin McGuinness. Owen Craigie kicked behind the line and Kevin, back from “that” drug suspension, raced out of nowhere to put the ball down and score. I was jumping up and down with happiness almost breaking my foot in the process

The next six minutes were some of the most nerve-racking of my life. Having finally figured out that the Tigers couldn’t hear me through the TV, I sat silent, willing them on in my mind. They didn’t let me down.

The Tigers beat Newcastle 36-32 that day, one of the greatest comebacks in the history of rugby league. After I called my uncle with the good news, I realised that I would be a Wests supporter for the rest of my life.

749 words, including title.

 

[Hoggy]

Hoggy #12 takes it up in round 1

The night to enjoy being a Storm supporter, and really enjoy it

On the 3rd of March 2000, in atrocious conditions for the game, the Melbourne Storm won their first game of the season after four losses by trouncing their opponents in the previous years grand final, St.George-Illawarra 70 points to 10 in the first match played for premiership points at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in front of 23,239 people – a home game record for the Storm. This was the night to enjoy being a Storm supporter, and really enjoy it.

The lead up to the game was something to remember with outspoken Dragons five-eighth Anthony Mundine claiming that Melbourne did not deserve to be the previous season’s premiers and that the Dragons would be going out to prove that they were more deserving of the title. Given that Mundine claimed that he saw his team as the champions, one would have thought that he and his team might have had something to prove when they walked out onto the rain soaked stadium that hosted the 1956 Olympic Games. From the outset, it was obvious that the Storm were the true champions of the league and they proved that the victory on the last Sunday of the previous September was in no way a fluke over St.George-Illawarra.

As myself and my two friends climbed the levels of the Great Southern Stand to take our seats in the front row of the top tier on the wing (something that had been done many times while watching Australian Rules football) we looked down upon our former champion and hero Glenn Lazarus presenting the NRL Premiers trophy to the crowd and raising the Premiership flag – definitely a Victorian influence to make the crowd happy as no such flag is given to the Premiers. As the Dragons ran out to boos and hoots – most directed at “The Man” – we revelled in seeing the Storm boys for the first time for 2000 (The first 4 rounds of 2000 were away games for the Storm as the season started early because of the Sydney Olympics as it was thought Melbourne would be too hot to play rugby league, something I still don’t see the sense in) in their limited edition premiership outfit. This was the second (and last) time that this was worn, the other time being against St.Helens as we announced to the world that we were WORLD CHAMPIONS(!!!) before the season had started.

From the kick off it was obvious that our coach Chris Anderson had got the boys up for the job, we were never going to lose. Marcus Bai scored in the first minute of the match, going over in the corner and barrelling full-back Luke Patten out of the way, he dead set smashed him with arrogance that typifies the best side in the world. Tries were coming from everyone! We led 42-4 (it may have been arrogance that let in a try to Lee Hookey) at the half-time in one of the most enthralling halves of any football code I have ever seen. The half also included one of the funniest moments anyone has ever seen on a rugby league field when Lance Thompson, the red-headed second-rower that still goes around for the Saints was taking a 20 metre tap, when he tripped at the last moment, went sprawling and headbutted the ball out of hooker Nathan Brown’s hands and sent it into the Storm’s possession, I’m not sure if I am right or not but I think it won falcon of the year on the footy show. We all loved it. We thought we were a chance to crack the ton. Imagine a grand final replay and cracking the ton against your arch rival! Was it possible? Alas it wasn’t. We finished them off to the tune of a 60 point drubbing. Handy win at any cost wasn’t it? On the train ride back home everyone was beaming, we knew we had a fantastic team and that this sport had actually arrived in Victoria. We knew we belonged. We knew last year’s Premiership was no fluke. We expected to win each week.

The only negative side of the night was playing some footy in the train and holding my flag in a tackle, it got snapped in an instance, the flag is now on the brick wall which adorns my computer which I use right now, perhaps a memory of that night.

743 words including title.

 

[JoeD]

JoeD, making his competition debut, takes the field for the Bluebags

The Warriors First Decade – Success or Failure?

March 10 1995, the day the Warriors were born. It was a tough first assignment for the fledgling club. The Broncos, more so then than now, were the benchmark club of the competition having won it in 1992 and 1993 and been semi-finalists in 1994. The Warriors played above expectation that night and were maybe a little unlucky going down 25-22. All their fans hoped it was a sign of things to come. In a way it was.

