PARRAMATTA
Untitled by fanaticeel
I could relate to this as a Newie fan living an entire continent away, and it read well after it got through talking about the game. I think it could have been much stronger if it had focussed on the plight of the interstate fan - rather than on the game against the Bunnies.
SCORE: 80
The More Things Change
by Hallatia
This threw me from the outset, as the Colosseum was Roman, not Greek; and while I do appreciate the comparison that is being drawn this article was a little unwieldy and disjointed at times, which lessened what impact it might have had.
SCORE: 74
A Fan at Crossroads by Prince Charles
A splendid article touching on a situation that, even living abroad, Ive heard plenty about and copped plenty of flak for. There are far too many Kiwis and South Africans here. This was succinct, well thought out, and easy to read.
SCORE: 88
A Case Study in League Politics by MarkInTheStands
The politics behind a football club certainly doesnt make for regular article fodder, so it was interesting to read about the way a club other than my own works behind the scenes. Some grammatical errors dragged this down a little.
SCORE: 79
Oh, yes; rugby league is more than just a game by lingard
It took me a little while to warm to this, but as it progressed, I became caught up in the underlying sadness in this. Im a sucker for the darker side of our game and what it means to us as fans, and this painted a tragic picture. Rugby league means a lot of things to a lot of people, and its both sad and uplifting to read about how it has become your sole connection to those who you once watched the games with.
This ended wonderfully and poetically. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
SCORE: 89
TOTAL: 410
RABBITOHS
The Angel, Sonny, and Me by Dave Q
This was a powerful, thought provoking read. The death of Sonny Fai effected us all in different ways, and as someone who came so close to experiencing a similar fate I can imagine it struck you on an entirely different level.
I was a little confused as your use of the word whorish, however. Did you mean hoary? It would make more sense.
All in all, this was a pleasure to read. It struck an emotional chord and flowed well.
SCORE: 89
The Life and Times of Never Was by Bumble
I too am a soccer tragic, and while I dabbled in league late in life I can certainly relate to the struggle to make an impact in a sport that youve just not got the gift for. An entertaining read.
SCORE: 80
Goin to the Chapel by Miccle
This was a good use of an unusual simile for rugby league. It touched on a lot of current, interesting issues while staying close to the concept that ties it all together.
SCORE: 84
Dont Give Up by Robster
This was a difficult article to mark. At times it came across as eloquent and read well, at times it became bogged down in poor grammar, and at times it was heartfelt but a little disjointed. It again touched on one of the tragic stories from our game that, sadly, was also one of the few good stories out of our off season in the way it brought the game together.
SCORE: 81
What Makes a League Legend? By Marshall_magic
Stacey Jones most certainly is a legend of the game, and a rarity in that hes not from one of the two eastern states. This was a well constructed tribute to a real hero of the game.
SCORE: 84
TOTAL: 418
FINAL SCORE
South Sydney Rabbitohs 418 def. Parramatta Eels 410
POTM: Dave Q (Souths) and lingard (Eels) with 89