As it stands 1995 was the Warriors third best year. Three of their biggest ever wins came that year and other highlights included wins over Canterbury and Cronulla who were much higher up the table than them. Also of course the three point loss to the Broncos. Like the result of that first game they were unlucky not to reach the finals that year having been robbed of two competition points after a substitution foul up in the third game of the season. Missing out on the finals over that technicality hurt the Warriors to such an extent that instead of building on that promising season they would have to wait until 2001 to taste the playoffs and also coincidentally victory over the Broncos.

1996, was the start of the downward slide and the only significant victory came over the then successful Norths in Round 4. 11th out of 20 teams that year. 1997 was a year that most Australasian league fans would rather forget, especially the Warriors who slumped to 7th out of 10 teams with only the win over eventual runners up Cronulla being of any significance. Seven consecutive losses also was another low point of that particular year.

1998 continued the downward trend slumping to 15th out of 20 and a horrible 9-15 win-loss record. Their only good wins that year came courtesy of highflying Melbourne both home and away. 1999 was virtually the same with a 10-14 record. The highlight of the season would have to have been the 42-0 drubbing of Newcastle on a wet and windy night at Ericsson stadium.

1999 finished on a relative high with the aforementioned win over Newcastle included in a four game winning streak. A first round win over Melbourne added a fifth game to that streak and Warriors fans had reason to believe that after five years in the competition they may finally have some success in the new millennium. As it turned out that early season confidence couldn’t have been more wrong with the Warriors dropping 13th out of 14 with an 8-2-16 record and the record for the least games won in a season.

Out of the ashes of 2000 a more successful Warriors team was born. 2001 showed a marked improvement over the previous four seasons and saw them slip into eighth spot and a maiden finals berth. The flair and aggression had finally been paired with better defence and composure. The highlight match of that year was undoubtedly the 13-12 win over the Broncos. That game showed that finally the Warriors were able to foot it mentally with all the teams in the competition and paved the way for what turned out to be an outstanding 2002.

2002 and 2003 were the Warriors best years with their maiden Minor Premiership and Grand Final appearance coming in 2002. Their best win of either year came late in 2003 with a 48-22 caning of Canterbury in the qualifying final. The inconsistency, which had dogged them for most of their existence, had finally been lost. Or so we all thought.

Just when the Warriors looked like being perpetual finals qualifiers, they perform so badly in 2004 they are very lucky not to get the dreaded spoon. With the talent available at the start of the year this definitely ranked as their worst ever year.

So with six out of ten years being failures (96, 97, 98, 99, 00, 04) can their first decade be considered a success? Well probably only just. While those failures were just that they managed to scrape through a couple of times to miss out on the ignominy of the wooden spoon. However it was the 2002 season that saved them. The twin success of a Minor Premiership and a grand final appearance in that year turned their first decade from considerable failure to a just passable success. However their next decade will have to be considerably better to warrant the same conclusion.


Word count 745 including title

 

[MysteryGirl]

MysteryGirl takes the field for the Bluebags

____________________________________________________

The Few, The Proud, The American All-Stars

The sight of these brightly clad Americans in their traditional long-legged gridiron pants caused player and spectator alike to snicker. Americans playing rugby league? How ridiculous! They didn’t even have a proper uniform. This was sure to be a financial disaster.

The players were, however, HUGE. Eight of the players were more than six feet tall, and only three of the forwards weighed under 15 stone.

In late 1952, a group of 52 Americans answered the call set out by Mike Dimitro, a call to put together an American rugby league team that would compete in a 26 match tour of both New Zealand and Australia. Dimitro had been a professional National Football League player for the Rams. He became interested in rugby league after viewing matches while he was in New Guinea during WWII while serving with the American amphibious force. He was not the first person to attempt to bring rugby league to America but he certainly did make a valiant attempt with his team which he named, “The American All-Stars”.

Dimitro began holding training camps on March 15, 1953. Many of the players who arrived at camp had played rugby union in college, but not one had ever played rugby league. They went through demanding physical workouts during this time – knowing that this would be the key to any success they would have. The expense, time and commitment involved to travel half way across the world for this ambitious tour, took its toll on the majority of the early trainees. By the time they left for Australia, Mike Dimitro had sold his car and mortgaged his house in order to pay for the $20K (USD) airfare for his now 20 man team.

Once in Australia, leading referee Jack O’Brien, and Kangaroo’s manager Norman Robinson instructed the Americans in the interpretation of the rules. Even without experience, this was an impressive group of athletes. The team included Al Abajian who went on to become a famous body builder; Jack Bonetti who was a successful college athlete in baseball, basketball, and gridiron; Ted Grossman who was a Hollywood stuntman, most notably for Clark Gable; Bill Albans who was a 6’4 Olympian who could run 100 yards in 9.5 seconds; and a variety of other impressive college gridiron players. After working with the team, Coach Robinson said that most players had played rugby union but had no idea of playing the ball.

This didn’t stop the All-Americans from achieving a decisive win in a practice match against Army, just one week after their arrival in Australia. Winning 41-10, the Americans had a chance to put into practice all they had learned against a real opponent.

Arriving on the field in Canberra to play a combined Monaro and Southern Division team, the American All-Stars faced more than 7,000 fans. Stepping onto the grounds they immediately looked out of place. Yet the Americans had flown half way across the world to compete – and compete they did. Nobody expected anything from them and experts have minimized their accomplishments. However this group of players, composed of many men who were seeing the game of rugby league for the first time – as they were playing it – managed to win their first official game with a score of 34-25.

Their use of the traditional gridiron form of passing the ball seemed to fascinate the spectators. They threw low passes with pinpoint accuracy and seldom dropped them. It was also common for them to throw accurate long passes of more than 40 yards.

Within the first half of the game, Bill Albans suffered a concussion and was rushed to the hospital. The Americans trailed at the half by a score of 20-8. However, in the second half, they scored 6 tries. Although many minor rule infractions were allowed without penalty, it was stated of Al E Kirkland, the American centre, that he was arguably not only the best American player but the best player on the field that day. He scored four tries and made openings for two additional tries. After his Australian tour, he would go on to play rugby league professionally.

Although heavy injuries and the small number of available players would affect the final outcome of the American’s tour, the American All-Star Rugby League Team of 1953 has to date, been the most successful at creating a proper and competitive American rugby league team.

*****************************************************
737 words

Sources:
Newcastle Morning Herald - May 19, 1953; May 28, 1953
rl1908.com, "The American All-Stars Rugby League Team" by Sean Fagan
rl1908.com, "Rugby League in the USA" sourced from Shevington Sharks USA Tour booklet 1981.
Thanks also to Colin Roope

 

[ParraMatt]

Captain Miccle has pulled out injured and off the bench is debuter Parki.

 

[ParraMatt]

Here is Parki's article due to him not being able to post it


The Philadelphia Flyer

For my FIRST article in forum sevens, I thought id bring light to a player that graced our fine shores for only a few seasons, but made such a lasting impression on this individual, his picture (the only one that I could find mind you) graced my bedroom walls for four years, until I subsequently took it down. Perhaps the most underrated player in the history of rugby league, his name, was Greg Smith.

Greg Smith was not a fast player. He couldn’t catch, he couldn’t tackle. He could sit on the bench quite well in his well-publicized four games for the knights of the 1999 season, but once he got off it, well lets just say his seat didn’t get a chance to get cold. Not that he didn’t try of course. The former Philadelphia Eagle of the NFL (well, at least their training camp) came in a superstar, and in my eyes came out a bona fide superstar, and ill tell you why.

Picture this. The year was 1999. The knights were playing the then called Sydney bulldogs, and the score was 26-2 to the knights. Smith was not doing anything special, but then again he never really did much. Not that was a problem. Then, at half time, he remembered. He was a Philadelphia eagle! He was supposed to be the “Philadelphia flyer!” So, out he went. Soared like an Eagle, and crashed like a boeing 747 that’s run out of petrol 10,000 miles above sea level. Dropped ball. Try to the dogs. Another dropped ball. Another try to the dogs. Could his afternoon get any worse? A missed tackle on the line, and it was 26-20. Greg Smith had let the dogs back into the game due to his incredulous play, and for myself, I was screaming at the then coach Ryan to get him off. He proceeded to do so, but the rot was already on. Greg Smith, the Philadelphia flyer had single handedly saved the day.

After this performance, the knights smelled a rat. They contacted the eagles in America and ran a background check on their potential superstar, and found out that Greg Smith, the Philadelphia Flyer, was, in fact “Greg Smith the Philadelphia Fake” and consigned him to reserve grade for the rest of the season. But some of us never forgot the sacrifices (many of them in that bulldog game) that he made for our team, and we never made him forget it. Each week we would get there early for “Our Greg Smith” and cheer him. “Come on Philadelphia Flyer, you can do it!” Wed yell at the top of our lungs from the old hill. I don’t think he appreciated our support, and he took off back to the United states the following year. His career was ruined, it seemed. But we at Newcastle never forgot about him, and then, one day, he miraculously reappeared. Like a resurrected hero, Greg Smith reappeared on one magical January afternoon.

It was the sevens of the 2003 season and the Tomahawks were out in Australia. “Tomahawks?” I thought to myself as I sat down watching the Russians and the other sides go around. “I wonder if my hero will be playing for them?” I was a wreck with anticipation. I had been waiting for four years for my hero to sign the one and only photo of him in existence, and here, right now was my opportunity.

The tomahawks didn’t make it into the main draw of the world sevens, but they did play an exhibition match against the Coogee Dolphins, and there he was. In fourteen exhilarating minutes of play, he didn’t drop the ball once. Greg Smith, the Philadelphia flyer was back. After the game, I sought him out and asked him to sign my picture. I asked him to sign it.
“To Mark, keep on truckin. Your hero, Greg Smith.” With a wry smile, he did.

And then, just like that, he was gone. I never did see him play again, but diehard Newcastle fans will never forget, the man, the myth, the enigma that was Greg Smith. Sure, Newcastle faithful ride on the back of Joey Johns, but well never forget that one forgettable afternoon where Greg Smith single handedly turned the game, and with it brought about one of the greatest stories in modern day rugby league. Philadelphia Flyer, we salute you.

Greg Smith Season Statistics
Games Played 1 vs. Bulldogs, 1999
Tries 0
Goals 0
Field Goals 0

(742 words including title)

 

[antonius]

Ref Blows Fulltime.

 

[Willow]

Thank you Timekeeper.

Well played both teams. 5v5

 

[antonius]

Rhinos Scores

Bartman
The Bench That Roars…
748 Words.
Some good thoughts on the bench and what coaches may look to do in order to get that edge on everyone else. Good topic, well written
Score 89

Mzilikazi
A Mirror to our own failings?
747 Words
Very well written piece on the expectations of modern day sportsmen as compared to the heroes’ of history. It also compares them to the deeds of some of today’s’ pollies, religious leaders, and leaders in other areas of modern society. I thought the writer put his thoughts into words very well.
Score 91

Ibeme
Simply the Worst
748 Words
Some thoughts on the way that the game is being promoted this season compared to past seasons. He asks the question, would it entice none believers?
Score 89

Not so silent bob
The Day It Changed.
749 Words
As a Knights supporter I recall that game with some anguish. Good account of a game I’d love to forget. That fact did not affect your score LOL.
Score 88

Parki
The Philadelphia Flyer
755 Words
All us Knights fans remember Greg. I must say though my memories aren’t quite as fond. LOL. Tongue in cheek story about a player that wasn’t quite what he claimed.(It is tongue in cheek?) Some grammatical errors.
Score 86 less word count penalty (I counted and re-counted) 2= 84

Rhinos Total 441


Bluebags Scores

Wal

Scone Thoroughbreds: That’s My Team
750 Words
A Suggestion that there may well be a fourth contender lingering in the background for the 16th team spot. It is obvious the writer is very passionate about Scones future bid. A few minor spelling errors that were not penalised.
Score 89

Willow
Footballer first,then a soldier-the Gorden Hart story.
736 Words.
What a great story. Those were the days when you played for your mates and the love of the game. Good read
Score 90

Hoggy
The night to enjoy being a storm supporter,and really enjoy it.
743 Words
Recollection of a game some time ago. Well written.
Score 87

JoeD
The Warriors First Decade-Success or Failure?
741 Words
A look at the Warriors fortunes in their first ten years. Are they successful?
Score 88

MysteryGirl
The Few, The Proud, The American All-Stars
737 Words
Very enjoyable read on a subject not often covered. Well researched and presented.
Score 90

Bluebags Total 444

Result Bags defeated the Rhinos 444 to 441.
MOTM Mzilikazi

Some excellent reading in this match, all high quality articles, including those from quite a few debutants.

 

[ibeme]

Congratulations Bluebags, and well played Rhinos.